Immerse yourself in the wines and art of Hokkaido: a four-day trip to Hakodate, Yoichi, Furano, and Biei Arrive at Hakodate Airport and depart from Asahikawa Airport

The first day of your trip starts with a walk around Hakodate. In the Motomachi area, you can enjoy the view of the harbor from the hilltop and visit several beautiful churches. After that, get in your rental car and drive to the Tobetsu Trappist Monastery, where you can get their famous butter and cookies. Make sure to taste their homemade soft serve too! After stopping by the Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai rest area, take the ropeway up to the observatory on Mount Hakodate to see the glistening city lights at night. For a delightful evening, savor delicious seafood at Japanese-style pubs, called izakaya, or sip a drink at local atmospheric bars. You will stay the night at a hotel in the center of Hakodate.

On the second day, head to the Hakodate Morning Market before checking out of your hotel. Here you can have a delicious set meal for breakfast, featuring exceptional seafood dishes, like Hakodate's famous squid-sashimi, grilled fish, and fresh seafood rice bowls. You can try your hand at squid fishing in the market too. After leaving Hakodate, take the Hokkaido expressway to Lake Toya. Take breaks along the way at some of the highway oases where you can admire incredible views, like Yakumo and Toyoura Funka Bay. Park your car at the shore of Lake Toya and stretch your legs on a stroll in the autumn-colored Lake Toya Gurutto Sculpture Park, where the artworks create a beautiful contrast with the lake. After having lunch at a lakeside cafe and buying fine wines at Tsukiura Winery, drive again to Yoichi and Niki, home to many natural winemakers. On the way, you will make a stop at the rest area in Niseko. One of the wineries will be your accommodation of the day, and you can get a little tipsy on the exquisite wine of the house.

On the third day, drive along the coastline to Otaru. Visit several museums in the Otaru Art Village, walk along the Otaru Canal, and have lunch before continuing to your next stop. At Hosui Winery, having been used as a filming location before, you can admire the view of the vineyards and see how they make their wines. If you are not the driver for the rest of the day, you can also sample some wines and buy some bottles of your favorite. Take the Hokkaido expressway once more to head to Asahikawa. Stop by the Asahikawa Design Center, a gallery of Asahikawa furniture. You might find yourself enchanted by the chair, sofa, and dining set designs that fully bring out the warmth of the wood typical for northern regions. If you like some of the pieces, you can purchase them too. In addition to furniture, they also have various wooden interior decor items for sale that you can buy as a memento of your trip. In the evening, check in at a hotel in central Asahikawa.

On the last day, after checking out, enjoy the surrounding scenery on your way to the Furano Wine Factory. Here they sell some wines that you can only find at the winery. In the city center, stop by Furano Marche filled with fresh local vegetables and tasty foods and sweets made with local products. In the hill town of Biei, you can enjoy shopping even more at Biei Senka, offering a variety of local fresh produce and processed foods. If you end up getting more than you can carry, you can have your purchases delivered. After lunch, continue on to the world-famous Blue Pond. The color of the water is known as the “Biei blue,” which gives the entire area a magical feel, making it a perfect spot for photos. Enjoy your last eyeful of Biei’s hilly scenery at the Roller Coaster Road and the Shinei-no-Oka Observatory Park, and take a flight back home from Asahikawa Airport.