Touch the heart of Hokkaido’s summer: get lost amidst fields of vibrant purple lavender, breathe in the refreshing blue sea breeze. A dreamy 7-day, 6-night journey for a free spirit. Explore now!
Hokkaido in summer isn’t the pristine white of melting snow, but a dazzling tapestry woven from endless hues. No need to wait for winter to witness this magic, because the northern summer is when the Furano lavender fields awaken, donning a dreamy purple hue under the clear afternoon sun.
If you’re dreaming of a trip where every step touches the tranquility of nature and the gentle breath of the sea, then this 7-day, 6-night itinerary is for you. Let’s leisurely stroll through the most enchanting routes of Japan’s “pearl island,” where time seems to stand still to indulge dreamy souls.
7 Days in Hokkaido — Day 1: Arriving in Hokkaido – Enjoying the Cuisine and Exploring Furano-Biei & Hakodate
Lasting only from the end of June to August, the summer weather here is not at all hot and humid, even cool at night. We cycled through sun-drenched fields, from one hill to another, climbed to mountaintops to admire the panoramic view of the Patchwork Road under the vast sky, watched the sunset, and the most beautiful night view in Japan.
There are no direct flights from Vietnam to Hokkaido, so we chose to fly to Osaka with Jetstar, booking our tickets on the airline’s website, then transferred to a train to Hokkaido. For such a long journey, buying a JR Pass from Klook was the best option.
Hokkaido Noboribetsu Must-See Day Trip
Public transportation in Hokkaido is very limited, with only JR trains and a few bus routes, which is where the JR Pass comes in handy! Visit https://www.hyperdia.com/en/, enter your departure and arrival stations, and your planned departure time to find a suitable train. Note that many trains depart 1-2 hours apart, and some start late and end early, so check the start and end times beforehand to plan your return time and avoid having to take a taxi.
[1 Person Guaranteed Departure] Hokkaido Noboribetsu Popular Instagram Tour
For internet access, you should buy a Klook 4G SIM card in advance, which you can pick up at the airport. It costs less than 300,000 VND and includes 3GB of high-speed data for 8 days. If you need to contact someone, you can easily make calls through apps or social media.
The train arrived in Sapporo on the evening of the first day. To rest and enjoy the city’s unique cuisine, we stayed overnight. We tried Genghis Khan – grilled lamb with a special, incredibly flavorful sauce that didn’t have the unpleasant smell of lamb. Enjoying it with Sapporo beer was the perfect combination.
For this trip, we booked our accommodations in advance through Agoda. In Sapporo, we stayed at Untapped Hostel. Each of us had a bed in a shared room equipped with blankets, mattresses, lamps, and curtains – very clean and private. The bathroom had shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a hairdryer, enough for a good night’s sleep after a tiring day of traveling.
Day 2: Travel to Furano – Visit Curb Seafood Market – Check in at the Lavender Fields
The next morning, we started the day with fresh seafood. This is a must-try when visiting Hokkaido, as the island has a highly developed fishing industry. Fish, squid, octopus… and especially sea urchins are always incredibly fresh. Just making sushi or sashimi to enjoy the natural sweetness is fantastic.
We ate while exploring Curb Market, located right next to JR Soen station, and never got bored. Besides seafood, the market also has the famous Yubari melon, and the raw corn is also worth trying.
Furano Farm Tomita & Shikisai no Oka & Blue Pond & Waterfall & Patchwork Road One-Day Tour
According to our plan, we were supposed to leave Sapporo at 8:15 today to have plenty of time in Furano, but because we were tempted by the food, we were 3 hours late. We arrived at Sapporo station just before the train departed. Luckily, we had a JR Pass, so we didn’t need to buy separate train tickets. We just went through the gate, showed our pass, asked the staff which track number we were on, and ran straight there. We were so lucky to arrive just in time for the train to close!
In Furano, we rented a room at Tomar Hostel, 200m from Furano station. It was a dorm room with beds, similar to the one in Sapporo. After dropping off our luggage, we asked the receptionist for directions to Tomita Farm – Furano’s most famous tourist attraction. They advised us that although Lavender-Farm Station is near Tomita Farm, trains to it are infrequent. They suggested going to Nakafurano Station, 1.4km away, and then walking or taking a shuttle bus (200 yen per person).
The lavender fields, in full bloom, shimmered in the July sun, their gentle fragrance incredibly romantic. Beside the lavender were fields of puppy flowers, cosmos, lupins, and other flowers in a mix of red and yellow. Besides admiring the flowers, you could also watch the production of perfumes and essential oils, or enjoy unique lavender-flavored ice cream.
Shikisai no Oka & Farm Tomita & Blue Pond & Waterfall & Patchwork Tour Day Trip
Our second evening ended at the area’s most famous restaurant: Yuiga Doxon. The restaurant is renowned for its homemade egg rolls, curry, and sausages, all with distinctive flavors. If this is your first time in Hokkaido, you can also check out the available day tours on Klook for customized itineraries and convenient pick-up and drop-off services!
Days 3 & 4: Exploring the Biei Region
On days 3 and 4, we explored the Biei agricultural region around Bibaushi and Biei stations in a very romantic way: by bicycle. There are several bike rental points around the station, and there are always long queues. You need to bring your passport for the rental process; prices range from 2000-5000 yen per bike for 4 hours depending on the type, with a small extra charge for exceeding the time limit.
Farm Tomita, Shikisai no Oka, and Blue Pond: Furano and Biei 1-Day Tour from Sapporo
We recommend renting an electric bike to cycle up the hills. They also provided maps and directions to some famous landmarks. Remember to prepare lunch, drinks, apply sunscreen, wear a hat, and let’s go!
Biei has a hilly terrain, with endless slopes and hillsides. Interspersed among them are fields of barley, meadows, and flowers of various colors, creating a magnificent mosaic. Dubbed the “most beautiful town in the world,” the scenery is breathtaking everywhere. We stopped to take ten photos every time we walked, and somehow, the short distance seemed endless.
To find your way, use the provided map and plan your route. You can visit gardens, viewpoints, or famous trees like the Ken & Mary Tree, Seven Star Tree, and Parents and Child Tree… or if not, that’s okay too, just keep going. Stop, rest, and take pictures whenever you like because there’s beautiful scenery everywhere. Note that you shouldn’t enter the rice paddies as it will damage the farmers’ crops.
Some gardens, like Shikisai no Oka, Shinei no Oka, and Zeburu no Oka, are free, but a donation of 200 yen per person is encouraged, so please be mindful of your generosity. Each garden has its own unique and beautiful landscape and flower garden layout, and they also sell fresh produce at very cheap prices, as well as delicious lavender ice cream, melon ice cream, and milk ice cream.
Hokkaido Flower Viewing Must-Visit Spots – Asahiyama Zoo & Biei Furano Flower Viewing…
Ride close to the left edge of the road, don’t ride side-by-side, don’t carry passengers, and pay attention when turning. The road is quite wide and very quiet, but occasionally cars or trucks pass by. After returning the bikes, since we had our JR Pass, we went back up to Arashikawa to eat the famous ramen at Ramen Valley near Minama-Nagayama station.
There are many shops to choose from, and they’re all delicious, perfect for dinner in the cool weather. Still not satisfied, we continued with some pastries and freshly made milk at a roadside café, also a local specialty.
Day 5 & 6: Hokuryu City – Hakodate Port City
Our journey continues with the most challenging destination: Himawari no Sato – the sunflower field featured in the drama “Summer in My Eyes,” located in Hokuryu. The flowers are in full bloom in early August, but if you’re lucky, you can still see most of the fields in bloom in late July, like we did. To get there, we checked out early on Thursday morning, took the train to Takikawa Station (using a JR Pass), and then took a bus (740 yen/person/one way). Bus schedules are infrequent, so you have to be careful.
There’s a luggage storage room and free umbrellas available. When you return them, you can donate at least 100 yen per person to the garden, and they’ll give you a packet of sunflower seeds as a gift. We also took some home to try planting them.
There are luggage storage facilities and free umbrellas available. When you return them, you can donate at least 100 yen per person to support the garden, and they’ll give you a packet of sunflower seeds as a gift. We took some home to try planting them. The garden is very large and offers bicycle rentals for 100 yen per hour, but they don’t charge extra if you go over the limit, according to the kind-smiling old security guard. The yellow bikes are very pretty, perfect for taking photos.
Goryokaku Tower Ticket in Hokkaido
After taking plenty of photos and enjoying sunflower and watermelon-flavored ice cream, we took a bus back to Takikawa station and then changed trains to Hakodate port city. By then it was dark, so we indulged in Lucky Pierrot restaurant with burgers and omurice before resting. This time we stayed at a Capsule Hotel, which was our favorite place on the trip. Besides the basic bed, they also provided makeup remover, skincare products… and especially, they offered free bicycle rentals.
Illumination Tour: Furano Elf Terrace, Biei Blue Pond & Shirahige Falls Day Trip
The next morning, we borrowed bicycles and went to the Morning Market right next to Hakodate station. This market is even bigger than the one in Sapporo, with countless stalls selling seafood, pickled goods, and local specialties at very reasonable prices, perfect for souvenirs. We decided to splurge and enjoy some huge Alaskan crab, grilled oysters, sea urchin… and they were all delicious dishes we’ll never forget.
After eating, we cycled through the streets of Hakodate port, Motomachi area, Russian churches, the famous Hachimansaka slope… enjoying the scenery, then returned to the market for lunch to eat Kaisendon (rice bowl with fresh seafood toppings).
In the afternoon, we visited Goryokaku Fortress and its observation deck on the top of Goryokaku Tower (900 yen fee). This fortress has a unique star-shaped architecture, and during cherry blossom season, the entire fortress turns a beautiful pink. Built during the Edo period, it’s famous for the final battles of Hijikata Toshizo – the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi.
In the evening, we cycled back to the foot of Mount Hakodate to take the cable car (1240 yen round trip) to the summit to admire the most beautiful night view in Japan. It’s best to arrive early to secure a spot and enjoy the equally beautiful sunset. Remember to bring a warm jacket and scarf, as it gets very cold and windy in the evenings on the mountain. As it gets darker, the crowd grows larger, allowing you to witness the city gradually lighting up, shimmering brilliantly.
Day 7: Souvenir Shopping – Return to Vietnam
Day 7, the last day of our trip, was also the last day of our JR Pass. We checked out and took the tram to Hakodate Station (210 yen), had another breakfast with sushi and sashimi at Morning Market, then took the train back to Osaka, ending our wonderful summer vacation in Hokkaido with countless beautiful memories and a collection of photos to upload until… next year.
Estimated 7-Day 6-Night Hokkaido Trip Cost
| Category | Reference price |
|---|---|
| Round-trip airfare | 8.000.000đ - 14.000.000đ |
| Hotel (capsule/business – 6 nights) | 5.000.000đ - 9.000.000đ |
| JR Pass Hokkaido (7 days) | 6.500.000đ - 8.000.000đ |
| Bus + subway + local transport | 1.000.000đ - 1.500.000đ |
| Food | 5.500.000đ - 7.500.000đ |
| Entrance tickets / onsen | 800.000đ - 2.000.000đ |
| Coffee / snacks / incidental expenses | 1.500.000đ - 2.500.000đ |
| Shopping | 2.500.000đ - 6.000.000đ |
Therefore, the cost for a 7-day 6-night trip to Hokkaido to fully experience the beauty of summer will be around ~30,800,000 VND – 50,500,000 VND per person. This cost includes staying in a nice capsule hotel, eating at restaurants and eateries, and you don’t have to be too frugal. If you want to save more, the cost could be under 30 million VND.
Will you be going to Hokkaido this summer?
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
- Hokkaido Spring and Summer Limited Depart from Sapporo
- JR Hokkaido Sapporo-Furano Area Pass
- Sapporo TV Tower Ticket
- JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
- Mt Tengu Ropeway Round-trip Ticket
- Asahikawa Zoo & Shikisai-no-Oka Day Tour
- Mt. Moiwa Ropeway Ticket in Sapporo
- JR Tower Observation Deck T38 Ticket in Hokkaido
- Asahiyama Zoo, Shirahige Falls, Biei, and Blue Pond Day Tour
- JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
- Kani Honke in Sapporo Station – Popular Crab Specialty
- 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 Hokkaido travel guide and top things to do in Hokkaido: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Hokkaido travel blog — The fullest guide for a budget trip to Hokkaido, Japan.
