11 Incredible Day Trips From Sapporo

We recently moved from the UK to Sapporo with our gorgeous dog, and we have been making the most of our new life here by exploring all of the actually ‘doable’ day trips that are realistic to achieve in one day. And, there are so many amazing places to explore outside of the Sapporo area that you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Having a car will make these day trips more achievable, however, there most are easily accessible via public transport which we’ll share below. So, if you’re using Sapporo as a base for your next trip, keep on reading to find out over 10 incredible day trips from Sapporo!

11 Incredible Day Trips From Sapporo

1.Otaru

By Train: The most convenient option is the JR Hakodate Line, which runs directly from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station in around 30–45 minutes. Trains run frequently throughout the day, and you can use a JR Pass or pay with an IC card like Suica.

Being only 30-45 minutes by train or 50 minutes by car, it’s one of the nearest day trips from Sapporo that will give you a complete different perspective to Sapporo.

No matter what season you visit here in, each is as distinctive and beautiful. We have a whole post on things to do in Otaru, but whether you want to ride down the romantic canal, go shopping for glass works, grab some seafood or take a walk up to Temiya Park to taking the port views of Otaru, there’s plenty of things to do here for a jam packed day trip.

Our recommendation: Finish with an apple pie from Fromage Dani Danish or a Hokkaido milk soft serve, must eats whilst you’re here in Hokkaido!

2. Jozankei Onsen Town

By bus: The most convenient option is the direct Jotetsu Kappa Liner bus, which departs from JR Sapporo Station and reaches Jozankei in approximately 60 minutes. This is a reservation-only service, so it’s recommended to book at least one day in advance.

Another close by day trip from Sapporo is Jozankei, and if you want to experience a proper onsen town, you can’t skip here! It’s easily accessible by public transport so you don’t need a car for this trip.

There’s over 10 hotels and bathing facilities where you can turn up on the day and try the onsen in Jozankei, the best one for access without a car is the Jozankei Manseikaku Hotel Milione which is near to the Ontamu-no-yu where you cook the onsen eggs. Oh, yeah, the onsen eggs are a must thing to tick off your list whilst you’re in Jozankei too which can be picked up from the souvenir shop.

There’s so many restaurants and little cafes to enjoy whilst you’re here, we really liked ふる川果日 J.glacée for their Hokkaido apple pie, it went down a treat on a cold day.

Our recommendation: The Shiki-no-seseragi Futami-no-ashiyu foot bath overlooks the Toyohira river and it’s our favourite in Jozankei, it’s one of the hottest and the views are beautiful! (Don’t worry if you forget a towel, there’s a towel vending machine next to it!).

3. Lake Toya

By train: From Sapporo Station, take a JR limited express service to Toya Station. The journey takes around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. Once you arrive, you’ll need to transfer to a local bus, which takes about 15 minutes to reach the main lakeside area at Toyako Onsen. There are also buses that will go to Lake Toya, but they tend to take much longer.

Lake Toya is only around 2 hours from central Sapporo by car and it’s easily one of our favourite day trips from Sapporo, if you’re only here for a few days, make sure you include this in your Sapporo itinerary!

Lake Toya is a UNESCO Global Geopark boasting the third largest caldera lake in Japan and the incredible Mount USU. If you can, I recommend spending a couple of days here if you can because there is honestly so much to explore, and there is so much incredible nature and beauty to explore.

Even the drive down to Lake Toya is a feast for your eyes the entire way, we have done it in both winter and autumn and both times were different, but equally as beautiful.

Explore Lake Toya on ground level before take the ropeway up to Mount USU, here you can see Lake Toya from a different perspective. Plus, if you like hiking, you can walk to the inner crater which takes around an hour each way.

In the town there is no shortage of roadside foot spas to enjoy, and some delicious places to eat. In the summer they also have a free firework show every night!

Our recommendation: If you have travelled by car, on your way home make sure you make a stop for Lake Hill Farm, they do the best Hokkaido milk soft serve and other dairy goodies that all come from their ranch which is on the other side of the road from restaurant!

4. Noboribetsu

By bus: You can get a direct bus from Sapporo City to Noboribetsu, with services running regularly from Sapporo Station to Noboribetsu Onsen. The journey takes around two hours and is one of the most affordable and convenient ways to visit the famous hot spring town, especially for day trips.

We visited Noboribetsu in autumn and it’s personally one of my favourite times to visit Hokkaido because of how everything in nature comes alight with fiery reds, oranges and yellows.

This famous hot spring town is best known for Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a volcanic crater filled with steaming vents and hot sulfur springs. Even on a cloudy and rainy day when we visited, the view is quite spectacular. There is even a little bridge at the bottom so you can get even closer to the rising steam.

Whilst you’ve visiting enjoy one of the many onsens in the area, scenic walking trails and nature spots to enjoy. You may even be lucky enough to spot deer and other wildlife!

5. Lake Shikotsu

By bus: There’s not currently a direct bus service from Sapporo to Lake Shikotsu, however, if you don’t have a car and still want to visit, you can take a train or bus to Chitose before transferring to a local bus for Lake Shikotsu. The journey by car takes around an hour and is ideal for a whole or half a day, day trip from Sapporo.

What I love about Sapporo is that you can enjoy the busyness of city life, but be less than an hour away from some of the incredible nature on offer in Hokkaido. Lake Shikotsu is one of the places you can breathe a breath of fresh air, and just enjoy the wilderness.

Lake Shikotsu is a deep caldera lake in Hokkaido’s Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and there are a whole host of activities that you can enjoy here all year round.

There are hot springs, kayaking in the warmer months, the nearby moss corridor and plenty of opportunities for walking and taking in the sights.

Our recommendation: after you’ve worked up an appetite, head over to Lake View Cafe Hoo-Hoo! for a warm drink and a sweet treat, they do delicious Hokkaido milk soft serve as well!

6. Furano

By public transport: From Sapporo, you can take the train to Furano which normally takes around 2 to 3 hours depending on transfers and the season. During summer and winter there are also direct buses available from Sapporo, especially when the lavender fields or ski resorts are busiest.

Furano is one of the most famous countryside destinations in Hokkaido and we visited it to experience the flower fields, mountain scenery and slower pace of life away from the bigger cities. Located around two hours from Sapporo by car, Furano is especially popular during summer when the lavender fields come into full bloom and the surrounding countryside becomes incredibly colourful.

Whilst Furano is best known for its lavender farms and rolling landscapes, there’s also plenty more to see throughout the year. In winter, the area transforms into a popular ski destination with deep snow and quieter slopes compared to Niseko, whilst autumn brings beautiful changing colours across the mountains and farmland.

7. Asahikawa

By Bus: You can get a direct highway bus from central Sapporo to Asahikawa, with regular services taking around two hours.

Asahikawa is the second largest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo and we bundled into our car and explored it in early March after moving here in January. It takes around 2 hours and is a great spot to visit throughout the year for different reasons.

Whilst Asahikawa is best known for the zoo and the penguin parade, there’s actually so much more to this city! There is a lesser known winter festival to tourists here in February which runs at the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival in February.

It was also designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Design in October 2019 and the antique, vintage store buying scene here is incredible. You’ll find random places on street corners packed to the gills full of stuff.

8. Takikawa

By bus: you can get a direct highway bus from central Sapporo to Takikawa, with buses departing regularly from Sapporo Station and taking around 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic.

Takikawa is a small city located around halfway between Sapporo and Asahikawa, and we visited it as an easy day trip after hearing about its famous fields and local food scene. It takes around 1 hour 40 minutes to reach from Sapporo and feels much quieter and more rural compared to some of Hokkaido’s larger cities.

Whilst Takikawa is best known for its seasonal flower fields and gliding culture, there’s also a really charming local atmosphere here with traditional cafés, roadside restaurants and countryside scenery that feels very different to central Sapporo.

During the warmer months, the area becomes especially popular for cycling and lavender viewing, whilst winter brings deep snow and peaceful landscapes that barely see international tourists.

9. Obihiro

By public transport: The fastest public transport option is the JR Limited Express train from Sapporo to Obihiro, which takes around 2 hours 40 minutes and runs several times throughout the day. There are also highway buses available which are usually cheaper, although the journey takes closer to 4 hours depending on weather and road conditions.

Obihiro is one of the largest cities in eastern Hokkaido and we visited it after hearing so much about the food scene, wide open landscapes and unique countryside culture in the Tokachi region. It takes around 3 hours from Sapporo by train or highway bus and feels completely different to the bigger cities in western Hokkaido.

Whilst Obihiro is best known for Butadon pork rice bowls and Tokachi’s farming culture, there’s also plenty more to explore here. One of the most interesting spots nearby is the old Kofuku Station, a former railway station that became famous for its “tickets to happiness” after the station name literally translated to “happiness”. Even today, the station is covered in old tickets and handwritten messages left behind by visitors from across Japan.

Out of all the day trips we recommend, it comes in at the longest journey but it’s honestly really worth it if you have the spare time in your itinerary.

10. Niseko

By bus: During winter, there are direct buses from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport to Niseko’s main ski resorts, making public transport fairly straightforward for ski trips. You can also take the train from Sapporo, although journeys often involve transfers and can take around 2.5 to 3 hours depending on the route and weather conditions.

Niseko is one of the most famous resort areas in Japan, known for its incredible mountain scenery, ski culture and views across rural Hokkaido. Located around two to three hours from Sapporo depending on transport and weather, it’s easily one of the most popular destinations in Hokkaido during winter.

Niseko is best known for its world-famous skiing and snowboarding, with people travelling from across the world to experience the deep powder snow and huge ski resorts here. One of the most striking parts of the area is the stunning view of Mount Yōtei, a volcano often compared to Mount Fuji thanks to its near-perfect shape and snow-covered peak.

Whilst winter is by far the busiest season, Niseko becomes noticeably quieter outside of ski season and has a much slower pace during spring, summer and autumn. Visiting during the off-season means quieter roads, peaceful countryside views and a chance to enjoy the area without the crowds, whilst still having access to hiking trails, cafés, hot springs and some incredible scenery.

If you’re coming here for skiing, it’s worth considering the ski resorts surrounding Sapporo that from our experience are so much quieter as they tend to have less international tourists.

11. Yoichi

By bus: The easiest public transport option is the JR train from Sapporo to Yoichi, which takes around 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the service. The station is located close to the town centre, making it easy to walk to the whisky distillery, cafés and nearby shops once you arrive.

Yoichi is a small coastal town west of Sapporo that we visited for its whisky history, seafood and sea views along Hokkaido’s western coastline. It takes around 1 to 1.5 hours to reach from Sapporo and makes an easy day trip if you want to explore somewhere quieter outside the city.

Yoichi is best known for being home to the famous Nikka Whisky distillery, which helped put Japanese whisky on the map and still attracts visitors from across the world today. The town also has a really relaxed atmosphere with fishing ports, local seafood restaurants and mountain views surrounding the coastline. It’s actually one of the lesser know towns over places such as Otaru and Jozankei, but it’t such a quaint town and offers a completely different experience to Sapporo and other cities in Hokkaido.

There are so many places surrounding Sapporo that make amazing day trips! Whilst you can enjoy these throughout the year, you do need to be mindful about visiting in the winter, especially if you’re driving as road conditions become a lot more dangerous. Whatever day trips you choose, enjoy! Let us know if you have any questions below.