Hokkaido driving in winter + rental car

I traveled from Tokyo to Sapporo this January and also traveled all around the island with a rental car. I want to share my experience and give some advice for the ones who travel there in the future and might be uncertain. Please feel free to add.

**(Flight:** We flew with Peach. The flight was cheap but they checked luggage weight and size on both flights so be aware of that.)

**Rental car:**

If you travel to Hokkaido in winter and want to rent a rental car I have some advice for you. Be aware that you will need an international driver’s license or other documents. You can find more information on that on the website of the [JAPAN AUTOMOBILE FEDERATION (JAF)](https://english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/drive-in-japan). For certain countries, they also offer to translate your driver’s license for which you can apply online and they will send you a code to print the translation in any 7-eleven with a printer. This took 24h in my case.

I would recommend to not cheap out on a rental car in Hokkaido in winter. You want to make sure that you get a reliable car with good winter tires and a good support network. This was the reason why we choose Toyota Rent a Car. Toyota Rent-a-Car has locations all over the island and if you drop off the car at the airport they will drive you to the terminal. At most offices, there is also one employee that can speak English. The cars were well maintained and the process of picking up and returning the car was smooth. Make sure that you get an AWD (all-wheel-drive) car if you want to leave the big cities. But even in the cities, AWD is still recommended. Winter tires are a must in winter and they were standard at Toyota Rent-a-Car.

You can also buy the [Hokkaido Expressway Pass](https://en.driveplaza.com/drawari/hokkaido_expass/) at some rental companies. This card is needed if you want to use the expressways that require paying. If you are a tourist you can pay for the days you need it and then use the expressways as much as you want.

**Driving:**

We come from a country that also has some snowfall so we are no rookies when it comes to driving in the snow. But in winter there is A LOT of snow on Hokkaido. There are snow pliers moving away the majority of the snow, but on most roads, there is still a layer of snow on the asphalt. Especially in cities this turns to ice which becomes very dangerous if you are not aware of it. In January, only some parts of the expressways were clear of ice and snow.

If you are a beginner when it comes to driving or have never driven in these conditions, I would recommend you think about what kind of destinations you want to see and if you really need to drive to see them. If you have to drive, do not rush, take it slow and get used to the car and the conditions. Also, think about getting an appropriate insurance package.

The rental companies usually give you a little booklet with information about driving in Japan. Make sure to read it. As I wrote before, streets are covered with ice and snow most of the time. This makes breaking, accelerating, and turning more difficult. Especially in areas where there is not a lot of traffic you might neglect this but there are a lot of animals on Hokkaido that can jump onto the street or might be around the corner where you can not see them very early.

When you go to the more hilly places there are always parking lots to put on and get rid of snow chains if you need to. This is typically the case if there has been a lot of snowfall, if your tires are not that good, or if you do not have an AWD car. In case you are unsure, you can wait and see if locals put on snow chains or not.

The speed limit on the expressway is 50 or 60 when there is a lot of snow. Most of the cars are driving \~20kph faster than the speed limit. On the expressways, there are some speed control cameras. Away from the expressways, i have only seen manual speed control by cops in their cars parking on the street (happens not that often). Please drive in accordance with your experience and abilities. Japan is very strict when it comes to enforcing the law.

**Route planning:**

We were planning our routes with google maps. But I have to warn you because google maps do not know which streets are closed due to snowfall and which ones are not. So you should also watch out for street signs.

Google maps is also not very accurate when it comes to the time it takes to drive. On the expressways, they have variable speed limits that change depending on the road conditions. I think that google maps does not know if they reduce the speed limit during winter. Thats why you should also factor in some more time in order to arrive on time (might be helpful if you have a reservation or a flight to catch).

**Fuel:**

Fueling up in Japan is a bit different. There will be a worker at the gas station that will come to your car and will ask you to pay in advance. Then he will fill up your tank with the fuel you tell him to use. At some stations, our credit cards did not work so it is good to have some cash on hand.
Also, make sure to get fuel before driving to the national parks because there can be places where you have to drive a bit before reaching the next city with a gas station.

​

I hope this helps some people plan their trip and I also hope that others will add their experience and recommendations.