All about Hokkaido – Japan Traveller Library

This is the guide for the island prefecture of Hokkaido.

Official Tourist Website

Festival & Events

Sapporo Snow Festival (early Feb)
Asahikawa Winter Festival (early Feb)
Obihiro Ice Festival (late Jan to early Feb)
Kamiyubetsu Tulip Festival (early to late May)
Sea Urchin Festival 天売ウニまつり (mid to late July weekend)
Sapporo Autumn Fest (early to late Sept)

Hotels/Ryokan/Hostels
Price range here do not exclude seasonal fluctuation, meal costs, shared beds, or shared bathrooms, some of the ones listed here their price range is inclusive of both dinner and breakfast so it's best to check prices and what the costs include.

$ Hotel Kikuya @ Hakodate (suggested by Ser Ene セイリン)
$ Hotel Ibis Styles Sapporo (suggested by Lemon Balm)
$$ Hotel Dormy Inn Sapporo Annex (suggested by Sarah Jarvis)
$$ Minshuku Mokuri @ Minami-Shibecha (suggested by Benji Sun)
$$ Hotel Monterey Sapporo (suggested by Dzulhaidy Abdul Rahim)
$$ Sencho no Ie @ Lake Saroma
$$$ Hoshino Resort Tomamu
$$$ JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo (suggested by Bong Dimayuga)
$$$ Century Royal Hotel @ Sapporo (suggested by Mei Maningding)
$$$ Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo @ Sapporo (suggested by Au Weng Kay)
$$$ Sansui Hotel Kafu @ Lake Toya (suggested by Qiu Di)
$$$ Kanayamako Log Hotel Larch @ Lake Kanayama
$$$ Kojohama Hotel Izumi @ Shiraoi - best place to try Shiraoi beef
$$$$ Pirika Rera Hotel @ Shiraoi
$$$$ Kussharoko Tsuruga Auberge Sora @ Lake Kussharo

Trains/Metros/Bus

Shinkansen/JR Train Planner - Hyperdia
Railpasses
Bus
- Hokto Bus - Bus between Hakodate and Sapporo (suggested by Au Weng Kay)
- HokkaidoX - Inter City Bus Pass
- Jotetsu Bus to Jozankei onsen (suggested by Laili Hanim)
- How to take a local bus
- Willer Express Buses between major Japan Cities, Hokkaido only to other spots in Hokkaido
- Photos posted by Deonelene Matteo on taking the bus
Other Transport
- Car Rental Company - Tocoo, Toyota Rentacar, Nissan Rentacar, JR Hokkaido Rent A Car
- Air Do, Hokkaido's budget airline
- Hokkaido's ETC pass, the Hokkaido Expressway Pass(HEP)

Places in Hokkaido recommended by Posters (not in order of preference)

a) Central Hokkaido (Sapporo, Otaru, Niseko, ...)

Sapporo Tourism
- Shiroi Koibito Park (suggest by Noi Noi)
- Odori Park (suggest by Noi Noi)
- Mount Moiwa ropeway
- Sapporo Beer Garden
- Maruyama Zoo
- Sapporo Central Wholesale Market
- Takino Suzuran Park
Otaru Tourism
- LeTao cheesecake
- Otaru Sankaku Ichiba -Triangle Market
- Otaru Canal
- Yamamoto Sightseeing Orchards
Niseko Tourism - mainly ski tourism
- The 4 main ski areas around Niseko: Niseko Village, Kutchan Hanazono, Annupuri Village, Kutchan Grand Hirafu
- Kutchan during the summer
Lake Shikotsu (suggested by Janet Low)
Jozankei Tourism

b) South Hokkaido (Hakodate)

Hakodate Tourism
Noboribetsu Onsen
- Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura (suggested by Lim Jue Wee)
- Jigokudani (Hell Valley)
- Nixe Marine Park (Aquarium)
Lake Toya
- Lake Toya Cruise
- Volcano Science Museum

c) East Hokkaido (Kushiro, Abashiri, Obihiro, Lake Akan, ...)

Kushiro Tourism
Abashiri Tourism
Lake Akan Tourism
Teshikaga Tourism
- Kawayu Onsen
- Sunayu sand onsen @ Lake Kussharo
- Mount Io - volcanic vents
- 900 grassland - ranch on high vantage point
- Bihoro pass (suggested by Johnny Woo)
Shiretoko Tourism
Nemuro Tourism
- Cape Nosappu, eastern most point of Japan, people come here Dec 31st to wait for first sunrise of all of Japan.

d) North Hokkaido (Asahikawa, Wakkanai, Furano, ...)

Furano FB Page
- Farm Tomita, Furano
- Campana Rokkatei confectionery
Biei Tourism
Asahikawa FB Page
- Asahiyama Zoo Penguin Walk
- Asahikawa Ramen Village
Sounkyo Onsen (suggested by Derick Hada)
- Daisetsuzan
- Sounkyo Ropeway to Kurodake - the main peak on the north side
- Asahidake Ropeway - the main peak on the west side
- Ginga & Ryusei Twin Waterfalls
Wakkanai Tourism
- Cape Soya - Northernmost point in Japan
- Kita Bohatei Dome
- Wakkanai Park
- Ferry between Wakkanai, Hokkaido < - > Korsakov, Russia

e) Hokkaido Outlying Islands (Rishiri & Rebun, Teuri & Yagishiri, Okushiri)

Food (Affordable - under ¥2000)

Royce soft cream (Ice Cream) @ Furano Downhill (suggested by Susan Tee)
Cream Dowa くりーむ童話 (Ice Cream) @ Teshikaga (suggested by Benji Sun)
Sweets from Rokkatei (Confectionery) @ Furano (suggested by Susan Tee)
Asahikawa Ramen Aoba Main Branch (Ramen) @ Asahikawa (suggested by Benji Sun)
Asahikawa Ramen Village (Ramen) @ Asahikawa (suggested by WalaWala Doris)
Orchard Glass オーチャードグラス (Beef Stew & Pizza) @ Kawayu Onsen (suggested by Benji Sun)
Menya Takahashi 麺屋高橋 (Tsukemen) @ Sapporo
Teuchisoba no Taguto 手打蕎麦のたぐと (Soba) @ Sapporo
Izumi-shokudo いずみ食堂 (Udon/Soba) @ Hidaka
Marutoma-shokudo マルトマ食堂 (Seafood rice/famous for Hokkigai) @ Tomakomai
Panchou ぱんちょう (Obihiro Butadon) @ Obihiro

Food (Mid-range - ¥2000 to ¥5000)

Sapporo Beer Garden サッポロビール園 (Multiple) @ Sapporo (suggested by Jeff Johnson)
Kanigen かに源 (Kaiten sushi) @ Abashiri (suggested by Benji Sun)
Sushi Dining Tsuki 鮨ダイニング月 (Kaiten sushi) @ Abashiri (suggested by Benji Sun)
Genghis Khan Daikokuya 成吉思汗大黒屋本店 (Grilled Lamb) @ Asahikawa (suggested by Benji Sun)
Mikakuen Minami 3-jo branch 味覚園南3条店 (Yakiniku) @ Sapporo (suggested by Ivan Julian)
Kukizen 群来膳 (Sushi-ya) @ Otaru
Shirokuma-shokudo シロクマ食堂 (Izakaya) @ Otaru