Hokkaido

Hokkaido, with its vast land and rich natural environment, has different charms in each of the four seasons. The area is popular with tourists from both within Japan and overseas, with its seasonally changing scenery, activities, and food culture. Below, we will introduce the charms of each season of Hokkaido: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

The charm of Hokkaido throughout the seasons

Spring (April to June)

Spring in Hokkaido is a season when the snow melts and new greenery and flowers sprout. Freed from the cold of winter, the towns and mountains come alive.

Attractions and Activities

Cherry blossoms bloom

・The best time to see cherry blossoms in Hokkaido is from early to mid-May, a little later than in Honshu.

・Famous parks include Goryokaku Park in Hakodate and Maruyama Park and Moerenuma Park in Sapporo.

・Many tourists visit around Golden Week and enjoy picnics under the cherry blossoms.

Preparing for lavender fields

・In Furano and Biei, lavender and other flower seedlings are planted in spring, and preparations for summer begin.

・The scenery of the vast farmland being developed is also a highlight.

Resuming outdoor activities

・As the snow melts, outdoor activities such as hiking and camping will resume.

・You can enjoy nature walks around Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya.

Summer (July to August)

Hokkaido is a popular summer resort with an average temperature of around 20-25°C, making it a comfortable place to live, and there are many flowers and events that brighten up the short summer.

Attractions and Activities

Spectacular views of lavender fields and flowers

The lavender fields of Furano and Biei are best viewed from mid-July to early August. Farm Tomita and Shikisai no Oka are famous.

Biei's Patchwork Road and Blue Pond are also popular summer sightseeing spots.

Summer festivals

In Sapporo, the Yosakoi Soran Festival (June) and Sapporo Summer Festival (late July to early August) are held, and the whole city is lively.

In Hakodate, the Hakodate Port Festival is held, and you can enjoy fireworks and parades.

Fresh ingredients

In summer, Hokkaido's unique agricultural products, such as corn, melons, and potatoes, are harvested.

Seafood is also abundant, and this is the season when sea urchins, scallops, and squid are particularly delicious.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn in Hokkaido is the season when the leaves change color and you can enjoy the beautiful colors of nature. Another thing to enjoy is the taste of autumn.

Attractions and Activities

Autumn foliage spots

Colored trees create beautiful scenery at Jozankei Onsen, Sounkyo's Momijidani, and Asahidake in Daisetsuzan National Park.

Sounkyo holds the Autumn Foliage Festival and illuminations, creating a fantastic nighttime view.

Fall flavors

From September to November, Hokkaido's autumn ingredients, such as pacific saury, autumn salmon, pumpkins, and potatoes, are in season.

Agricultural experiences and harvest festivals are held in various places, allowing you to enjoy the local food culture.

Quiet atmosphere at tourist spots

In autumn, after the summer tourist season ends, tourist spots are relatively quiet and have a calm atmosphere.

Winter (December to March)

Hokkaido in winter is known for its fantastical scenery and events that are unique to snowy regions, and winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding that are also popular.

Attractions and Activities

Snow Festival

Sapporo's "Sapporo Snow Festival" (early February) displays huge snow and ice sculptures, attracting many tourists from Japan and abroad.

Otaru's "Otaru Snow Light Path" and Asahikawa's "Asahikawa Winter Festival" are also popular.

Skiing and snowboarding

There are many world-class winter resorts, such as Niseko, Rusutsu Resort, and Furano Ski Resort.

The powder snow is popular with foreign tourists.

Hot springs

It's special to enjoy the snowy scenery from an open-air bath in the cold of winter.

Noboribetsu Onsen, Jozankei Onsen, and Sounkyo Onsen are famous hot springs.

Illuminations

Illumination events that light up the winter nights are held in various places, such as Sapporo's "Sapporo White Illumination" and Otaru's "Candle Road".

Sapporo

Sapporo is the central city of Hokkaido and is often used as a base for tourism. Sapporo has attractions in every season, and can be enjoyed throughout the year, including the Snow Festival in winter and the Flower Festival in summer.

Popular Tourist Attractions in Hokkaido

Odori Park

This green space spreads across the center of Sapporo, where giant snow sculptures are displayed during the winter "Sapporo Snow Festival," attracting approximately 2 million visitors from Japan and abroad.

Sapporo Clock Tower

It is a historic building representative of Western-style architecture from the Meiji period, and continues to stand the test of time today as a popular tourist attraction.

Susukino

Hokkaido's largest entertainment district. It is home to the neon-lit "Island of Light," izakayas, ramen shops, and bars. A parade of dances and drums is held here.

Shiroi Koibito Park

It is a theme park and factory dedicated to the famous Japanese confectionery known as Shiroi Koibito , which translates to "White Lover" in English. You can see the actual manufacturing process of Shiroi Koibito cookies (baking and chocolate coating).

Hitsujigaoka Observatory

From the top of the 150-meter-high hill, visitors can see the city of Sapporo, the Ishikari Plain, and as far as the Shakotan Peninsula and the Sea of Japan. The orange-tinted scenery at sunset and the neon lights at night are popular.

The Mount Moiwa Ropeway is an aerial tramway that provides access to the summit of Mount Moiwa The ropeway allows visitors to easily reach the top of the mountain, where they can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Sapporo City

Mount Moiwa Ropeway

Otaru

Otaru is easily accessible from Sapporo, about 40 minutes by JR train, and is a popular tourist destination with a retro atmosphere and delicious food. Otaru once flourished as an international trading port, and many stone warehouses and historical buildings from that time remain. These buildings create a nostalgic and romantic townscape.

Otaru Canal

This place can be said to be the symbol of Otaru. The canal, which was once used as a logistics hub, and the stone warehouses lining the shore create a beautiful landscape.

Sakaimachi Street

This is the main street bustling with tourists. It is lined with souvenir shops in historical buildings, glass workshops, music box specialty shops, sweets shops, and more.

Tengu Mountain

There is an observation deck from which you can see Otaru city, Otaru Port, and on clear days, the distant mountains and Shakotan Peninsula. You can take a ropeway to the top. You can also enjoy a night view with a different feel to that of Mt. Moiwa.

Hakodate

Hakodate is a port city located in the southern part of Hokkaido, and is a popular tourist destination with its exotic townscape, delicious food, and beautiful night view. Hakodate was an early port city that was open to the outside world, so many historical buildings such as Western-style buildings and churches remain, giving the city an exotic atmosphere.

Mount Hakodate

The night view from the summit is so beautiful that it is said to be one of the "Three Great Night Views in the World" alongside those of Naples and Hong Kong, and has also been awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.

Goryokaku Park

It is the remains of a star-shaped Western-style castle built at the end of the Edo period. In spring, it is crowded with many people as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. If you climb the adjacent Goryokaku Tower, you can see the entire beautiful star-shaped Goryokaku from above.

Kanamori Red Brick Warehouse

A group of red brick buildings lined up along Hakodate Port that were once used as warehouses. Currently, they house shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, and more, making it a great place to enjoy a stroll along the waterfront, shopping for souvenirs, and dining.

Furano and Biei

Furano and Biei are located almost in the center of Hokkaido and are popular tourist destinations known for their beautiful rural landscapes, rolling hills, and colorful flower fields. Many tourists visit the area especially during the summer. The vast farmland and rolling hills stretch out as far as the eye can see, creating a beautiful landscape that looks like a painting. In particular, in the summer (late June to early August), lavender and other flowers are in full bloom, creating a spectacular view that looks like a colorful carpet.

Tomita Farm (Furano)

This is one of the most famous lavender fields in Hokkaido. The best time to see the lavender is usually around mid-July, but many other types of flowers are also planted, so you can enjoy a variety of flowers from June to autumn.

Shikisai-no-oka (Biei)

This is a beautiful tourist farm with colorful flowers planted like a patchwork on a gently sloping hill. You can also get around the farm on a "Norokkogo" (a towing vehicle).

Aoi Ike (Blue Pond) Biei

This is a popular spot where the surface of the water appears a mysterious cobalt blue. Standing dead larch trees create a fantastic atmosphere. The appearance of the color changes depending on the season, time of day, and weather.

Other Attractions

Lake Mashu

Lake Mashu is a caldera lake located in Akan Mashu National Park in eastern Hokkaido. It is known for its high transparency, the steep cliffs that surround it, and the mysterious atmosphere often created by the fog that surrounds it.

Niseko

Niseko, located in the central west part of Hokkaido, is an international resort town known for its powder snow in winter, beautiful views of Mt. Yotei, and a variety of activities during the green season.

Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Hokkaido. Noboribetsu is known as a “department store of hot springs,” with a wide variety of spring qualities, abundant hot spring water, and dynamic volcanic activity.