8 Essential Tips To Plan Your First Trip to Hokkaido
Thinking of visiting Hokkaido for the first time?
Here are 8 things you should know when you plan your first trip to Hokkaido.
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☕
Lake Onneto in autumn
In summer, June to September is the prime time for outdoor activities and natural attractions in Hokkaido. The weather is nice and cool with an average temperature of 20°C. There aren’t many rainy days in summer. It’s especially nice to come over to Hokkaido in June and July, while it’s the rainy season in the other parts of Japan.
In winter, January and February are the best time to enjoy snow festivals and winter sports. You can never miss incredible creations of nature that can be seen only during the coldest time, such as drift ice and jewelry ice. The temperature is pretty harsh - often below 0°C even during day time. However, this is what makes Hokkaido’s winter special. Many skiers gather in Hokkaido from around the world, seeking high-quality powder snow.
If you are a fan of beautiful autumn colors, late September to early October would be the best bet. There are so many autumn leaves spots across Hokkaido. Here are the 5 best locations in Eastern Hokkaido.
A fun fact - Hokkaido has 14 airports! This number tells you how big Hokkaido is. If you want to fly into Hokkaido directly, New Chitose International Airport near Sapporo would be your gateway. It’s the only international airport in Hokkaido, operating direct flights to South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hawaii.
Alternatively, of course, you can take domestic flights from other parts of Japan to Hokkaido. Tokyo Haneda Airport, Kansai International Airport, and Osaka Itami Airport have multiple daily flights to major airports in Hokkaido, such as New Chitose International Airport near Sapporo, Hakodate Airport, Asahikawa Airport, Kushiro Airport, and Memambetsu Airport.
If you’re looking into flights, check out my 5 Easy Tips to Book Cheap Flights to Hokkaido!
Make sure to compare air ticket offers to get the best price.
Sunflower field near Memambatsu Airport
Hokkaido is huge. Major destinations are often far apart from each other, by at least a couple of hours of drive. You shouldn’t be moving from one place to another every single day, unless you want to spend much of your time on the move. To give you an idea, if you drive from Sapporo, it takes 4 hours to Hakodate, 2 hours to Asahikawa, and 7 hours to Shiretoko.
Make sure to spend a few days in each place to explore the area without a hassle. I would recommend 2-3 days for Sapporo, 2 days for Hakodate, 3 days for Furano and Biei, and 3 days for Shiretoko.
Many shops and restaurants accept credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) in cities. However, some local places in more remote areas don’t. It’s always good to have some cash in your pocket, especially when you travel to the countryside. Finding a currency exchange shop is difficult in Hokkaido once you are outside of the international airport. Make sure to get Japanese yen when you land in Japan.
Generally speaking, prices in Hokkaido are not that expensive. Especially for food, you can easily find good quality restaurants at reasonable prices. There are many affordable accommodation options too. One thing that could cost extra is renting a car, which would be very useful on a Hokkaido trip. Here are estimated costs per day on different levels of budget, excluding transportation costs. Hope this helps you budget your trip!
Luxury Trip
Accommodation - 50,000 yen ($360) for a luxurious ryokan hotel with a hot spring, including dinner and breakfast.
Food - 6,000 yen ($42) for lunch at a fancy sushi restaurant.
Activity - 20,000 yen ($130) for a 2-hour spa package at the hotel.
Total Cost: 76,000 yen ($532)
Mid-Range Trip
Accommodation - 8,000 yen ($57) for a comfortable city center hotel including breakfast.
Food - 5,000 yen ($35) for a $15 sushi lunch and a $20 dinner
Activity - 10,000 yen ($70) for shopping
Total Cost: 2,3000 yen ($162)
Budget Trip
Accommodation - 3000 yen ($21) for a budget hostel stay.
Food - 3000 yen ($21) for a $4 convenience store breakfast, a $7 ramen lunch, and a $10 chain restaurant dinner.
Activity - Free for visiting public parks and museums, strolling in a city.
Total Cost: 6,000 yen ($41)
Looking for hotels? Make sure to compare different hotel offers to get the best price!
If you are visiting multiple areas in Hokkaido, driving by yourself definitely gives you much more flexibility and saves more time. Major cities are well connected by trains and buses, but they might not run frequently. There are also many worth-visiting destinations that you could reach only by car. Driving in Hokkaido is quite easy. No traffic, no complicated streets, no hassle.
If you’re looking into renting a car, book early to rent cheaper. Check rental car offers to compare companies!
However, I wouldn’t recommend driving in winter because of heavy snow and icy roads. Alternatively you can get day pass tickets for public transportation that some cities offer during high seasons in summer and winter. Big cities, such as Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, and Abashiri, have intercity transportation systems - buses, subways, or trams - which allow you to move around easily within a city.
When we travel, we often experience unexpected things we wish we knew in advance. So here are a few tips that are good to be aware of before traveling to Hokkaido.
Bring extra layers - no matter which season you travel. In Hokkaido, it could be chilly even on a summer day. Always bring a jacket or cardigan with you, especially if you spend your day outside.
Expect heavy snow in winter - It snows quite a lot in Hokkaido. When it really does, it gets serious. Transportation might be interrupted, including trains and flights, sometimes for a few days. Don’t plan your trip too tight and try to be flexible in case you’re stuck because of heavy snowfall.
It’s not easy to get around with English - Even in bigger cities, not many people speak English at shops and restaurants, unless in super touristy places. You might want to learn some useful phrases in Japanese or download apps to help you with basic conversations.
To begin your trip planning, go search itineraries online for the areas you are interested in. They will give you an idea of how people travel, where they visit, and how many days they would suggest spending in those destinations.
If you are thinking of Eastern Hokkaido, I have many Eastern Hokkaido itineraries here for you. Many of my itineraries don’t require renting a car so you can travel with public transportation. Make sure to check them out!
THAT’S ALL!
Hope you enjoyed these essential tips for your trip. I’d love to hear from you, whether it’s feedback or questions - Reach out to me on my Facebook page or Instagram. We also have Eastern Hokkaido Travel Group on Facebook where you can ask questions or share experiences about trips to Eastern Hokkaido. Join us!
Need advice on your trip plan?
Let me help you! I’m Yuuka, an author of My Eastern Hokkaido. I’ve been helping international travelers plan their dream trips to Hokkaido for the past 3 years. I’d be happy to help you with your itinerary for Eastern Hokkaido as well as other regions!