Four Itchy Feet

September 4, 2025. Sapporo, Japan.

Our twenty-day cruise around the beautiful islands of Japan has concluded, and we’re now embarking on a new adventure: exploring the northern island of Hokkaido.

We traveled from the cruise port to Haneda Airport, one of Tokyo’s two major international airports, early in the morning. This gave us our first taste of the city’s infamous rush hour, where train cars are so packed you think they can’t possibly hold another person, yet five more somehow manage to squeeze in. Once at the airport, we found the experience to be refreshingly organized. Security was quick, and boarding our Japan Airlines flight was a seamless and orderly process.

After a short flight, we landed at New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido’s main gateway. We took the rapid express train to Sapporo Station, and just a few blocks away was our hotel, the Sapporo Hotel by Grandbell. We had our first experience using a self-check-in kiosk and were in our room in no time. The hotel has a first-class Japanese bath and sauna on the 25th floor, so we quickly changed and headed up for a couple of hours of pure relaxation after our long day of travel.

By 8 p.m., we were on the hunt for dinner in the busy streets of Sapporo, the island’s capital and largest city. It seemed like everyone was out, and finding a restaurant without a reservation was a challenge. We finally stumbled upon Umie Minamisanjo and had some incredible sushi. We decided to expand our sashimi experience to include local specialties like King Crab and Scallops, which were both wonderfully fresh and delicious.

The weather in Sapporo is perfect, and we’re so excited to spend the next couple of weeks traveling through Hokkaido, an island known for its stunning natural landscapes and delicious food. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey!