8-day Tokyo to Hokkaido tour: Sushi-making, hiking, baseball

Make sushi in Tokyo, hike volcanic forests in Niseko, cheer at a baseball game, dance at Sapporo's summer festival

An 8-day small-group tour from Tokyo to Hokkaido with a live English guide, covering sushi-making at Tsukiji Market, temple exploration, outdoor adventures in Niseko, a Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters game, and the Sapporo Summer Festival beside Lake Shikotsu. The itinerary pairs Tokyo's urban landmarks with Hokkaido's natural beauty and regional food culture, moving through Otaru's canal district and ending at a crystal-clear caldera lake.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Welcome Dinner

• Ascend Tokyo Tower for views
• Dinner at hotel

Day 2: Sushi-Making & Tokyo Exploration

• Join sushi-making class at Tsukiji Market
• Explore Sensō-ji Temple and Nakamise street
• Experience Shibuya Crossing

Day 3: Traditional & Modern Tokyo Experience

• Visit Meiji Shrine
• Stroll Omotesando avenue
• Explore Imperial Palace East Gardens
• Cruise Sumida River
• Dinner on Sumida River cruise

Day 4: Enjoying the Charming port town of Otaru

• Explore Otaru canal district and shops
• Tour Nikka Yoichi Distillery and whisky tasting

Day 5: Outdoor Adventures & Local Cuisine

• Hike to Lake Hangetsu near Mount Yotei
• Farm-to-table pizza making at Niseko Green Farm

Day 6: Japanese Baseball & Sapporo Beer Hall

• Attend Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball game
• Dinner at Sapporo Beer Garden

Day 7: Sapporo Summer Festival

• Explore Tanukikoji shopping arcade
• Visit Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art
• Enjoy Odori Park Summer Festival

Day 8: Lake Shikotsu & Flight to Tokyo

• Explore Moerenuma Park
• Visit Lake Shikotsu shoreline

The experience

You arrive in Tokyo and ascend Tokyo Tower for panoramic views across the city skyline, then settle into Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. The next morning, you join a private sushi-making class at Tsukiji Market, learning to shape nigiri and roll traditional sushi before sitting down to eat what you've prepared. That same day you walk through Sensō-ji Temple's Kaminarimon Gate and along the Nakamise shopping street, then stand in the flow of Shibuya Crossing as hundreds of people move through one of the world's busiest pedestrian intersections.

The middle days shift north to Hokkaido's natural landscape. You explore Otaru's charming canal district and historic warehouses, then tour Nikka's Yoichi Distillery to learn how Scottish whisky-making techniques took root in Hokkaido. In Niseko, you hike for roughly an hour through native forest at Mount Yotei's base to Lake Hangetsu, then visit Niseko Green Farm to harvest seasonal vegetables and bake your own pizza in a traditional stone oven. A Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters home game at ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO puts you in the stands with energetic fans, and an evening at the historic Sapporo Beer Garden lets you grill jingisukan lamb at the table and pair it with freshly poured Sapporo beer.

The final days center on Sapporo itself. You explore Tanukikoji's seven-block covered shopping arcade, browse the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, and experience the Sapporo Summer Festival when Odori Park transforms into an outdoor beer garden with food, music, and traditional Bon Odori dancing. Before flying back to Tokyo, you visit Moerenuma Park, a landscape designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi, and walk the shoreline of Lake Shikotsu, a crystal-clear caldera lake ringed by forested volcanic mountains.

What’s included

• Accommodation at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku in Tokyo, Hotel Sonia Otaru, Ki Niseko, and Cross Hotel Sapporo.
• private sushi-making class at Tsukiji Market with lunch.
• entry to Sensō-ji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens, and the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art.
• tour of Nikka's Yoichi Distillery with whisky tasting.
• one-hour forest hike to Lake Hangetsu.
• farm-to-table pizza-making and lunch at Niseko Green Farm.
• Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball game ticket.
• dinner at Sapporo Beer Garden with jingisukan lamb and beer.
• access to Sapporo Summer Festival at Odori Park.
• visit to Moerenuma Park and Lake Shikotsu.
• and a live English-speaking guide for the full eight days.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jul 2027

AgesAdult (20 to 75 years) · Under 20: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Washoku Tours

Is this one for you?This eight-day itinerary suits travelers arriving in Tokyo for the first time who want to move beyond the city's main landmarks into Hokkaido's natural landscape and regional food culture. The small-group format and fixed schedule mean you travel with the same guide and companions throughout, and the mix of hands-on activities (sushi-making, farm work, hiking) keeps you moving rather than watching from a bus. You'll need at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the forest hike and farm work, and the minimum age is 20.

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Top questions

What does the sushi-making class at Tsukiji Market actually teach?

The class covers essential sushi techniques: preparing sushi rice, shaping nigiri, and creating traditional rolls. You then sit down together and eat the sushi you've made.

How much walking and hiking is involved in the Niseko portion?

The hike through native forest at Mount Yotei's base to Lake Hangetsu takes approximately one hour and is described as a relaxed walk offering fresh mountain air and volcanic scenery without the demands of climbing to the summit. The farm visit involves harvesting vegetables and moving around the grounds, but is hands-on rather than strenuous.

Is the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball game guaranteed, or does it depend on the schedule?

The itinerary includes attendance at a Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters home game at ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO, one of Japan's most impressive modern ballparks. Confirm the game date when booking, as the schedule varies by season.

What's included in the Sapporo Summer Festival experience?

You explore Odori Park when it becomes an outdoor beer garden filled with food, music, and celebration. Depending on the date of your visit, you may join traditional Bon Odori dancing alongside residents and visitors, and you can sample Hokkaido specialties and local beer.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation between cities?

Public transportation options are available nearby, and the tour includes a live English-speaking guide throughout the eight days. Hotel pickups are included. Confirm the specific transport arrangements when you book.

What is Lake Shikotsu like, and how much time do you spend there?

Lake Shikotsu is a crystal-clear caldera lake surrounded by forested volcanic mountains in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. On the final morning, you walk along the peaceful shoreline, take in the expansive scenery, and enjoy the fresh air before your flight back to Tokyo.