🇯🇵Day 1: Hidden Bike Paths & Crater Lakes: Sapporo to Lake Shikotsu

Out of today's 75 km, a whopping 40 km were spent on dedicated bike paths. Touring doesn’t get much better than that!🥰

When planning this five-day Hokkaido loop, I didn't fully realize how much of the route cuts straight through Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. It’s shaping up to be an incredible ride through mountains, active volcanoes, old-growth forests, crater lakes, and, of course, plenty of onsens to soak in at the end of the day.😊♨️

Beyond the stunning views around Lake Shikotsu, the climb out of Chitose was peaceful, scenic, and entirely on a paved cycle path—a fantastic surprise that didn't show up on my Komoot map beforehand!😂

Tomorrow, I'm rolling onward toward Lake Tōya, hoping for more of the same incredible scenery.🥰