New Chitose to Noboribetsu is about an hour, Lake Toya about 1.5. How to order all three with Otaru, where to sleep first, and Lake Toya's nightly fireworks.
Otaru, Noboribetsu and Lake Toya often end up on the same Hokkaido itinerary, but they are not on one line. Noboribetsu and Lake Toya are south-west of New Chitose Airport; Otaru is on the far side of Sapporo. New Chitose to Noboribetsu is the shortest hop. Get the direction right and decide where to sleep on night one, and you can cut a lot of time in the car.
New Chitose to Noboribetsu, Lake Toya and Otaru: drive times
| Leg | Approximate drive (depending on traffic) |
|---|---|
| New Chitose Airport → Noboribetsu Onsen | about an hour |
| New Chitose Airport → Lake Toya | about 1 hour 30 minutes (per the Lake Toya Tourism Association) |
| Sapporo → Lake Toya | about 2 hours (same source) |
| Lake Toya → Otaru | 2 hours or more |
The Noboribetsu Onsen area is about 6 km from Noboribetsu-Higashi IC (per Noboribetsu tourism), with a climb after you leave the expressway. All of these take longer in winter snow.
Two common orders
Order one: airport → Noboribetsu → Lake Toya → Otaru → Sapporo (and home) Soak at Noboribetsu, the nearest, on arrival night; head west to Lake Toya the next day; then north to Otaru, returning via Sapporo (see timing a Sapporo to New Chitose airport drop-off). Lake Toya to Otaru is the longest leg, so plan a rest stop there.
Order two: airport → Otaru → Lake Toya → Noboribetsu → airport Good if you want the Otaru canal first and a relaxing last night close to the airport. From Noboribetsu it is only about an hour back to New Chitose, which helps with early flights.
Either way, your luggage can stay in the car throughout. For multi-stop trips, include the order, time at each stop and your accommodation addresses when booking, and our team will confirm feasibility and quote.
Lake Toya: plan around the fireworks
According to the Lake Toya Tourism Association, the 2026 Long-run Fireworks season runs from 28 April to 31 October, nightly from 20:45 for about 20 minutes. They go ahead in rain but may be cancelled if the wind is unsettled. If you are staying at Lake Toya in summer or autumn, going straight there on arrival day means check-in, dinner, then fireworks.
Vehicle and group size
Pricing is per vehicle: the Alphard seats 7 and the Hiace seats 10. On a three-stop trip your luggage travels the whole way, so if you are near the seat limit, consider the Hiace. Child seats and booster cushions are available. None of the three destinations is on our public price list, so please contact our team for a quote; all quotes are confirmed by our team.
For Sapporo or Niseko only, see New Chitose to Sapporo, our New Chitose to Sapporo train, bus and car comparison and New Chitose to Niseko; other destinations are under all routes from New Chitose. Once your order is set, head to the booking page.
FAQ
- From New Chitose, what is the best order for Noboribetsu, Lake Toya and Otaru?
- Noboribetsu and Lake Toya are south-west of New Chitose Airport, while Otaru is west of Sapporo. A common order is airport → Noboribetsu → Lake Toya → Otaru (or Sapporo), with the last leg the longest. The reverse works too; it depends on your flights.
- How long is the drive from New Chitose Airport to Lake Toya?
- The Lake Toya Tourism Association lists about 1 hour 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport and about 2 hours from Sapporo, depending on traffic. Snow makes it longer in winter.
- Are there fireworks at Lake Toya every night?
- According to the Lake Toya Tourism Association, the 2026 Long-run Fireworks season runs from 28 April to 31 October, nightly from 20:45 for about 20 minutes. They go ahead in rain but may be cancelled if the wind is unsettled.
- How much is a private transfer from New Chitose to Noboribetsu, Lake Toya or Otaru?
- None of the three is on our public price list, so please contact our team for a quote. For multi-stop trips, include the order and time at each stop; all quotes are confirmed by our team.