Road Trip: A Relaxed Journey Without the Pressure of Check-ins

4-Day, 3-Night Itinerary for Asahikawa to Chitose (Early October 2024) Using a rental car from Toyota Rent A Car, conveniently located right in front of Asahikawa Station. Day 1: Biei - Blue Pond - Shirahige Waterfall - Nakafurano (Stay at Shooting Star B&B) After picking up the car, head south to the visitor center in Biei for information. The staff were very helpful, even assisting when we looked confused with the map. Bought a gashapon as a souvenir. Next stop is Shirogane Blue Pond, a stunning blue-colored pond surrounded by autumn foliage. There’s a spacious parking lot where you pay at an automatic machine and present the ticket at the exit. From Blue Pond, drive to Shirahige Waterfall, which is nearby. Parking is free, and there are restrooms available. The post office restroom was recommended for cleanliness, so we used that instead. A short walk from the parking lot leads to the waterfall. The path takes you to a bridge above the falls, offering a view of multiple white streams cascading from the cliffs into a blue river, surrounded by autumn trees. The scenery is mesmerizing, but hunger eventually led us to lunch. There are several restaurants and hotels in the area. We chose a ramen shop across from a hotel. The portions were large, the taste was decent, and the price was standard. After lunch, we drove back towards Biei, enjoying the scenic roads and fields. Stopped for coffee by the fields before heading to Nakafurano for check-in at Shooting Star B&B. Since check-in was at 3 PM, we visited Ningle Terrace and a nearby cheese factory, then grabbed dinner in town as the accommodation is outside the city with no nearby shops. The B&B is charming, run by a lovely couple. The wife, originally from Singapore, also offers yoga sessions in the morning (if you wake up early). The stay includes breakfast and costs around 30,000 yen, which felt worth it. Day 2: Jozankei (Stay at Jozankei Onsen Yurukusoan) A long drive to Jozankei, a famous onsen town. Arrived just before noon, parked at the hotel, and walked to find lunch. The town is tourist-friendly, filled with restaurants, cafes, and hotels. However, there’s no pharmacy, so for medicine, you’d need to drive to another town. In the evening, there was a light show at the bridge, but we skipped it in favor of the hotel dinner. The room was a spacious ryokan-style accommodation with a private onsen bath (public baths separated by gender are also available). Despite the crowd, the management was efficient. Note that there’s a 300-yen onsen tax during check-out. The autumn foliage was stunning throughout the town. Day 3: Chitose (Stay at Hotel Wing International Chitose) From Jozankei to Chitose, the drive took just over an hour. We left late after enjoying a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Stopped for ice cream and lunch at Lake Shikotsu, known for its crystal-clear waters. The lake offers various activities and photo spots. Had a simple meal of grilled lake fish, which was delightful. The drive from the lake to Chitose passed through winding forest roads. Checked into the hotel, dropped off our belongings, and returned the car. Chose this hotel for its proximity to the train station and free airport shuttle service in the morning. The staff spoke English. Returned the car at the Poplar branch near the airport, which offers shuttle service to the airport for train connections back to Chitose. Dinner was conveniently from Lawson. Expenses for 2 people: - Car rental + tolls: ~40,000 yen - Accommodation: ~130,000 yen - Meals: ~22,000 yen - Gas: ~4,000 yen (Note: gas stations don’t accept travel cards)