Fire and Ice 2027 Is live!
Another week, another new trip. And this time, its the return of a classic!
February 4/5* - 17, 2027
SAPPORO • LAKE SHIKOTSU • HAKODATE • AOMORI • KAKUNODATE • YOKOTE • TOKYO
⛄️ Go to Sapporo Snow Festival and FOUR more friendly local winter festivals!
♨️ Spend two nights in a fancy, five-star hot spring resort
🍎 Sample local flavors from fresh scallops and crab to pies, unique cocktails, and life-changing desserts
🏯 Visit fortresses, Meiji-era landmarks, and some of Japan’s most breathtaking natural scenery
~$4,695
FIRE AND ICE RETURNS FOR 2027!
Yes indeed, our legendary winter festival trip is back for 2027! It’s hard to really summarize what this trip means to PacSet; it’s easily one of our best reviewed trips of all time and goes to the regions that helped form our entire reason for existing when we opened after 2011. The trip has been offered almost every year we’ve operated, with trips departing in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020 (yes, really), and 2024. It was also voted as the favorite trip of our alumni in our 2021 Tenth Anniversary vote.
In short, people who go on this one tend to really enjoy it. ☺️
There are lots of reasons people love this one, but chief among them is this: two nights in a deluxe onsen resort where everyone gets their own private outdoor hot spring (onsen) bath. Oh, and the resort has a pastry chef on staff who brings us desserts every day. Yeah, really!
The festivals are another big selling point for Fire and Ice. While the Sapporo Snow Festival is known around the world, both the Hiburi Kamakura Festival and Kamakura Igloo Festival in Akita Prefecture are iconic in their own right, and have been a part of the trip since its first iteration. PacSet co-founder Evan lived in Akita for two years and has a long history with both the Akita festivals, so when we had the idea to do a winter festival adventure, we had to include them both because, to be frank, they’re a blast. :)
MORE ABOUT THE PRICE ESTIMATE
Eagle-eyed alumni and readers will probably notice that this trip’s price is a bit higher than the last few times we offered it. The short answer: hotel costs.
While some of the destinations on this adventure have stayed at a similar price point than in years past, the increase in tourist traffic to Hokkaido and the Sapporo Snow Festival have definitely driven the price of this one up. We are hoping that the final price will come down a bit, but all in all, we are anticipating this one to come in pretty close to the price advertised. That being said: this is a pretty phenomenal trip, and we are sure you’ll feel like the adventure is worth it!
Signups close on November 30 this year, so if you are ready for a winter adventure that’s guaranteed to be unforgettable, sign up today!
February 4/5* - 17, 2027
SAPPORO • LAKE SHIKOTSU • HAKODATE • AOMORI • KAKUNODATE • YOKOTE • TOKYO
⛄️ Go to Sapporo Snow Festival and FOUR more friendly local winter festivals!
♨️ Spend two nights in a fancy, five-star hot spring resort
🍎 Sample local flavors from fresh scallops and crab to pies, unique cocktails, and life-changing desserts
🏯 Visit fortresses, Meiji-era landmarks, and some of Japan’s most breathtaking natural scenery
~$4,695
OTHER NEWS
This year’s Taste of Japan North trip did not make it over the finish line, so we’ll be making a few tweaks to it and offering it again at a future date. We’ll also be doing a few things to close a budget gap and address the ongoing malaise in our part of the travel market. It’s been a rough 2026 so far, but we’re not out of the fight yet. :)
NEXT WEEK: More updates, and a preview of panels at this year’s Anime Detour convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota!
