With more than 100 ski resorts and an abundance of fine champagne powder, winter sports tend to top the list of things to do in Hokkaido. However, outdoor adventures abound year-round on the island, with its rugged and scenic wilderness of mountains, volcanoes, lakes, hot springs, forests, and flower fields. Japan’s northernmost island also offers some of the country's best food (mainly seafood, ramen, and dairy products), charming coastal villages, indigenous Ainu culture, hundreds of onsens, and the largest nightlife district north of Tokyo in its capital, Sapporo.
The best time to visit Hokkaido varies depending on what you want to do. Many visitors come to the island in the summer, when blooming fields of sunflowers, lavender, poppies, and other flowers paint the countryside and events like the Yosakoi Soran Festival (which features traditional dance competitions) provide entertainment. Winter is also popular, thanks to the island’s ski slopes and the Sapporo Snow Festival, which is typically held in early February.
Japan boasts clean, efficient public transportation, and Hokkaido is no exception. You can get to all major places of interest by public train or bus, though you may want to hop a short flight if you’re traveling a long distance across the island. There is also a bus specifically designed for tourists, the Eastern Hokkaido Sightseeing Bus, which offers two different routes and makes stops at many attractions, such as Lake Akan and the Asahiyama Zoo.
Hokkaido is the homeland of the Ainu, one of Japan’s two Indigenous peoples. You can learn about Ainu culture and history in a number of places, including the new National Ainu Museum and Park, which is located in the Shiraoi District. In Sapporo, you can also see Ainu handicrafts at the Ainu Culture Promotion Center or enjoy Ainu cuisine at Umizora no Haru, a restaurant that adds a modern twist, or at Kerapirka, which also hosts live music.
