Ya, I am still hesitating about this Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass. The only advantage I can see so far is it covers up to Noboribetsu. Wanted to go Hakodate (maybe can see ending of sakura) but train took about 4 hours. Going in middle May so no lavendar hence skipping Furano/Biei too. Just 2 pax. This is my itinerary for now. Is Jozankei worth going?

Day 0 - Arrive 7:35 PM, Sapporo
Day 1 - Sapporo
Day 2 - Otaru daytrip
Day 3 - Jozankei daytrip
Day 4 - Noboribetsu (still thinking daytrip or overnight)
Day 5 - Depart 8:30 PM

I took local Jr train, Hokuto express and bus. Morning I took Hokuto to toyoko station, walk to lake Toya and stay there for bout 2 hours. Later afternoon took Hokuto again straight to Noboribetsu station. Took local bus to jigokudani. At end of day I initially book hokuto to go back to higashi muroran but I saw jr local train came early so I hop on there to go back hotel.

Other than bus I used Jr Hokkaido pass. Buy your pass at Jr website rather than Klook or other third party site, cause you can directly book train seats at Jr website and then pick up easily. Don’t be like me bought the pass at Klook and need to q up at Sapporo station to one by one book all the train tickets. The amount of people and time you need to wait you will cry.

Just beware of the train station staffs and see if they took your pass or not. When I first arrived at noboribetsu station, it was so crowded the staffs just randomly took ticket at the gate. He took my Jr pass, lucky I noticed and told him lol.

This post has been edited by HumanExtinction: Oct 9 2025, 12:15 PM

For me jozankei and Otaru absolutely not worth to go. If you not going to onsen jozankei has nothing to offer. Otaru even worse, other that one canal there’s nothing to see, literally like a ghost town and full of tourists. The only thing I enjoyed was the train ride from Sapporo to Otaru, the view between the train tracks and ocean was breathtaking.

This post has been edited by HumanExtinction: Oct 9 2025, 12:21 PM

Jozankei most beautiful was at autumn season. But Onsen hotel price will be x3 times. summer activities at Jozankei was hiking alone river. If you not going overnight at Jozankei or hiking, basically summer version of Jozankei cannot offer you anything...Autumn Season even not overnight, but you still can take outstanding picture.

Thanks both, I will digest the comments and put into my plan

mid of may might be no sakura already, this year i go hokkaido on their golden week, full bloom anywhere on sapporo area and southern are(hakodate)
if your hotel at sapporo, hakodate last train back to sapporo around 6pm++, all seat need to book first



This post has been edited by xiaomoon: Oct 9 2025, 01:50 PM


Attached thumbnail(s)

Beautiful scenery!

just checked sakura info web, this year turn green around may 8th, so mid of may no more sakura, only left green leaf

some website can check sakurastatus, if u can read japanese will help when chasing those sakura season, when season come got ppl will do the sakura status update
https://hanami.walkerplus.com/
https://weathernews.jp/sakura/
https://tenki.jp/sakura/
https://s.n-kishou.co.jp/w/sp/sakura/sakura_top

This post has been edited by xiaomoon: Oct 9 2025, 02:22 PM

Thank you

Would you be returning to Hokkaido in the future? If yes, why not focus on Sapporo, considering your trip duration and leave the Noboribetsu for the next trip? Sapporo is the 5th largest Japanese city and the largest northern city. It gets dark by 7pm during May so unless you are prepared to start your day trips very early and return to Sapporo earlier, it might be challenging to fully enjoy the sights and experiences without feeling a bit rushed. Prioritising Sapporo allows for a more relaxed pace : )

I would love to return for winter or lavender one day. Noboribetsu is non-negotiable as partner wants to visit the Jigokudani Valley (no idea why lol). Likely will skip Jozankei, so am looking for alternative onsen around sapporo, otaru, noboribetsu.

Since you already booked flight ticket, nothing you can do. if not, you should try to fly into Hakodate, then move your way up to Sapporo/Chitose.

I suggest you rent a car from the airport, much easier transportation wise.

you can try this route Chitose (overnight)-->Noboribetsu (onsen)-->Lake Toya (onsen)-->Niseko/Otaru-->Sapporo-->Chitose

I like the sound of this. Just that driving into cities like Sapporo (or Hakodate) will require you to hunt for parking lots (if you can't find street parking), park and pay for parking that will diminish the convenience of driving. Not all parking in the cities are paid parking and usually parkings at larger supermarkets or konbinis are free. Do not park at unauthorized parking spaces (there are signages and notices indicating fines of ¥10,000 or ¥30,000).

Since you plan to visit Jigpkudani Valley, might I interest you in the nearby Oyunuma Pond and Foot Bath? If you don't make it to the Foot Bath, you might come across other public foot baths too, so it's not a must see. Also consider visiting Noboribetsu Bear Park (entrance fee ¥3,000 comes with a return ropeway ticket) but if you're driving there there is another ¥500 parking fee (applicable at both the Bear Park Parking Lot and Jigokudani Parking Lot). There are activities on a daily basis at the Bear Park (duck race, bear activities that are planned from 10.00am-3.30pm except from 12.00pm-1.00pm).

Thanks, I will check the pond and foot bath. Not so keen into the beer park atm. For now will plan on making the connections via public transport.

I went to the bear park this feb and I dont really recommend it anymore. Bears are getting lesser and all of them seems very depressed, lazy and don't want to interact with people. Or maybe I go during winter all of them still hibernate lol. Duck race is fun. But for 3000 yen I really dont think its worth the price. TBH i rather took the 3000 yen and go eat something good.

This post has been edited by HumanExtinction: Oct 10 2025, 02:10 PM

Technically, he can just return the car in Sapporo (one-way charge won't be very high anyway). then take highway bus or train to Chitose airport on the last day.

Unfortunately the ANA promo didnt allow to going/returning at different airport. That was the most efficient route

Yes, that would be the best approach. I'm just expressing the pain of driving and more importantly parking in cities. Driving outside Sapporo or Hakodate is not so bad, can save some time commuting and provide convenience for travelers.

What do you mean? ANA promo certainly can do different airports for domestic flights

I did before
Hakodate then Chitose
Hiroshima then Osaka Itami
Wakkanai then Chitose