Hakodate, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya 3 days sample trip plan. Southern Hokkaido 3-day highlights

This 3-day trip plan covers these following spots in the southern Hokkaido:

✔ Noboribetsu Onsen
✔ Lake Toya (Toyako Onsen)
✔ Hakodate
✔ Onuma Park

You can make this 3 days trip from either Sapporo and Tokyo.

Overview

On day 1, go to Hakodate and enjoy visiting some tourist spots, such as the nightview from Mt. Hakodate.

On day 2, stop by Onuma Park for a few hours and then move to Lake Toya (Toyako Onsen).

On day 3, move to Noboribetsu Onsen and go back to Sapporo (or Tokyo).

JR Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass and JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass cover most part of this trip.

Day 1, Sapporo – Hakodate

On the first day of trip, you will take the limited express Hokuto from Sapporo and spend the rest of the day there.

Itinerary

If you depart from Tokyo, the schedule is the following:

Highlight

Hakodate waterfrond area

There are many shops and restaurants around the Hakodate waterfront area. The photo above was taken in the light up season but you can visit there in any seasons.

The nightview from Mt. Hakodate

Mt. Hakodate is located at the end of the peninsula. The view is known as one of the three best nightviews in Japan with Kobe and Nagasaki. It is very very popular spot in Hokkaido.

You must check the time of sunset before going up. I recommend you to go up one hour before sunset to avoid the busy time.

Stay overnight in Hakodate. You can enjoy a fresh seafood for dinner.

Day 2, Hakodate – Onuma Park – Lake Toya

On the second day of trip, you will drop by Onuma Park on the way to Lake Toya.

Itinerary

Highlight

Onuma Park

Onuma Park is very accessible spot. Lake Onuma (means large one) and Lake Konuma (means small one) are in this park. Onumakone station is located just between Lake Onuma and Lake Konuma. You can start walking from the station.

You can rent a bike or a boat if you like. You can see Mt. Komagatake over tha lake.

Lake Toya (Toyako Onsen)

Lake Toya is the third biggest crater lake in Japan. There is an active volcano, Mt. Aso. You can ride a cruise on the lake and drop by Nakanoshima island in the lake. You can enjoy short walking in the forest.

I added a small walking on the trail of Nishinoyama after the cruise tour as well. The trail head is located 5 minutes away from Toyako Onsen by the bus. Mt. Usu erupted in March, 2000. You can see some destroyed houses, roads and some craters. It is only 2km trail but if you feel too much, you can remove this part of the trip. Please find more information in the link below:

Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark (English official site)

Day 3, Lake Toya – Noboribetsu – Sapporo

The 3-day trip will be wrapped up. You will move to Noboribetsu Onsen and spend there until the end of this trip.

Itinerary

If you go back to Tokyo, your schedule is the following:

Highlight

Hell Valley (Jigokudani)

Jigokudani 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.

Travel cost

All train trips are covered by JR Pass, Hokkaido Rail Pass or JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass. The local bus trips, the express bus ride and the admission fees are extra. If you use Hokkaido Rail Pass 3-day (at 17,400 yen), you can get your money worth by this 3 days trip.

I used the express bus “Iburi” for Toyako Onsen to Noboeribetsu Onsen. Because this bus service connects these places directly. If you take the local buses for Toyako Onsen to Toya station and Noboribetsu station to Noboribetsu Onsen, you can save more than 1,000 yen. But you have to change the buses and a train. And the trip time is longer.

Please see the table below to find the cost breakdown:

Summary

This is a very simple trip plan but you can cover major places in southern Hokkaido area.

I hope you can enjoy this trip.