Hokkaido: powder snow, lavender and wild coasts

Why visit Hokkaido

Hokkaido feels different from the rest of Japan: wider roads, open farmland, cooler summers and long snowy winters. It was home to the Indigenous Ainu people long before Japanese settlement in the nineteenth century, and their culture is now celebrated at Upopoy, the National Ainu Museum in Shiraoi. It suits skiers, hikers, food lovers and anyone escaping the summer heat of Honshu.

Sapporo

The island's capital is a laid-back, grid-planned city. In early February the Sapporo Snow Festival fills Odori Park with giant ice sculptures. Year round, eat miso ramen in Ramen Yokocho, grilled lamb jingisukan, soup curry and seafood rice bowls at Nijo Market. Ride the Mount Moiwa Ropeway for night views, visit the Sapporo Beer Museum, and unwind at Jozankei Onsen in the hills.

Otaru

Forty minutes by train, Otaru has a lamplit canal, glassworks, music box shops and excellent sushi. It is lovely in the snow.

Niseko and the ski resorts

Niseko is famous for deep, dry powder from December to March, with English widely spoken and a busy international scene. Rusutsu, Furano and Kiroro are quieter alternatives. Book stays early for peak weeks.

Central and eastern Hokkaido

Furano and Biei are known for lavender in July, patchwork fields and the Blue Pond. Asahikawa has a famous zoo and ramen. Further east, Shiretoko National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has brown bears, waterfalls and winter drift ice from Abashiri. Akan and Kushiro offer lakes, red-crowned cranes and marshland.

Hakodate and the south

Hakodate, at the southern tip, has a famous morning market, a star-shaped fort and one of Japan's great night views from Mount Hakodate. Noboribetsu's Hell Valley steams with sulphurous vents and has some of Hokkaido's best onsen, while Lake Toya and Shikotsu offer volcanic lakes and hiking.

Food in Hokkaido

Hokkaido is Japan's larder: hairy crab, king crab, scallops, sea urchin and salmon roe, rich milk, ice cream and cheese tarts, melons from Yubari and corn and potatoes from the plains. Try miso ramen in Sapporo, salt ramen in Hakodate, soy-based ramen in Asahikawa, jingisukan grilled lamb and the island's spicy soup curry.

Ainu culture

The Ainu are the Indigenous people of Hokkaido, with their own language, spiritual beliefs, embroidery and wood carving. Upopoy in Shiraoi, opened in 2020, is a national museum and park with dance performances, craft workshops and traditional houses. Lake Akan's Ainu Kotan village is another good place to learn, eat Ainu dishes and buy crafts directly from makers.

Getting around

New Chitose Airport is well connected to Tokyo, Osaka and many Asian cities. Trains link Sapporo, Otaru, Asahikawa and Hakodate, which is reached by Shinkansen from Tokyo. Distances are large, so allow time or use domestic flights for the east.

Safety

Winter brings heavy snow and very cold temperatures; dress in layers and allow for weather delays. Off-piste skiing carries avalanche risk, so follow local gate rules. In summer, bears live in forested areas: stay on trails and follow park guidance.

Practical tips

Combine Hokkaido with Tokyo by flight, or make it a trip of its own. Plan your route with the free trip planner and find places in our places to visit.