Peak autumn colour below Kurodake: the Sounkyo gorge and Sounkyo Onsen wrapped in orange and gold forest, Daisetsuzan peaks behind (5 Oct 2025)

Travel Planner · 2026-09-08.1

Hokkaido Autumn: Daisetsuzan to Shiretoko and Akan

Fly ANA via Haneda into New Chitose on Oct 1 and home from Kushiro on Oct 7. In between, drive a one-way SUV west to east so each area is seen when its colours are best. The Daisetsuzan days come first: Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls, the Asahidake Ropeway, the golden forest at Mikuni Pass, and the Kurodake Ropeway above Sounkyo. Then Shiretoko: the Five Lakes, Furepe Falls, a bear-watching boat to Rusha Bay and sunsets over the Sea of Okhotsk from two sea-view rooms. The trip ends in Akan-Mashu: Lake Mashu, Iozan, Kussharo, Bihoro Pass and Onneto, with two nights in a 120 m² lake-view suite at Lake Akan.

Scenery first, excellent hotels and worthwhile experiences; normally depart at 10:00.

Route first

Interactive trip map

Select a marker to open the same rich details card used throughout the itinerary.

Actual routed paths only; missing or unsupported legs are left undrawn. Base durations exclude traffic, queues and stops.

Route legs and distances
  • 2026-10-01 · 驾车

    New Chitose Airport → Restaurant Asperges (Biei Senka) → Hokusei-no-oka Observatory → Shirogane Blue Pond → Shirahige Falls → Mori no Shizuku RIN (Shirogane Onsen)

    184.6 km · 154 minutes

    OSRM / OpenStreetMap · 2026-09-24
  • 2026-10-02 · 驾车

    Mori no Shizuku RIN (Shirogane Onsen) → Asahidake Ropeway → Mikuni Pass → Sounkaku (Sounkyo Onsen)

    219.4 km · 213 minutes

    OSRM / OpenStreetMap · 2026-09-24
  • 2026-10-03 · 驾车

    Sounkaku (Sounkyo Onsen) → Kurodake Ropeway → Ginga and Ryusei Falls → Oshinkoshin Falls → Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort (Utoro)

    218.6 km · 171 minutes

    OSRM / OpenStreetMap · 2026-09-24
  • 2026-10-04 · 驾车

    Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort (Utoro) → Shiretoko Five Lakes → Shiretoko Nature Center → Utoro Fisheries Co-op Cafeteria → Rembrandt Resort Shiretoko (Utoro)

    28.5 km · 29 minutes

    OSRM / OpenStreetMap · 2026-09-24
  • 2026-10-05 · 驾车

    Rembrandt Resort Shiretoko (Utoro) → Shiretoko Pass → Rausu Kunashiri Observation Tower → Lake Mashu Observatory No.1 → Iozan → New Akan Hotel (Lake Akan)

    241.2 km · 189 minutes

    OSRM / OpenStreetMap · 2026-09-24
  • 2026-10-06 · 驾车

    New Akan Hotel (Lake Akan) → Sunayu, Lake Kussharo → Bihoro Pass → Lake Onneto → New Akan Hotel (Lake Akan)

    195.2 km · 156 minutes

    OSRM / OpenStreetMap · 2026-09-24
  • 2026-10-07 · 驾车

    New Akan Hotel (Lake Akan) → Bokke trail, Lake Akan → Kushiro Airport

    57.2 km · 48 minutes

    OSRM / OpenStreetMap · 2026-09-24

Why this route fits

Fly ANA via Haneda into New Chitose on Oct 1 and home from Kushiro on Oct 7. In between, drive a one-way SUV west to east so each area is seen when its colours are best. The Daisetsuzan days come first: Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls, the Asahidake Ropeway, the golden forest at Mikuni Pass, and the Kurodake Ropeway above Sounkyo. Then Shiretoko: the Five Lakes, Furepe Falls, a bear-watching boat to Rusha Bay and sunsets over the Sea of Okhotsk from two sea-view rooms. The trip ends in Akan-Mashu: Lake Mashu, Iozan, Kussharo, Bihoro Pass and Onneto, with two nights in a 120 m² lake-view suite at Lake Akan.

Dates and party

2026-10-01—2026-10-07 · 1 travelers (see assumptions)

Route tradeoffs
  • Tokachidake (Bogakudai, Fukiage) and Ginsendai are out: volcanic alert Level 3 since Sep 12 and a road closure from Oct 1. That removes the best-known early-October colour spots, which Mikuni Pass and Kurodake replace.
  • Asahidake's summit colours peaked in mid-September. The ropeway is kept for mid-slope colour and the village, which peaks around Sep 29-Oct 9.
  • Shiretoko Five Lakes and Lake Akan will be only partly coloured (peaks about Oct 16-18). Colour is building toward peak at Kussharo-Mashu (about Oct 7) and Shiretoko Pass (about Oct 10).

Booking decisions

Flights and ground transport

SelectedRound trip

A. Oct 1 ANA red-eye PVG-HND-CTS / Oct 7 Kushiro-HND-PVG (open-jaw, all premium cabins)

Business · Estimate, recheck price

Sum of exact-date one-way fares for 1 adult seen on Google Flights on 2026-09-25, taxes included. Checked-bag allowance was not shown on the results page, and a single open-jaw ticket was not priced, so the total stays estimated. Golden Week fares move quickly. Sum of two one-way fares each observed on Google Flights for the exact date, 1 adult, business search, taxes included. A single multi-city/open-jaw ticket was not priced and may cost more or less.Price range: CNY 35,947–43,136

Door-to-door: outbound 835 minutes · return 875 minutes

outbound: leave central Nanjing about 19:00 on Sep 30 (90 min holiday-traffic margin added); Central Nanjing -> PVG by private car/ride-hail (~330 km, night/early-morning traffic) 225 min; International check-in buffer 60 min; NH968 PVG-HND 175 min; HND connection incl. immigration/customs & domestic transfer 135 min; NH53 HND-CTS 90 min; Arrival at CTS: bags + rental-car pickup (immigration already done at HND) 60 min || return: Drive Akanko Onsen -> Kushiro Airport (est.) 60 min; Rental-car return + domestic check-in buffer 60 min; NH742 KUH-HND 105 min; HND domestic->international transfer + check-in 195 min; NH971 HND-PVG 185 min; PVG arrival: immigration, bags, customs 45 min; PVG -> ce

NH968 PVG-HND: Lie-flat business; NH53 HND-CTS: ANA domestic Premium Class (top domestic cabin; Google Flights labels it 'First Class'); NH742 KUH-HND: ANA domestic Premium Class (top domestic cabin; Google Flights labels it 'First Class'); flagged 'often delayed 30+ min' (3h15 buffer absorbs it); NH971 HND-PVG: Regional business (recliner, not lie-flat)

  1. PVG → HND2026-10-01 01:50 → 2026-10-01 05:45 · 175 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source
  2. HND → CTS2026-10-01 08:00 → 2026-10-01 09:30 · 90 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  3. KUH → HND2026-10-07 13:35 → 2026-10-07 15:20 · 105 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  4. HND → PVG2026-10-07 18:35 → 2026-10-07 20:40 · 185 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source

CNY 35,947 · Per person

View sourcePrice source
ComparedRound trip

B. Oct 1 ANA red-eye to CTS / Oct 7 Nakashibetsu-HND-PVG (ANA)

Business · Estimate, recheck price

Sum of exact-date one-way fares for 1 adult seen on Google Flights on 2026-09-25, taxes included. Checked-bag allowance was not shown on the results page, and a single open-jaw ticket was not priced, so the total stays estimated. Golden Week fares move quickly. Sum of two one-way fares each observed on Google Flights for the exact date, 1 adult, business search, taxes included. A single multi-city/open-jaw ticket was not priced and may cost more or less.Price range: CNY 36,090–43,308

Door-to-door: outbound 835 minutes · return 840 minutes

outbound: leave central Nanjing about 19:00 on Sep 30 (90 min holiday-traffic margin added); Central Nanjing -> PVG by private car/ride-hail (~330 km, night/early-morning traffic) 225 min; International check-in buffer 60 min; NH968 PVG-HND 175 min; HND connection incl. immigration/customs & domestic transfer 135 min; NH53 HND-CTS 90 min; Arrival at CTS: bags + rental-car pickup (immigration already done at HND) 60 min || return: Drive Akanko Onsen -> Nakashibetsu Airport (est.; ~60 min from Kawayu/Mashu) 100 min; Rental-car return + domestic check-in buffer 60 min; NH378 SHB-HND 115 min; HND domestic->international transfer + check-in 110 min; NH971 HND-PVG 185 min; PVG arrival: immigration

NH968 PVG-HND: Lie-flat business; NH53 HND-CTS: ANA domestic Premium Class (top domestic cabin; Google Flights labels it 'First Class'); NH378 SHB-HND: ANA domestic Premium Class (top domestic cabin; Google Flights labels it 'First Class'); NH971 HND-PVG: Regional business (recliner, not lie-flat)

  1. PVG → HND2026-10-01 01:50 → 2026-10-01 05:45 · 175 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source
  2. HND → CTS2026-10-01 08:00 → 2026-10-01 09:30 · 90 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  3. SHB → HND2026-10-07 14:50 → 2026-10-07 16:45 · 115 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  4. HND → PVG2026-10-07 18:35 → 2026-10-07 20:40 · 185 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source

CNY 36,090 · Per person

View sourcePrice source
ComparedRound trip

C. Oct 1 ANA red-eye to CTS / Oct 7 Memanbetsu-HND-PVG (JAL + China Eastern, lie-flat)

Business · Estimate, recheck price

Sum of exact-date one-way fares for 1 adult seen on Google Flights on 2026-09-25, taxes included. Checked-bag allowance was not shown on the results page, and a single open-jaw ticket was not priced, so the total stays estimated. Golden Week fares move quickly. Sum of two one-way fares each observed on Google Flights for the exact date, 1 adult, business search, taxes included. A single multi-city/open-jaw ticket was not priced and may cost more or less.Price range: CNY 34,261–41,113

Door-to-door: outbound 835 minutes · return 900 minutes

outbound: leave central Nanjing about 19:00 on Sep 30 (90 min holiday-traffic margin added); Central Nanjing -> PVG by private car/ride-hail (~330 km, night/early-morning traffic) 225 min; International check-in buffer 60 min; NH968 PVG-HND 175 min; HND connection incl. immigration/customs & domestic transfer 135 min; NH53 HND-CTS 90 min; Arrival at CTS: bags + rental-car pickup (immigration already done at HND) 60 min || return: Drive Akanko Onsen -> Memanbetsu Airport (est.; ~60 min from Kawayu/Mashu) 80 min; Rental-car return + domestic check-in buffer 60 min; JL564 MMB-HND 120 min; HND domestic->international transfer + check-in 185 min; MU540 HND-PVG 185 min; PVG arrival: immigration, b

NH968 PVG-HND: Lie-flat business; NH53 HND-CTS: ANA domestic Premium Class (top domestic cabin; Google Flights labels it 'First Class'); JL564 MMB-HND: JAL domestic Class J (premium recliner; Google Flights labels it 'Business Class'); MU540 HND-PVG: Lie-flat business

  1. PVG → HND2026-10-01 01:50 → 2026-10-01 05:45 · 175 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source
  2. HND → CTS2026-10-01 08:00 → 2026-10-01 09:30 · 90 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  3. MMB → HND2026-10-07 14:55 → 2026-10-07 16:55 · 120 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  4. HND → PVG2026-10-07 20:00 → 2026-10-07 22:05 · 185 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source

CNY 34,261 · Per person

View sourcePrice source
ComparedOpen jaw

F. Oct 1 daytime via Narita (Juneyao HO1379 + JAL JL523 from Haneda) / Oct 7 Memanbetsu (JAL + MU)

Business · Estimate, recheck price

Sum of exact-date one-way fares for 1 adult seen on Google Flights on 2026-09-25, taxes included. Checked-bag allowance was not shown on the results page, and a single open-jaw ticket was not priced, so the total stays estimated. Golden Week fares move quickly. Sum of two one-way fares each observed on Google Flights for the exact date, 1 adult, business search, taxes included. A single multi-city/open-jaw ticket was not priced and may cost more or less.Price range: CNY 33,321–39,985

Door-to-door: outbound 885 minutes · return 900 minutes

outbound: Central Nanjing -> PVG by private car/ride-hail (~330 km, night/early-morning traffic) 225 min; International check-in buffer 60 min; HO1379 PVG-NRT 170 min; NRT immigration + ground transfer NRT->HND + domestic check-in 275 min; JL523 HND-CTS 95 min; Arrival at CTS: bags + rental-car pickup (immigration already done at HND) 60 min || return: Drive Akanko Onsen -> Memanbetsu Airport (est.; ~60 min from Kawayu/Mashu) 80 min; Rental-car return + domestic check-in buffer 60 min; JL564 MMB-HND 120 min; HND domestic->international transfer + check-in 185 min; MU540 HND-PVG 185 min; PVG arrival: immigration, bags, customs 45 min; PVG -> central Nanjing by pre-booked car (late evening) 22

HO1379 PVG-NRT: Layover includes Narita->Haneda ground transfer (~75-90 min by limousine bus/rail); JL523 HND-CTS: JAL domestic Class J (premium recliner; Google Flights labels it 'Business Class'); JL564 MMB-HND: JAL domestic Class J (premium recliner; Google Flights labels it 'Business Class'); MU540 HND-PVG: Lie-flat business

  1. PVG → NRT2026-10-01 08:15 → 2026-10-01 12:05 · 170 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source
  2. HND → CTS2026-10-01 16:40 → 2026-10-01 18:15 · 95 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  3. MMB → HND2026-10-07 14:55 → 2026-10-07 16:55 · 120 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  4. HND → PVG2026-10-07 20:00 → 2026-10-07 22:05 · 185 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source

CNY 33,321 · Per person

View sourcePrice source
ComparedRound trip

G. Oct 1 ANA red-eye to CTS / Oct 7 CTS-HND-PVG on JAL (drive back to Chitose Oct 6)

Business · Estimate, recheck price

Sum of exact-date one-way fares for 1 adult seen on Google Flights on 2026-09-25, taxes included. Checked-bag allowance was not shown on the results page, and a single open-jaw ticket was not priced, so the total stays estimated. Golden Week fares move quickly. Sum of two one-way fares each observed on Google Flights for the exact date, 1 adult, business search, taxes included. A single multi-city/open-jaw ticket was not priced and may cost more or less.Price range: CNY 34,277–41,132

Door-to-door: outbound 835 minutes · return 650 minutes

outbound: leave central Nanjing about 19:00 on Sep 30 (90 min holiday-traffic margin added); Central Nanjing -> PVG by private car/ride-hail (~330 km, night/early-morning traffic) 225 min; International check-in buffer 60 min; NH968 PVG-HND 175 min; HND connection incl. immigration/customs & domestic transfer 135 min; NH53 HND-CTS 90 min; Arrival at CTS: bags + rental-car pickup (immigration already done at HND) 60 min || return: Hotel -> terminal, car already returned, domestic check-in 60 min; JL502 CTS-HND 100 min; HND domestic->international transfer 70 min; JL85 HND-PVG 200 min; PVG arrival: immigration, bags, customs 45 min; PVG -> Hongqiao (Airport Link Line) + G-train to Nanjing Sout

NH968 PVG-HND: Lie-flat business; NH53 HND-CTS: ANA domestic Premium Class (top domestic cabin; Google Flights labels it 'First Class'); JL502 CTS-HND: JAL domestic Class J (premium recliner; Google Flights labels it 'Business Class'); JL85 HND-PVG: business

  1. PVG → HND2026-10-01 01:50 → 2026-10-01 05:45 · 175 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source
  2. HND → CTS2026-10-01 08:00 → 2026-10-01 09:30 · 90 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  3. CTS → HND2026-10-07 08:50 → 2026-10-07 10:30 · 100 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  4. HND → PVG2026-10-07 11:40 → 2026-10-07 14:00 · 200 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source

CNY 34,277 · Per person

View sourcePrice source
ComparedRound trip

H. Oct 1 ANA red-eye + JAL to Asahikawa (nearest Biei) / Oct 7 Kushiro-HND-PVG

Business · Estimate, recheck price

Sum of exact-date one-way fares for 1 adult seen on Google Flights on 2026-09-25, taxes included. Checked-bag allowance was not shown on the results page, and a single open-jaw ticket was not priced, so the total stays estimated. Golden Week fares move quickly. Sum of two one-way fares each observed on Google Flights for the exact date, 1 adult, business search, taxes included. A single multi-city/open-jaw ticket was not priced and may cost more or less.Price range: CNY 35,377–42,452

Door-to-door: outbound 1035 minutes · return 875 minutes

outbound: leave central Nanjing about 19:00 on Sep 30 (90 min holiday-traffic margin added); Central Nanjing -> PVG by private car/ride-hail (~330 km, night/early-morning traffic) 225 min; International check-in buffer 60 min; NH968 PVG-HND 175 min; HND connection incl. immigration 325 min; JL553 HND-AKJ 100 min; Arrival at AKJ: bags + rental-car pickup 60 min || return: Drive Akanko Onsen -> Kushiro Airport (est.) 60 min; Rental-car return + domestic check-in buffer 60 min; NH742 KUH-HND 105 min; HND domestic->international transfer + check-in 195 min; NH971 HND-PVG 185 min; PVG arrival: immigration, bags, customs 45 min; PVG -> central Nanjing by pre-booked car (late evening) 225 min

NH968 PVG-HND: Lie-flat business; JL553 HND-AKJ: JAL domestic Class J (premium recliner; Google Flights labels it 'Business Class'); NH742 KUH-HND: ANA domestic Premium Class (top domestic cabin; Google Flights labels it 'First Class'); flagged 'often delayed 30+ min' (3h15 buffer absorbs it); NH971 HND-PVG: Regional business (recliner, not lie-flat)

  1. PVG → HND2026-10-01 01:50 → 2026-10-01 05:45 · 175 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source
  2. HND → AKJ2026-10-01 11:10 → 2026-10-01 12:50 · 100 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  3. KUH → HND2026-10-07 13:35 → 2026-10-07 15:20 · 105 minutes · direct · airport buffer 40 minutesView source
  4. HND → PVG2026-10-07 18:35 → 2026-10-07 20:40 · 185 minutes · direct · airport buffer 60 minutesView source

CNY 35,377 · Per person

View sourcePrice source

Recommended flight: A. Oct 1 ANA red-eye PVG-HND-CTS / Oct 7 Kushiro-HND-PVG (open-jaw, all premium cabins)

Why this option: Option A is the only Oct 1 departure that reaches Hokkaido before noon (New Chitose 09:30, driving by about 10:40), so day one still covers Biei and Shirogane. It is all ANA: lie-flat business out of Pudong and ANA Premium Class domestically. It returns from Kushiro, the airport nearest Lake Akan, so there's no 4.5-hour drive back to Chitose. Compared with Option C (Memanbetsu, via China Eastern), a small premium buys ANA's lower cancellation risk during the China-Japan dispute and lands at Pudong 85 minutes earlier (door to door about 25 minutes shorter). Nanjing Lukou has no usable Japan service this week.

Flight search coverage and evidence
  • NKG-CTS nonstop · no_service · Ctrip NKG->Sapporo timetable lists no flights; Google Flights NKG->CTS (Sep 30, Oct 1) returns only 1-2-stop itineraries via HKG/CAN/ICN/PVG/TPE.
  • NKG-CTS any routing, business, Oct 1 · available · Only 2-stop itineraries of 16.5-23 h (e.g., CX357/CX566/JL2501 CN¥9,277; CX+ANA via HKG/HND CN¥22,986). Economy search shows the same set plus MU via PVG with a 21.5 h layover.
  • NKG-Tokyo (NRT/HND) nonstop · no_service · Ctrip static timetable still shows MU775 NKG 08:00-NRT 12:00, but Google Flights finds no nonstop NKG->Tokyo on Sep 30, Oct 1 or Oct 2, and none Tokyo->NKG on Oct 7. Treated as suspended.
  • NKG-Osaka KIX nonstop · available · Oct 1: Juneyao nonstop 11:15-15:00, economy listing only, 'price unavailable'; no business nonstop. KIX->CTS business that afternoon is only JL at 15:10, which does not connect. Return KIX->NKG: none Oct 6/7; Juneyao 16:00-17:50 on Oct 8 (CN¥9,747 economy). Ctrip also lists 9C6735 NKG 11:30-KIX 14:55.
  • NKG-Seoul ICN nonstop · available · Oct 1: no nonstop offered (likely sold out). Sep 30: MU 08:15-11:15, KE 12:55-16:15, OZ 14:50-18:15, MU 15:25-18:30. Oct 2: OZ 14:50, MU 15:25, MU 08:15. Business on MU 08:15 Sep 30 'price unavailable'.
  • NKG-ICN-CTS same-day connection · not_found · Google does not offer MU 08:15 NKG->ICN with KE 12:35 ICN->CTS (80-min connection). All NKG->CTS itineraries via ICN on Sep 30 involve 15-18 h overnight layovers. ICN->CTS business on Sep 30 exists only on OZ 10:15 and Trinity 10:10.
  • ICN-CTS nonstop · available · Sep 30: Jeju Air, Jin Air, Trinity, Eastar, Korean Air (10:35, 12:35), Asiana 10:15. Business Oct 1: only Trinity 10:10-13:00 (CN¥2,824).
  • PVG-CTS nonstop (China Eastern MU279) · available · 08:00-12:30, A321. Operates Sep 30 and Oct 2; no nonstop on Oct 1. Business not bookable (Google 'price unavailable'; Trip.com business search finds no nonstop). Economy CNY 5,362 on Trip.com for Oct 2. Codeshares HO3529/JL5632 per Ctrip timetable.
  • CTS-PVG nonstop (MU280 / Spring 9C) · available · MU280 13:30-16:50 on Oct 7, economy CN¥15,005; not offered in business. Spring nonstop 13:50-16:55 on Oct 6 (CN¥10,479). No nonstop on Oct 8.
  • Shanghai-Tokyo nonstop, business, Oct 1 · available · NH968 PVG 01:50-HND 05:45 (CN¥13,084); CZ PVG 09:00-NRT 13:20; HO PVG 08:15-NRT 12:05; HO PVG 18:40-HND 22:30; MU PVG 16:55-NRT and 17:15-HND ('price unavailable'). No JAL, and no ANA NH972 in business that day.
  • SHA (Hongqiao)-HND nonstop, Oct 1 · not_found · No business nonstop on Oct 1 (from CN¥9,634 on Oct 2). Any-cabin search shows only Shanghai Airlines SHA 08:20-HND 12:30 with 'price unavailable'. JAL and ANA Hongqiao flights have no bookable fares on Oct 1.
  • Tokyo-Shanghai nonstop, business, Oct 7 · available · JL89 HND 17:20-PVG 19:45; NH (NRT 09:20-PVG 11:40); NH971 HND 18:35-PVG 20:40; HO NRT 13:20-PVG 15:25; JL85 HND 11:40-PVG 14:00; NH967 HND 22:30-PVG 00:45+1; MU540 HND 20:00-PVG 22:05; MU HND 08:40 and NRT 13:50 ('price unavailable').
  • HND-SHA (Hongqiao) nonstop, Oct 7 · not_found · No business fares. Any-cabin search shows only FM HND 13:30-SHA 15:35 and MU HND 14:30-SHA 17:20, both 'price unavailable'.
  • KUH-HND-Shanghai, Oct 7 · available · Best: NH742 13:35 + NH971 (CN¥17,762, all premium). Also JL540 10:00 (economy) + JL89 (CN¥12,655); HD74 18:30 + NH967 00:45+1 (CN¥15,320); JL542 14:45 + NH967 (CN¥18,801).
  • MMB-HND-Shanghai, Oct 7 · available · JL564 14:55 + MU540 (CN¥16,076); JL562 09:25 + JL89 (CN¥12,654); HD78 13:40 + NH971 (CN¥15,319, Air Do economy); HD80 19:10 + NH967 (CN¥15,319).
  • SHB-HND-Shanghai, Oct 7 · available · NH378 14:50 + NH971 (CN¥17,905, all premium). Others route via Okadama/CTS with long layovers.
  • OBO-HND-Shanghai, Oct 7 · available · JAL OBO 13:10 + JL89 (CN¥12,654); Air Do 13:55 + NH971 (CN¥15,319). Not used: Obihiro is about 2 h from Lake Akan versus about 1 h to Kushiro.
  • CTS-HND-Shanghai, Oct 7 · available · JL502 08:50 + JL85 11:40 to PVG 14:00 (CN¥16,092); JL512 14:00 + JL89 (CN¥12,670); JL516 16:00 + MU540 (CN¥16,092); NH78 19:35 + NH967 (CN¥17,862).
  • Shanghai-AKJ via HND, Oct 1 · available · NH968 + JL553 HND 11:10-AKJ 12:50 (CN¥17,615).
  • Shanghai-HKD, Oct 1 · not_applicable · Hakodate is in far southwest Hokkaido, off the west-to-east route. NH968 + Air Do reaches HKD 08:35 (CN¥17,458) for reference.
  • HGH-CTS / HGH-Tokyo nonstop, Oct 1 · no_service · Google Flights shows no nonstop Hangzhou->CTS and none Hangzhou->Tokyo on Oct 1.
  • WUX-Tokyo / WUX-Osaka nonstop, Oct 1 · no_service · Google Flights shows no nonstop Wuxi->Tokyo or Wuxi->Osaka on Oct 1.
  • Beijing (PEK/PKX)-CTS nonstop, Oct 1 · no_service · No nonstop Beijing->CTS on Oct 1. Reaching Beijing from Nanjing also adds 2-4 h, so it is not competitive anyway.
  • CTS-NKG, any routing, Oct 7 · available · Fastest 17 h 05 min via HND+SZX (NH50/NH965/CZ3577, CN¥17,517); others via HND+ICN (17 h), HKG (21 h), or KIX (24 h, arrives Oct 8).
  • Taipei TPE-CTS (EVA) · available · BR116 TPE 10:10-CTS 15:00 and BR166 06:55-11:55, but connections from Shanghai involve 9-19 h overnight layovers.
  • Hong Kong HKG-CTS (Cathay) · available · CX580 HKG 09:15-CTS 15:20; from Shanghai/Nanjing this requires an overnight in Hong Kong.
  • FlightConnections route maps · not_found · flightconnections.com returned a human-verification (CAPTCHA) page; not bypassed and not used.

Ground transport: self_drive · Self-drive from New Chitose to Kushiro with a one-way drop-off. It's the only practical way to link Asahidake, Sounkyo, Shiretoko and Akan in 7 days. It requires a licence valid in Japan: a mainland China licence is not accepted. Eligibility is pending confirmation.

2026-10-01

Land at New Chitose, drive to Biei's hills, Blue Pond and Shirogane

First activity 00:50 · The selected flight and required airport buffer make the early start unavoidable.

  1. Airport arrival buffer

  2. PVG to HND flight

  3. Airport arrival buffer

  4. HND to CTS flight

  5. Collect bags and pick up the SUV (Toyota Rent a Car, New Chitose)

    Take the shuttle to the rental office and ask for an ETC card.

  6. Drive New Chitose to Biei (Doo Expressway, then Route 237)

    About 160 km. After the night flight, rest 20 minutes at Sunagawa Highway Oasis.

  7. Farm-to-table lunch at Restaurant Asperges

    Lunch courses ¥3,800-5,900. Lunch runs to 15:00 (a listing says 14:00), so confirm when booking.

    Restaurant Asperges

    Farm cuisine built on Biei's own vegetables, by chef Hiroshi Nakamichi's team with JA Biei.

    Lunch 11:00-15:00 (tourism listing: to 14:00); dinner 17:00-21:00. Closed Wednesdays. · Phone only (0166-92-5522); book 13:05 on Thu Oct 1. · Detour 0 minutesView source
  8. Drive to Hokusei-no-oka

  9. Scenery 6/10 · Trip fit 6/10

    Harvest-season patchwork fields with the Tokachidake range behind.

  10. Drive to Shirogane Blue Pond

    Pay the ¥1,000 parking fee at the machine before walking in.

  11. Scenery 8/10 · Trip fit 6/10

    Afternoon light keeps the milky-blue colour; late tour buses have thinned by 15:00.

  12. Drive to Shirogane Onsen

  13. Scenery 7/10 · Trip fit 7/10

  14. Check in at Mori no Shizuku RIN: top-floor Mountain View Suite (60 m²)

    Daisetsuzan range view from the room; sunset 17:14. Dinner and breakfast buffet included.

2026-10-02

Asahidake Ropeway, then the golden forest of Mikuni Pass

First activity 10:00

  1. Drive Shirogane to Asahidake Onsen (via Biei and Higashikawa)

    The Asahidake Onsen village itself is at peak colour this week.

  2. Scenery 8/10 · Trip fit 7/10

    Ropeway 8:00-17:00, every 15-20 min, ¥3,500 return. The Sugatami loop takes about 1 h; the top is about 6°C.

  3. Lunch at Asahidake Onsen (ropeway base or hotel restaurants)

  4. Drive Asahidake to Mikuni Pass (Aizan, Kamikawa, Route 39, Route 273)

    About 130 km. OSRM route time plus about 20%.

  5. Scenery 8/10 · Trip fit 9/10

    Late light over an unbroken sea of gold larch and birch around the red bridge. Sunset about 17:10.

  6. Drive back past Obako to Sounkyo Onsen

  7. Check in at Sounkaku (Wao room, 49-51 m², all-inclusive)

    Open-air bath facing the gorge; about 600 m (roughly a 10-minute uphill walk) to the Kurodake Ropeway.

2026-10-03

Kurodake over the Sounkyo colour, then east to the Sea of Okhotsk

First activity 10:00

  1. Scenery 8/10 · Trip fit 8/10

    Ropeway 7:00-17:00, ¥3,000 return (with lift ¥3,900). The lower slopes and gorge are coming to peak.

  2. Drive to the Ginga and Ryusei Falls car park

  3. Scenery 8/10 · Trip fit 7/10

    The riverside walkway is closed in October; view the falls from the car-park terraces. Obako is 6 km east.

  4. Drive east over Sekihoku Pass (Route 39)

  5. Lunch stop at a Route 39 road station (e.g., Onneyu Onsen)

  6. Drive to Oshinkoshin Falls (via Bihoro and the Shari coast)

    Obako to Utoro is about 200 km in total.

  7. Scenery 6/10 · Trip fit 7/10

  8. Drive to Utoro

  9. Check in at Kitakobushi Shiretoko: club-floor twin with a veranda onsen

    Sunset over the Sea of Okhotsk at about 17:00 from your own bath. All-inclusive dinner, breakfast and drinks.

2026-10-04

Shiretoko: Five Lakes, Furepe Falls and a boat to Rusha Bay

First activity 10:00

  1. Check out and drive to Shiretoko Five Lakes

  2. Scenery 9/10 · Trip fit 7/10

    Lecture ¥450; large loop about 1.5 h. Pre-book a 10:30 lecture online on this Sunday. The boardwalk stays open if bears close the loops.

  3. Drive to Shiretoko Nature Center

  4. Scenery 7/10 · Trip fit 8/10

    About 2 km round trip. Bear spray can be rented at the Center (¥1,100).

  5. Drive to Utoro fishing port

  6. Seafood donburi at the Utoro Fisheries Co-op cafeteria

    Utoro Fisheries Co-op Women's Division Cafeteria

    Fishing-port canteen run by the co-op women's division: uni, ikura and salmon donburi.

    8:30-14:30 last order in season, irregular closures (some listings: 14:00, closed Thursdays). Oct 4 is a Sunday, so order by 13:30. · No reservations; last order 14:30, so arrive before 14:00. · Detour 0 minutesView source
  7. Drop bags at Rembrandt Resort Shiretoko and walk to the boat office

  8. Scenery 9/10 · Trip fit 6/10

    ¥8,000; check in 20 min early. October bear sightings on this route: about 78%. Wind of 8 m/s or more cancels it.

  9. Check in at Rembrandt Resort: sea-side room with open-air bath (58.5 m²)

    Sunset about 16:58. Add the dinner plan (+¥6,150) when booking.

2026-10-05

Shiretoko Pass to Rausu, then Lake Mashu and Iozan

First activity 10:00

  1. Check out and climb to Shiretoko Pass (Route 334)

  2. Scenery 8/10 · Trip fit 8/10

    Colour building; near peak from about Oct 6-10. The pass is 4-5°C colder than Utoro.

  3. Drive down to Rausu

  4. Scenery 6/10 · Trip fit 6/10

  5. Seafood lunch in Rausu (road station area)

  6. Drive Rausu to Lake Mashu (Routes 335, 272 and 243)

  7. Scenery 9/10 · Trip fit 8/10

    One ¥500 parking ticket covers Mashu No.1 and Iozan on the same day.

  8. Drive to Iozan

  9. Scenery 7/10 · Trip fit 7/10

  10. Drive to Lake Akan and check in at New Akan Hotel (lake-view Sauna Suite, 120 m²)

    Sunset about 16:59. Dinner and breakfast included, 2 nights.

2026-10-06

Lake Kussharo, Bihoro Pass and the blue lake of Onneto

First activity 10:00

  1. Drive Lake Akan to Lake Kussharo (Route 241, Route 243)

  2. Scenery 7/10 · Trip fit 7/10

    The full 1-hour Wakoto loop does not fit today.

  3. Drive up to Bihoro Pass

  4. Scenery 8/10 · Trip fit 8/10

  5. Lunch at the Bihoro Pass road station restaurant

    Road station Gurutto Panorama Bihoro Pass

    Restaurant renovated Apr 2026, with the caldera view from the pass.

    Station 9:00-18:00 in the summer period; tenant hours vary · Not needed · Detour 0 minutesView source
  6. Drive Bihoro Pass to Lake Onneto (via Lake Akan)

  7. Scenery 8/10 · Trip fit 8/10

  8. Drive back to Lake Akan

  9. Onsen and sunset from the Sauna Suite

    Optional: Ainu traditional dance at Theater Ikor in the Akan Ainu Kotan at 20:00 (¥1,500, no booking, 5-minute walk).

2026-10-07

Lake Akan morning, fly home from Kushiro

First activity 10:00

  1. Scenery 7/10 · Trip fit 6/10

    Bokke trail 1.5 km (about 45 min) from the lakeside eco-museum centre (9:00-17:00), plus a walk through the Ainu Kotan.

  2. Check out and drive to Kushiro Airport

    About 57 km, 60-70 minutes including a fuel stop near the airport.

  3. Return the SUV at the Kushiro Airport shop and take the shuttle to the terminal

  4. Light lunch at Kushiro Airport

  5. Airport arrival buffer

  6. KUH to HND flight

  7. Airport arrival buffer

  8. HND to PVG flight

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Attraction cards

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Budget

Cost summary

Cost basis: Per person

FlightsEstimateJPY 850,414.01 / CNY 35,947Range: JPY 850,414.01–1,020,487.34 / CNY 35,947–43,136CNY 35,947 · Per person → CNY 35,947 · Per personSum of exact-date one-way fares for 1 adult seen on Google Flights on 2026-09-25, taxes included. Checked-bag allowance was not shown on the results page, and a single open-jaw ticket was not priced, so the total stays estimated. Golden Week fares move quickly. Sum of two one-way fares each observed on Google Flights for the exact date, 1 adult, business search, taxes included. A single multi-city/open-jaw ticket was not priced and may cost more or less.
HotelsVerifiedJPY 284,025 / CNY 12,005.73Range: JPY 284,025–284,025 / CNY 12,005.73–12,005.73JPY 47,300 · Per night · 1 nights → JPY 47,300 → CNY 1,999.37 · Per personJPY 29,925 · Per night · 1 nights → JPY 29,925 → CNY 1,264.93 · Per personJPY 77,000 · Per night · 1 nights → JPY 77,000 → CNY 3,254.79 · Per personJPY 42,900 · Per night · 1 nights → JPY 42,900 → CNY 1,813.38 · Per personJPY 43,450 · Per night · 2 nights → JPY 86,900 → CNY 3,673.26 · Per personRoom-price components and their full quoted or estimated ranges
TicketsEstimateJPY 19,850 / CNY 839.06Range: JPY 15,000–26,000 / CNY 634.05–1,099.02JPY 19,850 · Per person → JPY 19,850 → CNY 839.06 · Per personSum of published 2026 fares: Asahidake Ropeway ¥3,500; Kurodake ropeway+lift set ¥3,900; Five Lakes lecture ¥450 and parking ¥500; Blue Pond parking ¥1,000; Rusha Bay boat ¥8,000; Mashu/Iozan parking ¥500; Ikor dance ¥1,500; Asahidake Ropeway parking ¥500. The range covers a cancelled boat (lower) or switching to the longer Aurora Cape course (higher).
FoodEstimateJPY 29,500 / CNY 1,246.97Range: JPY 22,000–42,000 / CNY 929.94–1,775.34JPY 29,500 · Per person → JPY 29,500 → CNY 1,246.97 · Per personHotels include dinner and breakfast on 5 of 6 nights (Kitakobushi and Sounkaku are all-inclusive). This covers 7 lunches (Asperges course ¥4,850, the Utoro co-op donburi about ¥3,000, others ¥1,500-3,000), Rembrandt's dinner plan (+¥6,150) and ¥5,000 of drinks and snacks.
Local transportEstimateJPY 184,080 / CNY 7,781.06Range: JPY 100,000–200,000 / CNY 4,227–8,454JPY 184,080 · Per person → JPY 184,080 → CNY 7,781.06 · Per personToyota Rent a Car SUV3 (Harrier HEV), 7x24h (pickup about 10:40 Oct 1, return about 12:00 Oct 7): ¥128,700. CDW ¥7,700; one-way CTS to Kushiro ¥28,930; ETC card ¥550. Doo Expressway toll Chitose to Asahikawa-Takasu about ¥4,700 (the only tolled leg, so the ¥13,500 Hokkaido Expressway Pass doesn't pay off). Fuel for about 1,150 km, about ¥13,500. The low end is the Times compact-SUV autumn plan (about ¥61,780 including the one-way fee).
ContingencyEstimateJPY 50,000 / CNY 2,113.5Range: JPY 30,000–90,000 / CNY 1,268.1–3,804.3JPY 50,000 · Per person → JPY 50,000 → CNY 2,113.5 · Per personWeather reroutes, a cancelled boat, a longer hotel meal plan, or a late-booking rate change while rooms show 1-3 left. Roughly 10% of the Japan-side spend.
TotalJPY 1,417,869.01 / CNY 59,933.32Range: JPY 1,301,439.01–1,662,512.34 / CNY 55,011.82–70,274.39

FX 1 JPY = 0.04227 CNY · checked 2026-09-25T03:30:00+08:00

Major exclusions

  • Car between central Nanjing and Shanghai Pudong, both ways (about CNY 1,500-2,500 each way, estimated)
  • Japanese visa, if needed (CNY 715 single entry plus agency fee)
  • Travel insurance
  • Onsen tax (¥150-300) and Hokkaido lodging tax (¥100-500) per night, charged at the hotels
  • Souvenirs and personal spending
  • Optional Lake Akan marimo cruise (¥2,700) and bear-spray rental (¥1,100)

Alternatives

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Practical notes, entry information and assumptions

Trip and assumptions

Trip scope and entry checks

Origin: Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Destinations: Hokkaido, Japan

Dates: 2026-10-01–2026-10-07

Date flexibility: Start and end may each shift one day earlier or later (start Sep 30 to Oct 2)

Travelers: 1

Budget context: No preset cap. Spend where it buys scenery, room size or time: business class, view suites, a mid-size SUV.

Pace: Efficient and scenery-first. Days start at 10:00, long drives are fine, and the route follows the autumn colour from west to east.

Interests: None stated

Passport or entry context: Nationality and visa status not confirmed

Accessibility: None stated

Dietary needs: None stated

Entry or visa

PRC ordinary passports need a visa for tourism in Japan. Nanjing residents apply through a designated agency to the Consulate-General in Shanghai. Issue takes at least 5 consulate working days, the consulate is closed Sep 25 and Oct 1-7, and the single-entry fee has been CNY 715 since Jul 1. A new visa cannot be ready for this trip. Visa-exempt passports (HK SAR, Macao SAR, Taiwan, Korea, US, EU and others) or an existing valid Japanese visa make these dates workable.

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Travel advisory

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Japan in the near term. The notice was first issued 2025-11-14 and last reissued 2026-03-26; no withdrawal was found as of 2026-09-25. Japan has no MOFA risk level for Hokkaido. The local hazards are brown bears (special caution Sep 1-Oct 31) and volcanic alerts at Tokachidake (Level 3) and Meakan (Level 2).

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Assumptions

  • You already hold a valid Japanese visa or a visa-exempt passport. A new PRC tourist visa cannot be issued before about Oct 12 because the Shanghai consulate is closed Sep 25 and Oct 1-7.
  • You hold a licence Japan accepts (1949 Geneva IDP, or an official translation for the listed countries). A mainland China licence is not valid. This is pending your confirmation.
  • 1 adult, business class, no budget cap, 10:00 day starts (Travel Planner defaults).
  • You leave central Nanjing by about 19:00 on Sep 30 by car for Shanghai Pudong. The drive is about 3 h 45 min, more in National Day eve traffic, which gets you there about 3 hours before ANA's 01:50 flight on Oct 1.
  • Prices, rooms and schedules were checked on 2026-09-25. Utoro and Akan show 1-3 rooms left, and cancellation fees are already running at several hotels.
  • Drive times are OSRM road routes plus about 20%, with roughly 10 min for parking at each stop.
  • Weather normal for early October: week 1 forecast warm; week 2 slightly cooler, so an icy morning on a mountain pass is possible.

Recommendation

Fly ANA via Haneda into New Chitose on Oct 1 and home from Kushiro on Oct 7. In between, drive a one-way SUV west to east so each area is seen when its colours are best. The Daisetsuzan days come first: Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls, the Asahidake Ropeway, the golden forest at Mikuni Pass, and the Kurodake Ropeway above Sounkyo. Then Shiretoko: the Five Lakes, Furepe Falls, a bear-watching boat to Rusha Bay and sunsets over the Sea of Okhotsk from two sea-view rooms. The trip ends in Akan-Mashu: Lake Mashu, Iozan, Kussharo, Bihoro Pass and Onneto, with two nights in a 120 m² lake-view suite at Lake Akan.

Material tradeoffs

  • Tokachidake (Bogakudai, Fukiage) and Ginsendai are out: volcanic alert Level 3 since Sep 12 and a road closure from Oct 1. That removes the best-known early-October colour spots, which Mikuni Pass and Kurodake replace.
  • Asahidake's summit colours peaked in mid-September. The ropeway is kept for mid-slope colour and the village, which peaks around Sep 29-Oct 9.
  • Shiretoko Five Lakes and Lake Akan will be only partly coloured (peaks about Oct 16-18). Colour is building toward peak at Kussharo-Mashu (about Oct 7) and Shiretoko Pass (about Oct 10).
  • A split Utoro stay, Kitakobushi then Rembrandt, means one hotel change. It gets two sea-view rooms with private baths, because Kitakobushi is sold out on Oct 4.
  • The flights go via Shanghai Pudong and Haneda, because Nanjing has no usable Japan service this week. The red-eye starts on Sep 30 evening.
  • Self-drive is the only practical way to link these areas in 7 days. Without an eligible licence the route would need a private driver.

Material cautions

  • Visa: PRC passport holders need a Japanese visa, and a new one cannot be issued before about Oct 12. Confirm your document status before booking.
  • Oct 1 follows a night flight with about 2-3 hours of sleep, then about 185 km of driving. Take a 20-minute break at Sunagawa Highway Oasis, and continue to the Blue Pond only if you feel alert.
  • Driving: a mainland China licence is not accepted in Japan. You need a 1949 Geneva IDP (e.g., issued in Hong Kong or Macao) or an approved translation, plus a passport with an entry stamp.
  • China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Chinese citizens to avoid travel to Japan in the near term (latest notice 2026-03-26, still in effect). Chinese carriers' free changes on Japan flights through Oct 24 apply only to tickets issued
  • Tokachidake is at volcanic alert Level 3: stay out of the Fukiage and Bogakudai areas. Asahidake (Level 1) and Meakan (Level 2, 500 m zone) need only normal care near vents.

Evidence

Sources

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