Savor fresh seafood and get close to nature at Tomakomai, an industrial port city located on the south-central coast of Hokkaido. Famed for its surf clam, Tomakomai also offers close proximity to natural attractions like Lake Shikotsu, Mt. Tarumae, Tarumae Garo Gorge, Ikoro-no-Mori, and Lake Utonai Wildlife Reserve.
Get up close to an active stratovolcano with an unstable lava dome at Mt. Tarumae (Tarumae-zan), located on the shores of Lake Shikotsu inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park. The trail up Mt. Tarumae is one of the most spectacular and accessible hikes on Hokkaido and offers dramatic, otherworldly scenery and stunning panoramic views.
Asahiyama Memorial Park dates back to 1970 when it opened to celebrate Sapporo’s 100th anniversary. Loved for its panoramic views, the park sits on a hilltop that boasts vistas of Sapporo, the Ishikari Plain, and on a clear day—the Sea of Japan. Visitors come here for hiking trails, idyllic gardens, and, at night, an illuminated fountain.
Standing 1,745 feet (532 meters) above Otaru, Mt. Tengu (Tenguyama) is the symbol of the Hokkaido city. From the summit visitors can take in sweeping views of Otaru and the Sea of Japan.
A former fort, Hakodate’s Goryokaku Park is notable for its distinctive star shape and role in Japanese history. The fort was constructed by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1855 and was the site of the last battle of the Japanese Civil War that ended the feudal system.
Located along the southern coast of Hokkaido, Cape Chikyu is considered one of the most scenic spots on the island. Towering 328-foot (100-meter) cliffs wind around Uchiura Bay, while an observation deck offers panoramic views of the ocean and an expansive sightline that shows the curvature of the Earth.
For a bird’s-eye view of Goryokaku—Hakodate's unique star-shaped fort-turned-public park—you can’t get much better than the Goryokaku Tower. The 351-foot (107-meter) observation decks command 360-degree views of Goryokaku Park, Mt. Hakodate, Tsugaru Strait, and the Yokotsu mountain range.
On the southern end of Lake Toya in Hokkaido's Shikotsu-Tōya National Park, Mt. Usu is an active stratovolcano that last erupted in the year 2000. Its biggest draw is the Usuzan Ropeway, which takes visitors to an observatory offering fabulous views over the surrounding countryside.
Many rivers near Sapporo on Hokkaido Island are popular for day trips in the summer. While the Barato, a relatively short river on the northern outskirts of Sapporo, offers canoeing, kayaking, and cycling paths along the banks, the best action happens in winter when the river freezes and becomes an ideal spot for a popular local pastime, ice fishing.
Sapporo Beer is one of Japan’s most famous and popular beers, and travelers to the city of Sapporo can take free tours of the brewery. As well as enjoying beer samples and learning about beer production, visitors can visit the on-site Valhalla Restaurant, play a round of golf at the golf course, and stroll through the Biotope park.
Along with Mt. Rokko in Kobe and Mt. Inasa in Nagasaki City, Mt. Hakodate is known for offering one of the three best night views in Japan. Ride the ropeway to the top of the mountain, take in Hakodate’s twinkling city lights and the ocean on either side, and you’ll quickly understand why.
Some of the best views of Sapporo can be had from the Mt. Okura Observatory. The observatory got its start in 1972 as the site of the 90-meter ski jump competitions during the Sapporo Winter Olympics. Today, the facility still hosts ski jump events during the winter months, but during the rest of the year, the ski lift ferries visitors to the Viewing Point Lounge, located 1,007 feet (307 meters) above sea level. Besides offering views of the city of Sapporo and the Ishikari Plain, the site also houses the Sapporo Winter Sports Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of winter sports in Japan and try simulators that immerse you in the experience of timing a ski jump or technical spin in figure skating.
Covering most of the Shiretoko peninsula at the northeastern tip of Hokkaido, Shiretoko National Park is a remote and pristine UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its rugged volcanic landscape comprises mountains, ocean, rivers, and forest, and teems with wildlife including Japan’s largest brown bear population.
Part of the Akan-Mashu National Park, Lake Akan is a caldera lake and home to four islands. Surrounded by two active volcanoes and hot springs, the lake is known for its beautiful scenery, unique marimo algae ecosystem, various outdoor recreation opportunities, and a large settlement of indigenous Ainu people.
Located in northeast Hokkaido, Abashiri Prison Museum is the only prison museum in Japan. Visitors can get a glimpse of the life of prisoners and learn about their contribution to the development of Hokkaido at this open-air museum, which has more than a dozen structures, including original buildings from the Meiji era built by the inmates.
The Chitose River (Chitose Gawa) in Hokkaido—Japan's second largest island—flows from Lake Shikotsu through the center of the city of Chitose and past Ebetsu before eventually joining the Ishikari River northeast of Sapporo. For travelers visiting Sapporo, the river and its surroundings offer the opportunity to get out of town and go biking, fishing, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, or canoeing in the summer, and skiing or snowshoeing in the winter.
Located on Mt. Hokusei in Nakafurano, this small flower farm offers a hillside of lavender, marigold, sunflower, and salvia in the summer. The farm also features a chairlift—since it serves as a ski slope in the winter—that visitors can take to the top of the hill for views of the flower fields and the nearby mountains.
The Hakodate Jomon Culture Center offers a fascinating window into Japan’s prehistoric Jomon period, which lasted from 14,000 to 300 BC. The center houses a rich collection of ancient artifacts unearthed during archaeological excavations around Hokkaido, which bring Japan’s ancient history to life. Here, you can learn about the daily lives of some of Japan's earliest inhabitants and their legacy.
Kitami once accounted for 70% of the worldwide mint production. Housed on the grounds of a former mint factory, the Kitami Mint Memorial Museum showcases the history of the mint industry in Hokkaido through videos and old equipment and includes a mint distillery hall where demonstrations and workshops are held.
The Toyohira River stretches for 45 miles (72 kilometers) through the Japanese island prefecture of Hokkaido, from Mt. Oizari (Oizaridake) through Jozankei to Sapporo before combining with the Ishikari River and emptying into Ishikari bay. In Sapporo, the river’s banks are lined with pathways, which are popular with joggers and walkers.
