For the next couple of days, the easiest way to explore is by hiring a car. While buses and hotel transfers are available, a car lets you save time, see more, and travel with total convenience. I booked my rental through Trip.com and picked it up near Sapporo Station. From there, we extended our Sapporo itinerary (see my Hokkaido winter ski route itinerary) to visit the ski fields, and eventually dropped the car off at the airport.

Driving in Japan is incredibly easy, especially in Hokkaido, but make sure you get an international driver license before arriving to Japan.