Getting Around Eastern Hokkaido

Getting Around Eastern Hokkaido

It goes without saying that to make the most of a rural area, the easiest way to ensure yourself good access is by hiring a car. Anyone traveling straight into Eastern Hokkaido by plane will arrive at one of its four airports: Memanbetsu Airport, Kushiro Airport, Tokachi Obihiro Airport, or Nemuro Nakashibetsu Airport. The easiest option for rental is to pick a car up directly from one of the airports which is sometimes available on the spot but best booked in advance online to guarantee you get the car you’re looking for.

If you’re planning a trip around the whole of Hokkaido, Sapporo has the largest number of car rental options with a large range of car/van styles and prices. In order to rent a car in Japan, you will need either an international driver’s license which you can apply for in your own country or a Japanese license which can be obtained in driver’s license centers in most big cities around Japan.

Getting Around Eastern Hokkaido

If you’re sticking to public transport, one of the easiest and most affordable ways of getting around is by bus. The Eastern Hokkaido Sightseeing Bus follows a route that starts at Sapporo and travels through several of the main attractions in the east of Hokkaido, including Onneyu Onsen, several spots in Abashiri, Obihiro, Lake Akan Onsen, Lake Mashu, Kawayu Onsen, and Utoro. A one-way ticket starts at 2,000 yen, or 1,600 yen for children, with the price altering depending on the route you’d like to take.

Getting Around Eastern Hokkaido

While the Abashiri Bus Company offers more pricey tickets from Sapporo to Eastern Hokkaido, it covers a route around Abashiri that will take you to the majority of the main attractions, such as the Abashiri Prison Museum, Tentozan (Okhotsk Drift Ice Hall), Hokkaido Museum of Northern People, and the Hana Tento flower park.

Getting Around Eastern Hokkaido

While walking is a popular activity for visitors to Hokkaido, if you’re planning on heading from one spot to the next or on a big trip around one of the region’s picturesque lakes, jumping on a bike and pedalling your way around is one of the easiest options. With Eastern Hokkaido well set up for outdoorsy types, bike hire is available at several points around the main cities most commonly close to the train stations.

Getting Around Eastern Hokkaido

Each city around Eastern Hokkaido has its own train station, however, it’s worth keeping in mind that trains do not run frequently with trains running just a few times a day in some of the smaller towns. For covering the big distances around Hokkaido at speed, the Hokkaido Rail Pass offers unlimited travel on both JR trains and buses, starting at 16,500 yen for a 3-day pass.

Memambetsu Airport

Hokkaido

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Kushiro Airport

Hokkaido

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Obihiro Airport

Hokkaido

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Nemuro-Nakashibetsu Airport

Hokkaido

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