Hokkaido Summer Road Trip: 7 Days

Day-by-day

1. Day 1

   Sapporo Arrival & City Exploration

   Morning

   Arrive at New Chitose Airport and take the rapid train to Sapporo (37 min). Pick up your rental car — if arriving early, leave bags at the hotel and walk Odori Park, a 1.5 km green strip through the city centre.

   Afternoon

   Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum (free entry, paid tasting) and the historic red-brick Former Hokkaido Government Building. Stroll through Tanuki-koji covered shopping arcade.

   Evening

   Dinner at Susukino. Try miso ramen at Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho or fresh crab and uni at an izakaya.

2. Day 2

   Sapporo to Furano — Lavender in Full Bloom

   Morning

   Drive from Sapporo to Furano (about 2 hours via Expressway 38). Farm Tomita is the iconic stop — rows of purple lavender stretch to the mountain horizon. Peak bloom is mid-July to early August.

   Afternoon

   Visit Flower Land Kamifurano for sunflowers, poppies, and salvia. Then drive the Panorama Road loop through Biei's hills for sweeping views.

   Evening

   Dinner in Furano featuring local wine (produced right in town) and Hokkaido dairy dishes like cheese fondue.

   →Train sapporo → furano (120 min)Drive via Expressway E38 (~2 hrs). No-car option: JR Furano Line from Asahikawa (1 hr).

3. Day 3

   Biei Patchwork Hills & Blue Pond

   Morning

   Drive from Furano to Biei (30 min). Start with the Patchwork Road loop — gentle hills where potato, wheat, and flower fields create a natural quilt of colours. Ken and Mary's Tree and the Seven Stars Tree are beloved landmarks.

   Afternoon

   Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike) — a striking turquoise lake formed by volcanic minerals. Best in morning light but afternoon works too. Nearby Shirogane Onsen has outdoor baths with forest views.

   Evening

   Overnight in Biei or Asahikawa (20 min further). Try Asahikawa ramen (soy-sauce based) in the ramen village.

4. Day 4

   Sounkyo Gorge & Daisetsuzan

   Morning

   Drive to Sounkyo Gorge (1.5 hrs from Asahikawa). The gorge road cuts between 100m basalt cliffs — Ryusei (Shooting Star) and Ginga (Milky Way) falls are the most photogenic. Walk the 30-min trail to see both.

   Afternoon

   Take the Sounkyo Ropeway up to Kurodake (1,984m) for panoramic views over Daisetsuzan National Park. Alpine meadows are carpeted with wildflowers in July–August. Optional 2-hour hike loop.

   Evening

   Stay at a ryokan in Sounkyo Onsen village. Dinner is typically kaiseki featuring Hokkaido venison, river fish, and mountain vegetables.

5. Day 5

   Drive East to Abashiri & Okhotsk Coast

   Morning

   Drive from Sounkyo to Abashiri (2.5 hrs via National Route 39) through vast agricultural plains. Arrive at Lake Abashiri and take a short boat cruise.

   Afternoon

   Visit the Abashiri Prison Museum — a fascinating open-air museum reconstructing the historic prison where Meiji-era convicts built Hokkaido's roads. Drive the Okhotsk coast to Notoro Lagoon for sunset views.

   Evening

   Dinner in Abashiri featuring fresh Okhotsk crab and scallops. The town is a working fishing port — seafood is fresher and cheaper than in Sapporo.

6. Day 6

   Shiretoko Peninsula — UNESCO Wilderness

   Morning

   Drive from Abashiri to Shiretoko Five Lakes (1.5 hrs). A boardwalk trail through primeval forest with views of the mountain range reflecting in mirror-calm lakes. Go early to spot foxes, deer, and occasionally brown bears.

   Afternoon

   Cruise along the Shiretoko coast — boats from Utoro pass sea caves, waterfalls dropping into the ocean, and eagle-nesting cliffs. The 3-hour grand cruise reaches Cape Shiretoko.

   Evening

   Sunset from Puyuni Cape — on clear evenings Kunashiri Island (Russia) is visible. Stay in Utoro. Fresh king crab and salmon sashimi for dinner.

7. Day 7

   Return to Sapporo via Kushiro Wetlands

   Morning

   Drive from Utoro to Kushiro (3 hrs via Route 244). Stop at Kushiro Wetlands (Shitsugen) — Japan's largest wetland. The Hosooka viewpoint overlooks reed marshes where Japanese cranes (tancho) live year-round.

   Afternoon

   Lunch of Kushiro-style robata (charcoal grill) seafood — this is where robatayaki originated. Drive west back to Sapporo (3.5 hrs via Expressway). Return rental car and check into your final hotel.

   Evening

   Farewell dinner in Sapporo — kaiseki or the ramen alley. New Chitose Airport departure next morning; pre-book airport shuttle or take the rapid rail.

FAQ

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

Yes. Most visitors need an IDP alongside their home licence to drive in Japan. Get it from your home country's automobile association before departure. Visitors from Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan may use their home licence with a certified translation.

Can I do this trip without a car?

Partially. Sapporo–Furano–Asahikawa is doable by JR train. However, Sounkyo, Abashiri, and Shiretoko require local car rental or day-tour buses. Shiretoko has no public bus to the Five Lakes from outside the peninsula.

What is the average budget for this 7-day trip?

Budget roughly ¥100,000–150,000 per person (excluding flights). Rental car: ¥50,000–70,000 for 7 days. Accommodation: ¥8,000–15,000/night. Meals: ¥3,000–6,000/day. Gas: ¥15,000–20,000 for the full loop.

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