北海道紅葉追踪 Go for "Koyo" in Hokkaido 2016

My itinerary for the trip:

27 Sep     Fly to New Chitose International Airport 新千歳空港

                Ride train to Asahikawa 旭川駅

28 Sep     Drive to Aoiike blue pond 美瑛白金青い池   Furano 富良野    Biei 美瑛

                Evening bus to  Sounkyo 層雲峽 

29 Sep     Morning bus to & walk at Ginsendai  銀泉台  【大雪山赤岳登山】

                Ropeway to 黑岳七合目

                Bus to Taisetsuzan Kogen Onsen 大雪山高原温泉

                Trail walk 大雪高原溫泉【標高1,260m】

30 Sep     Bus to Akan 阿寒湖

                Onneto lake オンネトー湖

1 Oct       Drive to Memanbetsu Airport 女満別空港

                Fly to New Chitose Airport 新千歳空港

                Ride train to Otaru 小樽 

2 Oct       Ride train to Tomakomai 苫小牧 

                Drive to Shikotsuko 支笏湖  Toyako Onsen 洞爺湖温泉

3 Oct       Ride train to Shin Aomori 新青森

                Drive to Tsuta Onsen Ryokan 蔦温泉旅館 

                Trail walk 蔦七沼の紅葉  自然散策路

4 Oct       Hiking at Oirase Boardwalk 奥入瀬遊歩道

                Drive to Towada 十和田湖  Kakunodate 角館

5 Oct       Drive to Tazawako 田沢湖   Dakikaeri keikoku 抱返り渓谷 

                Ride train to Onuma Quasi-National Park 大沼公園 

6 Oct       Ride train to New Chitose International Airport 新千歳空港

                Stop over to Noboribetsu 登別

                Fly back to Hong Kong

How to come up with this itinerary?

1. To maximize use of my Asia Miles, it's to redeem air ticket to Hokkaido.
2. I have been long for visiting Sounkyo 層雲峽 for more than 10 years, after my first (and last) visit to Hokkaido in 1998.
3. The earliest "koyo" throughout Japan could be seen in Sounkyo 層雲峽, starting from September every year.
4. It's found on JR website that there is a rail pass JR東日本・南北海道鐵路周遊券, which allows unlimited access from Tokyo to Sapporo & Otaru at only ¥26,000, covering Hokkaido shinkansen (Shin Amori <=> Shin Hakodate Hokuto) which was launched on March 26, 2016.
5. My original plan was to visit Abashiri 網走 instead of Akan.  Due to typhoons that consecutively passed over Hokkaido in summer, many damages were made to the rail facilities. Limited express train service from Sapporo to Abashiri was suspended until 18 October. Fortunately, I got to know the news with sufficient time to alter my itinerary. 
6. Surprisingly, I got a companion right before my journey.  Donna joined and traveled with me for first 5 days.