{"id":18504,"date":"2018-03-02T12:13:38","date_gmt":"2018-03-02T12:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=18504"},"modified":"2023-08-03T07:00:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T06:00:32","slug":"4-reasons-to-visit-hokkaido","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/02\/4-reasons-to-visit-hokkaido\/","title":{"rendered":"7 reasons to visit Hokkaido"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F18504&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F18504\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F18504&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F18504&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F18504%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F18504\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F18504\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>Of the four main islands that make up Japan, Hokkaido is a little different. Actually, it\u2019s very different. This is partly to do with its geography \u2014 all windswept plateaus and freezing Siberian storms \u2014 but it\u2019s partly because Hokkaido wasn\u2019t even part of Japan until the mid-19th century. By that time, the mainland had already been shaped by hundreds of years of history, and seen numerous powers rise and fall.<\/p>\n<p>Hokkaido may not have the age-old traditions, temples and samurai towns of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku, but what it does have are huge expanses of dramatic, mountainous wilderness, a fascinating indigenous culture, and the most spectacular wildlife in Japan.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to see a completely different side of Japan, here are seven reasons why you should head to Hokkaido.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Natural Beauty<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30014\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30014\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30014 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-720x405.jpg\" alt=\"Sea eagles landing on ice floe with mountains in the background\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-564x317.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-1440x810.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-390x219.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-780x439.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332-510x287.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/K-Hustler-Japan-332.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30014\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eagles congregate next to the icebreaker cruise in Abashiri<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>First and foremost, Hokkaido is all about the scenery. Huge mountains, vast blue lakes, parkland, volcanoes, valleys, cliff-lined coasts, and everything in between. In winter, this is all covered with a thick blanket of snow, which makes it feel even more wild and dramatic.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most awesome natural sights lies off the coast, on the Sea of Okhotsk. This is the most southerly point where you can see drifting sea ice, and taking an icebreaker cruise amongst the floes \u2014 keeping your eyes peeled for sea eagles \u2014 is a fantastic Hokkaido experience.<\/p>\n<p>Another completely different but equally spectacular landscape is Jigokudani, or \u201cHell Valley\u201d, in Noboribetsu. Despite its rather forbidding name, Jigokudani is far from hellish \u2013 in fact, its sulphurous steam vents, bubbling mud pools and steaming hot river are an awesome sight, especially in the snow and cold air. <b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/p>\n<h2>2. Wildlife<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29999\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29999\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-29999 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Cranes wading on water with warm morning colours amidst the snow\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Tsurui1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29999\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Red-Crowned Cranes in Tsurui<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Hokkaido\u2019s huge expanses of rugged wilderness are a haven for wildlife, including some very rare species that are hard to find anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p>Foremost amongst them is the red-crowned crane (<em>tancho<\/em> in Japanese). Famous for its intricate mating dance, which it performs in the snow near Tsurui, this rare and beautiful creature is said to live for 1,000 years.<\/p>\n<p>Further north, towards Abashiri, you can spot Steller\u2019s sea eagles and white-tailed eagles diving for fish amongst the pack ice. Meanwhile, the Shiretoko Peninsula is home to the Blackiston\u2019s fish owl \u2014 the largest species of owl in the world.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to its bird life, Hokkaido is home to brown bears (best spotted from a cruise along the coast), ezo deer, red foxes, and flying squirrels \u2014 while its seas play host to orca, sperm whales, and Baird\u2019s beaked whales. It\u2019s safe to say, if you\u2019re a wildlife lover, it\u2019s time to pack your bags!<\/p>\n<h2>3. Food<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30017\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30017\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30017 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Ikura roe, sea urchin, fatty tuna and crab legs served on rice\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/leungchopan-pixta_32603817_L.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30017\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Local seafood delicacies &#8211; leungchopan\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Hokkaido\u2019s seafood is legendary. Everywhere in Japan has great seafood, true, but the bounty of Hokkaido\u2019s seas is particularly delicious and varied. Octopus, sea urchin, cod roe, oysters, crab \u2014 you name it, they\u2019ve got it. If you\u2019re going to try <em>sashimi<\/em> (raw fish) anywhere in the world, it should be here.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t like seafood? Not to worry. Hokkaido is also famous for its melons, sweetcorn, curried soup with crispy fried vegetables, \u201cGenghis Khan\u201d barbecue cooked on a dome-shaped griddle, mouth-watering beef, and some of the best beer in Japan.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Ainu Culture<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30020\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30020\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30020 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Wooden structure with traditional Ainu patterns and designs\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/kiyooka-pixta_73081019_XL.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30020\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">National Ainu Musem &#8211; kiyooka\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Until Hokkaido was c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">laimed <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the mid-19th century, it was<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> known as Ezo and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> inhabited by a people called the Ainu. Thought to have descended from the Jomon, who inhabited Japan some 16,000 years ago, the Ainu have a culture, language and religion entirely distinct from that of the rest of Japan. Tragically, most of this was lost when the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">y<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> were forced to assimilate into the Japanese population<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and many Japanese people of Ainu descent have no idea of their heritage<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Recently<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, there has been something of a re<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">vival <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">of Ainu culture and identity<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">here are <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">now <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">various museums across Hokkaido where you can learn about the Ainu<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. These<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> includ<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">e<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">a brand-<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">new National Ainu Museum<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in Shiraoi,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> which opened in 2020 and displays exhibits relating to Ainu language, music, dance, clothes, food and crafts.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>5. Sapporo Snow Festival<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30008\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30008\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30008 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Ice sculpture of children sitting on animals and hugging planet earth during Sapporo Snow Festival\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Snow-festival-We-want-to-protect-the-earth-2.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30008\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Every year sees different sculptures during the festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Sapporo Snow Festival (or <em>yuki matsuri<\/em>) is one of Japan\u2019s most impressive celebrations. For a week each February, Hokkaido\u2019s biggest city is taken over by giant snow and ice sculptures \u2014 not to mention the two million visitors who flock to see them. The sculptures include replicas of famous world landmarks, Mount-Rushmore-esque tributes to pop icons, and giant renderings of everything from Darth Vader to Cup Noodle. There are also snow slides, ice skating, snow rafting, illuminations and all kinds of delicious festival food and drink. It\u2019s a winter wonderland!<\/p>\n<h1>6. Amazing skiing<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30002\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30002\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30002 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"Skiers on snowy slopes with ice-capped mountain in the background\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L-510x383.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/youxiang-pixta_2215418_L.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30002\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Skiing in Niseko with Mount Yotei in the background &#8211; youxiang\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You might not know it, but Hokkaido has some of the best skiing in the world. Blessed with fluffy powder blown in from across the icy wastes of Siberia, the conditions are reliably fantastic \u2014 but that\u2019s not even the best of it. Japan has apr\u00e8s-ski down to a fine art, so you can spend your evenings soaking in hot springs beneath the falling snow, sipping cocktails in igloos or hot sake in <em>izakaya<\/em> pubs, and slurping down steaming bowls of <em>nabe<\/em> hotpot. Honestly, what could be better than that?<\/p>\n<h1>7. Hakodate<\/h1>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30011\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30011\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30011 size-half-width\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-720x480.jpg\" alt=\"Elegant night lights from restaurants in city promenade\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-564x376.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Northsan-pixta_10635963_XL.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30011\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daimon Yokocho in Hakodate &#8211; Northsan\/Pixta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The little port city of Hakodate is famous amongst the Japanese for its beautiful night views from the top of its mountain, but to foreign visitors it\u2019s virtually unknown \u2014 and for us, that\u2019s part of its appeal. Stop at the morning seafood market for a bowl of sea urchin and rice, climb to the top of a 107-metre observation tower for views over the star-shaped Edo Period fort, go walking in beautiful Onuma Park, then spend your evening bar-hopping in the little alleyways of Daimon-Yokocho. This is one of our favourite undiscovered destinations in Japan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;d like to find out more about the best time to visit Hokkaido and the best things to do when you get there, check out our brand new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insideasiatours.com\/when-to-travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">When to Travel<\/a> tool. Alternatively, you may be interested in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japan-small-group-tours\/i-wh\/winter-highlights\/\">Winter Highlights <\/a>Small Group Tour.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! Of the four main islands that make up Japan, Hokkaido is a little different. Actually, it\u2019s very different. This is partly to do with its geography \u2014 all windswept plateaus and freezing Siberian storms \u2014 but it\u2019s partly because Hokkaido wasn\u2019t even part of Japan until the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2368,2357,2362,2361],"tags":[1625,2316,2321,3636,3639],"class_list":["post-18504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-only-in-japan","category-japanese-wildlife-and-environment","category-places-and-where-to-stay-in-japan","category-when-to-go-to-japan","tag-hokkaido","tag-wildlife","tag-winter-in-japan","tag-hokkaido-in-winter","tag-winter-landscape"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18504"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30650,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18504\/revisions\/30650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}