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Take the Northern Roads of Hokkaido: A New FLEX Toyota LandCruiser Expedition for Australian Travellers

Lil World LLC

Key Facts:

• A self-drive journey created for Australian travellers, offering the chance to drive the iconic Toyota LandCruiser in its home country, Japan, through the vast landscapes of Hokkaido.

• A road trip designed around not only where you go, but the roads you take to get there, with spectacular driving routes becoming part of the experience itself.

• A premium journey combining carefully selected accommodation with regional food, culture and distinctive local experiences that can be difficult for independent travellers to discover or arrange.

• A core 5-day / 4-night journey, with the flexibility to tailor the itinerary according to season, length of stay, interests and travel style.

• 24-hour travel support, together with a dedicated Journey Book and digital maps, combining the freedom of self-driving with the reassurance of expert guidance.

Experience Japan’s vast northern landscapes from behind the wheel.

Drive the Real Hokkaido

TOKYO, JAPAN — 10 September 2026

Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost island.

With dramatic mountains, expansive farmland, rugged coastlines and seemingly endless roads stretching towards the horizon, Hokkaido offers some of Japan’s most spectacular driving landscapes.

Now, Australian travellers can experience them from behind the wheel of a Toyota LandCruiser with the launch of a new self-drive journey through Hokkaido.

The concept is simple: Drive the Real Hokkaido.

This journey is not simply about visiting famous sightseeing destinations.

Travellers take the wheel of a LandCruiser and journey through Hokkaido at their own pace, discovering landscapes, regional food and culture, and immersive stays in nature along the way.

Here, the journey between destinations becomes part of the experience.

Drive a LandCruiser in the Country Where It Was Born

The Toyota LandCruiser has long been a familiar and much-loved 4WD across Australia, built for travelling through vast and varied landscapes.

This new journey offers Australian travellers the opportunity to experience the LandCruiser from a different perspective — driving it in its home country while discovering a side of Japan that is best explored by road.

The setting is Hokkaido.

Beyond its cities, the landscape opens into rolling hills, farmland, forests and dramatic coastlines, where the road itself can become one of the highlights of the journey.

Joining the project is FLEX, a Japanese company established in 1967 with decades of experience specialising in Toyota LandCruisers.

Through the sale and customisation of LandCruisers, FLEX has long focused not only on the vehicle itself, but also on the lifestyles and experiences that surround it.

For this project, FLEX is extending that philosophy into travel, working together with Japan Travel to bring a new LandCruiser self-drive journey through Hokkaido to the Australian market.

It’s Not Just About Where You Go. It’s About the Roads You Take to Get There.

On many traditional tours, travelling between destinations is simply a means of getting from one place to another.

This journey turns that idea around.

Routes have been selected for the landscapes they reveal along the way, allowing travellers to drive at their own pace through distinctly Hokkaido scenery.

Stop when a view catches your eye. Discover regional food. Take in the landscape and atmosphere before continuing along the road.

The destination matters — but so does every kilometre along the way.

Each route has been designed to showcase both the scale of Hokkaido and the experience of travelling by LandCruiser.

More Than a Hotel Stay — Experience Hokkaido in Nature

The journey also includes stays designed to bring travellers closer to Hokkaido’s natural environment.

In Tokachi, guests stay at Moving Inn, an accommodation experience developed by FLEX.

Surrounded by nature, travellers can experience Hokkaido as the day changes — from sunset and evenings around the fire to star-filled skies and quiet mornings.

Rather than simply visiting a destination, taking a photograph and moving on, the journey encourages travellers to stay, slow down and experience the changing rhythm of the landscape.

Freedom, with Guidance.

The freedom to travel at your own pace is one of the greatest pleasures of a self-drive holiday.

But for travellers driving in Japan for the first time, knowing which roads offer the best scenery — and which places are worth stopping at along the way — is not always easy.

To make the experience both effortless and independent, travellers receive a dedicated Journey Book, bringing together the story of the journey, recommended stops and useful regional information.

Digital maps are also provided, allowing travellers to access recommended driving routes for each day directly from their smartphones.

There is no need to return to a tour bus at a set time.

Instead, travellers have the freedom to explore Hokkaido at their own pace, while being gently guided towards some of the region’s most memorable landscapes and experiences.

Freedom, with guidance.

Hokkaido Through the Seasons

The core journey is 5 days / 4 nights, with additional seasonal options available.

From the fresh green landscapes of spring and summer to autumn colours and snow-covered winter scenery, Hokkaido changes dramatically throughout the year.

Each season brings different roads, landscapes, food and experiences — giving travellers another reason to return and discover Hokkaido by road.

FLEX COMMENT

 “We believe the LandCruiser is more than simply a vehicle for getting from one destination to another — it is a vehicle that expands the experiences possible along the way.

The LandCruiser has been loved in Australia for generations. We want Australian travellers to experience driving it in its home country, Japan, while exploring the vast natural landscapes of Hokkaido.

Through this journey, we hope travellers will discover both the unique pleasure of travelling by LandCruiser and a side of Japan they may not have experienced before.”

 

TOUR INFORMATION

Tour Name: Take the Northern Roads of Hokkaido: FLEX Toyota LandCruiser Expedition
Concept: Drive the Real Hokkaido
Destination: Hokkaido, Japan
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights + Seasonal Extensions
Vehicle: Toyota LandCruiser
Market: Australia
Travel Operator: Japan Travel
Automotive / Project Partner: FLEX Inc.

Journey Concept & Project Producer: Lil World
Launch: August 2026
Price: JPY 799,000 per person for the 5-day / 4-night base journey, based on two guests sharing one room. Seasonal extensions and itinerary customisation are available at an additional cost.

Brand Website: https://theroadsofjapan.com
Tour Details, Pricing & Bookings: https://en.tours.japantravel.com/tours/partner-packages/take-the-northern-roads-of-hokkaido-flex-toyota-land-cruiser-expedition/12
Journey Book: Provided to guests as part of the journey.

 

About us:

About FLEX

FLEX Inc. is a Japanese company established in 1967.

Its automotive business operates specialist Toyota LandCruiser and HiAce dealerships, offering not only vehicle sales but also customisation tailored to customers’ individual lifestyles.

In Hokkaido’s Tokachi region, FLEX also operates Moving Inn, offering a distinctive accommodation experience immersed in nature and expanding the possibilities of travel and lifestyle through the automobile.

About Japan Travel

Japan Travel is a Tokyo-based inbound travel company operating across travel, media, creative and consulting services specialising in tourism to Japan.

Drawing on its network of partners across Japan and deep local knowledge, Japan Travel provides tours, tailor-made travel, DMC and B2B services for international travellers.

For this project, Japan Travel is responsible for developing and selling the Hokkaido LandCruiser Journey for the Australian market.

About Lil World

Lil World is a Japanese company specialising in the planning and production of tourism experiences that draw on the unique culture, nature and regional assets of destinations across Japan.

For this project, Lil World is responsible for the Drive the Real Hokkaido concept, the design of the LandCruiser travel experience and driving routes, production of the Journey Book, and promotion to the Australian market.

Contact details:

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Davide Cinili
Japan Travel K.K.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +81 50 1791 1502

For media and press enquiries, please contact Davide Cinili.

TOUR AND BOOKING ENQUIRIES

Christine Mayol
Package Tour Customer Service
Japan Travel K.K.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +81 50 1791 1502

For enquiries regarding the tour itinerary, availability or bookings, please contact Christine Mayol.