Hi all,My wife and I will be travelling to Hokkaido in the beginning of June 2024. As this is our first time in Hokkaido, we will be renting a car and driving for most of the part of our trip. Here’s a brief outline of our itinerary.
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**Day 1 (New Chitose Airport -> Otaru)**
Hotel Location: Otaru
* Touchdown New Chitose Airport in the morning
* Travel to Otaru by train
* Explore Otaru Canal Area
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**Day 2 (Otaru -> Furano)**
Hotel Location: Furano
* Check out of hotel and pick up rental car in the morning
* Drive to Furano
* Farm Tomita
* Ningle Terrace
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**Day 3 (Furano/Biei)**
Hotel Location: Furano
* Panorama Road
* Shikisai Hill
* Kanno Farm
* Shirogane Pond
* Shirahige Waterfall
* Short hike at Tokachidake Volcano
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**Day 4 (Furano -> Kamishihoro)**
Hotel Location: Kamishihoro
* Drive to Kamishihoro along Route 273
* Sounkyo Onsen/ Kurodake Ropeway/ Mt Kurodake
* Ryusei Ginga Waterfalls
* Mikuni Pass
* Old Horoka Station
* Taushubetsu Bridge Observation Deck
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**Day 5 (Unaki Terrace/Naitai Terrace)**
Hotel Location: Kamishihoro
* Unkai Terrace in the morning
* Butadon lunch at Obihiro
* Naitai Terrace
* Explore Kamishihoro with bicycle provided by hotel
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**Day 6 (Kamishihoro -> Lake Shikotsu -> Lake Toya)**
Hotel Location: Lake Toya
* Lake Shikotsu
* Usuzan Ropeway/ Mt Usu
* Lake Toya
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**Day 7 (Noboribetsu/ Muroran)**
Hotel Location: Lake Toya
* Noboribetsu
* Drive along coast of Muroran (Cape Chikyu, Hakucho Bridge)
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**Day 8 (Lake Toya -> Shakotan Peninsula -> Sapporo)**
Hotel Location: Sapporo
* Shakotan Peninsula (Cape Kamui/ Shimamui Coast/ Cape Ogon)
* Return rented car in Sapporo
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**Day 9 – 12 (Sapporo)**
* We have not planned in details but 4 days for Sapporo seems to be too much in my opinion.
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Here’s my questions.
1. We will like this to be a relaxing trip and I anticipate that I would be driving at a leisure pace. Is this itinerary too rushed considering all the distances and driving involved?
2. Will 2 hours be enough to explore Mt Kurodake’s 5th station and the surround area? (we are not planning to hike up the submit).
3. Understand that the sun rises at about 4am in June, what time do we need to be at Unkai Terrace in order to have the best chance to see the sea of clouds?
4. 4 days seems to be too much for Sapporo, is Hakodate doable as a day trip?
5. Also, is there any good hiking spot for beginner when we are in Sapporo?
6. Lastly, is there any must-see attractions along the route we are taking that we have missed out?
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Any other feedbacks are welcome.
Thank you for the feedback in advance.
by Meowin88