Obihiro/Tokachi Campervan Rental Comparison | 3 Bases: Prices, Vehicles & Access [2026 Edition]
Renting a campervan from the Obihiro/Tokachi area dramatically shortens the distance to eastern Hokkaido destinations like Shiretoko, Lake Akan, and the Kushiro Marshland. Unlike routes that fly into New Chitose and circle through central Hokkaido, the strength of starting from Obihiro is heading straight east through the sweeping agricultural landscape of the Tokachi Plain.
Matching your choice to the style covered in the Obihiro/Tokachi Campervan Drive Guide reduces the chance of regret. This article organizes the differences between the three rental bases and also summarizes a model eastern Hokkaido route starting from Obihiro.
The Tokachi Plain is one of Hokkaido’s most agriculturally active areas, with vast fields and pastures that make for a pleasurable drive in a campervan. Enjoying Obihiro food (pork rice bowl, Tokachi sweets, Indian curry) before setting off is another distinctive pleasure of starting from Obihiro.
If you want to check bases across Hokkaido first, see our Top 15 Hokkaido Campervan Rentals. For price reference, see Hokkaido Campervan Rental Price Guide.
Which Campervan Rental Should You Choose?
| Best for | Choose this base | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keep costs down in a van conversion | Moving Inn Obihiro | Van conversions from ¥15,400 — lowest of the three. Year-round, free shuttle are also strengths |
| A relaxed trip in a cab-over conversion | Vantrip | Cab-over specialist. Wide selection including Legado and Cresson Voyage |
| Try a kei campervan | White Birch | Kei campervans from ¥17,600 — lowest of the three. Autobacs store location is reassuring |
| Hokkaido trip with pets | Moving Inn Obihiro / Vantrip | Moving Inn: HIACE LEAD only; Vantrip: Legado and Serengeti allowed |
| Pick up directly at Obihiro Airport | Moving Inn Obihiro / Vantrip | Both offer free shuttle/delivery to the airport. White Birch has no shuttle |
Side-by-Side Comparison of All Three Bases
| Item | Moving Inn Obihiro | Vantrip | White Birch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (kei camper) | — | — | ¥17,600~ |
| Price (van conversion) | ¥15,400~ | — | ¥25,300~ |
| Price (cab-over conversion) | — | ¥25,000~ | — |
| High-season price | ¥36,850~ | ¥34,000~ | Not listed |
| Liability waiver fee | ¥2,530/day | ¥3,000/day | ¥3,000/day |
| Vehicles | HIACE LX / HIACE CA / Renoca HIACE / HIACE LEAD / LAND CRUISER BAMBA | Legado neo / Legado / Cresson Voyage / AMITY / Serengeti / MUSH | Molto A / Re-lax (kei) / HiAce-based van conversion |
| Obihiro Airport shuttle | Free | Free (delivery) | None |
| Pets | HIACE LEAD only | Legado & Serengeti | Not allowed |
| One-way drop-off | Inquire | Confirm | Not available |
| Hours | 9:00–18:00 (year-round) | 9:00–19:00 | 10:00–19:00 |
Prices and conditions change by season and vehicle. Confirm the latest details on each company’s official website before booking.
Moving Inn Tokachi Obihiro Airport
Prices and Vehicles
Off-season van conversion rates start at ¥15,400 — the lowest in the Obihiro area. High season (July–August) rises to ¥36,850 and above, so if you can travel in early June or late September you can keep costs considerably lower.
All vehicles are HiAce-based van conversions — five models: HIACE LX, HIACE CA, Renoca HIACE, HIACE LEAD, and LAND CRUISER BAMBA. They’re easy to maneuver and fit into regular parking, making them practical at eastern Hokkaido tourist spots and in town. Models that sleep up to six are available for group trips.
The liability waiver fee is ¥2,530/day — the lowest of the three. Over longer trips the difference adds up; for 5+ nights it makes a real impact.
Access and Shuttle
The base is in Sarabetsu Village, Hokkaido Kasai District — about 10–15 minutes from Tokachi Obihiro Airport, with a free shuttle. Year-round 9:00–18:00 hours make it easy to fit around flight schedules.
Obihiro city center is about 20–25 km from Sarabetsu Village, so getting there independently from Obihiro Station requires a taxi or the shuttle. If you’re flying in, the shuttle flow is simple and stress-free.
Pets and Notes
Pet travel is only available in the HIACE LEAD. Other models (HIACE LX, HIACE CA, Renoca HIACE, LAND CRUISER BAMBA) do not allow pets — if you’re booking with a dog, specify the model when confirming.
FF heaters, refrigerators, and other overnight equipment come standard, so you can rest easy even on eastern Hokkaido nights with their sharp temperature drops. The vehicle lineup is also friendly for first-time campervan renters.
Year-round operation is a practical advantage during actual travel. The company operates through Golden Week, Obon, and New Year’s, so you can plan pick-up and return without worry during peak periods. Arrive at Tokachi Obihiro Airport, switch straight to the campervan, and head east through the Tokachi farmland — that’s the pleasure of starting from Obihiro.
→ Moving Inn Tokachi Obihiro Airport — Details & Booking
Vantrip (Tokachi Office)
Prices and Vehicles
A cab-over specialist, with pricing of ¥25,000 off-season, ¥26,000 on-season, and ¥34,000 high-season. This is one of the more accessible price points for a cab-over anywhere in Hokkaido — worth comparing if you’re considering a larger vehicle.
Six models available: Legado neo, Legado, Cresson Voyage, AMITY, Serengeti, and MUSH. The lineup includes models with permanent beds and bank beds, giving you the full cab-over experience of being able to stand and walk through the interior. Many models are well-suited to 4–6 person long trips.
Access and Shuttle
Based in Obihiro City (West 12, South 1-27-1) — close to the city center, with free delivery to Obihiro Airport and Obihiro Station. Delivery to New Chitose Airport is ¥34,000, to Asahikawa ¥51,000 (both ex-tax). You can structure routes like flying into New Chitose and returning from Obihiro, or vice versa. With a base in Obihiro city, access from Obihiro Station is the most convenient of the three companies.
Pets and Notes
Pet travel is available in the Legado and Serengeti. Like Moving Inn, you need to specify the model at booking — confirm before applying. Liability waiver fee is ¥3,000/day.
Cab-over conversions use a truck base and have high ceilings — adults can move around standing up. Many models include a cooking area, toilet, and bank bed, and the comfort difference on 5+ night trips is significant. If you feel a HiAce-based van sounds cramped, Vantrip’s cab-overs are the right place to start.
→ Vantrip Tokachi Office — Details & Booking
Hokkaido Tokachi Rentacar White Birch (Autobacs)
Prices and Vehicles
Kei campervans from ¥17,600 and van conversions from ¥25,300 — for kei campervans this is the lowest of the three. The base is inside the Autobacs Obihiro store, and the in-store staff experience provides reassurance.
Two kei camper models (Molto A, Re-lax) and a HiAce-based van conversion. An easy split: kei for cost-focused 2-person trips, van conversion for 3–4 people.
Access and Notes
Based at Obihiro City West 6, North 1-8. Close to Obihiro Station — the most convenient city-access of the three. However, there is no airport shuttle, so you need to make your own way from Tokachi Obihiro Airport. Bus from the airport to central Obihiro takes about 35–40 minutes.
No pets, no one-way drop-offs — routes must depart and return to Obihiro. Free car-accessories lending is a unique point, making it easy to borrow gear on the road. Hours 10:00–19:00 — the latest closing time of the three, which can help on return days. This is the base for travelers who want to handle paperwork in person with staff at an Autobacs store.
→ White Birch Autobacs — Details & Booking
A Model Route Starting from Obihiro: Touring Eastern Hokkaido
Starting from Obihiro shortens the distance to eastern Hokkaido’s major spots. Here’s a 5-night 6-day route covering Shiretoko, Akan, and Kushiro.
Day 1: Pick-up in Obihiro → Obihiro City Food Walk
Once you arrive, enjoy Tokachi food. Pork rice bowl, Indian curry, Rokkatei, Ryugetsudo — Obihiro city alone fills a whole day. On Day 1, don’t rush out; a night at an RV park or roadside station near Obihiro is recommended.
Day 2: Obihiro → Lake Shikaribetsu → Ashoro → Lake Akan (approx. 160 km)
Via Lake Shikaribetsu (Hokkaido’s highest-elevation lake) to Lake Akan. Shikaribetsu has few tourists and offers a quiet lakeside. The Lake Akan Onsen area has an RV park where you can enjoy hot springs and the evening lake.
Day 3: Lake Akan → Lake Mashu / Lake Kussharo → Toward Shiretoko (approx. 140 km)
Via foggy Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo to the entrance of the Shiretoko Peninsula. Lake Mashu is often fog-covered, and seeing it clear is said to make you a “rain-clearing person” — a classic Hokkaido spot. Lake Kussharo is known for migrating swans, and the quiet early-morning lake surface is striking. There’s an RV park on the Utoro side — basing yourself there for 2 nights is the standard approach to Shiretoko sightseeing.
Day 4: Shiretoko — Five Lakes and Shiretoko Pass
Guided tours and kayaking at the Shiretoko Five Lakes are popular. The view of Mt. Rausu from Shiretoko Pass is spectacular on clear days. Bear sightings are frequent, so manage food carefully and be conscious of your range of movement. In summer the elevated boardwalk course is free, but entering the grassland course requires joining a guided tour. Moving a little later in the morning reduces the chance of bear encounters.
Day 5: Shiretoko → Kushiro Marshland → Kushiro City (approx. 180 km)
From Shiretoko to the Kushiro Marshland. The best time to see the fog-shrouded marsh is early morning. Enjoy seafood in Kushiro for one night, then return to Obihiro the next day. Kushiro to Obihiro is about 120 km — roughly 2 hours.
Day 6: Kushiro → Return to Obihiro
If time allows, stop at Kofuku Station or Aikoku Station northwest of Obihiro on the way to return. Schedule fits Tokachi Obihiro Airport departure times.
Total driving distance for this route is approximately 850–900 km — about 150 km per day, a comfortable pace for a campervan. See our 1-week cost simulation for a budget estimate.
Getting to Obihiro from New Chitose Airport
If you’re using a New Chitose Airport rental base, there are three main travel options to Obihiro.
- Connecting flight to Tokachi Obihiro Airport: About 40 minutes by connecting flight from New Chitose. Vantrip also offers delivery to New Chitose Airport (¥34,000), so you can structure a fly-into-New-Chitose / return-to-Obihiro route. The airfare is extra, but for travelers wanting to concentrate on eastern Hokkaido, flying into Obihiro is recommended.
- JR train: New Chitose Airport to Obihiro by Limited Express Ozora takes about 2 hours 20 minutes. Vantrip offers a shuttle from Obihiro Station. If you take the train, the practical flow is to request a shuttle from Vantrip or Moving Inn Obihiro.
- Drive from central Hokkaido: Renting at Sapporo/New Chitose and driving to Obihiro for a one-way drop-off currently requires inquiry. New Chitose to Obihiro is about 2–2.5 hours on the expressway (~200 km). If you’re planning a “loop through central Hokkaido then down to eastern Hokkaido” route, confirm with each company in advance.
Note that the Obihiro/Tokachi area is inland, so temperatures can run high in summer. August highs can exceed 30°C — confirm ventilation options or sleeping AC availability for your chosen vehicle before booking. On the other hand, autumn (September–October) sees fall foliage and harvest season overlap, making the Tokachi farmscape at its most beautiful. For those wanting to enjoy scenery while avoiding crowds, late September to October is the sweet spot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: For renting in Obihiro/Tokachi, Moving Inn or Vantrip?
Choose by travel style. Moving Inn Obihiro suits van conversion trips on a budget for 2–4 people. Vantrip suits groups of 4–6 or those wanting a comfortable cab-over experience. Both offer airport shuttles, so flying in is convenient for either.
Q2: How many nights do I need to tour eastern Hokkaido (Shiretoko, Akan, Kushiro) from Obihiro?
5–7 nights is realistic if you want to cover Shiretoko, Lake Akan, and the Kushiro Marshland properly. Shiretoko alone deserves 2 nights — rushing through leaves regrets. If time is limited, focusing on Shiretoko for 3–4 nights is also a valid approach. Obihiro to Shiretoko (Utoro) is about 230 km and takes 3–4 hours, so factor in travel-day buffer.
Q3: Can I bring my pet on a campervan trip in the Obihiro area?
Moving Inn Obihiro allows pets in the HIACE LEAD only; Vantrip allows pets in the Legado and Serengeti. White Birch does not allow pets. If you want to bring a pet, specify the model when booking and confirm. Areas like Shiretoko in eastern Hokkaido are brown bear habitat — take extra care when outdoors with a pet. Also see our article on Hokkaido campervan trips with pets for a full list of pet-friendly bases.
Q4: What are the rental prices in the Obihiro area?
Kei camper from ¥17,600 (White Birch), van conversion from ¥15,400 (Moving Inn, off-season), cab-over from ¥25,000 (Vantrip, off-season). July–August high-season prices rise across the board — June and September are the best months for cost savings. See also our Hokkaido Campervan Rental Price Guide.
Q5: Is no airport shuttle at White Birch inconvenient?
Buses run from Tokachi Obihiro Airport to central Obihiro in about 35–40 minutes. White Birch’s base is relatively close to Obihiro Station, so bus + short walk or taxi is realistic. No shuttle means lower overhead, so if cost is the priority it’s a viable option.
If you want to compare bases in the Asahikawa area, see our Asahikawa Campervan Rental Comparison.
For routes and crowd-management tips when traveling the Obihiro/Tokachi area in summer, see our Hokkaido Summer Campervan Travel Guide.
