As a travel-loving mom, I know the pain of planning a family trip all too well. Endless research on child-friendly destinations, hotels, transportation, and things to do that keep the whole family happy (is it even possible!?), etc… As much as it’s exciting to travel with your family, it could be stressful at the planning stage. I feel you.

So I’m here to help make it easier for your Hokkaido trip with kids! In this article, you will find…

• 5-day itinerary with kids: Asahikawa, Biei, Furano and Sapporo

• Tips for parents to make your trip easier

• Family-friendly hotels to stay in Hokkaido

• Many suggested stops to break the long drive

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

This post contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission to enjoy a cup of coffee on my trip☕

This itinerary is perfect for those visiting Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island for the first time, as it includes some of the most popular places in Hokkaido - Asahikawa, Furano, Biei and Sapporo.

This itinerary starts from New Chitose Airport and entails car rental to have more flexibility and save time on the move. You will be spending one night in Asahikawa, one night in Furano, and two nights in Sapporo.

Day 1: Sapporo to Asahikawa

Starting at New Chitose Airport, pick up your rental car at the airport. Make sure to add on car seats for your kids when you book a car. In Japan, child car seats are required for kids under 6 years old by law. Then Head to Asahikawa, which takes about 2.5 hours.

Sunagawa Highway Oasis

To break the long drive, stop by Sunawa Highway Oasis, which is a large rest area accessible from both highways and local roads. This makes a perfect stop for families as there are a big park, an indoor playground, restaurants, sweets shops, and local souvenir shops.

Of course, wifi and public bathrooms are available here. If you’re traveling with a baby, you can use a changing table and a breastfeeding room.

This rest area is located about 1.5 hour-drive away from the airport and one hour to Asahikawa. Check in at your hotel in Asahikawa and have a good rest for the coming days.

🛏️Family-friendly hotels in Asahikawa

• OMO7 Asahikawa
  ⭐3 stars, ✨Cool interior design, 🍴Great breakfast
  A casual and modern hotel by Hoshino Resorts, a high-end hotel brand in Japan. Many local restaurants, cafes and bars are within walking distance. Family rooms available.

• Hotel WBF Grande Asahikawa
  ⭐3 stars, 📍Good location, ♨️Hot Spring
  A city hotel in the city center with a convenience store and a supermarket nearby. Hot spring, dinner buffet, family rooms with a tatami mattress and an indoor playground with toys.

Day 2: Asahikawa & Biei

Check out at your hotel and head to Asahiyama Zoo in the morning, so that you have enough time later in the day to stop by in Biei on the way to Furano.

Asahiyama Zoo

Asahiyama Zoo is a must-visit in Asahikawa if you have kids. It’s known for its “behavioral exhibition” approach, where animals live in environments that mimic their natural habitats. This allows visitors to observe them up close and in action, making the experience feel incredibly immersive.

It usually takes 2-3 hours to go through the entire zoo, but expect about 4 hours if you’re with small kids, including breaks for feeding, bathrooms or naps.

There are 32 exhibits in total and each and every one is unique. However, if you can’t visit all of them, here are my recommendations that your kids would love.

• Polar bears: There’s a big pool where you can see them dive into the water as well as observe how they swim underwater.

• Seals: You can see them swim up and down vertically in a pillar-shaped water tank, which is their unique way of swimming in the ocean.

• Penguins: You will find 4 species of penguins here. The highlight is a clear underwater tunnel where you can walk through and it see penguins swimming around you!

• Chimpanzees: You can see them playing with a variety of equipment. In the "Skyway," a four-sided glass atrium, you can also see them moving along ropes up close.

• Giraffes: There are multiple observations spots to see giraffes from different angles, such as from their head height and just near their foot. At the feeding spot, you can see their face up closer, which offers a very rare opportunity.

INFORMATION

🎟️ 1000 yen/adult, free for under 15 years old
👶 Diaper changing tables and breastfeeding rooms are located across the zoo. Free rental strollers are available from May to October.

After the fun time at the zoo, let’s head to Furano where you’ll spend the night, but there are a few recommended stops on the way in Biei.

Shikisai no Oka

A 45-min drive away from Asahiyama Zoo, Shikisai no Oka is a must-visit in Biei. It is an iconic, beautiful flower garden with colorful strips of flower fields stretching over hills - a great spot for family photos. There are a restaurant, a souvenir and local produce shop, and spacious bathrooms equipped with a changing table.

🎟️ Admission fees: 500 yen/person, free for kids under 6 years old (only from July to September)
👶 Changing table available

🌻Summer time (late April to late October)

Get on a tractor bus that takes you to a round tour of the park for 15 min. This is a great way to enjoy the view efficiently, especially if you have little kids who might not be able to walk across the park.

❄️ Winter time (early December to early April)

your kids can enjoy snow rafting (1,000 yen per person) and sledding (200 yen/rental sled).

Blue Pond

If you still have time, take a 20 min drive from Shikisai no Oka to another must-visit spot in Biei. The bright blue color of the pond is truly remarkable.

The path from the parking to the pond takes about 5-10 min. It’s well maintained and easy for kids to walk on. Note that strollers are not suitable as the path is a bit rocky and narrow and has a few stairs.

INFORMATION

🕙 Opening hours: 7AM - 7PM (May to October), 8AM - 9.30PM (November to April)
🚗 Parking fee: 500 yen
🎟️ Admission free, no public bathroom

From the Blue Pond, drive 45 min to Furano and check in at your hotel.

🛏️Family-friendly hotels in Furano

• Hotel Naturwald Furano
  ⭐3 stars, ✅Great amenities, ♨️Hot Spring
  Spacious family rooms equipped with many kid/baby items

• Shin Furano Prince Hotel
  ⭐4 stars, 📍Good location, ♨️Hot Spring
  A long-established hotel brand, with many fun facilities in or near the hotel area; Ningle Terrace (local craft shopping in log houses), tree trekking, hot air balloon, green garden, snow land (in winter).

>>> More hotel suggestions in Furano

Day 3: Furano

Farm Tomita

Farm Tomita, a large flower park covering 10,000 square meters, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hokkaido. It’s known for its vast lavender field that blooms in July, but it also grows different kinds of beautiful flowers throughout a year, making breathtaking landscapes.

I recommend visiting here in the morning before it gets crowded towards the afternoon. It’s doable to walk around with a strollers, but note that there are some gravel paths and a few stairs in indoor facilities. There are cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops in the farm.

INFORMATION

🕙 Opening hours: 7AM - 7PM (May to October), 8AM - 9.30PM (November to April)
🚗 Parking free
🎟️ Admission free
👶 Changing table and breastfeeding room available

Furano Cheese Factory

Furano Cheese Factory, just a 20 min drive from Farm Tomita, is a great place for cheese lovers. They have a mini cheese museum and food-making workshops that are fun for kids; butter, ice cream and cheese workshops. Check out the schedule and prices on the English flyer on this page.

A cheese shop in the factory offers a variety of cheese made from fresh milk and other local products like Furano Wine, and Furano Cheesecake.

But a must-eat sweet here is cheese soft serve ice cream. There is an ice cream shop on the same premise as the cheese factory. They make delicious ice cream using locally sourced milk. Make sure to grab one before hitting the road to the next destination!

🕙 Opening hours: 9 AM - 5 PM (until 4 PM from November to March)

Quick break: Iwamizawa Service Area

After about 15 min after getting on the highway via Bibai IC (1 hour 15 min from Furano), you will find Iwamizawa Service Area. This is the only rest area on the highway before Sapporo, so don’t miss to stop by if you need a quick break. There are bathrooms, a restaurant and a souvenir shop.

👶Changing table and breastfeeding room available

🛏️Family-friendly hotels in Sapporo

• HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Sapporo Park
  ⭐4 stars, 🌳Park nearby, ♨️Hot Spring
  A hotel near Nakajima Park, which is a nice residential area with lots of green. Spacious kids-friendly rooms with a play space, kids’ bath items, laundry machine & dryer are available in guest rooms.

• Premier Hotel -Tsubaki- Sapporo
  Spacious family rooms are perfect for a group trip. Easy access by car as well as by publictransportation. Airport shuttle is available.
  ⭐4 stars, 📍Good location, 🍴Great breakfast buffet

>>> More hotel suggestions in Sapporo

Day 4: Sapporo

Sapporo is the biggest city in Hokkaido and offers so many fun places for families. From shopping, restaurants and cafes to outdoor activities, rain or shine, there’s something for every family. Here are a few suggestions.

Odori Park & Sapporo TV tower

Odori Park is the most beloved park in Sapporo, stretching 1.5 km long across the city center. This greenery park is a perfect spot to take a stroll with kids.

First, I recommend checking out the Sapporo TV tour, an iconic symbol of the city, located at the beginning of the park. From the observatory at 90 meters high, you can enjoy the panorama view of the city. The night view is especially beautiful with city lights. Admission fees are 1000 yen/adult and 500 yen/child.

Then walk a few blocks to the popular food truck known for grilled Hokkaido corn and buttered potato. Your kids will love these Hokkaido goodies. Enjoy them at one of the outdoor tables.

Shiroi Koibuto Park

“Shiroi Koibito” is one of the most famous snacks from Hokkaido, thin cookies with silky smooth white chocolate sandwiched in between. Shiroi Koibito Park is a chocolate theme park where you can see the factories producing Shiroi Koibito and other popular sweets. There are also exhibitions about the history of chocolate and sweets-making workshops. Of course you can buy their snacks or enjoy some sweets at a cafe.

INFORMATION

🚇 7 min walk from Miyanosawa metro station
🕙 Opening hours: 10 am - 5 pm
🎟️ Admission fees: 800 yen/adult, 400 yen/children from 4 to 15 years old, free for under 3 years old
👶 Changing table and breast feeding room available

Mount Moiwa

An accessible, nature-rich mountain loved by the locals, just a 20-min drive from the city center. You can take a ropeway up to the mountain observatory to enjoy the view.

Day 5: Explore New Chitose Airport

Check out at your hotel and head to New Chitose Airport, an hour’s drive. If you have some time to kill until your flight, this airport is never short of things to do. It’s not a regular airport, but almost like an amusement park! You can spend hours there without getting your kids bored.

Stamp collecting challenge

Collect 6 stamps located across the airport and win a special item! (eg. the airport-brand stationaries) This is a fun game to do with kids and a perfect way to get them walk and tired before a flight :) Start from Center Plaza on the second floor of the domestic terminal where you can get a stamp sheet.

Airport museum

Next to the food court on the third floor, you will find an exhibition dedicated to aircraft and aviation professionals. Kids can try on pilot’s and cabin crew’s uniforms too - a cute photo opportunity!

Doraemon Sky Park

This Doraemon-theme park is on the third floor of the domestic terminal. There are many exhibitions of Doraemon’s characters, interactive games, trick art photo spots, a free play area, a library and workshops

🎟️ Admission fees: 800 yen/adult and 400-500 yen/child depending on the age, and free for under 2 years old.

Hello Kitty Happy Flight

On the same floor as Doraemon Sky Park, there is also a theme park of Hello Kitty and Sanrio characters! You will visit countries around the world with the cabin crew Hello Kitty. At the end of the journey, you can take a break at a Sanrio-featured cafe.

🎟️ Admission fees: 800 yen/adult and 400 yen/under 12 years old, free for under 3 years old.

Onsen

Have you ever thought of taking a hot spring at the airport? New Chitose Airport has made it possible. On the forth floor of the domestica terminal, you can dip in onsen and just relax. There are also a restaurant, a massage spa and a relaxing room with reclining chairs - you can spend hours here!

Everything you need is included in the admission fee; towels, yukata (a Japanese-style wear for after bathing), body soap, shampoo, make up remover, face lotion, hair brush, hair dryer, etc. Please note that babies who are still in diaper are not allowed to take a bath here.

🎟️ Admission fees: 2600 yen per adult, 1300 yen per child, and free for under 6 years old.

Ramen Dojo

On the third floor of the domestic terminal, 10 branches of popular ramen restaurants gather here from across Hokkaido. You don’t have to travel all over the island to taste the best ramens. Just come here!

The most popular shop is Ichigen for rich shrimp-based soup ramen. For miso ramen lovers, go to Ramen Sora or Keyaki. Baikohken and Teshikaga are great for shoyu ramen, and Ajisai for shio (salt) ramen.

Last-minute shopping

Forgot to buy something? Head to UNIQLO and Muji on the second floor of the domestic terminal for clothing, or Don Quixote on the third floor of the international terminal for pretty much anything. It’s a popular discount shop chain across Japan.

If you are looking for snacks and sweets, check out the Shopping World on the second floor of the domestic terminal. You can find many popular Hokkaido food and sweets shops here.

Want to stay longer in Hokkaido with kids? - More ideas

If you want to stay a few more days after this itinerary, here are some ideas for kid-friendly destinations around Hokkaido. Also check out my Hokkaido destination guide for more ideas!

Otaru

Otaru makes a great day trip from Sapporo. It's a short drive or a train ride away from Sapporo Station.

The Otaru Canal area is the center of attractions, offering canal cruising, a stained-glass art museum, and an orgel Museum. There are also other places to visit with kids, such as Otaru Aquarium and a ropeway to Mount Tengu.

Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu is an onsen town, about a 1.5-hour drive from Sapporo. You can make a day trip from Sapporo. But I would recommend spending a night there to relax in one of the onsens here after a full day of fun.

The town's highlight, Jigokudani (hell valley) is where you can observe steaming, volcanic activities from underground that are worth a visit. In autumn, the valley is surrounded by gorgeous autumn color sceneries.

Niseko

Niseko is Hokkaido's most popular ski resort. This foreigner-friendly ski village attracts visitors from around the world in winter.

There are many resorts offering family friendly options for outdoor activities throughout the year, such as cycling, kayaking, tree trekking, zip line as well as indoor playgrounds.

 Hakodate

If you want to explore different parts of Hokkaido, head to Hakodate in the south. It's a historical port city with local seafood markets, historical parks, Mount Hakodate, and architecture in a mixture of Japanese and Western styles. As a big city, Hakodate is one of the most kid-friendly destinations in Hokkaido.

From Shin Hakodate Hokuto train station, you can take Shinkansen, the bullet train that connects Tokyo and Hokkaido so you can continue your Japan trip.

NEED ADVICE ON YOUR TRIP PLAN?

I’M HERE TO HELP YOU!

I’ve been helping international travelers plan their dream trips to Hokkaido for many years. I’d be happy to plan your itinerary with you for Eastern Hokkaido as well as other regions.

Check out what you can ask me & why you should plan with a local expert like me.

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