Central Circuit Voyage Tips and guide

The Central Circuit (道央 Dōō) covers the western and central parts of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

43°3′0″N 141°40′34″E

Map of Central Circuit

• 43.066667141.351 Sapporo (札幌市 Sapporo-shi) – Hokkaido's capital and by far its biggest and liveliest town
• 42.816667141.652 Chitose (千歳市 Chitose-shi) – the gateways to Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Lake Shikotsu and Mount Tarumae
• 43.2141.7833333 Iwamizawa (岩見沢市 Iwamizawa-shi)
• 42.9855141.5630834 Kitahiroshima (北広島 Kitahiroshima-shi) — a suburb of Sapporo, famous as the home ground of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
• 42.316667140.9666675 Muroran (室蘭市 Muroran-shi) — a declining industrial town and a fishing port
• 42.416667141.16 Noboribetsu (登別市 Noboribetsu-shi) – Hokkaido's best-known hot spring resort
• 43.1833331417 Otaru (小樽市 Otaru-shi) – port with international flavor
• 43.55141.9166678 Takikawa (滝川市 Takikawa-shi)
• 42.633333141.69 Tomakomai (苫小牧市 Tomakomai-shi) – transportation and shipping hub on the south coast
• 43.05141.96666710 Yūbari (夕張市 Yūbari-shi) — a coal-mining town famous for melons and its film festival

• 42.483333142.0666671 Hidaka (日高町 Hidaka-chō) and 42.583333142.1333332 Biratori (平取町 Biratori-chō) – also home to the small village of Nibutani where 80% of residents are Ainu
• 42.9140.7666673 Kutchan (倶知安町 Kutchan-chō) — known for its proximity to the world famous Niseko powder snow region
• 42.366667142.3166674MISSING WIKILINK Niikappu (新冠町 Niikappu-chō) – known for horse breeding, cliff artwork, and Deikazan (mud volcano)

Mount Poroshiri

• 42.133333142.9333335 Samani (様似町 Samani-chō) — part of the Mt. Apoi Geopark, its hot spring resort is a popular climb among tourists and locals
• 43.299167140.5983336 Shakotan (積丹町 Shakotan-chō)
• 42.25142.5666677 Shinhidaka (新ひだか町 Shinhidaka-chō) – thoroughbreds and beautiful cherry blossoms
• 42.55141.358 Shiraoi (白老町 Shiraoi-chō)
• 42.55140.7666679 Tōyako (洞爺湖町 Tōyako-chō)
• 43.195306140.78352810 Yoichi (余市町 Yoichi-chō)

• 42.8140.6833331 Niseko (ニセコ) – likely the most famous ski resort in Japan, particularly popular with Australians
• 42.6666671412 Shikotsu-Toya National Park (支笏洞爺国立公園 Shikotsu Tōya Kokuritsu Kōen) – two beautiful caldera lakes with rumbling volcanoes and mossy canyons
• 42.737333140.8755833 Rusutsu (ルスツ) – Hokkaido's largest ski resort

Sapporo is the biggest transportation hub in Hokkaido.

New Chitose Airport (CTS ^IATA) and Okadama Airport (OKD ^IATA).

• JR Hokkaido Hakodate main line
• JR Muroran main line
• JR Hokkaido Hidaka main line

• Tomakomai port
• Tomakomai East port

The Central Circuit is Hokkaido's winter sports hub, boasting both its most famous ski resort Niseko and its largest resort Rusutsu.

• Hidaka Kombu (日高昆布). Kelp (Kombu), which is harvested in this region, is famous as the "Hidaka Kombu". In summer, harvested kelps can be seen being sun-dried on beaches.