This sounds great. How long is the ride? Is there much for a visitor to do at the destination? Walking around Niigata, for example?

I'm starting to plan a trip for winter next year. I'm thinking about relying mostly on trains, in fact making it a rail-centered visit. We've done the Shinkansen between Kyoto and Tokyo in the past. For this visit, I'm looking at expanding it, starting on either end of the island chain and going toward the middle. For example, fly into Fukuoka and journey by rail to Tokyo before flying out of NRT. Or starting on Hokkaido and taking the trains down to Osaka before flying out of KIX. Scenic side trips like Nagano/Niigata would be a good fit. Perhaps the journey to Eastern Hokkaido mentioned up thread. Which direction would you all recommend going and why?

This will be in late December, so I'd like to take advantage of seasonal opportunities, such as the snow on the Nagano/Niigata line.