Hokkaido Guide

Obihiro SweetsThe Tokachi District, which includes Obihiro, is a flourishing farming and dairy region with an abundance of flour, milk, sugar, egg, azuki beans, and more, lending itself to an incredible sweets industry. Using these fresh ingredients, Obihiro has naturally become a paradise for sweet tooths. Hokkaido is home to a thriving dairy industry producing fresh milk to make a range of scrumptious dairy-based sweets and products.

Must-Visit Destinations in Hokkaido by Region

Hokkaido is a region in the northern part of Japan where nature flourishes and is one of the most-visited places by tourists and locals. Hokkaido has snow-covered mountains, hot springs, lush valleys, and coastal towns. Getting to Hokkaido By Airplane For the quickest route to Hokkaido, nothing beats flying. Fortunately, there are numerous flights to Hokkaido from Haneda and Narita Airports to New Chitose Airport every day. While much slower than an airplane, those possessing a Japan Rail Pass can ride it for free.

There’s arguably nowhere better to learn about and experience this fascinating culture than the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park, which opened in 2020 in the town of Shiraoi. In the summertime, you can even enjoy watching a show of fireworks while you are relaxing in a hot spring! The Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden in the corner of the town offers a chance to see Japanese macaques (also known as “snow monkeys”) bathing in the onsen hot spring at the Saruyama Onsen.

Introducing Hokkaido

Located in Akan National Park, Lake Mashu is a crater lake formed in the caldera of a volcano. It’s thought to be one of the clearest caldera lakes on Earth (apart from Lake Baikal in Siberia) and one of the finest lakes n the country making it a truly special sight that’s worth adding to any Hokkaido itinerary. The lake can only be viewed from two unobstructed observation points as visitors aren’t allowed to go down to the lake itself. Parking is free to access Deck 3, but these are currently the only facilities offered there and Deck 1 has a paid parking lot. From Deck 1 you can also access a 4.3-mile hiking trail, which gives you more views of Lake Mashu.

Recommended Events in Spring

• Utterly engulfed in luscious snow, Hokkaido in winter is truly unlike any of the other seasons.
• Make sure that you get to the correct airport before you embark since transferring between the two takes about 1½ hours.
• As Hokkaido is known for its freshly caught seafood, fish lovers can’t miss out on dishes like Uni Ikura Donburi, a special rice bowl featuring some of Hokkaido’s delicacies like sea urchin and lavishly topped with salmon roe.
• There is also a grounded path which allows you to get a closer look at the nature which you can take.
• Incredibly, Asahikawa has more than 100 rivers running through it (kawa means river in Japanese).
• In 1959, Machimura had defeated Yokomichi’s father Setsuo in the race to succeed Hokkaidō’s first elected governor, Socialist Toshibumi Tanaka who retired after three terms.

In the winter however, no matter where in Hokkaido you are, you will experience very low temperatures. You should be prepared with clothes for cold weather to enjoy your trip. You can come and enjoy the gardens for free as there is no entrance fee at Farm Tomita! Visitors can also purchase dried flowers, perfume, and other goods made with lavender. Asahiyama Zoo is a zoo that attracts many tourists from around Japan being known as one of the largest zoos in the country. Visitors can enjoy the exciting exhibitions demonstrating the various animals’ behaviors and habits.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Niseko (and its surrounding areas) is Hokkaido’s leading ski and snowboarding resort. It’s a large, sparsely populated island with an unspoiled wilderness that is free of the crowds and distractions of larger, more popular tourist destinations like Tokyo or Kyoto. Hokkaido’s climate is markedly different to that of the main island of Honshu. Hokkaido is the coldest region in Japan with an average high temperature of only 11°C (52°F).

If you use the “Complete Mountain Pass” here, you’ll be able to ski over a massive area bursting with powder snow and lookouts of up to 1,308m. You might also need a Wi-Fi connection since the places that offer free internet connections in Japan are still quite limited. Use the 20% discount voucher below to rent from Ninja-WiFi, one of Japan’s most popular portable internet services. Please be careful, however, when driving in Hokkaido during the winter. This region sees severe snowfall yearly, hokkaidu and there might be frost on the roads. Because of the snow, there are times when the roads might not be visible.

This amusement park offers so many wonders and attractions that you will need more than a day to explore it. If you wish to watch Hokkaido with a unique view, you should certainly not miss Sapporo Snow Festival. Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, hosts this festival for a week every year in February. It’s a traditional show festival that started in 1950 and has become one of Japan’s most famous winter events. You might think that a zoo is boring to watch animals, but it’s also a safe place to watch wildlife.

• Known as “the playground of the gods” and “the roof of Hokkaido,” this is Hokkaido’s largest national park and offers visitors unspoiled wilderness, natural hot springs, and epic mountains.
• Salted RamenAlongside the miso ramen of Sapporo and the soy sauce ramen of Asahikawa, Hakodate’s salted ramen is another of Hokkaido’s “Big 3 Ramen.” It is characterized by a refreshing, clear soup with a light taste.
• A visit to Asahikawa offers a fascinating encounter with animals and nature.
• Visiting the Sapporo Ramen Yokocho is an easy way to try many of Hokkaido’s ramen dishes in one area.
• Although the lake never freezes due to its extreme depth, you’ll want to wait until it’s pleasant outside to take a boat cruise out on the gorgeous, clear water, where you can spot lakeside sculptures from your craft.

Very little sand or salt is used on the roads, and the heavy snow in many areas means that the roadways turn into packed snow, then solid ice. Look for overhanging center line (中央線 chūosen) signs above the roads at intersections. Highways have arrow signs pointing downward at the shoulders of the road, which will also be invisible. Because speeds are lower, there are less fatalities, but there are more accidents in the winter.

Because 1,500 cherry blossom trees surround the temple, all of these trees are in full bloom during the spring season. So, nothing can be more romantic than watching this natural splendour. After hiking, you can also heal your fatigue at one of the several hot springs that are placed around the mountain range.

However, it is the only one of the eight to have such offices covering the whole of its territory outside the main cities (rather than having them just for outlying islands or remote areas). This is mostly because of its great size; many parts of the prefecture are simply too far away to be effectively administered by Sapporo. Subprefectural offices in Hokkaidō carry out many of the duties that prefectural offices fulfill elsewhere in Japan. The governmental jurisdiction of Hokkaidō incorporates several smaller islands, including Rishiri, Okushiri Island, and Rebun. (By Japanese reckoning, Hokkaidō also incorporates several of the Kuril Islands.) Hokkaidō Prefecture is the largest and northernmost Japanese prefecture. Depending on where you’re going in Hokkaidō, you may be able to get by using just public transport or rideshares and taxis.

The Ningle Terrace is a picturesque cottage where each cottage sets up stalls to sell items to tourists. The picturesque, clean village set up in the woods is a splendid experience for tourists. Ningle Terrace is created using natural materials with timber buildings, and the beautiful waterfall makes the village more charming; the half-day chauffeur tour to the boutique houses and farm tomita is a must. Rusutsu Amusement Park is one of the best family entertainment parks here.

The second deck, located 90 meters above ground, is a small museum showcasing the tower’s history. Mount Hakodate is an iconic sightseeing location known for being one of Japan’s Top Three Night Views. The view over Hakodate in the evening seen from the ropeway is breathtakingly beautiful.

For a focused exploration of Sapporo and its surroundings, 2-3 days may suffice, while outdoor enthusiasts seeking activities like skiing or hiking should consider dedicating 5-7 days or more. Visitors looking to relax in onsen retreats may find 2-3 days ample for unwinding in hot springs. Multicity explorations across regions like Furano, Biei, Otaru, and Asahikawa typically require around 7-10 days for a comprehensive experience. Extended road trips covering Hokkaido’s diverse landscapes and attractions may demand 10 days or more.