Hokkaido Expressway Gas Stations: Only Four Exist, and Just One Is Open 24 Hours

The short version: Hokkaido's expressways have four gas stations, and only one is open at night

If you have driven expressways in the rest of Japan, you probably expect a gas station at most service areas. Hokkaido is different. NEXCO East Japan's official gas station map lists just four fuel stops on the whole island's expressway network: three on the Dō-ō Expressway (the Sapporo–Asahikawa / Sapporo–Hakodate spine) and one on the Dōtō Expressway (towards Obihiro and Kushiro). Only one of them, Wattsu PA just south of Sapporo, is open 24 hours. The other three close at 8pm.

For a rental-car trip that means one simple rule: fill up before you get on the expressway, especially if you are driving after dark or in winter. This guide lists the four stations with their hours (checked on the official pages in September 2026) and explains where the "last chance" is for each direction.

The four expressway gas stations (as of September 2026)

Source: NEXCO East Japan's expressway gas station map (dated 22 May 2026) and the facility pages of each rest area on Dora-Pura, NEXCO East Japan's service-area site. The map notes that non-24-hour stations may extend their hours in peak season, and that brands and hours can change without notice.

Just as important is what is not on the map: there is no expressway gas station on the Sasson Expressway (Sapporo–Otaru), and nothing on the Dōtō Expressway east of Yuni PA, which means the long mountain stretch through Shimukappu, Tomamu and Tokachi-Shimizu towards Obihiro has no fuel at all.

Wattsu PA: the only 24-hour fuel on Hokkaido's expressways

Wattsu (輪厚) PA sits on the Dō-ō Expressway in Kitahiroshima, about 20 minutes south of central Sapporo. Its gas stations in both directions are open around the clock, which makes it the only place on the island's expressways where you can refuel at night.

• Gas station: 24 hours, both directions (apollostation / Usami)
• Food court: 8:00–20:00 (April–November), 9:00–19:00 (December–March)
• EV charger: 24 hours, one bay
• Parking: nobori (上り) 26 large / 139 standard; kudari (下り) 26 large / 122 standard

Sunagawa SA: last fuel before Asahikawa

Heading north from Sapporo towards Asahikawa (and on to Furano, Biei and the Daisetsuzan mountains), Sunagawa SA is the last expressway fuel stop. ENEOS / Hokkaido Energy stations in both directions, 8:00–20:00. The EV charger for both directions is inside the Sunagawa Highway Oasis (one bay, 6:00–22:00; the oasis is closed 22:00–6:00).

• Gas station: 8:00–20:00, both directions
• Food court: southbound (nobori, towards Sapporo) 8:00–20:00 (Apr–Nov) / 9:00–19:00 (Dec–Mar); northbound (kudari, towards Asahikawa) 7:00–19:00 (Apr–Nov) / 9:00–19:00 (Dec–Mar)
• Parking: 23 large / 86 standard, both directions

Usuzan SA: the only fuel between Sapporo and Hakodate

On the southern half of the Dō-ō Expressway, Usuzan SA in Date (near Lake Toya) is the only gas station between Sapporo and the Hakodate / Muroran side. ENEOS / Hokkaido Energy on the southbound side (nobori, towards Hakodate) and ENEOS on the northbound side (kudari, towards Sapporo), both 8:00–20:00. EV charger 24 hours (one bay).

• Gas station: 8:00–20:00, both directions
• Food court: 8:00–20:00 (Apr–Nov), 9:00–19:00 (Dec–Mar)
• Parking: southbound (nobori) 12 large / 50 standard; northbound (kudari) 7 large / 46 standard

Driving from Hakodate to Sapporo, once you pass Usuzan SA the next fuel is Wattsu PA. Driving from Sapporo towards Hakodate, Usuzan SA is your last chance on the expressway.

Yuni PA: the only fuel on the Dōtō Expressway (vending machines only)

The Dōtō Expressway, which takes you from the Sapporo area towards Obihiro and Kushiro, has exactly one gas station: Yuni PA, ENEOS / Hokkaido Energy in both directions, 8:00–20:00. The official page states plainly that there is no restaurant or shop here, only vending machines. You can fuel the car, not yourself.

• Gas station: 8:00–20:00, both directions
• Shop / food: none (vending machines only)
• EV charger: 24 hours, one bay
• Parking: 8 large / 34 standard, both directions

East of Yuni PA there is no expressway fuel at all. If you are heading to Obihiro, Tokachi or Kushiro, fill up before you join the Dōtō Expressway, or at Yuni PA.

On the Dōtō Expressway you can exit at Tokachi-Shimizu IC to refuel without breaking your toll

Because there is no fuel east of Yuni PA, NEXCO East Japan's Hokkaido branch has had a measure in place since April 2016: if you leave the Dōtō Expressway at Tokachi-Shimizu IC, refuel at a gas station in town and re-enter at the same interchange, your toll is the same as if you had driven straight through to your destination. It applies to all vehicles, ETC and cash alike, and the official gas station map this guide is based on (dated 22 May 2026) states it in its Hokkaido section (NEXCO East Japan Hokkaido notice, 28 April 2016). This is separate from the ETC-only refuelling trial at Towada IC and Niitsu IC on Honshu that NEXCO East Japan extended in March 2025; that notice not listing Tokachi-Shimizu does not mean the Hokkaido measure has ended. Check the opening hours of the gas stations near Tokachi-Shimizu IC before you exit, and note that at other Hokkaido interchanges leaving to refuel does mean paying two separate tolls.

The practical plan for each direction

• Sapporo → Asahikawa / Furano / Biei: Sunagawa SA (until 8pm) is the last stop. At night, fuel at Wattsu PA or in town before joining.
• Sapporo → Lake Toya / Hakodate: Usuzan SA (until 8pm) is the last stop. At night, fill up at Wattsu PA before heading south.
• Sapporo → Obihiro / Kushiro: Yuni PA (until 8pm) is the last stop, and there is nothing east of it.
• New Chitose Airport pickups: most rental offices are near the airport with plenty of gas stations on ordinary roads; fill up there before joining the expressway.
• Night driving: Wattsu PA is the only option. Past it, treat the next fuel as "none".

In winter the heater, slow traffic and stops for snow clearing all eat into your range, so the four-station limit matters more from December to March. If that is when you are visiting, read Winter Driving in Hokkaido: A First-Timer's Complete Guide and what your Hokkaido rental car comes with first.

Related guides

• Renting a Car in Hokkaido: IDP, Insurance, 4WD and What to Check
• Sapporo to Furano & Biei by Car: A Local's One-Day Itinerary
• Sapporo to Hakodate Road Trip
• Hokkaido Mountain Pass Closures 2026–27
• What to Wear in Hokkaido, Month by Month

Official sources: Expressway gas stations (Dora-Pura, NEXCO East Japan, Japanese) · NEXCO East Japan Hokkaido on X: @e_nexco_kita (Japanese; road and closure updates).

FAQ

Where can I refuel at night on a Hokkaido expressway?

Only at Wattsu PA on the Dō-ō Expressway, south of Sapporo, which is open 24 hours in both directions. Sunagawa SA, Usuzan SA and Yuni PA close at 8pm (September 2026).

Is there fuel on the way to Obihiro or Kushiro?

On the Dōtō Expressway, only at Yuni PA (8:00–20:00). Nothing east of it is on the official map, so refuel before the expressway or at Yuni.

Can I charge an EV at these rest areas?

Yes, each of the four has one charging bay. Wattsu PA, Usuzan SA and Yuni PA are 24 hours; Sunagawa SA's charger is inside the Highway Oasis, 6:00–22:00. With a single bay each, you may have to wait.

Do gas station hours change in winter?

The official facility pages list the gas stations as 8:00–20:00 (Wattsu PA 24 hours) with no seasonal change, but the food courts and shops at the same rest areas shorten their hours from December to March.

Before you travel: Hours, brands and facilities change, and non-24-hour stations may open longer in peak season. Everything above was checked against NEXCO East Japan's gas station map (dated 22 May 2026) and the Dora-Pura facility pages on 8 September 2026. Please check the official pages before you set out.

Hokudora (ホクドラ) is a Hokkaido driving and travel site based in Sapporo. More English guides · 日本語版はこちら