Hokkaido

Kitahiroshima City

Kitahiroshima City lies about 30 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido's main air gateway, and is also close to Sapporo, in the Minami-Sorachi area. The city is home to several parks known for cherry blossoms, drawing flower-viewing crowds each spring. Having grown as a comfortable commuter suburb, it offers a livable townscape in harmony with abundant nature, and interest in the city has grown further in recent years with the opening of Hokkaido Ballpark F Village. Community-driven events are also thriving, reflecting a town built through active citizen participation.

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Shibecha Town

Shibecha Town, in the Kawakami district of eastern Hokkaido, is a gateway to the core areas of Kushiro Wetland National Park, Japan's largest wetland. Lake Toro, a serene lake floating within the wetland, is popular for canoeing and rowboat excursions where visitors can encounter wildlife up close, and in winter, ice fishing for smelt (wakasagi) on the frozen lake is a beloved local activity. Vast pastureland, including Oku-Harubetsu Ranch, adds a pastoral charm to the dairy farming landscape. Known as a stop on the scenic Kushiro Marshland Norokko sightseeing train, Shibecha is a well-connected base for exploring eastern Hokkaido's greatest...

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Kenbuchi Town

Kenbuchi Town, a small farming village south of Shibetsu in the northern Kamikawa region, is nationally celebrated as 'Ehon no Sato' — Picture Book Village. The whole community embraces its identity as a picture book village, and 'Ehon no Sato Family Resort Village' offers auto-camping and cottage stays amid lush nature overlooking a lake. Farm produce stands and local specialty shopping round out the experience, all under the town's catchphrase — 'Everyone grows to love this town' — reflecting its community-wide commitment to warm hospitality. A genuinely heartwarming stop for any Hokkaido road trip.

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Biratori Town

Biratori Town lies in Hokkaido's Hidaka region, home to Nibutani, a center of Ainu cultural heritage, and a farming community set against the foothills of the Hidaka Mountains. The town's signature products — Biratori Wagyu beef and Biratori tomatoes — are celebrated as some of Hokkaido's finest branded foods, and in early summer, the town's symbolic lily-of-the-valley fields burst into delicate bloom. Historic sites such as Yoshitsune Shrine dot the area, offering visitors a journey along the Hidaka road where Ainu culture, agriculture, and history harmonize.

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Rausu Town

Rausu Town lies on the eastern side of the Shiretoko Peninsula, serving as the eastern gateway to Shiretoko, registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2005. The Nemuro Strait stretching before the town is a treasure trove of marine life — orcas, whales, and dolphins — making whale-watching tours popular from summer through autumn. The prized Rausu kelp harvested from Shiretoko's deep waters is renowned nationwide as one of Japan's finest dashi kelps, and freshly landed seafood is another major draw. Combining majestic nature with views of the Shiretoko mountain range and the lively energy of a fishing...

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Bibai City

Bibai City lies in the Sorachi region of central Hokkaido, a nature-rich city with a history rooted in coal mining and home to Lake Miyajima, a paradise for migratory birds. Visitors can enjoy a walk where art and history harmonize, from buildings preserving the legacy of the coal mining era to Arte Piazza Bibai, an open-air gallery dotted with sculptures by Kan Yasuda. The city's rich soil produces excellent Bibai rice, and local food culture includes torimeshi (chicken rice), a dish with roots in the pioneer era. Offering discoveries in every season, Bibai is a hidden travel hub in the...

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Toyotomi Town

Toyotomi Town lies in the Soya region at Hokkaido's northernmost reaches, a nature-rich town blessed with dairy farming and the Ramsar-listed Sarobetsu Wetland. Toyotomi Onsen, one of Japan's northernmost hot spring resorts, is known for its rare oil-bearing spring water and draws therapeutic bathers from across the country seeking relief from atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions. In early summer, the Sarobetsu plain bursts into bloom with alpine and wetland flowers against a sweeping panorama of Mt. Rishiri-Fuji. Dairy products made from the region's quality milk are another local specialty, making Toyotomi a base for exploring northern Hokkaido's grand nature...

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Samani Town

Samani Town lies along the Pacific coast of Hokkaido's Hidaka region, with the Hidaka Mountains at its back and the deep blue Pacific Ocean before it. The area centered on the town's symbol, Mt. Apoi, is recognized as the Apoi Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark that draws visitors for hiking and alpine plant viewing. Known as a home of famed Hidaka thoroughbreds, the town carries on a living culture built around horses. Fresh seafood drawn from both mountain and sea rounds out the appeal of a destination where visitors can enjoy Pacific Ocean scenery alongside the geological wonders of the...

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Kamikawa Town

Kamikawa Town lies near the geographic center of Hokkaido, serving as the gateway to Daisetsuzan National Park amid majestic natural surroundings. At its heart is Sounkyo, one of Hokkaido's grandest gorges, home to spectacular waterfalls, the Kurodake Ropeway, and Sounkyo Onsen. Neighboring Asahikawa City, the town is also a convenient access point to Asahiyama Zoo. With a thriving forestry industry drawing on its rich woodlands and sake breweries using pristine water from Mt. Daisetsu, Kamikawa is one of Hokkaido's premier mountain resort towns, where grand nature meets traditional craftsmanship.

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Teshikaga Town

Teshikaga Town lies at the heart of Akan-Mashu National Park in eastern Hokkaido, a gateway to eastern Hokkaido blessed with lakes and hot springs. The town is home to two celebrated lakes — the mystical Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo, one of Hokkaido's largest caldera lakes — with distinctive hot spring towns such as Kawayu Onsen and Mashu Onsen dotting their shores. In winter, fantastical scenes unfold as steam rises from vents on the frozen surface of Lake Kussharo and whooper swans gather on its snowy shores. Combining rich nature, Ainu culture, and quality hot springs, Teshikaga is a stay-and-explore...

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Shiraoi Town

Shiraoi Town lies along the Pacific coast of southern Hokkaido's Iburi region, a town shaped by Ainu culture and rich natural surroundings. It is home to Lake Kuttara, a caldera lake famed for its exceptional clarity, and Kojohama Onsen, a hot spring resort with a history of over 100 years, offering natural beauty and relaxation in every season. Local seafood specialties such as Kojohama cod roe (tarako) have also made Shiraoi a noted destination for food lovers. In 2020, Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) opened here, establishing the town as a hub for Ainu culture that draws visitors from...

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Niki Town

Niki Town, in the Yoichi district of the Shiribeshi region adjacent to Otaru and Yoichi (01_0020), is celebrated as 'Hokkaido's Fruit Village'. As Hokkaido's largest cherry-growing area, the town's 16+ u-pick farms welcome visitors from late June to early July to harvest rich, sweet varieties including Sato Nishiki, Napoleon and Benisayaka cherries direct from the branch. The annual 'Niki Sakuranbo (Cherry) Festival' in July is a beloved regional event. Autumn brings successive grape picking (Niagara, Delaware, Pione, Gorby and Rosario Bianco), apple and prune picking — offering a near-continuous harvest experience from spring to autumn. 'Furusato Park Furu-Niki' is a...

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Koshimizu Town

Koshimizu Town, in the Shari district of the Okhotsk region, midway between the Shiretoko Peninsula and Abashiri, is home to Hokkaido's most celebrated wildflower coastline — 'Koshimizu Primeval Flower Park'. This extraordinary 8-kilometre strip of natural dunes between the Okhotsk Sea and Ramsar-listed 'Lake Tofutsu' bursts into bloom from late April through September, with around 200 species of wildflowers peaking mid-June to late July. The town's flower (Ezo Day Lily, deep orange), alongside Ezo Lily (yellow) and Rosa rugosa (pink), carpet the dune face in layers of colour against the backdrop of Mt. Sharidake and the deep-blue Okhotsk Sea. A...

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Nakatombetsu Town

Nakatombetsu Town, in the Soya region of Hokkaido, is a quiet mountain town of around 1,600 residents famed for its extraordinary dark skies and stargazing. Marketed as 'Amanogawa-no-Sato' (Milky Way Village), the town's remote mountain setting keeps light pollution minimal, making the Milky Way visible to the naked eye on clear summer nights. Nakatombetsu is highly regarded among astrophotographers for its pre-dawn horizons where the Milky Way arcs over the pastoral Soya landscape. 'Lake Panke', a modest 4km-perimeter wetland park with walking trails, offers skunk cabbage bloom in June, autumn foliage and a winter visit from whooper swans. The town...

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Toyoura Town

Toyoura Town, in the Abuta district of the Iburi region of Hokkaido, faces the shores of Funka Bay (Uchiura Bay) adjacent to Lake Toya (01_0040) and Sobetsu (01_0092). The town is famous across Hokkaido as the birthplace of 'Toyoura Strawberries' — a beloved local brand developed over more than 80 years of cultivation research, producing large, intensely sweet-tart field-grown berries that peak from late May to July. Strawberry picking at local farms is a popular family activity for Hokkaido road-trippers on the Toya-Muroran route. 'Toyoura Strawberry Sherbet', the signature product at the Michi-no-Eki Toyoura roadside station, captures the pure flavor...

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Hamatombetsu Town

Hamatombetsu Town, a quiet harbor town of around 3,600 residents on the Okhotsk coast of the Soya region, is home to Hokkaido's most internationally celebrated birdwatching destination — 'Lake Kutcharo', a 13km² brackish Ramsar Convention wetland (registered 1931) that serves as one of Japan's most important staging posts for the whooper swan migration. Every spring (April–May) and autumn (October–November), thousands of whooper swans rest at Lake Kutcharo during their annual migration between Siberia and Japan. The pre-dawn spectacle of swans rising from the mist-draped lake in golden light is one of Hokkaido's most celebrated natural photography moments. The 'Hamatombetsu Kutcharo-ko...

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Akaigawa Village

Akaigawa Village, in the Yoichi district of the Shiribeshi region of Hokkaido, is a small community of around 1,100 residents formed over 1,100 years ago when a volcanic caldera collapsed, creating an extraordinarily rare bowl-shaped farming landscape enclosed on all sides by mountains. A member of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Japan' association, Akaigawa's caldera basin floor supports potato, pumpkin and rice farming, with the Akaigawa River, pasturelands and mountain ridges combining in a landscape often called 'Hokkaido's original scenery'. The internationally celebrated 'Kiroro Snow World' ski resort, nestled in the mountains above the caldera, draws skiers and snowboarders from...

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Kamifurano Town

Kamifurano Town, in the central Sorachi region of Hokkaido, stands alongside Furano (01_0027), Nakafurano (01_0028) and Biei (01_0029) as one of Hokkaido's great flower destinations. Kamifurano holds the distinction of being the 'Birthplace of Hokkaido Lavender' — local farmers first cultivated lavender for fragrance oil here in the 1940s, long before it became Hokkaido's iconic flower. The free-admission 'Hinode Park Lavender Garden' offers sweeping views of lavender fields set against the Mt. Tokachi range backdrop. The annual 'Lavender Festa Kamifurano' in July illuminates the park at night in one of the region's most photogenic summer events. The 'Tokachidake Lavender Road'...

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Esashi Town

Esashi Town (えさしちょう), on the eastern Okhotsk coast of the Soya region of Hokkaido, is nationally famous as the town with Japan's highest hairy crab (kegani) catch. The town's celebrated 'post-drift-ice hairy crabs' (esashi kegani), caught from March to May when the winter sea ice retreats, are prized for their extraordinarily dense, rich flesh — the result of crabs feeding abundantly on plankton that blooms beneath the winter ice. Known as 'the king of crabs' in Japan, these crabs are a signature delicacy of the Okhotsk region. The annual 'Esashi Kani Matsuri / Okhotsk Esashi Umaimo Festival' in July is...

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Sobetsu Town

Sobetsu Town, on the southeastern shore of Lake Toya (entry 01_0040) in the Iburi region of Hokkaido, is home to one of the world's most remarkable geological phenomena — 'Showa-Shinzan', a 398-metre volcano that rose from a wheat field in just two years (1943–1945) during World War II. Designated as a National Special Natural Monument, its dramatic birth was documented in extraordinary detail by a local postmaster, Masao Mimatsu, whose hand-drawn 'Mimatsu Diagram' remains a landmark of world volcanology. Immediately adjacent, the active volcano 'Mt. Usu' (Usuzan) offers a ropeway to its 737-metre summit, where panoramic views sweep across Lake...

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Kuromatsunai Town

Kuromatsunai Town, in the southern part of the Shiribeshi region of Hokkaido, is known as the 'Home of the Northernmost Beech Forest' — a small, nature-rich community of around 2,700 residents. The 'Utasai Beech Forest', designated a National Natural Monument in 1927, is one of the world's northernmost natural beech forests, internationally recognized for its exceptional botanical significance. The forest presents dramatically different faces through the seasons — vivid spring greens, deep summer canopy, golden autumn foliage, and serene snow-laden winter silence — with guided walks available year-round. 'Yukino-Oka' (Michi-no-Eki Kuromatsunai) serves the town's celebrated soft-serve ice cream made from...

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Kiyosato Town

Kiyosato Town, in the Shari district of the Okhotsk region of Hokkaido, is an agricultural and nature town nestled at the foot of Mt. Sharidake at the base of the Shiretoko Peninsula. The most celebrated attraction is 'Sakura Falls' — a modest 2.5-metre waterfall on the upper Shari River where, every year from June to August, cherry salmon (sakuramasu) perform their extraordinary spawning migration leaps. Visitors watch in genuine awe as fish attempt the waterfall again and again, exhausted but relentless — a deeply moving display of natural instinct. Free to visit and celebrated nationally on TV news, Sakura Falls...

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Sarufutsu Village

Sarufutsu Village, a small fishing community of around 2,600 residents on the Sea of Okhotsk coast in the Soya region of Hokkaido, is famously known as 'Japan's Richest Village'. The secret is its extraordinary scallop industry — since a pioneering juvenile scallop release program launched in the 1970s transformed the local waters, Sarufutsu has produced some of Japan's finest scallops and per-capita incomes among the highest in the country. The scale of the village's wealth is reflected in stories of luxury homes ('scallop mansions') built by fishing families and even children receiving mini-cars as gifts. Beyond its marine heritage, 'Esanuka...

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Muroran City

Muroran City, on the Iburi peninsula of southwestern Hokkaido, is the industrial heartland of Hokkaido — a city where massive steel, chemical and oil refineries cluster on a dramatic harbor peninsula jutting into the Pacific Ocean. After dark, the resulting 'industrial nightscape' — designated as a Japan Night View Heritage site — is a genuinely spectacular fusion of harbor reflections and factory lights, a sight that has become increasingly celebrated on social media in recent years. 'Hakucho Bridge' (White Swan Bridge), spanning 1,380 metres as the longest suspension bridge in eastern Japan, offers dramatic day and night panoramas of Muroran...

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Mashike Town

Mashike Town, in the Rumoi sub-prefecture of Hokkaido, is a small Sea of Japan port town steeped in fishing heritage and sake-brewing history. Its greatest pride is 'Amaebi' (sweet shrimp — locally called Nanban Ebi), harvested from the rich waters off Mashike's coast, and celebrated every spring at the 'Mashike Spring Flavor Festival' where freshly landed shrimp, octopus and scallops are enjoyed at local prices. 'Kunitare Sake Brewery', founded in 1882, is Hokkaido's northernmost sake brewer — its magnificent Meiji-era wooden brewery buildings are still in active use and open for free tours. The towering 'Mt. Shokanbestu (1,492 m)' is...

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Rikubetsu Town

Rikubetsu Town, in the Ashoro district of eastern Hokkaido, is certified as Japan's coldest town — a small farming community of some 2,500 residents where January temperatures routinely plunge well below -30°C. Yet this extreme cold is the town's greatest pride and tourism asset. The pristine, light-pollution-free atmosphere creates extraordinary night skies, and the 'Ginga no Mori Observatory' (Galaxy Forest Observatory) houses one of Japan's largest 60-cm reflector telescopes — a mecca for stargazing enthusiasts. The winter festival 'Shibare Festival' features the legendary experience of waving a wet towel until it freezes solid in the air — a quintessentially Hokkaido...

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Kamishihoro Town

Kamishihoro Town, in the northeastern part of the Tokachi region, is renowned as an 'area of four-season wonder'. Naitai Highland Ranch is Japan's largest public pasture — approximately 1,700 hectares (equivalent to 358 Tokyo Domes) — where herds of cattle grazing on vast green hillsides and the sweeping panorama of the Tokachi mountains create one of Hokkaido's most spectacular viewpoints. The summit facility 'Naitai Terrace' offers a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view. Every spring (May), the 'Hokkaido Balloon Festival' fills the Tokachi sky with dozens of hot air balloons in Japan's largest such event — a truly breathtaking spectacle. 'Nukabira Gensen-kyo'...

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Higashikawa Town

Higashikawa Town, in the Kamikawa district of Hokkaido, made history in 1985 as Japan's first municipality to declare itself a 'Photo Town' — a distinctive cultural identity that blends art with the natural grandeur of the Daisetsuzan mountain range. As the gateway town to Asahidake Ropeway and the 2,291-metre summit of Asahidake, Higashikawa draws visitors seeking a seamless combination of mountain adventure, culinary tradition, and creative culture. The 'Higashikawa International Photography Festival', held every summer, is a prestigious global event that attracts photographers and enthusiasts from around the world. Uniquely, Higashikawa is Japan's only agriculture-based community without a centralized water...

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Urahoro Town

Urahoro Town sits at the eastern edge of the Tokachi region on the Pacific coast of Hokkaido — a small, nature-rich town where the wide sandy beaches of Tokachibutu meet the open Pacific Ocean. Urahoro Forest Park, selected as one of Japan's 100 Urban Parks, is a verdant park offering auto-camping, heated swimming pools, and sports facilities ideal for families. In recent years, Urahoro has attracted attention for its sturgeon (Chozame) aquaculture initiative — an effort to cultivate this once-native 'phantom fish' of the Tokachi River as a premium local food brand. Agriculture and dairy farming are also central to...

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Otoineppu Village

Otoineppu Village, a tiny community of around 600 residents in the Teshio district of northern Hokkaido, is one of the smallest municipalities in Hokkaido. Its greatest attraction is 'Otoineppu Soba' — a black buckwheat noodle made by grinding the entire buckwheat grain, outer hull and all, with stone millstones using heirloom varieties. The resulting jet-black noodle has an intense fragrance and rich depth of flavor, and was beloved by travelers as the legendary 'station soba' served at JR Otoineppu Station for generations. After a period of closure, a new craftsperson revived the tradition in 2025, making a visit here a...

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Shiranuka Town

Shiranuka Town, in the Shiranuka district of eastern Hokkaido, is home to Lake Shiraltoro — a coastal brackish lake beloved as a seasonal gathering place for whooper and tundra swans during migration. The area has deep roots in Ainu culture, with many Ainu-derived place names, and the 'Shiranuka Ainu Culture Global Dissemination' initiative is actively sharing this heritage with the world. 'Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koitoi' roadside station, adjacent to Koitoi Fishing Port, is a favorite stop for fresh local seafood — surf clams (hokki-gai), atka mackerel (socheya karrei), and shishamo smelt among them. Conveniently located on the Dohigashi Expressway between Kushiro...

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Betsukai Town

Betsukai Town, in the Nemuro Sub-prefecture of eastern Hokkaido, is home to the Notsuke Peninsula — Japan's longest sand spit at approximately 28 km, curling into the sea from the coast like a dragon's tail. Notsuke Bay, a Ramsar-registered wetland within the peninsula, shelters a rare and fragile ecosystem; the haunting forest of dead standing trees known as 'Todowara' and 'Narawara' is one of eastern Hokkaido's most surreal landscapes. In winter (January to March), Notsuke Bay freezes completely, creating the legendary 'Ice Horizon' (Koori Heisen) — an endless, white, flat expanse stretching to the horizon where ice walking tours and...

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Takikawa City

Takikawa City, in the Sorachi region of central Hokkaido, is home to one of Hokkaido's most celebrated rapeseed flower landscapes and Japan's largest gliding airfield. Each year from late May to early June, 180 hectares of rapeseed fields turn the city into a vast yellow carpet for the 'Takikawa Nanohana Festival,' attracting huge crowds from across Hokkaido and beyond. Takikawa is also renowned as Japan's premier gliding city — the 'Takikawa Aviation Glider Competition' is a major annual event, and visitor gliding experience flights are available. Rich agricultural produce nurtured by the Ishikari River, and spring landscapes ablaze with yellow...

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Urakawa Town

Urakawa Town is the central city of the Hidaka region and the heart of Hokkaido's Thoroughbred breeding industry — the 'Hidaka Horse Country.' Many of Japan's greatest GI race champions were born and raised here, and the sight of foals galloping across vast pasturelands is the defining landscape of the Hidaka road trip. Tourism ranches and riding facilities are plentiful, and hands-on horse experiences are enormously popular with foreign visitors. High-quality dairy products including yogurt are another Urakawa specialty, alongside 'Hidaka Kombu' — a premium variety of kelp. 'Urakawa Yushun Village AERU' lets visitors see retired racehorses up close, with...

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Nayoro City

Nayoro City, in the northern Kamikawa region of Hokkaido, is known as 'Japan's coldest city' — winter temperatures sometimes plunge below minus 30°C, and heavy snowfall defines the long winter months. Each February, the city hosts the 'Shibare Festival' (Shibare = the Hokkaido word for extreme cold), a unique celebration that turns the freezing temperatures into entertainment with ice sculptures, fireworks over snow, and a variety of winter events drawing visitors from across Japan. In summer, stunning sunflower fields at 'Seiry' and other locations bloom beautifully throughout the city. Nayoro's Kitasubaru Astronomical Observatory, with Hokkaido's largest sliding-roof dome, offers spectacular...

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Horokanai Town

Horokanai Town, in the Uryu district of northern Hokkaido, proudly holds the title of Japan's largest soba (buckwheat) cultivation area. In late August to early September, the rolling farmland is carpeted with pure white soba blossoms in a display that feels like the original, unspoiled Hokkaido landscape. 'Horokanai Soba' is of such exceptional quality that several local soba restaurants have been listed in the Michelin Guide. The 'New Soba Festival' held each autumn attracted soba lovers from across Japan. Lake Shumarinai — Japan's largest oxbow lake — is revered as the home of the elusive legendary fish 'Itou' (Huchen taimen),...

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Shibetsu City

Shibetsu City, in the Kamikawa region of northern Hokkaido, is Japan's top producer of Suffolk sheep and home to 'Hitsuji to Kumo no Oka' (Sheep and Cloud Hill). The 'World Sheep Museum' (Sekai no Menyokan) showcases around 15 sheep breeds from across the globe and lets visitors feed and get up close with these gentle animals. The pastoral spectacle of Suffolk sheep roaming freely across rolling summer hills is quintessentially Hokkaido, and hugely popular for photography. Shibetsu is also known as a 'Motorcar City' — multiple Japanese automakers maintain cold-weather test tracks here for winter performance testing. In winter, sub-minus-20°C...

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Okushiri Island (Okushiri Blue Sea)

Okushiri Island floats in the Sea of Japan off southwestern Hokkaido, about 100 km southwest of Hakodate. Its legendary 'Okushiri Blue' — an extraordinary water clarity that ranks among the world's most transparent coastal seas — makes this a destination for divers and snorkelers from Japan and abroad. The island's seafood is equally celebrated: sea urchin (bafun and murasaki), abalone, and yellowtail of the finest quality are among the prized products that have made Okushiri famous across Japan. 'Nabeturi Rock,' a dramatic natural stone arch sculpted by wave erosion, is the island's most iconic landmark and a favourite subject for...

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Hokkaido

Iwamizawa City

Iwamizawa City, the central city of Sorachi region in central Hokkaido, is home to Iwamizawa Park Rose Garden — Hokkaido's largest rose garden with over 10,000 roses spanning approximately 650 varieties. During the blooming season (June–September), the fragrant, color-filled garden draws visitors from across Hokkaido. In winter, Iwamizawa is celebrated for heavy snowfall that supports the Iwamizawa Kitamura Ski Resort, popular for family skiing. The city is also one of Hokkaido's premier ice hockey towns, with deep community roots in the sport and an enthusiastic local fan culture. Rich agricultural products, excellent access via the Doo-o Expressway, and a thriving...

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Shikaoi Town

Shikaoi Town, in the western Tokachi region, is home to Lake Shikaribetsu — Hokkaido's highest lake at 810 meters above sea level, sitting within Daisetsuzan National Park. Surrounded by primeval forest and harboring the endemic 'Miyabe char' fish, the lake's mystical scenery captivates visitors year-round. Each February, the frozen lake surface hosts 'Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan' — a temporary ice village built on the ice itself, featuring an open-air hot spring bath, an ice bar, an ice church, and other surreal experiences found nowhere else on Earth. This unique winter event has won the Suntory Award for Regional Culture. Summer brings...

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Engaru Town

Engaru Town, in the Monbetsu district of central Okhotsk, Hokkaido, is home to Sun Hill Engaru Park — one of Japan's largest cosmos flower fields. When over 10 million cosmos blooms carpet the roughly 10-hectare hillside from late August to late September, the park becomes one of Hokkaido's most celebrated floral destinations, drawing visitors from across Japan and beyond. The same hillside transforms into a sea of pink shibazakura (moss phlox) in spring (May–June), offering a completely different but equally spectacular display. Maruseppu Forest Park features 'Amayu No. 21' — a vintage steam locomotive that is a Hokkaido Heritage site...

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Horonobe Town

Horonobe Town, set on the 45th parallel in the Soya region of northernmost Hokkaido, is an agricultural town of sweeping dairy pastures and pristine wilderness. Its biggest draw is the Horonobe Reindeer Research Ranch — Japan's only facility where visitors can get up close with reindeer. The hands-on experience of feeding and petting these gentle animals is enormously popular, especially when baby reindeer are born from May to July. The vast Sarobetsu Wetlands, a Ramsar Convention-registered site, offer spectacular birdwatching and the unmistakable sense of wide-open northern Hokkaido. Sunsets over the pastures with distant Mount Rishiri silhouetted on the horizon,...

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Nakashibetsu Town

Nakashibetsu Town, in the Nemuro Sub-prefecture of eastern Hokkaido, is Japan's largest dairy farming region. The Kaiyodai Observatory (270 m elevation) is famed for its 330-degree panoramic view that makes you feel the actual curvature of the Earth — endless pasture, straight roads reaching the horizon, and open sky have made this a legendary destination for motorcyclists from across Japan. The combination of sunrise, sunset, and stargazing views from Kaiyodai is simply unmatched anywhere in Hokkaido. Yoroushi Hot Spring, a celebrated 'secret hot spring' hidden in deep nature, offers a tranquil retreat where steam rises into the forest air. With...

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Lake Miyajima

Lake Miyajima is a Ramsar-designated wetland and paradise for migratory birds, where up to 70,000 white-fronted geese (magan) gather each spring and autumn migration. The pre-dawn spectacle of tens of thousands of geese taking flight simultaneously from the lake surface — known as the 'magan scramble' — is one of Hokkaido's most profoundly moving natural events. Migration peaks in late March to early April and late September to early October, drawing birdwatchers and photographers from across Japan during these windows. The Miyajima-numa Waterfowl and Wetland Center on the lakeshore offers expert-guided insight into the ecology of these migratory visitors up...

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Shibetsu Town

Shibetsu Town in the Nemuro Sub-prefecture of eastern Hokkaido is celebrated as the 'Holy Land of Salmon' — a small fishing village with over 10,000 years of continuous salmon fishing history dating back to the Jomon period, recognized as Japan Heritage. The Shibetsu Salmon Science Museum is the world's largest salmon exhibit facility, where visitors can observe a spectacular variety of salmonids including sturgeon, Chinook salmon, and king salmon in massive tanks; in autumn, cherry salmon can be seen ascending the stream right outside the museum. Shibetsu is also a member of 'The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan' association, set...

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Mikasa City

Mikasa City, in the Sorachi region of central Hokkaido, is home to Mikasa Geopark — a registered Japan Geopark covering geological strata formed approximately 100 million years ago on an ancient seafloor. It is one of the world's greatest ammonite fossil sites, and the Mikasa City Museum displays impressive real fossil specimens. A fossil excavation program lets visitors dig up ammonite fossils themselves, a wildly popular hands-on activity for all ages. The ruins of the Sumitomo Betsubi Coal Mine, which preserves Hokkaido's largest coal mine headframe (hopper tower), have become a major draw for industrial heritage enthusiasts and urban exploration...

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Kitami City

Kitami City, in the Okhotsk region of eastern Hokkaido, is a proudly distinctive agricultural city — Japan's leading producer of both peppermint (hakkа) and onions. At its peak, Kitami peppermint once held a 70% share of the world market, earning the city the title 'capital of mint.' The Kitami Mint Museum traces this extraordinary history. Today, Kitami onions are Japan's top-yielding, and the autumn harvest season blankets vast fields in golden-yellow bulbs. Kitami is also 'Japan's curling city' — having sent athletes to three consecutive Winter Olympics (Turin 2006, PyeongChang 2018, and Beijing 2022). The city's fierce yakiniku (Japanese barbecue)...

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Erimo Town

Erimo Town, at the southern tip of the Hidaka region where the Hidaka Mountain Range plunges into the Pacific, is famous for Cape Erimo — a spectacular landscape of wind, waves, and rock. A reef stretches nearly 8 kilometers from the cape into the Pacific, and Erimo is one of Japan's windiest spots, with an average wind speed exceeding 10 m/s year-round. The 'Kaze no Yakata' (Wind Hall) lets visitors experience simulated 25 m/s gales in a popular hands-on exhibit. Around 600 spotted seals (Zenikataseal) inhabit the rocky reefs near the cape, visible through binoculars resting on the sun-warmed rocks....

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Esashi Town

Esashi Town, in the Hiyama Sub-prefecture at the far southwestern tip of Hokkaido, is a historic port town steeped in culture. Esashi Oiwake, one of Japan's three great folk songs, is a haunting, elegiac melody performed with great virtuosity, and the Esashi Oiwake National Competition held each September draws master singers from across the country. Esashi is part of Japan Heritage 'Ikimen' — the network of Kitamaebune (merchant ship) port towns that thrived on herring trade in the Edo period. The Kaiyo Maru Memorial Museum, housing a full-scale replica of the Boshin War-era warship, adds historical drama as the setting...

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Hamanaka Town

Hamanaka Town in the Nemuro Sub-prefecture of eastern Hokkaido encompasses the Kiritappu Wetland (Biwaase Wetland) — a Ramsar-designated wetland of approximately 2,800 hectares. Elevated wooden boardwalks wind through the marsh, and from June through July the wetland transforms into a spectacular sea of blooms: Ezo daylilies, yellow pond lilies, and iris put on a dazzling show. Red-crowned cranes, white-tailed eagles, and Blakiston's fish owls are among the rare wildlife residents. Hamanaka is also the birthplace of Monkey Punch, creator of the iconic manga Lupin III, and the town celebrates this heritage with dedicated exhibits. Fresh oysters, scallops, and kombu from...

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Date City

Date City, in the Iburi region of southwestern Hokkaido, is nicknamed 'the Shonan of Hokkaido' for its remarkably mild climate. The city was founded by the Watari-Date clan from the Sendai Domain, and its Edo-period heritage lends it a gentler, more refined atmosphere than much of Hokkaido. The Kitakogane Shell Mound (a national historic site) preserves Jomon-era traces. One of Hokkaido's few areas where plum trees thrive, Date stages a rare and delightful plum blossom season in spring. With Mt. Usu, Mt. Showa-shinzan, and Lake Toya visible on the horizon, the city enjoys one of the best panoramic positions in...

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Akkeshi Town

Akkeshi Town in the Kushiro region of eastern Hokkaido is Japan's only town that harvests oysters year-round, thanks to the rich nutrients and abundant plankton of Akkeshi Bay. Akkeshi oysters are renowned for their plump, meaty flesh and intense, complex flavor — widely hailed as 'Japan's finest oysters.' At the Michi-no-Eki Akkeshi Gourmet Park, visitors can feast on grilled, raw, and rice-dish preparations of the prized bivalve. Akkeshi Distillery's single malt whisky is another rising star, having earned high marks at international spirits competitions. Lake Akkeshi and the Bekanbeushi Wetland are Ramsar-designated, sheltering red-crowned cranes and a remarkable diversity of...

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Tsurui Village

Tsurui Village, in Kushiro District of eastern Hokkaido, is celebrated as 'the village where you can see red-crowned cranes closest in Japan' — home to the protected Special Natural Monument tancho (Japanese crane). Despite a population of just 2,400, Tsurui has international renown as a birdwatching mecca, with the Tsurui-Ito Tancho Sanctuary and Tsurumi-dai observation point offering breathtaking close-up views of Japan's most majestic birds. Adjacent to Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, the vast wetland landscape is dramatic year-round, and the sight of cranes landing in the frost-whitened wetlands from late autumn through winter is hauntingly beautiful. Local dairy farming produces...

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Yubari City

Yubari City, in the Sorachi region of central Hokkaido, was once a booming coal-mining town that fueled Japan's postwar economic miracle — at its peak, the population exceeded 120,000. After the energy revolution drove mine closures and left the city in financial crisis, Yubari has been rebuilding itself as a destination of resilience and reinvention. Yubari melon is world-famous as Japan's most luxurious gift melon, fetching extraordinary prices at auction. The Coal History Village and Coal Museum bring the mining era vividly to life, while film-related sites like the 'Yellow Handkerchief Memories Square' celebrate the city's long-running international fantastic film...

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Tomakomai City

Tomakomai City, an industrial port city in the Iburi region of southern Hokkaido, is home to Lake Utonai — a Ramsar-designated wetland and one of Japan's premier migratory bird staging areas, where over 300 species including whooper swans, geese, and ducks gather throughout the seasons. Tomakomai Port is Hokkaido's largest ferry terminal, welcoming visitors arriving from Honshu by sea. Beyond its industrial landscape, the city offers rich nature experiences: cycling and canoeing around Lake Utonai are popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Culinary draws include Hokki-gai (surf clam) curry and Hokki rice, showcasing the surf clam for which Tomakomai holds the world's...

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Shiretoko (Shari Side)

Shari Town, on the Okhotsk coast of eastern Hokkaido, is home to the Shiretoko Peninsula, designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2005. The remote tip of the peninsula — Cape Shiretoko — is reachable only by sea, a pristine wilderness where brown bears and rare birds roam undisturbed. In winter, the Sea of Okhotsk fills with drift ice and thrilling ice-walking experiences draw visitors from around the world. The Shiretoko Five Lakes trekking route, the panoramic views from Shiretoko Pass, climbing Mt. Sharidake, and cliffside cruises offer extraordinary outdoor adventures. The area is also celebrated as Japan's top...

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Mombetsu City

Mombetsu City, on the Okhotsk Coast of northeastern Hokkaido, is one of Japan's prime drift ice tourism destinations — 'Drift Ice and Garinko-go' has been designated a Hokkaido Heritage Site. Each year from around February, massive ice floes roll in from Siberia and blanket the Sea of Okhotsk in white, creating a landscape of breathtaking scale. The icebreaker Garinko-go III IMERU, which smashes through the ice with massive drill-like blades, offers one of the most thrilling sightseeing boat experiences in Japan. Ice walking (Axel Walk) on the frozen sea surface is another crowd-pleaser. The Okhotsk Tower provides an underwater window...

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Toyako Town

Toyako Town, within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, is one of Hokkaido's premier hot spring resort destinations set on the shores of a stunning caldera lake. Lake Toya, a perfectly circular caldera lake formed by volcanic activity some 110,000 years ago, is ringed by pristine nature and graceful mountains. Over 100 hotels and ryokan line the lakeshore, and the legendary Toyako Long-Run Fireworks Festival lights up the sky every single night from late April through late October — making it one of Japan's most extraordinary fireworks traditions. The surrounding volcanic landscape, including Mt. Usu and Showa Shinzan, is recognized as a UNESCO...

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Matsumae Town

Matsumae Town, in the southernmost tip of Hokkaido, flourished as a castle town of the Matsumae Domain during the Edo period. Matsumae Castle is the only traditional Japanese-style castle remaining in Hokkaido, and it played a vital role in guarding the northern frontier. Matsumae Park, surrounding the castle, is one of Japan's most celebrated cherry blossom destinations, where some 10,000 cherry trees of 250 different varieties bloom in late April through early May — earning it fame for the greatest variety of cherry blossom species in Japan. Matsumae-zuke, a traditional Hokkaido pickle of kelp, dried squid, and herring roe in...

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Shiretoko (Rausu Side)

Rausu Town, on the eastern flank of the Shiretoko Peninsula, is the gateway to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Shiretoko from the east. The Shiretoko Traverse Road, crossing Shiretoko Pass to connect with Shari Town, is famous for its spectacular 'snow corridor' — towering walls of snow remaining in May that leave visitors in awe of nature's scale. Rausu kelp, harvested from Shiretoko's deep, nutrient-rich waters, is among Japan's finest and most sought-after kombu. Wildlife encounters are the highlight here: whale-watching and cruises to observe orca and sperm whales offer thrilling views of marine megafauna in the wild. Diverse seabirds...

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Nemuro City

Nemuro City, Japan's easternmost city, sits at the far tip of Hokkaido and is home to Cape Nosappu — the easternmost point of Japan's main islands. From Cape Nosappu, the disputed Northern Territories islands are visible across the narrow straits, making it a uniquely poignant destination of historical and geopolitical significance. A thriving fishing port, Nemuro lands abundant seafood including the prized Hanasaki crab, Pacific saury, and salmon. Local specialties like Hanasaki crab rice bowls and Escalop (rice with demi-glace sauce) are flavors you can only find here. The Kiritappu Wetlands, the panoramic Pacific views from the JR Hanasaki Line,...

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Hakodate City

Hakodate City, at the southern tip of Hokkaido, is a historic port city that flourished as an international trade hub from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji era. The panoramic night view from Mt. Hakodate is celebrated as one of the world's three great night views, drawing millions with its million-dollar vista of twin bays. Goryokaku, the star-shaped Western-style fortress, the European and American architecture of Motomachi, and the Hakodate Morning Market's fresh salmon roe, crab, and squid make Hakodate an exceptional destination. With excellent shinkansen access, Hakodate is the main gateway to southern Hokkaido.

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Kushiro City

Kushiro City is a port city in eastern Hokkaido celebrated for its sunsets, considered among the world's three most beautiful. The vast Kushiro Marshland National Park, Japan's largest wetland, draws visitors from around the globe to witness flocks of red-crowned cranes soaring over its pristine landscape. Nearby volcanic lakes including Lake Akan and Lake Mashu are renowned natural wonders — Lake Mashu, perpetually shrouded in mist, and the spherical marimo algae of Lake Akan are icons of eastern Hokkaido. The fresh seafood at the Kushiro Washo Market, including the legendary 'katte-don' custom rice bowl, is a must-try experience. The city's...

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Obihiro City

Obihiro City is the central city of the Tokachi Plain in eastern Hokkaido, a world-class agricultural region that has developed into a true food paradise. Obihiro's famous pork bowl (butadon), made from locally raised pork, has won nationwide popularity, and renowned confectioneries like Rokkatei and Ryugetsu draw sweet lovers from across Japan. The city hosts Banei Racing, a unique draft horse racing event designated as a Hokkaido Heritage, making it the only race of its kind anywhere in the world. The Tokachi hot springs, known for their distinctive peat-enriched waters, and the vast panoramic farmland and starry night skies round...

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Abashiri City

Abashiri City, on the shores of the Sea of Okhotsk in eastern Hokkaido, is famous throughout Japan for its spectacular drift ice (ryuhyo). From late January through March, massive ice floes drift in from Siberia, creating an otherworldly frozen seascape. The drift ice sightseeing icebreaker Aurora offers an unforgettable experience of navigating through the ice. The Abashiri Prison Museum, a preserved historical facility from the Meiji era, chronicles the pioneering history of Hokkaido and is well-known as a film location. At the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum, visitors can actually touch real drift ice and learn about this unique natural phenomenon.

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Rishiri Town

Rishiri Town is located in the southwestern part of Rishiri Island, floating in the Sea of Okhotsk off northern Hokkaido. The island's iconic Mt. Rishiri (Rishiri-Fuji), standing 1,721 meters above sea level, is a perfectly conical volcanic peak whose silhouette rising from the sea has earned it the nickname 'Rishiri Fuji.' Summer is ideal for climbing Mt. Rishiri and savoring world-renowned Rishiri kelp in a range of gourmet dishes. Cycling around the island offers sweeping views of the surrounding sea and the majestic mountain from every angle. Ferries to Rebun Island also depart from Rishiri, making it a hub for...

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Rebun Town

Rebun Town is home to Rebun Island, a remote island floating off Japan's northernmost tip, celebrated as the Floating Island of Flowers. Despite its low elevation, the island boasts over 300 species of wildflowers including many rare alpine species found nowhere else on Earth. June and July bring the most spectacular floral displays, featuring the island's beloved Rebun Island edelweiss. The dramatic coastal trekking routes from Cape Sukoton to Cape Sukai offer breathtaking ocean views and flower-filled meadows. Fresh sea urchin, scallops, and kelp make Rebun Island a gourmet paradise as well.

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Wakkanai City

Wakkanai is Japan's northernmost city, located at the very tip of Hokkaido. Cape Soya, the northernmost point of Japan, is a must-visit landmark drawing travelers from around the world. Facing both the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, Wakkanai offers dramatic natural scenery including coastal cliffs, wildflower fields, and sweeping pastoral views. The city serves as a gateway to the remote islands of Rebun and Rishiri, accessible by ferry. In winter, drift ice approaches from Siberia, creating a breathtaking frozen seascape, while the city's legendary sunsets are said to be among the most beautiful in the world.

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Biei Town

Biei Town, known as the Town of Hills, is a picturesque farming village in the Kamikawa region of central Hokkaido. The gently rolling hills create a stunning patchwork of colorful crop fields, while the mystical Blue Pond (Aoiike) shimmers with an otherworldly blue-green hue. Framed by the majestic Tokachidake Mountain Range, the scenery changes dramatically with each season, from vibrant fields of canola, sunflowers, and lavender in summer, to a magical winter landscape of snow-covered plains and frost-covered trees. One of Hokkaido's most beloved destinations for international visitors, Biei also offers delicious cuisine made from the freshest local produce.

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Nakafurano Town

Located in the Furano Basin in the heart of Hokkaido, Nakafurano Town is globally renowned as the "Sacred Land of Lavender." Home to the famous Farm Tomita, which pioneered the region's lavender boom, the town sees its rolling hills blanketed in a vibrant purple carpet every summer, drawing countless visitors from around the world. Framed by the majestic Tokachidake Mountain Range, the landscape features idyllic pastoral scenery and patchwork flower fields that soothe the soul. In winter, the slopes of Mount Hokusei transform into a snowy ski resort. Nakafurano is a floral paradise where anyone can immerse themselves in the...

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Furano City

Located in the heart of Hokkaido, Furano City is one of Japan's premier rural tourism destinations, surrounded by the majestic Daisetsuzan and Tokachidake mountain ranges. In summer, the entire city is embraced by the scent of vibrant purple lavender, and the beautiful patchwork of flower fields stretching across the rolling hills captivates all visitors. Famous as the setting for the hit TV drama "Kita no Kuni kara" (From the North Country), it still preserves a nostalgic and pristine northern landscape. In winter, Furano transforms into a world-class ski resort with legendary powder snow, attracting winter sports enthusiasts globally. Furthermore, blessed...

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Asahikawa City

Located in the heart of Hokkaido, Asahikawa City is a vibrant hub beautifully harmonizing urban lifestyle with the majestic nature of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. It is home to the world-renowned "Asahiyama Zoo," Japan's northernmost zoo famous for its innovative "behavioral exhibits" that allow visitors to see animals acting on natural instincts. Appointed as a UNESCO Creative City of Design, Asahikawa breathes art and culture through its superior furniture making and crafts. Food lovers can indulge in authentic "Asahikawa Ramen" born from the cold climate, and premium sake brewed with pristine snowmelt water. It also serves as the perfect gateway...

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Noboribetsu City

Located just a 1-hour drive from New Chitose Airport, Noboribetsu City is a premier hot spring town in Hokkaido facing the Pacific Ocean. Its central attraction, Noboribetsu Onsen, is sourced from "Jigokudani" (Hell Valley), a dramatic crater where the Earth’s energy boils to the surface. It is often called a "department store of hot springs" for the incredible variety of spring types found in a single location. Visitors can enjoy a soothing soak at the natural footbath of the Oyunuma River, surrounded by primeval forests. The city also features popular theme parks like the Noboribetsu Bear Park and Noboribetsu Date...

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Rusutsu Village

Located about a 1.5-hour drive from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport, Rusutsu Village is one of Hokkaido's premier highland resorts, nestled at the foot of majestic Mount Shiribetsu. Home to the world-renowned "Rusutsu Resort," winter visitors can indulge in world-class powder snow across vast ski fields spanning three mountains. During the green season, the village transforms into an outdoor paradise featuring Hokkaido's largest amusement park, four expansive golf courses, and various activities overlooking Mount Yotei. With delicious local cuisine like fresh highland vegetables and pork, alongside soothing hot springs, it is a year-round entertainment destination filled with dynamic excitement.

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Yoichi Town

Nestled at the base of the Shakotan Peninsula, Yoichi Town is a romantic port town blessed with rich nature and bountiful food. Globally renowned as the holy land of Japanese whisky, it features the Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery, founded by Masataka Taketsuru, the "Father of Japanese Whisky," where historic red-brick buildings still welcome visitors today. Benefiting from a mild climate, the town thrives with fruit cultivation, offering delightful fruit-picking experiences. In recent years, it has also gained international acclaim for its boutique wineries producing world-class Japanese wines. Offering stunning landscapes of seas and mountains alongside exquisite drinks and cuisine, Yoichi...

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Niseko Town

Located about a 2.5-hour drive from Sapporo, Niseko Town is a world-class mountain resort overlooking the majestic Mount Yotei, often called "Ezo Fuji." In winter, it is blessed with the highest quality powder snow (known globally as "JAPOW"), drawing skiers and snowboarders from around the globe and filling the town with a vibrant, international atmosphere. However, Niseko’s charm extends far beyond winter. Summer offers a wealth of outdoor activities, including trekking, golf, and rafting on the pristine Shiribetsu River. With its abundant hot springs scattered throughout the area and exquisite cuisine featuring fresh vegetables and dairy products grown from rich...

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Otaru City

Located about 30 minutes by rapid train from Sapporo, Otaru City is a charming, historic port town facing the Sea of Japan. Having once flourished as the gateway to the development of Hokkaido, its landscape—where stone warehouses from that era align beautifully with the "Otaru Canal"—exudes a nostalgic and deeply romantic atmosphere. Along its retro streets, visitors can explore exquisite glasswork shops and music box museums, making it perfect for strolling and souvenir shopping. Otaru is also celebrated as a "city of sushi," packed with fresh seafood caught in the nearby waters. Blending history, art, and exquisite gourmet experiences, it...

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Ishikari City

Located about a 40-minute drive from central Sapporo, Ishikari City is a nature-rich port town stretching along the majestic Sea of Japan and the mouth of the Ishikari River. Historically flourished as a prosperous salmon-fishing hub, it is famously known as the birthplace of "Ishikari Nabe" (salmon hot pot), one of Japan's most celebrated regional dishes. Along its endless coastline, visitors will find stunning scenic spots, including Hamanasu-no-Oka Park, where vibrant beach roses bloom, and breathtaking vantage points for viewing romantic sunsets. In summer, its expansive beaches bustle with swimmers, while autumn brings lively gourmet events packed with fresh autumn...

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Hokkaido

Chitose City

Chitose City is home to New Chitose Airport, the aviation gateway to Hokkaido, making it an conveniently accessible destination perfect for the beginning or end of your journey. While visitors can enjoy shopping at a massive outlet mall and entertainment facilities directly connected to the airport, a wealth of grand nature awaits just a short trip away. A must-see highlight is Lake Shikotsu, renowned for having some of the clearest and highest-quality water in Japan, shining in a deep, captivating blue. Here, you can indulge in lakeside activities, relaxing hot springs, and the local specialty, kokanee salmon dishes. It is...

Hokkaido
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Hokkaido

Sapporo City

Sapporo, located in the Ishikari Plain, is the political, economic, and cultural heart of Hokkaido—a major northern metropolis where sophisticated urban functions beautifully harmonize with abundant nature. In winter, the city hosts the world-famous Sapporo Snow Festival, where breathtakingly intricate snow and ice sculptures magically illuminate the streets. As a culinary capital, it captivates visitors with fresh seafood, uniquely evolved "Sapporo Ramen" and "Soup Curry," and premium sweets. With beautiful parks changing through the seasons and grand nature just a short drive away, Sapporo is a destination where you can seamlessly experience both urban comfort and the nostalgic romance of...

Hokkaido
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Spring
Summer
Autumn
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Hokkaido

Hokkaido, located at the northernmost tip of Japan, is a vast and captivating region celebrated for its endless, pristine nature and rich culinary culture. It offers grand landscapes on a scale found nowhere else in Japan, from majestic mountain ranges and mysterious lakes to beautifully rolling lavender fields. In winter, skiers from around the globe flock here for world-class powder snow, drawn to world-renowned resorts like Niseko and the magical Sapporo Snow Festival. Hokkaido is also legendary as a gourmet paradise, where fresh seafood, savory ramen, and premium dairy products stand out as highlights of any trip. Revealing entirely different,...

Hokkaido
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Spring
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