Hokkaido 8 Days Itinerary-A

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 200-220km. You need to drive a long distance on a general road to Furano. If you arrive in Chitose in the afternoon, consider skipping some spots.

１０：２０

Hokkaido is known for its delicious ice cream. First of all, you aim for [Kacha Ice Cream & Restaurant]. Find and enjoy your favorites from various flavors of ice cream. If you haven’t had lunch yet, you can also enjoy kiln-baked pizza and curry.

１４：００

Furano has many attractions. First of all, you will visit the very popular [Farm Tomita]. Lavender from mid-July to early August is very famous, but at other times, various flowers such as poppies and lupines bloom, and you can fully enjoy it from mid-April to mid-October.

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.

１５：４５

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.

９：００

The mileage is about 60 to 100km, so you can travel at relaxing pace. However, if you want to go to Asahiyama Zoo, please leave as early as possible in the morning and try to arrive at least 2 hours before closing.

９：１５

If you haven’t been there yet, please visit [Farm Tomita]. Lavender from mid-July to early August is very famous. Various flowers such as poppies and lupines bloom at other times, and you can fully enjoy them from mid-April to mid-October.

１０：４０

After that, you will head to the biggest highlight of the day [Shikisai no Oka]. The colorful flower fields on the vast hills will be a lifetime memory. You can enjoy it from the end of May to the end of October, but especially in September and October, it is a wonderful place to visit.

In addition, the area from Kamifurano, where Shikisai no Oka is located, to Biei is dotted with farm restaurants, making it ideal for lunch.

１３：００

After that, if you still have time, head to the famous [Blue Pond]. It has become known worldwide for being used as wallpaper for Mac on Apple Computer.
3 min driving from Blue Pond is Shirahige Falls. It is not well known, but it is worth a visit as well.

１５：００

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.

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.
Beg May – Mid Oct 9:30-17:15(Last Ently16:00)
Mid Oct – Beg Nov 9:30-16:30(Last Ently16:00)
Mid Nov – Beg Apr 10:30-15:30(Last Ently15:00)

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

１６：３０

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.

８：００

The mileage is 210km-280km, which is the longest on this trip, so it is recommended to leave Asahikawa to leave the latest at 9 o’clock.

９：３０

The first destination is [Mt. Daisetsu Sounkyo Ropeway]. Especially in autumn, you can see the most magnificent autumn leaves in Hokkaido.

１１：００

Also, 2km away from Sounkyo, there are two dynamic waterfalls, [Ginga & Ryusei Falls], with wonderful heights of 90m and 120m.

１３：００

After that, you will cross the Ishikita Pass for about 60km and head for [Kitakitsune Fox Farm]. The foxes with adorable fluffy coats will welcome you. The roadside station is also adjacent, so it’s perfect for a break.

１５：５５

The last spot of the day is [Cape Notoro]. It is a spot where you can watch the magnificent sunset over the Sea of Okhotsk.

１７：１０

Abashiri, where we stay on this day, is a hot spring resort. Make sure you arrive at the inn by 6 pm at the latest.

９：００

The mileage is about 180km.

１０：００

The first destination is Lake Kussharo [Bihoro Pass Observatory], which is the biggest highlight of the day. The panoramic view of Lake Kussharo, the largest caldera lake in Japan and the second largest in the world, is called the “superb view of the world”, and from here you can see the Shiretoko mountain range and Mt. Daisetsuzan.

In addition, Route 243 from Bihoro Pass to Lake Kussharo is a road where you can enjoy an exhilarating drive, which is ranked 28th in the touring course ranking of a motorcycle magazine. Drive through the beautiful contrast between the green of bamboo grass and the blue of the lake.

１１：３０

While driving along Lake Kussharo, you will aim for the next destination [Mt. Iou]. The eruption that blows out while making a rumbling noise is very dynamic. You can also see yellow sulfur crystals.

１２：４０

It is recommended to have lunch around Mt. Iou. If you like ramen, please try the local ramen [Teshikaga ramen] that represents Eastern Hokkaido.

１４：１０

After lunch, you will head to the next lake, Lake Mashu. It is called Mashu Blue because of its second highest transparency in the world and a depth of 211m, and the appearance of the sky reflected on the surface of the lake is like a huge mirror. There are multiple observatories on Lake Mashu, but if you are traveling on a driving trip, the view of [Lake Mashu No.3 observatory], which is not accessible by bus, is the best, and parking is free, so it is recommended.

１６：００
After that, you will head to Shiretoko, a World Heritage Site. Stop by the observatory called “Road to the Sky” on the way. Originally known only to local bikers, the name comes from the sight of a 28km straight road leading to the sky. Must see.

１７：００
Utoro town in Shiretoko where you stay on this day is a hot spring resort. About 8km before Shiretoko, there is Oshinkoshin Falls just next to the coastal main road. It is recommended if you have time.

９：００

The mileage is long and about 200km, 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.

９：２０

The first destination is Shiretoko Five Lakes, a World Natural Heritage Site. You can stroll along the wooden path while watching Shiretoko’s magnificent mountains and lakes. If you want to see all five lakes, you must take a guided tour, so make a reservation in advance.
If you are lucky, you may also see wild brown bears along the way.

１２：００

We recommend [Roadside Station Rausu] and [Jun no Banya] for lunch. You can enjoy seafood such as sea urchin, salmon roe, crab, and Kinki(Rare deep-sea fish, very expensive) at a much more reasonable price than in Tokyo or Sapporo. We definitely recommend eating here.

Roadside Station Shiretoko Rausu-MAPCODE 757 353 737
Jun no Banya-MAPCODE 757 353 276

１４：３０

From here, drive along the sea to [Kaiyodai]. After passing through North Route 19, which is a farm road nicknamed Milk Road, there is Kaiyodai, which overlooks grasslands and farmland to the horizon. There is a famous yogurt drink shop nearby, so you can stop by.

１６：００
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

The mileage is about 100km, so you can travel at a relaxing pace.

１１：００

The first destination is [Kushiroshi Tanchozuru Natural Park]. There is a recommended ice cream shop along the way, so please stop by. Tanchozuru (Tancho Crane) Natural Park is a protected area of Tanchozuru, which is also the symbol mark of Japan Airlines, and you can observe elegant cranes all year round.

１２：３０

After that, you will have lunch at [Kushiro Washo Market] in Kushiro City. Katte Don is famous for being able to eat rice with your favorite seafood selected at the market.

１４：００

After that, head to today’s highlight, Kushiro Marsh Observatory. Not only the observatory but also 1.1km and 2.5km walking paths are maintained here. Enjoy walking in the nature of the vast Kushiro Marsh.

１６：００

If it’s sunny, head to “Hosooka Observatory”. The mileage will increase by about 50km, but from this observatory located at the eastern end of the marsh, you can see the spectacular sunset over the Kushiro Marsh. This is the most recommended observatory by locals.

１７：４５

For dinner, we recommend Robatayaki BBQ at “Kushiro Fisherman’s Wharf MOO”.

９：３０

The mileage is as long as 200km, but half of it is an expressway so you can travel without rushing.

１１：３０

There is not many spots to see from Kushiro to the Obihiro area. Let’s drive 100km on the expressway(E38) to “Ikeda Wine Castle”. This is the most famous winery in Hokkaido, and you can see the inside of a brewery that imitates a castle in medieval Europe.

１４：２５

In the afternoon, you will drive south on the vast Tokachi Plain to Shichiku Garden. The garden, which was created by an old woman when she was 62 years old and has been built over 20 years, is now a famous place visited by more than 100,000 people a year.

１５：３０

The final destination of the day is Shinarashiyama Sky Park. From the observatory here, you can overlook the Tokachi Plain, the vast agricultural area you drove today.

１７：２０

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.

９：００

The mileage is as long as 210km to Sapporo. About 140km of this is an expressway trip, but we recommend that you depart between 8:00 and 9:00 because it’s a long-distance drive. We recommend leaving as early as possible, especially if you want to go to Otaru, as most stores close at 17:00.
If you plan to fly from New Chitose Airport on this day, please see the end of the article.

９：１０

First of all, in the morning, we recommend the wonderful bakery [Mugioto Bakery] located 4km south of Obihiro. You can have breakfast on the terrace, or take it out to eat in the car as it’s a long way to go on this day.

Shintoku Town, north of Obihiro, is a soba-producing region, so Shintoku Soba is also recommended for lunch.

１１：００

After that, head to [Sahoro Resort Bear Mountain]. There are several places in Hokkaido where you can see brown bears, but this is the most recommended because you can see bears living in a natural way on a private bus in a safari park format.

１６：２０
This concludes your Hokkaido road trip.

①Returning a car at New Chitose Airport
When heading to New Chitose Airport, 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.

②Returning a car in Sapporo
When you return to Sapporo, the distance from the airport is about 60 km, 1 hour. Please 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.