I'll be visiting Japan between 24 March to 18 April 2013.
Between this period, I've allocated 4 days to visit Hokkaido.
The 2 primary cities I'll be going to are Sapporo (2 days) and Hakodate (2 days).
The dates are 7 April to 12 April.
I will be in Tokyo before and after visiting Hokkaido.
1) Which one should I visit first so that travelling will be smoother? Sapporo or Hokkaido?
2) What will be the best possible method to travel to travel from Tokyo to Hokkaido?
Via Hamanasu on the 7 April night?
And via Hamanasu back to Tokyo on the 13 April night?
3) How do you go about Hamanasu?
Plan A - Assuming I manage to get the Nobi Nobi seats upon touching down in Japan.
I heard that you can use the Hayabusa train to Shin-Aomori.
Then from there transfer to the local train to Aomori.
After that take Hamanasu to Sapporo.
BUT there's a risk.
I'll only have 6 minutes to transfer to Hayabusa to Hamanasu.
Is transfer at this station difficult???
Is this the 6 minutes transfer plan?
References to http://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html
From Tokyo to Sapporo
Tokyo 18:56 Dep
(Tohoku Shinkansen Hayate 39)
Shin-Aomori 22:24 Arr
Shin-Aomori 22:33 Dep
(Local train)
Aomori 22:39 Arr
Aomori 22:42 Dep
(Overnight express train Hamanasu)
Sapporo 06:07+1 Arr
Plan B - Assuming I didn't get Nobi Nobi seats.
What is the next best possible method?
Should I just go for the non-reserved seats?
There's also a dream seat for the Hamanasu right? Is it covered by the JR Pass?
4) How do I travel between Sapporo and Hakodate?