Hokkaido autumn itinerary blog — What to do & suggested Hokkaido 9 days itinerary autumn

Getting around Sapporo

To getting around in the city of Sapporo, you can choose to buy the One Day Subway Pass (Donichika Ticket). This pass can only be used on the day of pass purchase, applicable to subway lines (excluding JR train) in Sapporo.

One day Subway Pass price is 830 yen for weekdays, on weekends or public holidays, the price down to 520 yen. If you take at least 4 subway trips/day (on weekdays), you should buy this pass.

This pass can be purchased from the tickets vending machines at the subway stations.

In addition, you can buy Suica card and top-up it to take the subway, JR train and bus. Each time you go, just swipe the card is done, no need to buy single tickets for each trip.

Other discounted tickets

Discounted tickets are exclusive for specific direction: This discount ticket is for each specific direction and includes depart and return trip. See details of each direction here.

Direction 1: Hakodate, Shiraoi, Noboribetsu and Lake Toya
Direction 2: Obihiro, Kushiro
Direction 3: Asahikawa, Abashiri and Wakkanai
Direction 4: Other areas within Hokkaido region.

Furano Biei Rail Ticket

If you only go for a few days and only go to Biei and Furano (famous for the Lavender field), you should check out the Furano Biei Rail Ticket combo ticket.

Scenic Train “Norokko” Ticket for Furano, Biei, and Asahikawa

Booking day tours

Another cost-effective way for those who do not have time to find a way to travel, go with children and the elderly is to book day tours to famous tourist destinations on Klook. I used to intend to use this way to follow the itinerary below including the Day tour to Daisetsuzan National Park, but then changed to the more economical way with Intercity Bus Pass.

Some day tours I highly recommend take:

• Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Shirogane Blue Pond, and More
• Hokkaido Jozankei Resort Spa Mori No Uta Onsen Day Tour
• Hokkaido Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya Day Tour
• Hagoromo Falls, Blue Pond, and Shikisai-no-Oka Autumn Day Trip from Sapporo

I recommend Klook because they have many reasonably priced day tours to many famous places.

Hokkaido autumn itinerary blog: Suggested Hokkaido 9 days itinerary autumn

This is my 9-day itinerary to explore Hokkaido and see autumn leaves that using Inter City Bus Pass (3-day pass type, it costs 6.000 yen).

Day 1: I flew from Manila to Tokyo, continue flew from Tokyo to Sapporo. 8:00 pm arrived at New Chitose Airport and bought a JR train ticket to Sapporo station (ticket price: 1.100 yen for JR local train. If you take JR express train, it costs 1.590 yen). Checked-in airbnb away 300m from Sapporo station.

Day 2: Explored the area around Sapporo station, Odori Park, TV tower, Tanukikoji Shopping Street. At that time in Sapporo, the leaves are still not tranform to yellow or red, so I chose to go shopping and eating places.

Day 3: (Started using InterCity Bus Pass) Day trip: Sapporo to Jozankei Onsen. Took the Kappa Bus tour (1 hour) to see autumn leaves around Jozankei Onsen. After finishing the tour, I took a scenic walk around Futami Suspension Bridge and took the bus to Hoheikyo dam. Evening, back to Sapporo for dinner at the most famous Sushi restaurant here.

Day 4: Took the bus from Sapporo station to Asahikawa station (Aeon Mall, Shopping street). From the Asahikawa station took a bus to the Biei Blue Pond. Actually the original itinerary was Biei Blue Pond and Shirahige Waterfalls but because of coming late, I missed Shirahige Waterfalls. Dinner at the famous Ramen Alley in Sapporo.

Day 5: Took the bus from Sapporo > Noboribetsu > Lake Toya. Saw the autumn leaves at Jigokudani (Hell Valley) of Noboribetsu Onsen. Then took a bus from Noboribetsu to Lake Toya. Overnight and watching fireworks at Lake Toya.

Day 6: Explored the Lake Toya area: Took a boat tour around Lake Toya, took the cable car up Mt.Usu (I missed this for fear of late the bus return to Sapporo). Around 5:00 PM, caught the bus back to Sapporo (bus fare: 2.830 yen). This bus is not covered in the InterCity Bus Pass, so I only buy the 3-day pass (used for Day 3 + 4 + 5).

Day 7: Hokkaido University Gingko Avenue (super beautiful spot!!), lunch at Nijo Nakajima Park seafood market (best spot for autumn). Dinner at Sapporo station at an omelette egg curry shop.

Day 8: Originally I intented go to Maruyama Park, Hokkaido Shrine and go to Otaru town. But that morning I decided to cancel, spend all day for chill, shopping at Aeon Mall and Yadobashi to bring back. I bought a yubari melon, a well-known melon brand (Hokkaido is famous for its melon specialty) bring it to my mother to try. Dinner at famous Curry restaurant in Sapporo.

Day 9: Took the bus to New Chitose Airport and flew to Narita Airport. Since there is a long transit in Narita, I took the bus (ticket price: 1000 yen) to Ginza Tokyo to play. In the afternoon, took the bus back to Narita and flew back to Manila.

Hokkaido autumn blog: Where to stay in Hokkaido in autumn?

When traveling to Hokkaido, where is the most convenient place to stay? With the bus itinerary and schedule as I mentioned above, you should stay at Airbnb or the hotel as close to Sapporo station as possible. All buses going to sightseeing spots departing from the Sapporo bus terminal located next to Sapporo station.

The Airbnb that I stayed is only 300m walk from Sapporo station, right next to Airbnb is Yodobashi shopping mall, so traveling and shopping are very convenient.

In addition, you can refer to one of the best Airbnb in Sapporo: Sapporo station 9min by subway +Free parking at $19/night or (BT901) どうみん割適用可　Cozy and clean apt in Sapporo at $28/night.

–> The Airbnb link that discount up to $35 for the first booking here: https://www.airbnb.com/c/anht5185

I recommend some more hotels / dorm in Sapporo: JR Inn Sapporo-eki Minami-guchi (Agoda.com or Booking.com), UNIZO INN Sapporo (Agoda.com or Booking.com), JR Inn Sapporo (Agoda.com or Booking.com), Hotel WBF Sapporo Chuo (Agoda.com or Booking.com), Dorm type: Ten to Ten 08 Sapporo Station(Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Some prominent places you should go in Hokkaido in Spring, Summer and Winter.

I shared my experiences, itinerary and places to visit in Hokkaido in the fall. In the remaining seasons, I just listed a few places for you to refer and learn more on your own.

Spring in Hokkaido is the season of flowers such as cherry blossoms, tulips, Moss phlox flowers (Shiba Zakura in Japanese), canola flowers … Some beautiful places to enjoy flowers such as Takino Suzuran Park (Tulip flower), Nakajima Park (cherry blossom), Yoichi Riverside , Temiya Park, Takikawa (canola field) …

In summer in Hokkaido, the most prominent is the Lavender flower and sunflower. Some famous places for summer include: Hokuryu (sunflower field), Furano (Lavender field), Biei Blue Pond, Cape Kamui …

Hokkaido is so famous for its winter, it is not natural that Hokkaido is called the snow and ice land. Around early February there will be a Snow Light Path Festival in Otaru. At the end of January – early February there will be an Ice Festival at Lake Shikotsu. Ice Waterfall Festival in Sounkyo. Skiing activities in Niseko. Onsen bath in Noboribetsu or Jozankei. Watch a herd of snow monkeys immerse themselves in the hot lake in Hakodate …

Hokkaido autumn itinerary blog: Prepare clothes when traveling to Hokkaido in the fall

Before going to Hokkaido / Sapporo I checked the weather forecast at 12-16 degrees Celsius during the day, so I thought it would be cold. Oh, I got a bit of worry! It’s OK ! Make me prepare thick coats, heat-retaining clothes of all kinds.

With that range of temperature along with sunlight in the Central and Southern of Hokkaido, you can still wear a long-sleeved dress, add a sweater that isn’t too thick, and wear more a jacket to help you avoid the colder weather in the late afternoon. There’s also no need for a thick jacket or clothes heating pad.

Please prepare some colorful dresses and skirts for beautiful pictures of the Hokkaido autumn season. I recommend red, orange, blue, green dress…

Japan Tourist Sim Card

Regarding the tourist Sim Card, you should buy Sim with unlimited data in advance on Klook, the price is quite affordable, much cheaper than buying at the airport in Japan.

Buying a unlimited data Sim at Japanese airports, the price is about 4.500 yen or more. There is also a 2Gb for 7 days of use, priced at 2,500 yen… Overall still more expensive than buying on Klook.

4G SIM Card (JP Pick Up) for Japan

Hopefully my experience and itinerary for this trip in Hokkaido in autumn will be help you to make a perfect plan for your upcoming trip to Hokkaido. The next articles I will share each day in detail according to the above itinerary. Please read it! Happy traveling!!

We also suggest some best places to see autumn leaves in Japan, Tokyo, Kyoto. 

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Sapporo & Hokkaido you can refer to

• Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Shirogane Blue Pond, and More
• Sapporo Highland Sightseeing Bus Tour with Meals
• Sapporo Private Day Tour with Local Licensed Guide
• Hokkaido Day Tour from Sapporo: Asahiyama Zoo, Shirogane Blue Pond, and More
• Hokkaido Enjoy Pass
• Furano and Tomita Farm Day Tour from Sapporo
• Sapporo Afternoon Bus Tour
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you looking for more Sapporo travel guide, read more: Sapporo travel blog — The fullest Sapporo city guide for a great trip on a budget for the first-timers. And Hokaido travel autumn blog here.