Hello y’all! My husband & I & our daughter are going to Hokkaido next month. So excited for this trip, 4th time to Japan but 1st to Hokkaido. We are 50 y/o likes to explore nature & food & walk a lot when we travels. Please check out our overall itinerary below if this makes sense & doable. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
**Day 1** – Fri 1 Sep: Arrive in CTS at 3PM, pick up rental car from the airport. Drive to Noboribetsu, stay in Dai-Chi Takimotokan (onsen & dinner).
**Day 2** – Sat 2 Sep: Explore Hell Valley & Oyunuma river footbath.Drive to Hakodate. Explore Motomachi area & go to Mt Hakodate Ropeway at night. Dinner Lucky Pierrot or Ajisai Ramen.
**Day 3** – Sun 3 Sep: Hakodate morning market, Kanemori red brick warehouse, Goryokaku Fort/Park. Explore Motomachi if not enough time on day 2.
**Day 4** – Mon 4 Sep: Long drive to Asahikawa. Check out Lake Toya and Hill of the Buddha on the way to Asahikawa.
**Day 5** – Tue 5 Sep: Daisetzusan Natl Park/Sugatami Lake, Asahiyama Zoo, Gokoku Shrine, Ramen Village. Is it too early to see fall colors in natl park?
**Day 6** – Wed 6 Sep: Drive to Sapporo. Check out Biei blue pond, Furano – Hinode Park, Tomita Farm, Lavender Garden, Mt Hokusei, Ningle Terrace.
**Day 7** – Thu 7 Sep: Day trip to Otaru – Otaru canal, Sakaimachi St. Continue to Cape Kamui. Back to Sapporo & return car
**Day 8-10** \- Fri 8-10 Sep: Exploring Sapporo – Odori Park, TV Tower, Clock Tower, Govt Office, HU Ginkyo Ave., Nijo market, Tanukikoji shopping st, Hokkaido Shrine, Shiroikoibito Park, Sapporo Beer museum, Pokemon Center, Mt Moiwa? Upopoy?
**Day 11** – Mon 11 Sep: Fly out in the afternoon – spend time in CTS shopping, Waku2 Sky park.
QQ/concerns:
* Is there anything we need to prep/pay attn for driving in Japan (already have Intl license, cant read japanese)
* Is there areas above where we can see autumn colors?
* Are the flowers still in season around Furano/Tomita Farm in Sept?
* Any character/themed cafe recommendation (Snoopy/Pokemon/Ghibli/etc)?
* Having mixed feeling abt trying out onsen for the 1st time.
Thank you so much for reading 🙂
2 comments
Onsen, just go for it and you will end up loving it.
Otaru and Cape Kamui in one day might be a bit much. I live in Kanagawa but just did 6 days in Hokkaido (second time there). Drive from Niseko to Shakotan/Shimamui Coast then down to Otaru/dropped rental car off in Sapporo and really didn’t have much time to spare, I felt like I would split it up if I did it again as I wanted more time in Shakotan. It’s a longer drive than you’d think, especially stopping for food and the like. So unless you’re leaving at like 5AM, I’d reconsider trying to pack that into one day.