Winter Hokkaido road trip itinerary

When it comes to all-season getaways, Japan just can’t be beat; there’s a reason why families flock there en-masse once the holidays hit. A trip during the week-long March holidays unlocks vistas framed by falling sakura petals during cherry blossom season, while a mid-year vacay down south in the tropics of Okinawa is to die for.

As for winter, there’s no better place to spend days frolicking in the powder snow than Hokkaido. Known for its stunning volcanic peaks, inviting hot springs, and the freshest of seafood, the northernmost Japanese prefecture is especially enchanting once the first snowfall envelops all in a blanket of white.

I can attest to the land’s beauty, having just returned from a road trip of my own in Hokkaido. Should you be planning a wintry escape in the future, here’s my 9D8N Hokkaido itinerary, which saw me conquering frosted highways and scenic mountain passes for slightly over a week of snowy escapades.

Day 1: SG-Tokyo-Hokkaido

10PM

It took 4 months of planning, 2 winterwear shopping hauls, and 5 days of meticulously planned ALs, but the friends’ trip finally made it out of the group chat.

As with any holiday out of sunny Singapore, we started our journey at Changi Airport, by boarding an ANA flight bound for Tokyo at 10.20pm. We planned to spend some time exploring Hokkaido from the bottom up; we’re headed for Hakodate Airport, which meant we had to take a connecting flight from Haneda Airport.

6AM

After a light snooze amongst the clouds, we touched down in Tokyo at 6am, and although we nibbled on airplane refreshments, we were still famished. Our next flight into Hokkaido was about 4 hours away, and so we scoured the airport for sustenance.