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Hokkaido (北海道)
Our Recommendation
4.5/5
Review: Highly recommend visiting if you have time!

Hokkaido is a well-known destination for winter sports enthusiasts due to its abundant powder snow and excellent resorts like Niseko, Rusutsu, and Furano. The capital city, Sapporo, is famous for its beer, ramen, and annual Snow Festival. The port town of Hakodate has charming historical areas and spectacular night views. Hokkaido’s mild summers are perfect for hiking and exploring the many National Parks, which offer unspoiled nature, natural hot springs, and volcanic lakes. Visitors can learn about the culture and traditions of the Ainu people at Lake Akan or observe free-roaming brown bears, foxes, and deer in the Shiretoko Peninsula.

Hokkaido (北海道)

Our Recommendation
4.5/5
Highly recommend visiting if you have time!

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Hokkaido is a well-known destination for winter sports enthusiasts due to its abundant powder snow and excellent resorts like Niseko, Rusutsu, and Furano. The capital city, Sapporo, is famous for its beer, ramen, and annual Snow Festival. The port town of Hakodate has charming historical areas and spectacular night views. Hokkaido’s mild summers are perfect for hiking and exploring the many National Parks, which offer unspoiled nature, natural hot springs, and volcanic lakes. Visitors can learn about the culture and traditions of the Ainu people at Lake Akan or observe free-roaming brown bears, foxes, and deer in the Shiretoko Peninsula.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Places to visit in Hokkaido

Sapporo

Our Recommendation
4.5/5
Regional capital of Hokkaido
Best time to visit: Spring/Autumn
Duration: Entire day
Price: N/A
Activities: Sightseeing, Amusement Parks

Sapporo is the political, economic and cultural centre of Hokkaido. Buildings that tell the story of Hokkaido’s history still remain, such as the former Hokkaido Main Government Building, which served as the provincial government for almost 80 years, and Hokkaido University, which opened in 1876 as the Sapporo Agricultural College. …

Asahiyama Zoo

Our Recommendation
4.2/5
One of the most popular zoos in Japan
Best time to visit: All year round
Duration: 6 hours - 1 day
Price: Free
Activities: Sightseeing, Nature

Asahiyama Zoo is one of Hokkaido’s most popular places for both adults and children, with around 100 species and 680 animals on display. Particularly popular is the Polar Bear Pavilion, where a giant pool is set up in one of the two exhibition areas, and the visitors can watch polar bears swimming dynamically. 

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Lake Toya

Our Recommendation
3.5/5
Serene lake with many Onsen nearby, located at the heart of Hokkaido
Best time to visit: Spring/Autumn
Duration: 1 hour
Price: 700 Yen
Activities: Sightseeing, Nature

Lake Toya is the third largest caldera lake in Japan, with a distinctive round shape and a hot spring resort on its banks. It is characterised by its ropeway, canoeing and other activities…

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Shiretoko

Our Recommendation
3.5/5
Pristine nature in north of Hokkaido, but watch out for wild bears!
Best time to visit: Spring/Autumn
Duration: 1 hour
Price: 700 Yen
Activities: Sightseeing, Nature

The area of Shiretoko, located in the eastern part of Hokkaido and considered the southern limit of drift ice in the northern hemisphere, is home to a unique nature and ecosystem. One of the main elements that shape the nature of Shiretoko is the presence of drift ice that covers the sea in winter. The sea of Shiretoko, which is the southern limit of drift ice in the northern hemisphere, is a sea area filled with rich nutrients carried with the drift ice. …

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Goryokaku Park

Our Recommendation
3.5/5
Incredible star shaped park, which is especially stunning during Cherry Blossom season
Best time to visit: Spring/Autumn
Duration: 1 hour
Price: 700 Yen
Activities: Sightseeing, Nature

The park is called Goryokaku because of its star-shaped pentagonal appearance. It was the scene of the Hakodate War in the Meiji era (1868-1912) and was opened to the public as Goryokaku Park from 1914. It is now a popular cherry blossom viewing spot, with more than 1,500 cherry trees in bloom during hanami season. Apart from cherry blossoms, other flowers such as azaleas, azaleas and water lilies also bloom. ..

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Furano

Our Recommendation
3.5/5
Beautiful area famous for its lavenders
Best time to visit: Spring/Autumn
Duration: 1 hour
Price: 700 Yen
Activities: Sightseeing, Nature

Furano has many nature-rich tourist attractions, including lavender fields that literally bloom all over the city and snow-capped Tokachi-dake Mountain. Especially famous is Farm Tomita, one of the largest lavender fields in Japan, where lavender covers the entire slope, and if you climb to the top of the field, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Furano countryside and the majestic Tokachi Mountain Range….

Mt. Yotei

Our Recommendation
3.5/5
Nice mountain with with beautiful patches of flowers in the surroundings
Best time to visit: Spring/Autumn
Duration: 1 hour
Price: 700 Yen
Activities: Sightseeing, Nature

Mt Yotei, known as Ezo Fuji due to its resemblance to Mt Fuji. Yotei is one of Japan’s 100 most famous mountains and attracts tourists from inside and outside the province. . ….

Wakkanai

Our Recommendation
3.5/5
Visit the most northern cape of Japan
Best time to visit: Spring/Autumn
Duration: 1 hour
Price: 700 Yen
Activities: Sightseeing, Nature

Wakkanai is the northernmost town in Japan, with an average temperature of about 17°C in summer and minus 5°C in winter. In fact, the town is so close to foreign countries that Sakhalin can be seen when the weather is good. At Cape Soya, where the Monument to Japan’s Northernmost Point is located, the shadow of Sakhalin Island can be seen across the sea on clear days…..

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Potential Itineraries

A Cultural Day Trip to Kamakura

Our Recommendation
4.5/5
A great travel option if you want to stay close to Tokyo
Number of Days: 1 day
Sub-destination: Kamakura
Best time to visit: All year
Activities:

While prices are generally cheap, this is perhaps not the case with transport costs. If you are seeking to maximize your time with limited money, Kamakura, which served as the capital centuries ago, may be a good idea. 

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1~2 Day trip to Hakone

Our Recommendation
4.5/5
Experience the Japanese Onsen culture
Number of Days: 1-2 days
Sub-destination: Hakone
Best time to visit: All year
Activities: Onsen, Outdoors

While prices are generally cheap, this is perhaps not the case with transport costs. If you are seeking to maximize your time with limited money, Kamakura, which served as the capital centuries ago, may be a good idea. 

1~2 Day trip to Nikko

Our Recommendation
4.5/5
Experience Mother Nature while learning about Japanese History
Number of Days: 1-2 days
Sub-destination: Nikko
Best time to visit: All year
Activities: Onsen, Outdoors

While prices are generally cheap, this is perhaps not the case with transport costs. If you are seeking to maximize your time with limited money, Kamakura, which served as the capital centuries ago, may be a good idea. 

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