3-Day Trip to Hokkaido Part 1: First Day | Departing on an Early Morning Flight, Starting with Triton and Shiroi Koibito Park

I am someone who loves cost-effective travel.
My spouse and I went on a 3-day, 2-night trip to Hokkaido. (May 2026)

The purpose of this trip was (as always) to eat delicious food, relax a little, and thoroughly enjoy everything unique to Hokkaido. This is our first visit in several years.

Day 1 of the Hokkaido Trip

The trip started at Haneda Airport at 4:30 AM.

Our flight this time was at 6:20 AM. We purchased it during an ANA time sale.

The Haneda Airport parking lot has a mysterious system that I have never been able to book in the past. This time, too, we left early without a reservation.

No matter what time the flight is, we head out early to secure a parking spot, so early morning flights, which are cheap and have short wait times, have great benefits for those who prioritize cost-effectiveness.

Arriving at your destination early also feels like a good deal.

On a previous Hokkaido trip, we departed on a weekday. I assumed the parking lot would be empty, so when I saw "Full," "Full," "Full" at Haneda, I panicked tremendously. There was no time to spare, and there were no vacancies in any of the nearby parking lots.

We found a vacancy at a coin-operated parking lot several stations away, parked there, and took a taxi to Haneda. After that, we ran to the boarding gate... it was a turbulent start.

We made it to the flight, but I prefer to enjoy travel with time to spare.

Back to the story.
Since then, we've decided that no matter the flight pattern, it's better to relax at the airport, so we arrive early and wander around.

Arriving in Hokkaido, first stop is conveyor belt sushi "Triton"

We arrived at New Chitose Airport; it was raining when we left, but it's clear skies here.
After completing the procedures at the rental car company, the first place we headed was the conveyor belt sushi restaurant "Triton." It was an early lunch.

I look forward to sushi every time I come to Hokkaido, and this time, too, I headed there with full expectations.

Since we arrived before opening, earlier than anyone else, we killed time by wandering around nearby or lounging in the car. We got in during the first round of seating.

It seems there are branches outside of Hokkaido, but surely the authentic ones must be more delicious. We enjoyed the standard items, recommended toppings, and soup.

We ate as much fresh sushi as we wanted, and it cost about 7,000 yen for the two of us. It was a lunch that was highly satisfying in both taste and price.

About an hour later, by the time we paid, there was a line outside the store. Time is very precious when traveling. I'm glad we lined up before opening. I recommend going straight from the airport for your first gourmet meal.

On this trip, I encountered even more delicious sushi later on. I'll save that story for another article.

My first time at Shiroi Koibito Park.

With my stomach full, I headed to Sapporo's "Shiroi Koibito Park".

I've eaten the classic Hokkaido souvenir "Shiroi Koibito" many times, but this was my first time visiting the park. I enjoyed the free zone.

First, I went souvenir hunting. I love looking around, but I'm bad at making decisions and actually buying things.

While I agonize over this and that, I end up not buying anything -> I get tired -> I decide to skip it for now -> I force myself to find something at the very last minute.

If it's a park-exclusive item, I should only be able to buy it here. This was the earliest I've ever decided on a souvenir in my life.

I bought a few "Shiroi Koibito Park 30th Anniversary Assortments" for my family. I've already decided on what to get for my workplace.

After that, I took a slow stroll through the park.

Because of the season, the park was filled with well-maintained flowers and plants, which lifted my spirits.

Just as I was ordering the soft-serve ice cream I always end up eating, I encountered the parade at the mechanical clock tower.

Watching the dolls move to the music made even an adult like me feel a little lighthearted.

The weather was nice and the atmosphere was more cheerful than I had imagined; just walking around made me feel good. It felt like my stress was melting away without me even realizing it.

The Shiroi Koibito soft-serve ice cream, while served in a cup with the "Koibito" branding, was actually just the standard flavor I've had before and is sold everywhere.

I strongly felt that it was such a waste, given how skillfully they've set up so many other things within the park.

That said, it's nice to have a moment to feel like a child again.

To be honest, I initially thought, 'Buying souvenirs and looking around a bit would be enough,' but before I knew it, I was fully enjoying myself. It was a spot that was more fun than I expected.

Staying at Keio Prelia Hotel Sapporo

After fully enjoying Shiroi Koibito Park, we bought some drinks at a supermarket and headed to the hotel.

This is Keio Prelia Hotel Sapporo, which I liked so much during my previous stay that I decided to visit again.

The reasons for returning are that it's convenient, it's a high-end version of a business hotel, and it's simple and clean. The breakfast is delicious! That's definitely it.

The restaurant is by no means large, but the display of the food and such is skillful and colorful. The tableware and cutlery are also lovely, which adds to the excitement.

'A hotel with a delicious breakfast makes you want to stay there again' This is a very important point. I would like to write a separate article about the hotel.

Summary

The Hokkaido trip started from Haneda Airport at 4 a.m. It was a departure while I was not a morning person, but once I arrived in Hokkaido, I completely forgot about that.

First, I filled my stomach with my favorite conveyor belt sushi, and at Shiroi Koibito Park, which I visited for the first time, I found myself more excited than I had expected.

And next, I checked into Keio Prelia Hotel Sapporo, where I had high expectations for breakfast. It was a day so fulfilling that it didn't feel like a travel day.

Next time, I would like to introduce Keio Prelia Hotel Sapporo, which is also the reason for my repeat visit, the Genghis Khan dinner, and the state of our stay.

Finally

I have been working for a long time, so I cannot say that I have traveled a lot. I have traveled in various ways by managing my time and money. But this is my first time writing a travel record.

I knew about the existence of note, but I had never seen it, and until just the other day, I never thought that my 'wanting to try something new' would be 'a travel record on note'.

The article is written as if I am traveling alone, but basically, my husband and I enjoy it together. I plan and arrange the trip, and for some reason, my husband is in charge of the rental car only.

Thank you to everyone who has read this far.