If not driving in Hokkaido

[coolwinx]

Is public transportation a good alternative to travel around if going F&E?

I mean, is it as convenient as in Tokyo train system?

If you have travelled by the local bus or train, is it easy to understand?

Lastly, is driving recommended?

 

[droozy]

If u do yr homework conscientiously online , not a problem for local buses and trains. infact u can lose wt and eat again lol
I use trains and buses in Hokkaido 4-5 times so far. Next time then i drive there for the first time in Hokkaido

 

[Kahlan]

yes as Droozy says, you must do you homework to check on local transport and trains. No problem going to most places on public transport as both my trips all via public transport, my friends and i don't drive . However if you want to drive, understand it is also quite easy and there are certain places you can go where public transport is not available or is limited (ie only certain timing per day).

 

[isky]

Is public transportation a good alternative to travel around if going F&E?
I mean, is it as convenient as in Tokyo train system?
If you have travelled by the local bus or train, is it easy to understand?
Lastly, is driving recommended?

Public transport system is very good in Hokkaido, you can reach almost all of the places of interests by train or bus, so going F&E is no problem at all.

In fact, it's advisable to go Hokkaido F&E instead of tour. All of my friends who went there with tour groups have one major complaint - they never have enough time at the place they visited, it's always "rush, rush, rush" with tour.

If you know your way around Tokyo's complex JR/subway system, then you'll certainly have no problem in Hokkaido which is way simpler and straight forward.

To save cost, just make use of special tickets or pass offered, for eg.:
- JR Hakkaido Rail Pass (3/4/5 days) - if you plan to travel to several cities within that 3 to 5 days.
- Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass (1day)- JR and subway within Sapporo & Otaru.
- JR Furano-Biei Pass (4 days) - use of JR train on the Furano Line and Twinkle Bus (tour) for Biei.

Make use of Hyperdia.com to plan your transport need, it has all the timing & cost details and it's in English.


To drive or not, depends largely on your itinerary and which city will you be spending most time in. If your itinerary is mostly in/near Sapporo, then it'd be better to just use public transports.

It also depends on when do you plan to go to Hokkaido? In general, it's not advisable for us Singaporean to drive there during the winters as most of us have little or no experience dealing with snowing conditions and icy/slippery roads.

Having said the above, it's actually quite fun to drive in Hokkaido during my last trip. The roads are not congested (outside city), road signs are clear, parking are free (in most places) and the car navigation system is easy to use. Most importantly, driving gives you freedom and flexibility in planning your itinerary and making full use of your time.

Let me know should you decide to drive, I can pass you some guides (PDF) that I obtained from my earlier trip.

 

[pker88]

I did my Tokyo fne even it's my first time allthough I get lost afew times haha
but it let me know some small alley shops and makan place
one makan is full of young gals cooking mee
allthough she only speak nihingo I see the menu pic and say I want this hahha
in the end the food taste damm good the fried mee

 

[droozy]

actually sometimes.. driving os stressful when u have accidents or some natural diasasters.. u dun know whether to abandon yr car or how ??? alot of decision making.. It happens to me ..so I know and try not to drive overseas unless to off beaten tracks

Me personally has drove in few parts in Australia and okinawa..can be time consuming if I lose my way.. jz my two cents

 

[coolwinx]

Thanks all for sharing.

Self drive and taking the public transport has its pros and cos. Must read up more.

 

[coolwinx]

Public transport system is very good in Hokkaido, you can reach almost all of the places of interests by train or bus, so going F&E is no problem at all.

In fact, it's advisable to go Hokkaido F&E instead of tour. All of my friends who went there with tour groups have one major complaint - they never have enough time at the place they visited, it's always "rush, rush, rush" with tour.

If you know your way around Tokyo's complex JR/subway system, then you'll certainly have no problem in Hokkaido which is way simpler and straight forward.

To save cost, just make use of special tickets or pass offered, for eg.:
- JR Hakkaido Rail Pass (3/4/5 days) - if you plan to travel to several cities within that 3 to 5 days.
- Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass (1day)- JR and subway within Sapporo & Otaru.
- JR Furano-Biei Pass (4 days) - use of JR train on the Furano Line and Twinkle Bus (tour) for Biei.

Make use of Hyperdia.com to plan your transport need, it has all the timing & cost details and it's in English.


To drive or not, depends largely on your itinerary and which city will you be spending most time in. If your itinerary is mostly in/near Sapporo, then it'd be better to just use public transports.

It also depends on when do you plan to go to Hokkaido? In general, it's not advisable for us Singaporean to drive there during the winters as most of us have little or no experience dealing with snowing conditions and icy/slippery roads.

Having said the above, it's actually quite fun to drive in Hokkaido during my last trip. The roads are not congested (outside city), road signs are clear, parking are free (in most places) and the car navigation system is easy to use. Most importantly, driving gives you freedom and flexibility in planning your itinerary and making full use of your time.

Let me know should you decide to drive, I can pass you some guides (PDF) that I obtained from my earlier trip.

hi isky, I am undecided about driving yet, possible to send me the guides? thanks.

 

[stars87]

sorry about the short post but i really think it depends on what you want out of hokkaido. in short, are you visiting cities or do you want to explore hokkaido for what it really is ?

because if you look closely, the southern and central parts of hokkaido, such as hakodate, sapporo, asahikawa, biei, furano, muroran are pretty well connected with each other via rail and bus (predominantly rail)

but the northern parts and coastal areas are relatively unreachable by rail.(or can be painfully long if you choose to go by rail) if you're intent on heading towards the three major areas of Sapporo, Hakodate and Asahikawa, unlikely you'd need anything more than a JR hokkaido pass. if you really intend to explore the beauty of the wild (Toya-shiretoko national park) , a rental is still the best way i think.

maybe some questions you can ask yourself ?
1) freedom of the open road really necessary for the fatigue, time spent on route planning and unfamiliar driving conditions
2) scenery and stuff that central hokkaido, southern and northern hokkaido is quite different. Really depends on what you want out of it.
3) are you intending to spend time in cities or spending time exploring the spaces between cities ?

 

[isky]

hi isky, I am undecided about driving yet, possible to send me the guides? thanks.

No problem, just pm me your email.

 

[isky]

the southern and central parts of hokkaido, such as hakodate, sapporo, asahikawa, biei, furano, muroran are pretty well connected with each other via rail and bus (predominantly rail)

but the northern parts and coastal areas are relatively unreachable by rail.(or can be painfully long if you choose to go by rail) if you're intent on heading towards the three major areas of Sapporo, Hakodate and Asahikawa, unlikely you'd need anything more than a JR hokkaido pass. if you really intend to explore the beauty of the wild (Toya-shiretoko national park) , a rental is still the best way i think.

These are good advice, bro stars87.

I was traveling from Northern Hokkaido (Monbetsu) to Southern Hokkaido (Hakodate) and thus driving was the ideal option for me.

I returned the car when I stopped over for 3 nights in Sapporo and rented another car when I headed for Hakodate.

 

[coolwinx]

No problem, just pm me your email.

thanks, have PM you.

 

[coolwinx]

sorry about the short post but i really think it depends on what you want out of hokkaido. in short, are you visiting cities or do you want to explore hokkaido for what it really is ?

because if you look closely, the southern and central parts of hokkaido, such as hakodate, sapporo, asahikawa, biei, furano, muroran are pretty well connected with each other via rail and bus (predominantly rail)

but the northern parts and coastal areas are relatively unreachable by rail.(or can be painfully long if you choose to go by rail) if you're intent on heading towards the three major areas of Sapporo, Hakodate and Asahikawa, unlikely you'd need anything more than a JR hokkaido pass. if you really intend to explore the beauty of the wild (Toya-shiretoko national park) , a rental is still the best way i think.

maybe some questions you can ask yourself ?
1) freedom of the open road really necessary for the fatigue, time spent on route planning and unfamiliar driving conditions
2) scenery and stuff that central hokkaido, southern and northern hokkaido is quite different. Really depends on what you want out of it.
3) are you intending to spend time in cities or spending time exploring the spaces between cities ?

hi star87,

thanks for yr input too.

thinking of a trip to Hokkaido but not very sure which way to travel, tour, FnE, drive or not...

 

[isky]

thinking of a trip to Hokkaido but not very sure which way to travel, tour, FnE, drive or not...

I'd strongly recommend FnE.

In addition to freedom and flexibility, you can also save $$$.

 

[jlpk007]

sorry, asking stupid question
Hokkaido has JR train line also? cause i was told Hokkaido has no train..only can travel by bus or drive

thanks in advance

 

[evilerniex]

sorry, asking stupid question
Hokkaido has JR train line also? cause i was told Hokkaido has no train..only can travel by bus or drive

thanks in advance

yes, hokkaido have JR trains. can go JR website check. or search hyperdia for the stations

 

[mngedo]

Dear all,
I will be using Public transportation for my duration in Hokkaido (5 days) and will be travelling to these places : New Chitose Airport to Sapporo/ Noboribetsu/ Otaru / back to New Chitose Airpott
Do you think i will need to buy the Hokaiddo JR Pass (S$195) ? Or any pass that i shluld get to save on my travels? Thank you!!

 

[thwysg]

Dear all,
I will be using Public transportation for my duration in Hokkaido (5 days) and will be travelling to these places : New Chitose Airport to Sapporo/ Noboribetsu/ Otaru / back to New Chitose Airpott
Do you think i will need to buy the Hokaiddo JR Pass (S$195) ? Or any pass that i shluld get to save on my travels? Thank you!!

Have you tried calculating via Hyperdia.com or the Pass calculator in Japan Guide?
https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/

 

[oceanicmanta]

Dear all,
I will be using Public transportation for my duration in Hokkaido (5 days) and will be travelling to these places : New Chitose Airport to Sapporo/ Noboribetsu/ Otaru / back to New Chitose Airpott
Do you think i will need to buy the Hokaiddo JR Pass (S$195) ? Or any pass that i shluld get to save on my travels? Thank you!!

u shld work out the cost using Hyperdia and then decide

JR Pass includes Reserved Seating which is an optional extra cost if paying per trip.

Off-hand, it does seem like the JR Pass would have cost savings for your itin.