Additional Info:

    • Climate

      Japan's climate is mostly temperate, with five distinct seasons. Summer is from June to September with temperatures reaching 30°c, although it can vary from warm to very hot after mid-July with temperatures in the mid-30s. July and August can be very hot and humid. Spring and Autumn are mild throughout Japan. Winter, October to April, is cold with snowfall. The main rainy season is June. Japan can be prone to short, tropical cyclones in August to October. October / November although cooler is a great time to see the Autumn colours. For trips that visit the Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani Onsen, you're very likely to see them all year around, aside from in October/November when there is enough food in the forest to prevent them coming down to the baths. You may still see some at this time but not in the numbers found during the rest of the year.While you don't have to be an expert to take part in our walking tour, a good level of fitness and an enjoyment of the outdoors will help.

    • Religion: Buddhism, Christian and Shinto.

    • Language: Japanese.

  • Optional activities

    The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.

    Sapporo Brewery visit - 4000 Yen per person including dinner (main dish lamb) - generally very busy during the festival, so advance booking recommended.

    Day trip to Nara - 1500 Yen per person return train ticket, plus entrance fees.

    Clothing

    Rain gear is essential. You will need warm clothing for this trip as both daytime and night time temperatures are cold. Expect it to be around -1 degrees centigrade during the day and sinking to minus 8 or beyond during the night. A warm jacket, hat, gloves and thick socks are a good idea to keep your extremities warm. Long johns, leggings or thermal under garments will help you keep the cold out.

    Footwear

    Comfortable walking boots with good grip for walking around the ice festival. There will be plenty of snow so good waterproof footwear is a must since you will be walking on challenging surfaces, including ice and sludge.

    Luggage

    20kg

    Luggage: On tour

    You should take one main piece of baggage and a daypack. Your main luggage won't always accompany you, being forwarded on Day 3 from Tokyo to Sapporo arriving on day 5, and from Sapporo to Kyoto on day 7 arriving on day 9. Your daypack should therefore have sufficient space for your things for 2 nights on two occasions. The reason we include this luggage forwarding service is to avoid being encumbered on the train journeys where we also use public transport to get to and from the stations, where you will be responsible for your luggage, and this will involve train connections where you will need to change platforms in stations where there are no lifts or escalators and with a limited connection time. Additionally we cannot guarantee space will be available for luggage storage at the icebreaker cruise terminal.

    Equipment

    Bring a water bottle to save on purchase of plastic bottles and a small torch. A tote bag will help avoid having to use plastic bags when shopping. Hairdryers are provided at all the hotels.

  • Transport Information

    Bus, Boat, Flight, Train

    Accommodation notes

    While clean and comfortable, hotel rooms and ensuite bathrooms in Japan are often much smaller than in other destinations. This is due to the pressure on space in high density urban areas coupled with Japanese expectations about size of living spaces. It is unlikely that you will be able to keep your main luggage open at all times especially when sharing the room. For this reason and the fact we use a lot of public transport, you may consider packing light. See Luggage information also.

    Food and drink

    Food in Japan is of paramount importance culturally and is often a highlight for those visitors interested in different cuisines. Options for vegetarians are limited as fish and seafood plays an important part in local cuisine and many vegetable dishes are cooked in fish broth. The included meals do not cover alcoholic or soft drinks. For people with severe allergies please note that it will be impossible to cater without risk of cross contamination, depending on the specific allergy, as the meal is often prepared by one chef in a limited kitchen for all guests staying at the guesthouse. You should always advise us of any allergies but in this case please enquire at time of booking or prior to travel to see what will be possible. For others with allergies and preferences in their diet please note that we will try to accommodate but, while the meal will be plentiful, you may be offered slightly less choice than others.

  • For these group tours, the minimum age is 16.

  • It is a condition of booking that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday.

Japan Sapporo Snow Festival

Now discounted for upcoming departures

  • February 2-12, 2025 - $7350 CAD (was $7920)

  • February 4-14, 2025 - $7920 CAD

  • Solo travellers can request a single supplement ($1620 CAD) or be paired with another traveller of the same gender. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking.

This exciting journey takes us to the far north of Japan where we make the most of the winter temperatures, taking an ice-breaker cruise in the Sea of Okhotsk before spending time admiring the incredible snow sculptures at the annual Sapporo Snow Festival. We also explore ultra-modern Tokyo and discover tranquil Zen gardens in ancient Kyoto.

Why you’ll love this trip:

Sapporo Snow Festival - Discover huge snow sculptures and impressive ice carvings

Kyoto - See the traditional side of Japan, stunning temples and immaculate Zen gardens

Hokkaido - Visit Japan's northernmost island in the heart of winter

Included: 10 breakfasts, 5 dinners. Tour leader. Transportation by bus, boat flight and train. Accommodation of 10 nights in a comfortable hotel.

Group Size: 16 max. Average 10.

Trip Pace: Full On. Full on pace trips are for travellers who like their holidays packed with activities and experiences, moving on quickly from place to place with lots of early start and long busy days. This trips pack your holiday experience with as much experience as possible.

Daily Itinerary

  • Arrive in Tokyo, the ultra-modern capital of Japan.

    For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6.30pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. If some of the group are arriving on later flights then the main introductory briefing will be conducted on the morning of day 2 with everybody present. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Tokyo at any time. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

  • It is said that over one quarter of Japanese live within a 50 km radius of the centre of Tokyo. The result is a bustling and exciting city, an economic powerhouse of Asia. Our first introduction to this unique culture is when we take a walking tour of the city highlights, using public transport to travel between neighbourhoods. Starting in Asakusa district we discover Senso-ji Temple which deserves to be high on any explorer's list. The oldest temple in the city, it is entered through the imposing Thunder Gate, flanked on either side by massive fierce statues of the gods of wind and rain.

    We then board a boat for a short journey along the Sumida-gawa river to the traditionally styled Hamarikyu gardens. The gardens are located in central Toyko and feature several seawater ponds which change levels as the tides rise and fall. This journey offers a totally different perspective of Tokyo, as we sail past high rise apartments, secluded gardens and busy warehouses.

    Next we visit Meiji Jingu - an important Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of the first Emperor and Empress of modern Japan at the end of Japan's feudal era. Its forested grounds offer a peaceful haven in this densely built-up city. Our final stop is Shibuya, known for one of the busiest crossings in the world Shibuya is a hub of up and coming fashion, technology and design in Tokyo with a variety of shops, museum and galleries to explore. We have included entrance to the Shibuya Sky Building which you can explore at leisure. The rest of the afternoon is left free and it is easy to return to Asakusa by metro or continue to the skyscraper district of Shinjuku.

    Tonight, we'll stay in a simple resort-style hotel with three accommodation blocks and a main building that has a bar, restaurant, and swimming pool. All rooms have en-suite facilities. Note, the property is graded as simple due to its basic furnishings and décor.

  • This morning we leave the capital and after a transfer to Haneda Airport we take a flight to Abashiri, located on the Okhotsk Coast of the island of Hokkaido. The Ainu are a people indigenous to the lands of northern Japan, with a cultural background that differs from the prevailing Yamato Japanese. After landing in Abashiri we plan to visit the Museum of Northern Peoples to learn more about culture and traditional everyday life of the Ainu and other people that inhabit the northern, subarctic regions of the world. We drive from here the short distance to our hotel for the night.

    We include the luggage forwarding service today to ship our main bags to Sapporo which will arrive on day 5, so you will need to pack your day bag for two nights. Please refer to the Trip Information; Budgeting and packing; Luggage on tour section for more information.

  • Abashiri is Japan's northernmost major city located at 44 degrees north latitude. From mid-January to late March the waters here are covered in drift ice and we will be taking a short cruise through the Sea of Okhotsk to get to the main drift ice areas. With luck, a variety of wild animals can be seen including seals and sea eagles resting on the ice. From the ship you can also sometimes spot fox and deer on the coast. The boat ride takes about one hour in total depending on ice conditions. We catch a local bus to the train station where we spend the afternoon travelling by train to Sapporo, a scenic route with views across the snow covered landscape, with one change of trains along the way and arriving in the early evening.

    We'll stay in simple apartments surrounded by fruit trees and with sea views from the ground-floor terrace. It's just a short walk from the beach if you fancy a dip, and breakfast is served with a view of the waves at the beachfront restaurant. All rooms are en-suite with minimal furnishings.

  • We spend the full day exploring the annual Snow and Ice festival. The festival first began in 1950 but gained worldwide recognition in 1972 when Sapporo hosted the winter Olympic Games. We will see all of the main venues that have snow statues and ice sculptures including Odori Park, Tsudome dome and the main street in Susukino, Sapporo's entertainment quarter. We will also take time to stop at one of the many ice bars that pop up during the festival. In the evening there is an option to visit the Sapporo Brewery for a tour.

  • This morning we have some free time to further enjoy Sapporo and its surroundings. A great option is to take a bus to the Hill of the Buddha, a striking shrine which features a 13.5 metre high Buddha statue surrounded by an artificial hill covered with Lavender plants. In the afternoon we take the train to Otaru, a small town set along the Otaru Canal. The town is best known for the Snow Light Path festival when the snow-covered streets are decorated with small snow statues adorned with lights, particularly alongside the canal. We arrive slightly too early for the festival in 2024 but a walk around the town is delightful at any time. The town is also famous for fish and seafood and local dish you may like to try is kaisendon - seafood rice bowl. For those interested we can visit one of Otaru's famous beer halls, returning to Sapporo by train in the late evening.

  • Leaving Sapporo we take the train (4 hours) to Hakodate, located on the south-west corner of Hokkaido Island. Hakodate was one of the first ports to open to foreign trade in 1854 and as such has a distinct blend of Japanese and Western architecture. This afternoon we wander through Motomachi district, a neighbourhood favoured by the new foreign residents located at the base of Mount Hakodate, which gives an insight in to how the traders lived and how the cultures merged. In the evening we take a trip to Mount Hakodate for spectacular views down across the city.

    We include the luggage forwarding service today to ship our main bags to Kyoto which will arrive on day 9, so you will need to pack your day bag for two nights. Please refer to the Trip Information; Budgeting and packing; Luggage on tour section for more information.

  • Today is a day of travel as we make our way across Japan by train to Kyoto, the old Imperial capital. We will either depart at around 09.00 or 06.00 and the journey takes around 8 to 9 hours with a change of trains in Tokyo. It is a great opportunity to relax and take in the scenery and the high tech efficiency of Japan's wonderful rail system, complete with an undersea rail tunnel between Hokkaido and the main island. If time allows, you may choose to get up early to see traders in Hakodate's morning market selling fresh seafood that the island is famous for, such as crabs (kani) and sea urchins (uni).

    Kyoto is the cradle of all things uniquely Japanese and the only large city to escape bombing in WWII. It was the Imperial capital for more than 1000 years and was at the heart of the events that shaped Japan's destiny. Signs of the past are visible throughout the city in its grand temples and palaces and also the many traditional shops selling wares that have been produced for centuries.

  • Kyoto is regarded as the place to see everything you expect to experience in Japan, with more than 2000 temples and shrines, many set in manicured landscaped gardens. But it is also a modern city. We spend a full day, making use of public transport, to explore the city including a visit to the temple of the Golden Pavillion and Ryonji temple with its beautiful zen gardens. To take a break from the sites, and the cold outdoors, we have planned a private tea ceremony today to learn all about the culture around this practice.

  • Today is a free day to explore Kyoto at your leisure. You may wish to take a trip to nearby Nara, home to the Todaiji Temple, Big Buddha and the Kasuga Shrine. Your Tour Leader will be on hand to give you tips on where to visit and make the best of your time in this beautiful city.

  • The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Kyoto.

    There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Kyoto at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel, while you head out for some last minute shopping or sightseeing.

    The nearest departure airport is Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX), which is around one and a half to two hours away.

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