Help for Hokkaido!

Hi

I'm going to be in Hokkaido for around a week from Jul 6th onwards. This has been a kind of spur of the moment decision so it isn't even close to being well thought through. I was wondering what are the places I should go to, definitely visit, must see etc?
I understand Hokkaido is around the same size as Ireland, so I guess the way I can narrow it down is that anything that can be gotten to with a JR railpass is preferable. I'd love to see the volcanic landscapes and general nature getaway type things.

Any and all suggestions welcome, appreciated and needed.

Kris

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I'd love to see the volcanic landscapes and general nature getaway type things.

Then you really need a car.

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...anything that can be gotten to with a JR railpass is preferable

There aren't all that many things accessible by rail. Your best bet is to stick to Hakodate, Sapporo, and the places in between. Another possibility is Furano. Even in Furano, though, I am not sure how easy it will be to get around once you are there because you'll probably want to see the flowers



There are some cool festivals in Hokkaido at the end of July (Furano Heso Matsuri) as well, but it looks like you'd be too early.

i think sapporo for the brewery would be great to check out, and i here sapporo is famous for it's noodles. i'd like to go there, and then i'm sure there must be a way via public transportation to get to daisetsuzan nat'l park where you can go backpacking.

Thanks guys

I ended up going Sapporo and hiking three days there, climbing Sapporo-dake, Soranuma-dake and Eniwa-dake, then going to Sounkyo to climb Kuro-dake and chill in the onsen. Visited Otaru too ...

Anyone else visiting might want to check out Kushiro/Abashiri and Noboribetsu as well. Connected by JR.

Cheers

Kris

hey did you ever rent a car there in hokkaido morpheus? i am looking at doing the same thing, esp. backpacking in daisetzuzan nat'l park. was JR okay for getting around in hokkaido? i don't plan on renting a car, maybe bussing it around hokkaido too. sounds like a great trip - have you got it written up anywhere?

I didn't rent a car - no money !! I went around on JR. They're not extremely frequent, but good enough.

To Daisetsuzan NP I think you might want to go towards Sounkyo or Asahikawa (Mts Asahidake and Kurodake nearby). You can get there with JR and another bus from one Kamikawa or Asahikawa itself (depending on where you get it from from JPY 800 - 1800, which is the norm for bus travel in Japan). Ask the travel agency in Sapporo - quite helpful. If you have an extra day might want to check out Eniwa dake near Sapporo as well - quite nice. I've heard great things about a lot of places there - Furano, Abashiri etc more towards the north. And Otaru near Sapporo's a nice place for a half day as well.

Yeah was quite a trip, cant believe I trekked so much. I still look at my Fuji-san pics and sigh ... Haven't had a chance to write it up yet, but on my to do list. Btw, might want to get a Japanese phrase book if you dont know the language - north of Tokyo English is not very common.

can't wait to go! see, this is why i love bootsnall! great up to date info man, thanks for responding!

No worries mate! Enjoy ... I only wish I had more time off.

Try the Soup Curry when in Sapporo, and sushi at Sushiya-dori if in Otaru. You'll thank me later.