Located at the northernmost tip of Japan, Hokkaido feels like a different country compared to the rest of the archipelago. With its vast open horizons, European-style pastoral landscapes, and distinct lack of a rainy season, it is a land of dramatic seasons. Whether it is the world-famous powder snow in winter or the vibrant flower fields in summer, Hokkaido offers grand nature on a scale found nowhere else in Japan.
Sapporo: The Capital of Snow and Beer
Sapporo is Japan’s fifth-largest city and the urban heart of the north. It is a city planned on a grid system, making it easy to navigate, and is famous for its spacious parks and beer.
- Sapporo Snow Festival: Held every February, this is one of Japan’s most famous winter events. Massive snow and ice sculptures, some the size of buildings, take over Odori Park, turning the city into a frozen wonderland.
- Sapporo Beer Museum: Hokkaido is the birthplace of beer in Japan. Visits to the red-brick museum usually end with a tasting of the classic “Sapporo Black Label” or the Hokkaido-exclusive “Sapporo Classic.”
- Susukino: The largest entertainment district north of Tokyo, packed with restaurants, bars, and neon lights. It is the best place to hunt for late-night ramen.
Otaru: The Nostalgic Port Town
A short train ride from Sapporo lies Otaru, a historic harbor city that retains the atmosphere of the early 20th century.
- Otaru Canal: Lined with old brick stone warehouses that have been converted into shops and museums, the canal is particularly romantic in the evening when lit by gas lamps.
- Glass and Music Boxes: Otaru is famous for its glassware (Kitaichi Glass) and the Otaru Music Box Museum, where you can browse thousands of intricate music boxes in a vintage brick building.
Furano and Biei: The Colors of Summer
While winter is for skiing, summer in Hokkaido is defined by the rolling hills of Furano and Biei.
- Lavender Fields: In July, the hills of Furano turn a vivid purple. Farm Tomita is the most famous spot, offering spectacular views of lavender fields with the Tokachi mountain range in the background. Don’t forget to try the lavender soft-serve ice cream.
- The Blue Pond (Aoiike): Located in Biei, this man-made pond is famous for its stunning, unnatural bright blue color, created by natural minerals dissolved in the water. The withered larch trees standing in the blue water create a mystical atmosphere.
The Kingdom of Gourmet
Hokkaido is arguably the food capital of Japan, blessed by both the ocean and fertile farmland.
- Seafood: The cold waters produce the best seafood in Japan. Kaisen-don (rice bowls topped with fresh urchin, salmon roe, scallops, and crab) is a breakfast staple at markets like the Nijo Market.
- Genghis Khan: A soul food of Hokkaido, this is a barbecue dish of mutton or lamb grilled on a helmet-shaped skillet with vegetables.
- Miso Ramen: Sapporo is the birthplace of Miso Ramen. It typically features a rich, oily broth to keep the soup hot in the cold climate, topped with sweet corn and a pat of butter.
- Dairy: Hokkaido produces half of Japan’s milk. The milk, cheese, and soft-serve ice cream here are incredibly rich and creamy.
From the drift ice in the Okhotsk Sea to the indigenous Ainu culture preserved at Upopoy, Hokkaido is a vast frontier waiting to be explored.
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