Creating Unique Core Memories:
We believe in travelling together as a family because of the global exposure it provides for ourselves and the kids. Despite the hassle and costs involved in travelling with children, many of these can be mitigated through early, careful holiday planning. We’ve travelled the world with our daughter since she was 7 months old and she’s since gained a travel buddy in her brother three years ago.
We’ve heard so much about the powdery snow in Hokkaido; besides, the temptation to experience Japanese hospitality and cuisine was too much to resist. From the wife’s meticulous research, she discovered that Hokkaido is very much DIY-able as that would cut down cost quite a bit. So, for our inaugural trip to Hokkaido in December 2016, it would be a very much walk on our own and drive on own trip. It turned out to be simply splendid. You may view more of our Hokkaido travel photos on Instagram if you follow us at @lifestinymiracles and @doting_dad. Click on this hashtag #ohanadoeshokkaido.
The Complete DIY Itinerary:
Here’s our DIY itinerary:
Day 1: We flew JAL which transited in Tokyo. Upon arrival in Chitose Airport, Hokkaido at 8pm, we realised that the airport shuttle busses have ended their services so we made our way to Sapporo via train. A little more tiring but at least we don’t have to spend a bomb on taxis.
Accommodation: Keio Plaza Sapporo Hotel
Tips:
- Even though it was more convenient to stay right above the Sapporo Station, we decided to save costs by picking Keio Plaza Sapporo Hotel as our base for 3 nights in Sapporo. It turned out to be a wise choice as the hotel was very comfortable (we opted for a 4-bedder family room which was huge) and it was just 3 blocks away from Sapporo Station. The staff was very competent, friendly and attentive to our needs. Read our complete review of this fantastic hotel here.
- From Chitose Airport, we took the Airport Rapid Train to Sapporo Station (a 40 min train ride). From the Sapporo Station, Keio Plaza Sapporo Hotel is a brisk 10 min easy walk.
- Since it was winter, the day turns dark (and cold) early by 4+pm. Do pack the necessary winter gear in your carry on luggage and have some lose currency ready for food/drinks when you arrive into Sapporo.
- The Sapporo Station is connected to the Sapporo Stellar Place, the largest shopping mall in Japan. The shopping center has approximately 220 stores including dining and cafes, cinemas. It also has a basement food street (much like Singapore’s Takashimaya) so you can get food easily. The price is pretty comparable to that of typical Japanese restaurants here in Sg.
- Our car rental company (Toyota Car Rental) is situated right at Keio Plaza Sapporo Hotel’s basement. This makes it super convenient for us to load our luggage into the car and drive off on the day of check-out. To find out what to anticipate in a DIY Self-Drive Trip in Hokkaido during winter, read our post here.
Day 2: Day Trip to Otaru
We decided to take the day slow and went on a DIY day trip to Otaru using public transport. Famed for its canal, food and quaint shops and not forgetting the legendary Le Tao Cheese Cake.
Tips:
How to get to Otaru From Sapporo
There are multiple trains per hour between Sapporo and Otaru along the JR Hakodate Main Line. The one-way trip costs 640 yen and takes 30 minutes by rapid train or 45 minutes by local train. Most of Otaru’s attractions are located less than a 30-minute walk from Otaru Station, making the city convenient to explore by foot. Otaru offered us a glimpse into the local life in Hokkaido. We spent a relaxed afternoon there and headed back to Sapporo before dusk. Do remember that its winter so it gets dark and cold around 4+pm.
Highlights from Otaru:
- The train station: A quaint train station with a charming character of its own. Lots of good photo opportunities and kids can have fun with the stamping activities. Note: Bring notebooks for kids to collect stamps at various tourist spots and train stations.
- Otaru Canal: Scenic and relaxing. Like walking along a Dutch canal. A must visit photo stop.
- Sakaimachi Street: A street lined with wares from local life and cuisine. Worth trying their fresh seafood sashimi.
- Music Box Museum: Not to be missed. Lots of exquisite and fine music boxes displayed and for sale.
- Studio Ghibli: Situated right next to Music Box Museum, this place sells and exhibits soft toys and souvenirs from popular characters like Rilakkuma and Moomin. Think cutesy stuff. Lots.
- Le Tao Café: Hokkaido is famous for its cheesecake, chief of which is Le Tao. Here, you get it fresh off the Le Tao shelves so go grab some, eat and buy lots home. Do send some to us if you do.
- Ice-Cream: Hokkaido is famous for their dairy products and when in Otaru, you really need to sample their ice-cream made from farm-fresh Hokkaido milk.
Tips:
- When in Otaru, must try the seafood, cheesecake or anything to do with Hokkaido milk. No regrets!
- At the music box museum, there’s an old clock heater outside, it plays tunes at the hour with the steam from the heater. Quite a sight!
- Do be prepared to walk a lot in Otaru but be careful of ice on the road. Walk slowly.
- Strollers: If you have young kids (preschoolers), bringing a stroller helps heaps as they may asked to be carried after some walking.
- Cab: We ended our walking trail at the Music Box Museum and took a cab back to the Otaru Station, a 10 mins drive which costs about SGD20. We boarded the train back to Sapporo Station and had dinner at one of the restaurants in Sapporo Stellar Place before walking back to Keio Plaza Hotel to rest for the night.
Day 3: Day Trip to Asahiyama Zoo
This zoo gave us one of the best zoo experiences with its wide range of ‘arctic’ animals in its natural landscape. We spent a full day there and only managed to cover half the exhibits. Read our comprehensive review of the Asahiyama Zoo in this post.
Day 3 Night: Sapporo Winter White Illumination
We read from online forums that the Winter Illumination in Sapporo is quite phenomenal so despite spending a full day at the Asahiyama Zoo, we commuted to Odori Park to see the winter lights and German Christmas Market.
Tips:
- Walking, Walking, Walking…lots of it. The awesome light displays are spread across a large outdoor park. Lots of beautiful photo opportunities but be prepared to walk A LOT. In fact, we clocked more than 15,000 steps daily in Sapporo.
- Toilets: At the Winter Illumination, toilets are scarce. Do use the conveniences at the train stations before you exit.
- Night photography: You would need either a flash or tripod or both to capture these exquisite light displays.
- The Chill: Temperature drops drastically after sunset so it can get biting cold, esp. for young children. Dress them warmly and don’t forget the scarves and gloves.
- The German Christmas Market offers wares and light bites by vendors from Europe. Lots of exquisite Christmas decorative souvenirs, worth a visit. We liked it so much we returned for two consecutive nights.
Day 4: Self-drive to Lake Toya (from Sapporo)
Finally, the day came when we were to take our rented car to start our self-drive journey to Niseko. We stopped at Lake Toya and Noboribetsu to break our journey. Driving in Hokkaido during winter is neither for the faint-hearted nor inexperienced. You are driving on the opposite side of the road and the icy, snowy conditions can reduce visibility and make it difficult to control the vehicle. We share our winter self-drive tips in this post. Do read if you’re planning on a self-drive holiday too.
Lunch at Lake Hill Farm
Seeing this place was like seeing an oasis. After a nail-biting introduction to winter driving in Hokkaido (through the heaviest snowfall in 50 years no less), I was really pleased we could stop and get something warm for our tummies.
This little quaint cafe serves really delicious custard-filled cream puffs that are baked crisp on the outside but oozing sweetness from the inside. It was seriously delicious. We loved their pizza and coffee too. The environment also so scenic we were reluctant to leave if not for the fact that we had to locate our hotel before the sky gets dark. Highly recommended pit stop!
Accommodation: Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort
Lake Toya is one of many volcanic lakes in a caldera of volcanic lakes which never freezes even in winter! We arrived at the Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort in the late afternoon and were immediately awestruck by the view. The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort is a luxury boutique hotel but alas, we found its service impersonal. Anyway, the view and its rooftop onsen did make up for the shortfalls. We enjoyed dining in the hotel’s restaurant with high floor to ceiling windows, offering us an unobstructed view of the scenery outside. So picturesque and calming. Before checking out, we took a quick family photo using the camera’s self-timer mode in our Japanese-styled room which turned out to be a keeper!
Lake Toya Volcano Museum
Tips:
- Stay at a hotel that faces Lake Toya. If possible choose one with an open onsen. It makes an unforgettable experience. If you are an onsen ‘virgin’, read my post on how to navigate the Japanese onsens!
- Visit the Lake Toya Volcano Museum. We made an impromptu stop and learnt quite a fair bit about the volcanoes as well as the wildlife and nature surrounding the place. An educational pit-stop as we rarely get to visit a volcano museum!
Day 5: Self-drive to Noboribetsu (Sulfur Place)
This is one of the places I can’t forget…In fact, it hits you the moment you are near: the unmistakable smell of sulfur. Yes, welcome to Hokkaido’s Hot Spring Hell Valley – the nearby attraction of sulfur steam and surreal landscape that attract hordes of tourists to this hillside town. However, for us (families with young children), Noboribetsu offered a better surprise – the Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe! Read on.
Accommodation: Hotel Mahoroba, Noboribetsu
We chose this hotel for its hot spring / onsen baths but found them quite basic. The staff are generally helpful although they were struggling to converse with us in English. The onsen facility in the hotel is one of the biggest we’ve seen but not surprising as it is Hokkaido’s Hot Spring town. But the onsens are a tad dark and dinghy, particularly their ‘outdoor’ onsen, which has an indoor concrete slide that slides into the murky onsen. I didn’t feel it was safe. The outdoor onsen was also nothing to shout about as it was covered and fenced up (yes, it was outside but so fenced up and steamy, it felt indoors). It’s dark and slippery. Consider yourself warned.
Tips:
- Food: We arrived at the hotel in the late afternoon. After checking in, we asked for a venue for lunch and were asked to take a walk across the streets facing the hotel to look for a ramen store. Minutes later, in the middle of the 2nd street facing the hotel, we found the unassuming ramen eatery ‘Aji no Daio Noboribetsu‘. Typical Japanese: cramped but the ramen was heavenly!! Home made and apparently famous for its Jigoku (Hell) ramen. We waited for about 15 mins for a vacant table. The service is nothing to shout about but the piping hot ramen is just sublime. The elderly chef disliked people photographing his eatery and flashed us some stern glances. One staff also explicitly told us not to take photos. The hotel buffet dinner which was included in our accommodation was good though, great variety and eat to your heart’s content.
- Hell Valley aka Jigokudani: I personally think this place is overrated if you do not intend to trek to the sulfuric hot springs and geyser. With kids in tow and the strong smell of sulfur in the air, we stood at the entrance, took in the general view, snap a few shots and left after 15 minutes. There are directions to trek closer to the various geysers but the smell can be quite overpowering. Besides, the hotel staff had recommended us somewhere which was originally not in our itinerary which might be more suitable for kids – Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe.
- Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe: For a start, we would return to this place again. It was compact and yet offered an educational experience in learning about the marine animals of Hokkaido. Better still, they have a penguin parade in early December and right in the middle of the day. Excellent! For more info, you can download the English map of the park here.
Highlights of Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe:
- The winter Penguin Parade: we were quite disappointed that the Penguin Parade in Asahiyama Zoo starts only in the middle of Dec. Imagine our joy when we discovered that this Marine Park Nixe has one that suits our schedule!
- The Penguin Parade: Yes, it was so awesome seeing Emperor Penguins waddling just mere centimeters away! Every kid and adult was enthralled. It was truly an experience not to be missed!
- One can really get to see up close some rare and unique marine life that exist in wintry Hokkaido. From shellfishes to seals and sea lions, they are all there. Truly educational!
- The Galaxy Pool: This is so rare and so special and it’s a must see. Thousands of sardines swim and ‘dance’ to sound and light. We can’t really find the word to describe it except…surreal and beautiful! Must not miss!
- The Dolphin show: See some rare and beautiful dolphins perform in their cosy habitat.
After visiting Sapporo, Lake Toya and Noboribetsu, it was time to drive to our final destination – Niseko, where we would spend the next 5 nights skiing, café-hopping and soaking in more onsens! Read about our Niseko experiences below:
DIY Winter Holiday to Hokkaido, Japan (Dec 2016)
Post 1 – Self-Drive Hokkaido: Winter Driving Tips
Post 2 – GoSnow Niseko: Ski School for Kids
Post 3 – Ki Niseko Hotel Review
Post 4 – Keio Plaza Sapporo Review
Post 5 – Asahiyama Zoo, Hokkaido
Post 6 – Hokkaido – The Complete DIY Itinerary
Post 7 – Where to eat in Niseko
Thank u so much for sharing!!!
No problems! Hope you’ll find it useful!
Yes.. I remember Le Tao. The deserts in the cafe were fabulous. This post brings back wonderful memories for me. We were there in the warmer season. You are right. Self-drive is the way to travel in Hokkaido. Thanks for sharing your experience. We might just hop over again – in winter perhaps.
OOPS! spelling error. It’s desserts, not deserts.
Such a comprehensive post and you make planning for a DIY holiday to Hokkaido so much easier. Thanks for all the great tips. Hopefully they will all come in handy when we make a trip there.
Ya….the experience was too good not to share. Thanks for dropping by!
Wondfull !!!!! Tks for your good sharing
No problems. Hope it’ll come in handy! Thanks for dropping by.
Thanks so much for sharing! We are doing a DIY in Dec this year with 2 kids (slightly older than yours) and am in a dilemma over self drive or public transport. I am concerned about the wintry roads as you have pointed out and would prefer not to drive. Your posts served as good reference checks for the activities I had planned. Appreciate it lots!
Hi which part of Dec did you go? Heard penguin parade is not available earlier of Dec
Thanks !!!
Hi Shimin
thanks for visiting our blog and leaving us a comment. We went in first week of Dec last year (2016). I think you might be talking about the Penguin Parade in Arashiyama Zoo which only starts in late Dec. The Penguin Parade in Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe commences in early Dec. Hope this helps!
Our family is making our way there end of the year.. and I just want to say this blog has been absolutely helpful. Thanks a lot for being so detailed without sugar coating with fluff and yet keeping it concise and relevant for us! Bookmarking this blog for future reference! And just looking at the photos…. I can’t wait to experience all that with the kids!
Hi, im planning a trip to hokkaido in mid to late november. Will your itinerary be suitable for that period?
Hi…apart from the ski experience which typically opens around early Dec, the rest should be applicable. In fact there may be much lesser snowfall hence making driving and getting around possibly easier.
Hi Rachel thanks for dropping by the blog! You can definitely follow this itinerary in Nov but there might not be enough snow for skiing or snowboarding. So it depends what you want to do/see there 🙂
Hi,
I am going in Dec 19 to 23. Did you stay in Niseko for 3 days and enrol your girl for the Go Snow 2 days full day class?
I am stuck with my planning from 19-22 and hope i can follow your itinenary! 🙂 I will touch down chitose at 4.30pm so i think staying in Sapporro will be the best for 1night?
Thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Suhaila
Hi Suhaila
good morning! Sorry for the delayed reply as my son was unwell.
For your trip, since you touch down at Chitose Airport at 4.30pm, my recommendation would be to take it easy, clear customs, shop around the airport (Chitose Airport is one of THE best in whole of Japan), have an early dinner there if you wish. Then take the train to Sapporo and spend 1 night. We stayed at the Keio Plaza Sapporo (walked there on foot with 2 young kids and 3 luggages in middle of winter night at 11pm!) and loved the spacious family room.
Then next morning, after breakfast, check out and head towards Niseko. Stay 3 nights so the kids can enjoy full day of ski school from 9am to 3pm. To get to Niseko, you can either self-drive or book a tourist bus (lots of buses available, just google).
Have fun with your trip planning!
Hi ! We are planning a trip from 3-8 Dec 2017 to Sapporo , Otaru , Hokodate …
not sure if it’s safe to self drive as this is our first time there ..
Hi Claire, thanks for dropping by. It really depends on your driving experience but generally I would caution against that if you’re unclear about the situation. There will be snow and ice..and possibly diversions. So it’s unlike any winter driving in say Australia or NZ where it’s just cold. Do check out my driving tips post, it has a video of my driving experience there. Alternatively there are buses plying so you may want to take that and besides it’s more relaxing for everyone.
Hi there! If we have only 5 days to spare in Dec which ones or places do you recommend? We are a family of 4 with kids ages 16 and 12.
Good morning.It really depends on what your family may like to do. With 5 days you’d have to be quite focused on either skiing lessons with a day or two in Sapporo or sightseeing in Sapporo and the surrounding areas, visit zoo etc…
Hi love your blog. I’m planning to go in June 2018. It is better to go Lake Toya or Noboribetsu? I have limited time so only can choose 1 city. Will be traveling with 2 kids. Thank you
Hi. How old are your kids. My take is that Lake Toya is scenic and there may be some simple water-based activities there e.g. paddling a boat etc…there is also a Volcano museum nearby which is quite informative. If your kids are teens then they may enjoy Lake Toya. Noboribetsu basically is just the sulphur place to see. The smell can be quite overwhelming but if you like geography and trekking then it’s good. If your kids are young like ours, a short drive away from Noboribetsu is a Marine Park – The Nixe I think…THAT is good but it’s a short drive (30-45 mins). That is a charmer. In Noboritsu itself is a bear park where you get to see bears. You can take a cable car up if I’m not wrong. We didn’t do the bears as we wanted to see the Marine Park, it has a penguin parade in winter. Hope it helps. Thanks for dropping by!
Hi, my hubby is hesitant about driving for our upcoming trip in Dec. I have 3 kids with me, 4, 9 & 11. Do you think we should drive or their public transport network is good enough? In addition, which ski resort is best for me to visit? I heard Niseko may be over rated.
Hi Lydia. Thanks for visiting our site. Hope you find it useful. Driving: The road and weather conditions are quite challenging – see my post and videos. I would not recommend it if he is not an experienced long-distance driver. In fact, if possible, consider the hotel / resort / airport shuttle or take the train so that your hubby can also enjoy the vacay and not to be overly tired / stressed about driving. Leave the driving to the professionals there.
Ski resort: Depends on what you want to do. The ski resorts there cater to a variety of needs. Niseko is nice and is more for skiing and dining but be prepared to travel around in their public buses or shuttle buses to go to eateries etc… We like Niseko and didn’t feel it’s overrated. It feels like a European ski town. Niseko also offers a wide variety of accommodation and eateries. We recently tried Hoshino Resorts Tomamu and Rusutsu. Check out our Tomamu post. Our Rusutsu post is coming up soon. Hope these help.
Hi, your blog is such a godsend which i stumbled upon while trip planning for our dec 2018 ski trip. We also booked Rusutsu resort, and it sounds great! If you don’t mind, could i just ask a couple of questions:
1) We wanted to drive from Sapporo to Rusutsu, stopping by Noboribetsu and Lake Toya for a couple of nights prior. Would you happen to know if there are any car rental companies at Rusutsu resort, where we could drop off our rental car?
2) Lake Toya Nonokaze resort looks lovely and we’re quite keen to book a couple of nights there. Could i ask how far in advance you had to book it please?
Thank you so much!
Hi Olivia, we’re so glad that you find our blog post useful. Ok, firstly…driving: Driving in wintry Hokkaido can be quite dangerous due to the falling snow (sometimes can get quite heavy while along the road!) ….and also the ice on the road. It is not for the faint-hearted. My hubby drove the first time and he prefers not driving the 2nd time we were there – he’s a very experienced driver having driven long distance locally and overseas (we drove 2000+ km in Iceland last summer). The heavy snow conditions really compromises the driving conditions. Think carefully before deciding to drive. You can search our blog on Hokkaido, there’s a post (and short video) he shared about driving there. When we rented our car from Toyota at the basement of Keio Plaza Sapporo (we shared a post on the hotel too!), the rental company offered to pick up the car from our drop off locale – which then was Ki Niseko in Niseko. Do check with the rental companies, I’m sure they offer some form of pick up of the car at your destination. Ok, Lake Toya Nonokaze resort – we booked ours about 4 months ahead of time as we needed a room that can also house 2 young kids (2A and 2C)…best to book early if you’ve already decided on the hotel. It’s a nice cozy boutique hotel with a commanding view of Lake Toya. Hope these help with your planning. Let us know if you need more info! Cheers!
Dear Angie,
Thank you so much for your reply! I really do appreciate your advice (esp during this period for you) since we’re trying to plan our route. Stay strong and may you be on the road to recovery soon!
Hi Olivia, this is David here. Thanks for your support and well-wishes. Angie is recovering well. Let us know if there’s any other info you need. We’ll try to share. Cheers!
Hi I really like your blog. I was struck by how different the images in your blog came out. May I ask what camera system/lenses you used ?
Hi thanks for your affirmation. Shooting in snow and in winter is quite demanding due to the weather and lighting conditions. I’ve always relied on my Nikon DSLR and original Nikkor lenses. They have never failed me…even in howling -8c snow! Cheers!
Hi
This post is really useful. Thank you. We are planning to go Hokkaido in early December but not sure if skiing is possible then. We are a family of 5 with 13, 8 and 5 age kids.
Hi Mildred, skiing IS possible in early Dec, in fact our first trip to Hokkaido WAS during that time. The only issue is that some other snow-based activities may not be functional yet (usually from mid-Dec) but if skiing is your main activity (and eating…) then no worries about that. Snow will still be falling – lots of it and it may take some getting used to but other than that it’s fine. Do check with the Ski schools when they open though, usually in early Dec. For our first trip, we went with Go Snow at Niseko and stayed at Ki Niseko hotel there. Do check out our post on that. Hope this helps.
Hi, I will be travelling to Hokkaido in December with 2 kids , 8 and 11. We ah e 10 days to spend . Can you recommend on where to visit ? We would like to spend more time in the mountain but don’t know which is good . Please advise . Thank you
Hi Emma
thanks for dropping by our blog! We love Hokkaido and can’t wait to plan our next trip back. Your kids are fairly independent by now. We would recommend you try looking at Ki Niseko, or some of the apartment hotels in Niseko Village since you prefer more time in the mountains. The Ski School there – Go Snow is fantastic. Read our Go Snow Review and Ki Niseko review for more info. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your itinerary. For those places where you drove, any idea if they are accessible if I don’t have my own transport?
For some, if not most, of these places, they can be accessed via train and / or buses but you’d need to do some research to find the right timing that suits your travel plans. Do note that it grows dark by 4pm in Hokkaido during winter so….if you want to sight see after arrival you’d need to plan to leave early or stay the night. The latter is preferred. Do also be extra careful if you want to drive. It is quite challenging and unpredictable.
Nice pics, Rusutsu is not part of my plan. After read, it will be a must to visit for my family with 3 young kids. We would like to join activity like (snowmobile, reindeer, and banana boat). We will be travelling end of Nov-8Dec,
Is it possible to have these activities for my date? Your family did all in Rusutsu? Cheers.
Hi Nancy, we are glad that you find our sharing useful! Do note that most of these snow activities would only start around mid-Dec (Approx. 15 Dec) onwards…as this would be peak skiing season. If any earlier, you’d have to check with the hotel but quite unlikely. However, if your kids are very young, all they need is time to roam and roll about in the snow with a snowball maker and a simple sled which you can buy there. There are ample space for them to have some spontaneous fun in the snow!
Hi,
I am planning a DIy trip to Tokyo,Oska and Hokkaido. I find your itinerary very useful and plan to visit some of the places mention.
May I also find out from your side about driving experience at Hokkaido.I have try driving experience at Jeju (Korea) during the month mid Dec. The road are slippery but there is no requirement to put any chain on the tyre.
I wonder if i am travelling around 4 Dec to 12 Dec.Will there be a requirement to put on the chain for the tyres(I have no experience at all).I have never attempt to drive in that condition at all.Will like to know if there is a GPS device guide provided to aid us reach our destination?
Please advise.
Hi Jeff, we are happy you found our sharing useful. For Hokkaido driving at that time please expect 1) Heavy snowfall while you are driving. Really heavy. 2) The cars would have changed to Winter tires if you get from a reputable source. As we were not driving at mountainous areas (With steep slope) we didn’t have to use chains and most cars around us did not have chains. However having said that it is essential that you observe proper speed – which is max of 40 km/h (yes…max 40 km/h) this is to mitigate any risk of your tires sliding. 3) Most rental car companies can rent you the GPS and you can locate your destination via the place’s phone number. It’s good however to have Wifi access and use Google Maps as a back up. This is useful especially when certain roads had to be closed due to avalanche or other weather risks. GPS won’t provide you the real-time info and offer a diversion, Google Map would. You can rent a portable WIFI router from Changi Recommends which is quite good and stable. Hope these help! Safe travels!
Hi Jeff, my earlier reply to you somehow did not get thru, I hope this doesn’t come too late. Please expect heavy snowfall when you are driving in Hokkaido during Dec. Visibility can be badly affected and there may be road closures due to avalanches / landslides. From my experience, it was quite nerve-wreaking even for an experienced driver like myself. There was no need for chains for us as we were not going to steep places and the winter tires were good but it is still quite harrowing. Watch my short video in our driving post. GPS: We found that using GPS PLUS Google Map helped as GPS does not provide real-time info, navigating to alternative routes when one is closed is essential (happened to us due to landslide.). All in, if you are not an experienced driver (or even if you are), driving in Hokkaido under heavy snowfall is really not for everyone. Consider yourself warned.
Hi, thank you for sharing your blog here, it’s very helpful.
I am planning to go Hokkaido this mid of Dec, with 2 kids and 2 elders. Do you mind to share how do you prepare for your winter clothes and shoes? What shoes did you wear? Is it possible to wear sports shoes and buy anti-slip shoes cover from Taobao?
Thanks
Hi CY, thank you for the compliments on our blog. It’s our pleasure to share our travel experiences with fellow parents.
We published a blog post last year on how we packed for our Hokkaido trip. You can read it to get an idea how to layer up to prepare for the cold – https://www.lifestinymiracles.com/2016/12/packing-winter-holiday
Shoes are THE MOST IMPORTANT part of your winter attire. Wear the wrong footwear and it may ruin your enjoyment of the trip. Snow and ice make the paths and walkways extremely slippery so we would advise you get proper winter boots rather than those anti-slip shoe covers. I ordered the kids winter boots from Amazon.com and have them ship over to SG. It was still cheaper than buying them locally. Alternatively, you can browse Carousell or ask around for friends, colleagues and relatives who have kids of similar ages who have outgrown their winter boots for sale. As for the elders, bring them to Metro at Paragon, or sports shops in Queensway and Velocity (Novena) to try out different brands and models. Hope these tips help! We love Hokkaido and hope to return next year.
Hi CY. For winter shoes – No, don’t wear sports shoes with anti-slip. Please expect heavy snow and a temperature dipping to -10c with wind blowing. Your feet will be frozen with your sports shoes. We recommend either buy or loan or a mix of both, like us. Buy: Timberland boots. Must at least cover ankle. Tell the shop you need it to walk on snow and ice and they will choose the right ones. You may try other outdoor shops as well like Columbia or North Face. For clothes, our base was Uniqlo Heattech, followed by wool sweater (Uniqlo / Marks and Spencer) and then waterproof jacket (snow is wet). JAcket is from Timberlands or Marmot (a well-known brand for good outdoor trekking / skiing jackets etc…) For pants we wore Uniqlo water resistant pants (a must. Jeans is not suitable as snow is wet). When we were there, we loaned from the ski rental company better boots and jackets and they were really much better and lighter. Our own set we used mainly for those days where we were not skiing (so no need to rent). Getting good and reliable shoes and clothes is really essential as it may make or break your winter vacation – the last thing you want is to slip and fall (especially for elderly) or to fall sick from the cold. Hope it helps.
Hi,
Thanks so much for such a comprehensive guide. I am planning to visit Hokkaido during winter too. But, before I even go into all this, I think money matters. 🙂
Do you mind to share the total spending for hotel stays, car rental, airfare, food and etc? Have to plan it out carefully.
Cheers.
Hi Kok Meng
thanks for your compliments on our blog post. With regards to the budget for a Winter vacation to Hokkaido, it really varies depending on the date(s) of travel, duration of your stay in Hokkaido and your choice of airlines, accomodation and dining options. For our last trip, we flew with Thai Airways instead of JAL, ANA or SQ as it was the cheapest for our date of travel. For ski resorts, be prepared to set aside at least SGD500 per night. For car rental, you can get the pricing from the car rental agencies. Food wise, we don’t keep track, but the costs is about that of a Singapore cafe/restaurant (abt SGD20 per main course). Hope this helps!
Hi David and Angie,
Thank you for all your detailed information in your blog on skiing. My family and i will be going Niseko early Dec and i was so inspired by your post on your kid’s ski lessons that i’m planning to do the same. However, i myself is unsure of the equipment required.Although i have gone into Rhythm website to check it out, i have some puzzling questions, hoping you can assist in that area.
1) the standard package for kids only include the Skis and poles, what other individual items do we need to rent in order for the kids to be able to start the class well equipped. (I’m planning to get some items from Carousell before the trip, to save on some rental cost if its cheaper)
2)Besides waterproof Ski Jackets and pants, are all the accessories stated in Rhythm website neccessary in order for the class to start?Things like Helmet,wrist guards and goggles?
3)Is it really neccessary to get snow boots for the kids because someone told me that we can just wear our normal shoes as the kids will be changing to the ski boots that is rented together with the skis?
Thanking you in advance,
Grace
Hi Grace, sorry for the late reply. I’ve answered you in the previous query. 🙂
Hi, u stayed in keio hotel throughout the trip even when you self-drive?
Hi Laura, no we stayed at different hotels along the way. Keio Plaza was only at the Sapporo leg which we found to be very good as it was not too far from the central and had a good car rental shop directly below the hotel. Convenient!
Hi, thank you for sharing! May I know how did you entertain the kids during the flight? And how to manage nap time?
Hi Elvy
thanks for dropping by the blog. How old are your kids? My kids usually entertain themselves with the flight entertainment system – we let them watch the cartoons, animation movies on board. My older girl sometimes plays the games. As for nap and sleep, we adjust their sleeping time to that of our destination’s. Kids are really adaptable so we haven’t have much issues so far.
Hi,
Thanks for your blog. Am going Hokkaido this year end and your itinerary is great to follow. Can I just check with you, how did you arrange for the car rental company to collect the car at Niseko?
Hi Adeline
Thanks for visiting the blog. We emailed and corresponded with the car rental company in Sapporo and they arranged for the car pick up from our hotel when we reached Niseko. You can try doing that too. Enjoy your vacay!
hi can i know ur travel date? My travel date is Dec4-Dec11. Is there a lot of snow during this period? We would like to snowbmobile, tubing and snow sledding and farm stay there.
Any nice food to recommend in Hokkaido?
Hi Jess
thanks for dropping by the blog. We usually travel in early Dec too. It is already snowing in certain parts of Hokkaido in Nov so rest assured you will have lots of fun with snow during your dates of travel. We are not foodies but have shared some of our fav eats in Niseko, Hokkaido in this post. Do have a look: https://www.lifestinymiracles.com/2017/07/where-to-eat-in-niseko/
Have a fun vacation!
Hello! Can I know how much you spent for the entire trip? Am planning to do Hokkaido with my 2 kids – 3yr10mths and 2yr3mths in Oct 2020 but would it be too cold? Thanks for sharing your itinerary and advice!
Hi Win
thanks for dropping by. October is a nice season to travel as it’s Autumn (and non-peak), temperatures should not be too cold. As for expenditure, be prepared to set aside at last SGD200 per day for public transport and meals for a family of 2 Adults and 2 Kids. Add that to your flight, accomodation, shopping, airport to hotel transfers and other miscellaneous expenses to get your trip budget out. Have fun planning!
Hi,
Your blog with the details on Japan is god sent.
There is so much info which is so useful because we are planning our first visit to Japan and preferably Hokkaido and Tokyo in early Dec, if time permits.
May I ask, based on your experience, if that is recommended? To visit both places? And in Hokkaido, what if we do not wish to drive? What are some options?
Thank you again for sharing your experiences.
Hi Ivy,
We are glad you find our blog useful. Doing Tokyo and Hokkaido is certainly possible although the clothes and shoes for both places will likely vary quite drastically – you are likely to need snow boots in Hokkaido (recommended) while you may need just a good pair of walking boots or insulated shoes for Tokyo. If you do not wish to drive in Hokkaido we can recommend staying in Rusutsu or Tomamu which has everything from eateries to snow slopes and snow-based activities. For Rusustsu we know that there’s a bus that takes you from the airport and back. Hope it helps!
Hi, may I know which route did you use to get to lake toya from Sapporo? Thanks