Japan Hokkaido Journey

Lovely city in the north of Honshu, famous for its summer festival and archaeological site from the Jomon Period. It is also the best place to drink some delicious cider! Don’t miss the opportunity to make your own seafood donburi in the fish market before visiting Hakkodamaru ship, now a museum, which used to be the only ferry to link Hokkaido to Honshu. If you are in Aomori during summer, you have to attend the Nebuta Festival, for which Aomori is famous. Seiryuji Temple features the largest seated Buddha of Japan, so it’s also worth a visit. Treat yourself to some local Iso Ramen, composed of seafood or other local delicacies such as Ichigo Ni or anything apple related.

Highlights:

Jomon Site

Nebuta Warasse

Hakkodamaru Ship

Fish Market 

Seiryu Ji

Seafood Donburi 

Apple Cidre 

Iso Ramen

Train to Hakodate – 2 hours

The third largest city of the southern island, Hakodate is known locally as Squid City due to it’s delicious squid sashimi or squid stock ramen. Hakodate’s squid sashimi is famously known as the “dancing squid” dish, due to the squid still moving after being served. In the centre of town, you’ll find the star shaped park, where the Goryokaku Tower makes for an amazing photo opportunity. Mingle with locals by waking up early and going to the Asaichi morning market, just to explore or eat some fresh seafood! Vestiges from its foreign trading past awaits you just in front of the harbour, where the red brick warehouses were turned into a shopping area. Onuma Park, with its two lakes and small islands, is a nice city escape. The view on top of Mount Hakodate is one of the three best night views in Japan and Suginoko and Bar Jey’s are two spots to try good cocktails and one of the best whiskeys of the city in an unique setting.

Highlights: 

Onuma Park

Motomachi

Red Brick Warehouses 

Asaichi Morning Market

Sugino

Mt Hakodate

Kaisen Don

Squid

Train to Noboribetsu – 3 hours

Get acquainted with Noboribetsu’s hellish side by doing the Hell Valley tour. Composed of hot springs which have a unique and hellish atmosphere: it also has demon statues spotted around the area – see how many you can spot! Fancy a foot bath? The Oyunuma river is the perfect place to do so: with its naturally hot water, you can relax and watch the colours of the water turning from green to grey. It’s also home to beautiful and impressive caldera lakes such as Lake Toya and Shikotsu. Noboribetsu Date Jidai Village, a theme park about the Japanese Edo period in Hokkaido, is a nice way to learn about the island’s past. Relax at Dai-Ichi Takimotokan which, with its 29 baths, is the biggest hot spring resort in all of Asia. Sea food is best eaten in Hokkaido – fill your belly with delicious sushi or tarako; but don’t miss out on the spicy noodle dish, Enma Yakisoba, named after the King who is considered as the ruler of Hell.

Highlights:

Noboribetsu Date Jidai Village

Hell Valley

Oyunuma River

Lakes

Hot Springs

Enma Yakisoba

Tarako

Train to Otaru – 3 hours

This little gem of a city has a lot of traditional experiences to offer. Walk along the picturesque canal at night and immerse yourself in the romantic atmosphere it provides, with its oil lamps illuminating the way. Glass blowing has helped the city keep its tradition as a Harbor city for foreign trade. Try your hand at glass blowing and go home with your very own little creation. Visit the Herring Mansion, former home of the foreign trade city that used to be Otaru. Don’t forget the city’s steam clock which was brought back from Canada, and still chimes every 15 minutes! Sea food is amazing but ice cream is also a specialty in Otaru, as well as cheese cake and herring! Otaru Soko No 1 is the best bar to try the Otaru Beer in a former warehouse on the canal!

Highlights:

Otaru’s Canal

Herring Mansions

Glass Blowing

Steam Clock 

Nishigin Dori

Herring

Ice cream 

Cheese Cake

Train to Furano – 4 hours

This cute little town has been nicknamed Hokkaido’s belly button, due to it being located in the middle of the island. Furano might be small, but it will take your breath away with its many flower fields full of colours and scents; it is magnificent in summer when they’re in bloom. Have a taste of Japan’s most expensive fruit, melon, in the melon farm in Furano. You can then check out the deep blue water of the Blue Pond and enjoy a paddle or canoe in the Sorachi River. Wine and cheese are also famous in this region and you should definitely try it out.

Tomita Farm

Blue Pond

Sorachi River 

Lavender Fields 

Melon

Cheese

Train to Abashiri – 7 hours

Experience Hokkaido’s northern activities in Abashiri. Hop on the Aurora cruise to watch the ice drift as well as dolphins and whales if you’re lucky enough! Try your hand at smelt fishing through a hole in the ice before heading to the most famous prison in Japan also known as the Japanese Alcatraz. The region is blessed with several caldera lakes home to many swans and foot spas in the sand at Lake Kussharo. Fill your belly with a delicious fish hot pot called Ishikari Nabe or other fish delicacies famous in this region.

Highlights: 

Abashiri Prison Museum 

Ice Fishing

Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum

Lakes Mashu and Tofutsu

Aurora Sightseeing Boat

Ishikari Nabe

Zangi

Train to Sapporo – 5 hours

Hokkaido’s capital city and the birthplace of beer in Japan! It goes without saying that you have to have a drink there and visit the Sapporo Beer Museum. Despite being a big park in the city centre, the Odori Park is also home to many festivals in Summer as well as the renowned Snow Festival which attracts contestants from all over the world to create impressive ice sculptures. The Moerenuma Park was created by a designer and its art sculpture will be sure to take your breath away. You can also visit Okurayama Observatory and enjoy an impressive view of city while visiting the Olympic Ski Jump Stadium. The Historic Village of Hokkaido, Kaitaku no Mura, is an open air museum about city life in the 19th century. Hokkaido is famous for its fresh fish and amazing sushi but also for its spicy curry soup and the Ghengis Khan BBQ dish. For your night out, Susukino district is the place to be.

Highlights:

Sapporo Beer Museum

Moerenuma Park

Kaitaku No Mura

Odori Park

Nijo Market 

Ghengis Khan BBQ

Soup Curry 

Sushi