Are you planning a trip to Hokkaido this summer? Then check out my three 5-day summer trip itineraries for Eastern Hokkaido! These itineraries are perfect for a road trip, maximizing the time you have.
Thinking of traveling by public transportation? No worries, I got you covered too. It is possible to follow an overall sequence of these itineraries by public transportation. I also provide options for traveling by train and bus below. Note that some of the spots mentioned here are only accessible by car.
Let’s dive in!
Useful Resources
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Which Itinerary Is Perfect for You?
Here I prepared three different itineraries for you to travel Eastern Hokkaido. Each itinerary has different starting and ending points. See which one suits your overall trip plan!
Abashiri & Shiretoko itinerary - Flying in and out of Memanbetsu Airport. Family-friendly and the easiest to follow by public transportation.
Kushiro, Akan & Lake Kussharo itinerary - Flying in and out of Kushiro Airport. Great for enjoying nature and hot spring, and leaning about Ainu culture.
Shiretoko, Lake Kussharo, Akan & Kushiro itinerary - Flying in Memanbetsu Airport and out of Kushiro Airport, or vice versa. The most efficient trip to experience the best of Eastern Hokkaido. If traveling by public transportation, Akan needs to be skipped.
5-Day Itinerary 1 - Abashiri & Shiretoko
This itinerary starts and ends at Memanbetsu Airport, visiting two major destinations of the coastal region in Eastern Hokkaido, Abashiri and Shirtoko staying two nights in each place.
You will drive along with beautiful ocean views and find many spots to stop by, ranging from museums and photo spots to nature activities. There’s something for everyone. This is a great itinerary to follow for a family trip with kids!
Day 1 - Explore Abashiri
Upon arrival at Memanbetsu Airport, get a rental car and hit the road to Abashiri, which is only 30 min away. Depending on how much time you have in the day, there are a few places you could visit in the city. Abashiri is a city on the coast of the Okhotsk Sea, offering various tourist attractions ranging from nature reserves to museums.
Abashiri Prison Museum - An outdoor museum of historical buildings. Try a prison meal at the cafeteria!
Drift Ice Museum - You can learn everything about drift ice and touch the real ice in a room at -15°C temperature!
Cape Notoro for a great ocean view with an iconic lighthouse
For a family trip with kids, Chipmunk Park is fun to visit and feed cute chipmunks.
Public Transportation Options
A local bus operates from Memanbetsu Airport to Abashiri city center for about 1,000 yen. It departs right after every flight arrival. The inter-city bus can take you to some tourist attractions, including the museums mentioned above.
Where to Stay
Hokuten no Oka Abashiriko Tsuruga Resort: A relaxing onsen resort hotel featuring the Ainu art in its well-designed interior
Kagariya: An onsen ryokan with a lake view, offering seafood Kaiseki dinner and breakfast.
Dormy Inn Abashiri: A budget business hotel with 7-eleven nearby
Day 2 - Excursion from Abashiri
Let’s explore more outside Abashiri on Day 2. There are lakes and nice nature spots around Abashiri that you can visit by car or even by public transportation.
Wakka Nature Center for cycling in a nature reserve next to the Okhotsk Sea and Lake Saroma
Hanatento: A colorful flower field on a hill in July-October
Lake Abashiri and Lake Tofutsu for a nice stroll
Public Transportation Options
By public transportation - 20 min by Kanko Shisetsu Meguri Line bus from Abashiri Bus Terminal or JR Abashiri station
Excursion Option - Mombetsu
If you are willing to go a little further, a one-hour drive will take you to Mombetsu, another port city on the north from Abashiri, making an easy one-day trip.
Crab Craw Statue: A huge iconic statue that is perfect for a fun photo shoot.
Seal Protection Center: Meet cute seals and watch their feeding time!
Okhotsk Tower: An undersea observatory with a cafe and a mini aquarium
Stay the night in Abashiri
Day 3 - Head to Shiretoko
Let’s hit the road to Shiretoko. If you drive non stop from Abashiri to Utoro, a base town for Shiretoko tourism, it will take only one hour, 70 km. However, I suggest that you stop by a couple of spots on the way because there are many things to do and see in the area!
Uminoba: An ocean-view cafe with a good selection of local souvenirs
Lake Tofustu Visitor Center: An eco-museum & observation point for wild birds in the area
Road to Heaven: A famous photo spot where you can see a road going straight up to the sky!
Shiba Sakura Park: If you're traveling between May and June, make a detour to the Shiba Sakura Park in Higashi Mokoto. You'll be amazed by the hills that are covered in pink with little Shiba Sakura flowers.
Public Transportation Options
To get to Utoro by public transportation, take Shiretoko Airport Liner Bus from JR Abashiri Station or Bus Terminal for 1.5 hours, which runs twice a day and costs 2,800 yen. Another option is to take a train from JR Abashiri Station to Shari Shiretoko Station, which takes about 40 min. Then change to a bus departing from Shari bus terminal to Utoro about an hour.
Where to Stay
Luxury hotel - Kita Kobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort : Located right in front of Utoro Port, offering deluxe room options with a private open-air hot spring.
Mid-range hotel - Hotel Kifu Club Shiretoko : A cozy family-run onsen hotel with an ocean view
Budget-friendly hotel - Route Inn Grantia Shiretoko Shari Ekimae : A affordable stay near JR Shari station with a natural hot spring and free breakfast
📍Pick up
Looking for a cozy hotel where you feel connected with a warm-hearted owner? Then Sekka Shiretoko is a perfect place to stay for you. Check out the blog post below for a deeper look!
Day 4 - Go Outdoors in Shiretoko
Shiretoko is a perfect destination for outdoor lovers. Registered as a Nature World Heritage site by UNESCO, it is home to untouched nature and rich wildlife. Summer is the best time to visit there to fully enjoy Shiretoko through outdoor activities. Here are my favorite things to do in summer!
Five-Lake hike: A popular trail visiting five lakes with a mountain view.
Forest & cliff hike: A guided hike in a forest to the beautiful ocean-view cliffs.
Nature cruise: Wildlife watching on a cruise. You might find bears or dolphins!
Stay the night in Shiretoko
Day 5 - Back to Memanbetsu Airport
Driving from Utoro to Memanbetsu Airport takes about 1.5 hours. You got some time before heading back? Then visit a few places before heading back.
Shirietok: A local product souvenir shop with a food court-style restaurant
Oshin Koshin Waterfall: Just 10 min from Utoro by car. Easy to stop by on the way back.
Kiyosato: A small town 50-min away by car from Utoro, famous for potato farms and potato shochu!
Public Transportation Options
Take Shiretoko Airport Liner from Utoro for two hours. One ticket costs 3,500 yen to Memanbetsu Airport.
5-Day Itinerary 2 - Kushiro, Akan & Lake Kussharo
This itinerary starts and ends at Kushiro Airport, visiting Kushiro for two nights and Akan for two nights with a day trip to Lake Kussharo. If you like being in nature, this trip is exactly for you. It will take you to a vast marshland national park, beautiful lakes, and an active volcano.
Day 1 - Explore Kushiro
Pick up a rental car at Kushiro Airport and head to the Kushiro city center, which takes about 30 min. Kushiro is a port town facing the Pacific Ocean, famous for its marshlands, fresh seafood, and one of the most beautiful sunsets in Japan. It’s easy to get around in the city - check out these spots if you have time on your first day.
Fisherman’s Walf Moo - A shopping center full of local souvenirs and restaurants, and tourist information exhibitions.
Nusamai Bridge - The best sunset viewing spot in the city, right next to Fisherman’s Walf Moo
Try Kushiro’s famous Robata for dinner. It’s Japanese-style BBQ with local seafood, prepared in front of customers.
Public Transportation Options
From Kushiro Airport, you can take a bus to the city center for 40 min, departing after every flight arrival, for 950 yen per person.
Local buses are well connected across the city - the places mentioned above are accessible by public transportation.
Where to Stay
Mid-range hotel - ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kushiro : Conveniently located near JR Kushiro Station, offering great guest services and a breakfast buffet using fresh local ingredients.
Budget-friendly hotel - Comfort Hotel Kushiro : A modern city hotel just a 2-min walk away from JR Kushiro Station
Day 2 - Kushiro National Park
Start your day with a fresh sashimi breakfast at Washo Market, a local seafood market. You can make your own rice bowl by picking your favorite sashimi and toppings at fish stalls. Let’s have fun with it! One rice bowl with 5-6 toppings would be around 1,500 yen.
After fueling up your stomach, hit the road to Kushiro Marshland National Park. The park is home to thousands of animal species, covering over 260 square km of marshlands.
There are 5 observatories and a couple of walking paths across the park. The main Marshland Observatory overlooks the vast marshland, as well as Kushiro city and the Pacific Ocean. From there, you can take a 2.5-km loop path to enjoy walking in the untouched nature.
Public Transportation Options
To visit the national park, take Tsurui Line bus from JR Kushiro Station to Shitsugen Tenboudai for 40 min.
Stay the night in Kushiro
Day 3 - Akan
Akan is about one hour from Kushiro by car. If you are interested in wildlife in the region, make a stop at Crane Center on the way to Akan. There you can observe some of the sheltered Japanese cranes and learn about the ecosystem around crane migration in Kushiro.
Akan is a cozy onsen (hot spring) town sitting right next to Lake Akan with great nature around it. Most of the hotels offer natural onsen with beautiful lake views. As Akan has the biggest Ainu communities (the indigenous people in Hokkaido), it’s a perfect place to learn about the Ainu culture as well.
Lake Akan Cruise: A cruising tour around the lake for 80 mins,
Eco Museum Center: The center offers exhibits about nature in and around Akan, focusing on forests, lakes, and volcanos.
Bokke Walk: A 1.5 km loop path to Bokke, a mud volcano steaming from underground.
Ainu Kotan & Ainu Theater Ikor: Get some Ainu crafts and learn about their culture through their traditional performances
Public Transportation Options
Take Akan Line bus from JR Kushiro station to Lake Akan Bus Center for 2 hours.
Where to Stay
Luxury hotel - Tsuruga Besso Hinanoza : All 25 rooms come with a private hot spring with a beautiful lake view. Dinner features fresh local and seasonal ingredients.
Mid-range hotel - Akan No Mori Tsuruga Resort Hana Yuuka : A cozy lake-side onsen hotel offering delicious buffet meals with various options
Budget-friendly hotel - Hotel Gozensui : A classic Japanese-style onsen hotel overlooking the lake
Day 4 - A Day Trip to Lake Kussharo
The Lake Kussharo area offers many view spots and outdoor activities, thanks to its unique geographical conditions with a nearby volcano, Mount Io. In the east of Lake Kussharo lies Lake Mashu, which is the clearest lake in the world with its beautiful deep blue color.
Mount Io: An active volcano where you can observe dynamic volcanic activities. Try the volcano-boiled eggs!
Sunayu: Dig into the beach and make your own little onsen.
Kotan Onsen: A local open-air onsen with a beautiful lake view.
Lake Mashu Viewpoint: Enjoy the view of the clearest lake in the world.
Public Transportation Options
If you are traveling without a car, I would suggest staying another night in Akan instead of heading to Lake Kussharo, as there’s no direct public transportation from the Lake Kussharo to go back to Kushiro Airport.
Stay the night in Akan
Day 5 - Back to Kushiro Airport
Driving back from Akan to Kushiro Airport takes just one hour.
If you have some time before your departure in Akan, take a 20-min drive to a hidden gem of the Akan area - Lake Onneto. Surrounded by a forest, the lake provides a beautiful view of mountain backdrop as well as a tranquil walking path around it. The lake is also known as a “five-colored lake” since it is said to change its color throughout the day and the year.
Public Transportation Options
Take Akan Line Bus bound for Kushiro Airport, which takes one hour and operates 3-4 times a day. One way costs 2,190 yen.
Useful Resources
✨Planning a trip? Grab my Ultimate Travel Planner & Itineraries
✨Looking for places to stay? Check out my Hotel Recommendations
✨Stuck in your trip planning? Ask for my Local Expert Advice
5-Day Itinerary 3 - Shiretoko, Lake Kussharo, Akan & Kushiro
This itinerary starts at Memanbetsu Airport and ends at Kushiro Airport with a two-night stay each in Shiretoko and Akan. You could do the other way around of course, from Kushiro Airport to Memanbetsu Airport.
This trip will let you experience the best parts of Eastern Hokkaido in an efficient way. It’s got the great nature of the Shiretoko peninsula and the Lake Kussharo area, hot springs and Ainu culture in Akan, and a city stroll in Kushiro if you have time before your flight.
If you are driving, make sure to book a rental car service that allows you to drop off at a different location from your pick up.
If you are using public transportation, I suggest that you skip Akan and head to Kushiro instead to spend Day 4, due to the lack of transport connection transport around the area as explained below.
Day 1 - Memanbetsu Airport to Shiretoko
Once arriving at Memanbetsu Airport, pick up your rental car and head to Utoro, which is a base town for Shiretoko tourism. The drive will take about 1.5 hours for 80km if you go directly, but I suggest stopping by a couple of spots with a few detours on the way, because there are many things to do and see in the area!
Stay the night in Shiretoko and enjoy a hot spring and local seafood to get ready for the next day!
Uminoba: An ocean-view cafe with a good selection of local souvenirs
Lake Tofustu Visitor Center: An eco-museum & observation point for wild birds in the area
Road to Heaven: A famous photo spot where you can see a road going straight up to the sky!
Shiba Sakura Park: If you're traveling between May and June, make a detour to the Shiba Sakura Park in Higashi Mokoto. You'll be amazed by the hills that are covered in pink with little Shiba Sakura flowers.
Public Transportation Options
Take Shiretoko Airport Liner Bus which takes about two hours and costs 3,500 yen.
Where to Stay
Luxury hotel - Kita Kobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort : Located right in front of Utoro Port, offering deluxe room options with a private open-air hot spring.
Mid-range hotel - Hotel Kifu Club Shiretoko : A cozy family-run onsen hotel with an ocean view
Budget-friendly hotel - Route Inn Grantia Shiretoko Shari Ekimae : A affordable stay near JR Shari station with a natural hot spring and free breakfast
Day 2 - Shiretoko
Shiretoko is a perfect destination for outdoor lovers. Registered as a Nature World Heritage site by UNESCO, it is home to untouched nature and rich wildlife. Summer is the best time to visit there to fully enjoy Shiretoko through outdoor activities. Here are my favorite things to do in summer!
Five-Lake hike: A popular trail visiting five lakes with a mountain view.
Forest & cliff hike: A guided hike in a forest to the beautiful ocean-view cliffs.
Nature cruise: Wildlife watching on a cruise. You might find bears or dolphins!
Stay the night in Shiretoko
Day 3 - Lake Kussharo
Let’s head out to Akan from Utoro, but we will make some stops in the Lake Kussharo area, which is about halfway to Akan.
The Lake Kussharo area offers many view spots and outdoor activities, thanks to its unique geographical conditions with a nearby volcano, Mount Io. In the east of Lake Kussharo lies Lake Mashu, which is the clearest lake in the world with its beautiful deep blue color.
Stay the night in Akan, a cozy onsen town located on the beautiful lakeside.
Mount Io: An active volcano where you can observe dynamic volcanic activities. Try the volcano-boiled eggs!
Sunayu: Dig a hole in the beach and make your own little onsen.
Kotan Onsen: A local open-air onsen with a beautiful lake view.
Lake Mashu Viewpoint: Enjoy the view of the clearest lake in the world.
Public Transportation Options
Take a bus from Utoro to JR Shari station and change to a train bound for Kushiro. Get off at JR Kawayu Onsen station to take a sightseeing tour bus visiting some of the spots mentioned above (July - October only).
After that, take a train to Kushiro again and stay the rest of your trip in Kushiro, instead of Akan. There’s no public transportation from Lake Kussharo to Akan.
Where to Stay
Luxury hotel - Tsuruga Besso Hinanoza: All 25 rooms come with a private hot spring with a beautiful lake view. Dinner features fresh local and seasonal ingredients.
Mid-range hotel - Akan No Mori Tsuruga Resort Hana Yuuka: A cozy lake-side onsen hotel offering delicious buffet meals with various options
Budget-friendly hotel - Hotel Gozensui: A classic Japanese-style onsen hotel overlooking the lake
Day 4 - Akan
Akan itself is located in the Akan Mashu National Park, surrounded by great nature, lakes and mountains. If you want to explore what the area has to offer, it’s best to hire a local guide for hiking, forest walks, or fishing. But of course, there are many ways to enjoy it on your own as listed below.
Akan is also home to the biggest Ainu communities (the indigenous people in Hokkaido), making it a perfect place to learn about their culture and traditions.
Lake Akan Cruise - A cruising tour around the lake for 80 mins,
Eco Museum Center: The center offers exhibits about nature in and around Akan, focusing on forests, lakes, and volcanos.
Bokke Walk: A 1.5 km loop path to Bokke, a mud volcano steaming from underground.
Ainu Kotan & Ainu Theater Ikor: Get some Ainu crafts and learn about their culture through their traditional performances
Stay the night in Akan
Day 5 - Fly out from Kushiro Airport
Driving back from Akan to Kushiro Airport takes just one hour. If you have a few hours to spend until your flight, visit these places!
Lake Onneto: A hidden gem of the Akan National Park. 20 min drive from Akan.
Crane Center: A shelter and research center of Japanese cranes. 40 min drive from Akan, on the way to the Airport.
If you have enough time (or a day) to spend in Kushiro, why not explore more?
Kushiro Marshland National Park: Enjoy the nature on a walking path and observatories.
Fisherman’s Walf Moo: A shopping center full of local souvenirs and restaurants, and tourist information exhibitions.
Nusamai Bridge: The best sunset viewing spot in the city, right next to Fisherman’s Walf Moo
Where to Stay in Kushiro
Mid-range hotel - ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kushiro : Conveniently located near JR Kushiro Station, offering great guest services and a breakfast buffet using fresh local ingredients.
Budget-friendly hotel - Comfort Hotel Kushiro : A modern city hotel just a 2-min walk away from JR Kushiro Station
THAT’S ALL!
Hope you enjoyed this article. I’d love to hear from you, whether it’s feedback or questions - Reach out to me on my Facebook page or Instagram. We also have Eastern Hokkaido Travel Group on Facebook where you can ask questions or share experiences about trips to Eastern Hokkaido. Join us!
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