National Route 393 Otaru – Hokkaido's Most Stunning Mountain Drive
National Route 393 Otaru – Hokkaido's Most Stunning Mountain Drive – Your complete guide to Route 393 near Otaru, Hokkaido. Best times to visit, how to get there, top photo stops, and a ready-to-use itinerary.
Feb 6, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 5 min read
National Route 393 Otaru – Hokkaido's Most Stunning Mountain Drive – Your complete guide to Route 393 near Otaru, Hokkaido. Best times to visit, how to get there, top photo stops, and a ready-to-use itinerary.
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Japan has no shortage of jaw-dropping scenery, but Route 393 near Otaru in Hokkaido is the kind of drive that makes you pull over, kill the engine, and just stare. This isn't merely a road — it's a front-row seat to one of the most cinematic landscapes in the entire country, where the light shifts from gold at dawn to deep violet at dusk and every bend in the road reveals something worth photographing.
1. What Makes Route 393 So Special
Route 393 cuts through the mountains between Otaru and Kimobetsu, and the scenery along the way feels almost unreasonably good. Hokkaido unfolds like an oil painting — vast, unhurried, and completely unlike the urban Japan most visitors see first. The quality of light here is extraordinary: warm and raking in the early morning, dramatic and moody as the sun drops behind the peaks.
The road itself is half the experience. It curves through mountain passes, skirts open farmland, and hugs hillsides that in winter are buried under several feet of powder snow. Travelers who've done it consistently say the same thing: this isn't a drive to a destination, it's the destination.
2. Top Photo Spots Along the Route
The Route 393 corridor is loaded with viewpoints — some famous, some known only to locals who've been pulling off here for years. Don't miss these:
The Main Observation Point: Sweeping 180-degree views across the entire Route 393 valley. Sunrise and sunset here are genuinely among the best in Hokkaido.
The Old-Growth Tree Tunnel: Century-old trees form a natural archway over the road. Spectacular year-round, but especially dramatic in late autumn when the foliage turns, and eerily beautiful under a layer of winter snow.
The Reflection Pond: A nearby lake or river section mirrors the surrounding mountains like a giant natural mirror — the kind of perfectly symmetrical shot that performs embarrassingly well on Instagram.
The Summit Viewpoint: Hike or drive to the highest accessible point in the area for a full panoramic sweep of Hokkaido's interior. On a clear day, the scale is genuinely humbling.
3. Best Time to Visit
Every season brings something different to Route 393, but the sweet spots are November and February. Here's why those windows work so well:
- Weather is consistent and road conditions are manageable — ideal for a road trip
- Scenery hits its seasonal peak — autumn foliage in November, full winter snowscape in February
- Natural light is perfect for photography between 6–9 AM and 4–6 PM
- Crowds are present but not overwhelming — you'll share the viewpoints without fighting for elbow room
If you're visiting in winter, come prepared for a fairy-tale snow landscape — but note that the mountain pass sections can get icy, and you'll want a car with winter tires (rental companies in Hokkaido fit these as standard in the cold season). Spring cherry blossoms and autumn color are equally compelling if you'd rather avoid the cold.
4. The Best Way to Explore — Rent a Car
Public transport simply doesn't cut it here. The bus and train network in this part of Hokkaido is too infrequent to let you stop whenever the light looks good, and the best viewpoints aren't within walking distance of any station.
Renting a car is the move. It gives you full control over your schedule — pull over for a photograph, double back to a viewpoint you passed, detour down a side road on a whim. Route 393 is well-maintained, clearly signed, and has regular rest areas with parking. The driving itself, on roads this quiet and this scenic, is genuinely one of the highlights of a Hokkaido trip.
✨ Pro tip: Book a private car through OlaChill and explore Route 393 entirely on your own terms — self-drive or with a driver, your call.
5. Sample 1–2 Day Itinerary
Day 1
- 6:00 AM – Arrive at the main observation point for sunrise; golden hour light over Route 393 is worth the early alarm
- 8:00 AM – Breakfast at a local restaurant; try Hokkaido specialties like fresh seafood rice bowls or rich miso ramen
- 9:30 AM – Drive the main scenic corridor, stopping at viewpoints along the way
- 12:00 PM – Lunch at a roadside restaurant or rest area
- 2:00 PM – Explore secondary stops: a nearby historic village, waterfall, or lake
- 5:00 PM – Check in to your hotel or ryokan
- 6:30 PM – Soak in the onsen (if your accommodation has one), then settle in for a kaiseki dinner
Day 2
- 7:00 AM – Early breakfast and an early start to beat any crowds
- 8:30 AM – A quieter side route or a lesser-known viewpoint that doesn't appear on most itineraries
- 11:00 AM – Head to the reflection pond for mirror-image shots in the best midday light
- 1:00 PM – Lunch and a slow afternoon
- 3:00 PM – Continue toward your next destination or start the drive back
6. Practical Tips Before You Go
- 📸 Golden hour is non-negotiable: The 30 minutes before and after sunrise/sunset produce the best light — set your alarm accordingly
- 🚗 Book your rental car early: Demand spikes in peak season (November and February); reserve at least one to two weeks ahead
- ⛽ Fill up before you head out: Gas stations in rural Hokkaido can be surprisingly sparse — don't leave a town on a half-empty tank
- 📱 Download offline maps: Save the Hokkaido region to Google Maps before you go; cell coverage drops out in the mountains
- 🍙 Stock up at a convenience store: 7-Eleven and FamilyMart are remarkably well-stocked in Japan — grab snacks, onigiri, and hot drinks before hitting the road
- ☁️ Check the forecast: Especially critical in winter and during the rainy season — mountain weather moves fast and the pass can close with little warning
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