Hokkaido
Hokkaido is Japan's northern island. It covers about a fifth of the country but has only about 5 million people, so it feels open and wild. Sapporo, the capital, is about 1.5 hours by plane from Tokyo and 35 minutes by train from New Chitose Airport. Winter, from December to March, brings deep powder snow, the Sapporo Snow Festival in early February and some of the best skiing in Asia at Niseko. Summer is mild, about 20–27°C, when the rest of Japan is hot, and the hills around Furano and Biei turn purple with lavender in July. Food is a big reason to come: miso ramen, crab, sea urchin, soup curry, grilled lamb and very good milk. Distances are long, so plan two or three bases and use trains, buses or a rental car.
← Back to Japan · All Destinations
All Hokkaido Guides
8 guides — Sapporo Snow Festival · Niseko and Ski Resorts · Getting There and Around · +5 more