15 days in Hokkaido & Melbourne Itinerary

A gateway to the island, Hakodate has gained a reputation for its waterfront attractions, its proximity to some of the island's most popular natural sites, and its seafood.

On the 6th (Sun), don't miss a visit to Hachimanzaka, then contemplate the long history of The Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward, and then wander the streets of Motomachi. On your second day here, take in the awesome beauty at Mount Hakodate, get to know the fascinating history of Onuma Park Walking Path, and then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Trappist Monasteries.

To see other places to visit, ratings, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Hakodate tour website .

Melbourne, Australia to Hakodate is an approximately 17.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train. The time zone difference moving from Australian Eastern Standard Time (Victoria) to Japan Standard Time is minus 1 hour. When traveling from Melbourne in October, plan for slightly colder days and about the same nights in Hakodate: temperatures range from 18°C by day to 9°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Mon) early enough to travel to Shakotan-cho.

Shakotan-cho is a quiet coastal town with sandy beaches, viewing points, and an underwater observatory for spotting salmon and sea urchins.

On the 8th (Tue), explore the activities along Shimamu Beach and then explore the striking landscape at Cape Kamui.

Plan a trip to Shakotan-cho easily and quickly by telling Inspirock to suggest an itinerary.

Getting from Hakodate to Shakotan-cho by car takes about 4.5 hours. While traveling from Hakodate, expect little chillier days and about the same nights in Shakotan-cho, ranging from highs of 15°C to lows of 11°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 8th (Tue) early enough to drive to Sapporo.

A modern, bustling city known for its beer brewery, Sapporo attracts millions of visitors with its Snow Festival, during which elaborate ice and snow sculptures are exhibited all over town.

Let the collections at Sapporo Art Museum and The Hokkaido University Museum capture your imagination. Escape the urban bustle at Mt. Okura Observatory and Moerenuma Park. Go for a jaunt from Sapporo to Yoichi-cho to see Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery about 1h 20 min away. On the 12th (Sat), spend an exhilarating day on the slopes at Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort. Next up on the itinerary: contemplate the long history of Hokkaido Jingu, take in the spiritual surroundings of Fushimi Inari Shrine, take an in-depth tour of Historical Village of Hokkaido (Kaitaku-no Mura), and see the interesting displays at Sapporo Beer Museum.

To see more things to do, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, read Sapporo trip itinerary planning tool .

Traveling by car from Shakotan-cho to Sapporo takes 2 hours. In October, daily temperatures in Sapporo can reach 15°C, while at night they dip to 11°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 12th (Sat) so you can travel to Melbourne.

The state of Victoria crown jewel, Melbourne boasts shaded streets, leafy residential neighborhoods, vibrant street life, and a picturesque city center.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and Art Gallery of Ballarat. Museum-lovers will appreciate Melbourne Museum and Shrine of Remembrance. Change things up with these side-trips from Melbourne: Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre (in Waurn Ponds), Spas (in Torquay) and Aireys Inlet (Cinema Point Lookout Great Ocean Road & Split Point Lighthouse). Next up on the itinerary: take in nature's colorful creations at Royal Botanic Gardens, enjoy the sand and surf at Brighton Beach, appreciate the extensive heritage of Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at St Paul's Cathedral.

To see reviews, traveler tips, other places to visit, and tourist information, refer to the Melbourne online route planner .

Getting from Sapporo to Melbourne by flight takes about 16 hours. The time zone difference moving from Japan Standard Time (JST) to Australian Eastern Standard Time (Victoria) (AEST) is 1 hour. Expect a bit warmer weather when traveling from Sapporo in October: highs in Melbourne hover around 24°C, while lows dip to 9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Sat) to allow time to travel back home.