I'm going to be visiting Hokkaido in January 2025 and will be using public transport the entire way as I do not have a driver's license. Please also note I like the Japanese trains and like traveling around on them. Please review this scaffold of an itinerary.
Day 1:
Take the train from Tokyo to Hakodate. Spend the night there. Check out Mt. Hakodate and the area.
Day 2:
Spend the morning in Hakodate, and then take the train to Otaru. Check out the canals in the evening.
Day 3:
Take the train from Otaru to Wakkanai. I'm not very interested in Sapporo (been there before) so I will be skipping over it. Hoping to catch a view of Mt. Rishiri.
Day 4:
Check out Cape Soya and the Wakkanai area. Take an afternoon train to Asahikawa and spend the night there.
Day 5: Take the train from Asahikawa to Abashiri. Check out the prison museum and spend the night.
Day 6: Take the train from Abashiri to Kushiro. Hire a cab to check out the Akan and Mashu Lakes.
Day 7:
Take the train from Kushiro to Nemuro and check out the easternmost point in Japan. Take a late train back to Kushiro.
Day 8:
Take the train from Kushiro to Lake Toya.
Day 9:
Take the train from Lake Toya back to Tokyo.