Hokkaido

Rapid train to Sapporo(40 minutes)

1,150 JPY from CTS to Sapporo Station. Runs every 15 minutes. Buy a Suica/ICOCA card at the station for easy payment

Check in near Susukino or Odori(30 minutes)

Business hotels from 5,000-8,000 JPY. Both areas are central — connected by subway and walking distance to major sights

Miso ramen at Ramen Alley (Ramen Yokocho)(45 minutes)

Narrow alley in Susukino with 17 ramen shops. Try Shirakaba Sanso — their miso butter corn ramen (950 JPY) is the quintessential Sapporo bowl

Evening walk through Odori Park(1 hour)

1.5-km park strip through the city center. In February, this hosts the Snow Festival with massive ice sculptures. Year-round it's a pleasant walk with the Sapporo TV Tower (800 JPY for observation deck) at the east end

Nijo Market breakfast(1 hour)

Sapporo's premier seafood market — kaisendon (seafood rice bowls) from 1,500 JPY. Try uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), and scallops so fresh they're still moving

Sapporo Beer Museum(1.5 hours)

Free self-guided tour of Japan's oldest beer brand. Tastings ~500 JPY for a flight of 3. The red brick building is photogenic. 15 min walk from Sapporo Station

Hokkaido University campus walk(1 hour)

Beautiful campus with a poplar-lined avenue — golden in autumn, snow-covered in winter. The Clark bust memorial and Elm Forest are free to explore

Lunch at Sapporo Beer Garden(1.5 hours)

All-you-can-eat Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) from 3,480 JPY for 100 minutes. A Hokkaido institution

Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade(1 hour)

Covered 1-km shopping street with 200+ shops. Good for souvenirs — Rokkatei and Royce chocolate, melon sweets, lavender products

Train to Otaru(30 minutes)

750 JPY from Sapporo on the JR Hakodate line. Covered by Hokkaido Rail Pass if you have one

Otaru Canal walk(1 hour)

Gas-lit stone warehouses along the canal — especially magical in winter with snow and lanterns. Former herring trade route from the 1800s

Otaru Music Box Museum(45 minutes)

Free. Three floors of music boxes from antique to modern. The steam clock outside chimes on the hour

Sushi lunch on Sushiya-dori(1.5 hours)

Otaru's Sushi Street has 20+ restaurants. Masazushi or Shikama — sets from 2,000 JPY. The uni here is sweeter than Tokyo's

Kitaichi Glass workshops(45 minutes)

Otaru is famous for glass art. Watch glassblowers at work and buy handcrafted pieces — oil lamps from 2,000 JPY

Drive or train to Furano(2 hours)

Rental car ~6,000-8,000 JPY/day, or the seasonal Lavender Express train (summer only). The drive through rolling hills is part of the experience

Farm Tomita lavender fields(1.5 hours)

Free entry. Open 8:30AM-5PM. Rows of purple lavender (peak mid-July) with mountain backdrop. Lavender soft-serve 300 JPY is a must. Even outside bloom season the flower fields are colorful

Ningle Terrace craft village(45 minutes)

Charming log cabin workshops in the forest near New Furano Prince Hotel. Handmade candles, woodwork, and paper crafts

Biei Blue Pond(1 hour)

Ghostly submerged birch trees in cobalt-blue water — natural aluminum particles create the color. Free. Night illumination in winter. 30 min from Furano

Shirogane Falls(30 minutes)

Nearby waterfall flowing into the Blue River. Free. Quick stop from the Blue Pond parking area

Limited express to Noboribetsu(1.5 hours)

~4,000 JPY from Sapporo or covered by Hokkaido Rail Pass. Bus from station to onsen town (340 JPY, 15 min)

Jigokudani (Hell Valley) walk(1.5 hours)

Volcanic crater spewing sulfurous steam from vents. Free boardwalk trail through the moonscape. The Oyunuma (boiling lake) at the far end reaches 130°C

Natural foot bath at Oyunuma(30 minutes)

Free foot bath fed by the river that flows from the boiling lake — the water cools to perfect temperature

Day-use onsen at Dai-ichi Takimotokan(2 hours)

1,500-2,000 JPY. 35 pools of varying temperatures and mineral compositions. Some outdoor (rotenburo) with forest views. Tattoo-friendly mixed-gender pool (swimsuits required)

Sleep in and brunch at Seicomart(45 minutes)

Hokkaido's beloved convenience store chain. Hot chef items, Hokkaido milk, and fresh onigiri from 130 JPY. Better than it sounds — locals swear by it

Curb Market (Jogai Shijo)(1.5 hours)

Adjacent to Nijo Market — more local, less tourist. King crab legs, grilled scallops, and melon slices to eat standing at stalls

Soup curry lunch at Suage(1 hour)

Sapporo's other signature dish — chunky vegetable curry soup from 1,200 JPY. Suage in Susukino is one of the originals

Sapporo TV Tower observation deck(30 minutes)

800 JPY. City views from 90m. Best at sunset when the mountains behind the city glow

Farewell dinner: Genghis Khan lamb BBQ at Daruma(1.5 hours)

Legendary lamb BBQ in Susukino — counter seating, dome grills, and premium Hokkaido lamb. Sets from 1,500 JPY. Queue expected

Breakfast at hotel or Seicomart(30 minutes)

Last Hokkaido milk and melon pan

Souvenir shopping at Sapporo Station(45 minutes)

Daimaru and Stellar Place have dedicated Hokkaido souvenir floors — Royce chocolate, Rokkatei Marusei butter sandwiches, LeTAO cheesecake. These are Japan's most prized omiyage (gifts)

Rapid train to New Chitose Airport(40 minutes)

1,150 JPY. Allow 2 hours before domestic flights. CTS has a Royce chocolate factory and onsen inside the airport if you're early

Rapid train to Sapporo(40 minutes)

1,150 JPY. Every 15 min

Check in Susukino area(30 minutes)

Business hotels 5,000-8,000 JPY

Miso ramen at Ramen Alley(45 minutes)

Shirakaba Sanso miso butter corn ramen 950 JPY

Odori Park and TV Tower(1 hour)

800 JPY for observation deck

Nijo Market kaisendon breakfast(1 hour)

Seafood bowls from 1,500 JPY

Sapporo Beer Museum(1.5 hours)

Free tour, tastings ~500 JPY

Hokkaido University campus(1 hour)

Poplar avenue and Elm Forest. Free

Genghis Khan lamb at Beer Garden(1.5 hours)

All-you-can-eat 3,480 JPY/100 min

Train to Otaru(30 minutes)

750 JPY

Canal walk(1 hour)

Gas-lit warehouses. Magical in winter

Music Box Museum(45 minutes)

Free. Steam clock outside

Sushi lunch on Sushiya-dori(1.5 hours)

Sets from 2,000 JPY

Kitaichi Glass(45 minutes)

Glassblowing workshops. Oil lamps from 2,000 JPY

Drive to Furano(2 hours)

Car ~6,000-8,000 JPY/day

Farm Tomita(1.5 hours)

Free. Lavender soft-serve 300 JPY. Peak mid-July

Ningle Terrace(45 minutes)

Log cabin craft shops in forest

Biei Blue Pond(1 hour)

Free. Cobalt water with submerged birch trees

Train to Noboribetsu(1.5 hours)

~4,000 JPY or Hokkaido Rail Pass

Jigokudani walk(1.5 hours)

Free boardwalk through volcanic craters

Oyunuma foot bath(30 minutes)

Free. Naturally heated river

Dai-ichi Takimotokan onsen(2 hours)

1,500-2,000 JPY. 35 pools

Bus to Niseko(2.5 hours)

Niseko Express bus 2,600 JPY from Sapporo

Winter: Skiing/snowboarding(5 hours)

Lift pass ~6,500 JPY/day. 15m annual snowfall. Four interconnected resorts on Mt. Niseko-Annupuri

Summer: River rafting on Shiribetsu River(3 hours)

~5,500 JPY. Grade II-III rapids through mountain valley

Lunch at Niseko village(1 hour)

International dining scene — quality restaurants from 1,500 JPY

Brunch at Seicomart(45 minutes)

Hokkaido convenience store cult favorite. Hot chef items

Maruyama Park walk(1.5 hours)

Peaceful city park with Hokkaido Shrine. Cherry blossoms in May, autumn colors in October

Soup curry at Suage(1 hour)

Sapporo's other iconic dish — chunky vegetable curry soup from 1,200 JPY

Susukino evening walk(1 hour)

Neon entertainment district. Nijo Market area has great evening yakitori stalls

Limited express to Hakodate(3.5 hours)

~8,000 JPY or Hokkaido Rail Pass. Scenic coastal route

Check in near Hakodate Station(30 minutes)

Hotels from 5,000 JPY

Goryokaku Fort(1.5 hours)

Star-shaped Western-style fort (1866). Free grounds. Tower observation deck 900 JPY — the star shape is best seen from above. Cherry blossoms in May are stunning

Mt. Hakodate ropeway for night view(1.5 hours)

Ropeway 1,500 JPY return. The night view of Hakodate's double-bay illumination is ranked Japan's #1 — arrive 30 min before sunset for the transition

Hakodate Morning Market(1.5 hours)

Opens 5AM. Live squid sashimi cut tableside (~1,500 JPY) — the tentacles still move on your plate. Kaisendon from 1,500 JPY

Motomachi historic district walk(2 hours)

Sloped streets with Western-style buildings — churches, consulates, and the Old Public Hall (300 JPY). Hakodate was one of Japan's first open ports in 1859

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse shopping(1 hour)

Converted 1909 warehouses with shops, cafes, and a beer hall. The waterfront setting is charming

Lucky Pierrot burger(45 minutes)

Hakodate's cult burger chain — Chinese Chicken Burger 350 JPY. Ranked Japan's #1 local burger chain. Each location has wild decor

Drive to Shakotan Peninsula(2 hours)

Rental car essential. Coastal road from Otaru

Shimamui Coast(1 hour)

Turquoise water so clear it's been called 'Shakotan Blue.' Walk the coastal trail above the cliffs

Cape Kamui(1 hour)

Dramatic cliff jutting into the Sea of Japan. 20-minute walk to the lighthouse. Legend says a goddess cursed ships that sail too close

Fresh uni lunch at Minshuku Uni(1 hour)

Shakotan's bafun uni (sea urchin) is harvested June-August. Uni donburi from 2,500 JPY — some of the freshest in Japan

Train to Asahikawa(1.5 hours)

~4,500 JPY limited express or Hokkaido Rail Pass

Asahiyama Zoo(3 hours)

1,000 JPY. Japan's most visited zoo — famous for walk-through penguin tunnels, polar bear pools, and seal tubes. Winter penguin walk (December-March) is unmissable

Asahikawa Ramen Village(1 hour)

8 ramen shops under one roof. Asahikawa-style soy-based ramen with a lard layer to keep the broth hot. Bowls from 800 JPY. Different from Sapporo's miso style

Bus to Jozankei Onsen(45 minutes)

800 JPY from Sapporo Station. Autumn is peak but beautiful year-round

Futami Suspension Bridge walk(45 minutes)

Bridge over the Toyohira River gorge — surrounded by red and golden maples in October

Dam walk and nature trails(1.5 hours)

Multiple walking trails along the river and reservoir. Kappa statues hidden throughout

Day-use onsen at Jozankei Tsuruga Resort Spa Mori no Uta(2 hours)

1,500 JPY. Outdoor pools overlooking the forested gorge. Pool bar serves drinks you can sip while soaking

Morning at Curb Market(1 hour)

Grilled scallops and king crab legs from stalls

Souvenir shopping at Sapporo Station(1.5 hours)

Royce, Rokkatei, LeTAO — Hokkaido omiyage floors

Farewell dinner at Daruma(1.5 hours)

Genghis Khan lamb BBQ. Counter seating, dome grills. Sets from 1,500 JPY

Last Seicomart breakfast(30 minutes)

Hokkaido milk and melon pan

Rapid train to CTS(40 minutes)

1,150 JPY. CTS has Royce factory and onsen inside the airport

Rapid train to Sapporo(40 minutes)

1,150 JPY

Check in near Susukino(30 minutes)

Hotels 5,000-8,000 JPY

Miso ramen at Ramen Alley(45 minutes)

Shirakaba Sanso 950 JPY

Nijo Market breakfast(1 hour)

Kaisendon from 1,500 JPY

Sapporo Beer Museum(1.5 hours)

Free tour, tastings 500 JPY

Beer Garden Genghis Khan(1.5 hours)

All-you-can-eat 3,480 JPY

Train to Otaru(30 minutes)

750 JPY

Sushi lunch at Sushiya-dori(1.5 hours)

From 2,000 JPY

Farm Tomita(1.5 hours)

Free. Lavender soft-serve 300 JPY

Blue Pond(1 hour)

Free. Cobalt water

Jigokudani Hell Valley(1.5 hours)

Free

Dai-ichi Takimotokan onsen(2 hours)

1,500-2,000 JPY. 35 pools

Bus to Niseko(2.5 hours)

2,600 JPY

Winter: Skiing(5 hours)

Lift pass 6,500 JPY. World's best powder

Summer: Rafting(3 hours)

~5,500 JPY

Soup curry at Suage(1 hour)

From 1,200 JPY

Limited express to Hakodate(3.5 hours)

~8,000 JPY or Rail Pass

Goryokaku Fort(1.5 hours)

Tower 900 JPY

Mt. Hakodate ropeway night view(1.5 hours)

1,500 JPY. Japan's #1 ranked night view

Morning Market — live squid sashimi(1.5 hours)

~1,500 JPY. Opens 5AM

Motomachi historic walk(2 hours)

Western-style buildings from 1859

Lucky Pierrot burger(45 minutes)

Chinese Chicken Burger 350 JPY

Train to Onuma Koen(30 minutes)

640 JPY from Hakodate

Cycling around the lake(2 hours)

Bike rental 600 JPY/hour. 14-km loop past volcanic islands and Komagatake mountain

Canoe or paddleboat(1 hour)

Canoe 1,500 JPY/hour. Paddle between the 126 small islands

Dango (rice dumplings) from lakeside shops(30 minutes)

Onuma dango — small rice balls in sweet sauce. 350 JPY. Local specialty

Shimamui Coast(1 hour)

'Shakotan Blue' turquoise water

Fresh uni lunch(1 hour)

Uni donburi from 2,500 JPY. June-August season

Asahiyama Zoo(3 hours)

1,000 JPY. Penguin tunnels, polar bear pools

Ramen Village lunch(1 hour)

Soy-based ramen from 800 JPY

Bus to Jozankei(45 minutes)

800 JPY

Futami Suspension Bridge(45 minutes)

Gorge views. Spectacular in autumn

Day-use onsen at Mori no Uta(2 hours)

1,500 JPY. Outdoor pools over gorge

Curb Market snacks(1 hour)

Grilled scallops and crab legs

Afternoon at Moerenuma Park(2 hours)

Isamu Noguchi designed park. Free. Glass pyramid, play mountain. 30 min from center by bus

Drive east to Obihiro(3 hours)

Through rolling agricultural landscape

Butadon (pork rice bowl) lunch(1 hour)

Obihiro's signature dish — caramelized pork over rice. Pancho at Obihiro Station from 900 JPY

Tokachi Millennium Forest(2 hours)

1,000 JPY. Dan Pearson-designed garden blending wild meadows and cultivated landscapes. Award-winning

Check in at onsen hotel(1 hour)

Tokachi-gawa onsen town. Hotels from 8,000 JPY with onsen bathing

Hanabatake Bokujo (Flower Field Ranch)(1.5 hours)

Farm park with fresh dairy — camembert, raclette, and soft-serve made from farm milk. Free entry

Tokachi Hills winery(1 hour)

Hokkaido wine country — tastings from 500 JPY. The pinot noir is improving rapidly

Drive to Shikaoi town(1 hour)

Small agricultural town with farm-to-table restaurants

Naitai Highland viewpoint(45 minutes)

Panoramic views over Tokachi plain — one of Hokkaido's most photographed landscapes. Free

Drive to Lake Akan(3 hours)

Through mountain passes

Ainu Kotan cultural village(1.5 hours)

Ainu indigenous crafts and museum. Free village, museum 500 JPY. Traditional dance performances (1,000 JPY) at set times

Lake Akan boat cruise(1 hour)

1,900 JPY. See the marimo (round moss balls unique to Lake Akan) at the observation center on Churui Island

Onsen at lake hotel(1.5 hours)

Hotels from 10,000 JPY with volcanic onsen

Hosokawa observation deck(30 minutes)

Free. Panoramic wetland views

Kushiro River canoe tour(2 hours)

~10,000 JPY. Paddle through the marsh — red-crowned cranes, deer, and eagles. Morning is best for wildlife

Lunch at Kushiro Washo Market(1 hour)

Famous 'Katte Don' — buy rice, then add whatever sashimi you want from different stalls. ~1,500-2,500 JPY

Drive back toward Sapporo direction(3 hours)

Overnight en route

Drive to Sapporo area(3-4 hours)

Stop at roadside farmer stalls for seasonal produce

Afternoon at Mitsui Outlet Park Sapporo Kitahiroshima(2 hours)

Near CTS airport. Outdoor retail village with 170+ shops and mountain views

Final ramen dinner at Ebisoba Ichigen(1 hour)

Unique shrimp broth ramen near Sapporo Station. 850 JPY. Rich, creamy, and different from miso style

Morning market revisit(1 hour)

One last kaisendon

Souvenir shopping at Sapporo Station(1.5 hours)

Royce, Rokkatei, LeTAO — stock up on omiyage

Farewell Genghis Khan at Daruma(1.5 hours)

Counter lamb BBQ. Sets from 1,500 JPY

Rapid train to CTS(40 minutes)

1,150 JPY. Royce factory and onsen inside airport