Hokkaido free and easy
 

Hi

Plan to do a 1-week free and easy in Hokkaido in Feb-March 2010. Does anyone know of good local travel agents who can do the logistics (ie book accommodation and train/bus tickets)? Or any other suggestions?

thanks! cheers

Most people on this site are independent travelers who use travel agents only if one can get them a deal on a flight, hotel room, etc.

JTB and H.I.S. are very large travel agents that specialize in Japan travel but their tours are of course, very expensive. I have used JTB to buy my rail passes and book some obscure places in a few smaller towns though....

Feb-March on Hokkaido will be snowing and very cold. Do some research and come back with specific questions as your question is just too open ended to give you a proper answer.

Aloha!

i don't mean join a tour. i have done research on the cities to visit - sapporo, abashiri, akan, sounkyo, etc ... what i meant was does anyone know a local agent who is familiar with the train/bus timetable and can help coordinate logistics so that i am in the city i want to be at the time i need to be. appreciate any help.

I would fly into either Memanbetsu or Kushiro from Tokyo to start at Lake Akan and eventually ending up in Sapporo to fly out from. You can take a combination of rail and buses to get to your destinations. See here for train travel schedules and information in Japan:

www.hyperdia.com

http://www.japanrail.com/

http://tinyurl.com/ydss2ny

I do not recommend driving on Hokkaido at that time of year. Too much snow and road closures but if you want to see here:

http://northern-road.jp/navi/eng/

Here are some sites that will answer your logistical questions on how to get to where you want to go:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6865.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6800.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6805.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6777.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2163.html

Don't know what your budget for lodging is so can't recommend places to stay.....there are many. Hope this helps!

Aloha!

I'll suggest going in the opposite direction from what ht suggested, i.e. start in Sapporo.

From your international flight to Japan you can make an easy connection at Narita to Sapporo. Spend a night there and next day find an agent at JR Sapporo station to help you book lodging.

Also visit the tourist info center. The Sapporo pdf on the following webpage says there are two in Sapporo and one at the airport.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/index.html

Also see the Kushiro, ... pdf link on that page.