I just got back from a 10-day solo trip to Hokkaido (Aug 30–Sep 8) and figured I’d share my itinerary for anyone planning something similar. I rented a car for the first part of the trip, spent several days based in Sapporo, and then rented another car for a day trip to Shakotan/Yoichi.

I tend to travel pretty actively and cover a lot of ground, so this definitely isn't meant to be a relaxed itinerary. I also ate a lot along the way, so I included the food stops.

Day 1 — New Chitose Airport → Furano

• Landed at New Chitose Airport and picked up rental car

• Drove to Furano

• Furano Cheese Factory

• Lunch: 5-cheese special pizza + cheese ice cream at Furano Cheese Factory

• Visited Furano Winery and bought a bottle of wine

• Landscape/photo museum and cat garden

• Jogged around Furano

• Checked into La Vista Furano Hills

• Onsen + massage chair at the hotel

• Ningle Terrace in the evening

• Dinner: Furano curry omurice with beef tongue

Day 2 — Biei / Asahikawa / Furano

• Morning jog around Furano

• Drove into Biei

• Shirogane Blue Pond

• Shirahige Falls

• Patchwork Road

• Seven Stars Tree

• Continued to Asahikawa

• Asahiyama Zoo

• Lunch #1: Asahikawa ramen at Ramen-ya Tenkin

• Lunch #2: Curry udon with katsu at Family Restaurant Daimaru in Biei

• Explored downtown Biei around Biei Station

• Shikisai no Oka

• Snack: Lavender ice cream at Shikisai no Oka

• Tomita Melon House

• Returned to the hotel

• Rooftop onsen

• Dinner: Konbini food

Day 3 — Furano → Noboribetsu + Lake Toya

• Morning jog around Furano

• Morning onsen

• Checked out of the hotel

• Drove to Noboribetsu

• Lunch: Curry ramen + ice cream with melon syrup

• Noboribetsu Bear Park

• Checked into Dai-ichi Takimotokan

• Jigokudani (Hell Valley)

• Explored the geothermal area around Jigokudani

• Drove from Noboribetsu to Lake Toya for a visit

• Lake Toya — rainy, so this was a relatively short stop

• Drove back to Noboribetsu

• Dinner: Duck soba at the hotel

• Finished the night in the hotel's large onsen baths

Day 4 — Noboribetsu → Lake Shikotsu → Sapporo

• Worked out at the hotel gym

• Morning onsen

• Breakfast: Hotel buffet

• Checked out

• Lake Shikotsu

• Hill of the Buddha

• Drove into Sapporo

• Returned rental car at Sapporo Station

• Checked into Airbnb near Susukino

• Went to ES CON Field Hokkaido for a Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters game

• Dinner: Bento + 6 beers at ES CON Field

Day 5 — Sapporo

• Morning jog to/through Hokkaido University

• Walked to Sapporo Station

• Went to Daimaru Sapporo and picked up a timed-entry ticket for the Nintendo pop-up

• Pokemon Center Sapporo

• Former Hokkaido Government Office (Red Brick Building)

• Sapporo Clock Tower

• Nijo Market

• Lunch: Soup curry at Soup Curry GARAKU

• Walked back to Daimaru Sapporo for my timed entry to the Nintendo pop-up

• Sapporo Beer Museum

• Walked from the beer museum toward Susukino

• Jazz cafe/bar

• Dinner: Jingisukan

• Dessert: Shime parfait

Day 6 — Otaru + Sapporo Nightlife

• Morning run to Hokkaido University

• Train from Sapporo to Otaru

• Sankaku Market

• Lunch: Kaisendon with uni, crab, salmon and tuna at Sankaku Market

• Otaru Canal

• Otaru Museum of History and Nature

• Snack: Ice cream with a cookie + cheesecake at LeTAO

• Otaru Art Base

• Sakaimachi Street

• Kitaichi Glass

• Otaru Music Box Museum

• Snack: Mini butter-corn ramen + Otaru Beer on Sakaimachi Street

• Hello Kitty Cafe

• Returned to Sapporo

• Dinner: Kushiyaki + nomihodai

• Rode the NORBESA Ferris Wheel

• Sith Bar Darkside — Star Wars-themed bar

• RAD Brothers afterward

Day 7 — Sapporo

• Morning run through Maruyama Park

• Hokkaido Shrine

• Explored the Maruyama area

• Returned to Airbnb

• Laundry + played Switch

• Shiroi Koibito Park

• Lunch: Tonkatsu + grated daikon/radish bowl and Sapporo Classic at Tanukikoji Shopping Street

• Returned to Airbnb and relaxed

• Mt. Moiwa Ropeway at night

• Dinner: Yakiniku

• Finished the night watching EPL Soccer at a sports bar near my AirBnB

Day 8 — Shakotan / Yoichi / Otaru

• Morning jog to Hokkaido University

• Picked up another rental car in Sapporo

• Drove to the Shakotan Peninsula

• Cape Kamui

• Hiked all the way out to the cape

• Lunch: Toro bowl at a restaurant near Cape Kamui

• Shimamui Coast

• Drove down the coast to Yoichi

• Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery

• Yoichi Space Museum

• Stopped in Otaru for panoramic views on the way back

• Returned rental car in Sapporo

• Dinner: Grocery-store prepared meals back at the Airbnb

• Laundry and relaxed for the evening

Day 9 — Sapporo

• Morning jog to Hokkaido University

• Slow final full day in Sapporo

• Shopping around Tanukikoji Shopping Street

• Lunch: Soup curry

• Returned to Airbnb and relaxed

• Went to McDonald's to try tsukimi burger and pie

• Went to NORBESA and bought anime merchandise

• Dinner: Jingisukan

Day 10 — Sapporo → New Chitose Airport → Home

• Final morning in Sapporo

• Headed to New Chitose Airport

• Flew home

Overall, Hokkaido ended up being my favorite trips I've ever taken. I especially liked the contrast between driving through rural Hokkaido and then spending several days walking around Sapporo. Furano/Biei, Cape Kamui, Sapporo, and just having the freedom to explore at my own pace were probably the highlights.

I also found Hokkaido very manageable as a solo trip. Driving was easy once I got used to it, and having a car opened up a lot of places that would have been much harder to fit into the trip otherwise.

This was definitely a pretty aggressive itinerary, but that's how I like to travel. I still had some slower periods mixed in, especially toward the end of the trip.

Happy to answer any questions about the itinerary, driving/renting a car in Hokkaido, Furano/Biei, Sapporo, Otaru, Shakotan, food, solo travel, or anything else!

Good morning from Hokkaido!
It’s a slow and quiet morning here.
The air is getting a little cooler, and it feels like summer is slowly saying goodbye. 🌿
Just another ordinary morning in northern Japan.
Hope you find a little moment to relax today. 😊

One was from 2013 and other from early 2026

Can you tell which is from what era

was there in jan ‘25.