Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

DISC OVERING JAP AN  15

A Week in
Hokkaido & Tohoku
• Airports Arrive at New
Chitose Airport, 40 km
(25 miles) south of Sapporo,
and depart from Sendai
Airport in Natori, 2 hours
south of Matsushima
by train.
• Transport The train
trip from Sapporo to
Noboribetsu takes 1.5
hours; from Noboribetsu
to Hakodate, 2 hours; from
Hakodate to Hirosaki, 3.5
hours; from Hirosaki to
Kakunodate, 3.5 hours; from The Golden Hall, one of only two original buildings in Chuson-ji temple, Hiraizumi
Kakunodate to Hiraizumi,
just shy of 3 hours; from a Russian Orthodox Church. Among the samurai houses
Hiraizumi to Sendai, 1.5 The view from the top of Mount open to the public is the
hours; and from Sendai Hakodate is spectacular. Tuck into large, thatched Aoyagi-ke,
to Matsushima, one hour. super-fresh seafood at the stalls where you can eat the local
in the Asaichi Morning Market. noodle dish udon, and the
impressive Ishiguro-ke, with
Day 1 Day 4 its lovely garden.
Learn about the Ainu, the The 54-km- (33-mile-) long
original inhabitants of Japan’s Seikan Tunnel links Hokkaido Day 6
main northern island, in the with the Tohoku region, which The cedar-clad hills around
Exhibition Room of Northern covers the north of Honshu. Hiraizumi (p280) harbor a
Peoples in the Botanical Head for the feudal-era town of couple of the most important
Gardens of Sapporo (p289). Hirosaki (p283), where you’ll find sights in Tohoku: the temple
Hokkaido’s dynamic modern the remains of a 17th-century complex of Chuson-ji, which
capital is perhaps best known castle in a picturesque park includes the Golden Hall, a
for its local brand of beer. renowned for its cherry-blossom temple smothered in gold
Drop by the Sapporo Beer festival. Nearby, Tsugaruhan leaf and mother-of-pearl,
Garden and Museum to taste Neputa Mura displays the and the gorgeous gardens
some and to eat the grilled elaborate floats used during of Motsu-ji, arranged around
mutton dish known as “Genghis the August Neputa Festival. a large lake. Accommodation
Khan.” Enjoy the nightlife of is limited around Hiraizumi,
Susukino, a short walk south Day 5 so spend the night in the
of central Odori Park. Another town that has pre- major city of Sendai (p278).
served its samurai and merchant
Day 2 quarters is Kakunodate (p282). Day 7
The volcano-punctuated area The bay of Matsushima (p280),
of Shikotsu-Toya National dotted with some 269 islands,
Park (pp288–9) includes a is one of Japan’s top scenic
couple of caldera lakes: Lake views. It’s a touristy location
Shikotsu to the northeast and but worth visiting for the
Lake Toya to the southwest. elegant temple Zuigan-ji, which
The latter is close to the highly is a national treasure.
active volcano Mount Usu,
the crater of which can be To extend your trip…
reached by cable car. Spend Join the pilgrims climbing
the night in the popular hot- the 2,446 stone steps to
spring resort of Noboribetsu. the thatch-roofed Dewa
Sanzan Shrine (p278) on
Day 3 Mount Haguro. Once a
One of the first ports in Japan place of political exile,
to open up foreign trade in the Sado Island (p277) is now
late 19th century, Hakodate a pleasant escape and
(p288) has a wealth of historic home to the internationally
Western-style buildings in its The metal structure of the television tower famous Kodo drummers.
Motomachi district, including in Sapporo’s Odori Park

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