About Hokkaido
Hokkaido is a large island located in the northernmost part of Japan and belongs to the subarctic zone.
Hokkaido is an area that Japanese love so much that it is usually ranked first in various “Japan’s Tourist Attractions and Popularity Ranking”.
There are so many attractive things to see and do that you will not regret coming all the way to Japan just for Hokkaido.
Below is a list of some of Hokkaido’s attractions.
- Delicious seafood
Japanese seafood is delicious, but Hokkaido’s is something else.
The main reasons why Hokkaido seafood is so tasty are that it grows in waters that are extremely rich in nutrients due to ocean currents and pack ice, and because of the low ocean temperatures, the fish store a large amount of fat and their flesh is firm. - Deep snow
In Hokkaido, cold air from Siberia comes to the island on the monsoon winds, and the large amount of powdery snow falls and accumulates every day during the winter season.
In the current climate of global warming, there is no other place in the world where powder snow falls every day.
It is a wonderful environment for skiing and snowboarding, which is why places like Niseko and Rusutsu are home to world-class ski resorts. - Magnificent, rich nature and spectacular scenery
Hokkaido is a place where many people began to live in modern times, and fortunately or unfortunately, development has been slow, so there is a great deal of untouched and wonderful nature and precious flora and fauna.
Shiretoko, a World Natural Heritage site, and Kushiro Marsh, a Ramsar Convention site, are examples.
There are also many other extremely beautiful oceans, mountains, rivers, and lakes and their accompanying spectacular scenery.
The land is so vast that it is hard to believe that it is in Japan, and there are several places where you can even see the horizon.
When talking about Hokkaido, most Japanese people look at the vastness of the land with a faraway look in their eyes. - numerous wonderful hot springs
Hokkaido has 245 hot springs, the largest number in Japan, and you can enjoy them wherever you go.
While the hot springs at luxury ryokan and hotels are great, taking a dip in a hot spring deep in the mountains where brown bears roam or in the midst of the wild ocean will be a memorable experience.
Below is an overview of Hokkaido.
With a total population of approximately 5,475,000, Hokkaido ranks 8th among the prefectures of Japan.
The population of Sapporo is approximately 1,970,000 (*ranked 5th among all prefectures in Japan).
With an area of 83,450㎢, which accounts for about 23% of Japan’s total land area, Sapporo ranks first by far among Japan’s prefectures.
In front of Covid-19, the number of tourists is about 36,780,000 (5th in all of Japan), including 2,540,000 from abroad (8th in all of Japan), making it a very active tourist prefecture.
On the other hand, the manufacturing industry is weak, and there is nothing to see in the tertiary industry other than tourism.
The lack of industries that can drive the economy over the years has been a major problem for Hokkaido.
History
The history of Hokkaido is described below.
Hokkaido’s history began about 20,000 years ago during the Ice Age, when people from Siberia on the Eurasian continent, which at that time was connected to the land, came across the island in pursuit of mammoths and other large mammals and settled in the area.
During the Paleolithic (~14,000 B.C.) and Jomon (14,000 B.C.~10th century B.C.) periods, when hunting and gathering were the main activities, Hokkaido followed a similar path to that of Honshu.
Later, Honshu shifted to the Yayoi period (10th century B.C. to mid 3rd century AD), when rice and other forms of agriculture were practiced, but because of Hokkaido’s cold climate, rice cultivation was impossible, and the same lifestyle as in the Jomon period continued until around the 8th century, when a unique culture developed.
From around the 13th century, the Ainu people and Ainu culture became mainstream in Hokkaido.
– Even today, about 80% of the names of places and natural features (rivers, mountains, lakes) in Hokkaido are of Ainu origin.
Japanese people from Honshu began to expand into southern Hokkaido around the 13th century, and exchange and trade between the Ainu and the Japanese began to flourish.
From the latter half of the 15th century onward, the area of activity of the Japanese in Hokkaido expanded, and by the end of the 16th century, the Matsumae clan, a small state of the Japanese, was established.
The conflict between the two sides intensified due to long-standing injustice and unfavorable dealings on the part of the Japanese, and three major battles (1456, 1669, and 1789) took place.
After 1868, when the era of the samurai ended and Japan entered the modern era, the Japanese government began to develop Hokkaido and at the same time implemented policies to prepare for the Russian threat.
Specifically, it gathered many pioneers from all over Japan and stationed agricultural soldiers in the area.
The ancestors of most of today’s Hokkaido residents are these pioneers and agricultural soldiers.
By developing the land through irrigation and soil improvement, agriculture such as rice cultivation and livestock breeding flourished.
In addition, Hokkaido’s abundant coal resources led to the development of numerous coal mines and the construction of numerous railroads and roads to transport the coal, which in turn led to economic development and a rapid increase in the population.
However, after the 1960s, most of Hokkaido’s coal mines were closed due to the energy shift to oil, and population growth came to a halt.
Since Hokkaido has few competitive industries other than agriculture, fishing, and tourism, the economy has continued to stagnate.
Characteristics
The character of Hokkaido-area residents can be summed up in one word: “generous. Other characteristics include “independent-minded,” “open, cheerful, and good with people,” “highly interested in new things but easily bored,” “laid-back,” “tenacious,” and “rough around the edges.
Most of the ancestors of Hokkaido-area residents are people who settled in the area from various parts of Japan after the late 19th century.
Because of this history, one of the good points of the Hokkaido people is that they are kind to strangers and do not have an exclusive mood. Since the people of Hokkaido are not bound by the old customs of Japan, they have a high divorce rate, tend to have affairs, and do not mind working in the nightclub.
When it comes to love, men seem to be romantic and gentle, while women are strong-willed and aggressive.
Tips
Choosing the right time of year to travel
When visiting Hokkaido, it is important to choose the right time of year for your purpose.
If you want to do snow sports, you need to visit from the end of November to the end of March.
If you just want to see the snow, you should visit from the end of October to the beginning of April.
If you want to go sightseeing, you should visit at a time other than the above (mid-April to mid-October) when the weather is good and there is no snow cover.
*Driving a rental car with snow on the ground is very dangerous if you are not used to it, so you should not do it.
Also, you should avoid sightseeing in Hokkaido during the peak season.
The peak period is from late July to the end of August, when Japanese people take their summer vacation.
Especially during the week before and after Obon (August 13-15), the majority of Japanese, including working people, take a vacation, so Hokkaido is very crowded.
Airline tickets and hotel rates are two to four times higher than normal, and it is highly unlikely that you will be able to make reservations in the first place, so it is best to leave this period off if possible.
It is also advisable to avoid the Japanese holiday seasons of “Golden Week (around April 29 to May 5)” and “Silver Week (around September 15 + September 23)” as there are many travelers during these periods.
Planning (Selecting an area to travel + creating an itinerary)
Hokkaido is a large island, with many sightseeing spots scattered throughout the island.
Hokkaido is divided into four main areas: Southern Hokkaido, Central Hokkaido, Northern Hokkaido, and Eastern Hokkaido.
Each area is quite large, and there is no fast and frequent Shinkansen bullet train service.
Therefore, please plan your trip with the understanding that it will take at least two days to visit each area, even if you are very rushed.
For example, if you travel from Hakodate in southern Hokkaido to Shiretoko in eastern Hokkaido, a distance of 650 km, it will take 10 to 11 hours no matter what mode of transportation you use.
The most efficient means of transportation is to fly and rent a car.
If you make good use of the “drop-off” service, in which you return the rental car at a different place from the place of departure, you can significantly shorten the travel time.
The fee for a drop-off point is approximately 5,000 to 8,000 yen.
Access from overseas
New Chitose Airport is connected to 14 cities around the world, mainly in Asia. Please refer to the following for information on destinations and timetables.
New Chitose Airport/International Flights
New Chitose Airport is connected to 14 cities around the world, mainly in Asia. Please refer to the following for information on destinations and timetables. https://www.new-chitose-airport.jp/en/airport/airline/inter.html
[ See details ]
| Address | Bibi, Chitose City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | Directly connected to New Chi[…] |
| Tel | 0123-23-0111 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Hakodate Airport
Currently only has flights to/from Taiwan (Taipei).
[ See details ]
| Address | 511 Takamatsu-cho, Hakodate-City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | About 20 minutes by airport b[…] |
| Tel | 0138-57-8881 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Asahikawa Airport
From within Japan there are 5 – 7 flights per day from Tokyo (Haneda Airport) and 1 flight a day from Nagoya. However, JAL and ANA are the only carriers that operate flights to Asahikawa so prices are not exactly cheap. ※ If you reserve a ticket 1 – 2.5 months in advance you can […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 2 Sen-16-98 Higashi, Higashikagura, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | by Bus: Take the Asahikawa Ai[…] |
| Tel | 0166-83-3939 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Access from within Japan
To get to Hokkaido, you can only fly except to Hakodate, which has a Shinkansen station on the outskirts of the city.
New Chitose Airport/International Flights
New Chitose Airport/Domestic flight
New Chitose Airport connects to 26 cities in Japan. Please refer to the following for available airlines, destinations and timetables. Web Site https://www.new-chitose-airport.jp/en/airport/time/ Currently, the following LCCs are available Peach [ Click ] Fuji Dream Airlines [ Click ] Jetstar [ Click ] Ibex Airlines [ Click ] SpringJapan [ Click ] (https://en.ch.com) – LCCs […]
[ See details ]
| Address | Bibi, Chitose City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | Directly connected to New Chi[…] |
| Tel | 0123-23-0111 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Access from New Chitose Airport
New Chitose Airport is located about 50 km southeast of central Sapporo.
Train
JR trains serve the airport with 5 trains per hour, which is quite convenient.
It takes about 40 minutes to get to Sapporo Station.
For details, please refer to the following
Bus
From New Chitose Airport, there are buses to central Sapporo and express buses to other parts of Hokkaido (Hakodate, Niseko, Asahikawa, etc.).
It takes 60-70 minutes to get to central Sapporo, but the bus stops at several major hotels along the way, and the fare is 1,100 yen, 580 yen cheaper than JR.
For more details, please refer to the following
Taxi
New Chitose Airport-Sapporo Station costs about 15,000 yen.
If the departure time is between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, a 20% late-night surcharge will apply.
Other Airports
There are 13 airports in Hokkaido other than New Chitose Airport, but only Hakodate, Asahikawa, Kushiro, Memanbetsu, Obihiro, Nakashibetsu, and Wakkanai are actually usable by travelers such as yourself.
The above are listed in order of the number of users.
Airfares on the two LCC routes, Kushiro-Tokyo (Narita) and Memanbetsu-Tokyo (Narita), are inexpensive, but other routes are quite expensive.
East Hokkaido Area
Kushiro Airport
Serves Tokyo (Haneda/Narita), Sapporo (Shin-Chitose/Kyusyu), and Osaka (Kansai) *Osaka (Itami) and Nagoya are also served in summer.
[ See details ]
| Address | 2 Tsuru, Kushiro, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 0154-57-8304 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Memanbetsu Airport
Domestic flights to and from Tokyo (Haneda), Nagoya (Chubu), and Sapporo (New Chitose) are available. 5 – 6 flights depart each day from Tokyo (Haneda) and Sapporo (Chitose), only 1 flight per day from Nagoya (Chubu). There is another airport in the area, Monbetsu Airport, but it is about 100 km northwest of Abashiri City […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 201-3, Memanbetsu Chuo, Oozora-cho, Abashiri-gun, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 0152-74-3115 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Tokachi Obihiro Airport
Serves Tokyo (Haneda) only, but also serves Nagoya and Osaka (Itami) in summer only.
[ See details ]
| Address | 8-41, West 9-sen, Izumimachi, Obihiro, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 0155-64-5678 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Nakashibetsu Airport
Serves Tokyo (Haneda) and Sapporo (Shin-Chitose).
[ See details ]
| Address | 16-9, Kitanaka, Nakashibetsu-cho, Shibetsu-gun, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 0153-73-5601 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
South Hokkaido Area
Hakodate Airport
Currently only has flights to/from Taiwan (Taipei).
[ See details ]
| Address | 511 Takamatsu-cho, Hakodate-City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | About 20 minutes by airport b[…] |
| Tel | 0138-57-8881 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Northern Hokkaido Area
Asahikawa Airport
From within Japan there are 5 – 7 flights per day from Tokyo (Haneda Airport) and 1 flight a day from Nagoya. However, JAL and ANA are the only carriers that operate flights to Asahikawa so prices are not exactly cheap. ※ If you reserve a ticket 1 – 2.5 months in advance you can […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 2 Sen-16-98 Higashi, Higashikagura, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | by Bus: Take the Asahikawa Ai[…] |
| Tel | 0166-83-3939 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Wakkanai Airport
Serves Tokyo (Haneda) and Sapporo (Shin-Chitose).
[ See details ]
| Address | 6744 Koetoi, Koetoi-mura, Wakkanai, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Shinkansen
There is only one Shinkansen station in Hokkaido. A Shinkansen train runs from “Tokyo Station” to “Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station” in the suburbs of Hakodate every 1 to 1.5 hours. The trip from Tokyo Station to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station takes approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes.
Access within Hokkaido
Hokkaido is a large island with many sightseeing spots scattered throughout the island.
Transportation between cities/areas is not very convenient, so it is quite difficult to get around.
For example, from one end to another (from Hakodate in southern Hokkaido to Shiretoko in eastern Hokkaido), the distance is 650 km, and it takes 10 to 11 hours no matter what means of transportation are used.
The least time-consuming way to get around Hokkaido is to “fly to the destination area + rent a car”.
The above is expensive and requires an international driver’s license.
Airplane
Airplanes have few routes between Hokkaido cities, operate infrequently, and are quite expensive.
There are routes between Sapporo (New Chitose Airport + Okadama Airport) and other major areas such as Hakodate, Kushiro, Memanbetsu, Nakashibetsu, Wakkanai.
Railways
Hokkaido does not have a well-developed railroad network.
Since there are only a few places in Hokkaido that are served by railroads and the frequency of train services is low, the value of using railroads in Hokkaido is not very high except for the lines in and around Sapporo and the JR Hakodate Line (*Hakodate-Otaru-Sapporo-Asahikawa).
Unlike in Honshu, where bullet trains run at 300 km/h (with a whoosh), Hokkaido has only limited express trains with a maximum speed of about 120 km/h. Except for the Sapporo subway and streetcars (Sapporo and Hakodate) that run slowly along the roads, there is only one railroad company, JR.
Please check the details (timetable, etc.) below.
Highway buses
Express buses run from Sapporo to major cities/areas (Asahikawa, Kushiro, Hakodate, Abashiri, Shiretoko, Obihiro).
Express buses do not take much longer than trains (*1-1.5 times longer) and cost about half as much.
Japanese buses are clean and the driving is not rough, so bus travel is quite comfortable. There are also night buses, which are recommended for those who want to save time and money by traveling at night.
For more information, including timetables, please see the following link.
Car Rental
In Hokkaido, accessibility is poor outside of Sapporo and its suburbs.
It is very convenient to have a rental car, so we strongly recommend renting a car between mid-April and mid-October when there is no snow.
Driving in Hokkaido has the following characteristics.
Good points
- (The roads are in good condition, there are few roads to get lost, and there are few traffic lights, so you can travel fast and stress-free.)
- Expressway tolls are cheaper than in Japan.
- Many parking lots in tourist areas are free of charge.
Bad points
There is snow from October to April, and the roads are icy, so it is dangerous to drive.
If you are not careful, you may have an accident and die.
※It is better not to rent a car during this period.
Recommendations
- If you make good use of the “drop-off” service, in which you return the rental car at a different location from where you left it, you can greatly reduce the travel time. The fee for a drop-off point is approximately 5,000 to 8,000 yen.
- Below is a car rental comparison site where you can make reservations in multiple languages.
The prices are often cheaper than other sites, so it is recommended.
Sightseeing
Hokkaido is very large.
You should visit towns and spots in the same area or adjacent areas together as much as possible.
Otherwise, you will lose a lot of time by traveling.
Major sightseeing spots are scattered throughout Hokkaido.
Central Hokkaido
Southern Hokkaido
East Hokkaido
North Hokkaido
Eat
Hokkaido has a very high level of cuisine, with 76 Michelin-starred restaurants (as of 2017).
– There are 3 restaurants with 3 stars Meat (beef, pork, lamb, gibier, etc.), vegetables, and dairy products from the land of Hokkaido are excellent, but it is the seafood that stands out above all else.
The taste and freshness of the seafood is among the best in the world.
The main reasons why Hokkaido’s seafood is so delicious are that it grows in waters that are extremely rich in nutrients due to ocean currents and drift ice, and that the low water temperature allows the fish to store a large amount of fat, which in turn helps to keep their flesh firm.
The level of seafood served in Japanese restaurants, sushi bars, and even izakaya (Japanese style pubs) is high.
The prices of restaurants and dishes are also 20-30% lower than those in Tokyo.
Therefore, when you come to Hokkaido, you must keep eating delicious food from morning to night.
For some reason, there are many buffet restaurants in Sapporo, and the prices are quite inexpensive, ranging from 1,000 yen to 2,500 yen for lunch.
Other B-class gourmet foods include the “soul food of Hokkaido-ites” such as ramen, soup curry, and Jingisukan(mutton barbecue）.
As for sweets, the level of western-style confections made from Hokkaido’s fresh, high-quality milk, eggs, and agricultural products is high.
Ramen
Ramen is an essential element of Hokkaido tourism.
A bowl of ramen costs about 600 to 900 yen.
The number of ramen restaurants in Hokkaido is about 1,600, the second largest in Japan. (No. 1 is Tokyo with approximately 2,800 stores).
The people of Hokkaido have a strong love for ramen, and competition among ramen stores is fierce. No ramen restaurant has received a Michelin star (2017), but 22 have been introduced as Bib Gourmands.
There is no unified concept or taste which means “this is Hokkaido ramen!”, and the ramen from the four cities of Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, and Kushiro are representative of Hokkaido’s ramen.
The following is a description of ramen from each of these four areas.
Sapporo Ramen
“Sapporo Ramen” is miso ramen with lots of vegetables.
Sapporo Ramen was established in 1955 in the “battleground” city of Sapporo, where about 1,000 ramen stores are located.
Before then, soy sauce ramen was the mainstream in Sapporo, but Mr. Omiya, founder of the popular ramen restaurant Aji no Sanpei, invented miso ramen, which became very popular nationwide, and the image of “Sapporo ramen = miso ramen” has taken root.
The soup of Sapporo Ramen is basically pork bone-based, with a thick, garlicky flavor. Miso sauce is added to the soup.
The surface of the soup is covered with lard, which keeps the soup from cooling down, which suits the cold Hokkaido climate.
The noodles are medium-thick and frizzy, and are aged with a lot of water, which gives them a crunchy texture.
In addition to the usual toppings of leeks, pork chops, and bamboo shoots, Sapporo ramen is characterized by a generous amount of crunchy vegetables such as onions, cabbage, and bean sprouts, which are stir-fried in a wok.
In addition, the following // stores have received Bib Gourmand ratings in the “Michelin Guide”.
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Asahikawa Ramen
Asahikawa Ramen is one of the three most popular ramen in Hokkaido, along with Sapporo Ramen and Hakodate Ramen, and is well known and popular throughout Japan.
There is even a “Ramen Yamatohka” that has dozens of stores not only in Japan but also overseas (in the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand).
There are about 200 ramen shops in Asahikawa, which is one of the largest number per capita in Japan.
Asahikawa ramen is characterized by “soy sauce flavor, a double soup of seafood and pork bone broth, and medium-thin, curly noodles.
The specifics are as follows.
First, the soup
The soup is a double broth, combining pork bone broth and seafood broth such as dried sardines and kelp.
The soup is rich and thick, but the addition of seafood gives it a surprisingly refreshing aftertaste.
The surface of the soup is covered with lard, which makes it hard to cool down. This can be said to be the ingenuity and wisdom of Asahikawa, a place with extremely severe cold weather.
The noodles are white in color, medium thin, and frizzy, with low water content.
The noodles and the soup are a “single experience” that can be savored.
And then there are the ingredients.
The ingredients are orthodox, such as leeks, chashu pork, and pickled bamboo shoots, and they are not too voluminous.
It is quite different from Sapporo ramen, which is also made in Hokkaido, but is filled with vegetables and other ingredients.
The following two restaurants have received Bib Gourmand ratings in the Michelin Guide.
Hachiya Goju Sogyoten
Established in 1947, this is a famous ramen restaurant. Their original formula for the soup includes broth from pork bones and a seafood broth made mainly from dried horse mackerel. Both broths are cooled to remove impurities and finally blended together. In addition the soup comes topped with this shop’s original burnt lard. It is […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 7- Migi 6, 5 Jodori, Asahikawa, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 10 min. walk from JR Asahikaw[…] |
| Tel | 0166-22-3343 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Ramen Yotsuba
Opened in December 2015, the restaurant is relatively new, but quickly gained popularity and has been awarded the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand. The owner is very particular about his dried sardine ramen (niboshi ramen). No MSG is used, instead, several kinds of Japanese dried sardines, kelp, and dried bonito are used to create a deep […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 6-7-17 Toyooka 12 Jō, Asahikawa, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | From JR Asahikawa Station [旭川[…] |
| Tel | 0166-35-4313 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Hakodate Ramen
Hakodate is famous for its salt ramen.
Hakodate Ramen is the only salt ramen among the approximately 130 “local ramen” in Japan.
Hakodate ramen traces its roots back to the mid-19th century when ramen noodles were introduced from China, and the straight noodles and light broth of Hakodate ramen have remained largely unchanged to this day.
Generally, ramen in Hokkaido is fatty and rich in flavor, but the soup of Hakodate ramen is based on pork and chicken bones, but is light, salty, odorless, and clear.
Another characteristic of Hakodate ramen is that no soy sauceis added to the broth, nor are kelp, dried bonito flakes, or other marine products used to make the broth.
The noodles are medium thin with high water content.
The toppings are simple and orthodox, consisting only of leeks, fried pork chops, and pickled bamboo shoots.
There are few ramen specialty restaurants in Hakodate, and ramen is often served at Chinese restaurants.
There are about 170 ramen restaurants in the city.
The following are representative popular restaurants.
Ajisai Main Shop
[ See details ]
| Address | 29-22 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 7-minute walk from Goryokaku […] |
| Tel | 0138-51-8373 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Jiyoken
[ See details ]
| Address | 7-12 Shofu-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 3 min. walk from Hakodate Cit[…] |
| Tel | 0138-22-2433 |
| URL |
Kushiro Ramen
Kushiro Ramen” is second only to the “three major ramen” in Hokkaido.
There are more than 100 ramen stores in Kushiro City.
Kushiro ramen is based on a light soy sauce-flavored soup with bonito broth and thin, curly noodles.
It has been served at yatai stalls since around 1930, and the number of stalls increased after World War II. The thin noodles are said to be the result of efforts by those involved to shorten the boiling time in order to serve hot ramen to fishermen returning from the cold sea as quickly as possible.
The following are representative popular restaurants.
Ramen Kobo Uoichi
[ See details ]
| Address | Kushiro Tancho Ichiba, 13-1 Saiwaicho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 4-minute walk from JR Kushiro[…] |
| Tel | 0154-23-4541 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Maruhira Ramen
[ See details ]
| Address | 8-1-13 Urami, Kushiro City, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 30 min. walk from JR Kushiro […] |
| Tel | 0154-41-7233 |
| URL |
Places to experience food
Experience various kinds of ramen
There are more than 1,600 ramen restaurants in Hokkaido, everywhere, and many of them are open until late at night, making it easy to enjoy ramen.
If you are a ramen novice, you may want to visit a ramen restaurant complex like the one below.
Popular stores are gathered together, and some of them offer small-sized ramen so that you can enjoy several kinds of ramen at one time.
Sapporo Ramen Republic
8 stores
[ See details ]
| Address | Sapporo Esta 10F, Kita 5 Nishi 2, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | A short walk from Sapporo Sta[…] |
| Tel | 011-209-5031 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Sapporo Ramen Yokocho
17 stores
[ See details ]
| Address | 1F N. Grande Building, 3-6 Minami 5-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 2 min. walk from Sapporo Muni[…] |
| Tel | 090-9433-5117 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Hokkaido Ramen Dojo
10 of Hokkaido’s famous ramen shops from all over the island are here, and you can even have taste of “Hokkaido’s 3 pillars of ramen flavor”: Sapporo-style Miso base with plenty of vegetables, Hakodate-style Salt but light ramen base, and Asahikawa-style Pork belly and bones base with seafood dashi base.
[ See details ]
| Address | New Chitose Airport Domestic Terminal Bldg. 3F, 1292-33, Bizi, Chitose-shi, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 5 min. walk from JR New Chito[…] |
| Tel | 0123-23-0111 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Asahikawa Ramen Village
8 ramen shops representing Asahikawa are gathered together under one roof in the corner of a shopping center. Each ramen shop serves half-sizes or mini versions so you can compare between them.
[ See details ]
| Address | 4-119-48 Nagayama 11 Jō, Asahikawa, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | by Train: From JR Asahikawa S[…] |
| Tel | 0166-48-2153 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Jingisukan(mutton barbecue）
Jingisukan is a Hokkaido specialty, a barbeque dish of mutton cooked in a metal pot like an iron helmet.
There are few restaurants outside of Hokkaido, so if you like mutton, give it a try.
In Sapporo, there are large beer restaurants, each with more than 1,000 seats, operated by major Japanese beer breweries, and all of them offer an “all-you-can-eat Genghis Khan and all-you-can-drink beer” menu.
If you pay extra, you can eat all-you-can-eat crab.
Sapporo Beer Garden, which is owned by Sapporo Beer, the birthplace of Sapporo, has a total of 2,500 seats, making it a large scale restaurant.
It is always crowded with many customers.
Sapporo Beer Garden
[ See details ]
| Address | Sapporo Garden Park, 9-2-10, Kita 7-jo Higashi, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | Bus #1 (Sapporo Beer Garden/A[…] |
| Tel | 0120-150-550 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Kirin Beer Garden Urban Branch
[ See details ]
| Address | 7th floor Urban sapporo building, 4 Chome−8−2, Minami 3 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-207-8000 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Soup Curry
Soup curry is “a type of curry characterized by a spicy, light soup and large ingredients (vegetables, meat, etc.).
It was born in Sapporo about 50 years ago.
It is very popular in Hokkaido, but there are not many restaurants outside of Hokkaido, so if you like B-class gourmet food, give it a try.
Sweets
Hokkaido is the largest dairy and agricultural area in Japan, and fresh, high-quality milk, eggs, and agricultural products are available at low prices.
As a result, the production of chocolates and western-style confectioneries is flourishing and of a high level.
Companies headquartered in Hokkaido produce your favorite souvenir sweets, such as “Shiroi Koibito” and “Royce’s Fresh Chocolate”.
In Sapporo, there are many cafes directly operated by sweet makers and milk producers around JR Sapporo Station and Odori Subway Station. The following seven are representative of such cafes.
Rokkatei – Sapporo Main Store” with “very good cost performance”, “Rokkatei – Sapporo Main Store”, and
Bisse Sweets,” which has “six popular stores from various parts of Hokkaido,” and “Kitakaro Sapporo Main Building,” which is a renovated building in a wonderful historical building, are especially recommended.
Sapporo Station Area
Rokkatei
Sapporo Main Store” with “very good cost performance”, “Rokkatei – Sapporo Main Store”, and Biss Sweets,” which has “six popular stores from various parts of Hokkaido,” and “Kitakaro Sapporo Main Building,” which is a renovated building in a wonderful historical building, are especially recommended.
[ See details ]
| Address | Kita 4, Nishi 6-3-3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-261-6666 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Daimaru Store, KINOTOYA Cafe
[ See details ]
| Address | B1F Daimaru Sapporo Store, Kita 5-jo Nishi 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-252-6161 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Yotsuba White Cozy
[ See details ]
| Address | Stellar Place Sapporo B1F, Kita 5-jo Nishi 2-1, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-209-5577 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Snow Brand Parlor
[ See details ]
| Address | 3-1-31 Kita 3-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-251-3181 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Odori Station area
BISSE SWEETS
[ See details ]
| Address | Hokuyo Odori Center, 3-7 Odori-nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | |
| URL | [ Click ] |
ISHIYA
[ See details ]
| Address | 4−6−1 Odorinishi, Chuo-ku sapporo-shi, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-231-1483 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Kitakarou/Sapporo Main Building
[ See details ]
| Address | 5-1-2 Kita1jonishi, Chuo-ku sapporo-shi, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 0800-500-0318 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Shop
There are many large department stores and mass merchandisers around JR Sapporo Station and Odori Subway Station in the center of Sapporo City, where you can find almost everything you need.
The quality and quantity of stores in Hokkaido cities other than Sapporo are quite poor, so shopping for souvenirs is not recommended.
In Sapporo, there are department stores such as Daimaru, Tokyu, Mitsukoshi, and Marui Imai, electronics stores such as Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, and Yamada Denki, and a shopping arcade called Tanuki Koji for cosmetics, medicine, and daily goods.
For souvenirs, there are many sweets and food stores on the first basement floor of Sapporo Station’s commercial facility (Daimaru – JR Tower Square), but New Chitose Airport (domestic terminal) has more stores and a better selection of goods.
It is better to go to the airport early to buy the items so that you do not have to carry them in your luggage.
Department Stores
Daimaru Department Store in Sapporo Station is by far the largest department store in Japan in terms of size, lineup, and selection.
In particular, the food floor on the first basement is well-stocked.
Daimaru Sapporo
[ See details ]
| Address | 4-7, Kita-5-jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-828-1111 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Tokyu Department Store Sapporo
[ See details ]
| Address | 2-1, Kita-4-jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-212-2211 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Mitsukoshi Sapporo
[ See details ]
| Address | 3-8, Minami-1-jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-271-3311 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Marui Imai Sapporo
[ See details ]
| Address | 札幌市中央区南1条西2丁目 |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-205-1151 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Electrical appliance stores
All large-scale stores are located in front of Sapporo Station.
Bic Camera has the largest store area, about twice as large as the other two.
Bic Camera Sapporo
[ See details ]
| Address | 2-1, Kita-5-jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | Directly connected to Sapporo[…] |
| Tel | 011-261-1111 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Yodobashi Camera
[ See details ]
| Address | 5-1-22, Kita6-jonishi, Kita-ku Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-707-1010 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Techland Sapporo Main Store/Yamada Denki
[ See details ]
| Address | 8-1-2 Kitaichijo Nishi, chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 011-205-8001 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Cosmetics – Medicine – Daily sundries
It would be better to go to “Tanuki Koji Shotengai (Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade)”.
Tanuki Koji Shotengai is an arcade (=shopping arcade) about 1 km long from east to west, located about midway between Odori Station and Susukino Station.
There are about 200 stores in total, including Don Quijote and many drugstores, and the prices of goods are low because of the fierce competition among the stores.
Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade
[ See details ]
| Address | 1-7 Nishi 2-3 Jo Minami, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 5 min. walk from Odori Subway[…] |
| Tel | 011-241-5125 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Don Quijote Sapporo Store
[ See details ]
| Address | 4-12-1 Nishi Minami-Sanjo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | 3 minutes walk from "Susukino[…] |
| Tel | 011-219-4811 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Stay
There are approximately 3,000 lodging facilities and 100,000 rooms in Hokkaido.
However, as Hokkaido is a very popular tourist destination for Japanese people, hotels are very difficult to find in the following seasons and at the following times.
- Summer/Summer (July and August) when the weather is very good is crowded, but the peak season is from late July to the end of August, during the summer vacation period for Japanese students.
The “Bon vacations” from August 10 to August 15 are even more crowded because working people also take a vacation during this period. - The “Golden Week” vacation from the end of April to the beginning of May and the year-end and New Year holidays are also very crowded, as the entire country has a one-week break during these periods.
Hotel rates during “Bon vacations,” “Golden Week” and “Year-end and New Year holidays” are more than double those during the off season, so it is best to avoid visiting Hokkaido during these periods if at all possible.
Also, in the case of Sapporo, it is difficult to get a hotel room at all when a concert by a major artist is held at the Sapporo Dome, which attracts tens of thousands of spectators.
On the day of the concert, many fans of the artists from other cities come to Sapporo and stay overnight, so most of the hotels in the city are fully booked. The above situation may occur during your stay.
In such a case, the only option is to take a train to a “nearby town” within 30 to 40 minutes from Sapporo Station. To be more specific, Otaru and Chitose are “neighboring towns” and there are many lodging facilities in these two towns.
The area near the JR terminal station is the most prosperous of any town/area in Hokkaido, and is recommended as a place to stay.
Entertainment
Hot Springs
The number of hot spring resorts in Hokkaido is 245, the highest in Japan.
You can enjoy hot springs in almost any area.
The following is a list of typical hot springs in Hokkaido.
※温泉コンテンツへのリンクを貼る。
Festivals
さっぽろ雪まつり
Cherry Blossom Viewing
Fireworks
Nightlife
If you want to enjoy nightlife in Hokkaido, Susukino in the center of Sapporo City is the one option.
Clubs, karaoke, bars, live houses, cabarets/host clubs, etc.
This is the largest nightlife and entertainment district in northern Japan, including the Tohoku region.
More than 3,000 restaurants, pubs, bars, and other eateries, dance clubs and other playgrounds, and cabarets, gay bars, soaplands, and other adult-entertainment establishments are densely together.
Skiing/Snowboarding
There are about 100 ski resorts in Hokkaido, with Niseko and Rusutsu at the head of the list of world-famous ski resorts.
Along with Nagano Prefecture, Hokkaido is the the best place of snow sports in Japan.
Hokkaido’s powder snow may be called the “best in the world”.
The cold air from Siberia comes to Hokkaido by monsoon with a large amount of moisture in the Sea of Japan, so that every day (!) during the winter season, there is a lot of powdery snow.
Now that global warming is progressing, there is no other place in the world where powder snow falls every day. (*That’s supposed to be true.)
Ski resorts are open from the end of November to the end of March.
There are hot springs near most ski resorts.
After a full day of skiing/snowboarding, you can enjoy a delicious meal in Hokkaido, followed by a dip in the hot springs.
I’m afraid that if you spend more than 5 days there, you may not be able to return to society. Please refer to the following website for more information.
