Your Guide to.. Hokkaido
Hokkaido (北海道) is the second largest, northernmost and least developed of Japan’s four main islands.
Hokkaido is famous for its beautiful nature, abundance of wild life, world class powder snow, delicious food and fascinating indigenous culture.
Table of Contents
Start Here! (Access)
To Hokkaido, the easy and fastest way to arrive is a flight! ✈️
Around Hokkaido there about 12 airports (+2 of islands)‼️ (So you can understand here how huge this island)
The 4 mains airport are –
1.Shin Chitose Airport (near Sapporo),
2.Hakodate airport (Hakodate area),
3.Kushiro airport (kushiro area),
4.Wakkanai airport (Wakkanai area).
But there not problem to use the other airports:
5.Asahikawa airport (Asahikawa Airport),
6.Obihiro airport (Obihiro area),
7.Memanbetsu airport (Abashiri area),
8.Monbetsu airport
9.Nakashibetsu airport,
10. Sapporo Okadama airport (inside Sapporo)
11.Rishiri airport (Rishiri island),
12.Okushiri airport (Okushiri Island),
The best and good travel idea in my opinion is to start and back in different airport, and not round trip.
For example,
If you want to start in Shiretoko five lakes, you can use the two airports Or Nakashimetsu airport or Memanbetsu airport and then travel around Hokkaido and to back from Sapporo which is usually Shin-Chitose airport.
By the way, at our first summer trio to Hokkaido we used Nakashibetsu airport from Tokyo and backed from Shin-Chitose airport.
Why this is the best way in my opinion?
Because, as I wrote before, Hokkaido is huge. So for not waste long time to back, you can use this time to travel more.
When you arrive → Rent a Car!
Hokkaido has many nature pass, lots of beautiful destinations and not to many public transportation.
Rental car is the most recommended for travel around the island.
Divided Area Map
Before we starting to explore the area, let`s look at the map of Hokkaido and divided it to 4 main areas.
Hokkaido has 179 cities, towns and villages (The difference between each is the number of population).
It is huge area and may consider as a country by itself!
Explore East Hokkaido
Rausu - Shiretoko-Shari Area
Shiretoko Five Lakes
A set of five small lakes in different sizes, numbered from one to five that located in Eastern Hokkaido.
It is usually recommended between Spring to Autumn but in Winter they have snow walking tour in specific dates.
Furepe Falls
Can be reached in a pleasant 20 minute walk from the Shiretoko Nature Center.
You barely can see the falls unless you take a boat tour but the pass that leads to the waterfall is just wonderful.
Yūhidai Observatory
A spot where you can watch beautiful sunset over the Sea of Okhotsk.
It is small point so you can arrive there if you are in Shiretoko area at the afternoon.
Waterfall of Oshinkoshin
It was designated as one of Japan’s best 100 waterfalls.
Near the waterfall you have free parking and easy to access.
Road to the sky observatory
Straight road for about 28.1 km long. This road name was given because the straight road looks as it leads to the sky.
It has free observation deck a long the road
Kaminoko Pond
A small pond with magnificent blue color inside the forest of Hokkaido.
Akan-Mashu National Park
Lake Mashu
A mysterious lake surrounded innature of Akan-Mashu National Park.
The deep beautiful blue color that glow of the lake and the view around attracts many visitors.
Kotan Onsen Hot Spring
Natural mix hot spring in the the open air near Lake Kussharo . It is opened 24 hours and allows swim-suited or towels for both genders.
Swans often swim in the lake during the winter, so it is fun to view on them while soaking in the hot spring
Mount Meakan
Is an active volcano with 1,499 m high in Akan Mashu National Park.
It has some of the most spectacular volcanic landscapes in all of Japan.
New Akan Hotel
A nice hotel for relaxing, you can pay for one day enter and enjoy hot springs and hot water pool with the view of Lake Akan.
Kushiro
Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary
Most people who visit Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary are there to see or photograph red-crowned cranes.
The place has a feeding seasons (around November until March) and there a viewing area is open to public at any time throughout the year.
Abashiri
Sea Angels of Hokkaido
Small little creatures you can see in the Sea of Okhotsk only at winter, but there a museum that opened all year long to see this creatures – in Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum
Explore North Hokkaido
Daisetsuzan National Park
Mount Asahidake
It is tallest mountain in the Hokkaido, and a part of Daisetsuzan National Park.
The altitude of Asahidake is 2,291m, and has been designated as an active volcano by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
It is usually recommended at Summer and Autumn, but even in the winter the ropeway is opened.
Biei-Furano
Blue Pond
The place is located in Biei and has very beautiful water color thanks to the minerals from the hot spring that got mixed in to the pond.
The blue color can be seen between Spring to Autumn, but in winter the pond is covered by snow, thus it has an light up on the evening which is also recommended at winter night.
Shirahige Waterfalls
Its name translated as ‘White Beard Waterfall and it is spectacular waterfall that combines hot springs minerals which cause the Biei River belowt to be shining, cobalt blue hue. (The same as Blue Pond).
You have a great point to observe on the waterfall from the near bridge.
Shikisai no Oka
Panoramic flower gardens provide spectacular view of mountains and flowers.
It has also cute Alpaca farm.
The best to visit from June to October.
Farm Tomita
One of the colorful flowers field to visit in Naka-furano. Mostly famous by its Lavender filed from June to July but has many other colorful flowers during summer.
Nakafurano Hokuseiyama Lavender Fields
Located just 15 minutes walk from Farm Tomita. A hillside that in winter is a ski and snowboards place, becoming in summer to a beautiful purple Lavender fields.
There a chairlift to go up and you can enjoy beautiful view from the top.
Kanno Farm
Beautiful colorful flowers farm, with about 60 kinds of flowers and herbs are plants on the hill.
Hinode Park
Famous hill to see the lavender flowers between June to July.
It has stunning 360-degree view of colorful fields of flowers and mountains.
Panorama Road
Hokkaido has several Panorama roads, and one of them located in Furano, a 18 km road with several hills which makes it to looks like endless road.
Wakkanai
Cape Sōya
The northernmost point of Japan. The point is marked by triangular pyramid-shaped monument that features the North Star as its motif.
The monument is a popular spot for people to take photos to memorialize their visits.
Shosambetsu-Rumoi
Toyosaki Konpira Shrine
A red torii gates of the Toyosaki Konpira Shrine is stand in the coast of Cape Konpira. It is popular in the runrise.