8 Days / 7 Nights. From ₹1,55,000 per person (twin sharing), plus 5% GST and 2% TCS.
An 8-day winter trip from Tokyo to Hokkaido, timed for the Sapporo Snow Festival (4–11 February 2027). After a night in Tokyo, the bullet train takes you through the Seikan Tunnel to Hakodate, then on to a hot-spring ryokan in Noboribetsu and four nights in Sapporo. From Sapporo you visit the festival sites, the canal town of Otaru, a ski area and the penguin walk at Asahiyama Zoo. Breakfast and dinner are included daily, and a 7-day Japan Rail Pass covers the trains.
Highlights
Sapporo Snow Festival: giant snow sculptures along Odori Park and ice sculptures in Susukino, lit up in the evening
Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo through the Seikan Tunnel to Hokkaido, on a 7-day Japan Rail Pass
Hakodate's night view from Mt Hakodate and its morning market
A night at a hot-spring ryokan in Noboribetsu, with a walk through steaming Jigokudani (Hell Valley)
Otaru's snow-lined canal, glass workshops and music box museum
A day at a ski area near Sapporo, with lessons for beginners and snow play for non-skiers
The winter penguin walk at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa (when there is enough snow)
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrive Tokyo — Arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport and clear immigration and customs. Your transfer to the hotel is by airport limousine bus or shared shuttle as per your quote; allow about 60–90 minutes from Narita or 30–45 minutes from Haneda. The hotel is close to Tokyo Station or Ueno for an easy start tomorrow. Check-in is usually from 3:00 pm. Dinner at a restaurant near the hotel, with vegetarian dishes…
Bullet train to Hokkaido · Hakodate night view — Your 7-day Japan Rail Pass starts today. Take the Hayabusa Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, about 4 hours, passing under the sea through the Seikan Tunnel, then the Hakodate Liner into the city (about 20 minutes). After check-in, walk through the red-brick warehouses on the bay. In the evening, ride the Mt Hakodate Ropeway up to see the city lights spread between two bays, one of…
Hakodate morning market · to Noboribetsu hot springs — After breakfast, walk through the Hakodate Morning Market next to the station, known for crabs, sea urchin and dried seafood, and see Goryokaku, the star-shaped fort, from the outside or from its tower (optional, paid). Around midday, take the Hokuto limited express to Noboribetsu (about 2.5 hours, covered by the JR Pass), then a local bus to the hot-spring town (about 15 minutes, paid…
To Sapporo · Snow Festival at Odori Park — After a morning bath and breakfast, return to Noboribetsu Station and take the limited express to Sapporo (about 1 hour 10 minutes, covered by the JR Pass). After leaving your bags at the hotel, walk along Odori Park, the main Snow Festival site, where large snow sculptures, smaller works and food stalls stretch for about 1.5 km; entry is free. Go up the Sapporo TV Tower for a view over the…
Otaru canal town — Take the JR train to Otaru along the coast (about 35–45 minutes). Walk along the snow-covered Otaru Canal and its old stone warehouses, then down Sakaimachi Street with its glass workshops, sweet shops and the Otaru Music Box Museum. If your dates match the Otaru Snow Light Path festival, usually held in early to mid-February, stay until dark to see the canal and lanes lit with snow lanterns.…
Ski day near Sapporo — Spend the day at Sapporo Teine or a similar ski area about 40–60 minutes from the city by resort bus. Beginners can book a 2-hour group or private lesson with English-speaking instructors; skis, boots, snow-wear and lift passes can all be hired on the spot. Non-skiers can play in the snow or try sledding or snow tubing where the area offers it. The lift pass, equipment hire, clothing hire and…
Asahikawa · Asahiyama Zoo penguin walk — Take the limited express to Asahikawa (about 1 hour 25 minutes, covered by the JR Pass), then the city bus to Asahiyama Zoo (about 40 minutes). In winter the zoo is open from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, and the king penguins usually take their walk through the snow at 11:00 am and 2:30 pm, when there is enough snow. The polar bear and seal enclosures, with their underwater viewing tubes, are also worth…
Departure from New Chitose Airport — Breakfast and check-out. Take the JR Rapid Airport train from Sapporo Station to New Chitose Airport (about 37 minutes, covered by the JR Pass on its last day), reaching about 3 hours before your flight. Flights to India from New Chitose connect via Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore or Hong Kong. Snow can delay flights in winter, so avoid tight connections.
Inclusions
7 nights' accommodation: 1 in Tokyo, 1 in Hakodate, 1 at a ryokan in Noboribetsu and 4 in Sapporo
Breakfast and dinner daily
7-day Japan Rail Pass (ordinary class), used from Day 2 to Day 8, covering the Shinkansen, limited express trains to Noboribetsu, Sapporo, Otaru and Asahikawa, and the airport train
Arrival transfer from Narita or Haneda Airport to the Tokyo hotel by airport bus or shared shuttle
Sightseeing as per the itinerary, with a guide in Sapporo
Complimentary travel insurance
Exclusions
GST at 5% on the total package price (government tax, added to the quote)
TCS at 2% on the total amount for overseas tour packages (government tax collected at booking; PAN required; can be claimed against your income tax)
International airfare (arrive Tokyo, depart Sapporo New Chitose)
Japan visa fee and VFS service charge
Lunches and drinks
Ski lift pass, ski or snowboard hire, snow-wear hire and lessons
Non-JR fares: local buses (Noboribetsu, ski area, Asahiyama Zoo), Hakodate trams and taxis
Optional paid sights such as Goryokaku Tower and the Sapporo TV Tower
Luggage forwarding charges
Local accommodation taxes charged by hotels, where not included in the room rate
Personal expenses and tips
Visa & entry
Indian passport holders need a visa for Japan. Applications are submitted through VFS Global, without an appointment, from 3 months before the travel date; eligible short-term visas are issued as an eVISA under the system Japan launched in India in April 2024. From 1 July 2026 the visa fee for Indian nationals is ₹500 for a single or multiple-entry visa, plus the VFS service charge. Processing times vary and cannot be expedited, so apply 4–6 weeks before travel with your confirmed itinerary and hotel bookings. Your passport must be valid for the whole stay. Japan's international tourist tax rose to ¥3,000 from 1 July 2026; it is collected in your airline ticket.
Good to know
Sapporo in February is usually between −8 °C and 0 °C, with frequent snow. Pack thermal innerwear, a warm waterproof jacket, gloves, a woollen cap and waterproof boots with good grip; shoe spikes for icy pavements are sold locally.
Hotels in Sapporo sell out months ahead for the Snow Festival. Book early; prices are highest during festival week.
Vegetarian food needs planning in Hokkaido, as many dishes use seafood or fish stock. Sapporo has several Indian restaurants, and we tell the ryokan in advance about vegetarian meals.
At the ryokan, hot-spring baths are shared and separated by gender, and bathing is without swimwear. Some ryokans have private baths at extra cost.
The Asahiyama Zoo penguin walk depends on snow and on the penguins; it can be cancelled on the day. The zoo is closed 30 December–1 January.
Snow can delay trains and flights. Keep some buffer time on the departure day and carry essentials in your hand luggage.
Questions travellers ask
When should we travel to see the Snow Festival?
The 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival runs from 4 to 11 February. Arrive in Tokyo between 1 and 5 February so that your four Sapporo nights fall within the festival. Outside these dates, the trip still works as a winter snow holiday from late December to mid-March.
We have never skied. Can we still enjoy the ski day?
Yes. Beginners can take a 2-hour lesson with English-speaking instructors, and non-skiers can enjoy snow play. The lift pass, equipment and lessons are optional and paid on the spot.
Is vegetarian food available?
Yes, with planning. Dinners are arranged with vegetarian options, including Indian restaurants in Sapporo, and the ryokan prepares a vegetarian set if told in advance. Lunches are on your own.
Do we need special winter clothes?
Yes. Thermals, a warm waterproof jacket, gloves, a cap and boots with good grip are essential. Ski wear can be hired at the ski area.
Are flights included?
No. The trip arrives in Tokyo and departs from Sapporo New Chitose, usually with one connection. We can quote flights separately and check baggage limits on each sector.
జపాన్ వింటర్ వండర్ల్యాండ్
సప్పోరో స్నో ఫెస్టివల్ (4–11 ఫిబ్రవరి 2027) సమయానికి ప్లాన్ చేసిన టోక్యో నుంచి హోక్కైడో వరకు 8 రోజుల శీతాకాల యాత్ర. టోక్యోలో ఒక రాత్రి తర్వాత బుల్లెట్ ట్రైన్లో సముద్రం అడుగున సేకాన్ సొరంగం గుండా హకోడాటేకు, అక్కడి నుంచి నోబోరిబెట్సులో వేడినీటి బుగ్గల రియోకాన్కు, తర్వాత సప్పోరోలో 4 రాత్రుల బస. సప్పోరో నుంచి ఫెస్టివల్ ప్రదేశాలు, ఒటారు కాలువ పట్టణం, స్కీ ప్రాంతం, అసహియామా జూలో పెంగ్విన్ వాక్ చూస్తారు. రోజూ అల్పాహారం, రాత్రి భోజనం ఉంటాయి; 7 రోజుల జపాన్ రైల్ పాస్తో రైలు ప్రయాణాలు చేస్తారు.
To book or customise this trip, call / WhatsApp +91 97162 22279.