Planning a driving trip to Hokkaido

I am planning our first driving trip to Hokkaido in late july. I would greatly appreciate if someone would help me review my intinerary and see if i am being over-ambitious and if there are any areas that i am overspending time.

Day one Chitose Aiport 2pm-Furano -Sounkyo

Day two Explore Sounkyo and then set off for Abashiri in the afternoon

Day three Explore Abashiri surroundings ( lake saroma, lake notoro etc) and then leave for Shiretoko.

Day 4 Explore Shiretoko and leave for Kawayu Onsen.

Day 5 Akan Onsen

Day 6 Akan Onsen -Chitose- Sapporo

Day 7 Sapporo

Thanks,

Personally I would find this itinerary to contain too much driving and not quite enough time in the places you visit, such as Sounkyo and Shiretoko. Distances in Hokkaido are very big. For example, it takes more than 6 hours to drive from Akan National Park back to Sapporo.

Appreciate advise on my itinerary below from Mid-May (by Day):

1) New Chitose 1pm = Hidaka/Shizunai (if can still catch the Cherry blossom festival) or Noboribetsu

2) To Furano /Biei

3) Around Furano / Biei

4) To Abashiri area (visit kamiyubetsu / ozora park),

5) To Lake Akan region

6) Long trip back to Sapporo

7) Day trip to Otaru

8) Sapporo

9) Sapporo (or possibly Noboribetsu)

10) To New Chitose 1pm


A) Understand that Day 6 will be a long trip, alternative will be to stop by for 1 night at Tokachigawa / Obihiro (and cut-back on Day 9 in Sapporo/ Noboribetsu). But not sure of any must see in the area. Any comments on Tokachigawa vs Noboribetsu?

B) Any suggested place to catch cherry blossom from mid-May to late May?

C) How is the condition for night driving?


D) What is the usual time the sun will set around mid May?

Thanks for any feedback!

Thanks for your comments. I will relook at my schedule again.
Also can u recommend a nice place to stay at sounkyo. I am interested in staying at a nice minshuku. It does not have to be near the center as we have our own transport.
Thanks again.

Uji, is this better?

Day one Chitose-Furano/Biei

Day two Biei -Sounkyo
spend day in Sounkyo

day three Sounkyo - Shiretoko
explore the coastal route to shiretoko

Dayb 4 Shiretoko - Kawayu onsen
Explore Shiretoko and leave for Kawayu in the late afternoon

Day 5 Akan Onsen
spend day in akanko

Day 6 Akan - Sapporo
Leave akanko in morning for long drive back to sapporo

day 7 Sapporo
spend day in sapporo

You can try looking on http://northern-road.jp/navi/time_e/time.htm which gives an idea of the time and distances between major towns in Hokkaido. I'm also planning an itinery for September, and have found it extremely useful.