Hokkaido is vast — roughly 500 km from east to west — and public transport, adequate for connecting major cities, does not allow nature exploration without a car.
From Sapporo, the JR Hokkaido network serves the main axes: Hakodate (3h by Shinkansen since 2016), Asahikawa (1h30 by Limited Express), Otaru (30 min), Niseko (2h by the seasonal Niseko Express). Most of these routes are covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, Furano (2h15 from Sapporo by the seasonal Furano-Lavender Express), Shiretoko (6h from Sapporo, shuttle from Abashiri) and most national parks are far more convenient by car.
Car rental is strongly recommended for any circuit of more than three days outside Sapporo. All major agencies (Toyota, Nissan, Times) are represented at Chitose Airport. In winter, always insist on snow tyres (studded or all-season) and check road conditions before departure — national highways are cleared quickly, but mountain back-roads can be closed after a heavy snowfall.
Inside Sapporo, the metro network (3 lines), tram and buses cover all urban journeys. The Sapica card (equivalent of the Suica) is rechargeable and valid across all networks.
Read also
- Sapporo, capital of the north — Snow festival, miso ramen, Sapporo Brewery and the seafood market — the complete guide to Hokkaido's metropolis.
- Japan — Complete guide to the archipelago: visa, budget, regions to discover and the best time to visit.
- The Kanto Region — Tokyo and its surroundings: Nikko, Kamakura, Hakone and Mount Fuji.
- Kansai — Kyoto, Osaka and Nara — Japan's historic heartland: thousand-year-old temples, geisha districts and extraordinary cuisine.