Hokkaido offers a wealth of places to visit when sightseeing in Hokkaido. For example, it is full of natural attractions such as beautiful Furano with its lavender blossoms and spectacular drift ice seen in Shiretoko.
The tourist cities of Sapporo and Hakodate offer many famous sights and classic sightseeing spots. In addition, with Japan's best hot spring resorts including Noboribetsu, snow festivals, and specialty gourmet events, Hokkaido offers a wide variety of attractions that can be enjoyed no matter what season you visit.
Hokkaido covers an area equivalent to one-fifth of Japan's total land area, while its population density is only about one-fourth that of Honshu. Although mountains are distributed mostly in the central part of the island, compared to the average Japanese landscape, Hokkaido is characterized by fewer mountains and more open plains. This provides Hokkaido with a different kind of space within Japan, with its vast expanses of fields and pastureland being very impressive.
This vast land feature is attributed to the fact that the Japanese did not develop the area much until about 150 years ago. Hokkaido has a cold climate, which also contributed to the relatively small number of immigrants from mainland Japan.
Furthermore, Asahikawa is known for having recorded the lowest temperature in Japan, 41.0℃ below zero, on January 25, 1902.
Hokkaido, Japan's largest and most northerly island, is an area of great natural grandeur and beauty. In addition to the World Heritage Site of Shiretoko and the drift ice of the Sea of Okhotsk, the Ramsar Convention sites of Kushiro Marsh, Lake Akan, and Onuma, Lake Mashu, which boasts some of the clearest water in the world, the lavender fields of Furano, with their purple carpets stretching as far as the eye can see, and Cape Soya, the northernmost point in Japan, will overwhelm your eyes with all the scenery you can see.
There are also a number of other lesser-known scenic spots, such as the Sea of Clouds Terrace in Tomamu, the coral grass colony at Lake Notori, the Blue Pond in Biei, the Oloron Line in summer, and the Kamuiwakka Hot Spring Falls, that make Hokkaido an annual destination for many people.
In addition, visitors can enjoy walking around Sapporo, famous for its snow festival and Susukino entertainment district, Hakodate with its Goryokaku and beautiful night views, Otaru with its romantic canals, and Asahikawa with its Asahiyama Zoo, as well as seeing life at the northern limit on remote islands such as Rishiri Island and Rebun Island.
In Hokkaido, famous for its volcanic mountains and hot springs, visitors can enjoy hot spring tours at Noboribetsu Onsen, which boasts one of the largest number of hot springs in Japan, Toyako Onsen, where the Summit was held, Jozankei Onsen, Sounkyo Onsen, and others.
History of Hokkaido
Hokkaido was called Ezo until the Middle Ages, and the culture of the indigenous Ainu people took root in the area until the Meiji Era (1868-1912). It was during the Muromachi period (1336-1573) that the Japanese, known as Wajin, began to settle in Hokkaido, and from this time onward, the Wajin and Ainu traded and fought with each other. Eventually, in the Edo period (1603-1867), the shogunate took control of Ezo, and after the Meiji era (1868-1912), Ezo was renamed "Hokkaido.
The influx of Tondenbei from the Tohoku region and their families into Hokkaido led to pioneering development and an explosion in the population. Although Hokkaido lost Sakhalin (now Sakhalin) and the Kuril Islands in the Pacific War, it hosted the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, and Sapporo became an ordinance-designated city. And today, Hokkaido continues to grow economically, as evidenced by the opening of the Shinkansen bullet train line to full service.
Local Gourmet Food, Food Culture, and Specialties of Hokkaido
Facing the cold Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, Hokkaido's seafood is fatty and super delicious! In addition to kaisen-don (freshly caught seafood served on top of a bowl of rice) and nigiri-zushi (hand-rolled sushi), visitors can enjoy such high-end foods as purple sea urchin, buffoon sea urchin, hairy crab, shinmaki salmon, and salmon roe, a fantastic food item, at reasonable prices.
In terms of agricultural products, Yubari is famous for its potatoes, Yubari melons, and corn eaten raw. Jaga Butter, steamed new potatoes covered with butter, is one of the most popular B-class gourmet foods in Japan.
Other famous B gourmet foods include jingisukan, lamb meat grilled together with a large amount of vegetables; Ishikari nabe, a sumptuous seafood stew; fried chicken called zangi locally; Muroran yakitori, made mainly of pork and onions; Sapporo soup curry, said to have sparked the soup curry boom; chanchanyaki in Wakkanai; molmen in Asahikawa; Tomakomai's hokki (hokki) Tomakomai's Hokki curry, Kushiro's spaghetti cutlets, and Obihiro's pork bowls are just a few of the unique local delicacies.
Sapporo miso ramen, Asahikawa soy sauce ramen, and Muroran curry ramen, which are now nationally known, are must-try items when visiting Hokkaido.
Farm Tomita is one of Hokkaido's best-known flower gardens, famous for its spectacular lavender fields. Across its gently rolling landscape, visitors can enjoy around 80 varieties of flowers, including lavender, poppies, cosmos, baby's breath, and many other seasonal blooms. The farm is also known ...»
Asahiyama Zoo is the northernmost zoo in Japan and is renowned for its innovative approach to animal exhibits. Rather than simply displaying animals for visitors to observe, the zoo focuses on “behavioral exhibits” that bring out the natural habits and movements of each species. This approach allow...»
Jozankei Onsen is a famous hot spring resort nestled in a beautiful valley surrounded by pristine forests. Natural hot spring water rises from cracks in the bedrock along the banks and riverbed of the Toyohira River, creating a tranquil destination where visitors can enjoy both healing waters and sp...»
Mount Moiwa rises to 531 meters above sea level almost in the center of Sapporo. From the summit, visitors can enjoy a spectacular panorama stretching across the city of Sapporo, Ishikari Bay, and as far as the Mashike-Shokanbetsu mountain range. Especially after sunset, the city lights spread acro...»
Otaru Canal is one of Hokkaido's most iconic waterfront attractions. Along the canal stand rows of beautifully preserved stone warehouses dating from the Meiji and Taisho periods, when Otaru developed as an important port city. Many of these historic warehouses have been given new life as restauran...»
Abashiri Prison Museum is an open-air museum that preserves and exhibits the historic buildings of the former Abashiri Prison, along with tools, documents, and other objects dating from the Meiji period onward. It is the only prison museum of its kind in Japan, offering visitors a vivid look at the ...»
Mount Hakodate offers one of the most famous panoramic views in Japan. Rising to an elevation of 334 meters, the mountain overlooks Hakodate's distinctive cityscape and the surrounding seas. The summit observatory is especially popular for its breathtaking nighttime panorama. Together with Mt. Maya...»
Hachiman-zaka Slope is one of Hakodate's most famous viewpoints and is often introduced alongside the spectacular panorama from Mount Hakodate. From the top of the slope, the road runs in a remarkably straight line toward the sea, creating an impressive view of Hakodate Port. Looking straight down ...»
Shikisai no Oka, officially known as Shikisai-no-Oka Panorama Flower Garden, is a beautiful sightseeing destination in Biei, Hokkaido. Set on a gently elevated hill along the Panorama Road, the vast 7-hectare flower garden offers sweeping views of the colorful hills and the magnificent Daisetsuzan m...»
Cape Chikyu Observatory stands more than 150 meters above the sea in Muroran, Hokkaido, offering a breathtaking panorama of the open ocean. From the observation deck, visitors can see the striking contrast between the white Cape Chikyu Lighthouse standing on the edge of the cliffs and the deep marin...»
Noboribetsu Jigokudani, or Hell Valley, lies northeast of the Noboribetsu Onsen resort area in Hokkaido. This spectacular landscape is the remains of an explosive volcanic crater, approximately 450 meters in diameter, formed by an eruption of Mount Hiyoriyama. Numerous fumaroles are scattered throu...»
Rokka no Mori is a beautiful garden and cultural destination in Nakasatsunai Village, Hokkaido, spread across an expansive 100,000-square-meter site. The grounds include a confectionery factory producing Rokkatei's famous Marusei Butter Sand cookies, museums and galleries, and a café, all surrounded...»
Patchwork Road is one of the most iconic scenic areas in Biei, Hokkaido. Broad, gently rolling hills stretch into the distance, covered with fields in different shades of green, yellow, and brown. Viewed from the surrounding roads, the landscape resembles a giant patchwork quilt made by stitching to...»
The Garinko is a powerful icebreaker designed to withstand the extreme conditions of the Sea of Okhotsk in winter. Equipped with enormous drill-shaped screws at the bow, the vessel breaks through thick sheets of drift ice as it cruises across the frozen sea. One of the most spectacular moments come...»
Blue Pond, also known as the Shirogane Blue Pond or Biei Shirogane Blue Pond, is one of the most popular scenic attractions in Biei. Its remarkably blue water and the silhouettes of trees that stand stark and lifeless in the pond create an otherworldly landscape that has attracted photographers and ...»
The Road to Heaven is a spectacular straight road in Shari, eastern Hokkaido. Stretching for approximately 18 kilometers, the road runs straight into the distance before appearing to rise toward the sky. This remarkable perspective has earned it the evocative name “Road to Heaven.” Near the top of ...»
Goryokaku Park is one of Hakodate's most distinctive historic landmarks. Goryokaku was one of the few Western-style fortresses built in Japan during the final years of the Edo period, when the Tokugawa shogunate constructed defensive facilities in Ezo, the region now known as Hokkaido. The fortress...»
The Hakodate Ropeway connects the base of Mount Hakodate with its summit, carrying visitors to an elevation of 334 meters in approximately three minutes. The large ropeway cabins can accommodate up to 125 passengers, making the journey itself a memorable way to rise above Hakodate and take in the ch...»
The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses are a historic group of brick buildings in Hakodate's Bay Area. The warehouses flourished during the Meiji era as maritime trade and cargo transportation expanded following the development of Hakodate Port. For a time, changes in transportation and distribution met...»
Mount Yotei is one of Hokkaido's most beautiful mountains, famous for its graceful, symmetrical silhouette. Because its shape closely resembles Mount Fuji, it is also known as “Ezo Fuji,” or the Mount Fuji of Hokkaido. Recognized as one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, it is an iconic symbol of the ...»
Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill is a scenic destination on a broad hillside in southeastern Sapporo. With expansive grasslands, grazing sheep, and panoramic views, it offers visitors a chance to experience the peaceful, pastoral landscape often associated with Hokkaido. The grounds are home to severa...»
Tenguyama Observatory is a scenic viewpoint near the summit of Mount Tengu in Otaru, Hokkaido. Rising approximately 532–533 meters above sea level, Mount Tengu offers sweeping views of Otaru, the Sea of Japan, and Ishikari Bay. A ropeway connects the mountain's base with the summit, taking approxim...»
Unkai Terrace is a spectacular mountaintop observation area near the summit of Mount Tomamu, at an elevation of approximately 1,088 meters. Located beside the upper station of the gondola operated from Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, the terrace can be reached in about 13 minutes from the resort's base area...»
Nakafurano Flower Park is a relaxing green space in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, where visitors can enjoy colorful flowers throughout the seasons. Developed as a place of “refreshment and relaxation,” the park is particularly famous for its lavender fields and its beautiful views of the Tokachidake Mountai...»
Water Chapel is a striking chapel in Tomamu, Hokkaido, designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. Completed in 1988, the chapel was created around the theme of living in harmony with nature, blending architecture and the surrounding landscape so seamlessly that the boundary between th...»
North Safari Sapporo is a unique safari park in Sapporo where visitors can experience animals at close range. The park is divided into three main areas: North Safari Sapporo, where guests can interact with animals; the Dangerous Forest, where dangerous animals can be observed from remarkably close d...»
From the late Meiji period through the early Showa period, Otaru flourished as a major center of trade, logistics, and finance. With so many banks and commercial institutions concentrated in the city, Otaru became known as the “Wall Street of the North” and played an important role in the economic d...»
JR Tower Observatory T38 is located on the 38th floor of JR Tower, directly connected to JR Sapporo Station. Rising 160 meters above the ground, it is the highest observation deck in Hokkaido and offers sweeping 360-degree views across Sapporo and its surrounding landscapes. Looking south, visitors...»
Goryokaku Tower is a 107-meter-high observation tower standing next to Goryokaku, a Special Historic Site and one of Hakodate's most important landmarks. The current tower was completed in 2006. Its structure incorporates a star-shaped design inspired by Goryokaku, while the observation floors are p...»
Noboribetsu Onsen is one of Japan's most famous hot spring destinations, renowned for its extraordinary variety and abundance of mineral-rich waters. Natural hot springs emerge at a rate of approximately 10,000 tons per day, with around 3,000 liters flowing every minute. The resort is famous for it...»
The Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Yoichi Distillery stands in Yoichi, a town on the coast of Hokkaido known for its cool, humid climate, abundant water, and exceptionally clear air. These natural conditions are remarkably well suited to whisky production. Established in an environment reminiscent of the ho...»
Otaru Aquarium is a popular marine-life attraction in Otaru, Hokkaido, overlooking the Sea of Japan. Opened in 1959, the aquarium has introduced generations of visitors to the fascinating world beneath the surrounding seas. The aquarium complex consists of several distinct areas, including the Main...»
The Former Japan National Railways Temiya Line is a preserved railway line in Otaru, Hokkaido, where visitors can walk along the tracks of a historic railway that once played an important role in transporting coal to the port of Otaru. The line originally opened in 1880 as part of the government-op...»
Sapporo TV Tower stands at the eastern end of Odori Park, the broad green boulevard that divides central Sapporo into northern and southern sections. Rising 147.2 meters above the city, the tower has been one of Sapporo's most recognizable landmarks since its completion in 1956. At an elevation of ...»
Shiroi Koibito Park Chocolate Factory is a charming chocolate-themed attraction in Sapporo operated by Ishiya, the Hokkaido confectionery maker famous for Shiroi Koibito, one of the region's best-known souvenirs. The beautiful European-style buildings resemble a storybook castle, creating a whimsic...»
Matsumae Castle stands in the town of Matsumae in southern Hokkaido and is known as the northernmost castle in Japan. Built as the seat of the Matsumae clan, the castle played an important role in the history of Hokkaido, particularly during the Edo period when the Matsumae domain governed the south...»
Hill of the Buddha is a remarkable Buddhist memorial complex in Sapporo's Makomanai Takino Cemetery, designed by world-renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. At its heart is a monumental Buddha measuring 13.5 meters in height and weighing approximately 1,500 tons. Rather than placing the Buddha in...»
Hakodate Magistrate's Office was a government office established by the Tokugawa shogunate as an important center for the defense and administration of Japan's northern frontier. Today, the reconstructed building stands at the heart of Goryokaku, the distinctive star-shaped fortress in Hakodate. Th...»
Niseko Onsen Area is a collection of hot spring resorts scattered around the Niseko region of Hokkaido, particularly across Niseko Town and Kutchan Town. Surrounded by the dramatic mountains of the Niseko Range, the area is blessed with abundant natural hot spring resources and a remarkable variety ...»
Lake Toya is a magnificent volcanic lake at the heart of Shikotsu-Toya National Park in southwestern Hokkaido. Formed by a massive volcanic eruption approximately 110,000 years ago, the almost perfectly circular caldera lake is one of Hokkaido's most celebrated natural landscapes. With a circumfere...»
Historical Village of Hokkaido is an open-air museum located within Nopporo Forest Park in Sapporo. Covering a vast area of approximately 54 hectares, the museum recreates the towns, villages, buildings, and everyday life of Hokkaido during the pioneering era from the Meiji and Taisho periods throug...»
Hagoromo Falls is one of Hokkaido's most spectacular waterfalls, located in Tenninkyo Gorge within Daisetsuzan National Park. The waterfall plunges down a dramatic cliff face approximately 270 meters high, changing direction as it descends through seven distinct tiers. It has the greatest total drop...»
Sapporo Beer Museum is a historic beer museum in Sapporo's Higashi Ward and the only museum in Japan dedicated to the history of beer. Housed in a distinctive red-brick building, the museum introduces more than 120 years of Sapporo Beer history, from the development of brewing in Japan to the compan...»
Moerenuma Park is a spectacular comprehensive park in northeastern Sapporo designed by the world-renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Rather than treating art as something placed within a park, Noguchi envisioned the entire landscape as a monumental work of art, creating a unique environment where natur...»
Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the city's best-known landmarks and one of the oldest surviving clock towers in Japan. Built in 1878 as the drill hall of the Sapporo Agricultural College, the predecessor of Hokkaido University, it has continued to mark the passage of time for more than a century. Wit...»
Sapporo Maruyama Zoo is one of Hokkaido's leading zoos, home to around 160 species and 700 individual animals, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. Located within the lush natural surroundings of Maruyama Park, the zoo offers visitors the chance to encounter a remarkable variety of wildlife throu...»
Hokkaido Shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Hokkaido and is regarded as the island's spiritual guardian. Founded in 1869, the shrine occupies an expansive site of approximately 180,000 square meters in central Sapporo, where historic buildings and rich natural surroundings create ...»
Okurayama Observatory is located at the top of the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, a famous venue where international competitions have been held and which was also used during the Winter Olympics. Reaching the observation area by the same two-person chairlift used by ski jump athletes makes the journey...»
The Former Hakodate Ward Public Hall is one of Hakodate's most celebrated historic buildings and a magnificent example of Western-style architecture from the Meiji period. Completed in 1910, the building is designated a National Important Cultural Property and remains one of the city's most distinct...»
Catholic Motomachi Church is a historic Roman Catholic church standing on the hills of Hakodate's Motomachi district. With its impressive Gothic Revival architecture, elegant interior, and beautiful stained-glass windows, the church is one of the area's most distinctive landmarks. The history of th...»