Ramen, canals and flower fields up north
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano
Sapporo to Otaru
Sapporo and Otaru sit about 33 km (20 mi) apart in a straight line, with Otaru to the north-west. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 33 km · 20 mi
- Est. road distance
- 39–46 km
- Est. drive time
- 30–55 min
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 39–46 km (24–28 mi) of road and 30–55 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
By train
Our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano guide also mentions trains for parts of the trip. Whether a direct train links Sapporo and Otaru depends on the line — check timetables.
JR trains run Sapporo to Otaru in about 35 minutes and Sapporo to Furano or Asahikawa in about 1.5 to 2 hours. A rental car is the best way to explore Biei and Furano, where bus service is sparse.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Otaru
Old herring port of stone warehouses, glass shops and sushi. Stay 1–2 days.
Otaru Canal
Canal lined with restored stone warehouses and gas lamps.
Sakaimachi Street
Merchant street of Meiji-era buildings filled with glass, sweets and music boxes.
Kitaichi Glass
Glassworks and shops; Kitaichi Hall is lit by 167 oil lamps.
Mount Tengu
Ropeway to a lookout over the town and Ishikari Bay, with skiing in winter.
Sankaku Market
Small market by Otaru Station serving seafood rice bowls and grilled crab.
Otaru Beer Warehouse No. 1
Brewpub in a canal-side warehouse pouring German-style beers.
Before you leave Sapporo
Hokkaido's grid-planned capital, known for ramen, beer and snow. Stay 3 days.
On this curated route
Where Sapporo → Otaru sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Otaru to Sapporo is the same 33 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Sapporo to Otaru: questions travelers ask
How far is Sapporo from Otaru?
Sapporo is about 33 km (20 mi) from Otaru in a straight line, with Otaru to the north-west. By road, we estimate 39–46 km (24–28 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Sapporo to Otaru?
An estimated 30–55 min, assuming 39–46 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Sapporo to Otaru?
Our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano itinerary includes this leg. Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in Jul – Aug, Jan – Feb.
Onward from Otaru
- Otaru to Furano and Biei 123 km
Guides for both ends
- Sapporo travel guide
- Sapporo weather best time to visit
- Otaru travel guide
- Otaru weather best time to visit
Otaru by month
Plan Sapporo → Otaru with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.