Last year, I went to Hokkaido to escape the heat of Japan’s early summer. The weather was cool in Hokkaido, like that of Japan’s mainland in spring. I caught the last remaining snow on Daisetsuzan, saw vast fields of rapeseed (canola) flowers, tulips and pink moss phlox (shibazakura), hunted down scenic spots, explored a volcano geopark, attempted to dig a hot spring foot bath, encountered wild animals, visited a prison museum, caught the vibrant Yosakoi Soran Festival, had fun shopping, savored the various local food specialities and more! It was a truly memorable trip.
Check out the photo highlights of my trip below while I add the details to the individual day’s itinerary. Also find out where you can get all the mapcodes for your itinerary and how to use the GPS to find the best navigation route for your road trips in Japan.
Day 0 – Sapporo
Day 1 – Sapporo to Asahikawa
Day 2 – Asahikawa to Sounkyo to Kitami
Day 3 – Kitami to Abashiri to Kitami
Day 4 – Kitami to Akan National Park to Kushiro
Day 5 – Kushiro to Obihiro
Day 6 – Obihiro to Tomamu
Day 7 – Tomamu to Furano
Day 8 – Furano to Biei to Tomakomai
Day 9 – Tomakomai to Noboribetsu to Lake Toya
Day 10 – Lake Toya to Otaru
Day 11 – Otaru -> Sapporo
Day 12 – Sapporo
Day 13 – Sapporo
Day 14 – New Chitose Airport
Takikawa Canola Flower Fields
Chairlift to 7th Station of Mt Kurodake
Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park
Shibazakura Moss Phlox Flower Fields
Abashiri Prison Museum
Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum
Kotan Onsen Open-Air Bath
Lo Zan Sulphur Mountain
Encounter with Wild Fox
Lake Akan Ainu Kotan
Kushiro Minatono-Yatai
Ikeda Wine Castle
Kofuku Eki
Aikoku Eki
Otofuke Canola Flower Fields
Birch-lined Road of Tokachi Ranch
Banei Tokachi Horse Racing
Chapel on the Water Hoshino Resorts Tomamu
Gondola to Unkai Terrace
Goro’s House made from Recycled Materials
Old School Classroom in Kaleidoscope Museum of Furano
Ningle Terrace New Furano Prince Hotel
Blue Pond
Shirahige Waterfall
Tokachidate Observatory
Path of the Roller Coaster
1997 Volcano Remnants Park
Fireworks over Lake Toya
Disaster Monuments at Konpira Craters
Konpira Crater
Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano UNESCO Global Geopark
Japanese Summer Festival Goldfish Scooping
Otaru Canal
Yosakoi Soran Festival
Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
Suage Soup Curry
Matsuo Genghis Khan
Panchou Buta Don