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Read things to do if you have a Layover in Tokyo Narita AirportHokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main Island, is one of the most popular destinations among Singaporean. Hokkaido not only has beautiful unspoiled nature, but they produce the best quality agriculture and seafood. Hokkaido is huge and it is impossible to cover everything in 10 Days. Nonetheless, I hope this itinerary gives you a glimpse of what you can do in a different city.
We didn’t visit all the attraction in Hokkaido because this is our second trip. Plus, we prefer a more relaxed
schedule with my parents. On a shorter note, if you plan to spend more time at each attraction,
do add 3-4 days to your trip to this itinerary. We didn’t follow our original
itinerary because there were many unforeseen issues such as typhoon. We had to
leave early for our next destination because we were afraid that bad weather
may affect the road condition. Nonetheless, I have added other attraction you
can visit each region for your reference.
Self-drive Route in
Hokkaido
The most common way to visit Hokkaido is to fly
into New Chitose Airport in Sapporo. Many start and end their trip in Sapporo
as it is the capital city of Hokkaido. If you have any last minute shopping, it
is always better to fly out of Hokkaido from Sapporo instead of Hakodate.
This trip, we flew to Hakodate because H wanted
to visit Hakodate for fresh sashimi. Afterwards, we drove up north and to the unspoilt
nature of Hokkaido in Shiretoko. Perks of driving is definitely the flexibility
and accessibility to places. The downside is definitely the long hours of drive
from point to point.
Summary
Day 1: Singapore - Hakodate Airport – Check in Hotel Hachimanzaka - Hakodate Dining Gaya
Day 2: Hakodate Morning Market - Ikura Tei - Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse - Lucky Pierrot- Onuma Quasi-National Park - Check-in Granvillage Toya Daiwa Ryokan Annex - Dinner at Ippontei
Day 3: Lake Toya - 岡田屋 - Fujimori Fruit Farm– Jozankei Hoheikyo Dam -Arrive in Sapporo – Suage 2 – Shopping at Sapporo – check in at Hotel Sunroute New Sapporo
Day 4: Nijo Fish Market - Farm Tomita – Bluepond – Check in Ys Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae – Dinner at Aeon MallDay 5: Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum - Daisetsuzan National Park - Set off to Shari – Dinner at 焼肉工房くりから知床斜里店– Check in Hotel Route Inn Grantia Shiretoko Shari Ekimae
Day 6: Lake Notoro – Lunch at Shiretoko Satomi– Hiking at Shiretoko Five Lake – Check in Hotel Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel
Day 7: Shiretoko Goko Lake - Kaminoko Pond – Forest of Akan Tsuruga Resort HANAYUUKA – Explore Lake Akan area
Day 8: Lake Akan - Lake Akan Eco Museum Center - Lake Onneto - Butadon no Tonta Michelin Bib Gourmand – Rokkatei flagship - Kangetsuen Hotel
Day 9: Buta Don Pancho - Shopping in Sapporo - HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Nakajima Park
Day 10: Sapporo - Singapore
Day 1: Singapore -
Hakodate Airport – Check in Hotel Hachimanzaka - Hakodate Dining Gaya
We flew into Hakodate via Singapore Airline +
ANA and transit in Tokyo. The journey took us almost the whole day. When we
finally reach Hakodate, it is already at night. Night in Hakodate is quiet and
most restaurant close at 8pm. We ended up having our dinner at Hakodate Dining
and went back to Hotel Hachimanzaka for some rest.
Day 2: Hakodate Morning
Market - Ikura Tei - Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse - Lucky Pierrot- Onuma
Quasi-National Park - Check-in Granvillage Toya Daiwa Ryokan Annex - Dinner at
Ippontei
Visit Hakodate Morning Market for fresh seafood
and local delights! We spent 3 hours there and it was definitely a fruitful
morning! We had the best Ikura at Ikura Tei and my mom was happy with her Melon
purchase.
Then, we visited the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
and explore the harbour. It was a quiet afternoon and the weather was perfect for a
stroll. Do not forget to visit the popular fast food restaurant that only
Hokkaido has! Lucky Perrot serves one of the best burgers in town! We bought
their instant curry as souvenirs and our friends love it!
After lunch, we set off to our next destination - Lake Toya. Along our
way, we stop by Onuma Quasi-National Park. The national park is well known for
its picturesque lake and view of the Volcano (Mount Komagatake). Although it is not the best national park we visited, we thought it make a good stop over.
In the late afternoon, we set off to Lake Toya
and spent a night there. Lake Toya also is known as Toyako, is part of
Shikotsu-Toya National Park. After checking into Granvillage Toya Daiwa Ryokan,
we visited Ippontei for Michelin bib gourmet ramen. There are many good
restaurants located in that area and we are pretty sure that we will be back
someday!
Day 3: Lake Toya - 岡田屋 - Fujimori Fruit Farm– Jozankei Hoheikyo Dam -Arrive in Sapporo –
Suage 2 – Shopping at Sapporo – check in at Hotel Sunroute New Sapporo
The next morning, we took a stroll at Lake Toya.
Surrounded by numerous walking trails, one can enjoy the scenic walk in Lake
Toya. We didn’t complete the trail because it was too cold. So we ended up at 岡田屋 for some traditional Japanese dessert. The perfect dessert to
warm us up on a cold day
Afterwards, we visited Fujimori Fruit Farm for
fruit picking experience in Sōbetsu. Lucky us! We were just in time for the
grape season! We paid 880 yen for unlimited fruit picking and eating. We didn’t
finish the fruits we pick so we paid additional money and bought some back!
We stopped by Jozankei Hoheikyo Dam before
setting off to Sapporo to meet my siblings. Jozankei Hoheikyo Dam was created
for irrigation and flood control. Who knew this place is also a popular spot
for locals to enjoy autumn foliage!
In the evening, we check into Hotel Sunroute New
Sapporo and had dinner in Suage 2. After returning to Singapore, I realise that there is Suage in Singapore! Anyway, the night scene in Sapporo is very different
compared to the previous night! Very vibrant and many shops are still operating
after 8pm.
Day 4: Nijo Fish Market
- Farm Tomita – Bluepond – Check in Ys Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae – Dinner at Aeon
Mall
In the morning, we visited Nijo Fish Market
which happens to be nearest to us. Although the seafood is not as good compared
to the ones we had in Hakodate, it was decent. There are many kinds of seafood and dried
goods for one to explore.
We set off to our next destination after
breakfast! 2 hours away from Sapporo, we arrive Farm Tomita in the afternoon.
Farm Tomita, the popular lavender field in Hokkaido, is a popular spot for one
to enjoy the view of lavender. Even if it is not the Lavender season, there are
other flowers! This place is gorgeous!
Next, visit the famous Instagram worthy blue
pond. The Blue Pond is a man-made pond in Biei to protect the town of Biei from
volcanic mudflow. The colour was an accidental presence of colloidal aluminium
hydroxide in the water. We arrived in the afternoon and was greeted by the
amazing emerald blue shining on the pond.
In the evening, we drove to Asahikawa. Asahikawa
is the second largest city in Hokkaido. Although not as popular as Sapporo,
Asahikawa is famous for its zoo and ramen. Upon arrival, we check into our
hotel Ys Hotel Asahikawa Ekimae before having dinner at the Aeon Mall nearby.
Day 5: Otokoyama Sake
Brewery Museum - Daisetsuzan National Park - Set off to Shari – Dinner at 焼肉工房くりから知床斜里店– Check in Hotel Route Inn Grantia Shiretoko Shari Ekimae
After having breakfast at H favourite fast food
restaurant - Matsuya, we stop by the award-winning Sake Brewery - Otokoyama
Sake Brewery. We fell in love with the Sake and since then, we have been
keeping a lookout for Sake back home.
Then, we set off to Daisetsuzan National Park
after the sake tasting. The national park is huge and there are many ways to enjoy
the beauty. We choose the easiest route and took Kurodake Ropeway to enjoy the
unspoilt nature.
In the afternoon, we set off to Shiretoko
region. It was a long drive but we are glad that we choose there. After 4 hours
of drive, we finally arrive at Shari. Unfortunately, the restaurant Shiretoko
Satomi is already closed. We check into the hotel Hotel Route Inn Grantia
Shiretoko Shari Ekimae and stayed for a night.
Day 6: Lake Notoro –
Lunch at Shiretoko Satomi– Hiking at Shiretoko Five Lake – Check in Hotel
Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel
The next morning, we grab a quick bite along the
way while making a visit to Lake Notoro. The Coral grass in Lake Notoro is said
to turn into deep red in autumn. Unfortunately, the grass was all dried out
and we didn’t witness the beauty.
Feeling disappointed, we set off to Shiretoko
and stop by Shiretoko Satomi for lunch. It’s one of the best lunch we had in
Hokkaido! The Japanese home-style restaurant has the best Kakiage!
We continued our adventures to Shiretoko Five
Lake. The five lakes are a set of five small lakes formed by the eruption of the volcano. Shiretoko is truly one of the best-kept secrets in Hokkaido! We were
lucky to witness the beautiful sunset while we were there!
In the evening, we check into our hotel -
Shiretoko Daiichi hotel and proceed to have our half-board dinner there. The
hotel is huge and grand. It is also the biggest onsen I’ve visited till date!
Felt like a royal there!
Day 7: Shiretoko Goko
Lake - Kaminoko Pond – Forest of Akan Tsuruga Resort HANAYUUKA – Explore Lake
Akan area
After buffet breakfast in the hotel, we visited
Shiretoko Go Lake and took a cruise down Mount Io From there, we were
able to enjoy the magnificent view of Shiretoko. The 90 minutes cruise is so
relaxing!
We set off to our next destination - Lake
Kaminoko Pond after the cruise. Also known as “The Child of God” from an Ainu
Legend, the Kaminoko pond is a pond that draws its water from Lake Mashu’s
underground spring. The pond is exceptionally gorgeous!
We proceed to our next
destination - Lake Akan. After checking into our hotel - Forest of Akan
Tsuruga Resort HANAYUUKA, we visited the Ainu Village. The village is rebuilt
to allow tourist to have a better understanding of the Ainu community.
Buildings have been reconstructed in traditional style and there are many Ainu
folk craft stores and restaurants on the street. At night, there are
performances by the Ainu community at the central stage!
Day 8:
Lake Akan - Lake Akan Eco Museum Center - Lake Onneto - Butadon no Tonta Michelin Bib Gourmand – Rokkatei flagship - Kangetsuen Hotel
In the morning, we visited Lake
Akan Park and took the easiest trail along Lake Akan. Lake Akan is a beautiful
crater lake in Akan Mashu National Park and home to Marimo (a type of rare
algae). As we stroll along the lake, we kept a lookout for the rare Algae.
Unfortunately, we were out of luck! Did not spot any in the park but we saw a
few when we visited the Eco Museum Center!
After the morning stroll, we
visited Lake Onneto. Part of Akan Mashu National Park, Lake Onneto is small.
Nonetheless, the national park is beautiful and quiet. There was less crowd
and we really enjoyed the view there! So quiet and peaceful!
2 hour away from Lake Onneto,
we arrived at Obihiro. Popular for its Onsen and Buta don, we
are very excited for the day. The first thing to do when we arrive is to try
the famous Butadon at Butadon Tonta! The Buta Don did not let us down! The
meat was tender and juicy! Plus, the sauce goes really well with it! After
lunch, we visited Rokkatei flagship store for dessert! Although the shop is
popular for its classic Marusei butter sandwich, every other snack look so
good!
In the late afternoon, we check into Kangetsuen Hotel and enjoy the in-house onsen! Obihiro has one of the best and most
unique onsens. The hot spring is actually brown and contains a lot of nutrient
from the plant. The onsen in Obihiro also won the title beauty onsen (美人の湯)!
At night, we went back to
Obihiro city for food! There are many restaurants and izakaya near
Kita no Yatai area! Be there early otherwise it
gets pretty packed! We went to a few but all were a full house! Ended up in a
random izakaya!
Day 9: Buta Don Pancho -
Shopping in Sapporo - HOTEL MYSTAYS Sapporo Nakajima Park
The next day, we decided
to try another Buta Don restaurant in Obihiro before returning to Sapporo. We
visited Buta Don Pancho, one of the longest-established store selling Butadon.
Founded in 1933, this restaurant is very popular among locals as well as tourist.
The meat used is different from Butadon Tonta.
After Breakfast, we drove back to Sapporo and
did the last minute shopping before flying back to Singapore. This 10 days 9
nights in Hokkaido is probably one of the best road trips I ever have with my
family. All the impromptu restaurant we visit and attractions, it was fun! Hope this summary of our trip helps!
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