Hokkaido Travel Guide: Not Only the Snow Festivals
Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, is a must-visit destination on your Japan tour. In captivating cities like Sapporo, Otaru, and Asahikawa, you can experience a true feast of unspoiled natural beauty, iconic powdery snow, vibrant festivals, and more. Whatever you're looking for, Hokkaido exceeds expectations. This Hokkaido travel guide offers everything you need to plan a fulfilling trip to this enchanting land.
Why Hokkaido Is Worth Visiting
A northern island at a high latitude and a little far from central locations such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, Hokkaido is a tranquil destination for an immense experience of Japanese magic and charm. It is a visit-worthy haven all year with forested mountains, natural hot springs, and national parks to meet all your imagination.
As for the splendid natural scenery, here you can capture the first sight of the fall foliage as well as the long stay of the cherry blossoms in a much more serene atmosphere; for outdoor activities, there is no shortage of landscapes for a leisurely stroll, hike, or a cozy cycling tour.
Most importantly, Hokkaido is a natural gateway for summer and winter exploration, from vibrant flower fields to escape the summer heat to powdery snow for exciting skiing and various snow activities. It is an ideal secluded destination for your fulfilling Japan vacation.
Hokkaido Winter Fun
Top Places to Visit in Hokkaido
Sapporo
As the capital of Hokkaido and one of Japan's top five cities, Sapporo is a vibrant hub of activity, whether in winter or summer. It's home to the famous Sapporo Snow Festival and the Sapporo Beer Festival (Summer Festival).
For a summer escape, join the Beer Garden festivities, where you can indulge in beer and barbecues, the authentic local way to enjoy the season. In winter, participate in the grand Sapporo Snow Festival by crafting your own ice sculptures. Don't miss Susukino, the city's entertainment and nightlife district, where you can savor local delicacies like ramen, jingisukan (grilled mutton), and soup curry.
Niseko
Niseko is a world-famous snow town southwest of Sapporo, home to plenty of famous ski resorts like Niseko United. Every winter, the town attracts flocks of domestic and overseas skiers and snowboarders for its very fine, powdery snow.
As one of the largest ski resorts in Japan, Niseko boasts a wide range of terrain and trails for skiers of all abilities. Another highlight of winter in Niseko is catching Mt. Fuji-like views of the iconic Mt. Yotei while enjoying skiing. Outside of the snow season, the town has diverse water and land sports to offer, ranging from trail hiking and golfing to rafting and standup paddle boarding.
Niseko
Furano
If you are fond of fresh flowers, Furano is a must on your list of places to visit in Hokkaido. Situated in the central area of Hokkaido, Furano features many fields and gardens filled with gorgeous flowers. Make your journey between April and October to admire an extensive blanket of multi-colored blossoms across a large expanse of rolling hills of Mount Tokachi and Shikisai-no-oka.
In July, the lavender fields at Farm Tomita are carpeted with dreamy purple lavender blossoms, making it the most popular picturesque landscape in Furano. As well as flowers, Furano is home to some famous ski resorts with stunningly dry snow and groomed slopes, offering wonderful skiing experiences from mid-December to late March.
Otaru
Just a short train ride away, about an hour northwest of Sapporo, you can reach this small harbor city and give yourself a relaxing and art-filled trip with beautiful historical architecture in Western and Japanese styles.
For the iconic scenic views, Otaru Canal is a hard-won place for you to relax and delight the eye along with the locals. Otaru is also known for a spectacular winter occasion, the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival, which adorns the city with dazzling lights and beautifully designed snow statues. Besides, it's excellent to enjoy regional cuisine, like Otaru-style fried chicken, Marusei butter sandwiches, and supersize cream puffs.
Otaru
Hakodate
Located at the southernmost point of Hokkaido, Hakodate holds mass appeal not only for fresh and yummy seafood but also for remarkable nightlife experiences.
There is a myriad of natural beauties that meet your expectations. You can go hiking around Mt. Hakodate or soak in an onsen just by Lake Onuma. One of the most impressive parts of Hakodate is its spectacular night views. Pay an afternoon visit to the Motomachi district, shop, dine till night, and capture historic buildings dating back to the 19th century, to see the city's initial modern face. You can also expect a glittering nighttime spectacle of the city from the uppermost floor of Goryokaku Tower.
The Best Time to Visit Hokkaido
The best time to visit Hokkaido is a fairly long period from April to February next year. With each season offering its iconic color, Hokkaido is a year-round destination always ready to surprise your trip to this magical land.
April to May is an ideal time to capture the cherry blossoms in Hokkaido. You can appreciate such a fantasy of pink and white at Goryokaku Park while having a picnic or riding a bicycle with family and friends at a moderately cool temperature.
The northernmost location offers Hokkaido shorter hot months, cooler weather, and longer sunny days, making here an ideal summer escape from June to August. Summer is the best time to explore the lush flower scenery and experience the outdoors, like hiking, kayaking, and bustling summer events with beer and barbecue.
Summer Flower Field in Furano, Hokkaido
Usually from mid-September to November, autumn in Hokkaido is a period of intense color. Including Taisetsuzan, Jozankei Onsen, and Hokkaido University, you can capture the picturesque landscape of autumn leaves in shades of red, yellow, orange, and gold in every corner of the island.
Winter falls between December and February, the best time to ski in Hokkaido. Due to its northernmost location, the island has a great consistency of superb powder snow, making it a bustling destination for a full range of winter activities. In addition, several major winter festivals, such as the Sapporo Snow Festival, the Asahikawa Winter Festivals, and the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, can bring the busiest crowds and most expensive hotel rates in Hokkaido. Be sure to book your accommodation and tickets early.
Sapporo Snow Festival
How Many Days to Spend in Hokkaido Is Enough
A stay of around 5 days may be enough for your classic Hokkaido trip to take in some of the more famous attractions. However, as it is quite a large island, a longer stay and exploration is well worthwhile.
For a first visit to Hokkaido, you can plan a 2-3 day itinerary to explore 1 or 2 major cities. Enjoy the sights of Sapporo with its fresh seafood and beer, relax at some of the lakes and parks for their stunning scenery, and take part in some local festivals or events to say goodbye.
If you have time on your schedule, you can also travel further from Sapporo, whether to northern Asahikawa or southern Otaru and Hakodate. It's always a good idea to extend a week's stay in Hokkaido, especially if you're visiting in winter, when the Sapporo Snow Festival and the excellent snow and slopes of the Niseko ski resort will not disappoint.
Where to Stay in Hokkaido
Seasonal highlights all around the year make Hokkaido complete with a lot of places with well-equipped accommodations. From traditional Japanese ryokans to five-star hotels, you can find a comfortable place to stay in Hokkaido without effort.
Sapporo
As one of the most popular cities in Hokkaido, Sapporo serves as an ideal base for touring Hokkaido with all sorts of facilities and accommodations, from ramen restaurants to karaoke stores, from ryokans to guesthouses.
The city has convenient public transportation, including local route buses, Sapporo Station, and New Chitose Airport, well connected to many other destinations in Hokkaido, like Otaru (39km/50mi by car), Niseko (90km/2h by car). Staying in Sapporo gives you easy access to most tourist areas like Odori Park and Beer Museum, and some ski resorts outside the city, like Niseko and Rusutsu.
Hakodate
Located on the southern end of Hokkaido and home to Shinkansen station, you can take this Shinkansen bullet train to major cities around Hokkaido, like Sapporo and Otaru.
The local train network gives you a short 15-minute ride to and from different attractions within the city, such as Mt. Hakodate and Goryokaku Park. In the downtown area, the Motomachi district, you can expect to find self-contained lodging, traditional guesthouses, Western-style business hotels, and other accommodation options near the train station.
Noboribetsu Onsen
This is one of the best onsen resorts in Hokkaido. It is situated in the southwestern part of Hokkaido, in the Iburi Region, accessible from Sapporo in around two hours by car.
What you should experience at Noboribetsu Onsen is having a bath in refreshing, mineral-rich waters and catching a dramatic plume of volcanic steam escaping from natural springs dotted with breathtaking colors of leaves. Accommodations are concentrated around Jigokudani (Hell Valley) and the ropeway station. Hotels like Oyado Kiyomizuya, Noboribetsu Grand Hotel, and Hotel Mahoroba earn great reputations with a wide range of lodging options, from large hotels with hot springs to budget but cozy guesthouses.
Niseko Ski Resort
If the purpose of your Hokkaido journey is to fully enjoy the winter and snow, Niseko Ski Resort is the best destination to stay in the snowy mountains. Accessible from Sapporo within a 2-hour drive, it consists of all sorts of terrain and trails enabling you to indulge yourself with long skis.
Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village within the resort have a great variety of options for accommodation and entertainment. You can see high-end hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, and bars that show their distinct features in each season.
How to Get to Hokkaido
By Plane
Hokkaido has a major New Chitose Airport, a 35-minute taxi ride from Sapporo, the capital of the island. The New Chitose Airport services many domestic and international flights from major cities in Japan.
There are direct international flights from major Asian cities like Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Seoul, and Bangkok. Travelers from Europe and America need to change flights between Tokyo and Osaka with duration ranging from 90 minutes to several hours.
By Train
Japan has an extensive Shinkansen network that is well-connected to a large number of cities in the country. With an underwater tunnel connecting the mainland of Honshu and Hokkaido, train riding is a highly efficient way to reach Hokkaido.
You can take a high-speed bullet train from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagoya. The duration of a train journey is always more than 6 hours, sometimes over 10 hours, depending on the starting city. The general and fast route is Tokyo to Hakodate or Sapporo.
You can first start from Ueno or Tokyo Station in Tokyo on the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train to Hachinohe Station in Tohoku, and then take the limited express Hakucho train from Hachinohe to Hakodate or Sapporo Station on Hokkaido. It takes 6 to 8 hours. Remember to purchase the JR Rail Pass for a discount.
Shinkansen
By Ferry
For another long-distance but comfortable way to Hokkaido, you can also take a luxury ferry ride to begin your northern island exploration.
Popular ferry service includes routes starting from Oarai in Tokyo and Maizuru in Kyoto. The luxury ferry offers a wide variety of cabin options and well-appointed onboard facilities like a restaurant, shop, and spa room with a sauna and ocean view. The comfortable voyage comes complete with refreshing and beautiful seascapes and takes around 10 to 21 hours.
Plan Your Hokkaido Journey With Odynovo
Hokkaido offers extraordinary beauty in all four seasons. We hope that this guide to Hokkaido will help you get the most out of your trip to Northern Japan, or plan your journey with Odynovo. We're working on organizing various itineraries and tailoring the best one to your needs and preferences. Travel with Odynovo at [email protected] for your unforgettable trip.
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