Japan
Other suggested itineraries
Hokkaido
Hokkaido is a natural wonderland: with cool summers and even cooler winters, the fine powder that falls in the winter is perfect for winter sports, with vistas that recall the woodblock prints of Hiroshige, while the summers are perfect for visiting the island's many lush parks and wetland reserves.
Destinations include: Niseko and Sapporo/Otaru.
Niseko
After arriving in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido prefecture, your private car, driver and guide will pick you up from the airport and chauffeur you to Niseko (2.5 hours), Japan's premier area for winter sports. There are seven ski areas encompassing peaks in the Annupuri and Mount Yotei mountain ranges. The area is famed for its near-perfect ski and snowboarding conditions and its incredibly long season, which can start as early as the last week in November and last until May of the following year. Other winter sports available are snowshoeing and ice climbing. No matter how adventurous you, everyone loves a soak in the hot springs at the end of the day, which is another draw to the area. The area is also gorgeous in the summer with a variety of outdoor sports on offer: hiking, river rafting and golfing are popular options. You will stay in a luxurious villa close to the slopes, fully staffed with private chef, butler, maids and other attendants.
Spend the day on the slopes skiing or hiking, depending on the time of year you are here. As Hokkaido is the northernmost island of the four major islands that make up Japan, temperatures tend to be cooler and there is significantly less humidity than on Honshu, Kyushu or Shikoku. This makes it a wonderful retreat for local Japanese for picnicking or hiking as the island is lush and green at this time of year.
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Sapporo/Otaru
Visit the Shiraoi Ainu Museum, also called Porotokotan. Opened in 1965, the museum is home to a building detailing the history and lifestyle of the Ainus and a reproduction of a traditional Ainu village. Unfortunately there are no authentic Ainu villages left as most Ainus have assimilated into Japanese society. The Ainu have inhabited Hokkaido for centuries and today there are 24,000-60,000 Ainus - not very many, although it is a decent-sized population considering all of Hokkaido has six million people. Their resemblance more to Caucasians than Japanese, and also their strong ties to nature through their animist religion, distinguishes the Ainus.
Although the Ainus have many traditional forms of dance and music performance that you will see at Porotokotan, lately younger Ainus have been injecting modern influences into their music. Ainu jaw harps and stringed instruments that produce haunting, warbling sounds feature alongside turntables and hip hop beats in Ainu performances in large cities in Japan such as Tokyo, where many of the younger generation have settled. Chat with Ainus young and old about their vision for the future of their people and their culture.
Drive back up to the northern coast of Hokkaido to Otaru, a seaside town a 30-minute drive west of Sapporo. Check in to Ginrinsou Ryokan, the first of a few traditional Japanese hotels that you will be staying in.
After a long day of sight-seeing and driving, take a soothing soak in Ginrinsou's private onsen that overlooks Ishikari Bay. Onsens are great places to meet Japanese at their most relaxed and free. Going for a communal bath is not just about undressing your clothes. You also undress your worries and remove social boundaries. There are no white collars or blue collars, so it's an easy environment to start up a conversation.
Start your day with a stroll through Sapporo Art Park with a noted contemporary art expert. This serene park is home to a contemporary art museum, sculpture park and a variety of artists and artisanal studios.
Around the world, Japanese alcoholic beverages are nearly as ubiquitous as the country's cuisine. Stop by the Sapporo Beer Garden and Museum for a peek into the making of one of Japan's best-loved brews and have a tasting of the different beers available.
Just before sunset, stroll along Otaru's charming cobblestone walkways along its canals, remnants of a bygone era when the city was a major port. Commercial barges made their way through here and unloaded their cargo in the many warehouses that line the canals. Today, these buildings have been converted into charming glassworks shops, coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques.
Return to Ginrinsou for a traditional, multi-course dinner known as kaiseki. Anywhere from six to 15 courses are served, each incorporating local ingredients and classic dishes such as sashimi, sushi, light hot pot stews, miso soup, grilled meats and Japanese pickles to perk up the palate.
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