HOKKAIDO (北海道) - JAPAN

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Hokkaido Route Map

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Hokkaido (北海道) is located in the northernmost area of Japan. Its capital is Sapporo City. Hokkaido has lots of untouched wilderness with many national parks. Because of its location, it has mostly a subarctic climate which features short summers and long winters.
Sightseeing Spots in Hokkaido
Sapporo city Shiretoko Furano
Otaru Noboribetsu Kushiro Shitsugen National Park
Cape Soya Rebun Island Daisetsu-zan National Park
Lake Akan Abashiri Lake Mashu
Hakodate Niseko Sapporo Snow Festival

Fast Fact - Hokkaido

Hokkaido is cooler than the rest of Japan, its humidity is lower and doesn't have a rainy season as the rest of Japan has. The climate makes it a very popular domestic travel destination between May and August and a winter sports destination in winter.
Generally, its architecture and its cites have a more western flavor than the rest of Japan; most of Hokkaido has been a new “pioneering” land for the last 100 years.
Hokkaido is well known as a production center of potatoes and butter.
Surrounded by ocean on three sides, Hokkaido has fertile fishing grounds. This contributes to the flourishing fishing industry of the prefecture.
One can enjoy fresh seafood near the coasts or at big fish markets. One can enjoy Hokkaido style food, such as Hokkaido Jaga Butter (Boiled potatoes with butter and soy sauce), Ishikarinabe (hot pot dishes with salmon and vegetables in miso soup) and so on, away from the coasts.
Hokkaido attracts many outdoor lovers, including skiers and snowboarders in the colder seasons and hikers, cyclists and campers from June to September. When you constantly see a long line of motorcyclists driving here and there in the vast land, especially in summer, you might feel that you are truly traveling.
Make sure that you bring warm clothes as even in summer it can suddenly be freezing like in a cold winter in some areas.. If you feel it's too cold, it isa good idea to try some onsens (hot springs) in Hokkaido. It is very easy to find a good onsen spot here, as Onsens (hot springs) in Hokkaido are abundant.
If you arrive in Japan during the rainy season (late June-early July), Hokkaido could be a good choice to travel to avoid rain.

Where do you want to go in Hokkaido?

How to get to and around Hokkaido

From Narita international airport
Shinkansen route
Japan Railways
Highway bus route


Buses in Hokkaido

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