Day Trips from SapporoHokkaido in Summer by Car: Lavender, the Blue Sea and Where to Go Month by Month
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- June to August: Shakotan's sea urchin season and the clearest sea in Hokkaido
- Early to mid July: lavender at Farm Tomita (free), with the hills of Biei; avoid Route 237 at midday
- The Niseko Panorama Line, the Ororon Line sunset and the drive to Cape Soya are summer roads
- Bring a jacket for the coast and eastern Hokkaido even in August
Summer is when Hokkaido by car makes the most sense: the mountain roads are open, the coast is at its clearest, the lavender is out, and the days are long. I live in Sapporo and spend the summer weekends driving; this is where I go from June to August, month by month, with what is in season, what closes, and the one road to avoid. Every place links to the route I drove, with parking and opening hours.
Summer in Hokkaido at a glance
Hokkaido is cooler than the rest of Japan in summer, but the coast and the far north can still be chilly: I bring a windbreaker to eastern Hokkaido in every season and a warm jacket to Wakkanai even in August. The table shows what each month is best for.
| Month | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| June | Shakotan's sea urchin season opens; the Niseko Panorama Line and Goshiki Onsen; Lake Toya | Lavender: early varieties start in late June, but the peak is July |
| July | Lavender at Farm Tomita (early to mid July); the hills of Biei; Shakotan; the Ororon Line sunset around 19:15 | Midday traffic on Route 237 between Biei and Furano |
| August | Shakotan's last sea urchin weeks; the drive to Wakkanai and Cape Soya; eastern Hokkaido's lakes | Crowds at the Blue Pond and Farm Tomita; cool evenings on the coast |
Shakotan: the clearest sea in Hokkaido (June to August)
Shakotan is a summer trip, full stop. The sea urchin season runs from June to August, the capes of Ogon, Shakotan and Kamui show the water at its bluest, and several sights and restaurants close for winter. It is about two hours from Sapporo: the expressway to Yoichi IC, then Route 229 along the coast. The walk to the tip of Cape Kamui closes on windy days, and the walkway is closed altogether from October 5, 2026 to early April 2027, so summer is the window. Finish with a bath at Misaki no Yu, looking out over the sea.
Shakotan and Cape Kamui Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's RouteA local's day trip from Sapporo to Shakotan by car: Cape Ogon, Shimamui Coast, a sea urchin bowl, Cape Kamui and a sea-view onsen, with tolls, opening hours, closures and the bus alternative.
Biei and Furano: lavender and the hills (July)
Lavender at Farm Tomita peaks in early to mid July, and the farm is free to enter. The hills of Biei, Shikisai no Oka (admission from July to September), the Jet Coaster Road and the Blue Pond (parking 1,000 yen) fill the rest of the day. The one rule is to avoid Route 237, the main road between the sights, at midday in summer; my loop goes through the hills and the mountain side instead, and reaches Farm Tomita and Shikisai no Oka outside the midday peak. From Sapporo it is about two and a half hours each way, so if you can, stay a night in Furano, Biei or Asahikawa.
Biei and Furano by Car: A Local's Route Around the Summer CrowdsA local's driving loop through Biei and Furano that avoids the summer traffic on Route 237, from Asahikawa or as a day trip from Sapporo: Farm Tomita, the Blue Pond, Tokachidake and the hills of Biei.
Niseko and Mt. Yotei: the Panorama Line (June to October)
The Niseko Panorama Line, the mountain road that climbs through the volcanoes to Goshiki Onsen and the steaming Oyunuma pond, is a summer road: it closes in winter, from October 23 in 2026. The loop around Mt. Yotei from Sapporo, about two and a half hours over the Nakayama Pass, takes in the straight road at Aikawa, spring water at Kyogoku, a farm soba lunch, the Panorama Line, Takahashi Dairy Farm and a bath facing the mountain at Makkari Onsen (600 yen).
Niseko Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's Summer RouteA local's summer day trip from Sapporo to Niseko by car: over the Nakayama Pass, around Mt. Yotei, up the Niseko Panorama Line to Goshiki Onsen and the Oyunuma pond, Takahashi Dairy Farm, and a bath facing Mt. Yotei at Makkari Onsen.
The Ororon Line: a sunset over the Sea of Japan (April to October)
North of Sapporo, the coast road along the Sea of Japan is at its best in summer, when the sun sets late: around 19:15 in July at Airodo Atsuta. The southern loop goes up the expressway to Rumoi in about two and a half hours and back down the coast through Mashike, with sweet shrimp, Japan's northernmost sake brewery, a 500-yen hot spring looking over the sea and a waterfall that runs into the sea. With a night to spare, keep going north to Wakkanai and Cape Soya, the tip of Japan, a drive I would only do between May and October.
Ororon Line Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: Rumoi, Mashike and a Sea of Japan SunsetSapporo to Rumoi and back down the coast: a local's day trip on the southern Ororon Line, with Cape Ogon, Mashike's old herring town, sweet shrimp and sake, a sea-view hot spring, Shirogane Falls and a Sea of Japan sunset.
Sapporo to Wakkanai by Car: The Ororon Line Coast Road to Cape SoyaDriving from Sapporo to Wakkanai up the Ororon Line, the Sea of Japan coast road, from a Sapporo local who did it: the stops, the closest view of Rishiri Island, sunset at Cape Noshappu, and Cape Soya and the White Road the next morning.
Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya: the lakes
Lake Shikotsu, an hour from Sapporo, is one of the clearest lakes in Japan, and in summer the underwater sightseeing boat (2,000 yen, from mid to late April until November 3) shows you the columns of volcanic rock on the lake bed. Marukoma Onsen's bath at the water's edge is open to day visitors from Friday to Sunday, 10:00 to 14:00. Lake Toya, two and a half hours away, is good in every season, but in summer the drive around the lake to the quiet viewpoints on the north shore is at its easiest, and there are fireworks over the lake every evening at 20:45 from April 28 to October 31.
Lake Shikotsu Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's RouteA local's day trip to Lake Shikotsu by car: the Okotanpe viewpoint, a lakeside bath at Marukoma Onsen, lake trout for lunch and the underwater boat, plus the ice festival and winter tips.
Lake Toya Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's Route, Viewpoints and OnsenA local's day trip from Sapporo to Lake Toya by car: Mt. Usu, a lakeside lunch, an onsen with a lake view and the quiet viewpoints on the north shore, with tolls, parking and winter tips.
Eastern Hokkaido: the three lakes (May to October)
Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo and Lake Akan are around 300 kilometers from Sapporo, so fly to Memanbetsu or Kushiro and rent a car there. Summer is the easy season for the drive: I did it over two nights, with Lake Kussharo on day 1, Lake Mashu and Lake Akan on day 2, and the Akan boat and the Kushiro Wetland on day 3. Even in summer, bring a windbreaker; the lakes are high and the wind is cold.
Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo and Lake Akan: A Local's Eastern Hokkaido Road TripA two-night road trip around Lake Kussharo, Lake Mashu and Lake Akan to the Kushiro Wetland, from a Sapporo local who drove it: the order that works, what each lake is like, the boat to the marimo, and weather and driving tips.
What to avoid in summer
- Route 237 between Biei and Furano at midday: use the hill roads and see the big farms early or late.
- The whisky tasting at Yoichi if you are the driver: Japan's drink-driving rules are strict.
- Underestimating the distances: Wakkanai and eastern Hokkaido are overnight trips, not day trips.
Planning a summer road trip
If you have three to seven days, my itinerary guide puts these drives in order, with tolls and the best day for each. If you are deciding whether to rent a car at all, start with the driving guide.
Hokkaido Road Trip Itinerary: 3, 5 and 7 Days by Car from SapporoA local's Hokkaido road trip itineraries for 3, 5 and 7 days by car from Sapporo: Otaru, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, Jozankei, Lake Shikotsu, Shakotan, Biei and Furano, eastern Hokkaido and Cape Soya, with drive times, tolls and the best season for each day.
Driving in Hokkaido: A Local's Guide to Renting a Car and the RoadsHow to rent a car and drive in Hokkaido, from a Sapporo local who drives every week: the license you need, expressway tolls and the Hokkaido Expressway Pass, road rules, and winter driving.
Things to Do in Hokkaido: A Local's Guide by Region and SeasonThe best things to do in Hokkaido, chosen by a Sapporo local who drives around the island: the lakes of the east, Otaru and Shakotan, Biei and Furano, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, Mt. Yotei, Hakodate and more, with seasons and how many days you need.
FAQ about Hokkaido in summer
Q1. What is the best month to visit Hokkaido in summer?
July, if you want lavender: Farm Tomita peaks in early to mid July. June and August are just as good for Shakotan's sea urchin; mid-August is the busiest week of the year at the Blue Pond and Farm Tomita, so avoid it if you can.
Q2. Where are the lavender fields in Hokkaido?
At Farm Tomita in Nakafurano, between Furano and Biei, about two and a half hours from Sapporo by car. Entry is free.
Q3. Is Hokkaido hot in summer?
It is cooler than the rest of Japan, but inland days are warm. The coast, the lakes in eastern Hokkaido and Wakkanai are cool, so bring a jacket.
Q4. Do you need a car in Hokkaido in summer?
For Shakotan, Biei and Furano, the Niseko Panorama Line, Lake Toya's viewpoints and anything in the north or east, yes. Otaru and Noboribetsu work by train.
Q5. What is Shakotan's sea urchin season?
June to August. Outside those months the sea urchin restaurants and several sights are closed.