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Hokkaido

Vast wildnerness and a winter wonderland

About Hokkaido
Photo: Atthle / Shutterstock.com

Top Attractions in Hokkaido

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Hokkaido Top 10

  1. Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
    1

    Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

    Activities
  2. Sounkyo Onsen Ice Fall Festival
    2

    Sounkyo Onsen Ice Fall Festival

    Activities
  3. Sapporo Access Guide
    3

    Sapporo Access Guide

    Sapporo
  4. Sapporo August Festival
    4

    Sapporo August Festival

    Sapporo
  5. Asahikawa Winter Festival
    5

    Asahikawa Winter Festival

    Asahikawa
  6. Hokkai Bon Odori
    6

    Hokkai Bon Odori

    Sapporo
  7. Hakodate Fish Market
    7

    Hakodate Fish Market

    Hakodate
  8. Hitsujigaoka Snow Park
    8

    Hitsujigaoka Snow Park

    Sapporo
  9. Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival
    9

    Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival

    Activities
  10. Hiking Mt. Yotei
    10

    Hiking Mt. Yotei

    Kutchan

Upcoming Hokkaido Events

Swatch Nines Snow 2026
Activities

Swatch Nines Snow 2026

Early - Late Apr

In April 2026, Swatch Nines SNOW will make its Asian debut in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture. Known for merging freestyle..

Otaru Umeshu Festival 2026
Culture

Otaru Umeshu Festival 2026

Mid Apr - Early May

Each year, Hokkaido's Tanaka Sake Brewing Kikkogura hosts the Otaru Umeshu Festival, which serves as a celebration of this much-loved..

3 Free Entry
Dogtooth Violets at Totsushozan 2026
Activities

Dogtooth Violets at Totsushozan 2026

Mid Apr - Early May

Katakuri, or dogtooth violets, grow in abundance during spring in numerous parts of Japan. If you're looking for one of the..

2 Free Entry
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Where to eat in Hokkaido

Hakodate Fish Market
Food

Hakodate Fish Market

Bonson Lam

If the thought of eating a still alive squid will make you squirm, there are other alternatives to get close to the freshest seafood..

6
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Places to stay in Hokkaido

Lake Toya
Accommodation

Lake Toya

Matt Stormont

A camping trip on the shores of stunning Lake Toya, site of the 2008 G8 Summit and one of Japan's natural treasures.

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Latest Hokkaido Reports

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About Hokkaido

Okinawa Nagasaki Fukuoka Saga Kumamoto Kagoshima Miyazaki Oita Ehime Kochi Tokushima Kagawa Yamaguchi Hiroshima Okayama Tottori Shimane Hyogo Kyoto Osaka Wakayama Nara Shiga Mie Fukui Ishikawa Toyama Gifu Aichi Nagano Shizuoka Niigata Yamanashi Kanagawa Tokyo Saitama Gunma Tochigi Chiba Ibaraki Fukushima Miyagi Yamagata Iwate Akita Aomori Hokkaido
Region Hokkaido
Island Hokkaido
Capital Sapporo
Population 5,506,419
Area 83,424.22 km²

In 2014, Hokkaido (北海道, Hokkaidō) defended its number 1 position on the annual Prefectural Attractiveness Ranking (conducted by the Brand Research Institute) for the 6th year running, virtually making it a must-visit if you have time. First inhabited by the Ainu people, Hokkaido has its own very unique culture.

Some of the most delicious food in Japan can be found in Hokkaido, including seafood, miso ramen, agricultural products, and meat (especially mutton and lamb).

In terms of places to visit, Hokkaido isn’t just the winter resort many believe it to be, although the slopes in the Niseko area are among the best ski resorts in the world. Escape the heat and enjoy the beautiful lavender fields in Furano in the summer, while the fun Asahiyama Zoo and stunning Shiretoko Peninsula are just two of the many popular tourist destinations of Hokkaido.

Around Hokkaido

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