Hokkaido 4 Days Itinerary-V

１０：００

New Chitose Airport is the gateway to Hokkaido. First of all, please complete the reception procedure at the rental car counter at the airport. It takes about 15 minutes by free shuttle bus to the rental car company branch.

The mileage is about 155km. Please use the expressway (E38) on the way to shorten the travel time. If you arrive in Chitose in the afternoon, consider skipping some spots.

１２：３０

First of all, you will visit [Glass Forest In FURANO]. Many handmade glass products such as glasses and accessories are sold. Because of the elaborate glass work, people tend to think that it is expensive, but all the products in this shop are reasonably priced, making them ideal gifts.

１４：００

Next, you will head to [Furano Cheese Factory]. At this cheese factory, you can see the production room and aging warehouse through the glass. At the direct sales corner on the 2nd floor, you can sample cheese, and cheese made at the cheese factory, milk, and sweets made with butter are sold.

This place is popular and should be booked in advance. Please make a reservation in advance at the email address below.
cheese@furano.ne.jp

１５：３０

[Ningle Terrace] is recommended. You can buy various works by local artists such as crafts and accessories at the log houses lined up in the woods.

It opens till 20:45 so it is also okay to visit after dinner.

１６：４０

Furano has a limited number of shops that are open until late at night. It is recommended to include a supper when booking the inn or to go to the inn after having supper.

９：００

The mileage is about 95km, so you can travel at relaxing pace. However, if you want to spend a long time in Asahiyama Zoo, please leave as early as possible in the morning and try to arrive at least 2 hours before closing.

１０：００

Your first destination of the day is the famous [Blue Pond]. It has become known worldwide for being used as wallpaper for Mac on Apple Computer.

１１：１５

You will go to [Shirahige Falls] next. It is not well known, but it is worth a visit as well.

１２：３０

Next, you will head to [Seven Star Tree & Patchwork Hills]. The area around Biei’s Seven Star Tree is famous as Patchwork Hills in summer. In winter, too, the appearance of this tree dignifiedly standing in the wide snowfield is very tasteful. Please enjoy driving the hills around here.

１３：３０

The most famous zoo in Hokkaido, [Asahiyama Zoo], can be reached in about an hour and a half from Furano and about 20 minutes from Asahikawa (The snow road will take longer).

There are the following parking lots.
Main gate 1st parking(Free 65 slots) MAPCODE:79 357 856
Main gate 2nd parking(Free 125 slots) MAPCODE:79 357 856
East gate parking(Free 300 slots) MAPCODE:79 357 881

Please be careful that Asahiyama zoo closes very early.
Mid Nov – Beg Apr 10:30-15:30(Last Ently15:00)
Beg May – Mid Oct 9:30-17:15(Last Ently16:00)
Mid Oct – Beg Nov 9:30-16:30(Last Ently16:00)

Asahiyama Zoo in winter has a lot to offer, just like in summer.
● Asahiyama Zoo is famous for penguin walks, but it is much better in the snowy landscape.
● Drift ice plaza appears in the outdoor enclosure of the “Seal Museum” only during the cold winter season. It’s only in the cold winter that you can see their faces popping out of the holes in the ice floes.
● Monkeys don’t like the cold. On colder days, you can see monkey dumplings that cling together to keep warm.

● In early February, the opening hours of the zoo will be extended. You can experience Asahiyama Zoo at night under the snow light.
● Polar bears also look better in snow and ice.

If you would like to enjoy Asahiyama zoo at a relaxing pace, please consider staying one more night.

１７：００

Asahikawa, where you will stay tonight, is the second largest city in Hokkaido. Here you can enjoy various gourmet foods such as Genghis Khan and Asahikawa ramen.
There are many shops within walking distance that are open until late at night, so please check in before exploring the city.

９：００

The mileage is about 185km to Otaru. Although you can drive most of the part by expressway, it is a long distance and the travel pace will be fast.
We recommend leaving Asahikawa before 9:00 at the latest.

１１：３０

Please take the expressway (E5) to Sapporo direction. It is about 150 km from Asahikawa to Sapporo and takes about 2 hours (snow roads are slower). There are not many spots to see and take the expressway(E5). It is a long journey and please take a rest at Service Area (SA) along the expressway.
Just after Sapporo, there is [Ishiya Chocolate Factory (Shiroi Koibito Park)], which is well-known as a museum and factory of “White Lover Chocolate”.

Near the Shiroi Koibito Park, there is [Sapporo market outside market], where you can buy various seafood, fruits, and souvenirs, so nice to stop by. If you haven’t had lunch yet, it is also a good place to have a fresh seafood lunch.

１４：００

Next you will head to Otaru. For parking in Otaru, please use the hotel where you plan to stay or Otaru City Parking (小樽駐車場).

In Otaru city, you will be sightseeing on foot. Here are some spots I would like you to visit: the area around the “Otaru Canal” and the “Sakaimachi-dori shopping street” are the main areas.

●[Otaru Canal] is a symbol of the city and a must spot, but in winter, the snow-covered bricks make you feel like you are in the northern country. The highlight of the annual “Otaru Yuki Monogatari” event is the “Blue Canal” (from early November to late January), where blue LED lights are applied. You can also have a fantastic and romantic time on a popular canal cruise.

●[Canal Plaza] (Otaru City Tourist Product Plaza)—Otaru is known as the city of glass, and representative works of art will be displayed in the Canal Plaza. The Wine Glass Tower (from early November to mid-February), which is made up of 2,000 wine glasses, changes to 6 colors and is very impressive.
●[Denuki Koji]—A food stall village located at the Asakusabashi crossing of the Otaru Canal. You can climb the symbolic fire tower for free, and you can also see the beautiful Otaru Canal and the Otaru sea.
●[Taisho Glass Hall Main Store] displays and sells hand-made glass, mainly Japanese-style glassware.
●[Kitaichi Glass No. 3 Building] is a renovated stone warehouse that was built as a fishery warehouse, and is designated as an Otaru Historic Building. The store offers a wide variety of glass products, from everyday glasses and tableware to accessories that are perfect for gifts.
●[Night Light] is installed at the “Marchen Crossroads” and is a reproduction of the wooden lighthouse on the hill in Nobukacho, Otaru City during the Meiji period.
●The [Steam Clock] installed in front of the Otaru Music Box Museum ticks the time with white smoke and a steam whistle every 15 minutes.

●The 3-story brick building [Music Box Museum] is a music box specialty store that boasts a large number of items.

It is also recommended to eat famous Sushi.

１７：３０

Otaru is your accommodation on this day. Please enjoy a stroll and Otaru sushi dinner with a spectacular night view of the canal.

９：００

The mileage is about 70km to Sapporo and you can travel at a relaxing pace.
If you plan to fly from New Chitose Airport on this day, please see the end of the article.

９：０５

First of all, please take a walk on Sakaimachihondori(境町本通り), which is the main street of [Otaru]. There are many attractions such as various sweets shops and the main building of Otaru Music Box Museum.

It is also recommended to eat famous Sushi for lunch.

１１：１５

We also recommend [Otaru Kihinkan Aoyama Bettei], which is about 5km north of the town of Otaru. You can see how prosperous the town of Otaru was with herring fishing.

１３：２０

After that, take the expressway(E5A) to Sapporo. Just before Sapporo, there is [Ishiya Chocolate Factory (Shiroi Koibito Park)], which is the most popular chocolate museum and factory in Hokkaido. [Sapporo market outside market] is where you can buy various seafood, fruits, and souvenirs, so nice to stop by. You also can eat seafood there too.

１５：００

If you have time, please stop by the Sapporo Beer Museum. This is the only beer museum in Japan, where you can experience the history of Hokkaido’s development and the thoughts of their predecessors who poured their passion into brewing Japanese beer.

１６：２０
This concludes your Hokkaido road trip.

①Returning a car in Sapporo
When you return to Sapporo, refuel and then return the car to the car rental branch. Use the MAPCODE on the driving map for the nearest rental car stores and gas stations near Sapporo Station.
Sapporo offers a wide variety of culinary delights! For dinner, try Sapporo Miso ramen, Soup curry, Crab and Sushi.

②Returning a car at New Chitose Airport
When heading to New Chitose Airport, the distance from Sapporo is about 60 km, about 1 hour. Make sure you arrive at the car rental company branch 3 hours before your flight. You need to take the shuttle bus from the company branch to the airport. In addition, shopping area in New Chitose Airport is the best in Japan. There are restaurants where you can enjoy all kinds of Hokkaido gourmet food and countless souvenir shops, so the waiting time for your flight feels short.