2012 Yuki Matsuri Trip

Well Folks, the year is almost over and soon we'll all be heading to whatever Winter Vacation adventures await. But, before you go, there are plans to be made for next year. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we announce the belle of the MAJET event calender: YUKI MATSURI! (For the uninitiated, Yuki Matsuri is the annual snow festival held in Sapporo and is totally Awesome!) 

 Usually there is a public holiday that falls during Yuki Matsuri, allowing us to plan a longer trip with less nenkyuu. However, that holiday is on a Saturday this year. Combine that with a limiting ferry schedule and we've decided to offer two options this time around. 

 Here are the deets: 
 OPTION ONE: 4 DAYS OF NENKYUU 

When: 10-15 February 2012 

 -Thursday, 9 February 7:40 pm: Leave Sendai via Sendai ferry Friday, 
 -10 February 11:00 am: Arrive Tomakomai, take bus to Sapporo 
 -Afternoon: Arrive in Sapporo 
 -7:00 pm: Sapporo Beer Garden Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon: free 
 -Tuesday, 14 February 4:00 pm: Leave Sapporo for Tomakomai 
 -7:00 pm leave Tomakomai for Sendai 
 -Wednesday, 15 February: 10:00 am arrive at Sendai port 
 
 -February 9th (Thurs), 2011- Everything kicks off with the ferry ride from Sendai Port. We will be shipping out at 7:40pm, and the party rolls on from there.    

 -February 10th (Fri)- We will arrive in Sapporo in the morning, check in, and then have a few hours to scatter and explore the city, see the snow sculptures, etc.  Then we will regroup in the evening and head out to the Sapporo Beer Garden where we will eat, drink and be very, very merry. After that, you are free to do whatever your heart desires. 

 -Friday-Monday: You are free to venture on your own or with your pals. Check out the ice carvings in the park, drink hot wine (some are better than others), eat at the cake buffet, do shopping downtown, hit up the chocolate museum, try some Sapporo ramen or crab, go skiing/snowboarding at one of the most famous resorts in Japan, build a snowman, see the lights in Otaru (the venice of Japan), carve yourself a mug out of ice, find your way through a snow maze, go down a snow slide, go to the zoo, drink yourself silly, wait in a ridiculous line to get some expensive omiyage for your teachers (not recommended, but some will do it), hit the slopes again, etc. The world is your Sapporo oyster. 

 -Feb. 14th (Tues)- We won't be leaving until the late afternoon so you will have plenty of time to get some last minute shopping, drinking, skiing, etc in. We will be catching the overnight ferry back and arriving in Sendai on Wednesday morning around 10:00am. 

 OPTION TWO: 2 DAYS OF NENKYUU

 Pretty much the same as above, except you will be leaving on Sunday, 12 February and arriving on Monday, 13 February, giving you Friday afternoon, the whole of Saturday and Sunday morning in Sapporo.