A family road trip in Hokkaido may not save your money, mainly influenced by gas, tolls, and parking fee. In fact, you can easily access Hokkaido’s famous tourist attractions by plane, train or bus.
However, travelling by car is the most popular and best way to explore Hokkaido for locals and tourists. It comes with a lot of unique benefits. Forget about the train schedules, bus routes or airline timetables; you control the time of departure and arrival, itinerary, and stops. If you see something or local places interesting, you can easily access and explore it. It’s your call. You get the freedom and flexibility of your Hokkaido trip. Especially, a road trip with kids lets you cherish the time and recollect family bonds together. Without screens, you can have more chat and fun with your family. Some people think of plan a family road trip in Hokkaido is terrible. But it’s fun while you’re on the journey.
Stress-free your worries about planning and travelling with kids in Hokkaido. My road trip advice and itinerary is to be realistic with your time. My friends and I have such experience on road trips with kids in Hokkaido. This Hokkaido Road Trip Planner combines what we’ve known. Follow these steps, and you’ll have a great family road trip to Hokkaido.
Besides, the thought of travelling with your kids can feel like an overwhelming proposition. But, it’s nothing better than to cherish and enjoy your time with them together. So, let me help you make your next road trip with kids exceptional and remarkable.
Table of Contents
How Many Days You Need in Hokkaido
Hokkaido is Japan’s biggest island. But it’s not that big for some people. For example, I used to live in Australia. Hokkaido is a small and glamorous island like Tasmania in my experience. Australia is roughly the same size as the United States. If you’re from the USA, as Hokkaido is 0.12 times as big as Texas (US), you may feel not too big.
The small island means short-term variations and a short time drive, right? I have to say the highway speed limit in Hokkaido determines your vacation length.
Australian national highway limit remains 100km/h. The standard speed limit in the United States is 137 km/h for rural freeways. Hokkaido’s legal speed limit is 100km/h on expressways, which you won’t often use to travel in Hokkaido. And most of the time, you will drive on regular roads, which is 60km/h (source: Hokkaido Prefectural Police).
Consequently, it takes about 2 hrs to drive 90km (from Sapporo to Niseko). Estimate your road trip journey in Hokkaido suggestion at least 7 days is better. So that you can unwind and explore Hokkaido. The longer, the better. If you only plan 4 days in Hokkaido, I suggest you choose serval towns nearby. Then you can maximise your trip with more fun than traffic.
Best Time to Visit Hokkaido
Everyone has their own travel preference. The famous and the most popular time to visit Hokkaido is the cherry bloom season (Late April – Early May) and the snow season (December – March). The quiet months are March up until June, September, and October.
Spring: Hokkaido Cherry Blossom
Spring (March-May) in Hokkaido is definitely a signature sightseeing event for Sakura Hanami (cherry blossom viewing). Cherry flowers often start to bloom in late April and take about a month to go through the entirety of Hokkaido.
Best Places for Cherry Blossoms Viewing>>
Summer: Flower Fields in Hokkaido
Summer (June-August) in Hokkaido is not the overwhelming mugginess summer. Hokkaido offers a cooler and more comfortable summer, lovely for growing flowers. In Hokkaido, the pink cherry flower symbolises spring, and Lavender represents summer. The spectacular lavender field is one of the best attractions to enjoy the summer in Hokkaido.
Most Popular Flower Fields in Hokkaido>>
Autumn: Maple Leaves
Autumn (September-November) is a quiet season. You do have not many things to do. Still, the autumn leaves dye Hokkaido into a beautiful red, orange, and yellow view. Enjoy to beautiful Autumn view without crowds of people. The Autumn vibe and festivals are the indexes.
Winter: Ski, Snowboarding, and Snow Activities
Winter (December-February) in Hokkaido, a.k.a. the snow season, is the most popular season for everyone. Magnificent scenery and snow activities are on the must-see and to-do lists of winter visitors.
Sock into a Japanese hot spring after an all-day ski and ride can’t be better. Besides, the cute monkeys take baths in the hot spring in Noboribetsu or Hakodate.
Hokkaido Events and Festivals
Additionally, look at the Hokkaido Event Guide and find some festivals you are interested in.
How to Get to Hokkaido
Many people visit Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto before heading to Hokkaido. Some people will fly direct to Hokkaido. No matter which one you are, there’re options for you to access Hokkaido.
From Oversea to Hokkaido
There are 13 airports in Hokkaido. The major Hokkaido airports are New Chitose Airport (CTS), Hakodate Airport (HKD), and Asahikawa Airport (AKJ). New Chitose Airport (CTS) and Hakodate Airport (HKD) are the popular international airports in Hokkaido. There are many flights from overseas to New Chitose Airport than Hakodate Airport.
If you plan to visit Tokyo before Hokkaido, there are easy ways to get from Tokyo to Hokkaido.
From Tokyo to Hokkaido
There are four options to get from Tokyo to Hokkaido: plane, train, ferry, or car.
Flights from Tokyo to Hokkaido
Two airports in Tokyo offer flights to Hokkaido.
The most known is Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo. From Narita International Airport, you can take a domestic flight to Hokkaido Hakodate Airport and New Chitose Airport. It’s usually 1 hour and 20 minutes from Tokyo to Hakodate and 1 hour and 50 minutes from Tokyo to Sapporo.
On the other hand, Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) gives more destinations. Using Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND), you can fly to airports in Hokkaido, including New Chitose, Hakodate, Kushiro, Obihiro, Asahikawa, Wakkanai, Memanbetsu, Nakashibetsu and Monbetsu.
Taking a flight to Hokkaido is convenient. But you need to check the flight schedule. Some flights to Hokkaido only fly once a day.
By Bullet Trains (JP: Shinkansen)
You can simply travel to southern Hokkaido from Tokyo by Shinkansen. The final station is Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, located in Hakodate. Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is about 4 hours.
Check Shinkansen Timetable and Route>>
Take Ferry to Hokkaido
The most convenient ferry service to get to Hokkaido from Tokyo is MOL Sunflower Ferry. It departs from Oarai, next to Tokyo, to Tomakomai Hokkaido.
How to Get to Oarai from Tokyo>>
Also, you can take Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry to Hakodate, Hokkaido. The ferry terminals are located in Aomori and Oma, outside of Tokyo. You can access Aomori or Oma from Tokyo by plane, train (Shinkansen), bus, or car. Taking a plane to Aomori or Oma is the easiest way. It’s excellent as well if you drive to Aomori or Oma. Making a road trip to Aomori and Oma can be fun as many attractions.
Check Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry Fare>>
Road Trip from Tokyo to Hokkaido
A road trip is a slow-paced way to enjoy the beautiful scenery throughout Tokyo to Hokkaido. However, it’s unlikely to pick up a rental car in Tokyo and drop it off in Hokkaido.
Suppose you plan to road trip to Hokkaido as well. The best way is to drop off the rental car at Aomori Ferry Terminal. And pick up another vehicle at Hakodate.
Tabirai Car Rental in Hakodate>>
Rent a Car in Hokkaido
When it comes to renting a car, no matter anywhere in Japan, the biggest issue for foreigners is the language. There aren’t really English speaking parts in Japan. The highest chance to talk with an English person probably is in the big cities and the expensive hotels. It’s constrained to communication in English in convenience stores, average priced hotels and restaurants.
However, a car rental provides English service—Tabirai Car Rental. Also, they guarantee car navigation systems, screen displays, or voice navigation in English. You don’t need to struggle with the Japanese.
Moreover, they offer child safety seats for FREE. You can choose three types of child safety seats: 1-year-old or younger, 1 to 3 years old, and older junior seats. After clicking the Reservation button, you will see the child safety seat option at ‘Valuable options with your rental’.
Tabirai Car Rental in Hokkaido>>
Prepare Your Driver’s License
To drive a car in Hokkaido, you must hold a valid Japanese licence or a valid International Driver’s Permit and your home country driver’s licence. It’s easy to get International Driving Permits (IDPs).
- Fill out an IDPs form: In United States>>; In Australia>>
- Prepare two original passport pictures.
- Prepare Your driver’s license.
- Pay a USD 20 permit fee in the United States or AUD 42 (plus postage) in Australia. You will receive an International Driver’s Permit.
Just in case, put the International Driver’s Permit and your driver’s license with your passport. Therefore, you won’t leave it behind.
Hokkaido Road Trip with Kids
The great thing about road trips is every day is different. You visit new landscapes, new towns, new attractions, and new hotel rooms every day. It makes little ones, and parents can’t wait to open their eyes every morning. It also means that you can change your itinerary at a moment’s notice if you find something better.
Keep your child content while on the road to success in Hokkaido’s road trip. Prepare some snacks, toys, and games to keep them busy.
Japan is a kid-friendly country. You can easily find a variety of kid’s snacks and drinks in small separate packages in supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies.
Moreover, if you travel with a potty-training child, making frequent stops is essential. We know potty training is all about bladder training.
Hokkaido Rest Areas (Roadside Station, 道の駅)>>
Packing for a Hokkaido Road Trip
Hokkaido has four distinct seasons. Depending on when you visit Hokkaido, you may pack something different. If you want to know more information, please refer to the links below.
What to Wear in Spring Hokkaido>>
What to Wear in Summer Hokkaido>>
What to Wear in Autumn Hokkaido>>
What to Wear in Winter Hokkaido>>
Especially if you plan a family ski trip to Hokkaido, please take a look at the complete handy packing list—Click here>>
Additional Information to Travel in Hokkaido
Here is some information you may love to know about travelling to Hokkaido.
Currency In Japan
The official currency in Japan is the yen, and the symbol is ¥ (Japanese: 円). You can check live currency rates online.
Pleasure Food in Hokkaido
Hokkaido is a paradise for foodies. The outstanding seafood, meat, and fruit because of the particular weather condition and location. Hokkaido has its processing methods for a region that gets buried in snow for half a year. There are some flavours different from others in Japan. Some are original from Hokkaido, such as Jingisukan (grilled mutton with a special sauce) and soup curry.
Hokkaido Gift And Souvenir Memento
Do you think about bringing some souvenirs for yourself, family and friends? There are thousands of choices. Especially some of the Hokkaido limited food souvenirs are so tasty. Suggest you make enough time to explore those gift shops.
If you leave Hokkaido from New Chitose Airport (CTS), you can spend over 2 hours exploring the shops. There are many different gift shops in the airport that you can shop for.
On the other hand, there’re not many things you can look around at Hakodate Airport (HKD). Therefore, please visit gift shops before heading to Hakodate airport if you plan to leave from Hakodate airport.
Conclusion: Perfect Hokkaido Itinerary
I hope this post has helped you plan your trip. I had written a 7-day itinerary for a family road trip in Hokkaido.
Please read my The Excellent 7 Days Itinerary In Hokkaido for more Hokkaido travel inspiration.
