Eastern Hokkaido or the central route

Choose eastern Hokkaido if you have been to the central area and want wild landscapes, wildlife and quiet roads. Choose the central route if this is your first Hokkaido trip, because Sapporo, Otaru and Furano sit close together. The east pays you back in scenery but costs you in driving hours.

What does each side offer?

The east’s best-known stops are Kushiro’s seafood market, Lake Akan with its Ainu culture and the Shiretoko Peninsula, where brown bears, foxes and deer roam freely ¹. These are quieter and more remote than the central area.

The centre has Sapporo, known for beer, ramen and the Snow Festival, and Furano’s lavender farms in summer ². See our guide to the Asahikawa, Furano and Biei region for how that side works.

How honest should we be about the drive?

Very honest. Distances between eastern sights are large, and a day can be mostly road. We do not quote a single drive time here because it depends on season, route and stops, so we confirm it with operators when we plan your dates.

Plan for fewer stops per day and a rest day built in. With elders or small children, long seat time wears everyone down faster than a long walk does.

How do you get around?

Rail is thin in the east, so most travellers choose a car, a private driver or a tour. Our rail, rental car or tour guide compares them, and the private car itinerary shows how a driver changes the days.

Winter closes some roads and attractions, so check seasonal operations for Hokkaido before you fix dates.

How does it fit a Malaysian trip?

Most Malaysians reach Hokkaido through Tokyo or another Japanese hub, with Tokyo to New Chitose taking about 90 minutes by air ³. Our direct or via guide explains the options.

The east also means a long return to the airport on your last day. Keep that day free.

Which side suits you?

Pick the east when:

• you have already seen Sapporo and Furano.
• you enjoy nature and wildlife more than shopping.
• everyone can sit in a car for several hours.

Pick the centre when:

• this is your first Hokkaido trip.
• you travel with elders or small children.
• you have fewer than six days on the ground.

Send us your dates and group, and we tell you which side fits.