Resort Glamping.com
Nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Koshin, Kansai, Tokai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa)
Resort Glamping.com
Nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Koshin, Kansai, Tokai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa)
June 4, 2026
Hokkaido is one of the most suitable areas for road trips in Japan. Its appeal lies in the diverse natural scenery, accommodation experiences, and gourmet food available in each region. For Hong Kong and Taiwan travelers planning their first independent trip to Hokkaido, renting a car is a travel style that allows you to combine natural scenic spots, glamping, and local cuisine into a single route without being bound by JR or bus schedules. Because Hokkaido is so vast, staying in Sapporo every night and traveling back and forth will only increase travel time. Ideally, you should divide your accommodation area according to your route.
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A road trip in Hokkaido is different from a city trip to Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto.
While urban areas rely primarily on train travel, Hokkaido's popular tourist destinations are scattered throughout the suburbs. Examples include Lake Toya, Noboribetsu, and Furano.
If you're planning your first road trip to Hokkaido, instead of simply choosing the cheapest hotel, I recommend focusing on the following three points.
Is it a reasonable location on the route?
・Is there a parking lot?
Does the accommodation itself offer any experiential value?
The official Hokkaido tourism website also features fresh seafood as one of Hokkaido's representative gourmet foods. Furthermore, Sapporo tourism information highlights Hokkaido as a "city of food," mentioning ramen, Jingisukan (grilled lamb), and seafood.
Therefore, when planning a road trip in Hokkaido, it's recommended to plan your accommodation and meals together.
For example, combining a glamping stay, a stay in the Lake Toya area, and enjoying seafood, ramen, or hot spring inn cuisine the next day with your travel route can make for a more satisfying trip.
When choosing accommodation in Hokkaido, it's best to select by "area." Staying in the same city every night is not recommended for first-time road trips.
To ensure a comfortable trip, it's ideal to divide your travel route into several accommodation areas.
Also, if you're planning a rental car trip in Hokkaido, be sure to check for parking availability before making a reservation. Some hotels in urban areas may charge extra for parking.
On the other hand, suburban glamping facilities and resort accommodations are more suitable for those traveling by car, as parking is easier and rooms tend to be more spacious.
Here are three recommended accommodations that are easy to incorporate into your Hokkaido road trip itinerary.
Hokkaido Rusutsu Glamping Snow Pod is a glamping facility located in Rusutsu, Hokkaido.
In the summer, you can enjoy BBQs and bonfires in nature, and in the winter, you can fully enjoy the powder snow and winter sports atmosphere of Rusutsu.
For meals, we offer a glamping BBQ available only in the summer, and an Italian dinner course available only in the winter (reservations required).
For our summer BBQs, we use carefully selected ingredients from the Rusutsu area of Hokkaido. Our winter Italian courses also feature ingredients from Hokkaido.
If you're planning a route like "Sapporo → Rusutsu (overnight stay) → Lake Toya," Snow Pod is an extremely convenient stopover accommodation.
If you're planning a road trip to Hokkaido and want to include an overnight stay at Lake Toya, OKU-TOYA CLUB is a highly recommended glamping facility.
Located near Lake Toya, it offers stunning natural scenery and a relaxing lakeside atmosphere. Parking is also available.
OKU-TOYA CLUB also has an outdoor sauna.
For those who want their Hokkaido trip to be more than just sightseeing, but also a resort-like stay, this is the perfect place for a relaxing one-night stay.
Kitahiroshima Kaeru Camp is an accommodation located in Kitahiroshima City, Hokkaido, and is perfect for your first or last day of your Hokkaido trip.
This is ideal for people who don't want to drive a long distance immediately after arriving at New Chitose Airport, or for travelers looking for a place that's easy to get back to the airport from on their last day.
It's recommended for camping beginners, trips with friends, and family trips.
However, in some trailer homes, the kitchen, shower, and flush toilet may be unavailable during winter to prevent freezing. Be sure to check the season and room conditions before booking.
Sample meal menu:
Thick-cut Hokkaido beef
Hokkaido-produced pork
• Raw lamb jingisukan vegetable set
Beef and pork yakiniku set
If you're taking a road trip to Hokkaido for the first time, combining the three accommodations mentioned above will help you create an efficient route.
Upon arriving in Hokkaido, I first stayed at Kitahiroshima Kaeru Camp.
We started our Hokkaido outdoor trip by enjoying a stay in a trailer house and a BBQ in the evening.
We traveled to downtown Sapporo and toured Odori Park and the area around Sapporo Station.
For foodies, I recommend miso ramen and Jingisukan (grilled lamb).
In the afternoon, we'll travel to Otaru, where you can enjoy a stroll along the Otaru Canal, Otaru beer, sushi, and Hokkaido milk sweets.
We traveled towards Rusutsu and stayed at Hokkaido Rusutsu Glamping Snow Pod.
This day was mainly about enjoying an overnight stay, experiencing Hokkaido's nature, and having a BBQ.
In the summer, outdoor BBQs are a major draw, while in the winter, glamping amidst snowy landscapes is a must-try.
We traveled from Rusutsu towards Lake Toya and stayed at OKU-TOYA CLUB.
Lake Toya is an area where you should definitely consider staying overnight during a road trip in Hokkaido.
You can enjoy lakeside walks, outdoor saunas, and sightseeing in the surrounding area.
Starting from Lake Toya, we'll head to Hakodate, stopping at Noboribetsu Onsen and Jigokudani along the way.
In the evening, I recommend visiting the Hakodateyama night view, the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, and strolling around Motomachi.
Food options include Hakodate salt ramen, seafood izakayas, and sushi.
I had a seafood rice bowl at the Hakodate Morning Market in the morning.
During the day, I strolled around Goryokaku and Hachimanzaka.
On this day, reducing your driving and spending your time leisurely using the tram or walking will help you reset from the fatigue of your journey.
Ideally, the vehicle should be returned to Hakodate Airport or dropped off at Hakodate.
If you're returning to New Chitose Airport, it will be a long drive, so be sure to allow ample time for refueling, returning the rental car, and completing boarding procedures.
Hokkaido, with its vast landscapes and breathtaking scenery that changes dramatically with each season, is truly a resort paradise that Japan is proud of. From romantic canals to mystical caldera lakes, its numerous attractions captivate travelers from all over the world. Scattered throughout the vast land are cities with their own unique charm, such as Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, and Hakodate, a port town with an exotic atmosphere.
The historic red brick warehouses line the canal, creating a nostalgic atmosphere and becoming a symbol of Otaru. Sixty-three gas lamps are installed along the promenade, and as dusk falls, they cast a warm glow. As night falls, the sight of the illuminated warehouses reflected on the water is breathtakingly beautiful, making it a classic photo spot that you absolutely must capture in photos when traveling independently in Hokkaido.
This beautiful, almost perfectly circular caldera lake was formed by volcanic activity. It is also known for the fireworks displays that light up the lake every night from summer to autumn. At Toyako Onsen, which spreads along the lakeshore, you can enjoy a luxurious time soaking in the abundant hot springs while gazing at the magnificent view of the lake. In addition, at the nearby Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley), which is easily accessible by car, you can experience the powerful breath of Hokkaido's nature with its dynamic scenery of thick white smoke rising and hot springs gushing out from all directions.
Located almost in the center of Hokkaido, this area is a typical basin surrounded on all sides by majestic mountains. As a result, it is characterized by extremely large temperature differences between day and night, and throughout the year. In summer, you can encounter beautiful northern landscapes that seem straight out of a postcard, with lavender fields stretching as far as the eye can see, dyeing the entire area purple, and gently rolling green hills.
From vast ranches to the abundant seas surrounding it on all sides, Hokkaido is truly a "treasure trove of Japanese ingredients." Beyond its stunning scenery, what truly captivates travelers is the array of exquisite cuisine, some of the finest in the country.
With the arrival of winter comes the perfect season to fully enjoy authentic Hokkaido crab. The three most famous crabs of Hokkaido are the hairy crab, king crab, and snow crab. You can savor the natural sweetness of the crab in luxurious ways, from sashimi, which can only be enjoyed when the crab is fresh, to fragrant grilled crab, and crab hot pot (kani-chiri) where the umami flavor slowly permeates the dish.
This local specialty, originating in Sapporo, is now popular throughout Japan. Unlike typical thick, Japanese-style curries, it is characterized by its thin, soup-like consistency. It is filled with large pieces of locally grown vegetables that have been deep-fried slowly, as well as tenderly stewed chicken, pork, seafood, and hamburger patties. The authentic way to eat it is to dip rice (white rice) into the soup.
Hotels in urban areas such as Sapporo may charge a parking fee.
Glamping facilities generally offer relatively easy parking, but be sure to check whether you can park your car right next to your room or if you'll need to walk.
Glamping facilities may not offer the same late check-in options as large hotels.
Since many restaurants require advance reservations for dinner and BBQs, be sure not to arrive too late.
Even with studded tires, sudden braking, sharp turns, and driving on mountain roads at night are dangerous.
If you have little experience driving on snowy roads, it's recommended to reduce long-distance travel during the winter and choose accommodation areas that are easily accessible.
Kaeru Camp and Snow Pod offer BBQ and meal plans.
OKU-TOYA CLUB is ideal for a relaxing stay around Lake Toya.
Rather than searching for restaurants every day, incorporating meals at your accommodation will make it easier to enjoy a trip that truly captures the essence of Hokkaido.
If it's your first time, we recommend booking accommodations based on your route.
The easiest places to travel are Kitahiroshima or Sapporo upon arrival, Rusutsu and Lake Toya in the middle of your trip, and Hakodate at the end.
For a convenient option near the airport for your first and last days, check out Kitahiroshima Kaeru Camp.
If you prioritize nature, snowscapes, and a glamping experience, then Hokkaido Rusutsu Glamping Snow Pod is for you.
If you want to enjoy the nature of Lake Toya and a resort stay, OKU-TOYA CLUB is highly recommended.
All three facilities accommodate children of elementary school age and younger, as well as infants.
If accessibility is your priority, choose Kitahiroshima Kaeru Camp.
If you prioritize nature experiences, Snow Pod or OKU-TOYA CLUB would be suitable.
However, room type, number of beds, children's rates, and facility conditions must be confirmed in advance.
It is not required.
If you're focusing on Sapporo and Otaru, you can even stay multiple nights in Sapporo.
However, if you're going to Rusutsu, Lake Toya, and Hakodate, it's better to split your stay by area to reduce the burden of travel.
The greatest appeal of a road trip in Hokkaido is that you can enjoy nature, lakes, outdoor accommodations, and Hokkaido's gourmet food at your own pace.
Rather than cramming yourself with sightseeing spots every day, making "the accommodation itself" the highlight of your trip will make for a more authentic Hokkaido experience.
On the first day, we'll stay at a conveniently located accommodation and enjoy Hokkaido BBQ and a trailer house experience.
Afterward, we enjoyed the nature and snowy scenery of Rusutsu with Snow Pod.
Finally, we enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of Lake Toya at OKU-TOYA CLUB.
This approach is highly recommended for your first road trip to Hokkaido.
He is an editor at Resort Glamping.com, a glamping-focused media outlet visited by approximately 100 million people a month. He has written over 150 articles introducing glamping facilities and experience reports, and is involved in a wide range of glamping facility services, from planning and development to operation and customer acquisition consulting.
