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The windy town of Tomamae (苫前) is known for the worst bear attack in Japanese history. There is a scenic onsen, beach and interesting museum in the town center.

On the road to Eastern Shiretoko, Shibetsu (標津) is best known for its salmon fishing. There are a few attractions worth visiting around the town center.

Betsukai (別海) is two times larger than Tokyo’s 23 wards. Some 15,000 people and 120,000 cows living this grand-scale town.

Nakashibetsu (中標津) is considered the center of the Konsen Plateau and a transport hub for other areas. There is an airport close to the town center.

Best knowns for Japan’s largest sunflower fields, this small agricultural town is one of Central Hokkaido’s popular destinations in summer.

About 60km northeast of Sapporo Route 275, the agricultural town of Urausu has some great picnic spots around Tsurunuma Park.

Founded as Hokkaido’s first prison Kabato Shujikan in 1881, this town was named after the first warden Tsukigata Kiyoshi.

Japan’s second smallest city by population, however Mikasa (三笠) holds some of the first-in-Hokkaido. The area is known for both its fossil-rich mountains.

The southernmost town of Central Hokkaido, Erimo (えりも) is well-known for its scenic cape juts out into the Pacific Ocean.

Listed as a Unesco Global Geopark, the small fishing town of Samani (様似) has a variety of unusual terrains from the scenic coastlines to the flower mountains.

Urakawa (浦河), the small capital of Hidaka Region, is worth a visit for racehorse lovers. One of world’s greatest blood-horse training centers spread out along the Pegasus Road.

Nibutani (二風谷) is a riverside Ainu kotan on Saru-gawa in the western part of Hidaka Region.

About 45km east of Sapporo, Kuriyama (meaning ‘chestnut mountain’) is a neat agricultural town. The town is famous for its sake brewing.

Fukagawa (深川) is a jumping-off point for Rumoi, Horokanai and Hokuryu. The city has a variety of orchards, cycle paths, trails and soba restaurants.

Between Abashiri and Shari along the Sea of Okhotsk, Koshimizu (小清水) makes a good stopover on the way to Shiretoko or Kushiro, such as Tofutsu-ko and Koshimizu Genseikaen.

After passing through the dynamic Sekihoku Pass on Route 39 from Daisetsuzan National Park, Onneyu (温根湯) is a popular onsen village to break up a journey for Kitami or Akan-ko.