7 days driving in Hokkaido

I know is was to early to post into thos forum since im travelling on September . We had booked the ticket for 16 persons where we we arrive at Narita Airport in Tokyo early morning on 14 September.Below is my suggest itinenary and I hope get more advise from the expert.

14 sept - arrive Toyko
- domestic flight to Arsahikawa
- collect rent car
15 sept - Arsahikawa - not yet plan yet
16 Sept - Arsahikawa/Bier
17 Sept - Bier / Furano
18 Sept - Furano / Sapporo
19 Sept - Otaru/Niseko
-Night Train from Sapporo Tokyo
20tSept - Reach Tokyo in the morming
21 - 25 sept - in Tokyo ( Tokyo shouldn't be problem cause we had been 4 times here .Only Hokkaido is the first time for us.

it is too rush or pack for my planning for the self drive route.Kindly advise

Even if you can't push back the trip a bit (late Sept is better) try to visit the Daisetsuzan National Park. In average year autumn foliage season there occurs during the latter half of Sept. Use Sounkyo Gorge as your base and go for beautiful koyo in Ginsendai and Daisetsu Kogen Onsen.

http://ramblingonmyhokkaido.blog112.fc2.com/blog-entry-77.html (Ginsendai)
http://ramblingonmyhokkaido.blog112.fc2.com/blog-entry-95.html (Daisetsu Kogen Onsen)

Note that if you pick it from Asahikawa and return in Sapporo there is an additional drop-off charge for the rental car.

Thanks William for the advise .Btw did my itinenary will be very pack ?.can you guide me about domestic flight & night train and extra charges for the drop of car at different point .
1. As I know there is no direct domestic flight from Narita airport to ArsahikaA so it is we need to go to Haneda Airport to depart ? Any free shuttles bus from Narita to Haneda?

2. For the night train from Sapporo to tokyo can we book the ticket online in advance ?

3. How much approximately they will charge for the different drop off point for the rental car?

I quite worry for the booking since we had 16 persons and in Hokkaido we plan to rent apartment instead of hotel . Any comment??

Hope to hear from you

Thanks
Krisdadio

There is no free shuttle between Narita and Haneda. You either take train or bus.
http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/directions/haneda.h... (Keisei Electric Railway)
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/bus_services/narita/haneda.html (bus)
http://hanedabus.jp/schedule_e.php?areano=G&routeno=123&busstop1=7091&... (bus)

I have no experience about night train or rental apartment in Hokkaido. Perhaps you can seek help from the following.
info@japanrail.com (Japan Rail)
info_2012@asahikawa-tourism.com (Asahikawa Tourism)

For a large group of 16 you will need more than 1 car and for vehicle larger than 8-seater you need an additional driving permit. Again you have to contact the rental agency for details. In Hokkaido we had rent from ToCoo and Kakuyasu, both of which have English website and online email webpage.
https://www2.tocoo.jp/en/contents/inquiry (ToCoo)
https://shiretoko-t.com/en/contact.html (Kakuyasu)

The top attraction in Asahikawa is Asahiyama Zoo, one of the most popular zoo in Japan.
http://www5.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asahiyama_Zoo

It depends on your preference, however, the balance of your east and west parts of Sapporo is far from that of an average traveller.
http://en.visit-hokkaido.jp/planyourtrip/modelcourse/course06.php
http://en.visit-hokkaido.jp/planyourtrip/modelcourse/course08.php

Night trains can be caught at Hakodate. You may drop the car there.
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/08.pdf

Your tokyo stays are just in the silver week. Circles are national holidays in
https://www.jreast.co.jp/kippu/1202.html

Besides the Zoo, there is not much else in Asahikawa.

It is really nice to look at, as it is a modern and growing city. But besides this, I would recommend spending the day in Asahikawa elsewhere. E.g. Daisetsuzan/ Biei.

Otaru is really picture perfect anytime of the year.