Wild Hokkaido

Your trip begins in the vast metropolis that this Tokyo, Japan's capital city.

A shared shuttle transfer will take you from the airport to your hotel in the centre of the city, where you will have the rest of day one to relax and get used to the new time zone. For those with the energy (we applaud you), you will be well placed to begin your exploration of the city. Perhaps you'd like to begin your journey in the traditional Asakusa district of Tokyo, home to Senso-ji Temple and the towering Skytree.

On day two, you will have the full day with a private local guide to make the most of Japan's energetic capital. There is far too much to see for one day, so your guide will tailor the day's itinerary to suit your preferences. We recommend stopping to peruse the high-tech gadgets at Akihabara “electric town”, and making time for a cup of green tea in beautiful Hamarikyu Gardens.

Overnight: Villa Fontaine Shiodome

Your northern adventure begins in Rausu, gateway to the rugged Shiretoko Peninsula.

On day three you will be driven by private car from your hotel to Haneda Airport, where you will board a plane for the short domestic flight to Memanbetsu in Hokkaido. Here, you will pick up your hire car for the next 10 days and drive the 135 kilometres (78 mi) to Rausu. Hokkaido offers an extremely pleasant location for driving, and we are sure you will have no trouble getting used to the differences! The remainder of day three will be at leisure.

On day four you will enjoy a two-hour cruise around the Shiretoko Peninsula, one of the wildest reaches of Japan. This is a fantastic opportunity to spot some of Hokkaido's wildlife, from whales and dolphins to a wide variety of rare birds. The rest of the day will be free for you to explore – and with a car at your disposal, Rausu is your oyster.

Overnight: Dai-ichi Hotel

Today you will move on to Lake Kussharo, in the beautiful Akan National Park.

On day five you will drive the 125 kilometres (78 mi) from Rausu to Kussharo under your own steam, enjoying the beautiful countryside on your way. In the summer months, Lake Kussharo is a fantastic base for watersports, canoeing and fishing – so depending on what time you arrive, you might have time to partake in one of these. Your hotel will be able to help you organise an activity of your choice.

Another popular pastime at Lake Kussharo is to soak in one of the local hot spring baths, or to dig your own from the lakeshore!

Overnight: Kussharo Prince Hotel

Moving westwards across Hokkaido, today you will arrive at Mount Asahi in Daisetsuzan – another of Hokkaido's beautiful national parks.

Mount Asahi, or Asahi-dake, is the tallest mountain in Hokkaido, and the surrounding national park is famous for its excellent hiking opportunities and spectacular scenery. On day five you will drive the 257 kilometres (160 mi) from Lake Kussahro to Mount Asahi. The drive usually takes around four hours, and is the longest journey of the itinerary. We're sure you'll find plenty of spots of interest along the way to break up the day.

On day seven you will have the services of a local guide for a hike up Mount Asahi itself – a great opportunity to enjoy the fabulous views and ask any questions you might about about Hokkaido's distinctive culture.

Overnight: Lodge Nutapukaushipe

On day eight you will make the short 40 kilometre (25 mi) to Biei, famous for its rolling fields of brightly coloured flowers.

If you are visiting Hokkaido in July, at Biei you will be greeted by the “patchwork road” – a landscape of rolling hills and wide fields of flowers more reminiscent of Provence than Japan. In summer, this area is awash with brightly coloured flowers – most famously lavender – and has been used in countless advertising campaigns and used on packaging for all kinds of products across Japan. This is a lovely, laid-back place to stop for a night and soak up the pretty surroundings, whether on foot, by bike, or by car.

Overnight: Pension Hozuki

Sapporo is Hokkaido's capital – a cosmopolitan city that offers a refreshing contrast to the rural destinations you have visited so far.

The drive from Biei to Sapporo is a very manageable 145 kilometres (90 mi), so you can choose whether you'd like to while away more time in Biei or head straight on to the city today. Either way, you will have the rest of day nine at your leisure.

On day ten, you will have a full day to enjoy Sapporo, famous for its buttery ramen noodles and beer! In the summer, Odori Park at the heart of the city is transformed into a vast beer garden, providing the perfect spot to enjoy the mild (comparatively to mainland Japan) weather and mix with the locals, whose eagerness to make friends after a couple of tipples may surprise you! We also highly recommend trying the Hokkaido speciality, “Genghis Khan” (lamb strips cooked on a dome-shaped hotplate), and making time to visit the Ainu Museum, which is dedicated to the culture of Hokkaido's native people.

Overnight: Richmond Sapporo Eki-mae

Toya Onsen is one of Hokkaido's premier hot spring resorts, and the perfect place to enjoy the traditional Japanese pastime of onsen-bathing.

Today you will drive the 125 kilometres (78 mi) from Sapporo to Toya Onsen, a lovely hot spring town famous for its unpredictable seismic activity. It is home to Japan's youngest volcano, Showa-shinzan, which was only formed in the 1940s – and to next-door Usu-zan, which last erupted in the year 2000. But don't worry, the chance of any untoward activity is highly unlikely during your stay!

This high level of volcanic activity means that Toya Onsen is an excellent place for hot spring bathing, one of Japan's most cherished cultural pastimes. There are many baths throughout the town, including some foot baths (ashi-no-yu) for those who aren't prepared to bare, but our favourites are overlooking Lake Toya.

Overnight: Nonokaze Resort

Your northern odyssey concludes in Hakodate, your last destination on the island of Hokkaido before you zip south to Tokyo on the bullet train.

Hakodate is famous throughout Japan for the wonderful night views from Mount Hakodate, showing the city's twinkling lights laid out below with the blackness of the sea on either side. It's a fittingly spectacular vista to round off your experience of Hokkaido, and certainly not to be missed!

The journey from Toya Onsen to Hakodate is roughly 155 kilometres (96 mi). On arrival, you will drop off your hire car in the city and have the next two days to enjoy Hakodate's many attractions. We recommend a visit to the local fish market, where we suggest you try the shio ramen: a noodle dish prepared with squid ink stock. The town's star-shaped Goryokaku Fort, a Western-style citadel built in the dying days of the Edo Period (1603-1868), is another of its famous attractions – and is most impressive when viewed from above at the Goryokaku Tower.

Overnight: Mystays Hakodate Goryokaku

Your trip finishes with a bang as you arrive back in Tokyo, where you'll have a final night in the fast-paced Shinjuku district.

On day 14 you will hop aboard Japan's newest bullet train line, opened in March 2016, and shoot through the Seikan Tunnel to Honshu. Enjoy the impeccable service aboard the train as you watch the countryside of northern Japan whizz past, finally arriving back in Tokyo in time to enjoy a final evening in the city. Your hotel is in the exciting Shinjuku district, packed with bars, restaurants and shops, so you will certainly not be at a loss tonight. We suggest a final-night meal at an izakaya (a kind of Japanese pub with tapas-style food) then heading out to a karaoke booth for a really Japanese end to your trip.

Unfortunately your adventure comes to an end on day 15, and you will travel by shared shuttle bus to the airport in time for your flight home.

Overnight: Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku