Hokkaido winter trip | Exploring snowy Sapporo, Otaru, Biei | JAPAN vlog

Take the train to Otaru, making a pit stop at Asari Station. The ride itself is incredibly scenic, especially in winter, offering simultaneous views of snow, sea, and sky. Asari Station is a popular photo spot, featured in movies, with a wonderful nostalgic atmosphere.

Start at the Otaru Stained Glass Museum to see beautiful windows salvaged from old English churches. Don't miss the peaceful cafe on the top floor with canal views and their delicious warm apple pie. Afterward, explore the area's shops, including the former Bank of Japan building, now a glassware souvenir store, where you can find cute glass lamps and miniature figurines.

This log cabin is one of my favorite places for lunch, with its warm fireplace and cozy atmosphere. They're known for their open sandwiches, which are huge – bigger than my palm! One is enough to share, and the bread is really delicious. All this for just 500 yen (3.29 USD).

When craving a warm soup curry, head to a branch of the famous Soup Curry Garaku. This branch usually has a shorter queue than the main one. Pair your curry with a Sapporo Classic beer. I got the fried chicken thigh with vegetables on standard spice (level 2 out of 40) – the fried broccoli is so flavorful, and the chicken is crispy yet tender.

Take a self-guided tour through the Sapporo Beer Museum, passing a giant brewing cauldron and vintage advertisement posters. At the end, head to the beer hall for their tasting set, which costs 1000 yen (6.6 USD) and includes three different beers. I preferred the Classic for its malty taste. You can also get small snacks.

Experience 'Genghis Khan,' a Japanese-style BBQ with lamb and mutton. It's easy to book online. We got the lamb and mutton tasting set, and the meat was incredibly soft, creamy, and melted in the mouth, without any strong 'lamb' smell.

Drive to the Hill of the Buddha. The entrance is lined with Moai statues, and you can see Buddha's head from a distance. This temple has a striking modern design with smooth concrete lines, making it very different from other temples in Japan.

Seek out this cool bar hidden behind a fridge door. Arrive right at opening time, as it fills up quickly. It has a cozy jazz bar vibe with windows. Their menu is cute, and I highly recommend the hot apple pie cocktail – a mix of house vanilla vodka, cinnamon, lemon, clove, and apple juice that truly tastes like apple pie. It's a bit pricey, but the atmosphere is worth it.

Find this retro cafe for breakfast, run by two very sweet elderly owners. I loved the vintage, cozy interior and their siphon coffee, which is a perfect way to start the morning. The food is also really cheap; I had a delicious french toast, and my partner got a sandwich for 400 yen (2.6 USD).

Stop by a little wooden shed for lunch that feels straight out of a Ghibli movie, with its whimsical wooden interior and cozy atmosphere. They have a tiny shop with souvenirs and stationery, plus a bakery. The owners have traveled the world and curated a menu inspired by their journeys. I was recommended their chili beans dish (hot chili beans and cheddar cheese on rice), which I really enjoyed with the snowy view. For dessert, try their homemade cake with a chai latte – it's chocolatey without being overpowering.

Visit Ningle Terrace, an arts and crafts village nestled in a forest. The little wooden cabins feel like a fairy tale, especially beautiful at blue hour. Explore shops selling handmade leather goods, wooden figurines, items made from dried beans and peanuts, and kaleidoscopes. You can even buy box sets to make cute wooden models.

Discover a tiny red cabin cafe nestled inside a forest in Biei. The snowy scenery makes it feel magical, and inside, there's a working fireplace. They mainly sell drinks and homemade muffins. I ordered a meticulously made chai latte and found the muffins, made with fruits from their garden, delicious and perfect with the chai.

This log cabin is one of my favorite places for lunch, with its warm fireplace and cozy atmosphere. They're known for their open sandwiches, which are huge – bigger than my palm! One is enough to share, and the bread is really delicious. All this for just 500 yen (3.29 USD).

Visit this shrine thought to bring luck in love. Look closely, and you'll find heart shapes hidden throughout the shrine – the more you find, the luckier in love you're said to become!

For dinner, try this small Western restaurant with just one chef and one waitress. You'll need a bit of patience, but the food is definitely worth the wait. I started with a pate, then had a beef ragu rigatoni made with high-quality, fresh ingredients. For dessert, the warm strawberry pie drizzled in chocolate sauce and pistachio was absolutely delicious.

Book a special lunch at this farmshop atop a scenic hill, where you can enjoy your meal with snowy scenery outside. They offer affordable set lunches and dinners. It starts with an appetizer of the day and fresh bread from their bakery, made with Biei-sourced wheat flour, served with creamy whipped butter. I had the pumpkin soup and duck confit (the best meal of the trip!), followed by a cool cheese mascarpone dessert. All this for 4950 yen (32 USD) – truly worth it.

Check out the Four Seasons Tower, a free observation tower in the middle of Biei. From up here, everything looks miniature – the colorful houses and tiny footprints. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Before leaving, visit this small, unassuming bakery in Furano. They sell the most delicious homemade bread, though stock can be limited, and you might need a translation app. Every bread I tried was so good, I wished I bought more! My favorites were the chocolate, orange & walnut bread, the soft and chewy cream cheese bread, and especially the cream cheese, garlic and dried tomato bread – it was so good I bought three more!

Head to Ramen Alley in Susukino, a small street entirely dedicated to ramen shops. Most open at 6pm, but if you're hungry like me, find one that's open earlier. I tried the butter+corn ramen, but honestly, it didn't beat a classic miso ramen for me.