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Regions of Japan

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
  • Hokkaido
Sub-zero temperatures and the greatest of outdoor environments, complemented by sizzling soul food and warm-hearted welcomes. 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
Tohoku
  • Aomori
  • Akita
  • Iwate
  • Yamagata
  • Miyagi
  • Fukushima
Sleek apple-red and electric-green shinkansen whisk you up to a haven of fresh powder snow, fresh fruit and fearsome folk legends Fearsome festivals, fresh powder and vast fruit orchards—the rugged northern territory of Tohoku offers a fresh perspective on travel in Japan
Hokuriku Shinetsu
Hokuriku Shinetsu
  • Niigata
  • Toyama
  • Ishikawa
  • Fukui
  • Nagano
Mountains and sea meet in one of Japan's wildest regions, and the result is sheer beauty. Once largely inaccessible, Hokuriku is now reachable by shinkansen from Tokyo in a matter of hours An easily accessible slice of rural Japan offering unrivaled mountainscapes and coastlines, endless outdoor adventure and amazing ocean fare
Kanto
Kanto
  • Tokyo
  • Kanagawa
  • Chiba
  • Saitama
  • Ibaraki
  • Tochigi
  • Gunma
Characterized by the constant buzz of the world's most populous metropolitan area, the Kanto region is surprisingly green with an array of escapes that include mountainous getaways and subtropical islands Experience diversity at its fullest, from the neon of Tokyo to the ski slopes of Gunma, exotic wildlife of the Ogasawara Islands and cultural heritage of Kamakura
Tokai
Tokai
  • Yamanashi
  • Shizuoka
  • Gifu
  • Aichi
  • Mie
Served by the shinkansen line that connects Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the Tokai region provides plenty of interesting diversions and easy excursions Tokai means "eastern sea," and this region stretches east from Tokyo to Kyoto and includes blockbuster attractions such as Mt. Fuji and Takayama
Kansai
Kansai
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Shiga
  • Hyogo
  • Nara
  • Wakayama
From raucous nights out to outdoor thrills to peaceful reverie, trying to categorize the Kansai region is a futile task The Kansai region is one of extreme contrasts—the neon lights of Osaka and glittering Kobe nightscape, the peaceful realms of Shiga, Wakayama and Nara, and the cultured refinement of Kyoto
Chugoku
Chugoku
  • Tottori
  • Shimane
  • Okayama
  • Hiroshima
  • Yamaguchi
Less-traveled and delightfully inaccessible at times, the Chugoku region is a reminder that the journey is sometimes more important than the destination Welcome to Japan's warm and friendly western frontier, where the weather is warmer and the pace of life is slower
Shikoku
Shikoku
  • Tokushima
  • Kagawa
  • Ehime
  • Kochi
Providing the stage for literary classics, fevered dancing and natural wonders Island-hopping, cycling, soul-warming spiritual strolling and red-hot dancing—the island of Shikoku gets you up and moving
Kyushu
Kyushu
  • Fukuoka
  • Saga
  • Nagasaki
  • Oita
  • Kumamoto
  • Miyazaki
  • Kagoshima
Easily reached by land, sea and air, the dynamic Kyushu prefectures are bubbling with energy, culture and activity The southern island of Kyushu is home to volcanoes ranging from sleepy to smoky, succulent seafood, steaming hot springs and the country's hottest entrepreneurial town
Okinawa
Okinawa
  • Okinawa
Ruins and recreated castles of the Ryukyu kings nestle amid magnificent beaches in Okinawa, a diver's paradise teeming with an amazing array of coral and undersea life 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

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DESTINATION Hokkaido Lose yourself in the wilderness of Hokkaido

Explore the vibrant nature of this expansive island in one of the numerous outdoor pursuits available, and sample the rich culture and mouthwatering eateries of its cosmopolitan cities

Most people travel to Hokkaido for its unrivaled powder and snow sports, yet it offers innumerable activities throughout the year. Head to national parks with stunning lakes and mountains for hiking, mountain biking and rafting. See animals and birds in their natural habitats and bathe in volcanic waters surrounded by jaw-dropping views. Take in the colors of the numerous flower farms and taste the fruits of the land and sea that Hokkaido is renowned for.

How to Get There

Hokkaido is accessible by plane from all major airports in Japan and is one of the world's busiest air hubs. It's also possible to take the train from Tokyo, and the journey is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

The fastest way to reach Hokkaido is by plane. The journey from Tokyo to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport takes around 90 minutes. By train, it takes around eight hours. First take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo. There are also a number of long-distance ferries from Honshu that go to ports 40-60 minutes from Sapporo. These are a cheap but time-consuming option. 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

    Hit slopes covered in powder only dreamt about by wintersport lovers
    Take in the riotous colors of Hokkaido’s numerous flower farms
    Taste the plentiful seafood and fresh seasonal produce of the region
    Explore the unspoiled wilderness of Hokkaido’s national parks

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Seasonal Highlights

  • Spring

    Hokkaido comes alive when the snows begin to melt. Spring brings cherry blossoms and flowers aplenty, whilst the more remote areas of the island become easily accessible again.

  • Summer

    Summer is lavender season in Hokkaido, and there are dozens of other flower festivals as well. The final mountain snows melt, allowing hiking, mountain biking and rafting galore.

  • Autumn

    In fall, view spectacular illuminations in the cities and fall foliage in the national parks. Taste Hokkaido`s produce when it’s freshly harvested.

  • Winter

    Sapporo knows how to do winter—snow sports, monkeys in onsen, ice drifts and massive snow festivals.

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