The northernmost area of Japan, Hokkaido, is one of the most popular destinations for both tourists and locals. Hokkaido is home to seaside towns, hot springs, verdant valleys, and mountains covered in winter.
In a single journey to Hokkaido, you can see marshes, mountains, and established cities with a rich history and culture like Sapporo. National parks, lake Tya, skiing areas, and art galleries are a few of the most well-liked tourist attractions in Hokkaido.
In Hokkaido, you can engage in a wide range of activities, such as skiing, snowshoeing, festival-going, market shopping, and arcade gaming.
Best Places to Visit Hokkaido
You have no excuse not to visit Hokkaido when you add this to the fantastic native cuisine, which includes amazingly fresh seafood and fruit like the Yubari melon. Let’s explore the countless activities to do in Hokkaido throughout the year!
1. Visit the Sapporo Snow Festival to view the incredible ice sculptures
One of the biggest and most well-known winter events in all of Japan is the Sapporo Snow Festival, which has been taking place in Sapporo City, the capital of Hokkaido, for a week every February since 1950.
The winter event draws over two million visitors a year and is known for its amazing snow and ice creations! At least 200 snow and ice sculptures, representing everything from cartoon characters to temples, can be found at four locations in Sapporo: Odori Park, Tsudome, and Susukino.
2. Furano and Biei offer an escape from the metropolis
The towns of Furano and Biei are situated in Hokkaido’s center. Two of Hokkaido’s most well-known and well-liked tourist sites are these towns, which both feature breathtakingly beautiful landscapes.
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Visit the Shikisai-no-oka hills in the months of April to October to witness hectares of multicolored blooms, or go to Farm Tomita near Furano to see the lavender fields. With a golf buggy, you may tour Shikisai-no-oka’s hills while simultaneously feeding the farm’s alpacas.
3. Visit Otaru, a harbor city
Otaru is a tiny port city that can be reached by day trip from Sapporo by taking a 30-minute rail ride to the northwest. In the late 1800s, Otaru was a significant port for trade and fishing.
The city is renowned now for its old structures and wonderfully preserved canal area. Previously, shipping and commerce industries used historic warehouses and office buildings.
4. Go skiing in Niseko
Due to its abundance of light powder snow, Niseko, which is located southwest of Sapporo City, is the most well-known ski resort in Japan. The best snowfall and the most fluffy snow occur in January and February. More than half of the visitors at this time come from outside the country.
Niseko provides an infinite supply of ski slopes in addition to other thrilling winter activities like the half-day snow view rating tour. In Niseko, there are several well-known resorts, including Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, Hanazono, and Annupuri, which connect at the summit of the mountain and allow for skiing between them.
5. Discover Matsumae, a tiny Kyoto in the North
The former castle town of Matsumae, located at the southernmost point of Hokkaido, is referred to as the “Little Kyoto of the North.” The town drew traders involved in the shipping trade during the Edo period because it faced the Tsugaru Strait and was just 20 km from the prefecture of Aomori.
6. Visit the Sapporo Snow Festival to view the incredible ice sculptures
One of the biggest and most well-known winter events in all of Japan is the Sapporo Snow Festival, which has been taking place in Sapporo City, the capital of Hokkaido, for a week every February since 1950.
The winter event draws over two million visitors a year and is known for its amazing snow and ice creations! At least 200 snow and ice sculptures, representing everything from cartoon characters to temples, can be found at four locations in Sapporo: Odori Park, Tsudome, and Susukino.
7. Furano and Biei offer an escape from the metropolis
The towns of Furano and Biei are situated in Hokkaido’s center. Two of Hokkaido’s most well-known and well-liked tourist sites are these towns, which both feature breathtakingly beautiful landscapes.
Visit the Shikisai-no-oka hills in the months of April to October to witness hectares of multicolored blooms, or go to Farm Tomita near Furano to see the lavender fields. With a golf buggy, you may tour Shikisai-no-oka’s hills while simultaneously feeding the farm’s alpacas.
8. Visit Otaru, a harbor city
Otaru is a tiny port city that can be reached by day trip from Sapporo by taking a 30-minute rail ride to the northwest. In the late 1800s, Otaru was a significant port for trade and fishing.
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The city is renowned now for its old structures and wonderfully preserved canal area. Previously, shipping and commerce industries used historic warehouses and office buildings.
9. Go skiing in Niseko
Due to its abundance of light powder snow, Niseko, which is located southwest of Sapporo City, is the most well-known ski resort in Japan. The best snowfall and the most fluffy snow occur in January and February. More than half of the visitors at this time come from outside the country.
Niseko provides an infinite supply of ski slopes in addition to other thrilling winter activities like the half-day snow view rating tour. In Niseko, there are several well-known resorts, including Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, Hanazono, and Annupuri, which connect at the summit of the mountain and allow for skiing between them.
10. Discover Matsumae, a tiny Kyoto in the North
The former castle town of Matsumae, located at the southernmost point of Hokkaido, is referred to as the “Little Kyoto of the North.” The town drew traders involved in the shipping trade during the Edo period because it faced the Tsugaru Strait and was just 20 km from the prefecture of Aomori.
Conclusion
The northernmost and second-largest island in Japan is Hokkaido. The prefecture is renowned for its abundant natural beauty, which includes stunning lakes, flower meadows, and six national parks to explore.
Many people travel north during the summer to enjoy the mountains in an effort to escape the heat. The world’s top ski slopes are always covered with the renowned Japanese powder snow during the winter.
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