Grand Hokkaido Self-Drive Loop
A complete loop from New Chitose, covering Central Hokkaido's flower fields, Shiretoko, the easternmost point of Nemuro, Kushiro, Akan, and Tokachi.
A grand summer itinerary covering Sapporo, Otaru, Biei, Furano, Daisetsuzan, Shiretoko, Nemuro, Kushiro Marsh, and Tokachi, omitting only Hakodate and Northern Hokkaido. Average daily driving is 2–3 hours, changing locations every two to three days with some multi-night stays. Perfect for repeat visitors with plenty of time who enjoy long-distance driving.
Mountain passes like Shiretoko Pass close for winter; doing the full loop is not recommended after October.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Sapporo
Sapporo（Odori Park、Sapporo Clock Tower、Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho）
Take the JR Rapid from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo (approx. 40 minutes); do not pick up your rental car yet.
Stay: Around Sapporo Station
Day 2 · Day Trip to Otaru Canal
Otaru（Otaru Canal、Otaru Sushi Street、Sakaimachi Street、Otaru Music Box Museum）
Take the JR from Sapporo Station to Otaru (approx. 35 minutes), explore on foot, and return in the evening.
Stay: Around Sapporo Station
Day 3 · Pick Up Car & Drive to Furano
Biei & Furano（Farm Tomita、Furano Cheese Factory、Ningle Terrace）
Pick up your rental car in Sapporo and drive to Furano via the highway and national route (approx. 2 hours).
Stay: Around Furano Station
Day 4 · Blue Pond & Biei Hills
Biei & Furano（Shirogane Blue Pond、Shirahige Falls、Shikisai no Oka、Shinei no Oka Observation Park、Ken and Mary Tree）
Drive from Furano to the Blue Pond (approx. 1 hour), then explore Shikisai-no-Oka and the Patchwork Road (approx. 2 hours driving in total).
Stay: Biei Town
Day 5 · Asahiyama Zoo to Sounkyo Gorge
Asahikawa（Asahiyama Zoo） → Daisetsuzan & Sounkyo（Ginga & Ryusei Falls、Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake Ropeway）
Drive from Biei to the zoo (approx. 40 minutes), then continue via the Asahikawa-Monbetsu Expressway to Sounkyo Gorge (approx. 1 hour).
Stay: Sounkyo Onsen
Day 6 · Cross Sekihoku Pass to Abashiri
Abashiri（Abashiri Prison Museum、Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum）
Drive from Sounkyo Gorge via Sekihoku Pass and Kitami to Abashiri (approx. 2.5 hours).
Stay: Around Abashiri Station
Day 7 · Along the Sea of Okhotsk to Shiretoko
Abashiri（Koshimizu Natural Flower Garden） → Shiretoko（Road to Heaven (Ten ni Tsuzuku Michi) Viewpoint、Oshinkoshin Falls、Oronko Rock、Yuhidai Sunset Point）
Drive from Abashiri along the coast to Utoro (approx. 1.5 hours), stopping at gardens and waterfalls along the way.
Stay: Utoro
Day 8 · Shiretoko Five Lakes & Cruise
Shiretoko（Shiretoko Five Lakes、Furepe Falls (Shiretoko Nature Center)、Shiretoko Sightseeing Cruise (Utoro Port)）
Drive from Utoro to the Five Lakes (approx. 30 minutes), then return to the port in the afternoon for a boat cruise.
Regulations for the Five Lakes ground trails change based on bear activity; check in advance.
Stay: Utoro
Day 9 · Cross Shiretoko Pass to Notsuke
Shiretoko（Shiretoko Pass、Rausu Kunashiri Observatory） → Nemuro & Notsuke Peninsula（Shibetsu Salmon Museum、Todowara, Notsuke Peninsula）
Drive from Utoro over the Shiretoko Pass to Rausu (approx. 40 minutes), then head south along the coast to Odainoppu (approx. 1.5 hours).
Stay: Odaito
Day 10 · Cape Nosappu, the Easternmost Point
Nemuro & Notsuke Peninsula（Lake Furen、Shunkunitai、Cape Nosappu、Hanasaki Port & Hanasaki Crab）
Drive from Odainoppu via Lake Furen to Nemuro (approx. 1.5 hours), then make a round trip to Cape Nosappu (approx. 1 hour).
Stay: Nemuro Station Area
Day 11 · Kiritappu Coast to Kushiro
Nemuro & Notsuke Peninsula（Cape Ochiishi、Cape Kiritappu、Kiritappu Wetland） → Kushiro & Akan（Nusamai Bridge、Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO）
Drive from Nemuro via Ochiishi and Kiritappu along the coast to Kushiro (approx. 3 hours).
Sea fog is common in summer; drive slowly with your headlights on along coastal roads.
Stay: Kushiro City Center
Day 12 · Kushiro Marsh to Lake Mashu
Kushiro & Akan（Kushiro Wetland Hosooka Observatory、Lake Toro & Kushiro River Canoeing、Lake Mashu (First Observatory)、Mount Io (Atosanupuri)、Sunayu, Lake Kussharo）
Drive from Kushiro via Hosooka and Toro north to Lake Mashu (approx. 1.5 hours), then continue to Kawayu (approx. 30 minutes).
Stay: Kawayu Onsen
Day 13 · Bihoro Pass to Lake Akan
Kushiro & Akan（Wakoto Peninsula、Bihoro Pass、Sokodai Observatory、Lake Akan、Bokke Mud Volcano、Akanko Ainu Kotan）
Drive from Kawayu via Bihoro Pass and Lake Onneto (Sokodai) to Lake Akan (approx. 1 hour), and take a boat cruise in the afternoon.
Stay: Akanko Onsen
Day 14 · Cross the Mountains to Tokachi-Obihiro
Kushiro & Akan（Lake Onneto） → Obihiro & Tokachi（Naitai Highland Ranch、Butadon Pancho、Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store）
Drive from Lake Akan via Ashoro and Kamishihoro to Obihiro (approx. 2.5 hours in total).
Stay: Around Obihiro Station
Day 15 · Tokachi Millennium Forest to New Chitose
Obihiro & Tokachi（Tokachi Millennium Forest）
Drive from Obihiro to Shimizu (approx. 1 hour), then take the Doto Expressway back to New Chitose Airport (approx. 2.5 hours).