The Historical Village of Hokkaido (Hokkaido Kaitaku no Mura) was established as a memorial of 100 years of Hokkaido. Here, visitors can be enlightened about the history and development of Hokkaido by seeing the historical buildings and documents. You can also enjoy the village’s famous potato and glutinous rice cakes and Hokkaido’s delicious miso ramen at the facility’s cafeteria. A minimum of 5 days allows you to explore Sapporo and Otaru, offering a glimpse of Hokkaido’s charm. Experience the island’s history and local life at Nijo Market, Odori Park, Otaru Canal, and more.
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Hokkaido has some of the best powder in the world and skiing has really taken off, with resorts like Niseko and Furano drawing visitors from far and wide. Since the Seishun 18 Ticket does not allow travel using bullet trains, users who want to go to Hokkaido from Honshu must purchase a separate option ticket for ¥2300. The special ticket allows trips in any available standard class seat on Hokkaido Shinkansen trains between Okutsugaru-Imabetsu (the last bullet train stop in Honshu) and Kikonai (the first such stop on Hokkaido). It also covers travel on the private Isaribi Line between Kikonai and Goryokaku, where the rest of the local JR network can be accessed. You must be in possession of a valid Seishun 18 Ticket to purchase and use the option ticket.
It’s so beautiful that it has become one of the leading tourist spots in Hokkaido, and over 1 million people visit the farm from all over Japan and the world. Jigokudani is surrounded by primaeval forest, creating a spectacular fall view because of its foliage. Though the environment is unusual and filled with sulphur gasses, you can still have a great hokkaidu trip to witness this natural phenomenon. And if you wish to have more beer, there is the Sapporo Beer Garden, just next to the museum, where you’ll get several beer halls to satisfy your beer thirst. From the mountain top, you can get a 360-degree view of the city and the views of Ishikari Plain and Ishikari Bay.
These often run parallel to highways and tend to be much less crowded. Be careful of farm vehicles backing out of sheds with no warning, and especially careful of bicycles in the summer, as there are no shoulders. For many visitors Hokkaido’s numerous National Parks are number one on the agenda, offering near-unlimited hiking opportunities.
It’s a Sapporo staple and popular among locals during Hokkaido’s winter and summer festivals. Or the butadon (pork bowl) comfort food with its glazed pork on top of white rice. You can expect fresh vegetables (potatoes, corn and onions are highlights) and fruit like melons are grown in abundance across the island. Wassamu Town has the largest area of land anywhere in Japan dedicated exclusively to growing pumpkins. When it comes to seafood, the region is a source of some of the best quality sea cuisine you can find, the cold sea waters surrounding the island making ideal for this.
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Budget hotels cost US$35–70 per night, while high-end hotels are more expensive. Hokkaido is the largest prefecture in Japan and the public transport is not flexible enough to suit your limited time and visiting schedule. While the Shinkansen (bullet train) is a popular mode of transportation in Honshu, it is not yet widely available in Hokkaido. There are 13 airports in Hokkaido, connecting Sapporo to other cities in Hokkaido with seven air routes, taking about 1 hour to travel between them. For inspiration, we’ve outlined two sample itineraries below, tailored to 5, 8, 14 days, and beyond, to suit your travel needs. Sapporo miso ramen is the most iconic dish, featuring a rich, hearty miso-based broth topped with chashu (braised pork).
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Don’t miss landmarks like Odori Park and Sapporo TV Tower during the festival for stunning views. Enjoy a seafood feast at Nijo Market and make your own chocolate at Shiroi Koibito Park as a unique souvenir for family and friends. These guides provide in-depth insights for your trips, helping you explore destinations deeply for unforgettable experiences, whether popular or off the beaten path.
It could rain sometimes, but nothing like the rainy season in the rest of Japan (a perfect time to come to Hokkaido!). Most people think of Farm Tomita in Furano, when it comes to lavender in Hokkaido… but there are many other spots that are lesser known and less crowded, but as beautiful. Cycling in July is another great way to experience Hokkaido’s cities and nature. I have a 5-day itinerary focused on Eastern Hokkaido, a one-week itinerary for a quick round tour and a two-week itinerary to go around the island at a relaxed pace.
Direct flights are available from major cities in Japan (such as Tokyo and Osaka) as well as some international hubs (including Seoul and Taipei). Wander through the blooming flower fields in Furano, surrounded by colorful flowers, and have a taste of lavender flavor milky ice cream. Unlike the freezing cold winter, Hokkaido has a warm and sunny summer with an average temperature of about 20°C (68°F), which is perfect for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Fu’s Snow Area offers the best value for money, with the lowest admission and gear rental prices, and long opening hours, enough for you to have a great day. Takino Suzuran Hillside Park Snow World is perfect for beginners and families with children who could play in the snow for a day trip and enjoy gentle slopes and short runs.
Hokkaido has distinct seasons, with a cool and short spring and autumn, a mild summer, and a long and cold winter. Notice that Sapporo has two airports — New Chitose (CTS), the international airport, and Sapporo Okadama Airport (OKD). Make sure that you get to the correct airport before you embark since transferring between the two takes about 1½ hours. The average travel time is about 15 hours but it offers a scenic experience and is the only option if you’re traveling with your car from Honshu to Hokkaido. Five days are enough to explore one area or two cities casually, giving you a relatively full image of Hokkaido. To fully cover Hokkaido’s major highlights, an 8–14 day itinerary is ideal.
- The ideal duration for a trip to Hokkaido varies based on the traveler’s interests and planned activities.
- On my recent trip, it wasn’t doing so well, meaning my dollars went rather further than the last time I had been in the country.
- For the shortest of trips, you can’t beat Sapporo Teine, a popular local resort within 30 minutes of the city.
- Getting Around Hokkaido By AirplaneAirports like New Chitose and Sapporo Okadama offer flights to all of Hokkaido’s outer regions.
It sits at the northern tip of Japan’s main island Honshu, and just below the Russian island of Sakhalin at its northern point and mainland Russia to the west. Hokkaido is connected to the main island Honshu by the undersea Seikan railway tunnel. Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands, surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the west, the Sea of Okhotsk to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the southeast. There are airports at Chitose near Sapporo, Asahikawa, Hakodate, Kushiro, Memanbetsu and Wakkanai with flights to other cities in Japan including Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Tokyo. Chitose has international connections to Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Sakhalinsk (Russia) and Cairns and Melbourne in Australia. Hokkaido is Japan’s most northerly region and prefecture and the second largest of Japan’s four main islands, making up approximately 20% of Japan’s land mass but with only around 5% of its population.
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New Chitose Airport is not dedicated to air service, but it’s a wonderful place for shopping and eat-out. The large terminals at the airport house hundreds of shops, restaurants and cafes serving Hokkaido’s delicious local dishes, desserts and souvenirs, and you can spend 2–3 hours easily. There are approximately 3,500 restaurants, bars and hotels in the Susukino area. It holds seasonal events throughout the year such as Susukino Festival in summer and Susukino Ice World in winter. It is also recommended to visit as your final destination at the end of a long day after traveling surrounding tourist spots including Nijo Market, Odori Park, Clock Tower and so on. Hakodate City (函館市) is the southernmost city of Hokkaido and a popular tourist destination.
Otaru and Furano showcase the history and natural beauty, from canals to flower farms. During the winter, passage through the Sea of Okhotsk is often complicated by large floes of drift ice. Combined with high winds that occur during winter, this frequently brings air travel and maritime activity to a halt beyond the northern coast of Hokkaidō. Ports on the open Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan are generally ice-free year round, though most rivers freeze during the winter. The largest city on Hokkaido is its capital, Sapporo, which is also its only ordinance-designated city. Sakhalin lies about 43 kilometres (27 mi) to the north of Hokkaidō, and to the east and northeast are the Kuril Islands, which are administered by Russia, though the four most southerly are claimed by Japan.
One of the best places to have an excellent night view of the city of Sapporo is Mount Moiwa. The mountain is located in the heart of Sapporo and has a height of 531 meters, providing visitors with a panoramic view of the entire city. ButadonButadon is a dish enjoyed all throughout Japan that sees pork fried in a sweet and sour sauce before being rested upon a bowl of steaming hot white rice.
- Hokkaido is connected to the main island Honshu by the undersea Seikan railway tunnel.
- Niseko (and its surrounding areas) is Hokkaido’s leading ski and snowboarding resort.
- The Japanese central government established the Hokkaidō Development Agency (北海道開発庁, Hokkaidō Kaihatsuchō) as an agency of the Prime Minister’s Office in 1949 to maintain its executive power in Hokkaidō.
- Lake Mashu is often referred to as the clearest lake on this planet, being a picturesque crater lake with a mountain backdrop.
If you want to experience Niseko’s finest powder snow for skiing or snowboarding, plan your visit to be during January or February. Nowadays, the Hakodate Bay area is sought after by domestic and international visitors for its vibrant atmosphere, with many fine places to dine and spots to hang out. The Hakodate Port can be reached by foot from Hakodate Station after a 15-minute walk.
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The king penguins go on a parade during these days, and the rest of the penguins follow them. Otaru is a beautiful small harbour city in Hokkaido that offers several attractions to its visitors, and Otaru Aquarium is one of the best and must-visit attractions in the city. It’s the largest aquarium in Hokkaido and welcomes nearly 350,000 visitors annually. Shiretoko National Park encompasses 390 square kilometres of land and approximately 220 square kilometres of the seashore. So the park covers the ocean, river, and forest as well, and the views of it change dramatically according to the seasons.
Although it has a far lower profile, the annual Asahikawa Winter Festival (early February) is second only in size to its world famous Sapporo counterpart. The second-largest city on Hokkaido (after Sapporo) Asahikawa may be best-known for the Asahiyama Zoo, its museums, as a ski resort and sake, but there’s also a growing creative culture in the city, broadening its appeal. The main cities on the island are Sapporo, the largest city of Hokkaido and 5th-largest in Japan, Asahikawa in the central region, and the port of Hakodate directly facing Honshu in the south. It’s the season that most typifies the island and that’s reflected in the number of festivals and events held during the season. Hokkaido is an adventurous traveler’s paradise because it’s the least-visited major island in Japan.