Hakodate by night
Ev Hales’ Painting Tour in Japan next (northern) Spring covers 16 days, entirely in the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. We will begin in Hakodate and end in Kushiro, visiting Lake Tōya, Otaru, Sapporo and the Daisetsuzan National Park along the way, with painting almost every day in a variety of locations covering landscapes, sea views, waterfalls, temples and shrines, modern buildings, heritage villages and beautiful Japanese gardens.
To ensure the tour is a memorable experience for all, we want to limit the numbers to 12 guests. This will make getting around in crowded Japan considerably more manageable, as well as providing artists with more individual attention from our wonderful tutor, Ev Hales.
Itinerary
Here is a brief outline of the itinerary and the dates:
Day 1 Monday, May 7, 2018: Guests arrive in Hakodate and check-in to La Vista Hakodate Bay Hotel, for a three-night stay. Hakodate is a 90 minute flight from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport but can also be reached by bullet train in four hours from Tokyo (which includes travelling under the sea in the world’s largest train tunnel). We will enjoy a traditional Japanese meal together in Hakodate the first night after welcome drinks and a briefing from Ev.
Goryōkaku Park, Hakodate
Lake Tōya
Day 2 Tuesday, May 8: We will spend most of the day painting in Goryōkaku, a star-shaped fort in central Hakodate that is a favourite cherry blossom viewing spot – if we are lucky enough to coincide with cherry season. That’s always difficult to predict in advance but there is still plenty to admire in this 19th century park. Your own arrangements for lunch and dinner today.
Day 3 Wednesday, May 9: Another full day of painting in Hakodate as we explore the Motomachi district of the city with its distinctive architecture. Depending on the weather, we’ll take the ropeway up Mount Hakodate for a panoramic view rated three stars by the Michelin travel guide.
Day 4 Thursday, May 10: Today we farewell Hakodate and head by private coach north to Lake Tōya, part of the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park, and site of the G8 Summit in 2008. We will be staying beside the lake at the Lake View Tōya Nonokaze for two nights. We will have opportunities to paint around the hotel with the view across to snow-tipped Mount Yōtei in the distance, a Mount Fuji lookalike. Dinner tonight will be provided at the hotel’s Japanese restaurant.
Day 5 Friday, May 11: A full day of painting today around the transparent blue lake (it never freezes, even in mid-winter). At the end of the day, we can enjoy a choice of onsen (hot spring baths) in the hotel resort, including a rooftop rotemburo (open air bath) with views across the lake to Nakajima Island and Mount Yōtei. Dinner tonight can be chosen at one of the resort’s various restaurants.
Day 6 Saturday, May 12: Today we will be back on our private coach for a journey to Otaru on Ishikari Bay, which is just across the sea from Russia. We will skirt Mount Yōtei and the Niseko ski resort en route to Otaru, a lovely old fishing village where we will be based for three nights in the Hotel Neu Schloss. Most rooms have their own rotemburo with sunset views over the Sea of Japan and twinkling lights of fishing boats at night. There will be painting opportunities during the day and dinner will be provided tonight at the hotel.
Otaru canal
Cape Eboshi, Yoichi
Day 7 Sunday, May 13: After some painting around the canals of Otaru, we will be taken by coach to nearby Yoichi, best known as the home of the Nikka whisky distillery. There will be opportunities to paint the rock formations adorned with Shinto shrines before we return to Otaru. Own arrangements for dinner tonight at the hotel or restaurants
Day 8 Monday, May 14: Today we’ll be spending the day painting and exploring Otaru. Again, own arrangements for dinner tonight.
Day 9 Tuesday, May 15: This morning in our private coach we head to Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido Prefecture, for a sample of Japanese city life. We’ll check into the Monterey Hotel near Odori Park, a 1.5 km long stretch of greenery in the centre of the city and home to the annual Snow Festival. In the afternoon we will be painting in Nakajima Park before dinner in one of Sapporo’s many Genghis Khan restaurants specializing in mutton (and other choices).
Day 10 Wednesday, May 16: A full day of painting today in Sapporo in a number of locations including the Nijō markets, the botanic gardens, Mount Moiwa and the famous Sapporo brewery. Before leaving the hotel, we will be sending our big suitcases on ahead to our next location by express courier. The group dinner tonight will be at a restaurant in the entertainment district of Susukino.
Day 11 Thursday, May 17: Today we head to the Daisetsuzan National Park, the largest in Hokkaido. We will take the train from Sapporo to Kamikawa station where a coach will be waiting to take us to the Sōunkyō Kankō Hotel in a hot springs resort. We will explore the village and paint in the afternoon before enjoying the rotemburo (open air bath) and a traditional kaiseki dinner at the hotel.
Odori Park, Sapporo
Day 12 Friday, May 18: Our coach will take us a few kilometres from the hotel to the Ginga-no-taki and Ryūsei-no-taki waterfalls for a day of painting in this beautiful location. There are hiking trails nearby for those who wish to explore further. Dinner again will be provided for the group back at the Sōunkyõ Kankō Hotel.
Sōunkyō waterfalls A typical kaiseki meal
Day 13 Saturday, May 19: Another day of painting in the national park. Today we will head a few more kilometres down the track to the stunning Obako Gorge where we will devote most of the day to painting in this area. Again dinner will be provided at the Sōunkyō Kankō Hotel.
Obako Gorge, Daisetsuzan National Park
Day 14 Sunday, May 20: A travel day. After breakfast at the ryōkan, we will head by coach through some lovely countryside to the southern coastal town of Kushiro. We will stop for lunch en route. Our hotel for two nights is the ANA Crowne Plaza where we have organized a group dinner.
Day 15 Monday, May 21: After breakfast, we will travel to the nearby Lake Akan village where we can learn a little about the Ainu, Hokkaido’s original aboriginal inhabitants. Later we will be painting in the wetlands, home to the red-crested cranes. A farewell dinner will be held back in Kushiro for the group.
Day 16 Tuesday, May 22: After breakfast, we will have time in the morning for a review of everyone’s artistic creations and an opportunity for Ev to provide final commentary. The tour ends after lunch. Those who don’t wish to extend their stay in Hokkaido can be taken to Kushiro Airport for a flight to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
Ainu in Kushiro
Red-crested cranes in Kushiro wetlands
Our Hokkaido Horizons tour ended in May 2018 and details of the tour can be found on my blog (on the menu bar).
June 2018