Hokkaido is full of dynamic roads that are perfect for touring and driving, where you can experience the great outdoors and magnificent scenery. Here are 15 of Hokkaido's most scenic roads that we recommend for touring season!

This is the name of the route that runs north and south along the coast from Otaru City to Wakkanai along the Sea of Japan. In particular, Hokkaido Highway 106, which runs north from Teshio Town, passes through the Otonrui Wind Farm, with its impressive row of windmills, and continues in a straight line through the Sarobetsu Plain, which is free of man-made objects. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Rishiri Fuji across the sea, and passing through here to head to the northernmost point of Cape Soya is a popular route for driving and touring. Wakkanai, where Cape Soya is located, also has other scenic roads such as the "Soya Hills" and the "White Road."

The Soya Hills, which spread out behind Cape Soya, the northernmost point of Japan, are a periglacial landform that is a remnant of the Ice Age and are registered as a Hokkaido Heritage Site. The "White Road" in the Soya Hills is located at the finish line of the footpath course and is a popular photo spot. A group of windmills spread out beyond the panoramic ridgeline, and the "white road" made of crushed scallop shells offers a spectacular view of the beautiful contrast between the sky and the sea.

From Sarufutsu Park, a roadside station in Sarufutsu Village, famous for its scallops, head south on National Route 238 for about 18km, and turn onto the village road on the Sea of Okhotsk side. There are no utility poles, guardrails, or buildings, and you can ride straight through pastureland to the horizon - a road that any rider would dream of. For about 16km, the only thing you can see apart from the road you are riding on is the sky and the horizon. Experience the exhilaration of riding through this open landscape.

This mountain pass road connects Shari Town and Rausu Town in Shiretoko, a World Heritage Site, and the dynamic view of nature from the top of Shiretoko Pass is spectacular. The Shiretoko Crossing Road is closed to traffic in the winter from November to late April each year, so the period during which it can be driven is short, but it is one of the places you should travel at least once as it allows you to experience the nature of Shiretoko.

A sand spit is a landform formed by the accumulation of sand carried by ocean currents over many years, and the Notsuke Peninsula is famous for being the largest sand spit in Japan. A single road runs from the base of the peninsula to the tip where the Nature Center is located, flanked on both sides by the sea. The desolate landscape, including "Narawara" where dead Mizunara oak trees remain, and "Todowara" where dead Sakhalin fir trees remain, is worth seeing. In recent years, environmental changes and land subsidence have caused sand to wash away, narrowing the road, and there are concerns that the peninsula itself may disappear, so this may become a valuable road.

A popular spot for touring riders is Kaiyodai, a landmark in Nakashibetsu, eastern Hokkaido, where you can enjoy a panoramic view from an altitude of 270m. The straight road that runs from the base of the hill through the dairy farming area is called the Milk Road. This road, which got its name from the straight road on which tanker trucks shipping milk run, passes through a lattice-like windbreak forest, which has been designated a Hokkaido Heritage Site, and offers relaxing scenery. We also recommend visiting in the fall, when the larch trees in the windbreak forest change color.

This coastal road stretches from Hiroo Town in Tokachi to Cape Nosappu in Nemuro City, with a total length of approximately 321 km. The section heading towards Nemuro through Kushiro Town, Akkeshi Town, and Hama-naka Town is known as the Cape and Flower Mist Road, and is particularly attractive for its dramatic cliffs and marshland scenery. There are parking areas here and there, so you can take your time enjoying the scenery, and the natural scenery is so appealing that you will never tire of driving along the road.

This famous spot has been selected as one of Kamifurano Town's "Eight Views of Kamifurano," and is the name for Town Road West 11, which turns off from National Route 237, which connects Biei Town and Kamifurano Town. The undulating ups and downs make it truly worthy of being called a roller coaster, and you can enjoy the magnificent scenery typical of Hokkaido while looking out at the majestic mountain ranges of the Tokachi Mountain Range.

If you go along National Route 273, which connects Kamishihoro Town to Kamikawa Town, you can see the group of concrete arch bridges of the former JNR Shihoro Line and the Taushubetsu River Bridge, known as the "phantom bridge." After passing the site of Mimata Station, the terminus of the former JNR Shihoro Line, you will find a refreshing row of birch trees, and the road will gradually go through virgin forest and head towards Mikuni Pass, the highest pass on a national highway in Hokkaido. The spectacular view of the vast sea of trees that can be seen from near the top of the pass and the Matsumi Ohashi Bridge standing there will overwhelm anyone who visits.

Located about 10km from the town of Kamishihoro on Route 806, Naitai Highland Ranch is the largest public ranch in Japan, with a total area of about 1,700ha (358 Tokyo Domes). Vast pastures spread out on both sides of the undulating road that runs from the entrance to the ranch to the summit, and the sight of herds of cows leisurely walking across the grass is soothing. Near the summit is the Naitai Terrace, where you can enjoy a view of the ranch as well as the patchwork of fields that spread across the Tokachi Plain.

This pass is on the border between the towns of Bihoro and Teshikaga on National Route 243, and the view from the observation deck is said to be "the most beautiful view in the world." Not only can you get a panoramic view of Lake Kussharo, the largest caldera lake in Japan, but you can also see as far as Mount Iou and the Shiretoko Federation. There is also a roadside station called "Gurutto Panorama Bihoro Pass," which is a great place to take a break and enjoy the scenery.

This scenic road was named after the fact that the endless straight road looks as if it stretches all the way to the heavens. For those who want to enjoy this road with a sudden spectacle appearing before their eyes, we recommend taking National Route 334 from Utoro towards Shari, then turning left at Minehama. If you time it right around the spring or autumn equinox, you might be able to see the sun setting at the end of the road, an emotional moment that feels like a "road to heaven."

The section of Route 66 connecting the towns of Niseko and Iwanai is called the Niseko Panorama Line, a popular winding road with a series of dynamic landscapes that has also been selected as one of the 100 Most Famous Roads in Japan. In addition to the magnificent views of Mt. Yotei and the Niseko mountain range, you can also see the Sea of Japan, so it's refreshing to run through such a magnificent landscape! It's also a good idea to take a stroll around the nearby Shinsen Marsh while taking a break. Summer, when the area is brimming with greenery, is a great time to visit, but autumn is the best time to go, when you can run through leaves that look as if they're wrapped in gold.

A "Yamaate Road" is a road design technique in which roads are laid out in a straight line toward the mountain. In Hokkaido, the "Yamaate" of Mt. Yotei, which appears at the end of National Route 276 from Kimobetsu Town, is incredibly beautiful and dynamic! The Aikawa Viewpoint Parking is located along this national highway, so you can take a break and enjoy the scenery while driving. Mount Yotei, affectionately known as "Ezo Fuji" due to its beautiful resemblance to Mount Fuji, comes into view as you drive along, providing an overwhelming view.

Route 16, which runs from Chitose City to Lake Shikotsu, is called the "Lake Shikotsu Sky Road" and is a single road that runs through a beautiful forest of larch and birch trees. As you pass through the deep greenery, feeling the fresh breath of the forest, you will be greeted by Lake Shikotsu, one of the clearest lakes in Japan. You will surely be enchanted by the mysterious glow of Lake Shikotsu Blue.

*All information published is current as of May 2024. *All published information may be subject to change, so please check the official website for details.

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