[2024 Update] Top 3 Transportation in Hokkaido｜Detailed Cost Breakdown｜Car Rental Discounts

• Table of Contents
• Buses and Trains: Best for Touring Hokkaido's Cities
• How to Get to Sapporo
• How to Get to Otaru
• How to Get to Hakodate
• How to Get to Asahikawa
• Consider Free Passes and Bus Tours
• Recommended Transportation Options for Exploring Hokkaido's Natural Wonders: Rent a Car
• How to Get to Furano and Biei
• How to Get to Kushiro Marsh
• How to get to the Shiretoko Peninsula
• How to Get to Noboribetsu Onsen
• How to Get to Niseko
• [Special Offer] Rental Car Discount Information
• [Special Offer] How to book Rental Car for even Cheaper

Buses and Trains: Best for Touring Hokkaido's Cities

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If you plan to visit major cities like Sapporo, Otaru, or Hakodate, buses and trains are convenient and appealing.

Urban areas tend to have frequent bus and train services, allowing you to travel long distances without stress once you board, aside from transfers.

In the other hand, during winter, which is the peak travel season in Hokkaido, train and bus schedules are often disrupted by weather. Delays and cancellations occur frequently. Additionally, since walking is often required after reaching a station. So, please take extra time for plan of your travel.

For city travelers, here are some of the famous tourist spots that are easy to reach by bus or train:

How to Get to Sapporo

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Tourist attractions: Sapporo Clock Tower, Odori Park, Former Hokkaido Government Office Building

Route: New Chitose Airport → Sapporo Station (approx. 40 minutes)

Fare: JR Rapid Airport Approx. 1,150 yen (one way)

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

How to Get to Otaru

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Tourist attractions: Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street, Music Box Museum

Route: Sapporo Station → Otaru Station (approx. 30 minutes)

Fare: JR Hakodate Main Line approx. 750 yen (one way)

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

How to Get to Hakodate

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Tourist attractions: Mount Hakodate, Goryokaku, Red Brick Warehouse

Route 1: Sapporo Station → Hakodate Station (3 hours 50 minutes)

Fare: JR Hokuto Express approx. 9,440 yen (one way)

Route 2: Hakodate Airport → Hakodate Station (about 40 minutes)

Price: Hakodate Bus approx. 340 yen (one way)

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

How to Get to Asahikawa

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Tourist attractions: Asahiyama Zoo, Kamikawa Ainu Culture Museum, Daisetsuzan

Route 1: Sapporo Station → Asahikawa Station (approx. 1.5 hours)

Fare: JR Limited Express Lilac approx. 4,690 yen (one way)

Route 2: Asahikawa Airport → Asahikawa Station (about 40 minutes)

Fare: Asahikawa Electric Tramway Airport Line approx. 750 yen (one way)

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

Consider Free Passes and Bus Tours

If you plan to visit the main cities in Hokkaido, you might also consider using train or bus Free Passes.

For example, if you're visiting Otaru, you can get a "Otaru Free Pass," which includes a round-trip ticket between Sapporo and Otaru and a one-day bus pass within Otaru city. For Sapporo, there's the "Sapporo Subway 1-Day Pass," which offers unlimited rides on the subway for a day.

However, Bus Tours have fixed routes, so it is hard to change plans on the fly. FreePasses are also restricted to certain lines, so you need to plan accordingly when making changes to your itinerary. Please keep this in mind when booking.

Sapporo Subway 1-day pass

Adults 830 yen, Children 420 yen

This is a great value pass that offers unlimited rides on the Sapporo subway for one day.

How to Purchase: Available at Sapporo subway station ticket machines and at various season ticket offices.

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

Sapporo Subway Donichika Ticket

Adults 520 yen, children 260 yen

A special one-day subway ticket available on weekends, public holidays, and from December 29th to January 3rd.

How to buy: Available at Sapporo subway station ticket machines, subway station offices, and season ticket offices.

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

Otaru 1-day free set ticket

Adults 2,000 yen, Children 1,000 yen

This pass includes a round-trip ticket on the express bus between Sapporo and Otaru and a one-day bus pass within Otaru city, provided by Hokkaido Chuo Bus Co., Ltd.

How to purchase: Available at Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal and Sapporo Station Information Center.

URL: https://www.chuo-bus.co.jp/main/setticket/index.cgi?ope=det&n=18 (Japanese only)

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

Sapporo city half-day sightseeing course

Adults: 3,100 yen, Children: 1,550 yen

This is a bus tour provided by Hokkaido Chuo Bus Co., Ltd. You can choose from two courses.

A [Sapporo Morning Sightseeing] Shiroi Koibito Park Okurayama Ski Jump & Outer Market Course

B [Sapporo Afternoon Sightseeing] Okurayama Ski Jump & Hitsujigaoka Observatory Course (Audio Guidance Course)

How to purchase: You can book your tickets online at the following URLs

A: https://teikan.chuo-bus.co.jp/en/course/13346

B: https://teikan.chuo-bus.co.jp/en/course/13343

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

Asahiyama Zoo Day Trip Course

Adults: 6,000 yen, Children: 2,600 yen

This is a bus tour provided by Hokkaido Chuo Bus Co., Ltd. that travels from Sapporo Station to Asahiyama Zoo.

How to purchase: You can book your tickets online at the following URLs

https://teikan.chuo-bus.co.jp/en/course/128

*Please note that prices are estimates and subject to change. For Update information, please check the Official Websites of each transportation provider.

Recommended Transportation Options for Exploring Hokkaido's Natural Wonders: Rent a Car

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If you're planning to explore areas beyond the cities and immerse yourself in Hokkaido's vast natural landscapes, renting a car is highly recommended. Public transportation, such as trains and buses, is less frequent in rural areas compared to the major cities. For destinations that are accessible only by car, renting one will give you the freedom to travel at your own pace without worrying about bus or train schedules. With a rental car, you can visit smaller towns, the lavender fields at Farm Tomita, Kushiro Marsh, Hosooka Observatory, or hidden gems that are less known to tourists.

ToCoo! Rental Car

ToCoo! Rent a Car is one of Japan's largest platforms providing car rental reservation services, especially catering to foreign tourists. With over 20 years of experience, ToCoo! operates websites in multiple languages, including English, Chinese (Traditional), Korean, and Thai. ToCoo! has partnerships with 68 of Japan's leading rental car companies, including famous brands such as TOYOTA Rent a Car, NIPPON Rent A Car, Orix Rent a Car, and Nissan Rent a Car. With over 3,000 locations across Japan, including airports and bullet train stations, renting a car through ToCoo! is convenient and accessible nationwide.

How to Get to Furano and Biei

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Tourist attractions: Shikisai Hill, Blue Pond, Shirahige Falls, Farm Tomita

Route: Asahikawa Station → Shikisai-no-Oka (approx. 30km, approx. 45 minutes by car) → Blue Pond (approx. 16km, approx. 20 minutes by car) → Shirahige-no-Taki Falls (approx. 4km, approx. 5 minutes by car) → Farm Tomita (approx. 29km, approx. 30 minutes by car)

Estimated rental car fee: 5,760 yen (excluding tax) / day (8:00-20:00)

5-seater compact car (e.g. YARIS, FIT, etc.) For 4 people: from 1,440 yen/person/day

How to Get to Kushiro Marsh

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Tourist spot: Kushiro Marsh National Park (Hosooka Observatory)

Route: Kushiro Airport → Kushiro Marsh National Park (Hosooka Observatory) (approx. 42km, approx. 45 minutes by car)

Estimated rental car fee: From 6,900 yen (excluding tax) / day (8:00-20:00)

5-seater compact car (e.g. FIT, SWIFT, NOTE, etc.) for 4 people: from 1,725 yen/person/day

How to get to the Shiretoko Peninsula

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Tourist spot: Shiretoko Five Lakes

Route: Memanbetsu Airport → Shiretoko Five Lakes (approx. 90km, approx. 2 hours by car)

Estimated rental car fee: From 6,900 yen (excluding tax) / day (8:00-20:00)

5-seater compact car (e.g. FIT, SWIFT, NOTE, etc.) for 4 people: from 1,725 yen/person/day

How to Get to Noboribetsu Onsen

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Tourist spots: Jigokudani, Noboribetsu Onsen town

Route: New Chitose Airport → Jigokudani (approx. 80km, approx. 1 hour 30 minutes by car) → Noboribetsu Onsen Town (approx. 1km, approx. 5 minutes by car)

Estimated rental car fee: From 4,545 yen (excluding tax) / day (9:00-18:00)

5-seater compact car (e.g. MARCH, NOTE, FIT, etc.) for 4 people: from 1,136 yen/person/day

How to Get to Niseko

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Tourist spots: Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort, Mt. Yotei (Ezo Fuji), Kutchan Town

Route: New Chitose Airport → Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort (approx. 110km, approx. 2 hours by car) → Mt. Yotei (Ezo Fuji) (approx. 20km, approx. 30 minutes by car) → Kutchan Town (approx. 15km, approx. 20 minutes by car)

Estimated rental car fee: From 4,545 yen (excluding tax) / day (9:00-18:00)

5-seater compact car (e.g. MARCH, NOTE, FIT, etc.) for 4 people: from 1,136 yen/person/day

*Please note that Rental Car fee is for reference only. Additional costs, such as tolls, fuel, and parking fees, can be occurred.

For those concerned about Driving in Snowy conditions, ToCoo! Rental Car offers Winter Tires plans and Snow Socks. So you can drive safely and can enjoy your travel.

ToCoo! Rental Car

[Special Offer] Rental Car Discount Information

ToCoo! Rental car 1,000 yen discount coupon

Coupon code: TCMH01

Terms of use: Get 1,000 yen discount on rental car fares of 10,000 yen or more.

* Usage: Available only through the ToCoo! website

*ToCoo! Option fees are not included in discounts.

Usage period: Unlimited

Applicable stores: All rental car stores

[Special Offer] How to book Rental Car for even Cheaper

By booking with ToCoo!'s Early Bird Pay Now plan, you can save up to 15% on your rental car reservation. You can also combine this offer with the 1,000 JPY discount coupon for even greater savings.

Early Bird Pay Now Plan

By booking with ToCoo!'s Early Bird Pay Now plan, you can save up to 15% on your rental car reservation. You can also combine this offer with the 1,000 JPY discount coupon for even greater savings.

If your plan is to visit major cities and popular tourist attractions in Hokkaido, Trains and Buses are suitable. In the other hand, if you'd like the freedom to explore various places across Hokkaido, Rental Car is the way to go.

Everyone has various travel preferences with their each travel. We hope this guide helps you find the perfect transportation option for your travel!