Central Circuit

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

Cities and towns

Cities

• 1 Sapporo (札幌市 Sapporo-shi) – Hokkaido's capital and by far its biggest and liveliest town
• 2 Chitose (千歳市 Chitose-shi) – the gateways to Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Lake Shikotsu and Mount Tarumae
• 3 Iwamizawa (岩見沢市 Iwamizawa-shi)
• 4 Muroran (室蘭市 Muroran-shi) — a declining industrial town and a fishing port
• 5 Noboribetsu (登別市 Noboribetsu-shi) – Hokkaido's best-known hot spring resort
• 6 Otaru (小樽市 Otaru-shi) – port with international flavor
• 7 Takikawa (滝川市 Takikawa-shi)
• 8 Tomakomai (苫小牧市 Tomakomai-shi) – transportation and shipping hub on the south coast
• 9 Yūbari (夕張市 Yūbari-shi) — a coal-mining town famous for melons and its film festival

Towns

• 1 Hidaka (日高町 Hidaka-chō) and 2 Biratori (平取町 Biratori-chō) – also home to the small village of Nibutani where 80% of residents are Ainu
• 3 Kutchan (倶知安町 Kutchan-chō) — known for its proximity to the world famous Niseko powder snow region
• 4 Niikappu (新冠町 Niikappu-chō) – known for horse breeding, cliff artwork, and Deikazan (mud volcano)

Mount Poroshiri

• 5 Niseko (ニセコ町 Niseko-chō) – ski resort that draws visitors even from overseas
• 6 Samani (様似町 Samani-chō) — part of the Mt. Apoi Geopark, its hot spring resort is a popular climb among tourists and locals
• 7 Shakotan (積丹町 Shakotan-chō)
• 8 Shinhidaka (新ひだか町 Shinhidaka-chō) – thoroughbreds and beautiful cherry blossoms
• 9 Shiraoi (白老町 Shiraoi-chō)
• 10 Tōyako (洞爺湖町 Tōyako-chō)
• 11 Yoichi (余市町 Yoichi-chō)

Other destinations

Mt. Yotei

• 1 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

Get in

Sapporo is the biggest transportation hub in Hokkaido.

By plane

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

By train

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

By boat

• Tomakomai port
• Tomakomai East port

Buy

• 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.