Hokkaido

Name: Hokkaido
Address: JP

Japan's vast northern island — Sapporo and Otaru, Furano's lavender and Biei's Blue Pond, Hakodate's night view and Niseko's snow: grand seasonal nature and famous food.

Hokkaido right now · July

In season now: 💜 Furano lavender

Coming up

🍁Autumn leaves~Sep 20–Oct 20in ~7 weeks
🧊Drift ice~Jan 20–Mar 10in ~25 weeks
❄️Sapporo Snow Festival~Feb 4–Feb 11in ~27 weeks

Travel videos from Hokkaido

Videos belong to their respective creators

Winter Hokkaido 4K

▶ 4K World Serenity

Hokkaido — travel film 4K

▶ Abby & Sam

Hokkaido adventure (cinematic)

▶ Satoshi

Kushiro 8K HDR (summer)

▶ KUSHIRO Hokkaido

Hokkaido in summer — Sapporo vlog

▶ Riri Travels

Hokkaido drive — Otaru, Biei & Furano (4K)

▶ Overseas in Japan

Scenes of Hokkaido

Photos: Wikimedia Commons

Top spots

1
Sapporo
Hokkaido's capital — Odori Park and the TV Tower, the nightlife of Susukino, and the Snow Festival; a food hub.
2
Mt. Moiwa
A lookout over Sapporo's lights — rated one of Japan's top three night views.
3
Otaru Canal
A nostalgic canal lined with stone warehouses and gas lamps — lovely at dusk and under snow.
4
Furano & Biei
Summer lavender fields, Biei's surreal Blue Pond and patchwork hills — quintessential Hokkaido countryside.
5
Hakodate
Famous for the night view from Mt. Hakodate, plus a seafood morning market and the hillside Western houses of Motomachi.
6
Niseko
A ski resort renowned for world-class powder snow, with views of Mt. Yotei.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons

When to visit Hokkaido

Best months & festivals — filled = recommended

Month →

🧊Drift ice (Okhotsk)

Along the Okhotsk Sea coast.

❄️Sapporo Snow Festival

Early-Feb festival of snow sculptures.

🌸Cherry blossoms (late)

About a month later than Honshu.

💜Furano lavender

Peaks mid-to-late July.

🍁Autumn leaves

Earlier than Honshu.

🎿Ski season

Famous powder snow.

Key events & festivals

🧊
Drift ice~Jan 20–Mar 10
Along the Okhotsk coast (Abashiri, Shiretoko).
❄️
Sapporo Snow Festival~Feb 4–Feb 11
Giant snow sculptures in Odori Park (early Feb).
🌸
Cherry blossoms (late)~May 1–May 15
About a month later than Honshu.
💃
YOSAKOI Soran~Jun 5–Jun 9
Sapporo's huge street-dance festival.
💜
Furano lavender~Jul 10–Jul 31
Farm Tomita is in full bloom.
🍁
Autumn leaves~Sep 20–Oct 20
Colour starts in the Daisetsuzan range.

What to eat in Hokkaido

Signature local dishes to try

🦀Seafood bowl

Sea urchin, roe, crab and scallop over rice - Hokkaido's signature bowl.

🍜Miso ramen

Sapporo's invention - rich miso broth, often topped with corn and butter.

🐑Genghis Khan

Lamb grilled on a domed pan - a Hokkaido favorite.

🍛Soup curry

Sapporo-born thin, spiced curry with big chunks of vegetables.

About Hokkaido

🌷 Best season: Summer (Jul–Aug) is cool with Furano's lavender in bloom; winter (Dec–Feb) brings snow, skiing and drift ice.
✈️ Getting there: Direct flights nationwide to New Chitose (CTS); the island is vast — use JR/buses between cities and a rental car to explore.
🚗 Getting around: It's huge — Sapporo to Hakodate or Furano takes hours, so focus on one area per trip.
🕒 Time & currency: Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY).

Tips & hidden gems

💡 It's vast — mind the distances
Don't plan it like Honshu — pick an area (Sapporo, Furano/Biei, Hakodate, the east) rather than trying to see it all.
💡 Come hungry
Seafood bowls, uni and crab, Genghis Khan lamb, miso ramen, soup curry and soft-serve — Hokkaido is a food paradise.
💡 Furano lavender peaks in July
Lavender peaks mid-to-late July only; Biei's Blue Pond and patchwork hills shine in the same season.
💡 Winter: snow roads & warm gear
Winters are serious — drive with care on snow and dress warmly. Snowy Hakodate/Otaru and the Sapporo Snow Festival are highlights.

Travel essentials

Payments, transport, connectivity and safety — before you go

💳

Payments

Cards, IC transit cards and QR pay are widespread in cities; carry cash for rural areas and small shops.

🚕

Getting around

The 'GO' taxi app is handy; Uber works only in some areas.

📶

SIM / eSIM

Prepaid SIMs at airports and convenience stores; plenty of eSIM options for visitors.

🔌

Plugs & voltage

Type A plugs, 100V.

🪙

Tipping

No tipping culture.

🚰

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink.

🛡️

Safety

Very safe.

Suggested routes

Central Hokkaido (Sapporo & Otaru) — full day

~1 day / JR & walking

Sapporo's city centre and the canal town of Otaru, linked by a short JR ride.

1
Sapporo & Odori Park
Hokkaido's capital — Odori Park and the TV Tower, the nightlife of Susukino, and the Snow Festival; a food hub.
2
Otaru Canal
A nostalgic canal lined with stone warehouses and gas lamps — lovely at dusk and under snow.
3
Mt. Moiwa night view
A lookout over Sapporo's lights — rated one of Japan's top three night views.

Furano & Biei — full day (summer)

~1 day / rental car

Lavender fields, the Blue Pond and patchwork hills — a summer driving day.

1
Furano lavender fields
Summer lavender fields, Biei's surreal Blue Pond and patchwork hills — quintessential Hokkaido countryside.
2
Biei's Blue Pond & hills
Summer lavender fields, Biei's surreal Blue Pond and patchwork hills — quintessential Hokkaido countryside.
3
Local food

Hakodate — full day

~1 day / tram & walking

The morning market, the Motomachi slopes and Mt. Hakodate's night view, by tram.

1
Hakodate morning market
2
Motomachi slopes & houses
3
Mt. Hakodate night view
Famous for the night view from Mt. Hakodate, plus a seafood morning market and the hillside Western houses of Motomachi.