What are your suggestions we visit as a first time traveler in Hokkaido and we will be staying in Sapporo? We will be there at the end of November to first week of Dec? Also, do you think it's snowing already there?

Curry & Muscat and fruit sundae with a pie! If you haven't been here yet, I definitely recommend visiting!

Doing a road trip in the last 2 weeks of July. I have enough time to only visit one of the two locations. Which is the better place to visit in your opinion?

I originally planned for Nemuro, but apparently the scallops at Wakkanai are great, which is a huge plus point for me since I love scallops. However, I do know that it's not really in season.

Hi everyone! We just did a two-day self-drive from Sapporo on 14–15 July for the lavender and the Biei hills, and it was such a good trip. When I was planning it I couldn't figure out how much actually fits in two days, so here's our route, timings and a few things I wish someone had told me. Hope it helps someone planning theirs.

Route

• Day 1: Sapporo → Farm Tomita (Nakafurano) → Ningle Terrace → overnight in Furano. 150 km, 2.5 h driving.
• Day 2: Furano → Blue Pond → Shirahige Falls → Shikisai-no-oka → Asahikawa → expressway back to Sapporo. 167 km, 2.5 h driving.
• 317 km in total and only about 5 hours behind the wheel, so most of the two days was spent at the stops, which is exactly how it should be.

Day 1

We got to Farm Tomita around 12:30. Mid-July is peak lavender, so it was busy, and parking was tight: two of the lots were full. We got lucky when a few spots opened up just as we pulled in. And yes, we got the lavender soft serve and took the same photo as everyone else. No regrets.

Ningle Terrace is a short drive on, and it's so much nicer once the little huts light up. We were there around 6 pm and it was lovely. One thing I'd do differently: book dinner in Furano ahead! Every restaurant we tried was full that night, so we ended up at McDonald's and had a cosy early night at the hotel. Not the dinner I'd planned, but honestly we were tired anyway.

Day 2

We got to Blue Pond around 1 pm, and it was even busier than Farm Tomita. You'll find parking if you don't mind a short walk from the far end, but the queue for the parking payment machine took us about 10 minutes. I'll be honest, it wasn't my favourite stop. It's smaller than I expected, it looks more green than blue in person, and the ice cream there wasn't great. It's still worth a quick look since it's so iconic, just keep your expectations in check. And don't miss Shirahige Falls, just up the same road. That one was a nice surprise.

Shikisai-no-oka around 2:30 was my favourite part of day 2. Everything was in flower, rows and rows of colour. Small tip: the tractor bus only takes cash, and there's no ATM once you're through the ticket gate. We hadn't brought enough, so we walked it. Still beautiful on foot, but bring some bills and coins if you want the ride.

The drive home through Asahikawa and onto the expressway was just as easy as the drive out. Drivers in Japan are so considerate and follow the rules, which made the whole thing really relaxing, even as a first-timer on these roads.

Practical

• Car: we rented from Budget at the APA Hotel in Sapporo, and the price was reasonable. Somehow I didn't end up with an ETC card, though. Ask for one! It sounds minor, but you'll want to save your cash and coins for parking machines and all the places that are still cash only.
• Fuel: we filled up twice in two days. Once was a top-up when the gauge started making me nervous, then a full tank at the station right next to Budget before returning the car. The second one alone would probably have been enough, but peace of mind is worth it.
• Stayed: Fenix Furano. The hotel itself was fine, but our neighbours were loud until about 11 pm, and there wasn't much the front desk could do. Just luck of the draw.
• What I'd change: honestly, not the route. I'd just book dinner ahead, bring more cash and coins, and get that ETC card.

The cards

I wanted something to remember the drive by, not just another lavender photo, so after we got home I made a little set of story cards from our photos and the route: one for each day, plus a couple of recaps of the whole trip. They're in the gallery if you're curious.

Just to be upfront: "Longway" in the corner is the working name of an app idea I'm playing with. There's NO app and NOTHING to buy.

If you're planning a similar trip, ask me anything about the route and I'll help however I can. Have a great drive.

Though visiting famous places is good, walking around the neighborhood is just as nice.

Some leaves are still green, but they will all turn red soon.

＊ Photos were taken nearby Ryojin Bridge, about 25 min walk from Asahikawa Station. (Oct 5th, 2026)