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Most people you speak to who live in Japan have a “Japan Bucket List” of some sort. Whether they have it written down on a blog or just in their head, everyone knows what they want to accomplish by the time they leave Japan. Number one on my Japan Bucket List was going to the Sapporo Snow Festival. I completely forgot about it the first year I was here and booked too late and couldn’t afford it the second year. It wasn’t until my third year that I really got on the ball and decided that I was actually going to do this. I started planning about half a year in advance, so around September. The first thing I did was book lodging because that’s what prevented me from going before. All the good spots next to Odori Street were booked. But, because I was prepared, I got a hotel just two blocks away! There are many different ways to get to Hokkaido from Tokyo, but they’re not all created equal. A lot of low-cost carriers have popped up recently for that route. However, due to a bad experience to and from Osaka, I wasn’t going to go the cheap route. I was already treating myself to a vacation, so I decided to treat myself to a Japan Airlines flight, too. My dates were pretty popular, it seemed. I decided to fly out on Friday, February 2nd, and return on Tuesday, February 6th. This way, I could enjoy the beginning of the Snow Festival (though I would miss the opening ceremony) and not feel rushed to enjoy everything that Sapporo had to offer. I wanted to get the most of my day, so I booked an early morning flight. I used the website I always do, SkyScanner, to find the best deal. I think that the flight I chose was around 6:30 AM from Haneda Airport to New Chitose Airport. I was so glad that JAL flew out of the airport that was closer and more convenient for me. Returning, I booked a flight late in the afternoon, at around 5:00 PM. Thankfully none of the times were outrageous. I got to the airport quite early, though there really was no need to. Flying domestically, there weren’t any hurdles I had to go through. Plus, JAL’s ticketing agents working at the check-in desk were great and spoke great English, so there was no miscommunication. I checked in my small bag for free and was on my way. Because I had budgeted that it was going to take a lot longer (again, because I had a bad experience flying domestically with a low-cost carrier), so I just killed time watching the sunset and the planes take off and land. I leisurely got myself some breakfast and prepared for a great time in Sapporo. On board, there are light refreshments. Because the flight was under two hours long, I didn’t expect much or really have much want for anything. But, having a nice hot tea was very nice. The entire ride was smooth and I didn’t need any assistance at all. Landing in New Chitose, I didn’t really do much research on how to get to Sapporo. Thankfully, the rail system was very straightforward, and I could just follow the crowd of people from the airport who were all heading into Sapporo as well. Google Maps on my phone helped, and the route was very straightforward. My time in Sapporo was amazing! I am so glad that I went, and I hope that I can go again before I leave Japan, though I don’t think it’s likely. The main sculptures of 2018’s Snow Festival were the Osamu Tezuka homage, as well as the interactive Monster Hunter sculpture with a light show. They were all amazing and so breathtaking to see up close. I can’t imagine how much time and skill went into even one of those! I also got to check out the Susukino ice sculptures too. I actually didn’t know about them until close to my last day, when I was just exploring the city. So, unfortunately, some of them were a bit melted already. But, they were still beautiful. Especially in the evening when they were all lit up. I also got to try some of Hokkaido’s famous foods. I doubted people when they said that everything tastes better in Hokkaido, but now I know. It’s true. Everything did taste so much more delicious. Everything was bigger, juicer, and more flavorful. I tried a few famous foods, not limited to miso ramen, Hokkaido milk ice cream, melon, seafood, and chicken zangi. I was so sad when my time in Sapporo was over. Flying back to Haneda, I fell asleep for most of the return flight. Waking up back in Tokyo, my Sapporo trip felt like a dream. I can’t wait to use JAL to fly to Sendai for my next Japan Bucket List item: the fox village! This post is supported by Japan Airlines (JAL), one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.