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2012-07 Japan Trip Plan

Schedule

Friday, July 13: Arrive in Sapporo [Beginning of Tour]
Saturday, July 14: Sapporo [Tour]
  • Depart hotel at 9 am
  • Sapporo Winter Sports Museum (need admission)
  • Shiroikoibito Park (need admission)
  • Central Wholesale Market
  • Lunch at Central Market (seafood donburi)
  • Odori Park, clock tower, TV tower
  • Self-arranged dinner
  • Accommodation: Sapporo Grand Hotel
Sunday, July 15: Toya [Tour]
  • After breakfast, head toward Toya (2 hours)
  • Mt. Usu Ropeway (need admission)
  • Lunch at Funkatei (set menu)
  • Nishiyama promenade
  • Lake Toya
  • Self-arranged dinner
  • Accommodation: Sapporo Grand Hotel
Monday, July 16: Furano [Tour]
  • After breakfast, head toward Furano (2.5 - 3 hours)
  • Cheese factory
  • Wine and juice factory
  • Lunch at Ikedaya (or similar) (set menu)
  • Tomita Farm
  • Shikisainooka Park
  • Biei area (patchwork scenery)
  • Self-arranged dinner
  • Accommodation: Sapporo Grand Hotel
Tuesday, July 17: Shiraoi, Otaru [Tour]
  • After check out, visit historical Village of Hokkaido (need admission)
  • Transfer to Shiraoi (1.5 hours)
  • Ainu Musem (need admission)
  • Lunch at a local restaurant (set menu)
  • Lake Shikotsu
  • Self-arranged dinner
  • Accommodation: Ryokan Kuramure
Wednesday, July 18: Otaru [Tour]
  • Otaru canal
  • Music box museum
  • Seafood BBQ lunch at Aburiya
  • Tanaka Sake factory
  • Self-arranged dinner
  • Accommodation: Ryokan Kuramure
Thursday, July 19: Transfer to Asahikawa [End of Tour]
Friday, July 20 - Wednesday, July 25: Daisetsuzan Traverse
  • Begin hike on the traverse
  • None of the bloggers (see Daisetsuzan Traverse section below) seem to have made it to Tokachidake Onsen (the endpoint of the traverse), but several left off at Shirogane Onsen, so maybe we should just aim for Shirogane Onsen
  • If we take the JR pass, we need to get back up to Asahikawa in order to change our exchange order for a JR pass since Furano does not have an exchange office
  • The Dohoku Bus has a route from Shirogane Onsen to Asahikawa (#39, see schedule) and costs around 1100 yen
  • Try to get to Asahikawa by Wednesday night so we can be at the exchange office when it opens at 9:30 am
Thursday, July 26: Travel from Hokkaido to Tokyo
  • Change exchange order for JR Pass
  • Head to Tokyo (~12 hours, see route schedule below)
Friday, July 27 - Saturday, July 28: Tokyo
  • Explore Tokyo
  • Meet up with Yu on Friday night
  • Take a side trip to Kamakura?
Sunday, July 29 - Tuesday, July 31: Kyoto
  • Explore Kyoto
  • Take a side trip to Nara? (Erin says maybe not worth it if we're short on time)
Wednesday, August 1: Osaka
  • Dinner with Tetsu
Thursday, August 2: Departure from Osaka
  • Depart Osaka (Kansai) at 20:40 and arrive Manila (Ninoy Aquino) at 23:50
  • Purchased 15 kg baggage allowance

Budget

 Flight from Osaka to Manila (Cebu Pacific) $594 (paid)
 Rail pass $690 (paid)
 Food (while camping): $9/day * 5 days $90
 Food (while not camping): $20/day * 9 days $360
 Accommodations (while camping): $0/day * 5 days $0
 Accommodations (while not camping): $30/day * 9 days $540
 Miscellaneous: $10/day * 14 days $280
 Total $2,554
 Total per day per person $85

Actual Expenses


Resources

Daisetsuzan Traverse

Map of surrounding area


Transportation Information

Japan Rail Pass v. Willer Express Bus Pass

7-day rail pass: 28,300 yen

4-day Willer Express bus pass: 12,000 yen
Furano - Sapporo (bus; 2,000 yen; 2.5 hours)
Sapporo - Hakodate (bus; 4,000 yen; 5.5 hours)
Hakodate - Aomori (ferry; 1,740 yen4 hours)
Total: 20,400 - 21,520 yen

OR

Furano - Tomakomai?
Sendai - Tokyo: 5 - 7 hours by Willer Express bus

Furano - Tokyo bus and ferry travel time (transfers and waiting not included): 12 hours + 9.5 hours (Aomori to Tokyo on Willer Express bus) = 21.5 hours
Furano - Tokyo rail travel time (includes transfers and waiting): 12 hours

Asahikawa to Tokyo Train Route


If leaving from Furano, maybe try to catch the Lavender-go bus, which stops in Furano, Kamifurano, and the JR Asahikawa station.

Places to Get JR Pass

Prices change depending on exchange rate. However, Nippon in Redwood City is consistently cheapest.

JTB (San Francisco): $345 (accepts credit card, can pick up in person)
HIS (San Francisco): $354 (accepts credit card, can pick up in person)
Nippon (Redwood City): $341 (accepts credit card, make order by email) **
Sankei Travel (San Francisco): DSL down, call back
TTA, Inc. (Belmont): $359

Other JR Pass Information

  • Exchange orders can only be changed for JR Passes at specific offices (note opening and closing times). The Furano station does not have an exchange office, but the Asahikawa one does. The Asahikawa office does not open until 9:30 am, though it seems the first train leaves at 9:00 am. The next train seems to leave at 10:45 am.
  • An application form needs to be filled out in order to change the exchange order for a rail pass.

Cebu Pacific Luggage Allowance

Hand Baggage allowed on board must not exceed the dimension 56cm x 36cm x 23 cm for Airbus flights and 56cm x 35cm x 20cm for ATR flights, and must not weigh more than seven (7) kilograms for Airbus flights (A319 and A320) and five (5) kilograms for selected ATR flights.






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