Whether you have just a few days or a full week to spend in northern Japan, adding Hokkaido to your summer itinerary is a wise choice.
Japan in the summer might surprise you with its heat and humidity in top spots like Tokyo and Kyoto. If you're looking for a much-needed reprieve from both the weather and crowds of normal tourist destinations, my top recommendation is to head north to Hokkaido.
Domestic flights in Japan are quite inexpensive and easy to find and quick, so you can easily add Hokkaido to your route. There are a surprising number of domestic airports in many small cities, so you're most likely never far from accessing the north by a short flight into Shin-Chitose Airport, outside of Sapporo. You can also take the bullet train from Tokyo (and other points in between) to Hakodate for a relaxing few hours on the Shinkansen.
Below is my week-long trip route to Hokkaido from my August trip there, but this can easily spend time in just a few of these locations to experience the magic of the north.
STOP #1: SAPPORO
I began my summer route by flying to Shin-Chitose Airport, and after landing you will spend about an hour on the local train to central Sapporo. I was greeted by a vibrant city, with its own unique flair and cuisine. The area is known for its miso ramen and lamb dish, aptly named Genghis Khan. To be honest, the city itself isn't the most exciting, nor would I visit Hokkaido just for a stay there, but I certainly enjoyed a night walking around the city's parks and shopping streets. It's a great first stop to fuel up and get ready for the adventure ahead.
STOP #2: BIEI
The best part about Hokkaido is NATURE! Most foreigners will only visit in the winter for skiing, but those mountains and untouched regions are a nature lover's dream in the summer. Biei is known for its flower fields, and Shriogane Blue Pond, which you may know from being a Window's desktop background.
To get to Biei, I took a highway bus from Sapporo to Asahikawa and then hopped on a local train to Biei Station, but you can also take an express train from Sapporo to Asahikawa. The highway buses in Japan are often under-utilized by foreigners as it can be hard to access information about them online in English, but I highly recommend using them in areas that are more remote. Doing an internet search for "Highway bus from A to B" should allow you to see if this is an option.
If you are able to rent a car, there are several flower fields to explore in the region, and you can also join a tour. I was able to go to the small, yet friendly, tourist center in the adorable town center to hop on a bus to visit one. I truly did enjoy wandering by foot!
If you are going to Shirogane Blue Pond, make sure to also stop at Shirahige Waterfall (pictured at the top of the page), known as Mustache Waterfall for its resemblance. Since I was on my own, I took a local bus from Biei Station to Shirogane Blue Pond and then decided to walk to Shirahige Waterfall (although you can hop back on the bus, and I did so to return to Biei Station). There are tours here, but I prefer more freedom to explore, and was happy I chose to do so as I spotted a ryokan at the top of the waterfall, and paid for a day pass to use the onsen. 10/10 recommend heading to any onsen in the mountains! I was lucky to have the onsen all to myself.
STOP #3: FURANO
After spending two nights in Biei, with a lot of long walks wandering the rolling hills and wide landscapes, I took the seasonal open-air train to Furano, famous for its lavender fields at Tomita Farms, and also, surprisingly for its Cheese Factory. Hokkaido is where most of Japan's dairy comes from, as the land is well set up for farms. Dairy was not native to Japan, so it's not one of the better places to find great cheese, but my American cheese-loving self had to make a stop. The pizza and treats were good, but it was also fun to walk around the grounds and exhibits.
My recommendation is to rent a bike at one of the shops around the train station, and just go. I took a bike to the Cheese Farm, as well as just taking in the scenery. If you already weren't aware, most cities in Japan have a mascot, and being the center of Hokkaido, Furano is known as the island's belly button..and this was their mascot!
One night will suffice in Furano before heading to your next destination.
If you only have a few nights for Hokkaido, here is where I would head back to Sapporo and fly back to central Japan, or even begin your international journey home with a connection in Tokyo.
STOP #4: OTARU
Now, here is where the logistics got a bit more complicated, but not impossible (obviously- since I did it on my own without speaking Japanese!). To get from Furano to Otaru, which is southwest and on the coast, I took a highway bus back to Sapporo, which is pretty unavoidable for this route, so I didn't feel annoyed by this step, then immediately got on a local train to Otaru. It was my goal to see the northern coast of Japan, as I saw the southern coast almost every day from where I lived.
Otaru is a classic port city- a bit worn, but a stroll (or boat ride) along the canal, eating your way through Sakaimachi Street, and finding an onsen to soak in, was just another great side of Japan to experience. You can easily do Otaru on a day trip from Sapporo, which I would highly recommend if you have at least half a day to do so.
STOP #5: LAKE TOYA
This by far was the trickiest transfer, from Otaru (although could be done by train from Sapporo) as I had one opportunity to make a bus to Lake Toya. There are multiple ways to go about this, most will take you through Sapporo again to Toya Station where you can then take a local bus to the Lake, but I chose to take the local train from Otaru to the ski area in Hirafu, and then a local bus to Lake Toya. There are several lakefront hotels, at very reasonable cost.
Next to the flower fields of central Hokkaido, Lake Toya was a top stop for me. I only expected to enjoy the lake and a boat ride, but when I saw a brochure for a ropeway to Mt. Usu to view volcanic landscapes, I was sold. Weird rocks are my jam. At the top of the ropeway, you can choose to casually walk around for views and browse the gift shop, but there are trails so that you can properly hike, and get views of the coast on the opposite side of the mountain.
STOP #6: HAKODATE
As I was taking the bullet train home, I made my last stop Hakodate, a port city in southern Hokkaido. From Lake Toya, I was able to take a local bus to Toya Station, and then hop on an express train to Hakodate. After being in nature for the past few days, I was a little sad to be in a city again, and quickly began walking south to Cape Tachimachi for some gorgeous coastal views. Another highlight is the Hakodate Morning Market, with its colorful displays of impressive seafood. Japan loves a ropeway, and you can board the Hakodate ropeway during the day or night for some great views of the city.
After my final stop in Hakodate, I hopped on the bullet train to Tokyo Station, which takes about 5 hours. And yes, there is a lot to see in between Hokkaido and Tokyo, but I shall save that for another time!
For a quick breakdown, here is the map from my routing:
Let me know below if you plan to add Hokkaido to your summer trip to Japan!
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