Hokkaido Travel Tips

What should you know before your first trip to Hokkaido? Check out this article for everything you need to know before you go. When it comes to traveling to Hokkaido, the first thing that comes to mind is probably skiing in winter. However, Hokkaido is a summer resort with mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, and abundant natural resources. It is a vast land with a sparse population and rich products, where people carefully protect the most primitive and natural land and ecology. If you want to eat and play naturally in Japan, Hokkaido is the place to be! Tourist Areas Central Hokkaido: Including Sapporo and Otaru, this is the most densely populated central area, where you can experience the bustling yet uncrowded Sapporo and the retro and romantic Otaru. Southern Hokkaido: Including Hakodate and Shikotsu-Toya National Park, the former has the famous historical building Goryokaku, and the latter is known as the Natural Volcano Museum. The famous Niseko Ski Resort will be explained separately in the skiing section. Eastern Hokkaido: Mainly composed of Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, Akan-Mashu National Park, and Shiretoko National Park, it is the best area to experience the "great" nature of Hokkaido. Travel Time Hokkaido is a highly seasonal destination. Although there are sights to see and outdoor activities to enjoy all year round, it is important to know your "goal" in advance. Peak Season February: The peak skiing season, and also the time of the "Three Great Winter Festivals" (Sapporo Snow Festival, Asahikawa Winter Festival, and Otaru Snow Light Path Festival). Accommodation prices in Sapporo and nearby ski resorts may increase by 50% to 200%, so be sure to book in advance.