Again after I first deliberate this Hokkaido highway journey itinerary, the prospect of driving round Japan’s northernmost island (in summer time or in any other case) was fairly obscure. It was standard amongst Japanese and Southeast Asian vacationers, however was principally off the radar of anybody from North America, Australia or Europe.
Issues have modified since then, in fact, and never simply my frequent updates to each the breadth of the locations and experiences on this web page, in addition to the depth of the main points I embody. Hokkaido is a decidedly mainstream vacation spot—in all 4 seasons, no much less.
The excellent news? Whether or not or not you get behind the wheel, my Hokkaido summer time itinerary completely introduces Japan’s coldest island on the warmest time of 12 months. The higher information? It’s extra wonderful than you’ll be able to even think about.
Hokkaido Automotive Leases
Automotive rental is Hokkaido is principally unavoidable, because the public transportation in Japan’s northernmost island leaves an awesome deal to be desired. Although this includes some inconveniences (you’ll have to receive an Worldwide Driving Allow in your house nation, for instance), it makes your journey rather a lot simpler, significantly in the event you don’t have very lengthy, and also you don’t plan to take a lavender farm tour from Sapporo.
Moreover, driving in Hokkaido is a reasonably stress-free affair, significantly in the event you purchase the “Expressway Go” that affords you limitless use of Hokkaido’s tollways, the place you’ll be able to (in apply, if not in keeping with the regulation) drive as quick you need. Likewise, one advantage of the comparatively excessive rental automotive costs in Hokkaido (plan to pay a minimum of ¥8,000 per day, whether or not you lease from Toyota, Nippon and even Orix Hire a Automotive) is that they embody insurance coverage.
High Hokkaido Summer time Sights
Furano’s lavender farms and melon ice cream
If the lavender farms of Furano are as compelling for you as they had been for me, permit me to avoid wasting you some bother deciding on dates: You need to go to over the last half of July, which is when Hokkaido’s lavender is at peak bloom. As soon as you choose these dates, guide your rental automotive, flights and resort (extra on that in a second) as early as attainable to keep away from getting charged by the nostril. One other draw of visiting Hokkaido in summer time? Savoring recent Hokkaido milk ice cream served in luscious halves of melons grown proper in Furano’s fields.
The blue pond of Biei
There are some potential downsides to visiting Hokkaido at peak lavender bloom, nonetheless, first amongst them that the climate in Hokkaido in July isn’t at all times as sunny as advertising photographs would have you ever consider. That is additionally the busiest time of summer time in Hokkaido. Along with the calamitous crowds at Farm Tomita (a minimum of the principle half—Lavender East is fairly tranquil by comparability), different Hokkaido sightseeing like the enduring Shirogane Blue Pond of Biei will likely be bursting on the seams with vacationers.
TIP: Though positively price visiting in summer time as effectively, I favor the Blue Pond throughout Hokkaido’s underrated autumn season.
Volcanic Lake Toya or Noboribetsu
If you happen to’re in search of barely extra dramatic surroundings throughout your Hokkaido self-drive itinerary, relaxation assured: Japan’s northernmost island is as volcanic as the remainder of the nation. Whether or not you guide a keep at one of many resorts alongside the shores of Lake Toya, or head to the favored scorching springs city of Noboribetsu Onsen, there are many wonderful views and scorching springs onsen baths available in the course of the highway journey Hokkaido takes you on.
Asahikawa Zoo and Numata fireflies
My Hokkaido highway journey included all of the locations I discussed above, nevertheless it additionally expanded upon them. For instance, after touring from Furano as much as Biei (the place I noticed Shirahige Falls, which sits simply two minutes by automotive from the Blue Pond), I spent an evening and half a day in underrated Asahikawa, whose zoo is among the most-visited in Japan, and which sits close to Numata, Hokkaido’s premier spot for seeing fireflies (the place—be warned—you’ll be able to 100% anticipate to get eaten alive).
Capes Kamui and Shakotan
To make certain, although Hokkaido is an island, many vacationers skip the coast totally. Don’t be like them: Go to Capes Kamui and Shakotan. Along with the attractive views you’ll be able to get pleasure from from atop the summit of every misaki, I recommend strolling right down to the wild seashores you discover right here, that are lush and beautiful. If you happen to’ll be driving round Hokkaido for greater than about 3-4 days, these are positively locations it is best to think about including to it.
Sapporo and Otaru
Or, you may merely stroll right down to the oceanfront within the port metropolis of Otaru. It’s only a brief bus journey from probably the most apparent locations to go in Hokkaido in summer time: the prefectural capital of Sapporo. With regards to the place to place it in your Hokkaido summer time itinerary, I personally assume this big metropolis makes a greater final cease than a primary one. (Particularly since coming right here final will assist you to get pleasure from Sapporo’s beer—and its beer museums—with out the temptation to drive drunk!)
Visualizing a Week in Hokkaido in Summer time
The photographs above ought to present an attractive preview of the type of imagery you’ll be able to anticipate while you get pleasure from your Hokkaido summer time highway journey itinerary. In search of a extra tangible visualization? Try my Hokkaido highway journey map! Merely click on right here) to see the route I’ve described on this publish mapped out in a comparatively broad manner.
The place to Keep in Hokkaido Throughout the Summer time
Costs for Hokkaido summer time accommodations are typically excessive, even for easy ryokan and visitor homes. In consequence, you’ll need to guide these as quickly as attainable after lining up flights, reserving a rental automotive and finalizing your route across the island. The excellent news is that almost all accommodations in Japan (in Hokkaido and in any other case) might be canceled earlier than your arrival date, so these are peace-of-mind bookings than final-answer ones.
A few of my favourite locations I stayed in Hokkaido in the course of the summer time had been the straightforward (however homey) Mimatsuso Ryokan in Asahikawa and the trendy Tokyu Keep Sapporo Odori in Sapporo. If I’m trustworthy, rural Hokkaido lodging (i.e. in Furano, Biei and Toya Onsen) leaves rather a lot to be desired.
BONUS: Wish to see summer time flowers near Sapporo? Add the Makomanai Takino Cemetery to your itinerary! Along with that includes a large Buddha surrounded by a lavender-covered mound, it’s additionally residence to weird replies of Stonehenge and the Easter Island Monoliths.
Different Hokkaido Highway Journey FAQ
Is it troublesome to drive in Hokkaido?
Hokkaido might be the best a part of Japan to drive in, as a consequence of its low inhabitants density, excessive velocity limits and spacious expressways. With this being mentioned, driving in Hokkaido throughout its lengthy, snowy winter is extremely discouraged, given the sparse availability of emergency providers.
What’s one of the best ways to journey round Hokkaido?
Hokkaido (apart from Hakodate) doesn’t have a Shinkansen, which implies that trains are gradual (albeit dependable) manner of getting across the island. Alternatively, touring by automotive isn’t at all times optimum both, given the big distances between some locations. In apply chances are you’ll want to mix numerous transport modes, together with intra-island flights.
Do you want a automotive to discover Hokkaido?
You don’t want a automotive to discover Hokkaido, nevertheless it makes issues simpler. That is significantly the case in the event you want to go to the lavender fields of Furano, which might in any other case require you to take gradual, circuitous practice or bus routes to achieve, and likewise in rural areas just like the Shiretoko Peninsula.
The Backside Line
Even in the event you solely use it as a place to begin, this Hokkaido highway journey itinerary will make planning your summer time romp round Hokkaido rather a lot simpler. From recommendations on renting automobiles and the place to remain, to an outline of Hokkaido summer time points of interest from the apparent (Furano’s lavender farms) to the marginally extra obscure (Capes Kamui and Shakotan; the underrated metropolis of Asahikawa), Hokkaido is a number of enjoyable to go to throughout summer time, even in the event you’ve already been in autumn or winter. Wish to be certain that your Hokkaido summer time itinerary is one for the file books? Fee a customized Japan itinerary at this time, and let me sweat the main points.