5-Day Hokkaido Winter: Sapporo + Otaru + Niseko

Overview

5-day Hokkaido winter: Sapporo + Otaru + Niseko skiing. Peaks at Sapporo Snow Festival Feb 5–12.

• Hotel base: 3 Sapporo + 2 Niseko
• Transit: Resort bus + JR Hokkaido (no nationwide JR Pass needed)
• Budget: ¥215,000/person (excluding ski rental)

Day 1 — Sapporo

• Nijo Market king crab + uni rice bowl
• Sapporo TV Tower + Odori Park
• Eve Susukino + Ramen Yokocho

Day 2 — Otaru day-trip

• 32-min JR from Sapporo
• Canal + Music Box Museum + Sankaku sushi
• Glass-blowing workshop
• Eve back to Sapporo

Day 3 — Sapporo → Niseko

• 3h shuttle bus ¥3,500
• Check-in resort, PM beginner ski
• Yukoro onsen at night

Day 4 — Full Niseko ski day

• Full-day lift pass ¥9,000
• All 4 Niseko United resorts
• Eve night skiing on 22 lit runs

Day 5 — Niseko → Sapporo → fly out

• AM 2h ski
• PM bus to Chitose Airport

Hotels

• Sapporo: Cross Hotel Sapporo ¥13,000
• Niseko: Hilton Niseko Village ¥30,000

For Snow Festival visitors

Sapporo Snow Festival Feb 5–12 — Odori Park + Susukino + Tsudome 3 venues. Book hotels 6 months ahead.

Tip

Wear 3 layers + grip boots + 2-layer gloves. Get an ICOCA/Suica beforehand — most Hokkaido venues accept it.