I am planning to have vacation in Hokkaido in coming Jan 04, and I would like to have your comments on my planned itinerary:

Itinerary:
Day 1-3: Fly from HK to Sapporo for shopping, eating, sightseeing, stay at Keio Plaza
Day 4-5: Niseko for skiing, stay at Prince Hotel or a hotel in Hirafu
Day 6-7: Noboribetsu for hot spring, stay at Daiichi-takimotokan
Day 8: From Noboribetsu to Chitose airport, departing for Fukuoka
Day 9-10/11: Fukuoka, stay at either Miyaka or New Otani Hakata
Day 11/12: Back to HK from Fukuoka

My questions are:
1. Consider that we want to have more relaxing but also a mix of various activities, what do you think about the above itinerary?
2. Should I stay 1 or 2 nights in Noboribetsu and Niseko?
3. Is it possible that I take JR from Noboribetsu to Niseko? How long would it take to get to Niseko? Any other possible means of transportation (I am not so sure about this as most of the info I obtained telling about direction from Sapporo only).
4. Should I stay 2 or 3 nights in Fukuoka? Is it worth to stay at Fukuoka? (the inland flight from Sapporo to Fukuoka is free)
5. What should we do in Fukuoka in 2/3 days?
6. Are the above accommodations good choices? Pls suggest other nice Japanese/western hotels with/without hot spring facilitity?

Looking forward to your comments,
Daisy

Niseko to Noboribetsu
You have to change train at either Oshamanbe or Sapporo. It will take 2:38 to more than 5 hours depending on the connection and the type of tarin service. Your best bet is to leave Niseko on 14:07 to Oshamanbe arriving at 15:22, leaving Oshamanbe 15:41 and arriving Noboribetsu 16:40.

There are other combination of trains. Ask your hotel when you get Niseko, and they will be happy to assist you. There might be a bus service connecting the two.

I would consider heading to Nagasaki after arriving in Fukuoka. Visit an onsen on the way. Spending the last night in Fukuoka. Buy a Hakata doll.

mrwunrfl

Which onsen you recommend on the way to Nagasaki? What's the attraction points in Nagasaki that makes you think I should go there instead of staying in Fukuoka?

thx
daisy

We spent a week in Niseko many years ago. Stayed at the Niseko Grand, which was a great inn. We had a 4 mo old with us, and they were very good at pampering us! We also really enjoyed Niseko and the skiing. After Niseko, we took a week by train to Tokyo. Missed Noboibetsu as we thought it might be too cold with infant.
Hope you have a great time!

since you are in sapporo, take a short train ride to otaru. nice old town, and great sushi. now, you ask why nagasaki, read your history book, then go see the museum that depicts the horrors of the A bomb.