Hokkaido 12 Days Itinerary-W

１０：００

New Chitose Airport is the gateway to Hokkaido. First of all, please complete the reception procedure at the rental car counter at the airport. It takes about 15 minutes by free shuttle bus to the rental car company branch.

The mileage is about 155km. Please use the expressway (E38) on the way to shorten the travel time. If you arrive in Chitose in the afternoon, consider skipping some spots.

１２：３０

First of all, you will visit [Glass Forest In FURANO]. Many handmade glass products such as glasses and accessories are sold. Because of the elaborate glass work, people tend to think that it is expensive, but all the products in this shop are reasonably priced, making them ideal gifts.

１４：００

Next, you will head to [Furano Cheese Factory]. At this cheese factory, you can see the production room and aging warehouse through the glass. At the direct sales corner on the 2nd floor, you can sample cheese, and cheese made at the cheese factory, milk, and sweets made with butter are sold.

This place is popular and should be booked in advance. Please make a reservation in advance at the email address below.
cheese@furano.ne.jp

１５：３０

[Ningle Terrace] is recommended. You can buy various works by local artists such as crafts and accessories at the log houses lined up in the woods.

It opens till 20:45 so it is also okay to visit after dinner.

１６：４０

Furano has a limited number of shops that are open until late at night. It is recommended to include a supper when booking the inn or to go to the inn after having supper.

１０：００

The mileage is about 80km, so you can travel at relaxing pace. It is enough to leave the inn around 10 o’clock.

１０：１０

Furano has many attractions. First of all, you will head to the [Furano Marche]. This is a vast and diverse facility, but we especially recommend the shops and cafes that offer freshly made sweets and freshly baked bread. How about a slightly late breakfast with freshly baked delicious bread?

１３：００

Your next destination will be the famous [Blue Pond]. It has become known worldwide for being used as wallpaper for Mac on Apple Computer.

１４：３０

Your last destination of the day is [Shirahige Falls]. It is not well known, but it is worth a visit as well.

１６：２０

On this day, you will be staying in Furano for the second consecutive night. Please spend a relaxing time at the inn.

１０：００

The mileage is about 80km, so you can travel at relaxing pace. It is enough to leave the inn around 10 o’clock.

１０：１０

Furano has many attractions. First of all, you will head to the [Furano Marche]. This is a vast and diverse facility, but we especially recommend the shops and cafes that offer freshly made sweets and freshly baked bread. How about a slightly late breakfast with freshly baked delicious bread?

１３：００

Your next destination will be the famous [Blue Pond]. It has become known worldwide for being used as wallpaper for Mac on Apple Computer.

１４：３０

Your last destination of the day is [Shirahige Falls]. It is not well known, but it is worth a visit as well.

１６：２０

On this day, you will be staying in Furano for the second consecutive night. Please spend a relaxing time at the inn.

９：００

The mileage is about 95km, so you can travel at relaxing pace. However, if you want to spend a long time in Asahiyama Zoo, please leave as early as possible in the morning and try to arrive at least 2 hours before closing.

１０：００

Your first destination of the day is the famous [Blue Pond]. It has become known worldwide for being used as wallpaper for Mac on Apple Computer.

１１：１５

You will go to [Shirahige Falls] next. It is not well known, but it is worth a visit as well.

１２：３０

Next, you will head to [Seven Star Tree & Patchwork Hills]. The area around Biei’s Seven Star Tree is famous as Patchwork Hills in summer. In winter, too, the appearance of this tree dignifiedly standing in the wide snowfield is very tasteful. Please enjoy driving the hills around here.

１３：３０

The most famous zoo in Hokkaido, [Asahiyama Zoo], can be reached in about an hour and a half from Furano and about 20 minutes from Asahikawa (The snow road will take longer).

There are the following parking lots.
Main gate 1st parking(Free 65 slots) MAPCODE:79 357 856
Main gate 2nd parking(Free 125 slots) MAPCODE:79 357 856
East gate parking(Free 300 slots) MAPCODE:79 357 881

Please be careful that Asahiyama zoo closes very early.
Mid Nov – Beg Apr 10:30-15:30(Last Ently15:00)
Beg May – Mid Oct 9:30-17:15(Last Ently16:00)
Mid Oct – Beg Nov 9:30-16:30(Last Ently16:00)

Asahiyama Zoo in winter has a lot to offer, just like in summer.
● Asahiyama Zoo is famous for penguin walks, but it is much better in the snowy landscape.
● Drift ice plaza appears in the outdoor enclosure of the “Seal Museum” only during the cold winter season. It’s only in the cold winter that you can see their faces popping out of the holes in the ice floes.
● Monkeys don’t like the cold. On colder days, you can see monkey dumplings that cling together to keep warm.

● In early February, the opening hours of the zoo will be extended. You can experience Asahiyama Zoo at night under the snow light.
● Polar bears also look better in snow and ice.

If you would like to enjoy Asahiyama zoo at a relaxing pace, please consider staying one more night.

１７：００

Asahikawa, where you will stay tonight, is the second largest city in Hokkaido. Here you can enjoy various gourmet foods such as Genghis Khan and Asahikawa ramen.
There are many shops within walking distance that are open until late at night, so please check in before exploring the city.

９：００

The mileage is 230km, which is the longest on this trip, so we recommend leaving Asahikawa before 9:00 at the latest. You will be driving on the expressway (E39) for the first half and on the public road for the second half.

１１：３０

After driving a long distance on the expressway, please enjoy lunch at a sushi restaurant. This is a revolving sushi restaurant, but you can eat very fresh sushi at a more reasonable price than in Sapporo.

１４：１５

Next, you will head to Cape Notoro, which is a scenic spot where you can enjoy the beautiful and mysterious drift ice and the white world of icefalls. Road Abashiri Park Line, also known as the “Misaki Line”, is a scenic road where you can enjoy a comfortable drive even in winter. Drift ice can usually be seen from early February to early March.

１５：３０

After that, you will go to the Okhotsk drift ice museum and learn about drift ice, preparing for tomorrow’s drift ice cruise.

１６：３０

Abashiri, where we stay on this day, is a hot spring resort. Since the number of restaurants is quite limited, it is recommended to make a reservation at a hot spring inn with a plan to half board. Make sure you arrive at the inn by 5 pm at the latest.

８：５０

The mileage is about 90km. You must have checked in for Abashiri Sightseeing Icebreaker Aurora by 9:15 on this day, so please leave the hotel by 8:50 at the latest. Also, the departure time of the Icebreaker Aurora may change depending on the season, so please check the information on the website (https://www.ms-aurora.com/abashiri/en/).

９：１０

The first destination is [Abashiri Sightseeing Icebreaker Aurora], which is the biggest highlight of the day. This is a large ship that sails on the sea while breaking ice. You can see the ice floes that arrive every year off the coast of Abashiri Port up close, and you can enjoy a thrilling cruise as the vibrations and sounds of breaking the ice are transmitted directly to the boat.

Icebreaker Aurora departs at 9:30 most days. Please arrive at the platform at 9:00 and complete her check-in procedures. Also, the departure time of the Icebreaker Aurora may change depending on the season, so please check the information on the website (https://www.ms-aurora.com/abashiri/en/). The cruise time is a little over an hour.

If you stay in Abashiri for two consecutive days, you will also have the opportunity to board the ice floe ship the next day, but it is better to board the ship on this day and skip the boarding on the next day.

１１：００

After enjoying a winter sea cruise, you will head to The Abashiri Prison Museum, where the Abashiri Prison buildings made in the Meiji era (1868–1912) are preserved and open to the public. 

１２：４５

Please enjoy delicious seafood in Abashiri. We recommend “Okhotsk direct market Kaniya”.

１４：００

After lunch, you will head to [Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples].  This museum introduces the life, customs, and culture of northern folks, not only the Ainu in Japan, but also around the world, such as the Eskimo and Inuit.

１５：４０

On this day you will stay at a hotel in Abashiri following yesterday. Please spend a relaxing time in Abashiri.

８：５０

The mileage is about 90km. You must have checked in for Abashiri Sightseeing Icebreaker Aurora by 9:15 on this day, so please leave the hotel by 8:50 at the latest. Also, the departure time of the Icebreaker Aurora may change depending on the season, so please check the information on the website (https://www.ms-aurora.com/abashiri/en/).

９：００

The first destination is [Abashiri Sightseeing Icebreaker Aurora], which is the biggest highlight of the day. This is a large ship that sails on the sea while breaking ice. You can see the ice floes that arrive every year off the coast of Abashiri Port up close, and you can enjoy a thrilling cruise as the vibrations and sounds of breaking the ice are transmitted directly to the boat.

Icebreaker Aurora departs at 9:30 most days. Please arrive at the platform by 9:00 and complete her check-in procedures. Also, the departure time of the Icebreaker Aurora may change depending on the season, so please check the information on the website (https://www.ms-aurora.com/abashiri/en/). The cruise time is a little over an hour.

１１：００

After enjoying a winter sea cruise, you will head to The Abashiri Prison Museum, where the Abashiri Prison buildings made in the Meiji era (1868–1912) are preserved and open to the public. 

１２：００

Please enjoy delicious seafood in Abashiri. We recommend “Okhotsk direct market Kaniya”.

１４：１０

After lunch, you will head to [Road to the Sky].  While driving on the road, it provides a terrific view of itself. Originally known only to local bikers, the name comes from the sight of a 28km straight road leading to the sky. Must see.

１５：４０

Next you will head to Yuhidai Observatory. Here, the surface of the sea, which is covered with drift ice, turns a golden color, creating a beautiful and impressive impression.

１６：２０

Shiretoko, where you stay on this day, is a hot spring resort. Since the number of restaurants where you can have dinner is very limited, it is recommended to make a reservation at a hot spring inn with a plan with half board. Make sure you arrive at the inn by 5 pm at the latest.

８：００

The mileage on this day is 20km and you hardly drive a car. However, if you participate in the “Winter Shiretoko Five Lakes Tour”, you need to leave the hotel at 8:00 and wake up early in the morning. On the other hand, if you choose the RYUHYO (Drift Ice) Walk, the morning will be a little more leisurely.

８：００

Winter in Shiretoko, which is rich in nature, can be severely cold with drift ice drifting, but you can enjoy activities unique to winter to your heart’s content. A couple of options are shown below.

(Option 1) There are guided tours of the Shiretoko Five Lakes during the harsh winter season, where you can enjoy a walk in the wetlands and lakes that are not accessible during the summer season. In particular, [Winter Shiretoko Five Lakes Tour] by Shiretoko Nature Office is recommended. Reservations are required (please go to https://en.activityjapan.com/publish/plan/3379 for booking in English).
Depending on which Shiretoko tour you book, normally your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel at 8:00. The tour guide will then take you to the activity location and drop you off at your hotel after the activity. The duration of the tour is approximately 5 hours.

(Option 2) Drift ice lands on the coast of Okhotsk in Hokkaido from around the end of January. Especially around Utoro on the Shiretoko Peninsula, the sea is covered with ice like a pure white land during the peak season. [RYUHYO (Drift Ice) Walk] is an activity unique to Utoro where you can experience such phenomena and sights like those in the Arctic Circle. You can see the activity in action in the video below.
https://youtu.be/XLZNBYvNYFY
Reservations are required (please go to https://shinrashiretoko.wixsite.com/shinra/ice-walking for booking in English).

１３：３０

For lunch on this day, we recommend [Roadside Station Utoro Shirietoku]. You can easily enjoy a wide variety of meals.

１４：３０

After lunch, please enjoy the spectacular drift ice views from the Oronko Rock Observatory. You can go there on foot or by car. It takes about 10 minutes if you walk.

However, the path leading up to the observatory is narrow and steep, so if you think it is dangerous due to accumulated snow, please skip this observatory and enjoy the drift ice near the next waterfall. Please put safety first.

１５：３０

This spectacular waterfall, located just next to the coastal main road heading toward Shiretoko, provides visitors a unique experience. After a short walk up some stairs, you can enjoy the waterfall in all of its glory. An observatory is located at the top of the falls and provides a view of the Sea of Okhotsk.

There is also a sidewalk on the opposite side of the road from the parking lot. From there you can enjoy the drift ice of the sea of Okhotsk.

１６：３０

On this day you will stay at a hotel in Shiretoko following yesterday. Please spend a relaxing time in Shiretoko, a World Heritage site.

９：００

The mileage is long and about 185km, and there is no expressway section. Also, since there are many highlight sites, we strongly recommend that you leave around 8 to 9 o’clock.

１０：４０

Your first destination of the day is [Lake Kussharo Sunayu]. This is a popular destination for photographers due to the abundance of swans and the stunning backdrop. Sunayu on the shores of Lake Kussharo is a natural hot spring. Therefore, the center of the lake is covered with ice in winter, but the lakeside is not frozen and becomes an open-air bath for swans. There is also a footbath here, so you can relax while watching the swans from the footbath.

１２：００

Next, you will head to [Mt.Iou]. It is an active volcano covered in solidified lava and emits a great deal of smoke.

１３：３０

For lunch on this day, Teshikaga Ramen Main branch is recommended. Ramen is perfect for lunch on a cold winter trip.
We recommend trying the Seafood soy sauce(魚介たまり醤油) Ramen and Miso(味噌) ramen.

１４：３０

After enjoying lunch, you will head to [Lake Mashu]. The north side of Route 52 is closed in winter, so you will head to Lake Mashu No. 1 Observatory from the south side. Lake Mashu is famous as a beautiful lake with highly transparent water. Especially from the end of January to around February 20th every year, Lake Mashu is in the freezing season. It is especially beautiful to see the frozen ice in progress. The sapphire blue surface of the lake shines with the white frozen ice.

１７：００
After that, it is a long drive of 85km to Lake Akan, about an hour and a half.
Because of long distance, please take rest at the road sidestation along the way.

Lake Akan, where you stay on this day, is also a famous hot spring resort. Relax in the hot springs and rest your body.

１９：３０

One of the highlights at Lake Akan is [Akan AINU Kotan]. A place where you can experience the culture of the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido, you can not only see their traditional dances every night in the theater but also do shopping in various woodcraft shops.
The theater and shops open till night and you can visit them after dinner.

１０：００

We recommend that you don’t drive on this day and just enjoy Lake Akan in winter.

１０：１０

Why don’t you enjoy attractions that can only be experienced in winter at a leisure land called [Ice Land AKAN] on the frozen Lake Akan without driving a car on this day?
There are many fun attractions such as snowmobiles, banana boats, four-wheeled buggies, ice skating, walking skiing, and smelt fishing. During winter, such activities are held daily on the frozen Lake Akan.

１７：００
On this day, you will stay in Lake Akan for the second consecutive night. Please enjoy the hot springs in the cold winter.

９：００

The mileage is long and about 195km to Obihiro or 245km to Tomamu. Depending on the weather in Hokkaido in winter, road conditions can deteriorate, and road regulations may be tightened. Please be careful when driving.

Before checking out of the hotel, it is recommended to enjoy the natural phenomenon of the frigid Lake Akan. You may be able to see Frost Flowers, Diamond Dust, Kearashi (Frost smoke), etc. if the weather conditions are good in the early morning.

１０：００

Next, you will head to [Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary]. You can see red-crowned cranes here. Winter here is a photographer’s paradise. During the feeding season from November to March, photographers gather along the fence to capture the beauty of the red-crowned cranes in the viewfinder. Here you will find the scenery that symbolizes Hokkaido in winter.

１２：００

After seeing the red-crowned cranes, you head to the [Kushiro Marsh Observatory]. This is a representative base where you can see, learn about, and explore the Kushiro Marsh. From the observation room on the 3rd floor and the rooftop, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the wetlands, the city of Kushiro, and the mountains of Akan.

１５：００

Next, you will head to “Ikeda Wine Castle” via Expressway (E38). This is the most famous winery in Hokkaido, and you can see the inside of a brewery that imitates a castle in medieval Europe.

Obihiro is one of the leading cities in Hokkaido. There are many restaurants and food stalls on the north side of the station, so please enjoy dinner while strolling after checking in at the hotel. In particular, Obihiro is famous for pork rice bowls as a local gourmet. Please try it.

１７：００

１０：００

The mileage is about 170-210km. Depending on your fright schedule, Please adjust the time for snow activities for this day.

１１：２０

On this day, please enjoy some light snow activities at Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU. Firstly, please take the gondola from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain and enjoy Muhyo (rime) Terrace. This place becomes Unkai (sea of clouds) Terrace in the summer. You can experience the superb view of Tomamu in winter. Enjoy the snow-covered trees and the majestic view of the snowy mountains.

You can also enjoy snowshoeing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVksREPIKKk

If you want to enjoy more snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding in Tomamu, we recommend staying another night in Tomamu.

１６：３０
This concludes your Hokkaido road trip.

①Returning a car in Sapporo
When you return to Sapporo, refuel, and then return the car to the car rental branch. Use the MAPCODE on the driving map for the nearest rental car stores and gas stations near Sapporo Station.
Sapporo offers a wide variety of culinary delights! For dinner, try Sapporo Miso ramen, Soup curry, Crab, and Sushi.

②Returning a car at New Chitose Airport
When heading to New Chitose Airport, the distance from Sapporo is about 60 km, about 1 hour. Make sure you arrive at the car rental company branch 3 hours before your flight. You need to take the shuttle bus from the company branch to the airport. In addition, New Chitose Airport is the best in Japan. There are restaurants where you can enjoy all kinds of Hokkaido gourmet food and countless souvenir shops, so the waiting time for your flight feels short.