{"id":43412,"date":"2026-11-11T18:21:53","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T09:21:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/?p=43412"},"modified":"2026-11-11T23:21:47","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T14:21:47","slug":"hokkaido-winter-charter-5days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/hokkaido-winter-charter-5days\/","title":{"rendered":"5-Day, 4-Night Winter Chartered Car Tour in Hokkaido | Enjoy Lake Toya, Noboribetsu, Otaru, and Sapporo Without Driving"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.kk{--o:#D9692A;--ink:#2a2a2a;--sub:#777;--line:#e6e1d9;--cream:#faf6ef;color:var(--ink);line-height:1.9;font-size:16px;max-width:740px;margin:0 auto}\n.kk h2{font-size:21px;font-weight:700;margin:52px 0 16px;padding-bottom:8px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}\n.kk h2 small{display:block;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.2em;color:var(--o);font-weight:600;margin-bottom:2px}\n.kk p{margin:0 0 16px}\n.kk table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:15px;margin:6px 0 10px}\n.kk th{text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:13px;color:var(--sub);border-bottom:2px solid var(--ink);padding:8px 6px}\n.kk td{padding:10px 6px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);vertical-align:top}\n.kk td:first-child{white-space:nowrap;font-weight:700;color:var(--o)}\n.kk .day{margin:0 0 40px}\n.kk .day-head{border-top:3px solid var(--o);padding-top:10px;margin-bottom:12px}\n.kk .day-head .d{font-size:13px;font-weight:700;color:var(--o);letter-spacing:.15em}\n.kk .day-head .r{font-size:18px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.5}\n.kk .drive{font-size:13px;color:var(--sub);margin-bottom:14px}\n.kk .spot{margin:0 0 6px}\n.kk .spot h3{font-size:16px;font-weight:700;margin:0 0 2px}\n.kk .spot h3 span{font-size:12px;font-weight:500;color:var(--sub);margin-left:6px}\n.kk .spot p{font-size:15px;color:#444;margin:0 0 4px}\n.kk .move{font-size:13px;color:var(--sub);margin:2px 0 14px}\n.kk .hotel{font-size:14px;background:var(--cream);padding:9px 14px;margin-top:8px}\n.kk .tips p{font-size:15px;padding-left:14px;border-left:2px solid var(--line)}\n.kk .qa p{font-size:15px}\n.kk .qa b{color:var(--o)}\n.kk .contact{background:var(--cream);padding:26px 24px;margin:50px 0 10px}\n.kk .contact h2{margin-top:0;border:0;padding:0}\n.kk .contact a.btn{display:inline-block;background:var(--o);color:#fff;font-weight:700;padding:11px 26px;text-decoration:none;margin-top:4px}\n@media(max-width:600px){.kk table{font-size:13px}.kk td:first-child{white-space:normal}}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"kk\">\n\n<p>One of the questions I\u2019m asked most often when visiting Hokkaido in winter is, \u201cCan I rent a car on my own?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yes, but we generally don\u2019t recommend it. From December through February, the roads are mostly covered in packed snow or \u201cblack ice\u201d\u2014which looks like wet snow but is actually frozen. On mountain roads and along the coast, a sudden snowstorm can sweep in, turning the view ahead completely white. On top of that, it gets dark around 4:00 p.m., and drives between attractions often take one or two hours, which can be quite exhausting for people who aren\u2019t used to driving in snowy conditions.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why we recommend hiring a private car in the winter. The drivers are used to driving on snowy roads every day, and the cars are equipped with winter tires; you won\u2019t have to carry your luggage yourself, and it\u2019s much easier when traveling with elderly family members or children. For groups of 2 to 8 people, we can arrange a Chinese-speaking driver who also serves as a tour guide, and if the weather is bad, you can change your itinerary on the spot.<\/p>\n<p>Below is one of the itineraries we frequently plan, which is ideal for first-time visitors to Hokkaido in winter. It includes stops at Lake Toya, Noboribetsu, Lake Shikotsu, and Otaru, with the last two nights spent in Sapporo.<\/p>\n\n<h2><small>ROUTE<\/small>Route Overview<\/h2>\n<p>You should only book a full-day private car for the two days when you'll be traveling long distances; on the day you're in downtown Sapporo, just take the subway\u2014that way, you can save quite a bit of money.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead><tr><th>Number of days<\/th><th>Route<\/th><th>Car Rental<\/th><th>Accommodations<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>Day 1<\/td><td>New Chitose Airport \u2192 Lake Toya<\/td><td>Airport Pickup<\/td><td>Lake Toya Hot Springs<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Day 2<\/td><td>Lake Toya \u2192 Mount Usu \u2192 Noboribetsu Jigokudani \u2192 Lake Shikotsu \u2192 Jozankei<\/td><td>Full-Day Chartered Vehicle<\/td><td>Jozankei Hot Springs<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Day 3<\/td><td>Jozankei \u2192 Tobetsu \u2192 Otaru \u2192 Sapporo<\/td><td>Full-Day Chartered Vehicle<\/td><td>Sapporo<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Day 4<\/td><td>Free Time in Sapporo<\/td><td>Unwanted Cars<\/td><td>Sapporo<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Day 5<\/td><td>Sapporo \u2192 New Chitose Airport<\/td><td>Transmitter<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<h2><small>ITINERARY<\/small>Daily Itinerary<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"day\">\n<div class=\"day-head\"><div class=\"d\">DAY 1<\/div><div class=\"r\">New Chitose Airport \u2192 Lake Toya Hot Springs<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"drive\">Driving time: about 1 hour and 40 minutes<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>New Chitose Airport<span>Airport Pickup<\/span><\/h3><p>The driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall holding a sign, help load your luggage into the car, and drive you directly to the hot spring hotel.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"move\">\u2193 About 1 hour and 40 minutes<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Lake Toya Hot Springs<span>Hot Springs &amp; Lake Views<\/span><\/h3><p>On the first day, we won't visit any tourist spots\u2014we'll just take it easy and rest. Most of the hot spring hotels along the lake offer views of Lake Toya and Nakajima Island in the middle of the lake.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"hotel\">Accommodations | Lake Toya Hot Springs (Lake View Hot Spring Hotel)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"day\">\n<div class=\"day-head\"><div class=\"d\">DAY 2<\/div><div class=\"r\">Lake Toya \u2192 Mount Usu \u2192 Noboribetsu Jigokudani \u2192 Lake Shikotsu \u2192 Jozankei Onsen<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"drive\">Total driving time: approximately 4 hours (including stops along the way)<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Mount Usu Cable Car \u00b7 Showa-Shinzan<span>Volcano<\/span><\/h3><p>From the cable car, you can see the entire Lake Toya, as well as Showa-Shinzan, which is still emitting smoke. Winter operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There may be periods when the cable car is out of service for maintenance during the winter, so we\u2019ll double-check before we leave.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"move\">\u2193 About 1 hour<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Noboribetsu Jigokudani<span>Geothermal Energy<\/span><\/h3><p>White smoke rises everywhere in the snowy landscape, and there\u2019s a strong smell of sulfur. A loop takes about 30 to 40 minutes; the trail gets icy in winter, so be sure to wear non-slip shoes.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"move\">\u2193 About 1 hour<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Lake Shikotsu<span>Lake View<\/span><\/h3><p>The lake rarely freezes even in winter, and on clear days, the water is a crystal-clear blue. The \u201cChitose-Shikotsu Lake Ice Festival\u201d takes place from late January through February; in 2027, it is scheduled for January 30 through February 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the illuminations beginning at 4:30 p.m.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"move\">\u2193 About 1 hour and 10 minutes<\/div>\n<div class=\"hotel\">Accommodations | Jozankei Onsen (a hot spring town about an hour from downtown Sapporo)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"day\">\n<div class=\"day-head\"><div class=\"d\">DAY 3<\/div><div class=\"r\">Jozankei \u2192 Tobetsu \u2192 Otaru \u2192 Sapporo<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"drive\">Total driving time: approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Tobetsu \u00b7 ROYCE\u2019 Cocoa &amp; Chocolate Castle<span>Factory Tour<\/span><\/h3><p>At the ROYCE\u2019 factory in our town of T\u014dbetsu, you can see the process of turning cocoa beans into chocolate and even make your own chocolate bars. Facility hours: 10:00 a.m.\u20135:00 p.m. (last admission at 3:00 p.m.); shop hours: 9:00 a.m.\u20136:00 p.m. Open daily (no regular holidays); we recommend making a reservation in advance on the official website. You can have lunch at the adjacent \u201cMichinoeki T\u014dbetsu.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"move\">\u2193 About 1 hour and 10 minutes<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Otaru Canal and Sakai-cho Street<span>Walking and Shopping<\/span><\/h3><p>I recommend visiting in the evening, when the gas lamps along the canal are lit\u2014that\u2019s when it looks its best. On Sakaimachi-dori, you\u2019ll find a music box shop, a glass workshop, and a dessert shop. In early February, there\u2019s also the \u201cOtaru Snow Light Path.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"move\">\u2193 About 50 minutes<\/div>\n<div class=\"hotel\">Accommodations | Sapporo City (2 consecutive nights)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"day\">\n<div class=\"day-head\"><div class=\"d\">DAY 4<\/div><div class=\"r\">Free Time in Sapporo<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"drive\">On this day, there's no need to hire a private car\u2014the subway and streetcars are very convenient.<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Nijo Market<span>Breakfast<\/span><\/h3><p>Go out for a seafood bowl or king crab for breakfast.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Odori Park and the Sapporo TV Tower<\/h3><p>This is the main venue for the Sapporo Snow Festival in February.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Mount Moiwa Cable Car<span>Night View<\/span><\/h3><p>One of Japan's New Three Great Night Views. Open from December through March, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last cable car up at 9:30 p.m.); closed during the year-end and New Year holidays. You can take the streetcar to the cable car station.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"hotel\">Accommodations | Sapporo City<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"day\">\n<div class=\"day-head\"><div class=\"d\">DAY 5<\/div><div class=\"r\">Sapporo \u2192 New Chitose Airport<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"drive\">Approx. 1-hour drive<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>Free Time in Sapporo<\/h3><p>After you've finished shopping for souvenirs, the driver will pick you up at your hotel based on your flight schedule.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"move\">\u2193 About 1 hour<\/div>\n<div class=\"spot\"><h3>New Chitose Airport<span>Transmitter<\/span><\/h3><p>There are plenty of shops at the airport, so you can arrive a little early and take your time browsing.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><small>NOTES<\/small>Things to Keep in Mind When Renting a Car in Winter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tips\">\n<p><b>Don't overfill it.<\/b>In winter, it gets dark around 4:00 p.m., and when it snows, the drive often takes 30 minutes or more longer, so visiting 3 to 4 attractions a day is just right.<\/p>\n<p><b>Clothing.<\/b>The indoor heating is very strong, and it can get as cold as -10 degrees Celsius outside, so we recommend dressing in layers. Non-slip snow boots or crampons are essential, as the slopes in Jigokudani and Otaru are particularly slippery.<\/p>\n<p><b>Business hours are subject to change.<\/b>The cable car may be suspended due to strong winds or maintenance, and many facilities are closed during the year-end and New Year holidays. We\u2019ll check all of these details for you before you depart.<\/p>\n<p><b>A driver's working hours.<\/b>Chartered vehicle services are generally available between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., for up to 10 hours per day; any time beyond that will incur an additional overtime fee.<\/p>\n<p><b>Luggage.<\/b>The vehicle type will be determined based on the number of passengers and the number of suitcases. The Alphard seats up to 7\u20138 people, and the Hiace seats up to 10, but since there tends to be more luggage in the winter, we actually recommend traveling with a few fewer passengers. Please let us know the approximate number of suitcases when you make your inquiry.<\/p>\n<p><b>During the Snow Festival.<\/b>Hotels in Sapporo tend to fill up well in advance of the Snow Festival in February, so it's best to book 3 to 6 months ahead of time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><small>Q&amp;A<\/small>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"qa\">\n<p><b>Does the driver speak Chinese?<\/b><br>For small groups of 2 to 8 people, we can arrange a Chinese-speaking driver who also serves as a tour guide and will provide commentary on the sights along the way.<\/p>\n<p><b>Can the itinerary be changed?<\/b><br>Sure, this is just an example. You can add Asahiyama Zoo, Biei, or go skiing in Niseko\u2014we\u2019ll adjust the itinerary based on your family\u2019s ages and preferences.<\/p>\n<p><b>Is this suitable for bringing along elders and children?<\/b><br>It's perfect. You don't have to rush to catch the train while dragging your luggage, and you can rest on the train when you get tired. We can also provide a child seat\u2014just let us know in advance.<\/p>\n<p><b>How far in advance should I book?<\/b><br>The peak season runs from mid-December to late February, so we recommend contacting us three months in advance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"contact\">\n<h2>Want to plan your own itinerary?<\/h2>\n<p>Kan Akane Travel (Kan Akane Co., Ltd.) is a travel agency registered with the Governor of Hokkaido, located in Tobetsu Town, just outside Sapporo. We primarily arrange private car tours and customized itineraries in Hokkaido for travelers from Taiwan and Hong Kong, and all communication can be conducted in Chinese. If you\u2019d like to learn more about Tobetsu, you can also check out<a href=\"\/zh\/about-tobetsu\/\">Introduction to Tobetsu Town<\/a>\u3002<\/p>\n<p>Just let us know the date, the number of people, and where you'd like to go\u2014we'll provide itinerary suggestions and a quote at no charge.<\/p>\n<a class=\"btn\" href=\"\/zh\/contact\/\">Customization Process Consultation<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In winter, Hokkaido\u2019s snow-covered roads are difficult to navigate, making driving on your own risky. Kanako Travel has put together a classic 5-day, 4-night private car tour itinerary for Hokkaido: Lake Toya, Noboribetsu Jigokudani, Jozankei Onsen, Otaru Canal, Tobetsu, and Sapporo. The itinerary includes driving times, attraction hours, and important notes for private car tours.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[188],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-188","description-off"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43412"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43416,"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43412\/revisions\/43416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanakane.co.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}