3 days, 2 nights
Check out the locations of three movies shot in Hokkaido
Take a road trip around the locations of the films Bread of Happiness, A Drop of the Grapevine and Restaurant from the Sky by Office CUE. Enjoy the gorgeous Hokkaido landscapes and delicious local food that appeared in the films!
Day 1
-
9:00
am
- Hakodate City
- Local Experiences
Hakodate Airport
Arrive at Hakodate Airport, the gateway to southern Hokkaido. Your first stop is the tourist information center in the first-floor arrival lobby to get info on Hakodate and other spots in southern Hokkaido. You can even pick up your first stamp! The Hakodate city center is around 20 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport. Rent a car and off you go!
-
9:30
am
- Hakodate City
- Breakfast
Hakodate Morning Market
Head straight to Hakodate Morning Market from the airport. With around 250 stores, this bustling market will start your trip off with an energy boost. Fuel up with seafood domburi or a set meal and try fishing for squid, a Hakodate specialty. You can also pick up some of southern Hokkaido's premium-quality kombu kelp for a great price.
Around 2 hours and 10 minutes by car
-
1:00
pm
- Setana Town
- Lunch
Restaurant Makomanai
After you leave Hakodate Morning Market, you'll drive along the picturesque coastline for about two hours. Stop for lunch at Restaurant Makomanai, which is in a hot spring hotel. Each dish is made with plenty of local ingredients. Our top picks are the tonkatsu (pork cutlets) and shoga-yaki (pork in ginger sauce), made with Wakamatsu Porkman, Setana Town's local brand of pork. Note: This restaurant is closed for renovation in November 2024, but will be open every day after this.
-
2:30
pm
- Setana Town
- Sightseeing
Sanbonsugi Bathing Beach
This beach offers a spectacular view of the Sanbonsugiiwa Rocks, three dark gray andesite rocks that tower over the beach and are a symbolic landmark. The water is so clear that it has received an AA grade in the Ministry of the Environment's water quality inspections, the highest grade possible. In summer, the beach is hopping, with rows of colorful tents and people enjoying a camping trip or barbecue.
-
3:50
pm
- Setana Town
- Souvenirs
Murakami Ranch Reprera
This ranch was the inspiration for the ranch that protagonist Wataru Shitara takes over from his father in Restaurant from the Sky. Watch the cows grazing on a ranch with a view of the sea that respects the cycles of nature, just like in the film. Note: The farmers have chosen to suspend production of the natural cheese.
Around 2 hours by car
-
6:00
pm- Toyako Town
- Dinner and accommodation
Toyako Onsen
After your afternoon in Setana Town, spend the night at an inn at Toyako Onsen. After you check in, head for the hot springs. Relaxing in the baths while admiring Lake Toya is the perfect pick-me-up after a long day of traveling. After a dinner made with delicious local ingredients, watch the fireworks over the lake after dark and then rest up for the next day!
Day 2
-
10:30
am- Toyako Town
- Breakfast
Toyako Onsen
Start your morning with another dip in the open-air hot springs. The early morning scenery and birdsong provide a different experience of Lake Toya. And breakfast tastes all the better after relaxing in a hot spring for a while! Check your plans for day 2 while you sip your coffee and then hit the road!
-
11:00
am
- Toyako Town
- Walk
Mt. Usu Eruption Memorial Park
In Bread of Happiness (Shiawase no Pan), a quirky customer named Kaori calls her friend from this park, pretending to be on a beach in Okinawa. Located to the west of the Toyako Onsen hot spring village, this park was developed to commemorate the eruption of Mt. Usu in 2000. There are outdoor sculptures all through the park—see how many you can spot during your walk!
-
12:00
pm
- Toyako Town
- Lunch
Wakasaimo Toyako Honten
This is the flagship store of Wakasaimo, one of Hokkaido's most prominent confectioners. As you shop for souvenirs on the first floor, your appetite will be whet by the smell of Wakasaimo's unique tempura, Imoten, being cooked. Head up to the Japanese restaurant on the second floor, Sendouan, and have lunch while admiring the view of Lake Toya.
-
1:30
pm
- Toyako Town
- Souvenirs
gla_gla
The studio and gallery of local glassblower Daisuke Takatomi. gla_gla appears in an impactful scene in Bread of Happiness where Rie, the wife, meets glassblower Yoko while looking for a mirror. You can even buy the glass pieces that appeared in the film and take a little piece of the film home with you.
Around 1 hour and 50 minutes by car
-
4:00
pm- Sapporo City
- Accommodation
Sapporo hotels
Check in to your choice of hotel in the Sapporo city center. Drop your luggage in your room and go and explore the neighborhood. Take a stroll around Susukino and Tanukikoji and grab dinner at a restaurant that takes your fancy. After dinner, go bar-hopping and finish with a parfait like locals do. Sapporo has as much to offer at night as it does in the day!
Day 3
-
10:00
am- Sapporo City
- Breakfast
Sapporo hotels
Since you spent the previous night enjoying Sapporo's exciting nightlife, sleep in a little and enjoy a light breakfast at your hotel. Pack up, check out, and make the most of the locations in Sapporo until it's time for your flight back. You'll start your final day by setting out from downtown Sapporo to Asahikawa Airport.
Around 55 minutes by car
-
11:00
am
- Iwamizawa City
- Souvenirs
Housui Winery
This is the winery with the windmill and red roof that appears in the film A Drop of the Grapevine. Chardonnay and Kerner grapes grow in the hilltop vineyard. On the second floor of the winery, you can visit the film set that was used for Ao's room. Finish by picking out your favorite wines in the store!
-
12:30
pm
- Iwamizawa City
- Lunch and souvenirs
North Farm Stock
This natural brand uses ingredients from Hokkaido's farms to create a delicious range of original products. Enjoy lunch in the eat-in area and grab some sandwiches and sweets for the road. And be sure to pick out some souvenirs in the store to remember your trip to Hokkaido.
-
1:30
pm
- Mikasa City
- Sightseeing
Sorachi Coalmine Heritage Management Center
Sorachi was a flourishing coal mining area until the mid-20th century, and A Drop of the Grapevine was filmed here. This museum about Sorachi's mining history is housed in a classic stone building that was built in 1927, setting the mood of the mining industry's heyday from the moment you arrive. Be sure to grab a map of the locations used in A Drop of the Grapevine.
-
3:00
pm
- Mikasa City
- Souvenirs
YAMAZAKI WINERY
This winery was the main location in the film A Drop of the Grapevine. They even produce the Pinot Noir that Ao struggled to brew in the film. Other wines include Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, all grown in the prime conditions provided by Mikasa's climate and land. Grab some to take home with you. Note: The winery may close for winter (January - February) depending on stocks of the wines. See the official website for details.
Around 1 hour and 40 minutes by car
-
5:30
pm
- Asahikawa City
- Local Experiences
Asahikawa Airport
Asahikawa Airport is a major gateway to Hokkaido by air, with seven flights to and from Tokyo each day. If you get there early, you can enjoy Asahikawa's iconic ramen in the airport's restaurant and shop for souvenirs. And so an eventful visit to Hokkaido comes to an end. Once you board the plane, sit back and think about all the amazing things you've seen and done.
