Can You Drive Hokkaido in Winter? 3-Day/2-Night and 4-Day/3-Night Itineraries from New Chitose Airport, Built on Real Roads and Sunset Times

You can drive around Hokkaido in winter on a 3-day/2-night or 4-day/3-night trip from New Chitose Airport. There are two conditions. First, the sun sets in Sapporo at exactly 16:00 in mid-December, so you only have about 9 hours of daylight. Second, you keep each day’s driving within 200 km and 9 hours behind the wheel. This article lays out three courses calculated on real roads, and what changes if you visit the same places without a car.

The 200 km / 9 hour figure is a guideline this site sets for driving safety, not an official standard. Every day of the three courses below was planned to stay under it.

Can you drive Hokkaido in winter? Three things decide it: sunset, distance, and closed roads

The short answer: all three courses in this article (Sapporo, Otaru and Jozankei; Noboribetsu and Lake Toya; Asahikawa, the Blue Pond and Furano) keep each day’s driving at or under 200 km (the longest is Day 1 of Course 3 at 191 km). That is within what you can drive in winter. However, a plan that uses a road closed for the winter, such as Shiretoko Pass, does not work. Closed roads and their reopening dates are collected in Hokkaido roads that become impassable in winter.

We look at the three factors in turn: how early the sun sets, how far you drive in a day, and which roads close. If driving on snow itself worries you, read Worries about snowy roads, ice and heating in a Hokkaido winter first.

What time is sunset? In Sapporo it is 16:00 in mid-December, and still before 18:00 in February

We pulled Sapporo’s sunset times for December through February from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s calendar calculator (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Sapporo sunrise and sunset, checked 2026-10-05).

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight
Dec 1, 2026	6:46	16:01	9 h 15 min
Dec 15, 2026	6:59	16:00	9 h 1 min
Dec 31, 2026	7:06	16:09	9 h 3 min
Jan 15, 2027	7:03	16:24	9 h 21 min
Jan 31, 2027	6:51	16:45	9 h 54 min
Feb 10, 2027 (Snow Festival period)	6:40	16:58	10 h 18 min
Feb 15, 2027	6:33	17:05	10 h 32 min

The earliest sunsets come in December, around 16:00. Even at the end of January it is 16:45, and only in mid-February does the sun finally set after 17:00. So in December and January, plan to reach your lodging by 16:00. In the dark, snowy roads slow you down and cut your visibility more than in daytime.

For sunrise and sunset in the other 7 cities (Hakodate, Asahikawa, Obihiro, Kushiro, Nemuro and more), and how to plan an itinerary that gets you in while it is still light, see What time does it get dark in Hokkaido in winter?

How far can you drive in a day? The 200 km guideline, and how to estimate winter driving time

This site’s guideline is up to 200 km and 9 hours of driving a day (this is not an official standard). Winter daylight is only about 9 hours, so using all 9 hours of driving takes you past sunset. It is more realistic to set your limit by whether you can arrive before sunset than by distance. The segment times for the three courses do not include breaks, so add 1 to 2 hours for fuel, lunch and photos.

Snowfall changes things too. On January 28 and 29, 2026, record snowfall around Sapporo led JR Hokkaido to cancel several limited express trains between Sapporo and Asahikawa, with no replacement transport (JR Hokkaido Asahikawa Branch, announced 2026-01-28, checked 2026-10-05). On roads and rails alike, assume that heavy-snow days will not go to plan, and leave some slack on the last day.

The times for each course are one example, made by adding sightseeing and breaks to the driving time. The spot information was checked on each official site on October 22, 2026 and may change. Check the official sites before you go.

Course 1: 3 days/2 nights in Sapporo, Otaru and Jozankei. Good for your first winter drive

A course for people uneasy about driving, with short days of 52 to 96 km. You stay two nights in Sapporo and make day trips to Otaru and Jozankei and back. Distances and driving times are estimates from Google Maps directions (October 23, 2026, breaks not included).

Day	Segment	Distance	Driving time	Winter events at the stops
Day 1	New Chitose Airport → Sapporo (Odori Park)	52km	57 min	Odori Park hosts the Sapporo Snow Festival on Feb 4–11, 2027 (official). Stay in Sapporo
Day 2	Sapporo (Odori Park) → Otaru Canal → Sapporo (Odori Park)	38.2km＋38.2km＝76.4km	40 min + 49 min = 1 h 29 min	The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival runs Feb 6–13, 2027 (Otaru Tourism Association, official). Stay in Sapporo
Day 3	Sapporo (Odori Park) → Jozankei Onsen → New Chitose Airport	26.1km＋70km＝96.1km	42 min + 1 h 13 min = 1 h 55 min	Jozankei’s “New Yukitoro 2027” runs Jan 20–Feb 28, 2027, 18:00–21:30 (Jozankei Tourism Association, official; it replaces the snow candles with a new presentation)

Day 1, 10:30 — New Chitose Airport | Pick up your car and head to Sapporo

Once you pick up your rental car or campervan, head first for central Sapporo. Day 1 has less than an hour of driving, so it is easy even if you are tired from arriving. Shops and boarding gates inside the airport are covered in the New Chitose Airport guide map.

Phone	0123-23-0111 (automated answering, 7:00–23:00)
Parking	Lot A 1,800 spaces, Lot B 2,416 spaces, Lot C 1,011 spaces. Open 24 hours, every day
Large vehicles	Only 3 spaces in Lot A take vehicles longer than 5.5 m (not allowed in Lot B)
Parking fees	Regular periods: free for the first hour, up to ¥3,500 for 24 hours. Busy periods such as weekends, holidays and the New Year: up to ¥4,500 (tax included)
Official site	www.hokkaido-airports.com

▼How to get from New Chitose Airport to Odori Park　About 57 min by car, 52 km (Google Maps estimate). Open directions in Google Maps

Day 1, 12:00 — Odori Park | The Snow Festival site and the TV Tower

A park that runs about 1.5 km east to west through the middle of Sapporo. From Feb 4 to 11, 2027 it is the Odori site of the Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Snow Festival official). The snow sculptures are lit at night, so we recommend walking here after sunset (around 16:00 in mid-December). It is easier to leave the car at your lodging and come by subway or on foot. Stay in Sapporo.

Address	Odori Nishi 1-chome to Nishi 12-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Phone	011-251-0438 (Odori Park Management Office)
Information center	Nishi 7-chome. 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00, closed Dec 29–Jan 3
Parking	The Sapporo Odori Underground Parking is listed as nearby parking
Official site	www.sapporo-park.or.jp

Parking during the Snow Festival and places to sleep in your vehicle are in Sapporo Snow Festival parking guide.

▼How to get from Odori Park to Otaru Canal　About 40 min by car, 38.2 km (Google Maps estimate). Leave Sapporo at 9:30 on the morning of Day 2. Open directions in Google Maps

Day 2, 10:10 — Otaru Canal | The winter canal lined with warehouses

A canal lined with stone warehouses, where the scenery gets quieter once snow settles. In 2027 the “Otaru Snow Light Path Festival” runs Feb 6–13, with candlelight lining the canal (Otaru Tourism Association official, checked October 7, 2026). To see the lights, stay until after sunset; the drive back at night takes 49 min to Sapporo. For daytime restaurants and seafood, see the Otaru canal and seafood guide; for crowds, see Otaru Snow Light Path Festival dates and parking.

Inquiries	Otaru City Tourism Promotion Office 0134-32-4111
Tourist information office	Otaru Canal Tourist Information Office (5-4 Minato-machi, Otaru). 9:00–18:00, no closing days
Parking	Otaru International Information Center (5-3 Minato-machi), 91 spaces. ¥300 per hour, up to ¥1,000 per day
Official site	www.city.otaru.lg.jp

▼How to get from Otaru Canal to Odori Park　About 49 min by car, 38.2 km (Google Maps estimate). Stay in Sapporo. Open directions in Google Maps

▼How to get from Odori Park to Jozankei Onsen　About 42 min by car, 26.1 km (Google Maps estimate). Leave at 10:00 on the morning of Day 3. Open directions in Google Maps

Day 3, 10:45 — Jozankei Onsen | A snowy hot spring town 42 minutes from Sapporo

A hot spring town along the Toyohira River. If you take a day-use bath and then head to the airport, the two drives on the last day add up to 1 h 55 min. “New Yukitoro 2027” runs Jan 20–Feb 28, 2027, 18:00–21:30 (Jozankei Tourism Association official, checked October 7, 2026). If you want to see the evening lights, stay one night in Jozankei and head to the airport the next morning.

▼How to get from Jozankei Onsen to New Chitose Airport　About 1 h 13 min by car, 70 km (Google Maps estimate). If you leave at 14:00, you reach the airport a little after 15:00. Open directions in Google Maps

Course 2: 3 days/2 nights in Noboribetsu, Lake Toya and Sapporo. A winter route linking hot springs in central Hokkaido

Head south from New Chitose Airport, stay at two hot springs, Noboribetsu and Lake Toya, and return to the airport on the last day by way of Sapporo. Only Day 3 runs about 150 km. Distances and driving times are estimates from Google Maps directions (October 23, 2026, breaks not included).

Day	Segment	Distance	Driving time	Winter events at the stops
Day 1	New Chitose Airport → Noboribetsu Onsen	73.2km	56 min	Noboribetsu Jigokudani is free to enter (official). For the hours of the winter evening lights, contact the Noboribetsu International Tourism & Convention Association (0143-84-3311). Stay in Noboribetsu
Day 2	Noboribetsu Onsen → Toyako Onsen	59.3km	49 min	The Toyako Onsen Illumination Tunnel in 2025-26 ran Nov 1, 2025–Apr 27, 2026, 17:00–22:00 (until the end of February), as actually held. 2026-27 is awaiting the official announcement. Stay at Toyako
Day 3	Toyako Onsen → Sapporo (Odori Park) → New Chitose Airport	102km＋51.8km＝153.8km	1 h 59 min + 52 min = 2 h 51 min	If it is the Snow Festival period at Odori Park (Feb 4–11, 2027), make Sapporo a stop

Day 1, 10:30 — From New Chitose Airport to Noboribetsu Onsen

Leave the airport and drive south. It is 73.2 km and 56 min.

▼How to get from New Chitose Airport to Noboribetsu Jigokudani　About 56 min by car, 73.2 km (Google Maps estimate). Open directions in Google Maps

Day 1, 12:00 — Noboribetsu Jigokudani | The remains of a crater with rising steam

The remains of a crater just above the hot spring town, where a walking path lets you see the steam and the colors of the ground. Entry is free. In winter the path freezes, so wear shoes that don’t slip. For the hours of the winter evening lights, contact the Noboribetsu International Tourism & Convention Association (0143-84-3311). Stay in Noboribetsu. For lodging and day-use baths, see the Noboribetsu Onsen Jigokudani and day-use bath guide.

Address	Noboribetsu Onsen-cho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido
Phone	0143-84-3311 (Noboribetsu International Tourism & Convention Association)
Fee	Free
Parking	Noboribetsu Onsen Parking Lot (Noboribetsu City): 141 spaces, open 24 hours. ¥500 per day in the regular season, ¥800 in the busy season. On snowy days fewer cars may fit. About a 5-minute walk to Gokuraku-dori. The Jigokudani Parking Lot (¥500) is listed for the non-winter period only
Official site	www.city.noboribetsu.lg.jp

▼How to get from Noboribetsu Jigokudani to Toyako Onsen　About 49 min by car, 59.3 km (Google Maps estimate). Leave at 10:00 on the morning of Day 2. Open directions in Google Maps

Day 2, 11:00 — Toyako Onsen | A second night by the lake

The hot spring town sits on the south shore of the lake. At night the main draw is the town’s Illumination Tunnel. In 2025-26 it ran Nov 1, 2025–Apr 27, 2026, 17:00–22:00 (until the end of February). 2026-27 is awaiting the official announcement. The lake’s fireworks (the Long Run Fireworks) end on October 31, so they don’t fall within a winter trip (Toyako Onsen Tourism Association, checked October 5, 2026). Stay at Toyako. Sights nearby are in the Lake Toya and Mt. Usu guide.

Address	142 Toyako Onsen, Toyako-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 049-5721
Phone	0142-75-2446
Hours	9:00–17:00
Official site	www.laketoya.com

▼How to get from Toyako Onsen to Odori Park　About 1 h 59 min by car, 102 km (Google Maps estimate). On Day 3, leave at 9:00. This is the longest day, at 153.8 km and 2 h 51 min for both drives combined. Open directions in Google Maps

Day 3, 11:00 — Odori Park | Lunch in Sapporo, then the airport

During the Snow Festival (Feb 4–11, 2027), stop here to see the snow sculptures. If you leave Sapporo at 14:00, the airport is 52 min away.

▼How to get from Odori Park to New Chitose Airport　About 52 min by car, 51.8 km (Google Maps estimate). Open directions in Google Maps

Places that stay open for overnight parking in winter are checked one by one in 13 RV parks and Michi-no-Eki where you can park overnight in winter.

Course 3: 4 days/3 nights in Asahiyama Zoo, the Blue Pond, Furano and Sapporo. Day 1 has the longest drive

A course that stretches from central Hokkaido to Asahikawa and Furano. Because Day 1 runs from the airport to Asahiyama Zoo, time management matters. Distances and driving times are estimates from Google Maps directions (October 23, 2026, breaks not included).

Day	Segment	Distance	Driving time	Winter events at the stops
Day 1	New Chitose Airport → Asahiyama Zoo	191km	2 h 16 min	The 2026-27 winter opening starts November 11 (closed Nov 4–10, official). In winter, 10:30–15:30 (last entry 15:00). Stay in Asahikawa
Day 2	Asahiyama Zoo → Shirogane Blue Pond → Furano Station	39.7km＋35.1km＝74.8km	47 min + 39 min = 1 h 26 min	The Blue Pond illumination in 2025-26 ran Oct 24, 2025–Apr 22, 2026, from sunset to 21:00, with lighting at 16:30 in December, as actually held. 2026-27 is awaiting the official announcement. Stay in Furano
Day 3	Furano Station → Sapporo (Odori Park)	115km	2 h	— Stay in Sapporo
Day 4	Sapporo (Odori Park) → New Chitose Airport	51.8km	52 min	—

Day 1, 10:00 — From New Chitose Airport to Asahikawa. This is the longest day

Day 1 covers 191 km and 2 h 16 min. If you leave at 10:00, you arrive at 12:16 without any breaks. The zoo’s winter closing time is 15:30, so even with breaks you get about two and a half hours there. If your flight arrives late, it is safer to stay in Sapporo on Day 1 and head to the zoo on Day 2.

▼How to get from New Chitose Airport to Asahiyama Zoo　About 2 h 16 min by car, 191 km (Google Maps estimate). Open directions in Google Maps

Day 1, 13:00 — Asahiyama Zoo | A zoo in the snow

Winter opening begins on November 11, 2026 (closed Nov 4–10). In winter it is open 10:30–15:30, so work back from your arrival time to decide when to leave the airport. In one year, “Snow Light Zoo” was held on Feb 7–9, 2026, with the zoo open until 20:30 (Asahikawa City, dated February 5, 2026). The 2027 schedule is awaiting the official announcement. Stay in Asahikawa.

Address	Kuranuma, Higashi-Asahikawa-cho, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8205
Phone	0166-36-1104
Winter opening	Nov 11–Dec 29, 2026 and Jan 2–Apr 7, 2027. 10:30–15:30 (last entry 15:00)
Fee	Adults ¥1,000; junior high school students and younger free
Parking	Free. About 200 spaces at the main gate and about 300 at the east gate
Official site	www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp

▼How to get from Asahiyama Zoo to Shirogane Blue Pond　About 47 min by car, 39.7 km (Google Maps estimate). On Day 2, spend the time until noon in Asahikawa and leave around 14:30. Open directions in Google Maps

Day 2, 15:30 — Shirogane Blue Pond | A pond lit up in the snow

In winter the pond is covered with snow and the blue water cannot be seen; instead it is illuminated. In December the lights come on at 16:30, so if you arrive a little before sunset you can see both the pond in daylight and the lit pond. In some years the lighting ran until 2 a.m. the next morning on Dec 31–Jan 3 (Biei Town, checked October 22, 2026).

Inquiries	0166-92-4378 (Biei Tourism Association)
Parking hours	Nov–Apr: 8:00–21:30
Parking fees	¥1,000 for a regular car. Vehicles 6 m or longer are treated as large vehicles at ¥6,000, with a separate entrance (from July 1, 2026)
Winter illumination	2025-26: Oct 24, 2025–Apr 22, 2026, sunset to 21:00 (lit at 16:30 in December). 2026-27 is awaiting the official announcement
Official site	www.biei-hokkaido.jp

▼How to get from Shirogane Blue Pond to Furano Station　About 39 min by car, 35.1 km (Google Maps estimate). After the illumination it is a night drive. Stay in Furano. Open directions in Google Maps

Day 3, 10:00 — From Furano to Sapporo

On cold mornings in Furano, hoarfrost forms on the trees (the photo is of neighboring Kamifurano Town). Lodging and stops are in the Furano and Biei drive guide. It is 115 km and 2 h to Sapporo. This is a winter mountain crossing, so check for closures in Hokkaido roads that become impassable in winter before you leave. Stay in Sapporo.

▼How to get from Furano Station to Odori Park　About 2 h by car, 115 km (Google Maps estimate). Open directions in Google Maps

Day 4, 10:00 — From Sapporo to New Chitose Airport

▼How to get from Odori Park to New Chitose Airport　About 52 min by car, 51.8 km (Google Maps estimate). The last day takes less than an hour, so arriving at the airport 2 hours before your flight is plenty. Open directions in Google Maps

What about visiting the same places without a car? Only New Chitose Airport, Sapporo and Otaru could be confirmed officially

What JR Hokkaido’s official pages confirm is the section between New Chitose Airport, Sapporo and Otaru. Sapporo to New Chitose Airport takes as little as 37 min by Rapid and 33 min by Special Rapid, and Otaru to New Chitose Airport takes as little as 73 min on a through service, with 6 trains an hour during the day (JR Hokkaido, Rapid Airport, checked 2026-10-05). Day 1 of Course 1 and the Otaru round trip on Day 2 can be done without a car.

Segment	By car (Google Maps estimate, no breaks)	Without a car (range confirmed officially)
New Chitose Airport → Sapporo	52 km, 57 min	JR Rapid Airport as fast as 37 min, Special Rapid as fast as 33 min, 6 trains an hour in the daytime
Sapporo → Otaru	38.2 km, 40 min	Through JR service. Check the official timetable for travel time and frequency
Otaru → New Chitose Airport	About 90 km via Sapporo, about 1 h 41 min (38.2 km + 51.8 km, adding Otaru Canal → Sapporo → airport)	JR through service as fast as 73 min
Sapporo → Jozankei Onsen	26.1 km, 42 min	Check the official timetable
Sapporo → Noboribetsu and Lake Toya	Toyako Onsen → Sapporo is 102 km, 1 h 59 min	Check the official timetable
Sapporo → Asahikawa → Asahiyama Zoo, Blue Pond and Furano	Furano Station → Sapporo is 115 km, 2 h	JR limited express between Sapporo and Asahikawa. All seats reserved from spring 2026. Check the official timetables for buses and the Furano Line

Places far from a station mean more transfers without a car. For example, the Blue Pond is 35.1 km and 39 min by car from Furano Station. Limited express trains can stop in heavy snow, as in January 2026, so it is safer to keep one spare day if you travel without a car.

Car or no car? Decide by your snow-driving experience and whether your destinations are far from a station

Two things decide it: whether you have driven on snow, and whether the places you want to see are far from a station. Find the row below that fits you.

Situation	Best way to get around
First time driving on snow, or very uneasy about it	No car, or Course 1 (up to 96 km a day)
Only visiting Sapporo and Otaru	No car is enough (New Chitose Airport, Sapporo and Otaru are linked by JR)
Visiting Asahiyama Zoo, the Blue Pond and Furano	A car is easier to plan around. Without one, check the timetables first
Linking 2 or 3 hot spring areas (Course 2)	A car is easier to plan around. Note that Day 3 is 153.8 km and 2 h 51 min of driving
Short daylight in December and January, and you want to see the evening lights too	Sunset is around 16:00. Decide the time you reach your lodging first

If you choose a car, winter equipment and driving tips are in the Complete guide to winter driving in Hokkaido, and drivetrains in Do you need 4WD?.

Pre-departure checklist

• Worked back from sunset to set the time you reach your lodging each day
• Each day’s driving is within 200 km and 9 hours (this site’s guideline)
• Estimated driving time with 1 to 2 hours added for breaks
• Checked the 2026-27 winter opening hours of Asahiyama Zoo on the official site
• Checked on the official sites whether the Blue Pond and Lake Toya illuminations will run in 2026-27
• Left some slack on the last day for days when heavy snow upsets the plan
• If traveling without a car, checked the bus and limited express timetables on the official sites

Pages to read next

• Hokkaido roads that become impassable in winter | Closure periods and reopening dates for Shiretoko Pass and more
• Before a Hokkaido winter trip by campervan | Worries about snowy roads, ice and heating
• Sapporo Snow Festival by campervan | Parking and overnight bases
• What can you do on a trip to Hokkaido in November?
• Complete guide to Hokkaido campervan model courses
• Hokkaido campervan winter travel guide | Drift ice, Snow Festival and cold-weather gear
• Ski resorts reachable from New Chitose Airport, compared by area