Travel to Hokkaido with kids

Image credit: JAL Guide to Japan

June holidays in Hokkaido with kids

6 - 17 June 2023

It's the June holidays! Now that T is in Primary School, we can only travel during June and December.

Our first trip after Covid lockdowns, we decided on an 11-day trip to Hokkaido (7 days), then Tokyo Disneyland (3 days).

Overview of our itinerary:

1. Asahikawa (3D2N)

2. Furano/Biei (2D1N)

3. Sapporo (3D2N)

4. Lake Toya (3D2N)

5. Tokyo Disneyland (3D2N)

We took Japan Airlines, flight JAL36 and flew from Singapore to Tokyo.

The flight was from 2150hours to 0550hours the next day. We took the red eye flight so the kids can sleep through for easy travel.

Then we went to the Domestic Airport for a domestic flight to Hokkaido.

JAL503 from Tokyo to Hokkaido: 0730hrs to 0900hrs

How to rent a car in Hokkaido

Upon arriving at New Chitose Airport, we picked up our luggage and headed straight to the TOYOTA Rent A Car counter. We had to go from 2F (arrival) down to 1F where the Reception Counter is. All the car rental counters are here.

After queueing to get a number (A4 laminated paper), we were told to wait for the shuttle bus? Also observed that all the other car rental companies were operating the same way. What I did not expect was a 20 mins faraway ride to a huge open space where all the car rental companies store their cars. It's a huge operation!

Image credit: Tabirai Japan

We picked up our Alphard Hybrid that will be our transport for the next 7 days.

Cost: JPY 156,750 or approximately SGD 1,430.

Hokkaido Expressway Pass

Note! They will give you the option of buying a per day toll pass. As we weren't sure where or when we would be on toll roads, we bought a 7-day pass at JPY 7,800 or SGD 71.20. That's about SGD 10.20 per day.

The Hokkaido Expressway Pass gives you unlimited use of Hokkaido's expressways for a fixed price per day. With this Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Card, you don't have to stop for tolls, just slow down for the wireless connection from the toll booth to 'pay' and you're set! no need to worry about figuring out toll fees, or routes to take that do not have tolls! By the way this pass is only for foreigners to Japan.

Hokkaido Expressway Pass Price Chart

Image credit: Nexco

And we're off!

TIP: In Japan, GPS systems in cars use the phone number as the location, instead of addresses.

First stop: Asahikawa

Image credit: Live Japan

About Asahikawa

Asahikawa is known for their zoo, ramen and a ski resort and is the second largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo.

Image credit: Google Maps