Hokkaido car rental

[oceanicmanta]

Hi oceanicmanta,

Do I need HEP if i'm going to Ashikawa, Furano, Biei, Otaru, Shakotan, Niseko, Noboribetsu for 5 nights?

As u only have 5 days, you shld use the Expressway more to save time travelling.

The routes with Expressways are Chitose/Sapporo to Asahikawa, Asahikawa to Otaru, Lake Toya (from Niseko) to Nobo, & Nobo to Sapporo.

There are no Eways in Furano-Biei, Otaru-Shakotan-Niseko-Toya.

Asahikawa to Otaru is a 2hr Expressway drive and would cost JPY 4540.

So a 6D HEP @JPY7200 looks like a good idea.

 

[courtjester]

Can I just check if Nippon Rent A Car is a reliable company to rent cars in Hokkaido.

I just booked a car from then through Jalan. It should be ok right?

 

[Eighty7]

Can I just check if Nippon Rent A Car is a reliable company to rent cars in Hokkaido.

I just booked a car from then through Jalan. It should be ok right?

Last week I just rented from them . Fuss free. Just that be prepared to communicate in slight Japanese . The staff that served me is not very proficient in English so that’s just a small point to take note .

The GPS that come with the car although multi language , I find it not user friendly and I ended up using Google map which works wonder anyway. Pretty accurate as well .

 

[buaypangsai]

trying to book using tocoo

1. can i clarify here on Select ETC/Wi-Fi Pickup Location? my car rental starts at sapporo city station at 3pm and i am driving to furano straight away. do i ask the wifi to be sent to my sapporo hotel or furano hotel?

2. ETC is like our cashcard?

 

[courtjester]

Last week I just rented from them . Fuss free. Just that be prepared to communicate in slight Japanese . The staff that served me is not very proficient in English so that’s just a small point to take note .

The GPS that come with the car although multi language , I find it not user friendly and I ended up using Google map which works wonder anyway. Pretty accurate as well .

cool thank you!

 

[Vitacimin]

As u only have 5 days, you shld use the Expressway more to save time travelling.

The routes with Expressways are Chitose/Sapporo to Asahikawa, Asahikawa to Otaru, Lake Toya (from Niseko) to Nobo, & Nobo to Sapporo.

There are no Eways in Furano-Biei, Otaru-Shakotan-Niseko-Toya.

Asahikawa to Otaru is a 2hr Expressway drive and would cost JPY 4540.

So a 6D HEP @JPY7200 looks like a good idea.

Thank you. I've booked Times car rental through Jalan.net. Can I get the HEP on the day of pick up or I have to inform them in advance?

 

[oceanicmanta]

Thank you. I've booked Times car rental through Jalan.net. Can I get the HEP on the day of pick up or I have to inform them in advance?

I suggest you email Times Car Rental quoting your Jalan Reservation number and and inform them that you intend to get the HEP.

Apparently Times dont provide HEP for those 660 K0G class vehicles.
https://www.timescar-rental.com/top...sYxbWq-QKuOwg9YCB5zCLFwo-rxX9cmEaAtvkEALw_wcB

And not all outlets have HEP .. see here :
https://www.driveplaza.com/trip/drawari/hokkaido_expass/shoplist_en.html

I did that when I wanted to rent ETC card but was not sure if that Times outlet in Abashiri offered it.

 

[RoLanTo]

I booked Honda car rental via Jalan. Any review? I see they offer CDW n noc. And also free car seats for kids. Also, they are the only one with freed option

Sent from Xiaomi MI MIX 2S using GAGT

 

[oceanicmanta]

I booked Honda car rental via Jalan. Any review? I see they offer CDW n noc. And also free car seats for kids. Also, they are the only one with freed option

Sent from Xiaomi MI MIX 2S using GAGT

have rented from Honda a few times.

The Freed is comfortable to drive for long journeys. Roomy, high head clearance & seats are high.

Look out for their offers with CDW included.

 

[Vitacimin]

I suggest you email Times Car Rental quoting your Jalan Reservation number and and inform them that you intend to get the HEP.

Apparently Times dont provide HEP for those 660 K0G class vehicles.
https://www.timescar-rental.com/top...sYxbWq-QKuOwg9YCB5zCLFwo-rxX9cmEaAtvkEALw_wcB

And not all outlets have HEP .. see here :
https://www.driveplaza.com/trip/drawari/hokkaido_expass/shoplist_en.html

I did that when I wanted to rent ETC card but was not sure if that Times outlet in Abashiri offered it.

Thank you! I've emailed them they added HEP to my jalan.net booking. I am going mid-end april, do you recommend to go Asahikawa area or it's better to drive south down to Hakodate and back to Sapporo?

 

[KnobKnob]

jalan.net car rental all in jap language. I can find the go to English website but can't find the car rental page after that

how you all managed to book there? because you all understand jap?

Sent from your dreams using GAGT

 

[oceanicmanta]

jalan.net car rental all in jap language. I can find the go to English website but can't find the car rental page after that

how you all managed to book there? because you all understand jap?

Sent from your dreams using GAGT

can read some of the Kanji characters but mostly using Google translate to figure things out ... it's not difficult

... the most difficult part for me was to find an acceptable name in relevant Japanese format to register on Jalan

 

[oceanicmanta]

Thank you! I've emailed them they added HEP to my jalan.net booking. I am going mid-end april, do you recommend to go Asahikawa area or it's better to drive south down to Hakodate and back to Sapporo?

I have never been to Hakodate, bcos I always find it too far off and also I prefer Eastern Hokkaido ie Shiretoko & Akan areas which I think have a lot to offer

Maybe late Apr, u can catch early bloom of Cherry trees in Hakodate

If u like snow mountain scenery, would recommend a trip to Mt Asahidake taking the ropeway (cable car). There are a few onsen resorts at the foot of Asahidake & would be nice to spend 1 night there. Go up only if it is a clear day. if snowing, raining or fog, dont bother.

I dont think there will be much flowers in Furano / Biei in late Apr.

In May, we chanced upon a decent Sunflower field in Niseko, but cant remember where.

You can also check out this blog (some parts maybe relevant) :
http://www.jaiktravelblog.com/category/asia-trips/summer-in-japan/

 

[purpleberry]

can read some of the Kanji characters but mostly using Google translate to figure things out ... it's not difficult

... the most difficult part for me was to find an acceptable name in relevant Japanese format to register on Jalan

The name in Japanese format can be anything? For example with google translate, John Tan is ジョンタン.

 

[oceanicmanta]

The name in Japanese format can be anything? For example with google translate, John Tan is ジョンタン.

too long ago, cant remember whether they required katakana or hiragana format

translated Christian name may work, but my dialect name did not, so I had to use something else

 

[Vitacimin]

I have never been to Hakodate, bcos I always find it too far off and also I prefer Eastern Hokkaido ie Shiretoko & Akan areas which I think have a lot to offer

Maybe late Apr, u can catch early bloom of Cherry trees in Hakodate

If u like snow mountain scenery, would recommend a trip to Mt Asahidake taking the ropeway (cable car). There are a few onsen resorts at the foot of Asahidake & would be nice to spend 1 night there. Go up only if it is a clear day. if snowing, raining or fog, dont bother.

I dont think there will be much flowers in Furano / Biei in late Apr.

In May, we chanced upon a decent Sunflower field in Niseko, but cant remember where.

You can also check out this blog (some parts maybe relevant) :
http://www.jaiktravelblog.com/category/asia-trips/summer-in-japan/

Is it worth staying a night at Otaru? Or in Sapporo would be fine? I have actually only 5d/4n nights to spare, so wondering if i should just stick just Noboribetsu, Niseko, Otaru and maybe Asahikawa area.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Is it worth staying a night at Otaru? Or in Sapporo would be fine? I have actually only 5d/4n nights to spare, so wondering if i should just stick just Noboribetsu, Niseko, Otaru and maybe Asahikawa area.

5D/4N not a lot of time for these places. I would drop either Nobo/Niseko or Asahikawa/BieiFurano.

Otaru can do as day trip from Sapporo - go early, visit Sankaku Market, walk around canal, visit the Sakaimachi street, wait for evening light up at canal, back to Sapporo, head to Go Tsubo for oysters. Then u avoid changing hotel.

It depends on your group, if they dont mind changing hotel every night & just want to see as many places as possible, then different story.

 

[purpleberry]

I have never been to Hakodate, bcos I always find it too far off and also I prefer Eastern Hokkaido ie Shiretoko & Akan areas which I think have a lot to offer

Exactly my dilemma. I look at the map and still not sure if it's worth it. Nearest "attraction" is Lake Toya which is like around 3hrs drive away.

 

[ThePostBox]

Exactly my dilemma. I look at the map and still not sure if it's worth it. Nearest "attraction" is Lake Toya which is like around 3hrs drive away.

I drove from Sapporo to Hakodate and stopped at Otaru for walk walk + lunch. There is really nothing special in Otaru except that canal there. Furthermore, the parking is so expensive in Otaru.

Hakodate on the other hand is a much more interesting location. If you have the budget, you can stay at one of the hotels in Lake Toya. The fireworks at night are really beautiful.

After Lake Toya go to the Bear Ranch and Hell Valley, before ending the day on one of the hotels in Furano. From Furano you can go see Panaroma Road, Blue Bond and Farm Tomita.

 

[TehCow]

Exactly my dilemma. I look at the map and still not sure if it's worth it. Nearest "attraction" is Lake Toya which is like around 3hrs drive away.

drove from Noboribetsu to Hakodate last year, quite a long drive down but scenery along the way is very worth it. We stopped by a rest stop in Yakumo town which can overlook the mountain range (not really sure from where) across the sea.