20 Best Things To Do in Hokkaido

As the northernmost Japanese island, Hokkaido has become the ultimate ski destination in recent years. Known as the powder capital of Japan, Hokkaido boasts an incredible variety of ski resorts, slopes, terrains, and activities.

Owing to its unique geographic location, Hokkaido is located in the path of consistent weather systems. They bring cold air across the Sea of Japan from Siberia, resulting in dumps of powdery snow during winter. In fact, some ski areas even see 14–20 metres of snowfall annually.

What’s more, Hokkaido is the perfect place for your next Japan ski holiday as there are ski slopes for beginners, intermediates, and experts. Also, you can find family-friendly ski resorts, as well as all-inclusive and low-cost resorts.

If you love hiking, spending time outdoors, and connecting with nature, hiking the Nature Trail will be one of the best things to do in Hokkaido. Spanning a whopping 4,585 kilometres, the Nature Trail is one of the longest trails ever approved and would take around 230 days to complete in its entirety.

Summer and autumn are considered the best times to hike in Hokkaido as there’s a chance for snow until July. The mild climate of Hokkaido makes it perfect for trekking in the summer and the trail weaves past lakes, below volcanoes, alongside glaciers and forests.

Otaru, a charming port city scattered with delightful sushi bars, sake distilleries, and other wonderful attractions, is located 30 minutes by train from Sapporo. Many tourists start their visit with the Otaru Canal, which is accented with cobblestone pathways, brick warehouses, and vintage street lamps.

If you’re looking for things to do in Hokkaido in winter, the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival should be on your list. For Instagram-worthy pictures, you can head over to Sakaimachi Street or Tengu-yama. Sakaimachi Street is the best spot for food, shopping, and photo ops in Otaru, while Tengu-yama offers breathtaking views of the city.

The Shiretoko National Park is one of Japan’s most pristine parks and home to many land and marine mammal species. It’s also home to 285 species of birds, brown bears, fish owls, and orcas. What’s more, during spring and summer, you can see dolphins, sea birds, and 13 different whale species in the Sea of Okhotsk.

Tucked away on the northeast peninsula, the Shiretoko National Park is the perfect place for all wildlife and hiking lovers. In the indigenous Ainu language, Shiretoko means “the end of the world” and it’s a true wilderness of forests, wild coastlines, and waterfalls.

The man-made basin in Biei town is called the Blue Pond, named after its incredible shades of blue. The Blue Pond owes its unique colour to the hot spring onsen town of Shirogane and the natural minerals dissolved in the water.

Fun Fact: The Blue Pond gained global recognition because it was used as the iPhone and Mac default wallpaper a few years back.

If you’re at the Blue Pond, you can also consider visiting the Shirahige Waterfall. Located only 3 kilometres away, the Shirahige Waterfall is a natural scenic spot, situated 600 metres above sea level.

If you’re near Furano and love the intoxicating smell of lavender, you should put Farm Tomita on your to-do list. At the Farm, you can see a sea of lavender fields, as well as a variety of other colourful flowers.

To get the most out of your experience, locals recommend visiting the lavender fields in July. That’s when they’re at their peak and that’s when you can try out a delicious lavender soft-serve ice cream.

If you’re looking for things to do in Hokkaido Japan, you can’t miss out on taking a dip in one of the many hot springs or onsen there. Like the rest of the country, Hokkaido has many geothermal sites to discover, including more than a hundred hot springs, 31 volcanoes, and countless geysers.

As there are many different hot spring towns, finding the best one is going to be tough. That said, Noboribetsu is considered one of the best spots on the entire island. However, if you’re closer to Sapporo, you can try out Jozankei.

Lake Mashu is considered to be one of the cleanest caldera lakes in the entire world and is located in the Akan National Park. Tourists and locals all flock to Lake Mashu thanks to its beautiful crystalline water.

To see Laku Mashu in all of its glory, you can go to one of two observation decks. When you’re up there, not only will you be able to see the lake but also the hiking trail that leads to the summit of Mt Mashudake. Also, if you want to explore more, you’ll be happy to know that Kaminoko Pond and Lake Kussharo are close by.

If you’re close to Noboribetsu looking for hot springs, take advantage of the beautiful geothermal sites close by and go explore Hell Valley. Jigokudani or Hell Valley is a valley just above Noboribetsu Onsen and the main source of the city’s hot spring waters.

If you go early in the morning, you can witness the incredible scenery and walk through the stunning walking trails. Following those trails for 20–30 minutes will lead you to Oyunuma, a sulphurous pond with a surface temperature of 50°C.

An incredibly popular zoological garden just outside of Asahikawa City in the middle of Hokkaido, Asahiyama Zoo should be at the top of your list of things to do in Hokkaido. The Zoo houses more than 800 animals, representing around 150 species and features more than 25 exhibits.

One of the reasons Asahiyama Zoo is so popular among tourists and locals is due to its enclosures, which allow visitors to see animals from various angles. Some of the animals you can see in the Asahiyama Zoo include deer, cranes, eagles, wolves, polar bears, penguins, seals, and others.

If you’re a whisky fan, you should check out the Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery, located around 50 kilometres west of Sapporo. The distillery has been in operation since 1934 and was opened by the first Japanese man who mastered whisky making in Scotland.

Their unique geographic position and traditional coal-fired distillation process all give their whisky a unique flavour. Keep in mind that if you want to put the Yoichi Distillery on your list, you have to reserve a tour in advance, but the tour is free. What’s more, each visitor of legal drinking age, which is 20 in Japan, will be able to taste the whisky made there or have more samples at their restaurant.

If you’re looking to do some shopping in Hokkaido, you’ll find everything you need at the Tanukikoji Shopping Street. Stretching almost one kilometre, Tanukikoji features around 200 shops that run east to west in downtown Sapporo.

Dating back to 1869, Tanukikoji Street is one of the most popular areas for shoppers as it stretches eight entire blocks. Not only can you find some adorable Hokkaido souvenirs here, but also try out delicious Japanese food at one of the dozen restaurants and bars there.

In addition to shopping, there’s much to do in Tanukokoji. Navigating your way through the streets, you’ll also find many arcades, record shops, and even karaoke bars.
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Where to Stay on Your Hokkaido Holiday
With so many things to do in Hokkaido, you’re sure to have a busy travel schedule once you’re there. The last thing you should be worrying about is how good your accommodations are going to be or where you can relax after a long day.

At Club Med, we believe that the one thing that can take your Hokkaido holiday from great to incredible is finding the best accommodations on the entire island. Luckily, we can help with that!

Our all-inclusive Japan skiing resorts offer unparalleled service, plenty of amenities, and some of the best Japanese food you’ll ever come across. Our beautiful resorts are perfect for those who want a fun winter holiday or want to explore Hokkaido all year round.

Perfect for friends, families, or couples, book your Hokkaido holiday with Club Med today!