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Hokkaido Tohoku Hokuriku
Shinetsu Kanto Tokai Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa Islands SAPPORO TOKYO NAGOYA OSAKA FUKUOKA FURANO KUSHIRO AOMORI SENDAI FUKUSHIMA NIKKO HAKONE SADO TAKAYAMA KANAZAWA ISE KYOTO NARA HIROSHIMA NAGASAKI KAGOSHIMA NAHA

Hokkaido

Hokkaido

Japan's great white north offers wild, white winters and bountiful summers—a haven for dedicated foodies, nature lovers and outdoor adventure fans seeking an adrenaline rush Japan's great white north offers wild, white winters and bountiful summers—a haven for dedicated foodies, nature lovers and outdoor adventure fans seeking an adrenaline rush

Tohoku

Aomori
Akita
Iwate
Yamagata
Miyagi
Fukushima

Fearsome festivals, fresh powder snow and vast fruit orchards—the rugged territory of Tohoku offers a new perspective on travel in Japan. Fearsome festivals, fresh powder snow and vast fruit orchards—the rugged territory of Tohoku offers a new perspective on travel in Japan.

Hokuriku Shinetsu

Niigata
Toyama
Ishikawa
Fukui
Nagano

An easily accessible slice of rural Japan offering unrivaled mountainscapes and coastlines, endless outdoor adventure and amazing ocean fare. An easily accessible slice of rural Japan offering unrivaled mountainscapes and coastlines, endless outdoor adventure and amazing ocean fare.

Kanto

Tokyo
Kanagawa
Chiba
Saitama
Ibaraki
Tochigi
Gunma

Jump from the neon glow of Tokyo to Gunma's mountain retreats, Kamakura's cultural heritage and the Ogasawara Islands' exotic wildlife. Jump from the neon glow of Tokyo to Gunma's mountain retreats, Kamakura's cultural heritage and the Ogasawara Islands' exotic wildlife.

Tokai

Yamanashi
Shizuoka
Gifu
Aichi
Mie

Hallmark attractions such as Mt. Fuji and Takayama coexist with major cities and famous heritage in the center of Japan. Hallmark attractions such as Mt. Fuji and Takayama coexist with major cities and famous heritage in the center of Japan.

Kansai

Kyoto
Osaka
Shiga
Hyogo
Nara
Wakayama

The Kansai region is one of contrasts, from the glittering lights of Osaka and Kobe to the cultural treasures of Kyoto and Nara. The Kansai region is one of contrasts, from the glittering lights of Osaka and Kobe to the cultural treasures of Kyoto and Nara.

Chugoku

Tottori
Shimane
Okayama
Hiroshima
Yamaguchi

Welcome to Japan's less-explored western frontier, where the weather is warmer and the pace of life is slower. Welcome to Japan's less-explored western frontier, where the weather is warmer and the pace of life is slower.

Shikoku

Tokushima
Kagawa
Ehime
Kochi

Island-hopping, cycling, soul-warming spiritual strolling and red-hot dancing—the island of Shikoku gets you up and moving. Island-hopping, cycling, soul-warming spiritual strolling and red-hot dancing—the island of Shikoku gets you up and moving.

Kyushu

Fukuoka
Saga
Nagasaki
Oita
Kumamoto
Miyazaki
Kagoshima

The southern island of Kyushu is home to hot springs, rugged geography, undeveloped beaches and volcanoes ranging from sleepy to smoky. The southern island of Kyushu is home to hot springs, rugged geography, undeveloped beaches and volcanoes ranging from sleepy to smoky.

Okinawa

Okinawa

Fly to Okinawa and discover a distinct island culture born of subtropical sun, white sand, coral, mangrove jungles and the age of the Ryukyu Kings Fly to Okinawa and discover a distinct island culture born of subtropical sun, white sand, coral, mangrove jungles and the age of the Ryukyu Kings

Things To Do

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DESTINATION Hokkaido Explore Japan's northernmost prefecture

OVERVIEW

The wilderness of Hokkaido provides numerous outdoor pursuits, and its cities, nestled against the backdrop of mountains and lakes, provide culinary delights and a dose of culture

Hokkaido offers many things to do throughout the year. The mild weather in summer is great for exploring the green hills and national parks. Visit the lakes, rivers and mountains for hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and rafting. See animals and birds in their natural habitats and bathe in volcanic waters with picturesque backdrops. In winter you can enjoy world-class skiing at the many resorts on the island. Alternative winter sports, like snowshoeing, dog-sledding and snowmobiling, are also available and you can attend one of the grandest festivals in Japan—the Sapporo Snow Festival.

How to Get There

Hokkaido is accessible by plane from all major airports in Japan to New Chitose Airport outside of Sapporo. It's also possible to take the bullet train from Tokyo; the journey is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

The fastest way to reach Hokkaido is by plane. Flights from Tokyo to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport take about 90 minutes. By train, it takes around eight hours from Tokyo. Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, then transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo. There are also some inexpensive long-distance ferries from Honshu to ports outside of Sapporo. Niigata, Oarai (Ibaraki Prefecture), Sendai, Nagoya, Maizuru (Kyoto Prefecture) and Tsuruga (Fukui Prefecture) all have ferries that go to Hokkaido.

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Don't Miss

Hitting the slopes of Niseko and Rusutsu—a dream for powder lovers

The rolling hills of Hokkaido’s lavender farms

Fresh seafood and produce: sea urchin, sushi, melon, corn, ice cream, and more

The unspoiled wilderness of Hokkaido’s national parks

Good Day Hokkaido

Spring

As the snow melts, Hokkaido transforms. Hokkaido's northern location means its cherry blossom season is later in the year, in May.
Summer

Summer is lavender season in Hokkaido, and there are dozens of other flower festivals too. The last mountain snows melt, allowing opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, rafting and other green season sports.
Autumn

In fall, view spectacular illuminations in the cities and colorful foliage in the national parks. Taste Hokkaido's seasonal produce when it is freshly harvested.
Winter

Hokkaido is synonymous with skiing in Japan. Don't miss a chance to glide down the slopes of the Niseko, Rusutsu or Furano resorts after a fresh snowfall. Sapporo's world-renowned winter snow festival, with its massive snow and ice sculptures, attracts thousands of people every year.