Natsumi Summer Journey 2027

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Arrival and Welcome Dinner⌄

   Ascend Tokyo Tower, the city’s iconic red-and-white landmark, for panoramic views across the vast Tokyo skyline. On a clear day, you may even catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance.

   Meals: Dinner

   Overnight: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

2. 2Sushi-Making & Tokyo Exploration⌄

   Join a private sushi-making class at Tsukiji Market and learn the essential techniques for preparing sushi rice, shaping nigiri, and creating traditional rolls. Afterward, sit down together and enjoy the sushi you have prepared.

   Enter Sensō-ji through the iconic Kaminarimon Gate and follow lively Nakamise shopping street to Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Explore the colorful temple grounds, experience the fragrance of incense, and discover the traditional atmosphere of historic Asakusa

   Experience the energy of Shibuya Crossing as hundreds of people move through one of the world’s busiest pedestrian intersections. Take in the dazzling billboards, neon lights, and nonstop activity that capture the excitement of modern Tokyo.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

3. 3Traditional & Modern Tokyo Experience⌄

   Walk beneath towering torii gates and through a tranquil forest to Meiji Shrine, one of Tokyo’s most important Shinto sanctuaries. Explore the peaceful grounds and learn about Japanese traditions of purification, prayer, and respect for nature.

   Stroll along Omotesando, Tokyo’s elegant tree-lined avenue known for striking contemporary architecture, flagship fashion stores, and stylish cafés. Explore its lively side streets for independent boutiques and a closer look at modern Tokyo style.

   Visit the grounds of the Imperial Palace, the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family, surrounded by broad moats, massive stone walls, and graceful bridges. Explore the peaceful East Gardens and discover remnants of Edo Castle at the historic heart of Tokyo.

   Cruise along the Sumida River for a relaxing view of Tokyo from the water. Pass beneath distinctive bridges and enjoy views of the city skyline, riverside neighborhoods, and Tokyo Skytree.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner: Enjoy dinner cruising the Sumida River.

   Overnight: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

4. 4Enjoying the Charming port town of Otaru⌄

   Enjoy time exploring Otaru, a charming port town known for its picturesque canal, historic warehouses, and beautifully preserved merchant buildings. Browse glassware and music-box shops, sample local sweets and seafood, and soak up the town’s nostalgic atmosphere.

   Tour Nikka’s historic Yoichi Distillery and discover how founder Masataka Taketsuru brought traditional Scottish whisky-making techniques to Hokkaido. Explore the red-roofed distillery buildings, learn about its distinctive coal-fired production process, and finish with a tasting of Nikka whisky.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Hotel Sonia Otaru

5. 5Outdoor Adventures & Local Cuisine⌄

   Enjoy a relaxed hike through native forest at the base of Mount Yotei to peaceful Lake Hangetsu. This approximately one-hour walk offers fresh mountain air, beautiful volcanic scenery, and a taste of Hokkaido’s natural beauty without the demands of climbing to the summit.

   Visit Niseko Green Farm for a hands-on farm-to-table experience beneath Mount Yotei. Harvest seasonal vegetables, use them to create your own pizza, and bake it in a traditional stone oven before sitting down to enjoy the freshest possible lunch.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Ki Niseko

6. 6Japanese Baseball & Sapporo Beer Hall⌄

   Attend a Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters home game at ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO, one of Japan’s most impressive modern ballparks. Join the energetic fans, experience Japanese baseball traditions, and sample the stadium’s excellent selection of Hokkaido food and drinks.

   Enjoy an evening at the historic Sapporo Beer Garden, set inside a striking red-brick former brewery. Grill Hokkaido’s famous jingisukan lamb at the table and pair it with freshly poured Sapporo beer in the lively atmosphere of a classic Japanese beer hall.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Cross Hotel Sapporo

7. 7Sapporo Summer Festival⌄

   Explore Tanukikoji, Sapporo’s lively covered shopping arcade, with seven blocks of shops, restaurants, cafés, and entertainment. Browse for local snacks and souvenirs, sample Hokkaido specialties, and enjoy the energetic atmosphere of this historic shopping street.

   Explore the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, whose collection highlights modern Japanese art and artists connected to Hokkaido. View paintings, sculptures, and an acclaimed collection of modern glasswork, along with rotating exhibitions from Japan and abroad.

   Experience Sapporo at its liveliest during the annual Summer Festival, when Odori Park becomes a vast outdoor beer garden filled with food, music, and celebration. Sample Hokkaido specialties and local beer and, depending on the date, join traditional Bon Odori dancing alongside residents and visitors.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Cross Hotel Sapporo

8. 8Lake Shikotsu & Flight to Tokyo⌄

   Explore Moerenuma Park, a remarkable landscape designed by Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi as one unified work of art. Walk among geometric landforms, striking sculptures, the glass pyramid, and expansive lawns while enjoying panoramic views across Sapporo.

   Visit beautiful Lake Shikotsu, a crystal-clear caldera lake surrounded by forested volcanic mountains in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Walk along the peaceful shoreline, take in the expansive scenery, and enjoy the fresh air of Hokkaido’s wilderness.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch