9 Days in Tokyo & Sapporo – Mt. Fuji, Shiroi Koibito Park, Otaru Canal and more
👋 Time to jet off to Tokyo! We’re taking the flight NH842 (11am) with ANA today Heading into the departure halls Baseball game playing at the TV lounge Boarding gate vibes 🛫 There’s our bird waiting outside! Window seat gang 🌍✌️ Flying into the skies from Singapore ~ Snack time: rice crackers + apple juice ANA offers low speed wi-fi as well for messaging Meal time: I went for a low-salt option and ended up with a “salad bar in the sky”, THREE salads, chicken with pumpkin & broccoli, and 2 bread rolls Saw Crayon Shin-chan on the in-flight entertainment but it’s all in Japanese Watching our flight path on screen, getting close to Tokyo! Touchdown in Japan! 🛬
It’s already 7pm here! Took the train straight to our hotel in Ginza Checked in to our hotel, compact and functional! Typical of Tokyo hotels, but it has everything we need. Toilet ~ Late-night konbini (convenience store) run 🍱🍣 Got a pasta bento and sushi platter 😳
Fun fact: Did you know Japan has over 50,000 convenience stores? Rise & shine – Today, we doing a day tour! We booked a join-in day tour to tour the Mt Fuji surrounding areas via kkday The journey from Tokyo to our first stop is about 2 hrs Walking into the park Check out this aesthetic tile featuring the pagoda Stepping into the park Climbed up the stairs! Still more stairs to go to reach the top! Finally! Reached the red pagoda! Higher viewpoint – lots of people enjoying the scenic view Peaceful vibes ~
Mt Fuji (behind the pagoda) is currently being blocked by the clouds Headed back down to meet for lunch Ordered unagi and udon bento – super satisfying Heading to our next stop: Fuji Shibazakura Festival!
Finally, caught a glimpse of Mt. Fuji! Waiting in line to get into the festival area Super windy and misty today 🙁 I can’t see anything :/ Check out the pink moss phlox flowers!
Fun fact: “Shibazakura” translates to “lawn cherry blossoms,” but they’re actually moss phlox! Cute European-style architecture all around A patch of moss shaped like Mt. Fuji (you’re supposed to see the real Mt. Fuji in the background, but not today 😢) Heading up the observatory Mist got so thick it felt like a scene from a horror movie 😅 Beautiful lake views ~ Managed to see Mt. Fuji here After the tour, we dropped off at Ginza for dinner There is this ramen place with 4.5 stars on google review near our hotel Like most ramen places in Japan, you’ll have to buy a ticket from the vending machine first Chefs busy with their work I ordered the rich broth ramen with onsen egg. I really like the soup base as it was on the less salty side yet has a good flavor to it. This place is famous for their tsukemen (dipping ramen) – It’s basically cold noodles dipped into hot broth. I didn’t try that this time round. We headed out early towards Tsukiji Market, just a short walk from where we’re staying This place is famous for their seafood Patrons could select the seafood and the stall owners will grill it for them Stopped by this quaint little café nearby for breakfast We got sandwiches for breakfast, nothing fancy, just simple and satisfying Next stop: MATCHA TIME 🍵 This place had a bit of a queue, which is always a good sign They are famous for the Iced Matcha Latte They sell cookies and matcha powder in the store as well Inside, it’s part tea shop, part matcha bar You get to see the barista make your order in front of you with this slow, ceremonial rhythm Order is done! Tbh, it was alright… not life changing The heat was getting real, so we ducked into indoors Got the white lily scent from Shiro. I’ve been using it for about a year and still like it. Walking around Ginza area Weirdly hypnotic “clothing pendulum” display inside Wandered over to Ginza Loft next and found a section by JINS eyewear They were using dish sponges as spectacle holders?! Only in Japan 😂 Late lunch break Grabbed a healthy salad and pasta combo at a nearby restaurant inside the mall Hot rooibos tea for that refreshing boost Finished off with tiramisu plus this weird but cute matcha dessert shaped like spaghetti (tasted more like sweet potato though) Walked off the dessert at MUJI Ginza This place is MASSIVE, it even has a MUJI hotel upstairs Tokyo vibes Dinner time! Went to this casual spot for some tempura. The tempura is not greasy, super light batter and very affordable. Today’s the day we say goodbye (for now) to Tokyo and head north to Hokkaido We’re taking a short 1 hr domestic flight over there Check out their baggage check-in! The luggage gets loaded into a metal cage-like frame, it then rolls away in its own little journey. ANA domestic flights come with a drink. I got green tea, because hydration and antioxidants, right? Landed in Sapporo (New Chitose Airport) We grabbed a quick lunch at the airport. Had ramen because… it just felt right. 🍜 Waiting for the airport bus to our Airbnb apartment Tickets was ¥1,300 for a journey of about 40 mins Everything felt instantly cooler – literally and vibe-wise Finally arrived at our stay ~ Our unit is on the 2nd level. I really liked how they have this private entrance. Let’s do a short apartment tour ~ We booked a 4-bedroom apartment that sleeps up to 12 people. There are 4 bathrooms, a proper kitchen, and even a cozy living-dining area. Fully equipped kitchen with the electrical appliances such as kettle, rice cooker Bedroom 1 (queen bed) with separate toilet and bathtub (rain shower included) Bedroom 2 (3 single beds) – We used this room as our drying room for our clothes in the end as we only have 7 pax The rest of the bathroom has the normal shower and a seat (it is a luxury to sit while showering 😂) Bedroom 3 (3 single beds and a couch) Bedroom 4 (4 single beds) – In the end, I chose this room and combined the 2 single beds together to form a mega bed The view from my room? A sakura tree just casually blooming outside my window. After settling in, we took a 20-minute stroll over to Aeon Higashi Sapporo. The temperature in Sapporo is about 12-15 degrees celsius, which is pretty cooling. Dinner was at an Italian spot in the mall. Ordered seafood aglio olio and also tried the Sapporo-style curry soup, which is apparently a local thing! Spicy, rich, comforting. Went on a grocery haul for our 5-day stay in Sapporo We went a bit overboard… we had 2 full baskets and we weren’t entirely sure how we’d carry everything back 😅 Walked back to our apartment, bags in tow, moonlight above. Love how quiet residential streets are in Sapporo, it’s like ASMR IRL. Back at the Airbnb, I cracked open my warabi mochi dessert from the supermarket Rise and shine from Sapporo! Adorable blue house outside the room’s window Today, we booked an 8-hour chartered day tour to explore the Furano and Biei region, iconic for its flower farms, rolling hills, and the super aesthetic blue pond Our first stop: the legendary Farm Tomita Now, our guide did warn us, the flowers weren’t in full bloom yet…
and he wasn’t kidding 😂 BUT! Some tulips were out and they were still super cute. 🌷 And let’s be real, with those snow-dusted mountains in the background?
Still absolutely worth the stop. Also explored the greenhouse, where they grow lavender year-round, smells amazing in there We grabbed lunch at the on-site café and okay, I forgot to take a proper clip of the curry rice I did get a shot of the aesthetic lavender ice cream.
Sweet, creamy, with just a hint of that herbal lavender flavor. Next stop: the iconic Blue Pond It’s a short 5-minute walk from the parking lot The color really is unreal, this greenish-blue tint that changes depending on where you stand and how the light hits Fun fact: the pond gets its color from natural aluminum particles in the water.
Thanks, science! Just down the road, we hit up Shirahige Falls You get the best view from the bridge above, cascading water surrounded by snowy mountain caps that haven’t fully melted yet Next stop: Ningle Terrace It’s a hidden forest nook lined with wooden cabins selling handmade crafts It’s quiet, peaceful, and gives off major fairy village vibes Didn’t buy anything, but we did stumble on a lone sakura tree still blooming! Absolutely stunning! And that’s the end of our day tour! Back in Sapporo, we ended the day at Kura Sushi, a conveyor belt sushi chain that doubles as an arcade?! The sushis here are rather affordable What we’ve ordered ~ Drop your plates into a slot and get to play a gachapon game…Did I win on my first try? Nope! Third try? YES 🎉 Won a little badge Walking back to the Airbnb Back at the Airbnb, I took stock of the day’s hauls:
Lavender candy + tea from Tomita Lemon balm and mint tea. Perfect end to a calm and cozy day. Good morning! ☀️ We started the day at Sapporo Station waiting for our train to Otaru Wee ~ The train is here The ride to Otaru is super scenic too, an ocean view from the train window?! Arrived at Otaru and time slowed down in the best way Walked past the abandoned railway tracks at the Temiya Line Soft pink plum blossoms against the rustic tracks Otaru’s postcard moment 💌
Lined with old warehouses, the Otaru Canal is one of the most iconic sights here Fun fact: Back in the early 1900s, this was a busy trading port, those warehouses used to store herring and other seafood Now? They house cute cafes and art shops.
We just strolled along, soaking in the slow life. A section of the canal is lined with plum blossoms Zooming in to a blossom Time for the dessert we were most hyped about: LeTAO They’re famous for their double fromage cheesecake and cheese snacks We ordered a mini dessert set with cheesecake and ice cream Everything was divine.
If you’re ever in Hokkaido, this is a must-stop. Handmade music boxes everywhere, in every size and design you can imagine They even had a giant pipe organ with live performances at set times Hopped over to a restaurant for lunch – we tried the curry soup and tomato baked rice. Can’t lie but this meal was kind of mid 🫠 Back to Sapporo! We hit the Pokémon Center inside the station They had daily purchase limits to stop scalpers, which is fair… I guess Apparently the newest TCG deck was sold out 😭 A chill late afternoon stroll to Odori Park The flower beds were blooming like crazy, vibrant reds, yellows, and purples Sat by the fountain, peaceful vibes, very different from Tokyo’s buzz Fun fact: Built in 1878, Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the oldest buildings in Sapporo and was originally part of an agricultural school. It still ticks! Seafood dinner time! Hokkaido’s known for its seafood, so we went to Hamakko to try it fresh. Ordered fried noodles Fried chicken and massive scallop rice Shared a sashimi platter with melt-in-your-mouth slices (only the tuna and yellowtail were good, the rest are just average) Ended the day by catching the night view of the Sapporo TV Tower, all lit up and glowing Started our morning at a nearby local park for cherry blossom sighting Heading to Shiroi Koibito Park today! Plum / Cherry blossom tree (not sure) sighted! This place is straight-up magical It’s the home of the Shiroi Koibito cookie, one of the most famous souvenirs from Hokkaido (those white chocolate sandwich biscuits, you’ve seen them) The castle-like buildings with so much detail, cobblestones, brickwork, iron gates, flowers all over the gardens Who doesn’t love bubbles? Ice cream store spotted! Tried their exclusive Shiroi Koibito milk soft serve, rich, velvety, and not too sweet The little animatronic clock tower show, okay, it’s a bit kitschy but also 10/10 charming Flowers everywhere ~ Every corner is aesthetic Headed indoors for the souvenir shop! The iconic Shiroi Koibito They also carry some exclusive souvenirs such as handkerchief and key chains Time for lunch ~ We had lunch in the indoor area of the park Pizza and pasta ~ Had some time to explore the nearby shopping malls before going to our dinner place We saved one of the best meals for last Cozy vibes This spot lets you make your own okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancakes) The staff is super friendly and walked us through the process and provided us with a manual Let me try it now! I look like I’m making a mess here Finishing with some bonito flakes! Here’s another one to make. LOL Their yakitori (chicken skewers) were great! Some carbs to fill our stomach Walking around to digest our filling dinner, they still have electric trams on the road We spent our final night in Hokkaido packing (while realizing how wildly overweight our suitcases might be), sipping the teas we picked up from Furano, and just… vibing Showing some interesting souvenirs items I got from the Shiroi Koibito Park earlier today Checked out of our Sapporo Airbnb and preparing to head back to the airport for our flight back to Tokyo Had a chill lunch at the airport, nothing fancy, but enough to power us through the flight Landed! Taking the train to our hotel in Tokyo Checked into our new hotel, same chain, different location Room still compact but super functional Dropped our bags and headed straight back out… because Asakusa was calling Asakusa has this old-meets-modern vibe. You get the traditional energy of temples and festivals, but also quirky cafés and retro snack shops. It’s that classic stretch leading to Senso-ji, packed with little souvenir shops and food stalls The temple grounds were busy, locals and tourists mingling, incense burning in the air, people doing their omikuji (fortune slips) Stunning pagoda Worshippers at the chōzuya, cleansing (not just physically, but symbolically) before entering the temple Chill vibes at the lawn outside the temple We decided to walk a bit and sighted Tokyo skytree! This was high on my list: the legendary 7-level matcha gelato place They let you pick how intense your matcha is, from Level 1 (milkiest) to Level 7 (pure matcha madness) Just look at the colors of the different levels I tried Level 3 and Level 6. Verdict? Absolutely worth the hype. And yes, they sell their tea blends too This little rice ball shop is Michelin Bib Gourmand–listed and seats like, 15 people max You can select the fillings to be included in your rice balls. The selection includes shrimp to exotic flavors like basil. We’ve tried the shrimp, salmon, fish roe and basil Okay THIS was a surprise blessing, we happened to be in town during Sanja Matsuri, one of Tokyo’s biggest traditional festivals The streets were packed with people, drums beating, and these massive mikoshi (portable shrines) being carried through the crowds Fun fact: It honors the 3 founders of Senso-ji and locals shout “wasshoi!” while lifting the shrines. There’s no exact translation, but it’s generally believed to come from 和 (wa) = harmony and 背負い (shoi) = to carry or bear something on your shoulders. Dinner time! Ordered seafood pasta, baked rice And soufflé rice (because how can you not?)
Look how fluffy it is Took a stroll around the neighborhood post-dinner The energy at the festival is insane, it’s chaotic in the best way Had breakfast at the hotel, just a cozy spread muffin, sandwich and tea We originally thought about wandering a little farther,
but the weather made the call for us Took shelter under the arcades and made our way to Takashimaya, umbrellas in hand, just in time for opening They only release a limited number of tins each morning. Strict one-per-person policy, super controlled. Got there just in time and secured the goods. After that, we took our time walking around the building They had this mini exhibition within the department store Window-shopped, browsed some snacks and souvenirs. No rush. No checklists. Just letting Tokyo say goodbye in its own way. Haneda bound, we grabbed our luggages from the hotel and made our way to Haneda Airport. That “final train ride” always hits a little different, you watch the skyline pass by, half-in-your-feels, half-thinking about what’s for dinner. Had a quick meal at the airport before the flight Flight to Singapore – Homeward Bound Didn’t go for the low-salt meal this time, ended up getting the eggplant and broccoli baked rice, which, honestly, wasn’t bad for airplane food Watched some shows. Drifted in and out of sleep. Replayed trip memories in your head like little mental souvenirs. Thank you all for watching till the end of vid!
Konnichiwa, fam! 🌸✨ Join me on a 9-day Japan adventure through Tokyo’s neon streets and Sapporo’s chill vibes – from Mt. Fuji fails and matcha overload to cheesecake heaven and DIY okonomiyaki chaos! 🇯🇵🍡
Filmed using DJI Osmo Pocket 3 and Apple iPhone 16 Pro. Edited with FCPX.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:26 Day 1 – Tokyo Arrival + Ginza Konbini Run
2:10 Day 2 – Mt. Fuji Tour (Shibazakura Festival FAIL 😅)
6:19 Day 3 – Tsukiji Market + Matcha Madness
9:19 Day 4 – Flight to Sapporo + Airbnb Tour
12:07 Day 5 – Furano & Biei Day Trip (Blue Pond!)
16:52 Day 6 – Otaru Canal + LeTAO Cheesecake
20:36 Day 7 – Shiroi Koibito Park + Okonomiyaki DIY
24:50 Day 8 – Flight to Tokyo + Asakusa
28:39 Day 9 – Homebound
Itinerary (Travel period from 9 May 2025 to 17 May 2025):
✈️ Day 1 – ANA Flight → Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza Sanchome Hotel → Konbini Run
🗻 Day 2 – Mt. Fuji Day Tour (Arakurayama Sengen Park, Restaurant Takiya, Fuji Shibazakura Festival, Lake Yamanaka) → Tsujita Ginza
🍣 Day 3 – Tsukiji Market Seafood → YONEMOTO Coffee Shop → Matcha Stand Maruni → Mitsukoshi Ginza → Uniqlo Ginza Flagship Store → Ginza Loft → MUJI Ginza Flagship Store → Tendon Tenya Ginza Branch
❄️ Day 4 – Fly to Sapporo (ANA Domestic) → Airbnb Tour → Aeon Higashi Sapporo
🌿 Day 5 – Furano / Biei Tour: Farm Tomita → Blue Pond → Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike) → Shirahige Falls → Ningle Terrace → Rasora Mall (Kura Sushi)
🎵 Day 6 – Otaru: Otaru Temiya Line → Otaru Canal → Otaru Music Box Museum → Otaru Station First Building → Sapporo Station (Pokémon Center) → Odori Park → Sapporo Clock Tower → Hamakko → Sapporo TV Tower
🍫 Day 7 – Toyohirayutaka Park → Shiroi Koibito Park → Teppan Izakaya Teppachi
⛩️ Day 8 – Fly Back to Tokyo → Sotetsu Fresa Inn Nihombashi-Kayabacho → Asakusa (Nakamise Shopping Street + Senso-ji Temple + Suzukien Asakusa + Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku) → Sanja Matsuri Festival → Hoshino Coffee
🛍️ Day 9 – Nihombashi Takashimaya → Fly back to Singapore
Travel Tips & Highlights:
🍜 Food Must-Tries:
Tokyo: Suzukien Asakusa (7-level matcha gelato), tempura
Sapporo: Soup curry, LeTAO cheesecake, DIY okonomiyaki at Teppan Izakaya Teppachi
🌸 Vibes:
Tokyo: Fast-paced, neon-lit, every alley has a story
Sapporo: Chill, floral, and so scenic
🛍️ Souvenirs:
Shiroi Koibito cookies (Hokkaido’s iconic white chocolate biscuits)
Matcha powder from Tokyo’s specialty cafés
Lavender treats from Farm Tomita
✨ Thanks for watching! Which spot was your fave? Let me know in the comments! 👇
Music:
1. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by ROM COM – Deja Vu – https://thmatc.co/?l=B018804D
2. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by You Me And The Piano – The Couch Remembered Us Better – https://thmatc.co/?l=2B81EEE8
3. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by You Me And The Piano – Still Smell Like You – https://thmatc.co/?l=A165FD2B
4. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by Calming Lines – The Shining Day – https://thmatc.co/?l=D4E0B5B4
5. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by Calming Lines – Single Love Bombed – https://thmatc.co/?l=F67BE7E8
6. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by You Me And The Piano – Whispers in the Bed – https://thmatc.co/?l=1D8D39E2
7. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by ROM COM – Say Anything – https://thmatc.co/?l=A4CDE55E
8. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by You Me And The Piano – First Kiss – https://thmatc.co/?l=3C1FF5DC
9. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by You Me And The Piano – Desolation – https://thmatc.co/?l=D47F8576
10. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by Lyle Kam – treadmill – https://thmatc.co/?l=829BAA57
11. Free Music for Videos 👉 Music by You Me And The Piano – Forlorn – https://thmatc.co/?l=E1912FF4
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