Japan
Family of 5 Β· Megan joins in Fukuoka

Japan 2027 πŸ‡―πŸ‡΅

4 Jan – 26 Jan Β· Okinawa Β· Fukuoka Β· Furano Β· Rusutsu

23
Nights
4
Destinations
11
Ski Days

Destinations

Okinawa

🌺 Okinawa β€Ί

Jan 5 – Jan 10 Β· 5 nights Β· πŸ‘₯ 5

Tropical beaches, Ryukyuan culture, and turquoise waters. Relax after the flight from HK.

Fukuoka

🍜 Fukuoka β€Ί

Jan 10 – Jan 13 Β· 3 nights Β· πŸ‘₯ 6 (Megan joins)

Japan's food capital. Famous for tonkotsu ramen, yatai street stalls, and Hakata culture.

🏨 Hotel Okura Fukuoka · 3 rooms · buffet breakfast

Furano

🎿 Furano β€Ί

Jan 13 – Jan 19 Β· 6 nights Β· πŸ‘₯ 6

Powder snow paradise in central Hokkaido. Ski, snowboard, and soak in onsen each evening.

πŸ”οΈ Chalet Burlap Furanui Β· walk to lifts Β· onsen

Rusutsu

πŸ”οΈ Rusutsu β€Ί

Jan 19 – Jan 25 Β· 6 nights Β· πŸ‘₯ 6

World-class powder skiing at The Vale Rusutsu. Three mountains, uncrowded runs, daily onsen.

πŸ”οΈ The Vale Rusutsu Β· ski-in/ski-out Β· onsen

Transit
Flights & Transfers

✈️ Getting Around

4Jan

Sydney β†’ Hong Kong

Monday Β· Departure day

βŒ„
✈️
Depart Sydney
12:30pm Β· Sydney (SYD)
πŸ›¬
Arrive Hong Kong
7:15pm Β· HKG
🚌
Airport Shuttle
6 min to hotel
🏨
Marriott Sky City Hotel
Check-in Β· TBC
5Jan

Hong Kong β†’ Okinawa

Tuesday Β· Transit day

βŒ„
🍳
Breakfast / Pool / Gym
Marriott Sky City
🚌
Airport Shuttle
6 min to HKG
✈️
Depart Hong Kong
11:50am Β· HKG
πŸ›¬
Arrive Naha
3:25pm Β· Naha Airport (OKA)
🏨
Okinawa Hotel
Transfer + check-in Β· TBC
10Jan

Okinawa β†’ Fukuoka

Sunday Β· Transit day

βŒ„
🍳
Breakfast / Pool / Gym
Okinawa Hotel
✈️
Depart Naha β†’ Fukuoka
Times TBC
πŸ‘‹
Megan joins the trip
Group of 6 from here on
🏨
Hotel Okura Fukuoka
Subway to Nakasu-Kawabata Β· check-in from 3pm Β· 3 rooms
13Jan

Fukuoka β†’ Furano

Wednesday Β· Transit day

βŒ„
🍳
Buffet Breakfast Β· Check-out by 11am
Camellia Β· Hotel Okura Fukuoka
✈️
Depart Fukuoka β†’ New Chitose
Times TBC Β· CTS Airport
🏨
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Kitanomine, Furano Β· check-in from 4pm
18Jan

Furano β†’ Rusutsu

Mon–Tue Β· Scenic transfer

βŒ„
🚐
Hotel Transfer with Stop
Jan 18 Β· Scenic route
🚐
Transfer with Sightseeing + Lunch
Jan 19 Β· En route to Rusutsu
🏨
The Vale Rusutsu
Check-in Β· Jan 19
25Jan

Rusutsu β†’ Sydney

Mon–Tue Β· Homeward

βŒ„
🍳
Breakfast Β· Check-out
The Vale Rusutsu Β· transfer to New Chitose
✈️
Depart New Chitose β†’ Hong Kong
3:20pm Β· CTS β†’ HKG Β· Arrives 8:40pm
✈️
Depart Hong Kong β†’ Sydney
10:25pm Β· HKG β†’ SYD
πŸ›¬
Arrive Sydney
Jan 26 Β· 10:55am Β· Australia Day πŸŽ‰
Okinawa
Jan 5 – Jan 10 Β· 5 Nights Β· 5 travellers

🌺 Okinawa

Tips: Rent a car to explore the island. Visit Churaumi Aquarium, Shurijo Castle, and snorkel at Cape Maeda. January is dry season β€” perfect beach weather.
Fukuoka
Jan 10 – Jan 13 Β· 3 Nights Β· 6 travellers

🍜 Fukuoka

Tips: Must-do: yatai (street stalls) for tonkotsu ramen after dark. Day trip options: Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, Yanagawa canal boat ride, Beppu onsen.
Hotel exterior Β· Hakata Riverain
Hotel exterior Β· Hakata Riverain
Lobby
Lobby
Corner room
Corner room
Harbour View Suite
Harbour View Suite
Camellia Β· buffet breakfast
Camellia Β· buffet breakfast
Yamazato Β· Japanese dining
Yamazato Β· Japanese dining
Okura Brasserie Β· on-site microbrewery
Okura Brasserie Β· on-site microbrewery
Swipe for more photos β†’

🏨 Hotel Okura Fukuoka

3-2 Shimokawabata-machi, Hakata-ku Β· inside Hakata Riverain
πŸ›οΈ 3 rooms
🍳 Buffet breakfast
πŸ“… 10–13 Jan Β· 3 nights
πŸ•’ In 3pm Β· Out 11am
Highlights
  • πŸš‡Underground link to Nakasu-Kawabata subway β€” Hakata Stn ~10 min, Fukuoka Airport ~15 min by subway
  • 🍳Camellia buffet breakfast β€” Asian & Western spread with an omelette station
  • 🍜Walk to Nakasu yatai street stalls, Kawabata shopping arcade & Kushida Shrine
  • πŸ›οΈCanal City Hakata ~9–12 min walk Β· Tenjin shopping ~15 min walk
  • 🏊Indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna & gym in the health club (extra fee)
  • 🍣On-site dining: Yamazato (Japanese), Sazanka (teppanyaki), Toh-Ka-Lin (Chinese), sushi bar, lounge & craft brewery
  • ⭐Classic Okura service (4.5β˜…) Β· 264 rooms over 13 floors, rated 9.4 by guests
⚠️ Pool, gym & sauna carry a separate fee and some guests report age limits for younger teens β€” check with the hotel for the 14-year-old.
Hotel website β†’
Furano
Jan 13 – Jan 19 Β· 6 Nights Β· 6 travellers

🎿 Furano

Tips: Furano Ski Resort has two linked areas β€” Kitanomine (walk from the hotel) & Furano zones. Legendary light powder. Evening soaks in the hotel's hot spring. Snowboard rental available on-mountain.
Chalet Burlap Furanui Β· Kitanomine
Chalet Burlap Furanui Β· Kitanomine
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Chalet Burlap Furanui
Guest room Β· private bathroom
Guest room Β· private bathroom
Thoron hot spring & sauna
Thoron hot spring & sauna
Onsen
Onsen
Swipe for more photos β†’

πŸ”οΈ Chalet Burlap Furanui

13-15 Kitanomine-cho, Furano Β· シャーレ バーラップ γƒ•γƒ©γƒŒγ‚€
πŸ“… 13–19 Jan Β· 6 nights
🎿 ~5 min walk to lifts
♨️ Onsen & sauna
πŸ•“ In 4pm Β· Out 10am
πŸ›οΈ Rooms Β· TBC
Highlights
  • 🎿~350 m to Furano Ski Resort (Kitanomine zone) β€” walk to the lifts in about 5 minutes
  • ♨️Thoron hot spring with men's & women's saunas β€” the only one in the Kitanomine area
  • 🍻Kitanomine village bars & restaurants right on the doorstep
  • πŸ₯ƒWelcome drink on arrival (whisky or plum wine)
  • 🧺Guest laundry, ski rack & free parking
  • πŸ›28 cosy rooms, each with private bathroom, fridge, kettle & free Wi-Fi
  • 🍳Breakfast menu renewed for the 2026–27 season
πŸš• From JR Furano Station it's 10–15 min by taxi, or about 15 min on the Furano Bus / Lavender Bus. Note the early 10am check-out.
Hotel website β†’ 🍽️ Furano restaurants β†’
Rusutsu
Jan 19 – Jan 25 Β· 6 Nights Β· 6 travellers

πŸ”οΈ Rusutsu

Tips: Three mountains: West, East & Mt Isola β€” the East gondola opens 10 min before West, so head there first on powder days. Rusutsu gets massive snowfall β€” check the resort's daily snow report. Onsen in resort.
The Vale Rusutsu Β· ski-in/ski-out on West Mountain
The Vale Rusutsu Β· ski-in/ski-out on West Mountain
Kotobuki-no-Yu onsen Β· connected indoors
Kotobuki-no-Yu onsen Β· connected indoors
2 Bedroom Residence Β· full kitchen
2 Bedroom Residence Β· full kitchen
3 Bedroom Residence
3 Bedroom Residence
1 Bedroom Premium Suite
1 Bedroom Premium Suite
Floor-to-ceiling mountain views
Floor-to-ceiling mountain views
Oktoberfest Β· buffet breakfast
Oktoberfest Β· buffet breakfast
CafΓ© & pastries
CafΓ© & pastries
Swipe for more photos β†’

πŸ”οΈ The Vale Rusutsu

Rusutsu Resort Β· West Mountain base Β· linked to the North Wing hotel
πŸ“… 19–25 Jan Β· 6 nights
🎿 Ski-in / ski-out
♨️ Onsen included
πŸ›οΈ Rooms Β· TBC
Highlights
  • 🎿Ski-in/ski-out onto West Mountain from the 2nd-floor locker room β€” screen shows live lift status & snow conditions
  • 🚑East Mt gondola (opens 10 min before West) is a 5–10 min walk Β· Mt Isola for the big tree & powder runs
  • ♨️Kotobuki-no-Yu onsen connected indoors β€” indoor & outdoor baths, whirlpools & saunas, no need to go outside
  • 🏠Apartment-style suites with kitchen, laundry & drying area β€” great for wet snowboard gear
  • πŸͺŸFloor-to-ceiling windows Β· mountain (Mt Shiribetsu) or resort views
  • 🍳Breakfast at Oktoberfest (buffet) or Sekkatei (Japanese set) in the North Wing
  • 🍽️20+ restaurants, shops & convenience store across the resort, all reachable indoors Β· on-site cafΓ©
  • πŸ†Guest rating 4.8 Β· named Japan's Best Ski Hotel 2024
ℹ️ Big supermarket shopping means a drive into Rusutsu town β€” the North Wing "Colorful" shop has frozen meals for in-room dinners.
Resort info β†’ 🍽️ Rusutsu restaurants β†’
Restaurants
Book before leaving Australia

🍽️ Restaurants

🌺 Okinawa restaurants β€” coming next
🍜 Fukuoka restaurants β€” coming next
Booking tips: We're staying at Chalet Burlap Furanui in Kitanomine, so the restaurants around the Kitanomine gondola are an easy walk. Furano town (station area) is about a 15-minute taxi or bus ride. Furano's good restaurants are small and fill up in January. Most take bookings by phone (Japanese), so ask the chalet to call for us or book through a concierge. Sennari is cash only.

Our dinner plan Β· 6 nights

Wed 13 JanArrival night Β· TBC
Thu 14 JanTBC
Fri 15 JanTBC
Sat 16 JanTBC
Sun 17 JanTBC
Mon 18 JanLast night Β· TBC

🌱 Vegan Β· πŸ₯• Vegetarian Β· 🌾 Gluten-free

βœ“ Has optionsAsk aheadLimitedNot really
  • Dashi (fish stock) is in most Japanese soups, broths and sauces β€” "vegetable" dishes often aren't vegetarian. Ask for kombu dashi (seaweed only).
  • Soy sauce contains wheat. Ask for tamari or gluten-free soy sauce, or take a small bottle with you. Yakitori ordered shio (salt) instead of tare (sauce) avoids it.
  • Put dietary needs in the TableCheck request box when booking, and carry a Japanese dietary card.
  • Only places marked βœ“ have options confirmed by the venue or recent diners. Everything else needs checking.

Kitanomine Β· walk from the chalet

Furano town Β· ~15 min taxi

Booking tips: We're 6 people, and the kids all pay adult prices (13+). Most resort restaurants book on TableCheck (credit card needed, cancellation fees apply) or through the Reservations Centre on +81-136-46-3111. Westin restaurants open bookings 3 months ahead at midnight Japan time, so all our Rusutsu dates (19–24 Jan) can already be booked. The counter-only places (Teppanyaki Shiki, Sushi Kappo) only have 6–8 seats, so our 6 would take most or all of the counter β€” book these first.

Our dinner plan Β· 6 nights

Tue 19 JanArrival night Β· TBC
Wed 20 JanTBC
Thu 21 JanTBC
Fri 22 JanTBC
Sat 23 JanTBC
Sun 24 JanLast night Β· TBC

🌱 Vegan Β· πŸ₯• Vegetarian Β· 🌾 Gluten-free

βœ“ Has optionsAsk aheadLimitedNot really
  • Dashi (fish stock) is in most Japanese soups, broths and sauces β€” "vegetable" dishes often aren't vegetarian. Ask for kombu dashi (seaweed only).
  • Soy sauce contains wheat. Ask for tamari or gluten-free soy sauce, or take a small bottle with you. Yakitori ordered shio (salt) instead of tare (sauce) avoids it.
  • Put dietary needs in the TableCheck request box when booking, and carry a Japanese dietary card.
  • Only places marked βœ“ have options confirmed by the venue or recent diners. Everything else needs checking.

In the resort Β· walk indoors from The Vale

The Westin Rusutsu

Rusutsu village Β· short walk or drive