Japan’s northernmost and least populated island, Hokkaido is a place of enchanting, unspoilt wilderness, ancient customs and indigenous culture. Separated from Honshu by the Tsugaru Strait, it is home to Japan’s highest concentration of national parks, boasting landscapes that feature volcanic mountains, crystal clear lakes, vast swathes of forest and huge open spaces. These landscapes feature wonderful wildlife like brown bears and Hokkaido cranes, while the cold waters that surround them are teeming with fish that appear in many of the island’s most delicious dishes.
Hokkaido’s warm summers bring sweeping fields of colourful blooms and ice cream made from its famous milk, while winter is all about snow sports, with plentiful snowfall, and the world-renowned Sapporo Snow Festival. Largest city and capital Sapporo, best known for its beer and ramen, is a laidback and charming gateway to all of Hokkaido’s adventures.
Unspoilt Landscapes
Without the mega cities and large populations of some of the other main islands, Hokkaido’s landscapes are wonderfully uncrowded and pristine, with towering mountains and volcanic peaks, vast open plains and stretches of forests. In the winter much of this glorious nature is covered in snow (some say the best on earth for winter snow sports), and in the summer a vibrant green, interspersed with rolling rainbow-hued fields of flowers. Geothermic activity has long shaped these panoramas, and there are plenty of steaming onsens to help take the edge off weary explorer legs at the end of a day of adventure.
Hokkaido is the place to discover Japan’s wild side, with a series of spectacular national parks. Daisetsuzan is known for its volcanic mountains and plentiful walking trails that wind through forests that are breathtaking in the autumn. On the remote peninsula of Shiretoko National Park, the wilderness is at its most pure, with roaming brown bears, tumbling waterfalls and a picturesque coastline.
Rich Culture
A frontier history and indigenous heritage give Hokkaido both a culture and a vibe that is noticeably different to its neighbouring islands. The Ainu people occupied Hokkaido long before Japanese settlements expanded northwards. Echoes of their distinct traditions and spiritual beliefs are still easily found across the island and can be learnt about in cultural centres and museums. At Akanko Ainu Kotan, at Lake Akan, the largest indigenous settlement in Hokkaido, you can glimpse their everyday life and meet members the community.
Both agriculture and fishing have long been vital for Hokkaido, something that only magnifies the island’s close connection to nature. It is one of Japan’s most productive regions, home to dairy farms, vineyards and rice fields as well as fishing communities that haul catches from the cold and bountiful northern seas. Local festivals celebrate these harvests, but the winter is celebrated just as heartily, a legacy of communities coming together to survive this cold and snowy season. Snow lanterns, winter foods and ice festivals, like the internationally renowned Sapporo Snow & Ice Festival, draw people from around the world into the warm and hospitable heart of the island.
Hearty Food
Hokkaido’s combination of rich fishing waters, fertile farmland and lauded dairy industry means that it is a place where the food is one of its greatest attractions, with dishes tied to the very landscapes around you. Seafood is at the heart of its regional cuisine, boasting crab, sea urchin, scallops and salmon across its celebrated roster, while raw sushi is taken to a whole new level thanks to how utterly fresh the fish are. The vast variety and range of produce is exceptional, with melons, potatoes, asparagus and sweetcorn all staples. Like the rest of Japan, seasonal eating is an important aspect of the local cuisine, so head to a local food market to see what is on offer when you visit.
Ramen is must try in Hokkaido, a rich and comforting dish that has long kept the locals warm through the cold winters, but delicious all year round, alongside all and any dairy product. The soft-serve ice cream particularly should not be missed and has become something of a travel rite of passage when discovering Hokkaido. What more delicious way to fuel your explorations?
