A practical summary of everything from the three-day Hokkaido trip — restaurants, accommodation, rental car, and sightseeing spots all in one place. Full write-ups for each day are linked below.
The Full Series
Getting There
- Flight
New Chitose Airport (新千歳空港) serves Sapporo and the wider Hokkaido region. Most domestic airlines connect here from major Japanese cities.
- Rental Car
Honda Rent A Car Sapporo — Chitose Branch
Shuttle bus picks you up directly from New Chitose Airport’s domestic terminal. All cars come with ETC and navigation. Notably positioned closer to the Sapporo expressway entrance than most competitors, making it a smooth start to a Hokkaido road trip.
Accommodation
- Yogibo Versailles Resort Farm (ヨギボーベルサイユリゾートファーム) Official Website | Tabelog
Located in Hidaka-cho, Hokkaido. A resort farm for retired racehorses offering standard rooms and trailer house accommodation with direct access to the grazing pasture. Café on site. Closed Thursdays. Book well in advance.
- Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Sapporo (ソラリア西鉄ホテル札幌) Official Website
Located close to Sapporo Station and within walking distance of Susukino. A 4-star hotel with 318 rooms, spa, and on-site restaurant. Ideal base for exploring central Sapporo and the Susukino entertainment district on foot.
Restaurants
Day 1 — Chitose & Hidaka
- 北々亭 千歳店 (Hokuhokutei, Chitose) — Sushi Tabelog
Conveyor belt sushi near New Chitose Airport. Hokkaido seafood — sea urchin, salmon, scallops — at very reasonable prices. Open daily.
- くろべこ (Kurobeko) — Biratori Wagyu, Hidaka Tabelog
About 10 minutes from Yogibo Versailles Resort Farm. Specialises in びらとり和牛 (Biratori Wagyu) — a regional Hokkaido beef from Biratori-cho, known for its fine marbling and deep flavour. Closed Mondays. Budget ¥1,000–¥2,999.
Day 2 — Chitose & Sapporo
- IOrI (イオリ) — Ramen, Chitose Tabelog
A well-regarded miso ramen spot in Chitose, selected for the Tabelog Ramen Hokkaido Top 100 for 2025. Run by a chef who trained under the legendary Sumire school of Sapporo miso ramen. Can get busy — arriving early is recommended.
- さっぽろジンギスカン本店 — Jingisukan, Sapporo Tabelog
Founded in 1987, this Susukino institution specialises in fresh-cut raw lamb jingisukan. Counter seats only, no reservations accepted. A 3-minute walk from Susukino Station.
- SABO — 締めパフェ, Sapporo Tabelog
Relocated and reopened in October 2025 on the first floor of Takase Building in Susukino. Carefully crafted parfait using seasonal ingredients — an ideal shime pafe (締めパフェ) stop after dinner.
Day 3 — Sapporo
- にぎりめし (Nigirimeshi) — Onigiri, Sapporo Tabelog
A 24-hour handmade onigiri specialist tucked inside Susukino Market. Featured on TV and consistently popular with locals and visitors alike. From ¥260 per onigiri.
- 六花亭 札幌本店 (Rokkatei) — Confectionery & Café Tabelog
Hokkaido’s most beloved confectionery brand, with its flagship 10-storey Sapporo store near JR Sapporo Station. The Marsei Ice Sandwich and Sakusaku Pie are available here only. Café on the second floor. Closed Wednesdays.
- 北菓楼 札幌本館 (Kitakaro) — Confectionery & Café Tabelog
Located in a beautifully renovated historic building near Odori. Known for its Hokkaido-milk soft serve and baumkuchen. A great stop for souvenirs and a coffee break.
- ピカンティ (Picante) — Soup Curry, Sapporo Tabelog
A Sapporo soup curry institution with multiple locations. Choose from four types of soup base. The 札幌駅前店 (Sapporo Station branch) is the most accessible. Online reservations available.
Sightseeing
- 頭大仏 — Hill of the Buddha Official Website
Makomanai Takino Cemetery (真駒内滝野霊園), Minami-ku, Sapporo. Designed by Tadao Ando, completed 2016. Opening hours: 9:00–16:00 (April–October), 10:00–15:00 (November–March). Entry fee: ¥1,000. In summer the hill is covered in 150,000 lavender plants.
- 豊平館 (Hōheikan) Official Website
Nakajima Park (中島公園), 1-20, Chūō-ku, Sapporo. Japan’s oldest surviving wooden hotel building, built 1880. National Important Cultural Property. Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Closed second Tuesday of each month and year-end holidays. Entry fee: ¥350 (general), free for junior high school students and under.
A Note on Timing and Cost
Travelling the week before Golden Week rather than during it made a significant difference — roughly 50% cheaper across flights, accommodation, and rental car combined. Hokkaido in late April is already beautiful, the roads are quiet, and the crowds are manageable. If the schedule allows, the shoulder week before Golden Week is well worth considering over the holiday period itself.
All Tabelog links are to the English version of the site. Switch language at the top of any page if needed.
