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One-Week Japan Itinerary that Maximises the JR Pass - Sapporo (Hokkaido) & Surrounds

First published on TripZilla, in collaboration with Klook.

Read Parts 12 and 3 before continuing.

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Hokkaido is widely known for its skiing, snow crabs and beer. This time round, we decided to give skiing a miss and visit during summer for the flowering season. Sapporo is the gateway to getting round Hokkaido; many embark on a self-drive but if you’re a navigation noob like us, you’d be much better off with the train. Besides, the train is really convenient and the stations are all located in the respective city centres! We took the JR Airport Express Train from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo station (37-minute journey, ¥1,070 (~S$13).

We spent our first day exploring the sights of Sapporo. For a panoramic view of Sapporo city in the day, head up the Sapporo TV tower that offers unobstructed views of the Sea of Japan; for a splendid night view, head to Mt. Moiwa which has one of the best night views in Japan.

Day 1 of JR Pass: Sapporo – Hakodate (overnight at Hakodate)

And our exploration of Hokkaido begins! We decided to go south to Hakodate before journeying North-east to ensure that we see as much as possible. We took an early 6+am train to Hakodate and caught some much needed shut-eye on the long train ride. We reached in the morning, just in time for us to grab some brunch at the Lucky Pierrot, the famed Hakodate burger chain. 

We then spent the rest of the day emptying our wallets at Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, which is home to an eclectic range of shops and cafés.

How to get there: 217-minute journey from Sapporo station to Hakodate station via Ltd Exp Train

Day 2 of JR Pass: Hakodate – Lake Toya (overnight at Lake Toya)

Don’t miss Hakodate Morning Market when you’re in the city! One of the highlights for us was catching our own squid for lunch and indulging in fresh king crab.

There's a separate eating area where you can enjoy your meal - freshly prepared on the spot!

After breakfast, we took a train to Lake Toya where we would spend the night in a ryokan. Ryokans are traditional Japanese accommodations that offer tatami-mat rooms (where guests sleep on mattresses spread out on tatami mats on the floor) and traditional Japanese multi-course kaiseki dinners. Just look at that spread!

We had some time to kill before dinner, which we spent exploring the historic ruins of Usu Volcano Global Geopark and relaxing by the lake.

How to get there: 112-minute journey (one-way) from Hakodate station to Toya (JR-Muroran) station via Ltd Exp Train

Day 3 of JR Pass: Lake Toya – Noboribetsu – Sapporo

Ryokans usually provide yukatas as well, so feel free to put them on for a stroll in the vicinity or for a unique photoshoot! Alternatively, rent a ‘duck boat’ or a paddle boat to enjoy a morning out on the lake.

We then took a train to Noboribetsu’s Hell Valley (“Jigokudani”), which felt like stepping right into the belly of Hell’s kitchen; everywhere we turned, we were faced with steaming pools, curling wisps of smoke and the pungent smell of sulphur. 

We went for a hike along the various landforms; and there was even a natural hot spring for us to dip our weary feet into before making the journey back to Sapporo.

How to get there:

  • Lake Toya – Noboribetsu: 38-minute journey (one-way) via Ltd Exp Train
  • Noboribetsu – Sapporo: 70-minute journey via Ltd Exp Train

Day 4 of JR Pass: Sapporo – Furano (overnight at Furano)

Image credit: (top) Captain76

Furano is the place to go if you’re looking to frolic amongst a sea of flowers; Farm Tomita offers rolling lavender/rainbow flower fields as well as delicious lavender treats such as lavender ice cream, lavender tea and lavender biscuits. The best time to visit is in mid-July, when the flowers will be in full bloom.

How to get there: 191-minute journey from Sapporo station to Furano station via Ltd Exp Train

Day 5 of JR Pass: Furano – Biei – Sapporo

Image credit: (top) Blondinrikard Fröberg; (bottom) KuniakilGARASHI

Besides the dazzling Shikisai Hill that’s covered in a rainbow flower carpet, Biei is also known for its surreal Blue Pond and sunflower fields. The Blue Pond can be reached within a 20-minute bus ride from Biei Station (not included in the JR Pass) and costs ¥540 (~S$7) one-way. If you’re up for something different, opt for a tractor ride around the flower farms!

We recommend staying a night in Furano and taking the train to Biei in the morning, as it’s much too rushed to squeeze both Furano and Biei in a single day!

How to get there:

  • Furano – Biei: 37-minute journey from Sapporo station to Furano station via Ltd Exp Train
  • Biei – Sapporo: 135-minute journey from Biei station to Sapporo station via JR Furano Line and Ltd Exp Train

Day 6 of JR Pass: Sapporo – Asahikawa – Sapporo

Image credit: (bottom) MIKI Yoshihito; (top) MIKI Yoshihito

We visited Asahikawa for the main purpose of visiting Asahiyama Zoo, a zoo that is known world-wide for its innovative exhibits that allow guests to get up close and personal to the resident animals. We marvelled at the glass tunnels/domes that were present in the penguin/seal pools as well as the polar bear/wolf enclosures. Unfortunately, we were rather disappointed that the famous Penguin March – one where a group of penguins walk right by you – was only conducted in winter. We’ll definitely be back for that!

How to get there: 85-minute journey (one-way) from Sapporo station to Asahikawa station via Ltd Exp Train

Day 7 of JR Pass: Sapporo – Otaru – Sapporo

Most of Otaru’s attractions and landmarks are located within a 30-minute walk from the station, making it an easy day trip from Sapporo. Our first stop was the Sankaku Morning Market for a delicious chirashi don (sashimi bowl) breakfast.

Being a harbour city, Otaru is an idyllic location to simply relax and enjoy the serene vibes. We took an afternoon stroll along the iconic Otaru canal and browsed through the various shops in the beautifully preserved Sakaimachi street. Our greatest find, however, was the ice cream shop “Kita-no-aisukurimu Yasan” that offered beer, melon, uni (sea urchin) and squid ink flavoured ice-cream. Alternatively, why not explore the streets of Otaru on a bumbling rickshaw tour? It doesn’t get any more authentic than that!

How to get there: 32-minute journey (one-way) via JR Rapid Airport Line

Breakdown of costs for above itinerary: 

7-Day JR Pass VS point-to-point tickets

    • 7-Day JR Pass: USD243 (~S$344)
    • Point-to-point tickets:
      • Sapporo – Hakodate: ¥8,830 (~S$108.90)
      • Hakodate – Lake Toya: ¥5,490 (~S$68)
      • Lake Toya – Noboribetsu – Sapporo: ¥2,720 (~S$34) + ¥4,480 (~S$55) = ¥7,200 (~S$89)
      • Sapporo – Furano: ¥5,990 (~S$74)
      • Furano – Biei – Sapporo: ¥640 (~S$8) + ¥5,560 (~S$68) = ¥6,200 (~S$76)
      • Sapporo – Asahikawa – Sapporo: [2 x ¥4,810 (~S$60)] = ¥9,620 (~S$120)
      • Sapporo – Otaru – Sapporo: 2 x [ ¥1,160 (~S$14) ] = ¥2,320 (~S$28)
  • Total: ¥45,650 (~S$563)

Total cost savings : S$563 – S$344 = S$219 with the JR Pass

So there we have it, four awesome one-week itineraries that will help fully maximise your JR Pass. Furthermore, a simple round trip from Tokyo to Osaka via shinkansen – the one-way 177-minute journey already costs ¥14,140 (~S$175) – will more than give you your money’s worth for the JR Pass. Similarly, a round trip from Osaka to Fukuoka will also be more than worth it with the JR Pass – the 158-minute journey will otherwise cost you ¥15,000 (~S$185) one-way.

If you’re looking for a longer trip, choose to combine both the Tokyo and Osaka itineraries with the 14-Day JR Pass, which is going from just US397 (~S$561) on Klook! If you add in a one-way journey from Tokyo to Osaka, the 14-Day JR Pass will save you a whopping S$765 based on a combination of the above two itineraries. 

Alternatively, combine the Osaka and Fukuoka Itineraries with the 14-Day Rail Pass, which will save you S$720. In fact, why not go all out and combine the Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka itineraries with the 21-Day Rail Pass? There is unfortunately no train connection covered by the JR Pass between Hokkaido and any of the other three cities; however, there are numerous domestic flight routes, some of which cost below S$100.

Either way, the JR Pass is a TOTAL lifesaver! Here is a summary of JR Pass’ benefits:

  • It saves you tons of money
  • Seat reservations are FREE
  • All you have to do is to flash your pass at the gantry
  • It gives you lots of flexibility; you can easily change train departure days and timings
  • It can also be used to get around certain cities (e.g. JR Yamanote line in Tokyo, Hiroshima’s hop-on-hop-off bus, Miyajima's JR ferry or Kyoto’s city buses)

We bought our JR Passes from Klook, which made everything super easy and convenient! All we had to do was to visit their office in Boat Quay, pick up the voucher and exchange the voucher at either a) any international airport in Japan, or b) any JR office in Japan. Each voucher is valid for a period of 3 months, so you can even buy your voucher ahead of time to avoid rushing around at the last minute in the days leading up to your trip. 

Start planning your Japan Trip today, and remember – the JR Pass isn’t just a want, it’s pretty much a necessity if you’re planning on travelling to multiple places!

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