Hokkaido

I spent a lot of money to plan my own itinerary, visiting all the places I wanted to see in a day. When I was tired, I could get on the bus to rest and regroup before heading to the next destination. It was a fulfilling and wonderful experience, and the money was well spent. The driver was responsible, punctual, and communicated well.

I was going from Sapporo to Hakodate, so I bought a five-day JR pass for 22,000 yen, which was quite expensive. But I was guaranteed a seat in the reserved area, so it was acceptable!

I had to change the pick-up location from Narita Airport to Kansai Airport at the last minute, and the online customer service was very helpful, saving me from wasting two weeks' rental fees. The internet signal was very stable, and it even came with a power bank.

Buying tickets and exchanging them for physical tickets was very convenient. The attractions were fantastic, with great views.

I've used many eSIMs before, but this is the first one that's so easy to install, affordable, and fast... It was the best!

Departing from Sapporo Station, the group consisted of 5 people. The driver, who also served as the leader, had a hard time driving, as the journey was long and the return to the Sapporo meeting point was required. Although the stops at each point were short, the smell of sulfur at Jigokudani (Hell Valley) was like rotten eggs. Lake Toya, according to the driver and guide, is an unfrozen lake with magnificent scenery. Showa Shinzan is an active volcano, and lunch was at our own expense. We could then decide how much time we had for eating, shopping, and sightseeing. Otaru has a quaint old-world charm and beautiful canal scenery. We could also manage our time for shopping, taking photos, and sightseeing before heading back to the pick-up point. The itinerary was tight, with long travel times, making it a rather whirlwind day trip.

This zoo has a great location and is accessible by subway. The entrance fee is also very reasonable, which is a big plus. The exhibits were extensive and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit.