Hokkaido, often called a mecca for motorcycle touring, is a region with many attractive features, including roads that stretch as far as the eye can see and breathtaking natural scenery.
Every year, many people visit Hokkaido to enjoy motorcycle touring.

Hokkaido offers a variety of enjoyable experiences all at once, including comfortable temperatures even in summer, stunning scenery, delicious food to discover during your touring trips, and relaxing hot springs to soothe your travel fatigue.

Just stopping your motorcycle on a road with a great view makes for a picturesque scene—that's something unique to Hokkaido.
The best time to go touring is from May to October.
Please come and enjoy a motorcycle tour while experiencing the magnificent natural beauty of Hokkaido.

This time, for those visiting Hokkaido by motorcycle, we'll introduce 12 recommended touring spots in Hokkaido, from classic destinations to hidden gems, divided into three areas: northern Hokkaido, eastern Hokkaido, and central Hokkaido.

<Contents>
1. Recommended touring spots in the northern Hokkaido area
2. Recommended touring spots in the eastern Hokkaido area
3. Recommended touring spots in the central Hokkaido area
4. Things to be aware of when touring Hokkaido
Final thoughts

Orolon Line

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The coastal route that combines Route 231 between Ishikari City and Rumoi, Route 232 between Rumoi and Teshio, and Prefectural Route 106 between Teshio and Wakkanai is called the Orolon Line.
This route allows you to fully experience Hokkaido, with its scenic views, beautiful ocean, and endless straight roads.

As you approach Wakkanai, the sight of the towering wind turbines is truly breathtaking.
The gently rolling hills of the Soya Hills, stretching as far as the eye can see south of Cape Soya, are another spot you should definitely visit.

Cape Soya

If you head north along the Orolon Line, you'll first pass Cape Nosappu, and then, after passing through the city of Wakkanai, you'll reach Cape Soya, the northernmost point of Japan.
The northernmost point of Japan is definitely a must-visit touring spot.

Nearby, at the Hokkaido Heritage site "North Breakwater Dome," you can often see motorcyclists camping out.
Don't forget to visit Cape Nosappu, which is very close by and a popular tourist spot.
Since it's the northernmost point, it's often windy and cold, so it's a good idea to take proper precautions against the cold.

Furano and Biei

If you're going to the Furano-Biei route, I recommend going when the lavender is in bloom.
The early-blooming lavender begins to be in full bloom from late June, reaching its peak at the end of July.

This region has many tourist attractions, so Furano is a must-visit for motorcycle touring at this time of year.
Biei boasts a breathtaking landscape of rolling hills, offering a truly quintessential Hokkaido experience.

Let's imprint the unique scenery of Biei, which cannot be captured in photographs, onto our memories.

・ Mikuni Pass

National Route 273, which runs from the hot spring resort of Sounkyo to Lake Nukabira, is a spot where you can experience the natural beauty and grandeur of Hokkaido with its light traffic.
As it's the highest mountain pass on Hokkaido's national highways, the views are absolutely spectacular.

The famous Matsumi Ohashi Bridge is breathtakingly beautiful, creating a scene that makes you feel as if you're not even in Japan.
This route gets pitch black after sunset, and many animals appear along it, so please drive carefully.
If you're heading towards Akan and Mashu after passing through Mikuni Pass, you should also consider visiting Onneto Lake.

Onneto

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Onneto is a large lake located within Akan National Park. It is a mystical lake also known as Goshikinuma (Five-Colored Lake) because its color changes depending on the season, weather, and viewing angle.
Because you can enjoy different scenery in each of the four seasons, it's a popular spot throughout the year.

・Shiretoko Peninsula (Shiretoko Crossing Road)

The Shiretoko Peninsula, with its abundant nature, hot springs, and campsites, is perfect for motorcycle touring!
The Shiretoko Crossing Road is often affected by bad weather, but it's a very popular route.
Let's enjoy a leisurely motorcycle tour through nature while admiring the mountains of Shiretoko.

Beyond the sea off Rausu, Kunashir Island is clearly visible.

There are also secluded hot springs around Shiretoko, so it's a great place to relax and unwind after a long day of traveling.
Be especially careful when driving in this area, as animals often suddenly appear on the road.

Notsuke Peninsula

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The road stretches for a long distance in a unique location with the sea on both sides.
On a sunny day, a refreshing landscape unfolds that makes you want to keep running forever.

The area is characterized by its topography eroded by seawater, and at the tip of the Notsuke Peninsula, there is a place where dead, standing Todowara trees remain, so be sure to go all the way to the end.

Many wild deer can also be seen here.

The sunset over the mountains from the Notsuke Peninsula is highly recommended.

・Kaiyodai (North Route 19)

Kaiyodai is said to be a sacred place for motorcyclists.
The observation deck offers a breathtaking 360-degree view where you can see the curvature of the Earth, making it a must-visit spot.

Route 19 North in Nakashibetsu Town, which leads to Kaiyodai, is a straight road with ups and downs, known as the "roller coaster road."
This is a very popular and well-known route among motorcyclists.
The straight road stretching to the horizon is truly breathtaking.

It's often said that when you ride a moped down this road, you feel like you're never making any progress.

・Kami no Ko Pond

A clear, fantastical emerald-green pond fed by groundwater gushing from Lake Mashu.
Getting here involves riding a short distance on an off-road forest trail, but it's a route that can be reached even on a road bike.

However, because the road is narrow and cars also use it, extra caution is needed when riding an on-road motorcycle loaded with luggage.

Cape Kamui

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The coastal road leading to Cape Kamui, which juts out from the Shakotan Peninsula, is a fantastic location for motorcycle touring.
To reach the tip of Cape Kamui, you'll need to park your motorcycle in the parking lot and walk along a footpath that's about 770 meters long.
In about 20 minutes, you can see a spectacular view of the Shakotan Blue sea stretching to the horizon, so be sure to go all the way to the tip of the cape.

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There is a gate at the entrance to Cape Kamui, and the opening and closing times vary depending on the season, so be sure to check beforehand.

[Kamui Cape Gate Opening and Closing Times]
November 8:00-18:00
November 8:00-19:00
November 8:00-19:30
November 8:00-19:00
August to October: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
November 8:00-17:00
April to October 12:3 to 10:00

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Also, when you think of Shakotan, you think of sea urchins, right? Sea urchin fishing is permitted from June to August every year, so if you come during this season, be sure to try a sea urchin rice bowl in Shakotan.

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In Yoichi, a town next to Shakotan, you'll find the Yoichi Distillery, which was featured in the NHK television drama series "Massan." Be sure to visit there as well.

・Mt. Yotei

Mount Yotei is a magnificent mountain also known as "Ezo Fuji."
The area around Mount Yotei offers a variety of trails, from easy-to-ride paths to challenging side trails, so choosing a route based on your mood can be quite enjoyable.

There are many resort areas and campgrounds in the surrounding area, such as Niseko.

Also, around Mount Yotei, there is the "Yotei Fukidashi Spring Water," which has been selected as one of Japan's 100 best spring waters, so be sure to replenish your tired body with the cold spring water.

Cape Chikyu

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Cape Chikyu, located in Muroran City, Hokkaido, is a popular scenic spot that has been selected as one of Hokkaido's 100 most beautiful natural locations.
Cape Chikyu Lighthouse stands on a cliff 120 meters above sea level, offering a spectacular view where you can feel the curvature of the Earth on a clear day.

On New Year's Day, many people visit this place to watch the first sunrise of the year rising over the sea.

Be careful not to speed.

The roads in Hokkaido are easy to drive on, which tends to make drivers speed.
Country roads and single-lane roads through fields, in particular, offer good visibility and make it easy to speed, but speed limit enforcement becomes stricter during the summer.

There are many places where police officers conduct speed enforcement, such as minivans parked suspiciously on the side of the road or hiding behind buildings, so be sure to obey the speed limit and enjoy a safe ride.

Be careful of animals.

In Hokkaido, if you go to the suburbs, it's not unusual to see animals at any time.
Foxes and deer frequently jump out, and it's not uncommon to be surprised and trip over a squirrel that you thought was just a fallen leaf.

Several collisions between animals and cars occur every year, and some of these accidents result in fatalities.
It's no exaggeration to say that you're guaranteed to encounter wild animals when touring Hokkaido.
While touring, always pay attention to your surroundings, and if you spot an animal in your path, immediately slow down.

I wonder if the deer are deliberately jumping out into the water?
It's important to be careful, as they sometimes appear at the exact moment of impact, which can easily be mistaken for something else.

Refuel frequently.

In Hokkaido, the distance to your next destination tends to be quite long.
Also, if you go to rural areas, you may hardly be able to find a gas station at all.
In particular, in eastern and northern Hokkaido, most gas stations close in the evening.

Check the locations of refueling points in advance and make sure to refuel frequently to avoid running out of fuel.

Let's take precautions against the cold.

Hokkaido experiences extreme temperature fluctuations, and even in summer, it can get quite cold when it rains.
Even in May, it can still snow in some mountain passes, so don't underestimate the cold just because it's summer. Make sure you're fully prepared with warm clothing before your ride.

When the weather turns bad, it's important to take precautions early and not push yourself too hard.

Taking measures against insects will ensure you are completely safe.

Insects can be found everywhere, not just in Hokkaido, but occasionally you'll come across places where they are unusually tiny.
When driving on the highway in the summer, you often get hit by a large number of insects, so a helmet with a visor is essential.

It might also be a good idea to have something like a damp cloth on hand.

In any case, be careful as insects can hit both your motorcycle and yourself without mercy.
Some people have reported that while riding with their visor up on a sunny day, something like a stone suddenly flew into their face and hit them, causing them to bleed.
It appears the rock-like object was actually a stag beetle, which might be an event unique to Hokkaido, a region with abundant nature.

<Conclusion>

So, that concludes our introduction to some recommended touring spots in Hokkaido that you should definitely experience. What did you think?

If you've come all the way to Hokkaido, the best route is to travel around the entire island, but because of its vast size, it will take at least seven days to do so.
If you don't have much time, why not try visiting some of the routes and spots we've introduced?

Besides its natural beauty, Hokkaido also boasts many other attractions such as hot springs and delicious cuisine.
Enjoy your Hokkaido motorcycle tour while also exploring local specialties and hot springs.

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