Day trip from Sapporo

I would like to seek for some advice. I will go to Hokkaido on 28 Nov – 6 Dec 2018 and plan to buy a 7 days Hokkaido Pass. Could you please suggest me a day trip from Sapporo where I can use my 7 days Hokkaido pass (except Noboribetsu, Lake Toya , Hakodate, Asahiyama Zoo and Otaru as I will travel there before heading to Sapporo on 2-5 December 2016) ? My interest is natural places where I can use Hokkaido Pass. Thanks.

This seems to be a stupid idea, but I would suggest long march to Nemuro, Abashiri (via Kushiro) or Wakkanai.

Since it is winter and you might be uncomfortable outside, but if you stay inside the train, it will be comfortable. You can see the country side of Hokkaido which I really like.

Start with 7:00ish train to Kushiro or Wakkanai. If you choose Kushiro, you will have two choice: going north to Abashiri or east to Nemuro. You will enjoy one of the most scenic train rides in Japan. Train to Wakkanai is interesting after Otoineppu.

In each case you will arrive around noon and have a few hours before going back to Sapporo.

See the weather forecast and choose sunny area if possible. Take care of blizzard which might cause traffic tie-up.

Many thanks for your advice. Scenic routes train sound very good idea too. At first I was thinking about Furano and Ningle Terrace, but after your suggestion, I am now interested in your suggested route to KUSHIRO(HOKKAIDO) and ABASHIRI, but I just checked hyperdia.com, so if I leave at 7 am from Sapporo on 3 Dec 2018, I can arrive in KUSHIRO (HOKKAIDO) at 11 am, but the next train from KUSHIRO to ABASHIRI is at 14.15 and arrive in ABASHIRI at 17.17 pm which is too late, so would it be better if I just go KUSHIRO and explore the city around by walking around? Thanks

Do you need to stay all these days in Sapporo? I mean if you have cheap/free accommodation it makes sense, but otherwise it would make more sense to travel a bit around. Eg stay a day or two in Asahikawa or Furano. Then go on to Abashiri...
there are no Shinkansen in Hokkaido (well at least not beyond Shin Hakodate) do public transport is much slower than in the rest of Japan.

Enjoy your winter trip to Hokkaido!

Sapporo to Kushiro 7:00 11:00

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=SAPPORO(JR)&arv...

Kushiro to Abashiri 14:14 17:17

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=KUSHIRO(HOKKAID...

Abashiri to Sapporo 17:25 22:53

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=ABASHIRI&arv_no...

Kushiro to Nemuro 11:12 13:22

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=KUSHIRO(HOKKAID...

Nemuro to Sapporo 16:09 22:58

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=NEMURO&arv_node...

Or you can leave Kushiro at 13:25 to enjoy Kushiro.

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=KUSHIRO(HOKKAID...

Sapporo to Wakkanai 7:30 12:40

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=SAPPORO(JR)&arv...

Wakkanai to Sapporo 17:46 22:57

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=SAPPORO(JR)&arv...

Honestly, interesting part of train travel is
From Kushiro to Nemuro (and vice versa)
From Kushiro to Abashiri
From Otoineppu to Wakkanai

So I recommend you to include one of them.

On the way to Kushiro, Otoineppu etc., you can enjoy communicating with other travelers, read books (maybe on the smartphone) or just sleep.

Thank you all for the information.
@ frog1954, thank you for helping me to summarise the timetable for me. It is very useful. I am now considering if I should stay one more night in one of those places you mentioned (may have to travel directly from Hakodate and come to Sapporo later). So, if I have to pick 1 route, which one can I easily access to natural places by foot from the train station.
@LikeBike, not that I donft want to move around out of Sapporo , but after I land, I will first go to Noboribetsu (1 night), Lake Toya (1 night), then Hakodate (2 nights), and then 3 nights in Sapporo where 1 day trip to Otaru and 1 day in Sapporo, so I have one day free. To be honest, I am more interested in natural places than Asahikawa zoo.
Thanks,

Oh sorry. I misunderstood your post and thought that you were staying from 28/nov to 6/dec in Sapporo and visit all those other places before/after.
Now it makes much more sense and I agree of not adding yet another change of hotel.

Enjoy your trip!

So, if I have to pick 1 route, which one can I easily access to natural places by foot from the train station.

If you stay one night, then Kushiro is better, since the weather tend to be sunny in eastern Hokkaido in winter. As for trekking, I would do Kushiro marshland which is accessible by JR Senmou line connecting Kushiro and Abashiri. Below is a blog trekking the marshland in winter.

https://4travel.jp/travelogue/10864585

This seems to be late Feb, so in early Dec it will be less snowy though.

Thanks, but the website (https://4travel.jp/travelogue/10864585) is in Japanese, so I couldnft really understand, so I did search at Japan Guide and found https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6792.html

Is my understanding correct that first I take a train from Kushiro Station to Kushiro Shitsugen Station, then walk from Shitsugen Station which takes only 5-10 mins to Hosooka Viewpoint?

Also, in general, do most ski resorts open outdoors snow activities already around 2-5 December?

Thanks

Is my understanding correct that first I take a train from Kushiro Station to Kushiro Shitsugen Station, then walk from Shitsugen Station which takes only 5-10 mins to Hosooka Viewpoint?

Below is google translate for the blog I posted. There are some min-translation (Toruji station should be Touro station etc.) but you will see the rough routing.

https://translate.google.co.jp/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=j...

This person took train from Kushiro to Touro and then walked to Sarubo observatory and then to Sarurun observatory. Perhaps the morning train didn't stop at Kushiroshitsugen. Hyperdia shows you need to catch train back from Touro to go to Kushiroshitsugen. Actually Touro is a small town but Kushiroshitsugen has a few buildings around.

Japanguide site gives rather low rating reviews, but this might be because most travelers went in summer when the weather is not so good and there should be many insects which might be annoying. Of course it depends on the weather of the day (you should avoid the stormy day), but if the weather is fine, it should be very beautiful and you might be able to see many wild life.

Also, in general, do most ski resorts open outdoors snow activities already around 2-5 December?

Yes. Below is the schedule of the ski resorts (google translate).

https://translate.google.co.jp/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=j...

You should check on hyperdia train times from Kushiro to wherever you wish to go. Youfll find limited infrequent trains and very poor connections (speaking from experience).

You can see a bit of the northern landscape during the journey to Asahikawa in the comfort of a warm train. I like the zoo especially the penguins in winter. Itfll be cold at the zoo so very warm clothes, hat and waterproof shoes (not sneakers) are recommended.

Thank you all for the useful information. It is really useful for my trip planning. I really appreciate. Lots of new places for me which make me want to explore. If I miss some of the places this time, I will definitely make up on my next trip. Thanks