7 best day trip plans from Sapporo. DIY trip planner with a rail pass

Traveling with luggage may be a hassle for you. If you want to minimize traveling with a luggage, consider a day trip.

In this post, I will show you seven places where you can reach from Sapporo by a rail pass, such as JR Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass. You can maximize using your pass to get more worth.

1. Otaru

Otaru is only 30 minutes away from Sapporo by a rapid train. It is easiest place to visit as a day trip from Sapporo.

Otaru is one of most historical places in Hokkaido. There are many heritage buildings around the famous Otaru Canal.

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You can go back to the Otaru Canal to see the night view of the canalafter visiting Kitaichi Glass. There are lots of restaurants around the canal. You can take a dinner there too.

Please see the link below You will find Sapporo and Otaru 2-day trip. This one day trip plan is a part of this 2-day trip.

Sapporo and Otaru 2-day sample trip plan

Odori Park is located in the center of Sapporo.I will show you 2-day trip plan of Sapporo and Otaru. But this trip ...

jprail.com

2020.04.28

2. 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, such as “the flying penguin” exhibition. And they did it.

Many other zoos follow their way in these days. But Asahiyama Zoo is still most popular in Japan.

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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. And you can have a dinner before leaving Asahikawa if you are hungry.

3. Sounkyo and Daisetsuzan

I used this trip plan as a part of Asahikawa, Biei and Daisetsuzan 3 days sample trip plan. But you can make this trip plan as a day trip from Sapporo.

You can visit Mt. Kurodake which is one of the peaks of the Daisetsu Mountains. 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 is about 20km long canyon along Ishikari river. But Ginga no Taki is located 2.5 km away from Sounkyo Onsen bus stop. You can hike up there if you like.

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4. Furano and Biei

This trip plan is a part of Asahikawa, Biei and Daisetsuzan 3 days sample trip plan as well. You can make this trip plan as a day trip from Sapporo.

You can visit Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, Farm Tomiya and ride the popular sightseeing train, “Furano Norokko train.”

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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 you have to give up Shirahige falls instead.

5. Lake Toya

Lake Toya is the third biggest crater lake in Japan. You can ride a cruise on the lake and drop by Nakanoshima island in the lake. You can enjoy short walking in the forest.

Before taking the cruise on the lake, you have two options.

The first option is a trail walking. There are some trails around the ruins of the lava flow of the 2000 eruption of Mt. Usu. You can see some destroyed houses, roads and some craters. The first part is called Nishinoyama trail. It is only 2km flat trail and it takes only 30 minutes. After that, you will go down to the lake which is called Konpirayama trail. It is about 3km trail and takes about 1 hour. You can find somre more craters and destroyed houses. Please find more information in the official site below:

Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark (English official site)

The second option is visiting Usuzan Ropeway. You can go up the peak of Mt. Usu which is the active volcano. If you walk 1.1 km trail to reach the viewpoint, you can see the stunning view of Lake Toya, Mt. Yotei and the Pacific Ocean.

Usuzan Ropeway (English official site)

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6. Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu is a great place to stay overnight. It is one of most popular hot springs resorts in Hokkaido. But it is very attractive as a day trip destination.

Jigokudani is the highlight of this hot springs town. It means simply a hell valley in Japanese. You can see many steam vents along the trail in this valley. This is a main source of Noboribetsu Onsen.

Ride a gondola to get the bear park.

In this bear park, they don’t hiberbanate because they have enough food there.

Some hotels in Noboribetsu Onsen takes daily use of Onsen bath. You can enjoy the hot spring without overnight stay.

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7. Niseko

Niseko is well known as the world class winter resort. It is such a nice summer resort town too. You can enjoy mountain fresh air in the summer time. You can rent a bike to run in this mountain resort. You can download a map in the official site of Niseko.

Niseko Resort Tourist Association (official)

In the early summer, you have the other option which is watching Shibazakura (pink moss).

There are two places to see Shibazakura near Kutchan station. Those are Asahigaoka Park and Mishima Family’s garden. Both places are located within 15 minutes from the station.

If you go to Niseko, the trains do not run frequently. If you go to Kutchan, it is better than the access to Niseko but it is not frequetly train service either.

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