I will show you 3-day sample trip plan of the central Hokkaido from Sapporo. This trip plan covers these following spots:
✔ Asahiyama Zoo
✔ Biei and Blue Pond
✔ Daisetsuzan and Sounkyo
Overview
The blank map provided by CraftMAP
On day 1, go to Asahikawa and enjoy visiting Asahiyama Zoo.
On day 2, take a bus to Sounkyo.
On day 3, take a train to Biei and move back to Sapporo.
JR Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass and Furano Biei Rail Ticket covers most part of this trip.
Day 1, Sapporo – Asahikawa
On the first day of trip, you will take the limited express Lilac or Kamui from Sapporo and spend the rest of the day in Asahiyama Zoo.
Itinerary
| Time | Place and transporation |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | Sapporo station |
| | (The limited express Lilac 5) |
| 09:55 / 10:10 | Asahikawa station |
| | (Asahikawa Denkikidou Bus) |
| 10:49 / 17:10 | Asahiyama Zoo |
| | (Asahikawa Denkikidou Bus) |
| 17:10 | Asahikawa station |
The limited express trains run between Sapporo and Asahikawa mostly every 30 minutes. The buses between Asahikawa station and Asahiyama Zoo run every 30 minutes as well. You can leave Sapporo earlier or later to adjust your time in Asahiyama Zoo.
Highlight
Asahiyama Zoo
Asahiyama Zoo is most popular one in Japan. It wasn’t before but this zoo tried to make some difference with very tight budget. They tried many things which other zoos had never tried.
Many other zoos follow their way in these days. But Asahiyama Zoo is still most popular in Japan.
Stay overnight in Asahikawa.
Day 2, Day trip to Sounkyo and Daisetsuzan
On the second day of trip, you will make a day trip for Sounkyo from Asahikawa.
Itinerary
| Time | Place and transporation |
|---|---|
| 09:15 | Asahikawa station bus stop |
| | (Dohoku Bus) |
| 11:10 | Sounkyo Onsen bus stop |
| | (walk 5 minutes) |
| 11:15 / 11:20 | Kurodake Ropeway base station |
| | (Kurodake Ropway) |
| 11:28 / 11:40 | Kurodake 5th station |
| | (Kurodake chair lift) |
| 11:50 / 12:30 | Kurodake 7th station Walking on the trail for 30 minutes. |
| | (Kurodake chair lift) |
| 12:30 / 13:40 | Kurodake 5th station Lunch time and walking around the station |
| | (Kurodake Ropway) |
| 13:50 | Kurodake Ropeway base station |
| | Free time in Sounkyo canyon If you have lots of energy, you can walk to Ginga falls which is 2.5 km away from Sounkyo onsen |
| 17:30 | Sounkyo Onsen bus stop |
| | (Dohoku Bus) |
| 19:25 | Asahikawa station bus stop |
Highlight
Kurodake
You can get to the 7th station of Mt. Kurodake by a gondola and a chair lift from the base of the canyon.
The view is amazing especially in the fall season. There are 30 minutes walking train at the 7th station. Anyone can enjoy the mountain walking in the high elevation area.
Sounkyo
Sounkyo is about 20km long canyon along Ishikari river. You have to drive a car if you want to cover whole canyon. But you can enjoy walking along the river on foot. Ginga no Taki is located about 2.5 km away from Sounkyo Onsen town. If you have an extra energy, you can walk to get there.
If you visit this place in the winter time, you can join a winter festival.
Day 3, Asahikawa – Biei – Sapporo
The 3-day trip will be wrapped up. You will visit some places around Biei and go back to Sapporo.
Itinerary
| Time | Place and transporation |
|---|---|
| 08:43 | Asahikawa station |
| | (Furano line local train) |
| 09:16 / 09:45 | Biei station |
| | Sightseeing by Biei View Bus Visit the places in Biei Blue Pond, Shirahige falls, Shikisai hill and some more places |
| 12:30 / 14:19 | Biei station |
| | (Furano line local train) |
| 14:44 | Nakafurano station |
| Visit Farm Tomita | |
| 16:41 | Lavender Farm station |
| (Norokko train #6) | |
| 17:45 / 18:00 | Asahikawa station |
| (The limited express Lilac #40) | |
| 19:25 | Sapporo station |
I put the sightseeing bus “Biei View Bus” from Biei station. But you can take a scheduled bus to Blue Pond and ride a bike around the town of Biei.
Biei station 9:26 – 9:46 Blue Pond 10:24 – 10:53 Biei station
But in this case, you cannot visit Shirahige falls because it is about 3km away from Blue Pond. The schedule is too tight to visit Shirahige falls from Blue Pond.
Highlight
Blue Pond
Blue Pond is a small lake. It is about 20 minutes away from Biei station. In the winter time, the light up festival is held. This small lake attracts the tourists all year round.
Shirahige Falls
Shirahige falls is located upstream of Blue Pond. If you take a tour by Biei View Bus, you can visit this place.
Biei
This place is included by the bus tour. It is hard to get here by a bike from Biei station.
Farm Tomita
This place is like the icon of Furano. It is also called “Lavender Park”. June is a lavender season but this place is busy all summer long.
Furano Norokko Train
You will take a sightseeing train, “Furano Norokko Train” at the end for Asahikawa.
Travel cost
All train trips are covered by JR Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass or Furano Biei Rail Ticket. The local bus trips and the admission fees are extra. Hokkaido Rail Pass 3-day covers this trip but Furano Biei Rail Ticket is cheaper. And you can get your money worth of Hokkaido Rail Pass 3-day by this 3 days trip. If you visit some more places before/after this trip in Hokkaido, you may consider using Hokkaido Rail Pass.
If you use JR Pass, you may take a train between Asahikawa and Kamikawa. And you will catch a bus from Kamikawa for Sounkyo. If you do so, you can save 860 yen one way. However a train runs infrequently between Asahikawa and Kamikawa. The trip time is longer and you have to transfer a bus and a train at Kamikawa. It is not recommended.
Please see the table below to find the cost breakdown:
| Trip | Cost |
|---|---|
| The limited express Hokuto from Sapporo to Asahikawa | Covered |
| Admission fee for Asahiyama Zoo | 1,000 yen |
| Asahikawa Denkikidou Bus for the round trip to Asahiyama Zoo | 900 yen |
| Dohoku Bus for the round trip to Sonunkyo Onsen | 4,280 yen |
| Biei View Bus | 2,600 yen |
| Total cost | 9,860 yen |
Summary
This is a very simple trip plan but you can cover major places in the interior of Hokkaido.
I hope this trip plan helps you to build your trip plan.
