Day 1
Morioka Castle Site Park & Koiwai Farm, Iwate
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Morioka Castle Site Park
Start your first day in Tohoku, Japan by paying a visit to Morioka Castle, located not far from JR Morioka station (about 10 mins by car)! This beautiful three-story castle was used as the residence of the Nambu lords (Japanese samurai clan that ruled most of the Tohoku region) in the early days back in 16-17th century. The castle was once demolished in 1874, but it was revived in 1906 and was turned into “Morioka Castle Site Park” in 2006 to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Although the historical castle no longer stands today, its beautiful stone walls still can be seen throughout the park.
Koiwai Farm
Then, travel to the Koiwai Farm (6 mins by car from JR Koiwai Station), the popular tourist destination for its dairy products. Here at Koiwai Farm, you can get to enjoy unique experiences such as milking a cow, taking a ride on a horse and watching the sheep-and-dog show! You can even observe sunspots (dark spots that appear on the sun’s surface due to cooler temperature compared to other parts of the sun) by day and the expanse of the stars by night at the Makiba Astronomical Observatory. Never forget to try out their rich, milky soft serve ice cream made from the farm’s fresh milk and eggs, and the fluffy omelette stuffed with rice too!
Day 2
Lake Tazawa & Nyuto Onsenkyo at Semboku, Akita
Lake Tazawa
Lake Tazawa is known as the deepest lake in Japan (423m) and also the home to Goza-no-ishi shrine. The outline of the lake looks like a perfect round in shape mirror that allows you to see the reflection of the surrounding mountains! Due to the changes of seasons and depth of light throughout the year, the colour of the lake will turn from jade green to indigo blue. You have to see this by yourself! What’s more? There is a symbolic golden statue of legendary maiden called Tatsuko that has turned into a dragon guardian of the lake due to her desire for eternal beauty.
Nyuto Onsenkyo
After a long day of sightseeing, Nyuto Onsenkyo (Hot Spring Village) will be a great option to pamper yourself by relaxing your body and refreshing your mind! It is a hot spring village at the base of Mount Nyuto in Akita Prefecture. There are seven onsen ryokans available, including Tsurunoyu, Taenoyu, Kuroyu Onsen, Ganiba Onsen, Magoroku Onsen, Ogama Onsen, and Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo. Each ryokan has its own uniqueness can be differentiated with their water quality. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery as you soak in the outdoor bath surrounded by the virgin beech forest.
Day 3
Tanesashi Coast & Choshi Otaki Falls, Aomori
Tanesashi Coast
Tanesashi Coast is situated in Hachinohe city of Aomori Prefecture. This wonderful spot was filled with various natural attractions such as Nakisuna with its nickname called “singing sand” where you will notice there are sounds when you step or walk around the landscape. The coast is located near to the city center, which makes it easily accessible for the locals and visitors for trekking, swimming and surfing in the ocean. Also, the coastal line consists of a walking trail is a popular walking spot for visitors too. If you are interested to cycle in this area, electric bicycles with GPS and audio navigation devices are available for rental from spring to summer as well.
Choshi Otaki Falls
Choshi Otaki Falls is originating from Lake Towada, it is known as the best waterfall on the main stream of the Oirase Gorge. Although it is 7m high with a width of 20m, its dynamic appearance has attracted numbers of footfalls to pay a visit here. The water that flows down is capable to generate massive splashes that consist the ability to heal you with its negative ions. You also can enjoy wonderous sceneries differ from various settings throughout all four seasons.
Day 4
Former Hirosaki City Library & Aomori Museum of Art, Aomori
Former Hirosaki City Library
The Former Hirosaki City Library (Hirosaki) is a 3-story wooden Renaissance-style Western building with the identical twin octagonal towers on both sides. In the year of 1906, the entire library was constructed as a commemoration of the victory of the Russo-Japanese War. With its remarkable history, the building has ceased its library operation in 1931 and now visitors still manage to take a look at the local publications and literary documents on display units.
Aomori Museum of Art
Aomori Museum of Art (Aomori) was established and was mainly used to promote the arts of Northern Tohoku region. Their architecture is highly inspired by the adjacent excavation site, Sannai-Maruyama Historical Site. The permanent collection is one of the key highlights that features three of four backdrops of the iconic ballet Aleko painted by Master Marc Chagall. Beyond these masterpieces, the museum also holds a wide array of artifacts from Japanese paintings to western paintings, as well as modern art pieces. A must-visit spot for all art lovers!
Day 5
Miharashi Park & Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden (Hot-Tubbing Monkeys), Hokkaido
Miharashi Park
Miharashi Park, often known as the landscape-style garden, was built as a villa by the wealthy Iwafune merchant family in the 1890s. It is now the only garden in Hokkaido to have been nationally designated as a cultural property. Approximately 150 species of trees can be seen, with cherry blossoms in spring and autumn colours across the foliage in fall. Besides, traditional architecture can also be found in the garden, like the Sonotei building with unique interior, is designed according to the style of an old shoin, creating incredible landscapes and atmospheres across the park.
Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden
In the afternoon, have fun watching these human-like monkeys playing, swimming, and interacting with their fellow monkeys at Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden. It is located at a nook of Yunokawa hot spring area and there are a lot of Japanese monkeys residing in this botanical garden. During winter, the pool filled with hot spring water attracts a lot of monkeys to soak themselves in the hot water happily. That would make a lovely picture, especially on a snowy day. To grab their attention, you can purchase some monkey biscuits at the entrance!
Day 6
Lake-Hill Farm & Canoe in Lake Toya, Hokkaido
Lake-Hill Farm
Lake-Hill Farm is located in southern Hokkaido with spectacular views of both Lake Toya and Mount Yotei. You can see the cows which are well taken care of roaming freely in the nature. In order to produce delicious milk, the cows were fed with high-quality grasses and its soil is maintained day in and day out basis. The dairy farmers are putting their efforts to maintain a good diet for the cows. The farm has also a shop and cafe where you can sit back and enjoy the chilling environment with natural sights.
Canoe in Lake Toya
Since Lake Toya is just few minutes away, let’s try out canoeing activities after a great time interacting with cows in Lake-Hill Farm! Lake Toya is located in the southwestern region of Hokkaido, and its unique formation was caused by a volcanic eruption over 100,000 years ago. Canoeing across the lake and surround yourself with natural beauty including the rough terrain leaves you unforgettable memories as it will change from season to season, how cool is that!
Day 7
Cape Kamui & Otaru Canal, Hokkaido
Cape Kamui
Cape Kamui is located in Shakotan of the western Hokkaido near Otaru. It is marked as the favourite spot for sea lovers where visitors often came here for diving and snorkelling session. Besides, there are guided tours that offer visitors various exciting activities including sea kayak and witness dolphins, whales and other sea creatures in person. Aside from water sports, variety of outdoor sports can be found from the large mountain resort areas on the peninsula too. When you're all done, you can relax in local hot springs and try out the delicious Shakotan blue soft serve.
Otaru Canal
Otaru Canal is situated in the central of Otaru city. This wonderful spot was once a busy port and also major channel for transportation during the good old days. It has now turned into one of the Hokkaido’s famous sightseeing spots where the warehouses were beautifully restored and transformed into museums, shops and restaurants. In the evening, the canal and warehouses are all lit up, leaving a romantic atmosphere that allows young lovers to take a romantic stroll along the walk way.
Day 8
Nijo Market & Sapporo Art Park, Hokkaido
Nijo Market
Nijo Fish Market is renowned as the heaven for seafood lovers. Nijo Fish Market consists approximately 15 fisheries and fishmongers while each store has their own unique selection of “Catch of the day” to make themselves stand out among other stores. Be cautious when you are strolling around as the display seafood will keep you drooling and hungry at all times!
Sapporo Art Park
In Sapporo Art Park, there are two facilities available, which are the Sapporo Sculpture Garden and the Sapporo Art Museum. Fees are required for some part of the facilities but majority of the park and its artwork are free to view. There are over 70 art objects scattered in the park. You are free to roam and enjoy yourself within the compound area. Furthermore, the park offers educational projects and you will get to learn arts and crafts like pottery, printing, and more. There are also ongoing events will be held throughout the year, including performances, exhibitions and musicals.
Day 9
Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort & Hoheikyo Dam, Hokkaido
Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort
At the Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort in Japan, it’s well known that it snows a lot! It is also one of the best powder snow slopes in Hokkaido that can be enjoyed by beginners, advanced skiers, and families. During daytime, you can experience the spectacular view of the sea from the top of the mountain. You can also enjoy long cruising with a maximum gliding distance of 3.6km.
Hoheikyo Dam
Hoheikyo Dam is located in Shikotsu Toya National Park with 102.5m tall. Due to the dam is based in environmental protection area, all vehicles are prohibited. In order to get in to the dam from car park, visitors can opt for hybrid electric bus service or you can move your muscle with a 20-minute walk. Hoheikyo Dam is a beautiful location and during autumn, the views of the autumn leaves are spectacular and it’s a must see!
Day 10
Ikoro no Mori & Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido
Ikoro no Mori
At Ikoro no Mori, there are 11 types of gardens unique to northern countries, such as rose garden, white garden, and border garden that nurture the rich nature of Hokkaido. Each garden was filled with different species of flowers and plants which make it the perfect spot for photo shooting session. There is also a restaurant that makes use of seasonal ingredients from the region which make it so unique compared to another restaurant.
Noboribetsu Onsen
Noboribetsu Onsen is one of the three most famous hot springs in the entire northern island of Hokkaido. This amazing spot is situated in the north-east part of Muroran City at the foot of the volcanic Mount Hiyori. Due to the location, the atmosphere around the town is extremely fascinating, where you can witness boiling water gushing and bubbling, and steam billowing through the valley.
