Overview - 2016 Trip to Taiwan and Japan

We joined a 7 days Signet Tour to visit Hokkaido (北海道) and northeastern part of Honshu (本州). Prior to this tour, we visited Taiwan for 8 days to visit family, and we had several day trips for western part of Taiwan.  The itinerary for Taiwan and Japan was as the following:

Taiwan -

1. Thursday, October 20, 2016 - Arriving Taipei and checked in Just Sleep@NTU(捷絲旅臺大尊賢館).
2. Friday, October 21, 2016 - Taking care business and meting with family for lunch at Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐-復興店).
3. Saturday, October 22, 2016 - HikingElephant Mountain Walking Trail (象山自然步道) near Taipei 101; visiting Shifen Waterfall (十份瀑布) in Shifen (十份) of New Taipei City (新北市).
4. Sunday, October 23, 2016 - Visiting Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (佛光山佛陀紀念館) and Fo Guang Shan Monastery (佛光山) in Kaohsiung.
5. Monday, October 24, 2016 - Visiting NTU, enjoying lunch with family and shopping.
6. Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - Day trip to Tainan, visited Confucius Temple(孔子廟) , Anping Fort (Anping Gubao)(安平古堡), Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia)(赤嵌樓).
7. Wednesday, October 26, 2016 - Visiting Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區), and Chiang Kai-shek's Shilin Official Residence (士林官邸).
8. Thursday, October 27, 2016 - Reunion with John Yang’s family and friends from Houston, visiting Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914創意文化園區), and dining with family
9. Friday, October 28, 2016 - Day trip to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area(阿里山森林遊樂區).
10. Saturday, October 29, 2016 - Visiting family and did more shopping.
11. Sunday, October 30, 2016 - Traveling to Hokkaido(北海道).

Japan -

1. Sunday, October 30, 2016 - Flight to CTS (New Chitose Airport) in Hokkaido, traveled to Sapporo (札幌市), and checking into Sapporo Grand Hotel.
2. Monday, October 31, 2016 - Visiting Otaru and had a Sapporo City Tour
3. Tuesday, November 1, 2016 - Visiting Hokkaido Shrine (北海道神宮), Okurayama Ski Jump Slop (大倉山滑雪跳台競技場), Shiraoi Ainuzoku Village (白老愛奴村), and Jigokidan (地獄谷).
4. Wednesday, November 2, 2016 - Visiting Lake Toya (洞爺湖), Usuza Cable Car (珠山纜車), Mt. Shyowashin-zan (昭和新山), Mt. Hakodate (函館山).
5. Thursday, November 3, 2016 - Visiting Goryokaku (五稜郭), 「函館市民廚房」, and Seikan Bullet Train through Seikan Underwater Tunnel, and visiting Nakano Momiji Yama in Miinaminakano(南中野).
6. Friday, November 4, 2016 - Hiking along Oirasekeiryu (奧入瀨溪流).
7. Saturday, November 5, 2016 - Visiting Morioka Handicraft Village (盛岡手工藝村), Lake Tarawa (田澤湖), and Bukeyashiki (角館參觀武家屋敷).
8. Sunday, November 6, 2017 - Visiting Chusonji Temple (中尊寺), Cruise Matsushima (遊覽船), and Kanrantei (觀瀾亭).
9. Monday, November 7, 2016 - Bullet Train from Sendai to Tokyo, then traveling back to Houston

The Trip Map for Taiwan is as the following:

The Trip Maps for Japan are as the following:

Signet Tour always provide the best hotel accommodations and food selections for their Japan Tours.  We have recorded many delicious food selections in this blog for future reference.