Fly north, return by rail
The direction changes once: after Hakodate, the main journey works south through Tohoku.
Northern Japan · 17 nights
Fumi’s Northern Japan Journey
Hokkaido, Tohoku and the long way home.
17hotel nights
6stays
Northern Japanjourney style
Summerseasonal inspiration
The idea behind the journey
Hokkaido, Tohoku and the long way home.
Fly into Hokkaido, enjoy Sapporo and Hakodate, then let the railway bring you steadily south. Aomori and Morioka are stays in their own right, not stations glimpsed from a window. Tokyo bookends the route, keeping a city arrival at the start and a proper final stay before the international flight.
Follow the journey
A route, with room to stay.
The overnight bases
- Tokyo2 nights
- Sapporo4 nights
- Hakodate3 nights
- Aomori3 nights
- Morioka2 nights
- Tokyo3 nights
Port cities with character
Give Otaru an optional day from Sapporo, then spend three nights in Hakodate itself.
Know the gateway stations
Hakodate and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto are different, as are Aomori and Shin-Aomori.
A suggested programme
The days, one by one.
Day 1 is the first hotel night in Japan. An overnight international flight may leave the previous day. Adjust outings for opening days, weather and your own pace.
- Day 01
Arrive in Tokyo
Settle in near a useful Haneda connection.
- Day 02
Tokyo arrival day
Walk locally and prepare for the flight north.
- Day 03
Fly to Sapporo
Transfer from New Chitose to the city and explore near the hotel.
- Day 04
Sapporo city day
Choose Odori, central food streets and one museum or neighbourhood.
- Day 05
Optional Otaru
Take a rail day trip for the canal, warehouses and waterfront.
- Day 06
Another Hokkaido day
Keep a flexible day for weather, food or a second city outing.
- Day 07
Fly to Hakodate
Continue to the port city and settle into the Bay Area.
- Day 08
Historic Hakodate
Explore the old streets and waterfront; save a viewpoint for suitable weather.
- Day 09
A slower Hakodate day
Allow time for food, the hotel bath and an unhurried local walk.
- Day 10
Rail to Aomori
Connect via Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Shin-Aomori, rather than expecting city-centre Shinkansen stations.
- Day 11
Aomori city
Explore the waterfront and a local museum or food market.
- Day 12
Optional Hirosaki
Check the rail connection for a full-day outing; Aomori remains the easy alternative.
- Day 13
Continue to Morioka
Return to Shin-Aomori and take a suitable southbound Shinkansen.
- Day 14
Morioka on foot
Spend the day around the city’s rivers, streets and food traditions.
- Day 15
Shinkansen to Tokyo
Make the intercity journey part of the day and settle into the last base.
- Day 16
Tokyo neighbourhood day
Choose one area and leave room for an evening meal.
- Day 17
Final city day
Revisit somewhere memorable or enjoy a free day.
- Day 18
Return home
Transfer to the airport with the correct terminal and departure margin.
The connections
How the pieces join up.
These are route notes, not confirmed departures. Recheck the complete connection, including the walk, bus or taxi at each end.
Sydney → Haneda; Haneda → New Chitose
The original route includes a Tokyo stay before the northern flight.
New Chitose → Hakodate
The source used a domestic flight. Compare the full airport-to-airport day with the limited-express rail alternative when repricing.
Hakodate → Aomori
Local rail to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori, then local rail into Aomori.
Aomori → Morioka
Local connection to Shin-Aomori and a suitable Tohoku Shinkansen service.
Morioka → Tokyo
Southbound Tohoku Shinkansen; check reservation requirements for the chosen train.
Tokyo → Haneda → Sydney
Return to the airport after the final Tokyo stay.
Places to come back to
The hotel collection.
Selected from the original research. Compare the exact room and inclusions. The scenic artwork illustrates the journey and does not depict these properties.
01Tokyo / Shinagawa
Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa
A garden setting for a city stay, with Shinagawa as the rail gateway. An appealing place to begin or finish a longer Japanese journey.
Allow for the uphill approach from the station. Pool and leisure access depend on season and plan.
02Sapporo
Sapporo Prince Hotel
A city hotel selected for views, a substantial northern base and guest hot-spring facilities.
The source research identified a separate hot-spring charge. Confirm current access and fees.
03Hakodate
La Vista Hakodate Bay
The distinctive port-city stay in the route, chosen for the Bay Area setting and rooftop hot-spring experience.
Breakfast and room-view inclusions depend on the plan.
04Aomori
Richmond Hotel Aomori
A practical city hotel that keeps three nights in Aomori within the wider route.
Check the station-to-hotel walk or use a short taxi with luggage.
05Morioka
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Morioka Ekimae
A station-area base for the break between the northern rail legs.
Confirm the room, meal plan and cancellation conditions when comparing dates.
Before choosing the dates
Make this journey your own.
- Allow time for local trains between the city centres and their Shinkansen gateways.
- Do not assume the Shinkansen reaches Sapporo; this programme uses a flight north and starts its southbound Shinkansen journey near Hakodate.
- August accommodation and festival periods require a fresh price and availability check.
Original planning prices · historical reference
Copied from the earlier planning research, reviewed for this edition in October 2026. These are historical quotes for one adult, not today’s prices, reserved inventory or a package offer.
- ANA Standard flight research
- A$1,616.96
- 17 hotel nights
- A$3,273.81
- Recorded subtotal
- A$4,890.77
The old planning allowance added roughly A$280–285 for major rail journeys, giving a working core total near A$5,175. That rail allowance is not a current fare quote. Meals, local travel and excursions remain additional.