Sapporo Car Rental 2026: Winter Driving to Biei & Otaru

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Winter Sapporo City Car Rental: Booking Costs

Your Biei & Otaru Adventure

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If you're dreaming of a winter getaway to Hokkaido,

you might be wondering whether to join a tour to Sapporo, Biei, or Otaru,

or embark on a self-drive adventure with a rental car.

Worried about driving on snowy roads? Or perhaps it's your first time driving in Japan?

While those concerns are totally valid, from my own experience,

a trip explored with a rental car

was incredibly more satisfying!

There are so many fantastic reasons why a rental car is the way to go,

and you can check them out at a glance in the clip above!

So today, I'm going to break down everything for you, from scoring the cheapest rental car to pickup and return methods,

and even important tips for driving in Sapporo!

📍Table of Contents

1. Sapporo Car Rental: Cheapest Booking

2. Car Rental Pickup

3. Driving Precautions in Sapporo

4. ETC & HEP

5. Car Rental Return & Sapporo Station Shuttle

Booking Your Ride

Password: world03

I personally booked my rental through World Net Rent-A-Car's Korea-exclusive page.

Typically, winter car rental costs in Sapporo can be quite steep,

but World Net Rent-A-Car offers remarkably reasonable prices.

While it varies depending on your schedule and car type,

for a 3-day rental, the lowest price starts at around ~$73!

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For better safety and ample luggage space, they offer vehicles starting from compact cars (excluding mini cars),

which are available for booking. After comparing with other companies,

I found that their prices were the most competitive, even for non-mini cars.

What's more, as they're a Hokkaido-based company,

I loved that they have a deep understanding of local road conditions and weather,

which really impressed me and sealed my decision.

The website was incredibly user-friendly, allowing me to book in Korean,

and I also appreciated the flexibility to set different pickup and return locations

to match my travel itinerary perfectly.

They offer both car-only packages (where insurance can be added and paid on-site)

and packages that include comprehensive full-package insurance,

so you can simply choose what best suits your needs!

Picking Up Your Rental Car

We conveniently picked up our car at the Sapporo Station branch,

located right in Sapporo City.

It's super accessible, just 5 minutes by car, 13 minutes by bus, or a pleasant 15-minute walk

from Sapporo Station.

They even offer a shuttle service back to Sapporo Station after drop-off,

ensuring you can travel comfortably even after returning your car!

Once you arrive, simply tell them your reservation name (in English),

and they'll guide you inside. There's no need to wait;

just scan your passport and international driver's license at the kiosk,

for a quick and easy self-check-in experience!

Right after checking in, they showed us the car we'd be renting.

Since they only operate new cars less than 1.5 years old,

the car was incredibly clean and well-maintained.

The condition, both inside and out, was absolutely fantastic.

It was even spacious enough to stretch our legs!

What's more, a crucial element for winter driving in Sapporo,

snow tires came installed as standard,

allowing us to drive with much more stability than we anticipated.

My husband was driving in winter Sapporo for the very first time,

so he was quite nervous, but once he actually got behind the wheel,

he said it wasn't nearly as slippery as he thought and he adapted surprisingly quickly.

The trunk was absolutely massive – big enough to store several suitcases!

If you push the back seats forward, you can fit even more.

Just ask a staff member, and they'll be happy to assist you immediately.

The navigation system supports Korean,

but if you're an iPhone user, connecting via Apple CarPlay

will make it even more convenient!

Sapporo Driving Tips & Precautions

First off, you probably already know that in Japan,

the driver's seat is on the right and

they drive on the left-hand side of the road.

But here's a crucial one: the turn signal and wiper controls

are also opposite to what we're used to!

While you might adapt to left-hand traffic quickly, this particular difference can take a bit longer to get used to.

You might be concerned that driving in the city could be very slippery,

but rest assured, both city streets and highways are incredibly well-cleared of snow.

So, as long as you avoid excessive speeding or abrupt acceleration,

it won't be overly slippery, and you can drive safely.

Even my husband, who was driving in winter Sapporo for the first time,

experienced absolutely no major or minor incidents or dangerous moments.

So, there's really no need to worry too much!

HEP

If your itinerary involves long distances, such as visiting both Otaru and Biei,

I highly recommend purchasing a HEP (Hokkaido Expressway Pass).

What is HEP, you ask? It's an expressway pass that grants unlimited access to Hokkaido's regional expressways.

Just a heads-up: it's different from ETC, which is Japan's version of an electronic toll collection system, similar to Korea's Hi-Pass.

Since transportation costs in Japan can be quite steep, using the expressways

can quickly add up in travel expenses.

You can purchase it when you pick up your rental car,

and it costs 7,700 yen for a 4-day pass.

It's not recommended for short-distance itineraries.

Returning Your Rental Car

Before you return your rental car,

make sure to refuel at a gas station!

If you don't do it in advance, you might incur extra charges.

If you used toll roads without purchasing the HEP,

then after settling any ETC fees and completing the vehicle condition check,

your return process will be complete.

Our last day of travel was rainy,

but they offered a convenient pickup service to Sapporo Station,

allowing us to comfortably conclude our itinerary.

Wishing you a safe and memorable winter trip to Sapporo,

and please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions! :)