Hokkaido is the second largest island of Japan, and the largest and northernmost prefecture. The best tourist destination in Japan where you will be amazed to see flower fields and fall foliage in September. The weather is harsh in winter with lots of snowfall, below zero temperatures while in summer it does not get as hot and humid as in the other parts of the country.
It's very easy to travel between Hokkaido and Tokyo by shinkansen (Bullet Train). By shinkansen, it takes around 4 hours and 20 minutes from Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate Station (Cost: 23,430 yen). You can experience the world's deepest and longest undersea railway tunnel named "Seikan Railway Tunnel" while going to Hokkaido by Shinkansen. Japan’s 53.85km Seikan railway tunnel passes beneath the Tsugaru Strait and connects the Aomori Prefecture on Honshu Island and the Hokkaido Island.
In this article, I will share our 7 days tour itinerary without car while staying in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Love in Hokkaido (Day#1)
We traveled to Hokkaido from Tokyo by air at the end of September, 2020. We reserved our flight tickets from Peach Aviation.
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| New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Hokkaido In the airport, "Welcome" was written in different languages. We were surprised to see that our mother language "Bengali" (at the top) was also there.
We took our hotel beside Nakajima Park. From airport, we went to our hotel by New Chitose Airport Limousine Bus and it takes around 1 hour and 8 minutes. You can also use JR Hokkaido train. We reached our hotel at 2.30 PM and take some rests.
In the afternoon, we walked through the Nakajima Park and went to Sapporo Odori Park by walk. We spent some times in Odori Park and then went inside the Sapporo TV Tower. You can enjoy beautiful night view of Sapporo City from the top of the TV Tower. Then we went to Tanukikoji Shopping Steet and also visited Mega Donki to buy some snacks. We took our dinner at MacDonalds enjoying the night street view and went back to hotel.
Love in Hokkaido (Day#2) In day 2, we decided to explore the Otaru City area. In the morning, at first we went to Sapporo Station Tourist Information Center to get some idea about the train pass.
Luckily, we found JR HOKKAIDO LOVE! 6-day tour pass with 50% discount (Cost: 12000 yen). The pass was for all JR Hokkaido conventional lines. This pass made our trip more convenient.
We went to Otaru Station from Sapporo Station by JR. From Otaru Station, it is 10 minutes walk to Otaru Canal area. We explored Otaru Canel area and enjoy Otaru Canal Cruise. This is a 40-minute boat ride visiting many unique spots that can only be seen from a boat. Tickets can be purchased at the Otaru Canal Chuo Bridge ticket office located on the Chuo Bridge of the Otaru Canal. The boarding fee is 1500 yen for adults and 500 yen for children. |
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| Otaru Canal Cruise |
After enjoying Otaru Canal Cruise, we walked through the canal and checked out the glass ware. Otaru is one of the main glass producing parts of Japan. You can buy Otaru glassware or make your own cups, bowls or vases for typically 2000 to 3000 yen.
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| Otaru Glassware |
Then we went to The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum, which is definitely an interesting visit for all the history lover. The historical building provides an atmospheric setting for displays on the Bank's history, its business operations, and the development of the city of Otaru. The admission is free and open until 5 PM.
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The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum From the museum, at first we went to Otaru Station then from Otaru station to Otaru Aquarium by bus and it takes around 30 minutes. It is recommended to buy a One Day Bus Pass (750 yen). You can buy this bus pass from Chuo Bus Terminal (outside JR Otaru Station) or on board any Otaru City Bus. We bought a ticket for Otaru Aquarium and Tenguyama Ropeway (Cost: 2350 yen).
Otaru Aquarium is definitely a sightseeing spot not to be missed in Otaru where you can enjoy dynamic dolphin show, the earless seal meal time, and the walrus cute performance. You may even spot a wild Steller sea lion or earless seal in the sea facing the aquarium.
Just before sunset, we went to Otaru Tenguyama by bus from Otaru Aquarium. Then we went to the top of the mountain by Ropeway. Otaru Tenguyama is a symbolic mountain of Otaru at an altitude of 532.4m. From the top of the mountain, you can see the city, the Sea of Japan, and a beautiful night view that looks like jewels studded with the "three major night views of Hokkaido". There are many attractions such as Tenguyama Shrine, Nose-Nade Tengu-san, Tengu-no-Taka Geta, Tengu-no-Yakata, Ski Museum, and 5 observation decks. The roundtrip ropeway fee is 1400 yen for adults and 700 yen for child.
In day 3, we head towards for Lake Toya from Sapporo Station by JR Hokkaido. It takes around 1 hour and 47 minutes to reach Toya Station. There is a bus from Toya Station to Sakuramachi and it takes around 20 minutes (One way cost: 330 yen). From Sakuramachi, it is one minute walk to see the majesty of Lake Toya. Then we took a ticket for Nakanoshima Cruise from Nakanoshima Cruise Pier (Ekimae-sambashi). In summer (April-October), the cruise is operated every 30 minutes from 8:30 - 16:30 and in winter (November to early April) it is operated every 60 minutes from 9:00 - 16:00. The cruise fare is 1420 yen for adults and 710 yen for children.
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The Shirogane Blue Pond is a stunning sight that almost looks otherworldly with its deep blue color. It is not a natural sight but was a happy accidental side effect of an eruption by Mount Tokachidake. After enjoying the marvelous view of Blue Pond, we went to Biei Station by bus and from Biei Station to Naka-Furano Station by JR. It is 25 minutes walk from Naka-Furano Station to Farm Tomita.
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| Farm Tomita in September, 2020 |
Farm Tomita is the most popular lavender viewing spot in the Furano area. A purple carpet of lavenders spreads over the slope which is so stunning. The best time to see Hokkaido Lavender is in July, especially between July 10 to July 25. In September, this flower farm will not feature lavender but there are other varieties of autumn flowers to be seen. You won’t regret visiting each spot and taking a lot of photos of scenic views. It is recommended to try ice-creams and snacks in Farm Tomita. The opening hour is 9:00 to 17:00 PM and admission is free.
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| Choei Lavender Farm |
After Farm Tomita, we went to Choei Lavender Farm which is 12 minutes walk from Farm Tomita. This park is high up Mt. Hokusei, but there's a tourist lift that can help you to get the top from the foot of the mountain. After viewing the beautiful flowers, we head towards for Sapporo by JR and prepare ourselves for the next day.
Love in Hokkaido (Day#5)
In Day 5, we head towards for Hakodate by JR, the southern part of Hokkaido and it takes around 3 hours and 50 minutes from Sapporo Station to Hakodate Station. You can enjoy the stunning view of sea from the train window while traveling by JR.
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| View from the JR Train Window |
Hakodate is Hokkaido's third largest city which is best known for the spectacular views to be enjoyed from Mount Hakodate and its delicious, fresh seafood. In our way to Hakodate, we stopped at Onumakoen Station and made a short boat ride on Lake Onuma. Onuma Park, a quasi national park with beautiful, island dotted lakes, is located only half an hour north of Hakodate.
Lake Onuma
After enjoying the beautiful boat ride at Lake Onuma, we head towards for Hakodate by JR. From Hakodate Station, it is 25 minutes to Goryokaku Tower by bus (Cost: 240 yen). We took our lunch at Lucky Pierrot. This is a popular burger shop in Hakodate, offers unique burger in their menu. We took Chinese Chicken Burger, served with deep fried chicken with sweet and spicy sauce.
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| Lunch at Lucky Pierrot |
After taking lunch, we visited the Goryakaku Fort which is well known for its western star-shaped fort surrounded by a giant moat for defense. It one of the best places for cherry blossom in Hokkaido with 1600 cherry trees surrounded during early of May.
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| Goryokaku Fort view from the top of Goryokaku Tower |
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| Goryokaku Tower from the Goryokaku Park |
The Hakodate night view is voted as one of the world’s top three-night views. It is recommended to enjoy the jewel-like nigh view on top of Mount Hakodate. Due to the rainy weather, we could not make it to Mount Hakodate. But we enjoyed the night view from the Goryokaku Tower Observatory. The admission fee of the observatory is 900 yen and opening hour is 9:00 to 18:00 PM.
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| Hakodate City Night View from Goryokaku Tower |
At around 7 PM, we head towards for Sapporo.
Love in Hokkaido (Day#6)
In the 6th day of our Hokkaido trip, we decided to explore the Sapporo City. In the morning, we took a stroll around Nakajima Koen, just near our hotel.
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| Nakajima Koen |
After strolling around Nakajima Koen, we went to Sapporo Odori Park and took some snacks.
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| Sapporo Odori Park |
Next, we went to Sapporo Clock Tower, which is a symbol of Sapporo. It is just beside Sapporo Odori Park. The Clock Tower serves as a museum with displays about the building's history and Sapporo on the first floor. On the second floor are displays about the clock and a spacious ceremony hall that calls to mind the simple buildings of the colonial American Midwest. The admission fee is 200 yen and the entry is open until 5 PM.
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| Sapporo Clock Tower |
We were so energetic to visit several places in a day by walk. 😀From Sapporo Clock Tower, we went to Former Hokkaido Government Office, also known as the ‘Red Brick Building’. A charming place to visit to learn about the history of the city. The admission is free and open until 5 PM.
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| Former Hokkaido Government Office |
Then we went to visit Hokkaido University Botanical Garden. It is a few minutes on the west side of the Old Hokkaido Government Building, so you can fit the gardens into a sightseeing schedule. The gardens are a nice spot to walk around, sit on one of the many lawns, and to enjoy the seasonal flowers and the autumn leaves.
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| Lovely Rose at Hokkaido University Botanical Garden |
We felt hungry, so we went to take our lunch at Hiri Hiri. We took their most popular spicy chicken soup curry. The food was so delicious.
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| Spicy Chicken Soup Curry at Hiri Hiri |
After taking our lunch, we went to Hokkaido University Ginkgo Avenue to walk around the heavenly road which is overflowing with rich greenery. Gingko Avenue is a street lined with gingko trees and is one of the best places in Sapporo to enjoy the beauty of autumn leaves.
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| Hokkaido University Ginkgo Avenue |
From Ginkgo avenue we went to Susukino Station and head towards for Mount Moiwa to enjoy the night view from the top. It takes 35 minutes from Susukino Station to Mount Moiwa Ropeway Iriguchi (Cost: 200 yen). There is a free shuttle bus to take you to the Ropeway station from the Ropeway Iriguchi Station.
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| Stunning Night View from Mount Moiwa |
We accessed the peak of Mt. Moiwa by riding the ropeway and then transferring to the cable car. The ropeway that departs from Moiwa Sanroku Station travels 1,200 meters in five minutes. The ride includes the stunning view of Ishikari Bay in the distance past the cityscape, providing clear, unobstructed views of Sapporo. Next, we transfered to the cable car called Mo-risu Car, which brings us to the peak after traveling through the forest. The cost for Ropeway and Morris Cable Car (Round trip) is 1700 yen for adult and 850 yen for children.
After a long tiring day, we went back to Sapporo Station by Street Car and took dinner at Nemuru Hanamaru which is a popular sushi restaurant in Sapporo. Then we returned to our hotel by subway line and packed our bags for the next day.
Love in Hokkaido (Day#7)
In the early morning, we checked out from the hotel and went to New Chitose Airport by Subway and JR Hokkaido and flew to Tokyo. This is the end of our "Love in Hokkaido" trip without car.
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| Sea of Clouds, from the plane |
Hope you enjoy this article!
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