Travel by Rental Car! Comprehensive Personal Hokkaido Travel Plan!

Last update : 10 Nov 2017

Written by Takashi Sato

Recently there has been a surge in foreign visitors to Japan forgoing tours in favor of renting a car and sightseeing on their own terms.

It’s surprisingly easy to rent a car in Japan. So, this time, we’ll introduce how to rent a car along with a sightseeing plan that starts at New Chitose Airport, an international airport in Hokkaido.

1. First off, let’s rent a car!

Once you’ve decided on your travel schedule, reserve a rental car online. Of course, you can rent a car day-of directly at the rental site, but there’s always a chance that there will be many people trying to rent cars at the same time, leaving few available, so we recommend making a reservation in advance.

Call the car rental company after arriving at New Chitose Airport. They will come and pick you up from the airport in as little as 10 minutes after you call, so it’s extremely convenient! The trip from the airport to the car rental business is even free!

Submit the following items at the car rental shop:

・Passport
・International Driver’s License
・Rental fee

After that, all that’s left is to listen to cautionary warnings, sign, and you’re done! Alright, let’s get going!

Traveling in Comfort with Friends and Family in a Car

2. 2 Nights, 3 Days Sightseeing Course

We’d love for you to enjoy Hokkaido’s bountiful nature and delicious foods if you visit! So, we’ve focused on those aspects as we put together this 3 days 2 nights travel plan.

[Day 1]

Rent a car from “YHS Rent-a-Car” at New Chitose Airport. ※Store information available at end of article.

1.Have lunch at “Sapporo Beer Garden Valhalla

Have lunch at “Sapporo Beer Garden Valhalla.”This restaurant lets you enjoy one of Hokkaido’s local gourmet offerings, jingisukan. It’s a delicious dish made with fresh raw lamb.

※Drinking and driving is illegal, so drivers must be sure to enjoy non-alcoholic beverages with their meals.

Address: 542-1 Toiso, Eniwa-shi, Hokkaido (Sapporo Beer Breweries, Hokkaido Factory)
URL: http://www.sapporobeer.jp/gourmet/0000006671/

2.Meet some animals at “Murakami Farms.”

Meet some animals at “Murakami Farms.” You can enjoy activities like milking cows if you make reservations in advance.
Their soft-serve ice cream made with fresh milk from that day is creamy and delicious!

Address: 156 Toiso, Eniwa-shi, Hokkaido
Open Dates: Mid-March through late December
URL: http://murakami-farm.com/

3. Check in at a hotel in Sapporo.

Park the car, check in at a hotel in Sapporo.

4. Have dinner at “Hachikyo Seafood Restaurant.”

This restaurant has garnered a lot of attention via television and other media.

It is an izakaya, a type of Japanese pub, where you can enjoy both food and alcohol. If you come here, we hope you’ll try their famous “tsukko meshi,” which is topped with a shocking amount of ikura (salmon roe).

Address: 1F Capital Building, 3 Chome Minami 3 Jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido
URL: http://www.atomsgroup.jp/ja/shop/honten

[Day 2]

5. You can enjoy fresh seafood

Eat breakfast outside of the “Sapporo Central Wholesale Market.” You can enjoy fresh seafood offerings like seafood donburi and grilled fish!

Address: 20 Chome Kita 12 Jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido
URL: http://www.sapporo-market.gr.jp/

You can take the time to walk around Sapporo all day.

A Symbol of Sapporo City, the “Sapporo Clock Tower”

6. Find accommodations for the night around Shikotsuko Onsen

Find accommodations for the night around Shikotsuko Onsen. Wash away the tiredness from your travels in the hot springs.

[Day 3]

Go to Lake Shikotsu to take pictures.
Lake Shikotsu is a magnificent sight surrounded by mountains. Because the lake’s water is so clear, there are points where you can still see the lakebed even through over 260 meters of water, making for a beautiful view.

Address: Shikotsuko Onsen, Chitose City, Hokkaido
URL: http://www.1000sai-chitose.or.jp/model/model02.html

7. Return it to the rental store and shopping at New Chitose Airport.

Fill the car up with gas, then return it to the rental store.
Finally, walk through “New Chitose Airport.” New Chitose Airport is known for being packed with gourmet offerings, and many famous shops from Hokkaido have locations inside.