Hokkaido’s winters are legendary, drawing travelers for world-class powder snow, steaming hot spring towns, and romantic, lantern-lit canal streets. This guide covers three destinations that define Hokkaido’s cold-season appeal: the historic Otaru Canal, the volcanic hot springs of Noboribetsu, and the ski resort town of Niseko. Planning a wider winter trip? See our Japan in…
Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost major island and its wildest, with vast stretches of open countryside, volcanic lakes, and protected wilderness rarely found elsewhere in the country. This guide covers three of its most striking natural destinations: the caldera lake of Toya, the lavender fields of Furano, and the remote, UNESCO-listed Shiretoko Peninsula. 1. Lake Toya…
Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital, blends 19th-century Western-influenced architecture with a lively modern food and nightlife scene. This guide covers three of the city’s central highlights — the historic Clock Tower, the festival-hosting Odori Park, and the Susukino entertainment district — a good foundation for any Sapporo visit. 1. Sapporo Clock Tower Built in 1878 as a…
