Hokkaido is a destination of untouched beauty and exciting outdoor adventures. Planning a trip to Hokkaido in summer, especially in mid-July is a perfect time to visit the island. Surely, you can experience many incredible natural wonders.
Summer is short in Hokkaido, but what it offers are unforgettable and stunning. To get the most out of your summer trip, you may follow this suggested itinerary or travel plan.
I will highlight some of the amazing things that you can experience here in Hokkaido in July. Let’s get started!
Day 1: Explore Sapporo City in the Evening
Welcome to Hokkaido!
Get to downtown Sapporo by JR rapid trains from New Chitose Airport. It takes about 35 minutes.
This hotel in Sapporo is located right next to Sapporo TV Tower and Odori Park. You can check in there and spend your nights comfortably.
Some of the notable sites to explore for the day are Odori Park, Mt. Moiwa, and Susukino. If you have read our previous Sapporo itineraries you already have some ideas on how to spend a day there. However, the above three places are very convenient to access to from your hotel.
Though, you have to take the streetcar to get to Mt. Moiwa ropeway station. It is super easy! You can hop on a streetcar from Susukino station and get off at Ropeway Iriguchi station.
You can see incredible night views of Sapporo city from Mt. Moiwa observatory. It is worth visiting and you will be pleased to see the surroundings.
When you are at Susukino, I highly recommend you to walk along the Tanukikoji Shopping Street, where you can find many restaurants and shops of different kinds. It is very bad not to spend your time for a place like this because it is considered Sapporo’s oldest shopping street.
Before you move towards your hotel, why don’t you spend some times sitting on the bench at Odori Park? The TV tower looks fabulous at night. So enjoy the night view of the tower from sitting areas in the park.
Day 2: Jozankei Onsen and Jozankei Farm
Said to be one of the most popular hot spring resort towns in Hokkaido, Jozankei onsen is not to be missed. On the other hand, not far from the onsen town is Jozankei Farm, where you can pick cherries in summer and see breathtaking flower gardens.
If fruit picking is in your ultimate things to do list for your Hokkaido trip, then a visit to the farm will make your whole journey enjoyable, with so much exciting things to do.
There are many fruit picking spots in Hokkaido. You may not visit them all, but as Jozaneki is easily accessible from Sapporo city by bus, you should consider fruit picking at Jozankei Farm. Check the bus timetable.
Cherry picking season here is from early July to early August. The farm offers “All-you-can-eat” package with no time limit. Satisfaction is guaranteed!
After spending a great time at the farm, head over to the hot spring resort town and relax your body at one of those hot springs provided by some hotels and ryokan. If you want to stay a night here, we recommend this hotel, with both indoor and outdoor baths.
If you don’t want to experience an onsen bath at Jozankei, you may take a walk to Hoheikyo dam, surrounded by the natural landscape of mountains.
Day 3: Sapporo to Toyako Onsen
You will stay two nights at Toyako Onsen. For your cozy stay, make a hotel reservation here at this lovely onsen with great view of Lake Toya, and Mountains from your room. Besides, the property offers restaurants with a variety of food options (vegan and vegetarian).
The hotel provides free shuttle bus service for its guests from JR Sapporo Station to their property. You can take a look at the bus timetable.
Please note you will get cheaper booking offers with free cancellation policy when you book via booking.com than making a reservation at their official website.
Today you should explore the onsen town by taking a leisurely walk. Doing so you will find a number of good spots to spend relax time and admire the beauty of the lake and surrounding landscapes.
Just take your time wandering around the onsen town and stumble upon a restaurant called Hydune, which offers delicious burgers with fresh ingredients – perhaps one of the best burgers you would ever have in Japan!
In summer, fireworks display in Lake Toya is an event not to be missed. Fireworks are launched every night over Lake Toya, blazing the night sky beautifully. Experience this event and get the taste of traditional summer matusri of Japan.
Day 4: Mt. Usu Ropeway and outdoor activities
Lake Toya area is considered one of the best weekend trip destinations from Sapporo. From beautiful onsen town to fruit farms and incredible scenic landscapes, there’s no shortage of unforgettable activities, which everyone would like to experience.
Start the day with a visit to Mt. Usu, part of UNESCO Global Geopark. Get a taxi from the onsen town and reach the ropeway station.
Take the Usuzan Ropeway and get to the top of Mt. Usu for a panoramic view over Lake Toya and mountains in the distance. In addition, you are advised to visit Usu Crater Basin Observation Deck.
What’s next? When your trip to Mt. Usu is over, I would like you to spend your time on horse riding.
To experience the rich nature of Lake Toya, you must consider a mountain horse trekking. This horse riding experience will take you on a journey to some of the amazing views that the area has to offer you. Check out the site.
If time permits or you are not going to try horse riding, the best alternative could be Lake Hill Farm, where you can enjoy delicious homemade gelato, gaze at beautiful grassy field and meet cows. In addition, this farm provides stunning views of Lake Toya and Mount Yotei.
Finally, if none of the above aforementioned activities are interesting to you, but you want to eat fresh fruits and experience fruit picking in the area, visit Takashina Fruit Farm.
Day 5: Toyako Onsen to Furano via Sapporo
Today you will leave Toyako Onsen for Furano city in central Hokkaido. Let me show you the route: JR Toyako Station -> Sapporo Station -> Takikawa Station/Asahikawa Station -> JR Furano Station.
To minimize your transportation cost, you should use Sapporo-Furano Area Pass from JR Station as of today. It is valid for 4 consecutive days (non-reserved seats).
You can use this pass for free ride on the Furano Biei Norokko Train, a train ride that will make your Furano trip quite memorable. From the train window, you will see incredible Japanese rural landscapes, including forest, farms, hills, flower fields, and mighty mountains in the distance on the way to the last stoppage.
If you are looking to plan a short trip in central Hokkaido, here is a great 4 days travel plan for you.
Leave Toyako Onsen early in the morning, so you can get enough time to ensure you cover the best places to visit in Furano in summer. Between mid-July and late July you will see plenty of lavender and colorful flower fields in this area.
Stay at this hotel as it is located adjacent to JR Furano station. There is no need to hire a taxi to reach the hotel from the station. Rooms are cozy and equipped with necessary things to make your stay comfortable.
In the evening, you may want to go out for a walk in the city and visit some shops to buy things you need. If you want to buy some nice handicrafts to take home as a reminder of Hokkaido, visit Ningle Terrace. A visit to this attraction is always recommended at night.
Day 6: Nakafurano
Today you will spend most of the day by viewing lavender fields and colorful flower gardens in Nakafurano area of Furano city. Get on a train to Nakafurano station from Furano station. It is a short ride.
Start the day at Choei Lavender Farm (Hokuseiyama Lavender Field) and Nakafurano Flower Park. They are located adjacent to each other.
Choei lavender farm is situated on a steep hill, which is used as a ski slope in the winter, but in summer it becomes a flower paradise with tons of lavender, marigold, sunflower, scarlet sage, and begonias.
Ride the single chair lift up the hill over lavender fields and gaze at the flowers and Tokachi Mountain range in the background. The flower beds that you find here offer nice photo backdrop. Take as many as photos you want to photograph.
Next destination is Farm Tomita. Instead of getting on a train, you should take a walk from here to Farm Tomita. It is not a long walk – less than a 15-mitues walk I assume!
Farm Tomita is another beautiful place in Nakafurano to enjoy colorful flower beds including lavender gardens. It is a crowded spot, especially during the lavender season. There are a number of flower fields you can explore here. Each flower fields will impress you with different kinds of flowers, trees and landscapes.
Try lavender soft-served ice cream at the café. It is truly delicious!
Your last destination for the day is Lavender East. This is the largest lavender field in Japan. Since you are not self-driving, the best option is to take a walk from Farm Tomita. Don’t worry – you will not get lost if you are connected to the internet and can use Google maps the right way.
Observe rows of wonderful lavender and Tokachi Mountains in the background from its observation platform. Please note the lavender bus here is a must ride. It makes your journey easy here and lets you enjoy the beautiful nature.
Day 7: Hinode Park, Flowerland Kamifurano, Shikisai no Oka
One thing I must tell you that when you have a car, it is very easy to get to many incredible sites in central Hokkaido. So if you self-drive, you will have many options to choose from, I mean you get the opportunity of exploring more sites than those travelers relying on public transport.
Hinode Park in Kamifurano area is a popular flower viewing spot in central Hokkaido. You can easily reach the park from JR Kami-Furano Station on foot.
It features beautiful rolling hills with lavender and colorful flowers in summer. The observation deck of Hinode Park is surrounded by lavender and it is worth the visit as you will experience spectacular views from it.
The white monument Bell of Love is located just below the observation deck. It is an iconic photogenic spot to take picture of couples.
Your next stop is Flower land Kamifurano. Get ready to take a walk for an hour to reach there from Hinode Park. One of the best ways of exploring Furano’s hidden attractions is on foot or bicycle. I love to take a walk here, so if you don’t mind it is time for you to do the same as I do.
Flower viewing is not the only thing you will do here, instead you will enjoy sightseeing tractor bus ride, experience the taste of fresh melon, corns and have fun with hands-on activities using lavender at the farm.
Now head to JR Kamifurano Station and wait for a train to JR Bibaushi Station. This is the closest train station to Shikisai no Oka. From here you have to walk more than a 30-minute to reach Shikisai no Oka, depending on your stamina.
This is the most beautiful flower garden in rural town of Biei, highlighting rows of colorful blossoms from spring to autumn. Hills carpeted with varieties of flowers are a great sight to behold here – a perfect flower paradise!
Day 8: Mount Asahidake, Shirogane Blue Pond, Shirahige Watefalls, Zerubo Hill
Mt. Asahidake is one of the best places to visit in Hokkaido year-round. Note that this is the tallest mountain (2290 meters) in Hokkaido and offers great hiking opportunity for hikers to see the rich wildlife in the area.
A lot of alpine flowers bloom in summer and you can spot them while walking along the circular trail around the ropeway’s upper station.
This interesting walking course is very easy and takes about 1 hour to complete. On the way, you will come across small ponds, different sorts of alpine plants, observation platforms, and volcanic steam vents.
Mt. Asahidake is a favorite day trip for many visitors. Since you have decided to stay in Furano, it is easy to get to Asahidake Ropeway by car from Biei and it’s time consuming than visiting the mountain from Sapporo city.
Call a taxi for a ride to Asahidake.
Contact them and ask them if they can also take you to Shirogane Blue Pond, Shirahige Waterfalls and Zerubo Hill. It is quite possible to visit these three attractions alongside visiting Mt. Asahidake in a day by a car.
After visiting Zerubo Hill, it is time for you to get back to Furano city from Biei Station. Use the train-pass for the last time as it will be expired later today. Stay the night at the same hotel.
Day 9: Furano to Sapporo
Your central Hokkaido trip is over. Today you will leave for Sapporo. Check out from the hotel after breakfast time, and hop on a train to JR Sapporo Station.
Check into this hotel and get a shower before you go out for a shopping in Sapporo.
You can enjoy shopping at MEGA Don Quijote Sapporo Tanukikoji Honten or around JR Sapporo Station, such as at Sapporo ESTA building, Daimaru and etc. Take a walk around Susukino and eat delicious Hokkaido ramen at Ganso Ramen Yokocho.
You may also go to Sapporo Beer Museum if you are interested in it. Here you can learn the history of beer in Japan and beer testing is also available for a small fee. Besides, try Jingisukan at Sapporo Beer Garden, one of the must-try dishes of Hokkaido.
Before you call it a day, visit Kitakaro Sapporo Honten, a confectionery shop to try delicious Hokkaido sweets.
Day 10: Enjoy A Day trip to Otaru
Otaru is not only a winter destination for its magical snow light path festival; but you can visit this port city anytime of the year. I love this city for various reasons. The food, old buildings, shrines & temples and souvenir shops are one of those reasons why I love Otaru so much.
This article reveals the best things you can do and see in Otaru. Please read that page thoroughly and hopefully you will get some important travel guides about Otaru.
You can easily explore the area on a day trip from Sapporo using public transport.
If Otaru does not excite you, I recommend the Shakotan Peninsula, a perfect destination for mountain and ocean lovers.
Pack your bags before you sleep tonight!
Day 11: Goodbye Hokkaido
If your flight schedule is in the evening, you may spend some relaxing time by visiting Hokkaido Shrine in the morning. To reach the shrine, take the subway to Maruyama Station from Odori Station on the Tozai Line.
When you have got one more day to spend in Hokkaido, I would gladly share two wonderful places that you can visit in a day, they are – Takino Suzuran Hillside National Park and The Hill of the Buddha at Makomanai Takino Cemetery.
However, we do hope you will come back again in the future to see many other exciting things, including snow festivals in winter, beautiful sakura display in spring, and gorgeous autumn foliage in fall. Have a safe flight back home!