The thriving fishing industry makes for delicious local cuisine. Hi All, If we are travelling for a week in October, is it worth visiting Biei and Furano.We plan to rent a car and explore the centre and northern parts of the island, and I was wondering which towns to pick as a couple of "bases" for the trip.. Biei blue pond is a cobalt blue fantasy world that is worth visiting! If you’re going … 3. The main tourist attraction spot if you’re on a bus tour towards Biei or Furano in Hokkaido is the popular spot Aoi Ike (Blue Pond). We have been to Asahi and Suntory Beer Factory … Related: What are the most popular tours in Sapporo? If you have experienced typical tour in Hokkaido, try to do the things introduced above. will be start from Sapporo first then will probably go southwards to Hakodate and end in Aomori before leaving Japan from Tokyo.. However, it's not worth a 2-day trek when you factor in money and time cost. Held every February for a week long since 1950, this snow festival in Sapporo City, the capital of Hokkaido, is one of the largest and most famous winter festivals in Japan. Odori Park(大通公園) – right in the center of Sapporo, stretching east to west. To help you get started, we’ve broken down our favorite annual activities by month below. Depending on where and when you are visiting Hokkaido, be sure to think about the weather when packing your clothes. Osaka, Japan. Visiting Hokkaido in Autumn: Ultimate Guide to Hokkaido Weather in Fall & What To Pack! See all. But when it comes to animals in nature, Hokkaido and Honshu (the main island of Japan) are separated by a faunal boundary line known as Blakiston's Line. Day 4 – Sapporo to Otaru Otaru canal in evening time. A popular way to sample the prefecture's famous seafood is visiting a fish market and having a donburi (rice bowl) breakfast. Hokkaido, the most northern part of Japan, is an amazingly beautiful place to visit. The city of Sapporo, the first city in Hokkaido, was designed for an urban living since the Meiji Period in … and just spend a couple of day seeing snow in Nagano or somewhere like that? Japan . The high-quality crabs are especially worth a … Sapporo / Hokkaido Full-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide. HOKKAIDO’S MUST-SEES IN WINTER . Hanami season begins in April, and winter is ideal for snow sports enthusiasts. Access to the factory is easy. Clare. Also, March is between seasons with snow starting to melt, yet there is still a lack of greenery so the scenery can be quite bare. Answer 1 of 11: Just trying to sort out my itinerary and as much as i love beer and ramen noodles i'm not sure if it'll be worth the $110us flight each way to visit is there enough stuff to keep me entertained for say a week? Need help planning your trip to Japan? Visiting this sort of beer production factory with the help of guide is a unique way of experiencing the best of Hokkaido. 1 When Does the Hokkaido Summer Season Begin? But what happens in summer? Like any capital, it’s the wide variety of things that make Sapporo worth visiting. Visiting Hokkaido in summer is as compelling as it is in winter for several reasons; temperatures are much more tolerable than in the rest of Japan as they rarely go over 25 degrees plus there is no humidity, and you can actually travel to all the places in Hokkaido without worrying too much. However, when you add Hokkaido to your itinerary, it’s difficult to say exactly when is the best time to visit, because every season is well worth the trip! Photo Credit: Chi King at Flickr. If you are traveling with little ones in Hokkaido, it’s worth making a visit to this attractive but less visited spot. I wish you will be the good guide for the tourists in Hokkaido. Here we have a list of best places to visit in Hokkaido. This “spot” is not only known in Hokkaido, but throughout Japan and the rest of the world as well! The capital of Hokkaido is both central and well connected in Hokkaido using the JR network. 7 Hokkaido Travel Manners Tourists Always Forget in Japan's North . A Place Worth Visiting in This Lifetime: Hokkaido Biei's Blue Pond. However, there are some sightseeing spots at Jozankei Onsen worth visiting on a day trip. So the question is, is Hokkaido/Sapporo worth a visit or should i explore more of Nara, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka area of Japan? Even so, it’s still worth a visit. ), sperm whales, and even orcas. The withered karamatsu (Japanese larch) and the serene blue pool … However, all four seasons of Hokkaido are equally worth visiting, making it a year-round destination! It hasn’t been developed as a tourist destination, so it is possible to experience the beauty of nature untouched. Is it worth visiting Hokkaido in the summer? They have a great restaurant upstairs with the view of the lake, and their cute kids set comes with a small toy. We arrived in Lake Toya around 1pm and stopped by Wakasaimo Toyako Honten for lunch. Odori Park is worth visiting spot!Snow Festival, Autumn Fest, and a lot more! Hokkaido’s winter is cold and snowy, as you might expect from a subarctic climate. We are planning to visit Hakodate, Sounkyo, Sapporo, Lake Toya & Noboribetsu. I like what I've read about Sounkyo in October and plan to visit there, but I'm worried it might be a bit too quiet to stay for a couple of days. 2 Things to Know About the Hokkaido Summer. Report inappropriate content . Popular markets include Sapporo's Nijo Market, Hakodate's Morning Market and Kushiro's Washo Market. Here’s a video tour of Lake Akan and parts of the Ainu town: Fisherman’s Wharf MOO and EGG. Worth a visit! If you choose to visit Hokkaido, you should commit a minimum of 5-7 days to make the investment worthwhile. Hokkaido is worth visiting in all the seasons. This means that some animal species can only be found in Hokkaido and not Honshu, and vice versa! Complete 5-Day Hokkaido Itinerary: Exploring Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu and Lake Toya! Cultural Tours. They are worth visiting! Being much cooler than the mainland, the area comes truly alive during the winter which is in fact, the most beautiful time of the year to visit the place. Contents. None of which is to say Hokkaido in summer is not worth visiting—this is far from the truth. Review of Sapporo Beer Museum. In June, we were lucky enough to check into Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido for its grand summer opening. Hike across volcanic mountain ranges, enjoy the blossom-filled city parks and explore the famous lavender fields of the central farmland. Odori Park … With a week of traveling ahead of us in Hokkaido, our family decided to spend most of our time relaxing in the hotel. Look on their websites for more information. Outside winter, Hokkaido is still a natural paradise worth visiting, with one twentieth of Japan’s large population on one fifth of its total landmass. Visiting Hokkaido in Winter: Ultimate Guide to Hokkaido Weather & Clothes You Need! Hokkaido, Japan, is popular for its snow-capped mountains and ski resorts during the winter season. Lake Shikaribetsu is the highest elevated lake in Hokkaido, and has even been chosen as one of the top 100 most secluded places in Japan. This park is one of the best places to visit in Hokkaido, and is known for its relaxing atmosphere. The winter event features spectacular snow and ice sculptures and attracts more than two million visitors each … … But Hokkaido is not just worth visiting during winter. It’s a 7-10 minute walk either from Shiroishi Station or Nango Nana Chome on the Subway Tozai Line. After the end of your day trip in Lake Toya, make you way to Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido. A pond located at the southeastern part of Biei Town, you can see the blue-coloured pond surface, it’s so mysterious. Book a rental car: Enjoy a road … From USD 244.70* More Info. Domestic flight Tokyo to Hokkaido: A variety of options are possible. Asahikawa is located near the center of the island of Hokkaido. The Shiretoko area is a National Park and a prime spot to see the Hokkaido brown bear (from the safety of your car! Hike across volcanic mountain ranges, enjoy the blossom-filled city parks and explore the famous lavender fields of the central farmland. Sapporo is the northern most city of Japan and it’s popular in all seasons due to its proximity to ski fields, the sea of Ishikari Bay, national parks and downtown festivities. It retains the look and feel of a twentieth-century port town. 2.1 Lavender … You can also check out the Visit Japan airpasses offered by Star Alliance (ANA) or Oneworld (JAL) and they go for 10,00 to 12,000 Yen per sector usually. While people visiting the main island of Honshu might only see Tokyo or Kyoto, Hokkaido is often seen as a single location rife for exploration and the best time to visit depends on what you're looking for. 30th August 2018 by Anthia Chng 4 Min Read. (First time to Japan aswell) I look forward to your replies,-Jacob. Outside winter, Hokkaido is still a natural paradise worth visiting, with one twentieth of Japan’s large population on one fifth of its total landmass. You can buy domestic ticket for about 13,000 Yen one way. Commission a custom Japan itinerary! 8. Where is Asahikawa. Even beginners will have no trouble driving on Hokkaido's grid road system! Snow-shoeing! Answer 1 of 3: My sister and I will be in Hokkaido in late August (23 - 30 August). Lake Shikaribetsu Onsen (hot springs) is also quite secluded and is worth a visit. Including: Many free footbaths for visitors … 'I Can't Feed Them?!' Biei town’s (美瑛町) platinum blue pond is a popular tourist destination. Besides, pay a visit to Silo Viewing Platform, and Toyako Volcano Science Museum. Downtown Kushiro has a distinct atmosphere. Typical toppings are fresh uni (sea urchin), ikura (salmon roe), ika (squid) or a combination thereof. 222 65. Reviewed 19 February 2018 via mobile . Dairy Products. You can also have some sweets and coffee at the small cafe downstairs. Indeed, many of my guests who visit in winter wonder what Hokkaido is like during summer and want to return. It’s only 1.5 hours drive between these lakes, and the stunning Lake Shikotsu is also worth visiting while in Hokkaido. Travelers who make their way to Hokkaido once will likely want to visit again during a different season to see a new side. A city famous for its beer and snow festival has to be worth visiting when exploring Hokkaido, right? Best Hokkaido Spring Activities. Seafood Thanks to the plankton-rich Sea of Japan, seafood is highly abundant in the waters surrounding Hokkaido. Hokkaido is a popular travel destination but what exactly makes it different from the other regions in Japan? During winter the "Sapporo "Yuki Matsuri Sapporo Custom Full Day Tour. Shall we set some? Best Time to Visit Hokkaido: 5 Must-Know Things About Hokkaido's Weather! Sapporo itself is a nice city. If your first visit was in green season, try to visit here in white season for the next time. From USD 122.96* More Info. Cultural Tours. Whether you come in by air or rail, Sapporo makes for a great base to explore Hokkaido from. Perhaps even more importantly — at least for many of our travelers — Hokkaido is an extraordinary culinary destination, worth visiting for its seafood (and some of Japan’s best sushi and sashimi), produce, dairy (including outrageously good cheese), and even bread and pastries (the island is home to some amazing bakeries). October and November bring stunning fall foliage and the mild summers have wildflowers through July. No matter when you visit, you’ll be overwhelmed … See More Tours melindag386. Residents of Hokkaido share the land with a great variety of wildlife, some of which can even be seen hanging out in urban districts! Going Hokkaido on 25thOct - 7thNov. Your image about Hokkaido will be changed, and you will like Hokkaido more. Shiretoko has a lot of trekking spots and hikes around the area and is well worth the visit. Still, realistic expectations are the best way to ward off disappointed. Stay overnight at this hotel, located adjacent to Sapporo Station. It is northeast of Sapporo (the largest city in Hokkaido) and takes 2 hours by car or 1 hour 40 min by train from Sapporo Station. This is when the place is busiest and shines with fascinating sights your eyes will ever see. Amazing ice sculptures at Sapporo Snow Festival.