Active Northern Japan: Self-Launched Winter in Tokyo & Hokkaido

Touch down at Narita or Haneda Airport and make your way into the city. Take the Narita Express (N'EX) or Keikyu Line respectively — both are straightforward and cost around £10–15. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in Asakusa or Shinjuku, great neighbourhoods to base yourself for exploring the city. Spend the evening wandering the neon-lit streets, grabbing ramen or sushi at a local spot, and orienting yourself with a convenience store bento if you arrive late.

🚌Narita Express or Keikyu Line from airport to city centre (~£10–15)

🛏Khaosan Tokyo Ninja Hostel (Asakusa) or similar budget hotel — approx £20–30/night

• →Arrive and transfer to central Tokyo via Narita Express (~£12) or Keikyu Line (~£8)
• →Check into hostel/budget hotel in Asakusa or Shinjuku
• →Evening stroll around your neighbourhood — Asakusa or Shinjuku are great for first-night vibes
• →Dinner at a local ramen or izakaya restaurant (~£8–12)

Explore Tokyo's iconic landmarks at your own pace — no group required. Start early at Meiji Shrine (free entry) in the peaceful forested grounds of Harajuku, then walk down Takeshita Street for Tokyo's famous youth fashion scene. Head to Asakusa to see the iconic Sensoji Temple and browse Nakamise shopping street for snacks and souvenirs. In the afternoon, visit Akihabara for electronics and anime culture, or wind down in Ueno Park. Tokyo's subway system is one of the world's best — a day pass (~£7) makes getting around effortless.

🚌Tokyo Metro day pass (~£7)

🛏Khaosan Tokyo Ninja Hostel (Asakusa) or similar — approx £20–30/night

• →Meiji Shrine visit — free entry, forested grounds ideal for a morning walk
• →Harajuku's Takeshita Street — youth fashion, crepes, and street culture
• →Asakusa Sensoji Temple and Nakamise shopping street — free to explore
• →Akihabara electronics and anime district — free to browse
• →Ueno Park stroll (free) — optional Tokyo National Museum entry ~£8
• →Tokyo Metro day pass (~£7)

Fly from Tokyo (Haneda) to Memanbetsu Airport in eastern Hokkaido — book directly with ANA or JAL for the best prices, ideally in advance (~£60–90 one way). From Memanbetsu, take a local bus or pre-arranged shuttle towards Utoro, the gateway town to Shiretoko National Park (~£12–18 by bus). Check into a guesthouse or small hotel in Utoro. This evening, grab dinner at a local seafood restaurant — Hokkaido is famous for its incredible crab, salmon, and uni. An early night is wise: snowshoe adventures start tomorrow.

🚌Domestic flight Haneda–Memanbetsu (~£60–90) + bus to Utoro (~£12–18)

🛏Shiretoko Guesthouse Morinokuma or similar in Utoro — approx £25–35/night

• →Morning flight: Haneda to Memanbetsu Airport with ANA or JAL (~£60–90 — book in advance)
• →Bus or shared shuttle from Memanbetsu Airport to Utoro (~£12–18)
• →Check into guesthouse in Utoro
• →Dinner at a local Hokkaido seafood restaurant (~£15–20)

Strap on some snowshoes and explore the extraordinary Shiretoko Five Lakes area, where five caldera lakes formed by Mount Lo's ancient eruptions lie frozen and snow-blanketed in winter. Book a guided snowshoe tour directly with a local Shiretoko operator such as Shiretoko Nature Cruise or Field House (approx £40–55 per person including snowshoe rental) — guides are required in the Five Lakes area during winter for wildlife safety. Keep your eyes peeled for Steller's sea eagles, Hokkaido deer, and foxes. In the afternoon, explore Utoro town freely.

🚌Local taxi or shuttle to Five Lakes trailhead (~£8–12 return)

🛏Shiretoko Guesthouse Morinokuma or similar — approx £25–35/night

• →Shiretoko Five Lakes snowshoe guided tour — book directly with local operators like Field House or Shiretoko Sightseeing (~£40–55 incl. equipment)
• →Wildlife spotting: Steller's sea eagles, Hokkaido deer, foxes
• →Afternoon free in Utoro — explore the village and waterfront
• →Hot spring (onsen) soak at a local bathhouse (~£5–8)

Rise early for a four-hour snowshoe trek through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shiretoko Primeval Forest — dramatic cliff edges hang over the turquoise Sea of Okhotsk below. Book this independently through local operators like Go! Shiretoko or Arctic Dream (~£45–60). In the afternoon, join a drift ice walking experience — one of Hokkaido's most unique winter adventures. You'll don a drysuit and walk, float, and crawl across the seasonal sea ice that drifts in from Russia each winter. Book directly with Shiretoko Nature Cruise (~£40–55). This is genuinely bucket-list stuff.

🚌Local shuttle to trailhead and ice walking point (~£10–15 total)

🛏Shiretoko Guesthouse Morinokuma or similar — approx £25–35/night

• →Morning 4-hour Primeval Forest snowshoe guided trek (~£45–60, book directly with Go! Shiretoko or Arctic Dream)
• →Afternoon drift ice walking experience in drysuits (~£40–55 with Shiretoko Nature Cruise or similar)
• →Wildlife spotting: flying squirrels, Steller's sea eagles, Japanese deer
• →Evening hot spring at guesthouse or local sento (~£5)

Today is dedicated to the rich culture of the Ainu people, Hokkaido's Indigenous community. Make your way from Utoro towards Akan (approx 2 hours by bus or shared taxi) and visit the Ainu Kotan village — one of Japan's largest Ainu settlements, beside the beautiful Lake Akan. Explore the craft workshops, see traditional Iyomante fire ceremony performances, and browse handmade woodcarvings and textiles. The Upopoy National Ainu Museum in Shiraoi (if routing via train) is also outstanding — opened in 2020 and covers Ainu history, language, and traditions in depth.

🚌Bus or shared taxi Utoro to Akan (~£15–25)

🛏Guesthouse near Akan or Shiraoi — approx £25–35/night

• →Travel from Utoro to Akan or Shiraoi by bus/shared taxi (~£15–25)
• →Ainu Kotan village visit at Lake Akan — free to explore, craft workshops and performances (~£5–15)
• →Traditional Ainu music and dance performance (~£8–12)
• →Upopoy National Ainu Museum entry if routing via Shiraoi (~£8)
• →Try traditional Ainu cuisine — ohaw (soup) and cep (salmon dishes)

Make your way to Sapporo, Hokkaido's vibrant capital. Depending on your previous night's location, take a JR train (~£15–25, 2–3 hours from various Hokkaido points). Sapporo is famous for its beer, ramen, and winter festival. Check into a budget hotel or hostel in the central Susukino or Odori area. Spend the afternoon exploring Odori Park (site of the famous Snow Festival), the Sapporo Beer Museum (free entry, tastings ~£5), and the historic Clock Tower. In the evening, head to Susukino for Sapporo ramen — try the rich miso variety that was born in this city.

🚌JR train to Sapporo (~£15–25)

🛏Sapporo International Youth Hostel or Untapped Hostel Sapporo — approx £20–30/night

• →JR train to Sapporo (~£15–25 depending on origin point)
• →Odori Park and Sapporo TV Tower observation (~£6)
• →Sapporo Beer Museum — free entry, optional tasting set (~£5)
• →Historic Clock Tower — free exterior, ~£2 interior
• →Evening Sapporo miso ramen dinner in Susukino (~£8–12)

Take a day trip from Sapporo to either Niseko or Furano — two of the world's best ski resorts, famous for Hokkaido's legendary powder snow (the driest, lightest powder on earth). Niseko is accessible by JR train to Kutchan (~£15 each way, 2 hours) or by shuttle bus. A full-day lift pass at Niseko Grand Hirafu costs approximately £55–70; ski/snowboard rental adds another £25–35. Alternatively, Furano is about 2 hours by JR train (~£12) and is less crowded with equally incredible snow. Non-skiers can enjoy snowshoe tours, snow tubing, or snowcat rides at either resort.

🚌JR train to Niseko or Furano and back (~£24–30 return)

🛏Sapporo International Youth Hostel or similar — approx £20–30/night

• →JR train or shuttle to Niseko or Furano (~£12–15 each way)
• →Full-day ski/snowboard lift pass (~£55–70 at Niseko Grand Hirafu)
• →Ski or snowboard equipment rental (~£25–35)
• →Non-skier alternatives: snowshoe tour, snow tubing (~£20–30)
• →Après-ski drinks and meal at resort (~£15–20)

Board a JR train from Sapporo to Noboribetsu (~45 minutes, ~£8), Hokkaido's most famous onsen town. Visit Jigokudani (Hell Valley) — a volcanic crater belching sulphurous steam, surrounded by orange and grey rock formations. It's free to walk through and utterly dramatic. Noboribetsu Onsen offers some of Japan's most mineral-rich hot springs — nine different spring types in one town. Book into a day-use onsen at Dai-ichi Takimotokan or Noboribetsu Grand Hotel (~£15–20 for a day pass), or simply use a public sento (~£5). Return to Sapporo in the evening.

🚌JR train return to Noboribetsu (~£16 total)

🛏Sapporo International Youth Hostel or similar — approx £20–30/night

• →JR train Sapporo to Noboribetsu (~£8, 45 mins)
• →Jigokudani (Hell Valley) walk — free entry
• →Day-use hot spring (onsen) at Dai-ichi Takimotokan or similar (~£15–20)
• →Browse Noboribetsu town's souvenir shops and try bear-shaped sweets
• →Return JR train to Sapporo (~£8)

Take a short JR train from Sapporo to Otaru (~30 minutes, ~£5) — a beautiful historic port town famous for its snow-lantern festival, canal district, glassblowing workshops, and incredible sushi. Spend the morning exploring the canal, visiting the music box museum, and browsing seafood stalls on Sushiya Street. In the afternoon, head back to your Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) for tonight's stay — check in, change into your yukata robe, and enjoy a multi-course kaiseki dinner included with your stay. End the night with a private or shared onsen bath at the ryokan.

🚌JR train return to Otaru (~£10 total)

🛏Jozankei Tsurugishi Ryokan or similar traditional inn near Sapporo — approx £80–120/night (includes dinner and breakfast)

• →JR train Sapporo to Otaru (~£5, 30 mins)
• →Otaru Canal district walk — free
• →Otaru Music Box Museum (~£2 entry)
• →Sushiya Street — fresh Hokkaido sushi lunch (~£15–25)
• →Return to Sapporo and check into ryokan
• →Kaiseki dinner included with ryokan stay
• →Private or communal onsen bath at the ryokan

Enjoy your ryokan's included Japanese breakfast before checking out. If your flight departs from New Chitose Airport (Sapporo's main airport), take the JR Airport Line (~£10, 40 minutes) from Sapporo Station. If you have a late flight, there's still time for a final bowl of miso ramen at the famous Ramen Alley (Ganso Ramen Yokocho) in Sapporo's Susukino district, or pick up last-minute Hokkaido omiyage (souvenirs) — butter biscuits, white chocolate, and miso caramels are iconic choices. Safe travels!

🚌JR Airport Line to New Chitose Airport (~£10)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Ryokan Japanese breakfast (included)
• →Final ramen at Ganso Ramen Yokocho (Ramen Alley) if time allows (~£8–10)
• →Last-minute omiyage shopping for Hokkaido specialities
• →JR Airport Line to New Chitose Airport (~£10, 40 mins)