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.

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

The most beautiful winter in Hokkaido

▶ Ally Chen

Kushiro 8K HDR (summer)

▶ KUSHIRO Hokkaido

Hokkaido in summer — Sapporo vlog

▶ Riri Travels

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

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.