Hot Springs of Tohoku

Sapporo

Your private local guide will meet you at your hotel and will show you around Sapporo. Your guide will not work from a predetermined itinerary and will show you sights that are interesting to you. They are also very flexible and can make on the fly changes to fit your style, mood, weather and crowds. Possible sights in Sapporo include the Sapporo Snow Festival (in February), the Moerenuma Park, the Historic Village and so on. Only the best local guides can offer this kind of flexibility. Due to the flexible nature of your sightseeing, we do not include transportation, entry fees or meals while you are with your guide. If you have any specific sights you want to visit with your guide please let us know.

Day trip to Otaru

From Sapporo an excellent side trip is to travel to Otaru. Originally a quaint fishing village was established during the Edo Period (1603 to 1868) as an outpost of the Wajinchi district administered from the castle town of Matsumae. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains, while the fourth faces Ishikari Bay.

Today you will travel south from Sapporo to Jozankei Onsen (hot spring) which is located inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park in the valley created by the Toyohira River. Located just an hour outside of Sapporo it is a favorite escape for the city life of residents and is fairly well developed with many ryokan inns, shops and restaurants. Near the center of town you will find Iwato Kannondo is a unique temple partially located in a cave. This temple is dedicated to road workers who were killed during the construction of a highway tunnel.

Today you will stay at a Ryokan (Traditional Inn) in Yunokawa Onsen on the outskirts of Hakodate city. Japanese consider Yunokawa Onsen as one of the three major hot springs in Hokkaido. Here you will be soaking in a tub of hot spring water decreasing stress and anxiety.In the evening you will be served dinner at your ryokan.

Aoni Onsen Ryokan

Today you will travel to Aoni Onsen which is a secluded hot spring area known for its lack of electricity and cell phone reception. This will allow you to completely escape modern society and to connect with Japan. Your ryokan has indoor and outdoor hot spring baths for both women and men (same gender only) and a mixed hot spring bath for both men and women. In the evening you will be served traditional Japanese-style cuisine. Since the ryokan has no electricity the corridors are decorated with oil lamps which creates a warm atmosphere in the dark environment. The darkness helps create a sense of anonymity while the lack of technological distractions help in communication with other travelers.

Kakunodate

This morning you will travel to Kakunodate. A former castle and samurai town in Akita Prefecture. It’s located in a remote area of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. Though the castle no longer remains, its samurai and merchant districts are relatively unchanged from its founding in 1620. At one time about 80 families lived in Kakunodate’s samurai district. Several well-preserved houses dating back to the town’s early years provide a glimpse into the life of a samurai. The Aoyagi House, with its thatched roof, is one of the most interesting. Part of an estate, its warehouses have been turned into museums that contain historical artifacts such as old bicycles, farm equipment, and samurai armor. The cherry tree in its garden is almost 300 years old. The Ishiguro House has a collection of samurai armor and clothing on display.

This morning you will head for a the remote hot spring town of Shidotaira Onsen where you are going to stay at a traditional Japanese inn where dinner will be waiting for you. Relax in a hot spring bath and enjoy yourself in peace.

This morning after breakfast in Matsushima you will travel to Togatta Onsen. Togatta Onsen is a hot spring town lined with studios handcrafting traditional Kokeshi dolls.

The final day has come; today you will fly home with memories that you will keep for the rest of your life.