East Hokkaido| 7 Days Road Trip Itinerary
7 DAYS EAST HOKKAIDO ITINERARY
DAY 1- Furano and Biei
Nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of Furano, Hokkaido, renowned for its iconic lavender fields at Farm Tomita, this region offers more than just picturesque scenery. Surrounding these lavender-infused fields, the area boasts a plethora of vibrant farms, cultivating exceptionally fresh agricultural products.
You can explore local cheese and wineries to witness the meticulous crafting of these delights and savour the exquisite end products.
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You must not miss out on having some delectable fresh vegetables and melon when you're in Furano
Biei, located just half an hour away from Furano, offers a charming escape with its abundance of cute farm stays and cafes. When planning your visit, it's essential to check their opening hours, especially during the low season, as not all establishments may be in operation on weekdays.
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DAY 2 - Asahikawa
This second-largest city of Hokkaido is famous for its zoo. If this is not an interest of yours you can skip this city. However, I found that accommodation here is the cheapest compared to the other cities in Hokkaido.
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DAY 3- Sounkyo Onsen
On the way to Sounkyo Onsen for a night stay, drop by Kamikawa town for coffee or food.
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DAY 4 - Shari & Shiretoko
On the way to Shari, we did a little detour to drive along the coast. We stopped by at a cafe & local grocer along the way.
Shari is the last town before we head to Shiretoko National Park. So you might want to do some grocery shopping in this town.
Once you reached to Shiretoko, you can spot some bears along the way. They usually roam around by the river to catch fishes. You can see cars stopping by the road.
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DAY 5 - Rausu
We drove from Shiretoko Nature Center to Rausu through the mountain pass (usually closed during winter). We stayed a night at Rausu. If you didn't catch the sightseeing cruise at Shiretoko, you can also take one from Rauusu. If you're interested in whale and bird watching this is the place to check out which are offered from late April through September, while drift ice and seabird cruises are offered from February to early March.
There are limited dining options in this town, especially during evening time. We prepared our dinner from the food we bought from Shari. In the day time, there are these few you can visit.
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DAY 6 - Teshikaga
It takes about two hours to drive from Rausu to Teshikaga. There isn't much to see or eat along the way as we're driving towards the inland.
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DAY 7 - Lake Akan & Obihiro
After a night's stay at Teshikaga, we drive past Lake Akan, a crater lake which is an hour away, on the way to Obihiro.
It is home to marimo, a rare algae species that forms itself into beautiful green balls. You can see them at the souvenir stores around the town.
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We continued to drive on highway 247, and we stopped by at this gorgeous cafe.
If you love onsen, this place in Obihiro you shouldn't miss. You will never find a hot spring like this anywhere else in Japan. The water is silky smooth which has a higher content of natural moisturizing ingredients.
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From Obihiro, it is about 4 hour's drive back to Sapporo where we return our car. I will recommend some places in Sapporo in another guide.
I hope this guide gives you an idea of what it's like traveling around East Hokkaido, where 99% of tourists do not visit. This road trip plan is based on our preferences, but I highly recommend it to families with kids, as there is lot of nature they can learn about by visiting these places. There are a lot of considerations to be made, especially with the season, and opening hours for the attractions, roads, and restaurants. With that, it is important to make a proper travel plan. If you need any help, you can engage my planning services.
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