Hokkaido’s southern gateway, Chitose, keeps you close to the island’s greatest hits without the hassle. The city straddles the salmon-rich Chitose River and sits a short ride from Lake Shikotsu—Japan’s second-deepest, famously clear caldera lake. From this comfortable base, you can hop to Sapporo for culture and cuisine, Otaru for canal-side nostalgia and sweets, and Noboribetsu for volcanic onsen.

Chitose’s history is interlaced with the Indigenous Ainu, who named the lake “Shikotsu,” meaning “big hollow.” The region’s clean water fuels everything from crisp beer to creamy soft-serve, and seasons paint the landscape wildly different: ice-blue festivals in midwinter, lavender-scented fields (Furano) in summer, and blazing foliage in autumn.

Practical perks abound: New Chitose Airport is a destination itself (ramen alley, chocolate museum, even an onsen). JR Hokkaido trains, direct buses, and reliable private transfers make day trips simple. Expect hearty mountain cuisine—soup curry, jingisukan (grilled lamb), kaisendon (seafood bowls)—and warm hospitality at ryokan and cafés.

Chitose & Lake Shikotsu

Chitose is your stress-free launchpad. Ten minutes from the airport, it leads straight to Lake Shikotsu’s glassy waters and steaming baths at Shikotsuko Onsen. The area is made for slow mornings, lakeside walks, and an evening soak under star-pricked skies.

• Top sights: Lake Shikotsu (walk the shoreline trails), Shikotsuko Onsen day baths, Salmon Hometown Chitose Aquarium (salmon lifecycle exhibits), Northern Horse Park (farm fun close to the airport).
• Dine like a local: Try Hokkaido’s famed soup curry, yakitori at a neighborhood izakaya (Kushidori is a popular local chain), and haskap berry sweets from a local confectioner.
• Don’t miss: In winter, Lake Shikotsu’s ice festival; year-round, a clear-kayak trip on the lake to see that dazzling water.

Where to stay: Search stays in Chitose and Shikotsuko Onsen on VRBO or compare hotels (from airport-side convenience to ryokan-style rooms) on Hotels.com.

Getting there: Fly into New Chitose (CTS) via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. For trains in Japan, plan with Trip.com Trains. Prefer a door-to-door ride from the terminal? Book a private transfer: One Way Private Transfer from New Chitose to Sapporo by mini bus (great for groups).

Signature activity: Go paddling on crystalline Lake Shikotsu with this clear-kayak experience: Japan’s No. 1 Water Quality Lake Shikotsu Clear Kayak Tour.

Sapporo

Hokkaido’s capital blends leafy parks, beer heritage, and a booming food scene. Odori Park stitches the center together; the Sapporo Beer Museum and nearby beer garden champion local brews and jingisukan (grilled lamb). Winters bring powder-draped streets; summers fill cafés and beer terraces.

• Top sights: Odori Park, Sapporo TV Tower, Former Hokkaido Government Office, Sapporo Beer Museum and Beer Garden, Hokkaido Shrine and Maruyama Park, Shiroi Koibito Park.
• Eat & drink: Breakfast at Nijo Market (seafood donburi), soup curry at GARAKU or Suage+, and a flight at the Sapporo Beer Garden (Kessel Hall).
• From Chitose: JR Rapid Airport train ~37–45 minutes, about ¥1,150 (~$8–9) each way; trains run frequently. See times on Trip.com Trains.

Stay if you want a night in town: Browse VRBO Sapporo or compare hotels on Hotels.com Sapporo.

Otaru

Otaru’s canal warehouses whisper of herring riches and merchant trade. Today, glass studios, music boxes, and patisseries line Sakaimachi Street, while the brick-lined canal sets a cinematic evening scene.

• Top sights: Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street, Kitaichi Glass, Otaru Music Box Museum, Sankaku Market (kaisendon), and coffee by lamplight at Kitaichi Hall No.3.
• Foodie notes: Treat yourself to LeTAO’s cheesecakes, hot-fried kamaboko fish cakes, and buttery croquettes from mom-and-pop shops.
• From Chitose: JR via Sapporo to Otaru in ~1 hr 15–30 min, about ¥1,790–¥2,100 one way depending on service.

Stay (optional): Check VRBO Otaru or Hotels.com Otaru.

Noboribetsu

Hokkaido’s onsen capital sits atop a volcanic cauldron. Hell Valley (Jigokudani) steams and rumbles, trail boards creak underfoot, and milky-blue pools promise restorative soaks back in town.

• Top sights: Jigokudani (Hell Valley), Oyunuma Brook natural footbath, day-use onsen at major hotels, hot-spring street snacks.
• From Chitose: JR Limited Express ~45–55 minutes to Noboribetsu Station (about ¥2,500), then a 15-minute local bus up to the onsen town.

Stay (optional): See options on VRBO Noboribetsu or compare on Hotels.com Noboribetsu.

Day 1: Arrive in Chitose + Easy Airport Eats and Onsen

Afternoon: Land at New Chitose Airport (CTS). If you’re light on luggage, take the JR Rapid Airport train 7–10 minutes to Chitose Station (about ¥290). With a group or late-night arrival, book a private ride: One Way Private Transfer from New Chitose to Sapporo by mini bus (also available CTS→Chitose/Sapporo; reliable in winter).

Evening: Explore the airport’s foodie zone before heading to your hotel: Hokkaido Ramen Dojo has regional heavy-hitters—try Ebisoba Ichigen’s shrimp-broth ramen or a miso bowl from a Sapporo-style shop. If you prefer a soak first, the airport’s own onsen (upper floors, domestic terminal) is perfect after a flight.

Night: Check into your Chitose or Shikotsuko Onsen stay (VRBO Chitose | Hotels.com Chitose). Craving a casual local supper? Look for a neighborhood izakaya near Chitose Station for yakitori, zangi (Hokkaido fried chicken), and shochu highballs.

Day 2: Lake Shikotsu—Clear Kayaks, Lakeside Walks, and Onsen

Morning: Bus from New Chitose Airport or Chitose Station to Shikotsuko Onsen (about 55–70 minutes; ~¥1,050). Grab a light breakfast at a café in the onsen village—Hokkaido milk soft-serve and toast, or a simple onigiri set.

Afternoon: Paddle the famous blue: Japan’s No. 1 Water Quality Lake Shikotsu Clear Kayak Tour. Guides get beginners comfortable fast; the transparent hulls show off volcanic rocks and weed beds below.

Evening: Warm up with an onsen soak in the village (day-use options available). For dinner, consider a ryokan set meal featuring lake fish and mountain vegetables, or return to Chitose for soup curry—fragrant broth over rice with bone-in chicken and roasted veggies. Nightcap with Hokkaido dairy soft-serve or a haskap tart.

Day 3: Day Trip to Sapporo—Parks, Beer, and Soup Curry

Morning: JR Rapid Airport train to Sapporo (~40 minutes). Breakfast like a local at Nijo Market: a kaisendon (salmon, ikura, scallops over rice) or grilled hokke (mackerel). Stroll Odori Park and pop up the Sapporo TV Tower for a skyline fix.

Afternoon: Head to the Sapporo Beer Museum to trace the island’s brewing story, then feast on jingisukan at the adjacent beer garden (charcoal-grilled lamb with vegetables). Coffee break at a beloved local roaster—try Morihiko for a slice of Sapporo café culture.

Evening: Slurp Hokkaido’s signature soup curry at GARAKU or Suage+, choosing spice level and toppings (add fried burdock and Hokkaido pumpkin). Train back to Chitose for a late soak or quiet stroll.

Day 4: Otaru—Canal Nostalgia, Glass Arts, and Cheesecake

Morning: Train to Otaru via Sapporo (~1 hr 20 min). Walk the canal’s stone warehouses, then browse Sakaimachi Street’s glass studios and music-box shops (customize one as a keepsake).

Afternoon: Lunch at Sankaku Market—try kaisendon piled with uni and sweet shrimp. Dessert-hop with LeTAO’s double fromage cheesecake and a stop at Kitaichi Hall No.3, a café lit by hundreds of oil lamps.

Evening: Linger by the canal as the lamps flick on, then return to Chitose. For a casual late dinner near the station, look for a yakitori counter or a homestyle teishoku diner serving miso-salmon sets and tonkatsu.

Day 5: Noboribetsu—Hell Valley Trails and Hot Springs

Morning: JR Limited Express from Chitose to Noboribetsu (~50 minutes), bus up to the onsen town. Walk the boardwalks of Jigokudani, where sulfur vents steam from a crater-like basin; continue to the Oyunuma Brook natural footbath trail if conditions allow.

Afternoon: Day-use an onsen at a major hotel—soak in mineral-rich pools (sulfur and iron springs are common). Lunch on hand-cut soba or a hearty ramen bowl; grab a local sweet like Wakasaimo on the way out.

Evening: Return to Chitose. Dinner ideas: a neighborhood izakaya to sample grilled hokke, zangi, and Hokkaido potatoes with butter. Pair with a crisp local lager or highball.

Day 6: Private Driver Day—Furano & Biei Flowers or Lake Tōya Volcanic Views

Let a local driver-guide tailor the day to the season with pickup in Chitose: 1-Day Private Tour from Chitose/Sapporo to Wherever you wanna go!. In summer, head to Furano’s lavender fields (Farm Tomita area) and Biei’s patchwork hills and Blue Pond; in autumn, chase foliage around the Tokachi ranges; in winter, opt for Lake Tōya’s caldera views or powder detours. Your guide optimizes routes, photo stops, and meal breaks—think cheese tarts in Furano or volcano-view lunches at Tōya. Perfect if you prefer comfort, flexibility, or are traveling with family.

Day 7: Chitose Slow Morning + Departure

Morning: Stretch your legs on the riverside path near the Salmon Hometown Chitose Aquarium (great with kids, check hours). Alternatively, visit Northern Horse Park for pony rides, carriage tours, or a peaceful farm café—both are within easy reach of the airport.

Afternoon (depart): Head to New Chitose early to enjoy its standout shopping and snacks: Royce’ Chocolate World (watch chocolatiers at work), Hokkaido cheese tarts, and souvenir-friendly dairy treats. If you have extra time, slip upstairs for one last onsen soak before your flight.

Dining Shortlist by Area (Save for Later)

• Chitose & Lake Shikotsu: Ramen Dojo at CTS (Ebisoba Ichigen for shrimp-based ramen), local izakaya near Chitose Station (yakitori, zangi), ryokan dinners at Shikotsuko Onsen (seasonal kaiseki), haskap berry sweets from a local confectioner.
• Sapporo: Nijo Market (kaisendon breakfast), Sapporo Beer Garden (jingisukan lunch), Soup Curry GARAKU or Suage+, café stop at Morihiko.
• Otaru: Sankaku Market (Takinami-style seafood bowls), LeTAO cheesecake, Kitaichi Hall No.3 coffee by oil lamps, hot-fried kamaboko.
• Noboribetsu: Onsen hotel day-use with casual set meals; street snacks, soba, or ramen in the onsen town.

How to Get Around (Quick Reference)

• Flights: Compare fares to CTS on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Tokyo–CTS ~1h45m; Osaka–CTS ~2h; typical sales $60–$200 OW.
• Trains (JR Hokkaido): Plan times and buy tickets in-station; preview routes on Trip.com Trains. CTS⇄Sapporo ~40 min; CTS⇄Otaru ~1h20; CTS⇄Noboribetsu ~50 min (+bus).
• Private transfers (winter-proof, groups): Besides taxis, consider Viator-listed airport shuttles and vans originating at CTS for Sapporo/Niseko/Tomamu routes (see options in the activity list above).

Where to Sleep (Quick Picks)

• Base in Chitose / Shikotsu: Airport-adjacent hotels for ultra-easy departures; Shikotsuko Onsen ryokan for lake and hot-spring access. Browse VRBO Chitose and Hotels.com Chitose.
• Optional Sapporo overnight: Stay downtown for nightlife and markets: VRBO Sapporo | Hotels.com Sapporo.
• Optional Otaru / Noboribetsu: Canal-view boutiques or full-service onsen hotels: VRBO Otaru | Hotels.com Otaru | VRBO Noboribetsu | Hotels.com Noboribetsu.

Optional/Seasonal Add-Ons

• Winter: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival (Jan–Feb), snowshoeing around the lake, and Sapporo Snow Festival (early Feb).
• Summer: SUP and boat cruises on Lake Shikotsu; day trip to Furano/Biei flower fields.
• Autumn: Fiery foliage around Shikotsu-Tōya National Park; crisp air and clear lake vistas.

Another handy transfer option (for groups or ski travelers): Many private routes operate from CTS to Sapporo, Niseko, Kiroro, and Tomamu. Example listings include CTS⇄Sapporo and CTS⇄Niseko services among the Viator options at the top of this guide.

With Chitose as your calm center, you’ll collect Hokkaido’s greatest hits—clear lakes, steaming springs, seafood feasts—without long luggage hauls. Short rail hops and smart transfers keep each day focused on scenery, flavors, and unhurried onsen time.