Hokkaido August 2019

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crazycardriver

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Hi Japan lovers,

Need help for the following travel.


Is 10 days 9 nights more than sufficient in Hokkaido excluding Hakodate? Or 8 days 7 nights good enough?
 
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thwysg

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Depends on what you’re going to do and where you are heading to. Traveling via public transport or rental car.
 
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crazycardriver

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thwysg said:
Depends on what you’re going to do and where you are heading to. Traveling via public transport or rental car.
Click to expand...

Sorry my bad. Travelling with wife, a child and a baby 2 years old. And 2 older but fit folks. Will be renting car.
 
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crazycardriver

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swordspirit said:
8 days should be too rush for you if you want to cover the area extensively, even when u exclude hakodate.
Click to expand...

I am looking at Furano/Biei (1 night), Asahikawa (2 nights), Otaru (1 night), Sapporo (2 nights) and last 1 night at Chitose because morning flight next day.
 
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thwysg

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crazycardriver said:
I am looking at Furano/Biei (1 night), Asahikawa (2 nights), Otaru (1 night), Sapporo (2 nights) and last 1 night at Chitose because morning flight next day.
Click to expand...

Asahikawa 2N? Why? Not keen to stay more days in Sapporo city?
 
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thwysg

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crazycardriver said:
Rest in Asahikawa before heading Sapporo
Click to expand...

Oh I see. Stay in Sapporo and do a day trip to Otaru instead. Not sure if you intend to drive even while in Sapporo. The rest of the places are fine with driving. If you checked TA Japan, the locals mentioned that you’ll be able to catch the morning flight via first train even if you were leaving from Sapporo. Ultimate decision is yours.
 
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crazycardriver

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thwysg said:
Oh I see. Stay in Sapporo and do a day trip to Otaru instead. Not sure if you intend to drive even while in Sapporo. The rest of the places are fine with driving. If you checked TA Japan, the locals mentioned that you’ll be able to catch the morning flight via first train even if you were leaving from Sapporo. Ultimate decision is yours.
Click to expand...

Will be adjusting itinerary to 9 days 8 nights.


May I ask which suggested path should I do?
 
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thwysg

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crazycardriver said:
Will be adjusting itinerary to 9 days 8 nights.

May I ask which suggested path should I do?
Click to expand...

Ask the expert oceanicmanta. He has done a lot of self-drive trips in Japan. I can only advise on trips with public transport, no experience on roads. ;)
 
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oceanicmanta

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crazycardriver said:
I am looking at Furano/Biei (1 night), Asahikawa (2 nights), Otaru (1 night), Sapporo (2 nights) and last 1 night at Chitose because morning flight next day.
Click to expand...

some suggestion / comments

from arrival at Chitose, drive anti-clockwise

1) Furano/Biei - take the Doto Expressway from Chitose.
Stay 2 nights, take your time to explore the area

2) Asahikawa - r u planning anything in Asahikawa ? If not, can skip if just using to rest .. it's a city, nothing much IMO. Zoo for kids ?

3) from Furano, can go straight to Otaru - the drive is slightly long using non-toll road but it is fine.

- stay 2 nights (Sankaku Market / Canal night view / Sakaimachi Street + 1 day trip to Yoichi - Nikka Whisky/Fruit picking or Cape Kamui for views)

4) Sapporo - up to you. Having a car is not too bad, can go to the out-skirts .. many parks around

5) Chitose - Staying at Chitose Airport hotel ? or your Chitose hotel provides Shuttle to airport ? How early is your flight out ?

Airport Hotel is not a bad idea as the domestic terminal is worth exploring for 0.5 days ... albeit more expensive.

Check the car rental operating hours if you are returning late evening/early morning.

Driving between these locations in your itin is straightforward. Non-toll roads are pretty good. For peace of mind, you can consider the HEP since you have a big group. Not having it is fine as well for your itin.

A lot of driving resources available :

Hokkaido driving handbook
https://en.visit-hokkaido.jp/library/brochures/pdf/driving_en.pdf

map of Michi-No-Eki
https://www.michi-no-eki.jp/stations/english

Toll Charges
http://dc.c-nexco.co.jp/dc/DriveCompassDiagram.html?ca=hokka

I usually rent cars from Jalan.net or Rakuten Japanese sites which I find are cheaper. Jalan has JPY 10k coupon now.

I have never done road trips with young kids before. I wld probably minimise number of hotel changes.

Hope others chip in on the sights for the various destinations we well or places to visit. Noboribetsu would be interesting too for 1st timer.

What are your interests ? food, scenery, shopping, nature, onsen, relax time ?

Hokkaido has a lot to offer ... dont think you will end up with nothing to do :s13:

Thanks thwysg for the vote of confidence ... i have only done a few trips, mostly Hokkaido, but had researched a lot more than needed ..
 
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thwysg

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oceanicmanta said:
some suggestion / comments

from arrival at Chitose, drive anti-clockwise

1) Furano/Biei - take the Doto Expressway from Chitose.
Stay 2 nights, take your time to explore the area

2) Asahikawa - r u planning anything in Asahikawa ? If not, can skip if just using to rest .. it's a city, nothing much IMO. Zoo for kids ?

3) from Furano, can go straight to Otaru - the drive is slightly long using non-toll road but it is fine.

- stay 2 nights (Sankaku Market / Canal night view / Sakaimachi Street + 1 day trip to Yoichi - Nikka Whisky/Fruit picking or Cape Kamui for views)

4) Sapporo - up to you. Having a car is not too bad, can go to the out-skirts .. many parks around

5) Chitose - Staying at Chitose Airport hotel ? or your Chitose hotel provides Shuttle to airport ? How early is your flight out ?

Airport Hotel is not a bad idea as the domestic terminal is worth exploring for 0.5 days ... albeit more expensive.

Check the car rental operating hours if you are returning late evening/early morning.

Driving between these locations in your itin is straightforward. Non-toll roads are pretty good. For peace of mind, you can consider the HEP since you have a big group. Not having it is fine as well for your itin.

A lot of driving resources available :

Hokkaido driving handbook
https://en.visit-hokkaido.jp/library/brochures/pdf/driving_en.pdf

map of Michi-No-Eki
https://www.michi-no-eki.jp/stations/english

Toll Charges
http://dc.c-nexco.co.jp/dc/DriveCompassDiagram.html?ca=hokka

I usually rent cars from Jalan.net or Rakuten Japanese sites which I find are cheaper. Jalan has JPY 10k coupon now.

I have never done road trips with young kids before. I wld probably minimise number of hotel changes.

Hope others chip in on the sights for the various destinations we well or places to visit. Noboribetsu would be interesting too for 1st timer.

What are your interests ? food, scenery, shopping, nature, onsen, relax time ?

Hokkaido has a lot to offer ... dont think you will end up with nothing to do :s13:

Thanks thwysg for the vote of confidence ... i have only done a few trips, mostly Hokkaido, but had researched a lot more than needed ..
Click to expand...

Those are good knowledge and experience. I also hope to have a road trip in Japan but I think I can only dream on :s13:

And yes, Asahikawa is quite a sleepy town which I felt only the Zoo train (discontinued) and the Zoo (maybe, but other aquariums also have Penguin March) were worth a visit, and of course its own snow festival. Unless you’re doing a day trip to Sounkyo to visit the waterfalls.
 
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crazycardriver

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oceanicmanta said:
some suggestion / comments

from arrival at Chitose, drive anti-clockwise

1) Furano/Biei - take the Doto Expressway from Chitose.
Stay 2 nights, take your time to explore the area

2) Asahikawa - r u planning anything in Asahikawa ? If not, can skip if just using to rest .. it's a city, nothing much IMO. Zoo for kids ?

3) from Furano, can go straight to Otaru - the drive is slightly long using non-toll road but it is fine.

- stay 2 nights (Sankaku Market / Canal night view / Sakaimachi Street + 1 day trip to Yoichi - Nikka Whisky/Fruit picking or Cape Kamui for views)

4) Sapporo - up to you. Having a car is not too bad, can go to the out-skirts .. many parks around

5) Chitose - Staying at Chitose Airport hotel ? or your Chitose hotel provides Shuttle to airport ? How early is your flight out ?

Airport Hotel is not a bad idea as the domestic terminal is worth exploring for 0.5 days ... albeit more expensive.

Check the car rental operating hours if you are returning late evening/early morning.

Driving between these locations in your itin is straightforward. Non-toll roads are pretty good. For peace of mind, you can consider the HEP since you have a big group. Not having it is fine as well for your itin.

A lot of driving resources available :

Hokkaido driving handbook
https://en.visit-hokkaido.jp/library/brochures/pdf/driving_en.pdf

map of Michi-No-Eki
https://www.michi-no-eki.jp/stations/english

Toll Charges
http://dc.c-nexco.co.jp/dc/DriveCompassDiagram.html?ca=hokka

I usually rent cars from Jalan.net or Rakuten Japanese sites which I find are cheaper. Jalan has JPY 10k coupon now.

I have never done road trips with young kids before. I wld probably minimise number of hotel changes.

Hope others chip in on the sights for the various destinations we well or places to visit. Noboribetsu would be interesting too for 1st timer.

What are your interests ? food, scenery, shopping, nature, onsen, relax time ?

Hokkaido has a lot to offer ... dont think you will end up with nothing to do :s13:

Thanks thwysg for the vote of confidence ... i have only done a few trips, mostly Hokkaido, but had researched a lot more than needed ..
Click to expand...

Flight out is 1030hrs. Cannot seem to find a hotel in Chitose.
Safe to leave Sapporo early morning for the flight? Coz I still have to return car
 
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