Hi All,
We (family of four, including two kids ages 13 and 16) are planning a trip to Hokkaido from January 7 to January Jan 19. I’ve spent a significant amount of time reading up on Hokkaido, researching this thread, and am still struggling with deciding on an itinerary. I’m hoping the great people on this subreddit can offer some feedback. Overall, I think the itinerary does a good job of letting us see a good portion of the island (understanding, we are omitting Hakodate to the south and the Shiretoko peninsula to the north altogether – next time!), but there seems to be a bit too much driving. Can anyone suggest a way to cut down driving times and still hit the spots mentioned on the itinerary? Alternatively, are there some sites/areas you would skip altogether? Any great sites I have missed? Any advice/feedback would be greatly appreciated.
The only things set in stone are our arrival on June 7 at night and our departure to Tokyo on June 19 (we can leave from any airport in Hokkaido that flies to Haneda).
Thanks so much!
**June 7:** Land in New Chitose airport at 9:30; get to hotel in Sapporo; sleep
**June 8, 9, 10:** Spend three days in Sapporo; will take a fairly relaxed approach to seeing the city; enjoy the food, see the main tourist sites, get over jetlag.
**June 11:** Pick up rental car, spend the entire day driving around the Shakotan peninsula, with stops in Otaru and Cape Kamui. Final night in Sapporo. (Find parking for car.)
**June 12, June 13:** Drive to Lake Shikotsu (approximately 1.25 hour); stay at accommodations in Lake Shikotsu; day one, walk around the lake, explore the area; day two, rent clear bottom kayaks (possible scuba diving in the lake);
**June 14:** Drive to Noboribetsu; on the way from Lake Shikotsu, visit National Ainu museum; walk portion or all of Hell Valley; stay at onsen hotel/ryokan;
**June 15:** Drive to Furano (approx 2.5 to 3 hours); visit Furano cheese factory, including cheese making experience for the kids; check into hotel and explore town
**June 16:** Visit flower fields at Tomita Farm, and then to Shirogane Blue Pond near Biei; then to Ashahikawa (total drive time is 1.75 hours, not including stops);
**June 17-18:** Explore Asahikawa (day 1); Drive to Asahidake Ropeway (1 hr drive), climb to top of Asahidake from top of ropeway weather permitting (day 2).
**June 19:** Return car to Asahikawa airport; fly from Asahikawa to Haneda.
by croissantfufu