Central Circuit

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

Cities

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

Towns
Mount Poroshiri
 * (日高町 Hidaka-chō) and (平取町 Biratori-chō) – also home to the small village of Nibutani where 80% of residents are Ainu
 * (倶知安町 Kutchan-chō) — known for its proximity to the world famous Niseko powder snow region
 * (新冠町 Niikappu-chō) – known for horse breeding, cliff artwork, and Deikazan (mud volcano)
 * (ニセコ町 Niseko-chō) – ski resort that draws visitors even from overseas
 * (様似町 Samani-chō) — part of the Mt. Apoi Geopark, its hot spring resort is a popular climb among tourists and locals
 * (積丹町 Shakotan-chō)
 * (新ひだか町 Shinhidaka-chō) – thoroughbreds and beautiful cherry blossoms
 * (白老町 Shiraoi-chō)
 * (洞爺湖町 Tōyako-chō)
 * (余市町 Yoichi-chō)

Other destinations

 * (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 and Okadama Airport.

By train

 * JR Hokkaido Hakodate main line
 * JR Muroran main line
 * JR Hokkaido Hidaka main line

By boat

 * Tomakomai port
 * Tomakomai East port