Must-See
Hokkaido
Powder snow, flower fields and seafood in Japan's wild north.
Hokkaido is Japan's northernmost main island, a land of volcanoes, lakes and national parks that feels wilder and emptier than the rest of the country. Its winters bring some of the deepest, driest powder snow in the world; its short summers bring lavender and flower fields, and cooler weather than the south.
Niseko is the island's great ski resort, Furano has the flower fields, Hakodate the old port and its famous night view, and Otaru a canal town of glassworks and sushi. In February, the Sapporo Snow Festival fills the capital with ice and snow sculptures.
Your Hokkaido list0 of 5 visited
1 more place to become Sailor · tap “Been There” on any place you've visited
- Best Time
- December–March for snow; June–August for flowers and hiking
- Ideal Trip
- 7 days; 10 days to add the national parks
- Fly Into
- New Chitose (CTS), near Sapporo; the Shinkansen also runs from Tokyo to Hakodate
- Getting Around
- Trains between the cities; a rental car for the countryside
The Short List
Type
Rank
Must-See
If You're NearbyOtaru
Hokkaido
A canal town of old warehouses, glassmakers and seafood, close to Sapporo.
Guide Coming Soon
Must-SeeSapporo Snow Festival
Hokkaido
February
Giant snow and ice sculptures fill Sapporo's Odori Park each February.
Guide Coming Soon
On the Map
Grey pins: guides still being written.
Good to Know
Getting Around
Trains link Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate and Asahikawa, and the Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to Hakodate. Distances are long and buses are few in the countryside, so a car is the easiest way to reach the national parks; winter driving needs care.
Weather
Winters are long, snowy and cold, especially inland and on the Sea of Japan side. Summers are mild and less humid than in the rest of Japan, and autumn color comes early, from late September.
Food
Seafood above all: crab, sea urchin and salmon roe on rice bowls, and the morning fish markets. Add Sapporo's miso ramen, Genghis Khan grilled lamb, soup curry, and dairy from soft-serve to cheese.
Before You Go
Book ski lodging early for January and February, and Sapporo hotels for the Snow Festival. Bears live in the forests: follow park advice on the trails.