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The park won a Good Design award in 2002 for its revitalization of what previously had been a waste treatment area. Susukino is the city’s lively and colourful entertainment district, where you’ll find many consuming the capital’s famous local brew. Head to the Sapporo Beer Museum and Beer Garden to see how it’s made and to sample some for yourself. August is the hottest month in Hokkaido with an average temperature of 22°C (72°F) and the coldest is January at -4°C (25°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 7 in June. The best month to swim in the sea is in August when the average sea temperature is 18°C (64°F). The capital city of Sapporo plays host to the annual Sapporo Snow Festival over seven days each February.
You will be amazed by the beautiful western architectural techniques used in the Goryokaku when seen from the observatory. The spectacular view of Sapporo from atop Mt. Moiwa, up531 meters is something you don’t want to miss during your visit here. You can reach the summit by ropeway to find the “restaurant in the sky” with a 270-degree glass wall providing the breathtaking scenery of the area. Enjoy a meal at restaurant in the sky as it stands quietly and shines atop the mountain.
Other FAQ About Visiting Hokkaido
Since Hokkaido is extremely vast, we recommend staying close to public transportation in the “Central Hokkaido area,” which includes Sapporo and Niseko. If you’d rather not travel and instead spend your time thoroughly enjoying a single area, it’s best to book a traditional Japanese “ryokan” hotel or hot spring stay that serves the local cuisine. Below, we’ll break down each region and why they make a good place to stay. Jozankei Onsen is known for its hot springs surrounded by a beautiful autumn landscape. You can stroll along the stream from the hot spring town, ride a gondola to enjoy the autumn leaves, or hop on the Koyo Kappa Bus, which will take you around to the major autumn foliage viewing spots.
Hotels near Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
Head to Kushiro, which is a charming city in its own right, but is also the perfect base for exploring the Ainu culture and visiting the red-crested tancho cranes of Lakes Akan and Mashu. Or choose Abashiri—in the summer, it’s the gateway to the Shiretoko Peninsula, while in winter, you can take an exciting “icebreaker” cruise. New Chitose Airport is the main transportation hub in Hokkaido that connects Hokkaido and numerous cities by numbers of domestic and international flights.
Recommended Events in Winter
Venture to hard-to-get-to Hoheikyo Hot Spring (accessible by the Kappa Liner bus from Sapporo) for a beautifully traditional onsen day. 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. Crab fans will also be spoiled for choice with options such as the umami-rich horsehair crab, the treasured snow crab, and the hearty king crab and hanasaki queen crab. Make sure to visit famous fresh seafood markets such as Nijo Market in Sapporo, which has more than 60 stores inside, or Otaru Sankaku Market where you can shop and enjoy a wide selection of dining and drinking establishments.
As in other regions of Japan, there will be a language barrier for English speakers in Hokkaido as well. In Hokkaido, people speak little to no English and prefer speaking Japanese. But, with a translation app on your phone and a map or guide, you will have no problems getting around. In Summer, you will see a horse-drawn trolley and a sleigh along the main street in Winter. You will see the old architecture of inns in Japan, traditional craftsmanship, and lifestyle as you roam around the village.
You can even rent a whole snow outfit, though there will be size restrictions. Some campgrounds offer gear rental, including tents, sleeping bags and camp stoves or grill sets, but this is more likely to require Japanese language skills to sort out. You can find shops selling outdoor equipment and clothing in Sapporo and Niseko. In January and February, temperatures rarely reach above freezing, while cold winds from Siberia bring dumps of pillowy snow. This makes for excellent skiing and snowboarding but also treacherous roads and off-piste conditions; take caution and consider joining a tour or using a guide if you have ambitious plans.
Late September – early OctoberHeld in Niseko Village, this eco-focused seasonal food event features produce from local restaurants and bars, alongside a live music stage across its 4 days. UNESCO approved Asahikawa joining its Network of Creative Cities as a Design City in 2019, recognition that the local artisans working in the fields of arts and crafts are beginning to get international attention. Souvenirs can be picked up at boutiques and galleries across the city and public sculptures can be viewed for free along Heiwa Street. Built during the Tokugawa Shogunate, it was designed by Takeda hokkaidu Ayasaburō in 1855, his plan based on the work of the French military engineer and architect Vauban. During sakura season locals flock to the park at its centre the view the cherry blossom.
- The most popular confectioners are the chocolate maker, Royce’ and the long-established Rokkatei, who creates sweets with local ingredients.
- Shiroi Koibito park has a chocolate lounge where tourists can enjoy drinks and food.
- If you have a car, consider making the 40-minute drive to Noboribetsu, a city known for its spectacular onsen.
- It’s registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its conservation activity is continued as it is a protected zone.
The position of the island on the northern end of the archipelago results in a colder climate, with the island seeing significant snowfall each winter. Despite the harsher climate, it serves as an agricultural breadbasket for many crops. Winter travelers (especially Australians) have been flocking to Hokkaidō for years to ski and ride the famous “Japow” (Japanese powder) – and in particular to the resort town of Niseko. Since joining the Ikon Pass in 2018, Niseko has steadily risen in popularity. Major snow resorts all offer competitively priced gear rental packages, so you don’t have to have your own equipment to ski or snowboard in Hokkaidō.
- To visit at least the main attractions of Hokkaido, including lake Toya, Hakodate, Shakotan, and Sapporo, at least 7 days will be required.
- The capital city Sapporo offers a blend of local culture, festivals, and history of urban development.
- Though some parts of this aquarium are backdated, you will still find numerous unique aspects here to entertain you.
- During summer, adventurers can partake in rafting and horse riding, while winter is dominated by skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports.
- Hokkaido is colder than the rest of Japan, and the merciful lack of Japan’s muggy summers and monsoon season makes it a very popular domestic destination between May and August.
- Sapporo, in the southwest on the Ishikari River, is the administrative headquarters.
How to Get Around Hokkaido
Japan doesn’t typically spring to mind when it comes to wine holidays, with people more instinctively gravitating towards the sake and beer culture here. Places to visit include Furano Winery, Tada Vineyard and Farm, and Furano Wine House. Make sure to wander through Ningle Terrace, a forest path lined with fairy light and wooden chalets sporting the work of local creators. Hakodate was one of three ports, including Yokohama and Nagasaki, to open up to overseas trade 160 years ago. This influx of culture made the town a more western-style city, with plenty of distinctive architecture and churches rarely seen elsewhere in Japan.
Hokkaido Island Guide: Japan’s Unspoiled Wilderness
Marimo Festival (Kushiro)The Marimo Festival is held at Lake Akan over three days during early October. The festival is aimed at protecting the “marimo,” a rare spherical algae growth that lives in Lake Akan and is a national natural monument of Japan. Even within the culturally rich Japan, Hokkaido boasts its own unique histories and traditions unseen anywhere else. Within this is the indigenous Ainu people, which are an integral part of Hokkaido’s history.
Shikaribetsu Kotan (然別コタン) is a special event featuring an ice and snow made village during winter. Various kinds of snow and ice attractions and activities are available at the festival such as igloos, an ice bar, an ice theatre, a snow Onsen bath and light-ups at night. Otaru Snow Light Path (小樽雪あかりの路) is a popular snow festival held every February at Otaru City, featuring lights and snow lanterns lit up the city at night.
The city is rich in nature, and there are many fields and gardens with colourful flowers which bloom colourfully during summer. Furano is also popular destination for snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding in winter time. The incredibly popular sightseeing town of Hakodate is known for its unique character and charm that is starkly different from the rest of Japan. With a multitude of hot springs and gourmet cultures, for those looking to take it slow, we can’t recommend Hakodate enough!
At the Lake Shikoku Hyoto Festival, a sprinkler is used to spray lake water to freeze it, creating an artistic artificial icefall sculpture. It shines a brilliant blue during the day and is illuminated at night to make it even more surreal. Fireworks are also set off on weekends, transforming the winter night into a dazzling carnival of color. Sounkyo Onsen is located about 70 kilometers away from Asahikawa, in a ravine of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. Its hot springs waters are known for having good effects in healing rheumatism, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The townscape is modeled after a Canadian mountain resort and has a Western-style atmosphere.