What are the main cities to visit in Hokkaido?

The four key cities for a Hokkaido itinerary are Sapporo (the main hub), Otaru (a romantic port city), Biei (known for its picturesque hills), and Furano (famous for lavender fields).

What's the best way to travel around Hokkaido?

You have two main options: a rental car for maximum freedom, especially in Biei and Furano, or the JR (Japan Railways) trains, which are safe and efficient for connecting major cities like Sapporo and Otaru.

Is it difficult to drive in Hokkaido during winter?

Winter driving can be challenging due to snow and potential black ice. If you're not experienced with winter conditions, it's safer to use the JR trains. If you do rent a car, ensure it has studless winter tires.

What are the must-see attractions in Sapporo and Otaru?

In Sapporo, visit Odori Park, the Sapporo TV Tower, and the Sapporo Beer Museum. In Otaru, the main attractions are the historic Otaru Canal, the Otaru Music Box Museum (Orgel-do), and Sakaimachi Street.

What is Biei and Furano famous for?

Biei is famous for its scenic 'Patchwork Road' and the stunning Blue Pond (Aoiike). Furano is world-renowned for its vast flower fields, especially the lavender at Farm Tomita.

Hokkaido Itinerary: Planning Your Trip to Sapporo, Otaru, Biei & Furano

This article is all about Hokkaido travel, a place that boasts diverse charms throughout the year, from snowy winter landscapes to endless summer lavender fields. We'll focus on the four cities that everyone planning a self-guided trip to Hokkaido considers: Sapporo, Otaru, Biei, and Furano. We'll outline how to build an efficient travel plan. If you've felt overwhelmed about how to structure your Hokkaido itinerary, this article will provide a clear solution.

Hokkaido travel

First Impressions of Hokkaido: What to Know Before You Go

Hokkaido has a distinctly different atmosphere from other regions of Japan. Understanding some basic information about Hokkaido before you start your trip will help you plan a richer journey.

Geographic Location & Transportation

It is the largest prefecture in Japan by area.
The main gateway is New Chitose Airport, which is connected to Sapporo.
Centered around Sapporo, major cities like Otaru, Biei, and Furano are well-positioned for an efficient travel route.

Seasonal Attractions

Summer: You can enjoy lush natural scenery, including endless lavender and flower fields.
Winter: The landscape, covered in pure white snow, is spectacular and perfect for enjoying winter sports or festivals.

Culture and Food

Culture: A unique local culture has developed, featuring Sapporo beer and Otaru's glasswork.
Food: It's abundant in fresh seafood and dairy products. Ramen, Soup Curry (a Sapporo specialty), Jingisukan (a popular grilled mutton dish), and seafood rice bowls are representative dishes you must try in Hokkaido.

Choosing Your Transportation in Hokkaido

The nature of your trip to the vast lands of Hokkaido will change completely depending on what mode of transport you use. It's best to choose the most efficient method of travel to suit your style. There are two main choices: rental car and train (JR).

Rental Car - The Freest Way to Explore All of Hokkaido

A rental car is the most suitable method for travelers who want to freely explore even the hidden spots of Hokkaido. Especially in the Biei and Furano areas, many places are inconvenient to reach by public transport alone, making a rental car almost essential. The biggest draw of a rental car trip is the ability to stop at a beautiful landscape you suddenly discover, or stay as long as you want, without being tied to time or place.

Hokkaidorental car

However, there are points to consider when traveling by rental car. In winter, driving on snowy roads can be dangerous if you're not used to it. You might think Hokkaido's snow is light and soft, so it's not slippery, but you must be careful as roads can freeze over, causing black ice. Also, parking fees in downtown Sapporo are quite expensive, and using toll roads may incur additional costs for the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. When booking a rental car, be sure to check if it's equipped with studless winter tires, which are essential for winter, and it's wise to sign up for collision damage waiver insurance just in case.

Essential Items for Renting a Car

Your home country's driver's license
International Driving Permit
Passport

Train (JR) - Convenience and Safety Combined

If driving in Hokkaido is a concern, or if you want to travel mainly around major cities like Sapporo and Otaru, the train (JR) is an excellent alternative. The 'Hokkaido Rail Pass' offered by JR Hokkaido is very economical as it allows unlimited use of JR lines for a fixed period. Its biggest advantage is the ability to travel safely and punctually, even during heavy winter snow.

The Complete Guide to the JR Pass for Japan Travel: How to Use, Prices, and Types - GybeLife

An essential for Japan travel! We explain the JR Pass, including how to use it, prices, types, and purchasing tips.

gybelife.com

However, since trains only stop at designated stations, there are limitations to exploring the beautiful scenery of the Biei and Furano areas in detail. Attractions like the Blue Pond or Farm Tomita are far from the stations, involving the inconvenience of having to take a bus or taxi again. But this drawback can be sufficiently overcome by using various tourist trains or bus tour products that compensate for these limitations.

Hokkaido's 4 Key Cities

It's best to plan your Hokkaido travel around the four charming cities of Sapporo, Otaru, Biei, and Furano. Understanding the characteristics of each city and connecting your routes efficiently can create a fulfilling trip.

Sapporo - The Starting Point for Your Hokkaido Journey

As the center of Hokkaido, Sapporo is both the starting and ending point of your trip. As a transportation hub, it harmonizes urban charm with nature and is great for enjoying food and shopping. Major attractions in Sapporo city are mostly within walking distance, making it especially recommended for those who prefer to travel on foot.

Sapporo city view

Key Travel Points

Odori Park: A park that cuts through the center of Sapporo, hosting various festivals each season. The Sapporo Snow Festival in winter is particularly famous, drawing tourists from all over the world.
Sapporo TV Tower: Located at the end of Odori Park, it's an observatory where you can get a panoramic view of the park and downtown Sapporo.
Sapporo Beer Museum: Here you can learn about the history and brewing process of Sapporo beer, Hokkaido's representative brew, and taste fresh beer.
JR Tower Observatory: Located above Sapporo Station, it's considered the best place to enjoy the night view of Sapporo.

Otaru - Romantic Port City

Located about 40 minutes by train from Sapporo, Otaru is a port city where you can feel a romantic atmosphere. Its charm lies in the cluster of music box museums and glasswork shops that preserve the glory of the past. It's great to plan as a day trip or half-day trip along with Sapporo.

Otaru

Key Travel Points

Otaru Canal: Otaru's symbolic spot, where you can enjoy the atmosphere while strolling along the old warehouse buildings. It becomes g even more romantic when the gas lamps are lit around sunset.
Otaru Music Box Museum (Orgel-do): Popular with many travelers, you can browse various types of music boxes and even make your own.
Sakaimachi Street: A street leading from the Otaru Canal, lined with the Music Box Museum, glass workshops, and dessert shops, allowing you to enjoy shopping and food-tasting at the same time.

Biei - A Fairytale Countryside Landscape

Biei is where endless rolling hills and beautiful trees come together to create a picturesque landscape. This area, known as the 'Patchwork Road,' is famous for its fields that look like colorful patchworks stitched together. It boasts different charms in every season, but in summer, green fields and yellow sunflowers harmonize, and in winter, it's covered in pure white snow for enjoying the snowy scenery.

Biei Aoiike

Key Travel Points

Blue Pond (Aoiike): It has a mystical cobalt-blue water color due to hot spring minerals, creating a unique landscape with the surrounding dry birch trees.
Shirahige Falls (Whitebeard Falls): A place where the ice-covered cliffs are a spectacular sight in winter. Hot spring water flows in front of the waterfall, and the steam rising from the water creates an exotic scene.
Patchwork Road: You can appreciate Biei's unique landscape where colorful fields are in harmony.
Travel Tip: The area is large, so using a rental car or a tour bus is the most efficient way to get around.

Furano - City of Flowers and Romance

Furano is Hokkaido's representative city of flowers. It's globally famous for its lavender fields, which are filled with purple waves. Farm Tomita, the symbol of Furano, is the most visited place during the peak lavender season in summer. It's not just about lavender; you can see various flowers like tulips and poppies throughout the year, so you can enjoy beautiful scenery whenever you visit.

Furano

Key Attractions and Tips

Farm Tomita: A famous farm for summer lavender, but you can appreciate various flowers every season.
Ningle Terrace: A collection of cozy log cabin shops in the forest, where you can feel the forest atmosphere during the day and a scenic view with lights at night.
Travel Tip: Like Biei, the area is large, making a rental car the most efficient mode of transport. Renting a bicycle for a leisurely trip is also a good option.

So far, we've looked at the characteristics and attractions of Hokkaido's key cities: Sapporo, Otaru, Biei, and Furano. How you travel this vast land of Hokkaido depends entirely on your travel style. If you want to enjoy the convenience and romance of the cities, you can use the train, focusing on Sapporo and Otaru. If you want to freely roam the vast nature, you can plan a trip to Biei and Furano by rental car.

There is no single correct answer for a Hokkaido trip. The process of creating an itinerary that matches your purpose and preference based on the information in this article will itself become a pleasant memory. We hope the information in this article helps you plan your first Hokkaido trip.

Takayama 2-Day Itinerary: A Trip to the "Your Name" Locations - GybeLife

Your guide to a perfect 2-day Takayama itinerary. Discover 'Your Name' locations, savor Hida beef, and visit Shirakawa-go.

en.gybelife.com