After picking up your rental, start the day with fresh seafood and local atmosphere at Kushiro Washo Market, sampling ikura and kani from stall vendors and trying a donburi at a counter stall. Stroll along the nearby Kushiro Riverside Boardwalk to spot waterfowl and visit the atmospheric Kotan Ainu Cultural Center for a short introduction to local Ainu crafts and cuisine before setting off eastward toward Tokachi later in the day.
After a seafood-filled morning, take a relaxed drive to the wetlands and immerse yourself in nature at Kushiro Shitsugen National Park-walk the boardwalk at Hosooka Observatory for panoramic bog views and watch for red-crowned cranes. Later, unwind with a hands-on experience at Kotan Ainu Craft Workshop (different from the cultural center) to try simple woodcarving or make a small souvenir, then enjoy an early dinner of local charcoal-grilled fish at the intimate riverside eatery Kushiro Riverside Grill before checking into your hotel.
As dusk falls, enjoy a relaxed seafood-centric izakaya crawl starting at Sakanaya no Daidokoro Kushiro for tasting plates of local sashimi and Hokkaido beer, then head to Tancho Yokocho Alley to soak up lively local nightlife and sample grilled shellfish at counter stalls. Finish with a peaceful riverside walk along Kushiro River Promenade to watch lights reflect on the water and plan tomorrow's drive east toward Tokachi.
Leave Kushiro after breakfast and drive west to Tokachi, stopping first at the charming Obihiro Rokkatei Bakery for freshly baked sweet rolls and a coffee to energize the day. Continue to Obihiro's Koryu Market (Takikawa Market) to browse seasonal produce and sample local dairy treats like fresh milk soft-serve, then stroll through nearby Midori-no Plaza where small stalls sell handcrafted jams and Tokachi honey-perfect for picnic supplies before an easy countryside drive toward the onsen towns later in the day.
Drive into the gentle Tokachi countryside and soak in an onsen soak at Satsunai Onsen Park, where outdoor baths face rolling fields - a perfect way to relax sore muscles from the morning's market stroll. Afterwards, visit Obihiro Jotoi Farmers' Market (Jotoi Marche) to sample fresh Tokachi cheeses and handcrafted sausages, then enjoy a leisurely coffee and cake at the nearby farm-cafe Moitie Farm Café while watching cows graze in the late-afternoon light.
As evening sets, enjoy a farm-to-table dinner at Kikuyo Farm Restaurant, where seasonal Tokachi vegetables and charcoal-grilled pork are paired with local craft beer and a view over illuminated paddocks. After dinner, take a gentle stroll through Rokugo Park to watch lantern-lit paths and, for a cozy nightcap, drop into Obihiro Bar Sunflower for inventive whisky highballs and a friendly conversation with locals before retiring to your ryokan.
Leave Tokachi after a relaxed ryokan breakfast and head toward central Furano, starting with a stroll through the fragrant fields at Nakaoka Farm Lavender Field (early bloom depending on season) where you can take photos, buy lavender sachets, and sample lavender-flavored soft serve. Continue to Furano Cheese Factory for a hands-on cheese-making demonstration and a tasting of fresh camembert, then pop into the nearby Furano Marche to pick up local honey, jams, and freshly baked melon pan before driving the scenic country roads toward Biei.
After a fragrant morning in Furano, take a scenic drive toward Biei and wander the patchwork hills starting at Patchwork Road for classic vistas; stop at Shikisai no Oka to stroll gentle flower terraces and sample fresh berry soft-serve from the hilltop stall. Later, visit the family-run Tomita Farm Shop (satellite stall) to taste seasonal jams and pick up lavender-infused treats, then pause at Aoi Ike (Blue Pond of Biei) for serene photos as late light softens the water before heading to your Biei accommodation.
Wind down the day with a relaxed meal at Furano Delice Wine & Dine, where seasonal vegetable plates and local wine pairings showcase Tokachi-Furano produce, then stroll the illuminated paths of Furano Winery Garden to sample a flight of crisp regional wines under the stars. After dinner, stop by Kitanomine Onsen Footbath to soothe tired feet while watching mountain silhouettes, then pick up freshly baked pastries and local milk at the late-evening stall Furano Night Market Cart for a sweet taste before returning to your Biei lodging.
Leave Biei after breakfast and head to Asahikawa to start with a bustling foodie stop at Asahikawa Ramen Village, where you can taste a steaming local shoyu ramen and watch noodles being pulled; follow this with a stroll through Asahikawa Morning Market (Asahikawa Asaichi) to sample river-fresh trout, local dairy cheeses and pick up smoked salmon to-go. Before driving west toward Kamikawa, detour to the nostalgic Kita no Miyako (Asahikawa Retro Streets) for coffee at a wood-panelled café and to browse stalls selling Hokkaido crafts - a relaxed, flavorful morning that transitions you from Furano/Biei's landscapes into Asahikawa's market energy en route to the next rural leg of the drive.
After a market-fueled morning, drive north into the Kamikawa region and stretch your legs at Taisetsu Floral Center, wandering seasonal greenhouse displays and picking up region-grown herb sachets before continuing toward Horokanai. Pause at Horokanai Sunflower Roadside Rest Area to sample freshly baked sunflower seed snacks and local corn croquettes, then take the quieter country route through pine-lined roads with a photo stop at Mikuni Panorama Lookout for sweeping views before you head west toward Sapporo for the evening.
As night falls in Sapporo, enjoy a relaxed food-walking experience starting at Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Outer Market where small stalls and counters serve fresh Hokkaido seafood bowls and grilled scallops-perfect for a casual, early dinner. Afterwards, wander to Susukino Alley for an atmospheric izakaya hop sampling local jingisukan (grilled lamb) and craft beer, then finish with a nightcap and dessert at the cozy Sapporo Beer Garden Annex or a late-night melon pan from a nearby bakery to savor the region's flavors before turning in.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Kushiro Washo Market (seafood donburi / stalls) | ¥1500 |
| Kushiro Riverside Boardwalk | Free |
| Kotan Ainu Cultural Center (short visit) | ¥500 |
| Kushiro Shitsugen National Park - Hosooka Observatory (boardwalk) | Free |
| Kotan Ainu Craft Workshop (hands-on session) | ¥2000 |
| Kushiro Riverside Grill (charcoal-grilled fish dinner) | ¥2500 |
| Sakanaya no Daidokoro Kushiro (izakaya tasting plates) | ¥3000 |
| Tancho Yokocho Alley (food stalls/grilled shellfish) | ¥1200 |
| Kushiro River Promenade (evening walk) | Free |
| Obihiro Rokkatei Bakery (sweet rolls & coffee) | ¥600 |
| Obihiro's Koryu Market (Takikawa Market) - samples | ¥800 |
| Midori-no Plaza (local jams & honey stalls) | ¥600 |
| Satsunai Onsen Park (onsen entry) | ¥800 |
| Obihiro Jotoi Farmers' Market (Jotoi Marche) - tastings | ¥700 |
| Moitie Farm Café (coffee & cake) | ¥900 |
| Kikuyo Farm Restaurant (farm-to-table dinner) | ¥3500 |
| Rokugo Park (evening stroll) | Free |
| Obihiro Bar Sunflower (nightcap) | ¥1200 |
| Nakaoka Farm Lavender Field (entry / soft serve) | ¥700 |
| Furano Cheese Factory (demonstration & tasting) | ¥800 |
| Furano Marche (local purchases) | ¥800 |
| Patchwork Road (drive & viewpoints) | Free |
| Shikisai no Oka (flower terraces) | ¥500 |
| Tomita Farm Shop (satellite stall) - jams / samples | ¥600 |
| Aoi Ike (Blue Pond of Biei) | Free |
| Furano Delice Wine & Dine (dinner & wine tasting) | ¥4000 |
| Furano Winery Garden (wine flight) | ¥1200 |
| Kitanomine Onsen Footbath | Free |
| Furano Night Market Cart (pastries / milk) | ¥500 |
| Asahikawa Ramen Village (ramen bowl) | ¥900 |
| Asahikawa Morning Market (Asaichi) - samples / purchases | ¥1000 |
| Kita no Miyako (Asahikawa Retro Streets) - coffee & browsing | ¥700 |
| Taisetsu Floral Center (greenhouse displays) | ¥500 |
| Horokanai Sunflower Roadside Rest Area (sunflower seed snacks) | ¥300 |
| Mikuni Panorama Lookout (photo stop) | Free |
| Sapporo Central Wholesale Market Outer Market (seafood bowl) | ¥2000 |
| Susukino Alley (izakaya hop / jingisukan) | ¥3000 |
| Sapporo Beer Garden Annex (nightcap / dessert) | ¥1500 |
| Late-night melon pan (bakery purchase) | ¥300 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | ¥40100 |