Feast on Hokkaido’s best cuisine in Sapporo, drive out of the city through breath-taking terrains, and taste some of Japan’s freshest seafood on this 8 day road trip through the best of Hokkaido — all under S$1k!

Map of road trip around Hokkaido - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Planning a road trip in Hokkaido ain’t easy because there’s just SO MUCH to explore! Ski on powdery slopes in winter, hop around some of the most impressive flower fields in spring and try some of the best produce this region has to offer! If you’re up for an adventure in Hokkaido, here’s how you can experience them all under a S$1k budget (excld. flights)!

8D Budget Breakdown:

Accommodation: S$320.67
Food:
S$349.26
Activities:
S$53.48
Transport:
S$188.84

TOTAL: S$912.24
Click here for detailed breakdown

*Note that this budget is for 4 pax which is the most economical for road trips especially when it comes to splitting the cost for bigger ticket items like car rental and the Hokkaido Expressway Pass. This figure might cost slightly more for 2-3 pax.

Check Flights to Hokkaido

Flight prices are not included in the budget due to seasonal fluctuations. To check the prices of flights for your specific dates of travel, use this widget below:


If you can’t see the widget above, click here to check flights from Singapore to Hokkaido instead!

Pre-trip Essentials

Sakuragaokadori Road-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Connectivity: If you’re going with a group of friends, you can get a pocket 4G WiFi (~S$5/day) to share! Just pick it up from the New Chitose Airport once you land and you’re good to go.

JR Hokkaido Kitaka IC Card: For seamless travel on public transport, get a rechargeable card (IC Card) that can be used on all public transport including JR trains, the subway and buses including the Airport Limousine bus.

If you have IC cards from other regions, like Tokyo (SUICA), Osaka (ICOCA), these can be used in Hokkaido too. If not, you can pre-purchase it online (preloaded with ¥1,500) or get it at the station.

Car rental: Once you’ve had enough of the city, the best way to explore the other sights of Hokkaido is by driving. Japanese car rental sites can be a bit confusing so we rented ours through Klook (~S$70/day). Do note that the price does not include options like collision damage insurance (¥648/day), the Hokkaido Expressway Pass (HEP) and rental of the ETC card (¥324).

Panorama Road jump shot-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Day 1: Sapporo City

Accommodation: Hotel MYSTAYS Sapporo Nakajima Park — located just a 3-minute walk from Horohira Bashi Subway station.

Airport to Sapporo: The most direct route to the hotel is via the Airport limousine bus 14 to Nakajima at ¥1,030. The bus leaves every hour and the ride is about 1hr 9mins. Alternatively, the JR Airport Rail leaves about three times per hour, and only takes 37mins ¥1,070 (without reservation).

Getting around Sapporo: The key sights within the city are within walking distance. For the subway, you can use the Kitaca IC card or the 1-day unlimited subway pass for ¥830 (¥520 on weekends and public holidays).

Read also: The Ultimate Sapporo City Guide: Top Things To Do In The Gateway To Hokkaido

Lunch at Nemuro Hanamaru Sushi

Hanamaru quail eggg salmon sushi - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Located within the JR Sapporo station, this is perhaps one of the best places to start your trip in Hokkaido! A popular conveyor belt sushi place with quality cuts yet affordable plates ranging from ¥140 – 453, don’t be surprised to find a queue as long as 90 minutes! We arrived around 3PM and only had to wait for about 10 minutes, so do try to avoid the peak meal times.

Cost: From ¥1,200/pax (~S$15)
Opening hours: 11AM – 10PM
How to get there: From the JR Sapporo Station, go to the 6th floor of JR Tower Stellar Place.

*Pro-tip: Grab some tasty baked cheese tarts from Kinotoya Bake while you’re at the station (located at the JR Station East Exit).

Check in at HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Nakajima Park

MYSTAYS Nakajima Park family room - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Our cosy abode for the next 2 nights in Sapporo City was at HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Nakajima Park located right outside Nakajima Park. Our room had a full view of the park where you can see locals jogging as early as 5AM.

If you’re here around mid-June, you’ll also get to catch the 100-Year-Old Hokkaido Shrine Festival held in this park.

We got the Deluxe Family Room, which could fit the four of us comfortably but there are also comfortable rooms for two pax!

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Cost: From ~S$58/night
Address: 
1 Chome Minami 14 Jonishi, Chuo, 札幌市中央区 Hokkaido 064-0914, Japan
How to get there:
Walk 3mins from Horohira Bashi Subway station

Sapporo TV Tower

Sapporo TV Tower - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Located at the edge of Odori Park is an unmissable structure with a giant LED clock on its front. Measuring 147m, it’s the second tallest tower after the Tokyo Tower. Head up to the tower’s observatory for a 360° panoramic view of the city.

Sapporo TV tower view - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

My favourite is the side of Odori Park but you can also catch sight of famous attractions like Mount Moiwa, the Sapporo Dome and even the Sapporo Beer Museum!

Hokkaido old government building - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

If you have time, check out the other historical building in the area like Akarenga Government Building (Red Brick) and the Sapporo Clock Tower. More sights around Sapporo in this comprehensive Sapporo City Guide!

Entrance fee: ~S$8 on Klook
Opening hours:
9AM – 10PM
How to get there:
5min walk from the Sapporo Municipal Subway Odori Station (Exit 27), or 15min walk from JR Sapporo Station (South Exit)

Suage Soup Curry for Dinner

Suage Soup Curry - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

The curry found in Hokkaido is quite different from the usual Japanese curries you find in places like Coco Ichibanya. As the name suggests, the soup curries have a lot more of a soup-like consistency and are more savoury than sweet which I personally prefer.

On the second floor of a building in the Susukino district, Suage Curry Soup and Dining is often spotted with snaking queues down the stairs during dinner — but they do move quite quickly!

Suage Squid Ink Curry Soup - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

The specialty here is the option to add squid ink to your curry which gives it a nice twist. There’s also the option for add-ons like cheese or egg and the choice of five spiciness levels (1 being not spicy at all, to 5 being “super spicy”). The super spicy isn’t that spicy so if you’re a regular chilli padi eater, just go for level 5.

Cost: Curries from ¥980
Opening hours:
11:30AM – 10:30PM
How to get there: 
5-chome Minami 4jo Nishi, Chuo-ku | 2nd FloorSapporo 064-0804, Hokkaido

Drinks at Susukino

Susukino Sapporo - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Susukino can be described to be the Dotonbori of Osaka — neon-lit buildings with giant beer signs competing for your attention and streets where pedestrians from all sides cross at once. Susukino is also where all the famous bars are at.

Flair Bar ES - Budget Hokkaido Guide

We checked out Flair Bar ES which overlooks Susukino Street. The bar is also famous for its exciting bartending show which happens twice a night at 7:30PM and 10:30PM. Expect fast-paced choreography, liquor bottles on the verge of smashing, and a bit of fire.

Flair Bar ES
Cover Charge: 
¥300/pax (drinks from ¥550)
Opening Hours: 6PM – 1AM (Mon – Sat), 6PM – 11:30PM (Sun)
Address: 4 Chome-16 Minami 4 Jonishi, Chuo, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0804, Japan

*Pro-tip: Walk up to the bar and make a booking before dinner. The bar happens to be only 5 minutes from Suage Soup Curry.

Day 2: Sapporo

Brunch at Ramen Shingen

Shingen ramen - Budget Hokkaido Guide

Miso-broth ramen is Sapporo’s specialty and this small 15-seater store has obviously done something right. Arrive at 11:30AM (when the store opens) and you’ll already see a queue of 20 to 30 people. We arrived around 11AM and were one of the last of the first batch to enter so do come early as 90-minute queues here aren’t uncommon!

Shingen ramen spicy miso - Budget Hokkaido Guide

The menu is entirely in Japanese, but the first on the menu is spicy miso which was what we ended up having and I can almost say this is one of the best bowls of ramen I’ve ever had! The noodles have a nice springy texture and the broth is the sort you’ll want to finish every bit of.

The portions for their regular bowls (¥760) are pretty big so if you’re a small eater, you can opt for the half portion (¥540). The fried rice (¥300) is a great side to have if you still have a stomach for it!

Cost: From ¥540
Opening hours:
 11AM – 1AM
How to get there: 3min walk from Higashionganji-Mae Station (Google Maps)

Shiroi Koibito Park (White Lover Park)

Shiroi Koibito Park - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

This fairytale-themed park 30 minutes from Odori station is created around one of Japan’s most famous white chocolate snack 白い恋人 (Shiroi Koibito). Walk into an enchanted park with happy music on the speakers, colourful flowers all around and bubbles occasionally filling up the space.

Shiroi Koibito Park - Biscuit Tin Customisation-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Photo credit: Shiroi Koibito Park

For only an extra ¥540, this is the only place you can customise the tin of the biscuits with your favourite photo — available for both the 36 and 54-piece tins. You can take your photo there or bring along one from home. Great as gifts to your sweet-toothed friends.

hiroi Koibito Soft Serve - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Check out the cafe for other popular sweets, join a cookie-making class (¥972 to ¥1,296) or enjoy the scenery with a Shiroi Koibito flavoured soft serve (¥300/450) — one of my favourite soft serves ever in Japan (and that’s a lot given how good soft serves are around the country)!

Also watch out for their popular chocolate tours, especially the Premium Factory Course where the “Professor of Chocolate” will take you through a delectable, chocolate-y world.

Entrance fee: Free, ¥600 for paid area with exhibits
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM
How to get there: Take the Tozai Subway Line to Miyanowasa Station, then walk 7mins (Google Maps)

Sapporo Beer Museum

Sapporo beer museum - Budget Hokkaido Guide

Open since 1987, this is the only beer museum in Japan. There’s a free tour on the third floor of the building where you can read through 12 stations explaining how the beer ended up being manufactured in Hokkaido.

The explanations come in English, Korean and Chinese and have pretty interesting facts to uncover. The premium tour (¥500) includes two beers to taste but is only in Japanese.

Beer tasting at Sapporo Beer Museum-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

If you went on the free tour, fret not about the beer since you’ll end up in the Star Hall on Level 1 where beer-tasting vouchers from the vending machine are available. We got the ¥600 taster set which, comes with the Sapporo Classic, Sapporo Black Label and a special Kaitakushi edition made from the original recipe.

Entrance fee: Free, or ¥500 for the premium tour
Opening Hours: 
11AM – 6PM, daily (last entry at 5:30PM)
How to get there: 10min walk from Higashikuyakusho-Mae Station (Google Maps). From Sapporo station, there are 2 shuttle buses (¥210) that drops directly at the Beer Museum (North Exit Bus Stop 2, Line Number 188, or South Exit Loop Line no.88).

Sapporo Bier Garten (Beer Garden)

Sapporo Bier Garten-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

The last Hokkaido signature dish to try on your final night is “Genghis Khan”. I’m not entirely sure of how it got its name but it’s actually a lot like a Thai-style mookata except the ingredients are definitely a lot fresher!

Sapporo Beer Garden Genghis Khan Buffet - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Located right next to the museum, the Bier Garten has a 100-minute all-you-can-at buffet for ¥5,280, with free-flowing beer. The buffet includes a good spread of meats including Genghis Khan-style lamb, sushi, and snow crabs!!! If you only have one meal to splurge on in Hokkaido, this is our recommendation.

Sapporo Bier Garten Dining Hall-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

To reserve, call them at 0120-150-550 at least a day before! Walk-ins are available; just leave your name at the reservation counter in the Beer Museum, although the wait time sometimes goes up to 2 hours.

Cost: ¥5,280 for the all-inclusive buffet
Opening hours:
11:30AM – 9PM (Last order at 8:30PM)
How to get there: 15min walk from Higashikuyakusho-Mae Station (Google Maps)

Read also: The Ultimate Sapporo City Guide: 18 Things To Do-See-Eat In The Gateway To Hokkaido

Day 3: Hakodate via Lake Toya/Noribetsu

Accommodation: Hakodate Kokkusai Hotel — located conveniently between the Hakodate Asaichi (Morning Market) and the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse.

Car pick-up: We left at sunrise on Day 3 so we picked up the car the day before. If you plan to leave later, the car rental shop opens at 8AM and can be collected just a short 6-minute walk from the JR Sapporo station.

*Pro-tip: For getting around with the in-car GPS, just key in the Map Code or phone number (found on Google Maps).

Jigokudani Hell Valley

Noribetsu Jigokudani - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Not to be confused with the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano, this Hell Valley located in Noboribetsu is a 1.5 to 2.5-hour drive from Sapporo. From here, there are various easy well-paved walking trails ranging from 5 to 20 minutes. Parking here is ¥500.

Map code: 603 288 368*85

Oyunuma Footbath in Noboribetsu Onsen-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Alternatively, you can stop at the Oyunuma Brook Natural Footbath carpark. Get your feet soaked before taking on the 1.2km walking path to Jigokudani. This parking lot is free and can be identified with two tall blue statues called the Welcome Demons. From this spot, it’s only a 5-minute walk to the natural hot spring river.

Entrance fee: Free
Map code: 603 287 856*36 (Oyunuma Footbath Parking)

Lake Toya

Lake Toya - Hokkaido Budget Guide

A 40-minute/70-minute drive (with toll/without toll) from Noboribetsu is a famous caldera, Lake Toya. The best view of the caldera is from the top of Mount Usu via the Usuzan Ropeway (~S$15) which leaves every 15 minutes.

Mount Usuzan Ropeway - Hokkaido Budget Guide

Though, it’s really only worth the trip if the weather is sunny. If it’s cloudy, give it a miss.

View from Mount Usu-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip
Abandoned Building on Kompirayama Walking Trail - Hokkaido Budget Guide

There are various walking trails like the Kompirayama and Nishiyama Crater Walking Trail. You’ll be able to see some abandoned buildings damaged by the last eruption in 2000. Start from the visitor centre to grab some maps and be pointed to the start of the trail. Entrance to these trails are free.

Usuzan Ropeway
Cost: From ~S$15/pax via Klook, ¥500 for parking
Map code: 
321 433 350*55

Lunch at Toya Marche

Toya Marche Restaurant near Lake Toya-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Toya Marche’s food isn’t life changing but the set meals are very reasonably priced compared to many of the overpriced eateries along the lake. Their specialty is in their beef dishes like Wagyu Miso Soup (¥650 comes with rice and salad) and the Toya Beef Gyudon ¥810, all turned out beyond satisfactory.

Beef Miso Stew at Toya Marche near Lake Toya-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Cost: From ¥650
Opening hours:
9AM – 6:30PM
Map code: 
321 518 499*03

Drive from Lake Toya to Hakodate

With toll: 2.5 hours
Without toll: 3 hours

Goryokaku Park

Hakodate Sakura - Ultimate Cherry Blossoms Japan Guide

Photo credit: Prince Hotels

Goryokaku Tower-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

The star-shaped fort surrounding the park is often the icon that comes to mind when you think of Hakodate. But because of the huge area, the shape can only be seen from the top of the 107m Goryokaku Tower observatory.

That said, don’t forget to check out the park itself! It’s a popular spot during the Hanami period and you can spot locals arriving for a jog as early as 5AM.

Goryokaku Park Sakura Trees-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Entrance fee: Free for the park; ~S$9/pax for the tower via Klook
Opening hours: 5AM – 7PM for the park; 8AM – 7PM for the observatory (opens 1hr later and closes 1hr earlier from Apr – Oct)
Map code: 86 165 294*14 (nearest carpark)

Dinner at Unagidokoro Takahashi (うなぎ処 高はし)

Unagidokoro Takahashi in Hakodate-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Located just a street from the Goryokaku Park is a gem for Unagi lovers who don’t want to spend a bomb. There’s no English menu here but the staff are incredibly patient although we still couldn’t figure out the difference amongst the few that had pictures.

Regardless, the meal was delicious and well worth the price! Unagi sets range from ¥2,060 for the regular, ¥2,780 for the medium and ¥3,900 for the large, which can be shared amongst two. If you’re here over lunch, grab hold of their limited lunch sets that go at just ¥1,230.

Cost: From ¥2,060 for dinner
Opening hours: 
11:30AM – 1:45PM; 5PM – 8PM (closed on Tue)
Map code: 86 165 624*63

Daimon Yokocho

Daimon Yokocho in Hakodate-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Lined with more than 20 over small eateries and bars, Daimon Yokocho is a great alternative for dinner, snacks, and drinks. Each eatery only fits an average of 5-15 pax but you can find a variety of food including Genghis Khan, Chirashidon, seafood and even Squid ink gyozas (¥450/5pc) which were really good!

Opening hours: 5PM – 12AM
Map code: 
86 073 393*17 (Nearest carpark)

Check-in at Hakodate Kokusai Hotel

Hakodate Kokusai Hotel-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Conveniently within walking distance to both the Hakodate Asaichi morning market and the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, our accommodation for the night in Hakodate was at the Hakodate Kokusai Hotel — which was selected as one of the Top 100 hotels in Japan.

Ikura bowl at Hakodate Kokusai Breakfast-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Our favourite part though was the breakfast spread up on the SkyLounge! The spread offers a wide variety of Japanese, Western and even French cuisines all of which are incredibly fresh and delicious! Arguably one of our favourite meals in Hokkaido!

Ikura bowl at Hakodate Kokusai Breakfast-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Cost: From ~S$109/night
Map code: 
86 042 874*36

Day 4: Hakodate to Otaru

Accommodation in Otaru: Hotel Sonia Otaru — Located one street away from the famous Otaru Canal. Some rooms even offer scenic views of the canal.

Hakodate Asaichi Morning Market

Hakodate Morning Market-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

If you didn’t get breakfast from Hakodate Kokusai Hotel (you really should), the Hakodate Asaichi Morning Market opens as early as 5AM. Grab a fresh bowl of Kaisendon (~¥2,000) or check out the indoor market for popular snacks like crab crackers, dried scallop and packed Ikura you can bring home.

Look out for seasonal fruits like the Yubari melon and light pink strawberries (which are supposed to be much sweeter but also way more expensive than the red ones).

Opening hours: 6AM – 2PM
Map code: 86 072 374*58

Sightsee around Hakodate

Kanemori Redbrick warehouse-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse.

Westernised buildings in Motomachi Park Hakodate-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Former British Consulate of Hakodate.

Hakodate is insanely scenic! After making a quick shopping stop at the Kanemori Redbrick Warehouse (Map code: 86 040 324*11), drive over to Motomachi Park (Map code: 86 040 561*44), take a walk around the Renaissance style Western buildings or drive through the Hachiman Zaka Slope (Map code: 86 040 324*11) — all great for photos.

Hanami along Motomachi Park-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Drive From Hakodate to Otaru

With tolls: 4 hours
Without tolls:
 4 hours 40 minutes

Nikka Whiskey Museum in Yoichi-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Pit stop for Whiskey Lovers: 30 minutes before reaching Otaru is the town of Yoichi where you will find Nikka Whiskey Distillery. There are tours around the distillery every 30 minutes but only in Japanese.

If you don’t understand Japanese, you can walk through the eight different sections of exhibits on your own and end off with a free set of three whiskeys to taste.

Map code: 164 635 844*63

Check-in at Hotel Sonia Otaru

Otaru Canal - Hokkaido Road Trip Itinerary

There are only three to four accommodation options right across the famous Otaru Canal offering an unobstructed view of the scenic canal — Hotel Sonia Otaru is one of them.

Hotel Sonia Otaru Mystays-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

The rooms are modern, newly renovated and spacious! Other than being just a street away from the Otaru Canal, the hotel is also conveniently located a 10-minute walk to the Sankaku Fish Market (小樽三角市場) and 10 minutes from the famous dessert street where you can find famous stores like LeTao and Kitakaro.

Cost: From ~S$113/night
Map code: 493 690 528*60

Dinner at Yabuhan Soba (Otaru)

Yabuhan Soba 3 Dishes-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

One of the best places for soba in Otaru, Yabuhan (籔半) prides themselves on quality soba grown in Hokkaido, Rankoshi (2 hours south of Otaru). The queues can be quite long, but there are English menus available along with the history of how their soba came about.

Yabuhan Saoba Otaru-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Each item on the menu comes with two options, the “Jimono-ko” type, a Hokkaido specialty and the “Namiko” which is mixed with imported buckwheat flour. It depends on your taste but the former has a bit more bite to it and the Namiko noodles tend to be softer.

Cost: ~¥850 – ¥1,550
Opening hours:
11:30AM – 2:30PM, 5PM – 8PM, closed on Tues
Map code: 164 719 268*25

Day 5: Otaru to Asahikawa via Furano and Biei

Breakfast at Otaru Fish Market

Kaisen don at Sankaku Market Otaru - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Kaisendon with ikura, hotate, salmon and tamago for ¥1,200.

Being a port town, no trip to Otaru is complete without having your fill of freshly caught seafood on rice (kaisendon). The best place for a fresh bowl is, of course, the morning markets. Rinyu Asaichi (鱗友朝市) opens the earliest at 4AM but there’s another one just across the Otaru Station called Sankaku Market (小樽三角市場) and only 10 minutes from Sonia Hotel where we’re at.

*Pro-tip: If you find the kaisendon stores too crowded within the market, check out the shops right outside which are usually less crowded, slightly cheaper, and their fish are just as fresh!

Rinyu Morning Market
Opening hours: 4AM – 2PM
Map code: 493 720 672*10

Sankaku Market
Opening hours: 8AM – 5PM
Map code: 164 719 531*33

Drive from Otaru to Furano

With tolls: 2 hours 40 minutes
Without tolls: 3 hours 15 minutes

Grab some cakes and cream puffs from LeTao and Kitakaro before hitting the road!

Stop for lunch in Furano

Squid Ink Cheese for Tasting.

Furano Special Cheese Pizza at Furano Cheese Factory-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

The Furano Cheese Special Pizza.

Furano Cheese Factory is an almost mandatory stop for cheese and ice cream lovers. Not only do you get to taste a range of cheese including squid ink and wine-flavoured cheese, there’s also a pizza restaurant with pretty decent pizzas (from ¥1,200, feeds 2-3 pax) and more than decent ice cream!

Pumpkin, cheese and asparagus-flavoured ice cream

The ice cream here is made of seasonal fruits and vegetables, so depending on when you’re around, you might spot interesting flavours like asparagus or pumpkin (¥350). Definitely worth a try, but our favourite was the classic cheese-flavoured soft serve (¥400).

Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM
Map code: 550 840 171*82

Farm Tomita

Lavender Ice cream at Farm Tomita Furano -Hokkaido Road Trip Itinerary

This impressive vast land located in Furano has various flowers blooming from mid-May through early October every year and is absolutely free to explore!

The most famous of all is their lavender fields which go into full bloom in July but were just as stunning when we saw them around May. The greenhouse also has lavenders that bloom all year round, even through winters! Don’t forget to stop by the cafe for lavender ice cream and lavender coffee.

Entrance fee: Free
Map code: 
349 276 804*00

Sightseeing in Biei

Panorama Road in Biei-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

30 minutes from Furano will bring you to a small town in Biei — famous for the scenic landscapes that make all the long hours of driving in Hokkaido worth its run.

Shirogane Blue Pond in Biei-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

If you’re a Mac user, stop by the Shirogane Blue Pond to see your desktop wallpaper (Lion OSx) come to life. It may not be the same shade of blue depending on the amount of sunlight (and weather over the last three days) but still really pretty nonetheless.

Map code: 349 569 814*88

Shirahige Waterfall in Biei-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Just a 5-minute drive from the Blue Pond is an easily accessible but scenic waterfall: Shirahige Waterfall. You can park pretty close by and the viewpoint is from the top of a bridge.

Map code: 796 182 575*30

Dinner at Asahikawa Ramen Village

Asahikawa Ramen Village-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Ramen lovers, Asaihikawa Ramen Village is the place to be! Here you’ll find eight famous ramen stores in Asahikawa clustered together. We popped by one of the only stores that was left open and ended up in Ittetsu-an (いってつ庵) which comes with a fairly English-friendly menu ranging from ¥700 – ¥1,100.

Each ramen has the option of shoyu, shio or miso broth but we recommend getting shoyu since it’s a specialty of Asahikawa! (Miso in Sapporo, Shio in Hakodate).

Cost: Ramen from ¥700
Opening Hours:
11AM – 8PM
Map code: 
79 410 454*44

Check in at Art Hotel Asahikawa

Asahikawa Art Hotel-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Comfort Twin Room.

Located just 12 minutes from the Asahikawa station and a 5-minute walk from Tokiwa Park, we loved Art Hotel Asahikawa for its cosy, Scandinavian design. If it’s available, try booking one of their six Japanese-style tatami rooms that fit up to four people. The hotel also has its own onsen and spa in the basement (at additional cost).

Cost: From ~S$68/night
Map code: 79 373 382*55

Day 6: Drive towards Monbetsu

Accommodation: Monbetsu Prince Hotel — includes free access to their public Onsen in the basement of the building.

Hokkaido Ice Pavilion

Hokkaido Ice Pavilion-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip
Frozen Towel at Hokkaido Ice Pavilion-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Wet towels freeze into a solid net at -20°C.

Located in the town of Kamikawa (1 hour from Asahikawa) is one of the coldest places in Hokkaido; regardless of season! The Hokkaido Ice Pavillion tries to recreate a -41°C experience which is apparently Japan’s lowest record ever.

Jackets are provided, although it’s not very warm so do come prepared with sufficient clothing if you’re not very resistant to the cold!

Entrance fee: ¥1,080
Opening hours: 9AM – 5PM
Map code: 623 630 207*11

Drive to Monbetsu

The drive is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes since there are no toll roads between these two places. We didn’t spot any interesting food stops, so we grabbed some from the convenience stores to eat on the go.

Hill of Pink Flowers at the Takinoue Park

Takinoue Park Pink Moss - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary
Takinoue Park Pink Moss - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Around mid May to end of June, this 100,000 square metres of vivid pink flowers on the hill of Takinoue Park is unmissable. Located between Asahikawa and Monbetsu, this is definitely worth a pit stop!

Entrance fee: ¥500
Map code: 
570 699 407*11

Seal watching at the Okhotsk Tokkari Centre

Seal show at Okhotsk Tokkari Centre-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

More than just a zoo-like enclosure, the Okhotsk Tokkari centre serves as a conservation centre for treating earless seals (Tokkari in the Ainu language). Five times daily, there’s an interactive feeding show where you get to see them perform simple tricks and a photo opportunity with these playful furry seals.

Garinko Ice Breaker in Monbetsu-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

In the winter months from January to March, there are ice breaker cruises that leave 7 times a day from sunrise to sunset. These ships are designed to drill through the ice caps.

Entrance fee: ¥200 (enter by dropping ¥100 coins into the unmanned gantry. There’s also a machine that changes ¥1,000 notes into coins)
Opening hours: 10AM – 4PM
Daily shows: 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM, 3PM
Map code: 801 585 698*85

Dinner at Marutomi

Meal at Marutomi Monbetsu-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

For dinner, there are lots of small eateries around the Minatocho area, but we picked Marutomi because it looked cosy and the menu was affordable. The food turned out better than expected!

Cost: Dinner sets from ¥950 – ¥1,600
Opening hours:
11:30AM – 2PM, 5PM – 9:30PM
Map code: 401 358 844*41

Day 7: Drive to Lake Kussharo

Accommodation near Lake Kussharo: Yado Hanafurari — a cosy lodge with Japanese-style tatami rooms and four adorable labrador retrievers!

Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park

Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary
Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Home to an extensive field of over 200 varieties of tulips, the Kamiyubetsu Park is only open from 1 May to early June. It’s pretty from just about any angle if you’re lucky to catch it in full bloom! To find out if the tulips have bloomed, check the official website for the live image replaced every day.

Entrance fee: ¥500
Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM

Lake Hop Around Kussharo and Mashu

Accommodation near Lake Shikaribetsu: Primal Stage — basic cabin that fits up to 6 people

Bihoro Pass Observatory - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary
Bihoro Pass Observatory - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Lake Kussharo: Japan’s largest caldera, the best lookout point is at the Bihoro Observatory Pass (Map code: 638 225 129*58). If you only have time for one lake lookout, this is it. There’s a flight of stairs that leads up to lookout points at two heights — the top is worth the climb!

Sunayu Footbath - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

On the other side, another interesting stop is Sunayu Beach (Map code: 638 148 651*00). Dip your feet for free in the natural hot spring foot bath or walk down to the lake and dig your own. Dig far enough into the sand and you’ll create your very own onsen.

Mount Io - Budget Hokkaido Road Trip Itinerary
Melon ice cream at Mount Io - Budget Hokkaido Road Trip Itinerary

Between Sunayu and Lake Mashu, take a quick stop at Mount Iō (Map code: 731 683 812*41) to check out the steaming sulphurous valley. It does feel like a toned-down version of Noboribetsu’s Jigokudani but the melon ice cream here might still be worth the pitstop!

Lake Mashu First Observatory - Budget Hokkaido Itinerary

Lake Mashu: There are three lookout points around this lake. We only made it to the first observatory (Map code: 613 781 339*63) but it can get quite crowded since tour buses tend to stop here. For lesser crowds, check out the third observatory instead (Map code: 613 870 628*52).

Note that there’s a ¥500 parking for both the Lake Mashu observatory and Mount Iō but you only need to pay once as the ticket covers both spots.

Day 8: Lake Kussharo to New Chitose Airport

With toll: 4.5 hours
Without toll: 6 hours

This day depends on the time of your flight. If you have an early morning flight, you might want to drive back to Sapporo for a night. If evening, here’s what you can check out along the way.

Lake Shikaribetsu

Lake Shikaribetsu - Hokkaido Road Trip Itinerary

At 800m above sea level, Lake Shikaribetsu is the highest lake in Japan. From December to April, the lake is usually frozen over. But from January to March, you’ll find an igloo village which melts, and then gets rebuilt from scratch every year.

Lake Shikaribetsu - Hokkaido Road Trip Itinerary

The water was really hot and took a while to get used to.

In summertime, this lake is also a worthy pit stop for its scenic views. Pack some lunch to have a picnic, or dip your feet into the free foot bath nearby before catching your flight home!

From Lake Shikaribetsu, it’s a 2.5-hour drive to the airport so make sure you keep track of time!

Accommodation in Hokkaido

Otaru Canal-Budget Hokkaido Itinerary Road Trip

Accommodation can easily take up a huge chunk of the budget when travelling. Although we spent most of our time outside our accommodation, it’s always nice to return to a clean cosy abode.

What we liked about the MYSTAYS Hotel Chain was that the chains are affordable yet don’t scrimp on quality and comfort. They were often in really convenient locations too. From being just a street from the scenic Otaru Canal, to being a 5-minute walk from the train station, many of our picks with MYSTAYS ended up ticking all our boxes for a good valued accommodation option.

Check Flights to Hokkaido

Ready to plan your Hokkaido road trip this spring? Check flight prices now:

If you can’t see the widget above, click here to check flights from Singapore to Hokkaido instead!

Anything that we missed in this Hokkaido itinerary? Let us know in the comments!


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42 COMMENTS

  1. Hello, great article. Can I check when were the exact dates you went to Hokkaido? I am planning a family trip to Hokkaido in late Apr – early May next year. Not sure if I will be able to see tulips then? Thanks!

  2. Hello, Which part of May is that? I see that you actually see both the pink moss and the sakura! Will you mind sharing as I am planning a May trip this year!
    🙂

    • Hello! This was around end April to mid May but the forecast changes slightly every year so be sure to check before your book your flights!

  3. Hello! For the car rental with Klook, did you settle the Hokkaido Expressway Pass, ETC Card Rental and the Collision Damage at the rental company itself? Can’t seem to find an option on those on the booking site. Thank you so much! (:

  4. GREETINGS FROM SUVENSA TRAVEL & TOURS

    We are pleased to inform that we are a registered travel agent in Malaysia would like to request for honeymoon
    package .
    Date suggested: 2/12/2019 -9/12/2019
    No. of days: 8 days 7 nights
    No. of pax :2

    • Hi Santi, we do not organise honeymoon packages but we believe our itinerary is a good guide for travellers to follow along! 🙂

  5. Hi Cherie, great writeup! Was actually feeling lost in my preparation before I stumbled on your article. Can I ask a couple of questions if you do not mind.
    1. Car rental – the klook car rental link seems broken, can you direct me?
    2. Car pick up is near where you stay?
    Thanks to advice, as this is my first trip to hokkaido, as well as car renting overseas 🙁

    • Hi, regarding the Mystay hotel, there is a price difference if I input 4 adults vs 2 adults for the deluxe family room. May I know what’s the difference between the price? Are we booking the room or the bed in this case?

      • Hi Cass, unfortunately we’re not too sure about this as it may be the policy of the hotel. Are you able to contact them directly?

  6. Hi! Regarding the HEP & the ETC card, do you book online alongside with the car rental or you purchase it from the car rental store physically?

    • Hey Rey, we purchased ours at the rental store! Unless there’s an online promo for getting it online in advance (let me know if you’ve found one!), it’s more convenient to just get it at the store. They’ll explain to you the options and how to use it on the road.

  7. Hi! Was it easy to rent a car and is parking easy? Is there something like parking coupons if we park nearby the tourist attraction spots?

    • Parking is pretty easy in Hokkaido so we didn’t have any problems. Often we do not have to pay near tourist attractions or restaurants. In town, there are parking lots with a centralised meter. You can rent a car at the place we shared in the article!

    • Hi there, I am now in Hokkaido following this itinerary. Some real helpful tips especially the ETC card for tolls. I got my car rental from times rental, a local car rental company. Initially the lady who speaks no English told my Husband tt no need for card just pay cash. I insisted n showed them a screenshot of the HEP card for 6 days at ¥7200 n the older colleague immediately understood what we wanted. Only for tourists. The tolls r EXPENSIVE if u dun have this card n in the first day from Sapporo to Hakodate, I think we paid like ¥6000 in tolls so we’ll worth it cos it’s unlimited for 6 days at ¥7200. They have diff prices for diff duration. Parking in all mystays are chargeable between ¥800 to ¥1200 in Hakodate, Ohtaru n Asahikawa. Public car park charges around ¥200 to 500 for 60 mins or 3 hrs. However it looks to be free at some places like the Asahikawa Ramen Village. Prince hotel car Parks r free but on a first come first serve basis.

      • Yes please get the ETC like what Mims said! You won’t regret it. And yup in attractions outside of town, parking is usually free.

  8. Hi,
    Have anyone of you check around for “one way” car rental, e.g. pick up the car at Chitose and return at Sapporo?
    This would save one way of public transport between Sapporo and Chitose.
    Tried Times Car Rental but they don’t seems to have such service.
    KK

      • Managed to book a “one way” rental directly with Toyota Rent-a-Car.
        Pick up the car near Chitose Airport and drop off near Sapporo Station. No extra charge as long as within Hokkaido (same prefecture).

        Thank you The Travel Intern for your sharing, it is very helpful.

        KK

  9. Hi, thank you for the great post! Did you guys stay at Noboribetsu? I am looking for recommendation for Noboribetsu hotel and thinking if its worth staying at that area for 1 night as the hotel in that area are pretty costly. Await for ypur reply. Thank you!

    • Hi Fran, on this trip we didn’t stay overnight but on a separate trip with my family, we booked a night in a spacious Airbnb in the town of Date. It’s much cheaper than the hotels in Noboribetsu and only 30 minutes away from both Lake Toya and Noboribetsu.

  10. Hi
    I am so tempted to arrange a trip to Hokkaido after viewing your blog. My only concern is the airfare. Which airline did you travel on? I am not a budget airline person.

    • We took Scoot because it was the only airline that flew direct from Singapore. Alternatively, SQ has a direct (but not non-stop) flight that’s codeshared with ANA for a stopover in Narita before going to Chitose.

  11. Hello! Read your post several times over to help me arrange our own trip in May 2020. We only have 7 days with the 1st and last day spent traveling. These are the places we want to explore: Sapporo, Otaru, Furano, Biei, Monbetsu, Lake Toya or Lake Kussharo whichever is better, and Hell Valley or any sulphorous valley whichever is more convenient with our itinerary. We want to stay in as less number of hotels as possible. How do you suggest we plan the sequence of these trip and where shall we stay? Hoping for your response. Thank you!

    • yay! makes me so happy when people find this post useful 🙂
      If you’re skipping Hakodate, there’s actually enough time to do everything else. But if you want to chill more at each place, here’s my 2 cents:
      – Between Lake Toya and Kussharo, I loved Kussharo a ton more! Lake Kussharo is seriously underrated. But it’s also REALLY far away from everything else and if you want to visit a sulphurous valley, Jigokudani is in Noboribetsu which is 30mins from Lake Toya. If you prefer a shorter drive, pick Lake Toya.
      In terms of accommodation, Lake Toya and Otaru can be visited on day trips from Sapporo, Furana and Biei are quite near so you can stay at either or Asahikawa (since it’s on the way to Monbetsu). Monbetsu is a little far away so you’ll want to book a night there. In total, 3 accommodations: Sapporo, Asahikawa and Monbetsu.

      • Thanks for your reply! We want to go back to Sapporo the night before we leave (day 6). On day 5, we plan to stay at Asahikawa for the night after touring Furano and Biei. From Asahikawa to Monbetsu, we plan to visit Takinoue Park, Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, and Daisesutzan Park (or skip this if time does not permit) then be back by 6-7 pm to Sapporo and return the car to the rental place. Is this possible? So, in summary: Day 5 Furano/Biei tour – Asahikawa overnight stay. Day 6: Asahikawa – Takinoue Park, – Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, and Daisesutzan Park (optional) – Sapporo.

  12. Hi saw your post and amaze by how budget it can be. I always think that it cost at least 5k per person to go to hokkaido. are the road safe to drive as my son can only drive the others cant. and how easily access for car rental to be picked up.

    • Yes! It’s really possible 🙂 We were there in Spring so the roads were clear and easy to drive on with many pit stops for drivers to rest. The only long drive is between Sapporo/Lake Toyo to Hakodate so be sure to plan in more breaks! The car rental pick up process is quite straight forward too. Just remember to get sufficient insurance and the Highway Express Pass.

  13. Are there lots of mountain roads during your trip? For the drive from Sapporo to Hakodate via Lake Toya/Noribetsu and from Hakodate to Otaru? I’m the only one driving in my group so I’m worried that it is not easy or safe to drive, especially if there are lots of mountainous roads.

    • Nope, both routes have clearly paved highways so it’s an easy drive on relatively straight roads. There’s also lots of rest stops and convenience stores in between so if you’re the only driver, just remember to stop by one so you don’t tire out — especially during the Sapporo to Hakodate drive which will take around 4 hours

  14. Hi Cherie, very wonderful blog with so much details. As I do not drive, could you advise which cities my family of 4 could visit using public transport such as train, bus or private car hire? We intend to spend 10 days there.

  15. I like your blog write-up. I will arrange one self drive trip in July 2023. Your info is very comprehensive and informative with map codes as well. Thanks a lot !

  16. Hi, I like the write up and it is serving as the basis for my coming trip.
    I would like to know for accommodations, is it better to pre-book or were the occasions along the way where you guys had to book rooms on the go.

    Thanks!

    • Hi Dave, we pre-booked everything before our trip! Generally the Japanese don’t like surprises!
      however if you need something last minute, I’m sure you can find something on one of the many OTAs too

  17. Hello,
    Thank you very much for sharing your detailed itinerary with us.
    We are planning for our self-drive family holiday in early June for a full 11 days (excluding flight times). Where do you suggest for us to spend the additional 3 days? We prefer not to drive for more than 5 hours per day.
    Looking forward to receiving your advice with thanks.
    Best regards,
    Ethan

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