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Akkeshi Town

Akkeshi Town in the Kushiro region of eastern Hokkaido is Japan's only town that harvests oysters year-round, thanks to the rich nutrients and abundant plankton of Akkeshi Bay. Akkeshi oysters are renowned for their plump, meaty flesh and intense, complex flavor — widely hailed as 'Japan's finest oysters.' At the Michi-no-Eki Akkeshi Gourmet Park, visitors can feast on grilled, raw, and rice-dish preparations of the prized bivalve. Akkeshi Distillery's single malt whisky is another rising star, having earned high marks at international spirits competitions. Lake Akkeshi and the Bekanbeushi Wetland are Ramsar-designated, sheltering red-crowned cranes and a remarkable diversity of...

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Yubari City

Yubari City, in the Sorachi region of central Hokkaido, was once a booming coal-mining town that fueled Japan's postwar economic miracle — at its peak, the population exceeded 120,000. After the energy revolution drove mine closures and left the city in financial crisis, Yubari has been rebuilding itself as a destination of resilience and reinvention. Yubari melon is world-famous as Japan's most luxurious gift melon, fetching extraordinary prices at auction. The Coal History Village and Coal Museum bring the mining era vividly to life, while film-related sites like the 'Yellow Handkerchief Memories Square' celebrate the city's long-running international fantastic film...

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Tomakomai City

Tomakomai City, an industrial port city in the Iburi region of southern Hokkaido, is home to Lake Utonai — a Ramsar-designated wetland and one of Japan's premier migratory bird staging areas, where over 300 species including whooper swans, geese, and ducks gather throughout the seasons. Tomakomai Port is Hokkaido's largest ferry terminal, welcoming visitors arriving from Honshu by sea. Beyond its industrial landscape, the city offers rich nature experiences: cycling and canoeing around Lake Utonai are popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Culinary draws include Hokki-gai (surf clam) curry and Hokki rice, showcasing the surf clam for which Tomakomai holds the world's...

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Hokuryu Town

Hokuryu Town, in the Sorachi region of Hokkaido, is celebrated as the Sunflower Village — a spectacular summer tourism destination. From mid-July through early August, approximately 2 million sunflowers bloom across roughly 23 hectares of hillside fields, creating a sweeping golden landscape that draws visitors from across Hokkaido and beyond. The contrast of sunflower-covered slopes against Hokkaido's vast blue sky perfectly captures the wide-open scale that defines the island's landscape. Local specialty products made from sunflowers — including sunflower soft-serve ice cream and sunflower oil — add a unique culinary dimension. The Sunflower Festival runs through the long blooming season...

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Nanae Town

Nanae Town, immediately north of Hakodate, is home to Onuma Quasi-National Park — one of Japan's New Three Views. The stunning landscape formed by three lake groups (Onuma, Konuma, and Junsainuma) with the active volcano Mt. Komagatake as backdrop is breathtaking in every season, offering cycling and sightseeing boat cruises. Spring cherry blossoms, summer canoeing, autumn foliage, and winter smelt fishing provide year-round natural experiences, making it a perfect stopover when visiting Hakodate. Onuma dango, a beloved sweet treat crafted since the Meiji era to resemble the lake's islands and waters, is a must-buy local specialty. Just 30 minutes from...

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Sounkyo

Sounkyo, within Daisetsuzan National Park, is one of Hokkaido's most spectacular gorges. Carved by the Ishikari River through lava plateaus of the Daisetsuzan massif, its vertical cliffs soar over 100 meters high and extend for some 24 kilometers, making it the largest gorge in Hokkaido. In spring and summer, visitors can stand face-to-face with two magnificent waterfalls — Ginga no Taki (Milky Way Falls) and Ryusei no Taki (Meteor Falls) — each plunging over 100 meters. In winter, the Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival illuminates breathtaking ice sculptures every night, drawing visitors from across Japan. A ropeway from Sounkyo Onsen carries...

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Lake Akan

Lake Akan, in the Akan-Mashu National Park of eastern Hokkaido, is a volcanic caldera lake globally recognized as the habitat of marimo — spherical algae designated as a Special Natural Monument of Japan. On the lakeshore sits Akan Ainu Kotan, Japan's largest Ainu settlement, where visitors can purchase handcrafted Ainu woodwork and embroidery, watch traditional Ainu dances, and experience indigenous cultural workshops. Kamuy Lumina, a world-renowned immersive night walk created by a leading digital art collective, brings Ainu spirit legends to life through enchanting forest projections. Sightseeing boat tours to observe marimo, walks along the volcanic Bokke mud pools, and...

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Lake Mashu

The mystical Lake Mashu is a world-renowned caldera lake within Akan-Mashu National Park. Once a record-holder for the world's clearest water, its deep indigo surface, often wrapped in ethereal mist, has earned it the nickname 'Misty Lake Mashu' — and local legend holds that those who see it too clearly from the viewing platform will find bad luck in love. The lake's appearance shifts with the seasons and time of day, and visitors may witness the mystical moment when its clear blue waters are suddenly veiled in white mist. Surrounding peaks such as Mt. Mashu and Kamuinupuri preserve a vivid...

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Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park)

Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park)

Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park), which opened in Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido in July 2020, is Japan's first national museum dedicated to an indigenous people — a government-backed hub for Ainu cultural revitalization comprising the National Ainu Museum, the National Park for Ethnic Harmony, and a memorial facility. The lakeside museum on the shores of Lake Poroto explores Ainu history through six thematic lenses, and visitors can enjoy live performances of traditional Ainu dance, embroidery workshops, and dugout canoe experiences. Shiraoi beef (Shiraoi-gyu) Genghis Khan barbecue and other local culinary experiences perfectly complement a visit to this landmark of Japanese...

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Shiretoko (Shari Side)

Shiretoko (Shari Side)

Shari Town, on the Okhotsk coast of eastern Hokkaido, is home to the Shiretoko Peninsula, designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2005. The remote tip of the peninsula — Cape Shiretoko — is reachable only by sea, a pristine wilderness where brown bears and rare birds roam undisturbed. In winter, the Sea of Okhotsk fills with drift ice and thrilling ice-walking experiences draw visitors from around the world. The Shiretoko Five Lakes trekking route, the panoramic views from Shiretoko Pass, climbing Mt. Sharidake, and cliffside cruises offer extraordinary outdoor adventures. The area is also celebrated as Japan's top...

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Mombetsu City

Mombetsu City, on the Okhotsk Coast of northeastern Hokkaido, is one of Japan's prime drift ice tourism destinations — 'Drift Ice and Garinko-go' has been designated a Hokkaido Heritage Site. Each year from around February, massive ice floes roll in from Siberia and blanket the Sea of Okhotsk in white, creating a landscape of breathtaking scale. The icebreaker Garinko-go III IMERU, which smashes through the ice with massive drill-like blades, offers one of the most thrilling sightseeing boat experiences in Japan. Ice walking (Axel Walk) on the frozen sea surface is another crowd-pleaser. The Okhotsk Tower provides an underwater window...

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Toyako Town

Toyako Town, within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, is one of Hokkaido's premier hot spring resort destinations set on the shores of a stunning caldera lake. Lake Toya, a perfectly circular caldera lake formed by volcanic activity some 110,000 years ago, is ringed by pristine nature and graceful mountains. Over 100 hotels and ryokan line the lakeshore, and the legendary Toyako Long-Run Fireworks Festival lights up the sky every single night from late April through late October — making it one of Japan's most extraordinary fireworks traditions. The surrounding volcanic landscape, including Mt. Usu and Showa Shinzan, is recognized as a UNESCO...

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Matsumae Town

Matsumae Town, in the southernmost tip of Hokkaido, flourished as a castle town of the Matsumae Domain during the Edo period. Matsumae Castle is the only traditional Japanese-style castle remaining in Hokkaido, and it played a vital role in guarding the northern frontier. Matsumae Park, surrounding the castle, is one of Japan's most celebrated cherry blossom destinations, where some 10,000 cherry trees of 250 different varieties bloom in late April through early May — earning it fame for the greatest variety of cherry blossom species in Japan. Matsumae-zuke, a traditional Hokkaido pickle of kelp, dried squid, and herring roe in...

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Shiretoko (Rausu Side)

Shiretoko (Rausu Side)

Rausu Town, on the eastern flank of the Shiretoko Peninsula, is the gateway to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Shiretoko from the east. The Shiretoko Traverse Road, crossing Shiretoko Pass to connect with Shari Town, is famous for its spectacular 'snow corridor' — towering walls of snow remaining in May that leave visitors in awe of nature's scale. Rausu kelp, harvested from Shiretoko's deep, nutrient-rich waters, is among Japan's finest and most sought-after kombu. Wildlife encounters are the highlight here: whale-watching and cruises to observe orca and sperm whales offer thrilling views of marine megafauna in the wild. Diverse seabirds...

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Nemuro City

Nemuro City, Japan's easternmost city, sits at the far tip of Hokkaido and is home to Cape Nosappu — the easternmost point of Japan's main islands. From Cape Nosappu, the disputed Northern Territories islands are visible across the narrow straits, making it a uniquely poignant destination of historical and geopolitical significance. A thriving fishing port, Nemuro lands abundant seafood including the prized Hanasaki crab, Pacific saury, and salmon. Local specialties like Hanasaki crab rice bowls and Escalop (rice with demi-glace sauce) are flavors you can only find here. The Kiritappu Wetlands, the panoramic Pacific views from the JR Hanasaki Line,...

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Hakodate City

Hakodate City, at the southern tip of Hokkaido, is a historic port city that flourished as an international trade hub from the end of the Edo period through the Meiji era. The panoramic night view from Mt. Hakodate is celebrated as one of the world's three great night views, drawing millions with its million-dollar vista of twin bays. Goryokaku, the star-shaped Western-style fortress, the European and American architecture of Motomachi, and the Hakodate Morning Market's fresh salmon roe, crab, and squid make Hakodate an exceptional destination. With excellent shinkansen access, Hakodate is the main gateway to southern Hokkaido.

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Kushiro City

Kushiro City is a port city in eastern Hokkaido celebrated for its sunsets, considered among the world's three most beautiful. The vast Kushiro Marshland National Park, Japan's largest wetland, draws visitors from around the globe to witness flocks of red-crowned cranes soaring over its pristine landscape. Nearby volcanic lakes including Lake Akan and Lake Mashu are renowned natural wonders — Lake Mashu, perpetually shrouded in mist, and the spherical marimo algae of Lake Akan are icons of eastern Hokkaido. The fresh seafood at the Kushiro Washo Market, including the legendary 'katte-don' custom rice bowl, is a must-try experience. The city's...

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Obihiro City

Obihiro City is the central city of the Tokachi Plain in eastern Hokkaido, a world-class agricultural region that has developed into a true food paradise. Obihiro's famous pork bowl (butadon), made from locally raised pork, has won nationwide popularity, and renowned confectioneries like Rokkatei and Ryugetsu draw sweet lovers from across Japan. The city hosts Banei Racing, a unique draft horse racing event designated as a Hokkaido Heritage, making it the only race of its kind anywhere in the world. The Tokachi hot springs, known for their distinctive peat-enriched waters, and the vast panoramic farmland and starry night skies round...

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Abashiri City

Abashiri City, on the shores of the Sea of Okhotsk in eastern Hokkaido, is famous throughout Japan for its spectacular drift ice (ryuhyo). From late January through March, massive ice floes drift in from Siberia, creating an otherworldly frozen seascape. The drift ice sightseeing icebreaker Aurora offers an unforgettable experience of navigating through the ice. The Abashiri Prison Museum, a preserved historical facility from the Meiji era, chronicles the pioneering history of Hokkaido and is well-known as a film location. At the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum, visitors can actually touch real drift ice and learn about this unique natural phenomenon.

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Rishiri Town

Rishiri Town is located in the southwestern part of Rishiri Island, floating in the Sea of Okhotsk off northern Hokkaido. The island's iconic Mt. Rishiri (Rishiri-Fuji), standing 1,721 meters above sea level, is a perfectly conical volcanic peak whose silhouette rising from the sea has earned it the nickname 'Rishiri Fuji.' Summer is ideal for climbing Mt. Rishiri and savoring world-renowned Rishiri kelp in a range of gourmet dishes. Cycling around the island offers sweeping views of the surrounding sea and the majestic mountain from every angle. Ferries to Rebun Island also depart from Rishiri, making it a hub for...

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Rebun Town

Rebun Town is home to Rebun Island, a remote island floating off Japan's northernmost tip, celebrated as the Floating Island of Flowers. Despite its low elevation, the island boasts over 300 species of wildflowers including many rare alpine species found nowhere else on Earth. June and July bring the most spectacular floral displays, featuring the island's beloved Rebun Island edelweiss. The dramatic coastal trekking routes from Cape Sukoton to Cape Sukai offer breathtaking ocean views and flower-filled meadows. Fresh sea urchin, scallops, and kelp make Rebun Island a gourmet paradise as well.

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Wakkanai City

Wakkanai is Japan's northernmost city, located at the very tip of Hokkaido. Cape Soya, the northernmost point of Japan, is a must-visit landmark drawing travelers from around the world. Facing both the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, Wakkanai offers dramatic natural scenery including coastal cliffs, wildflower fields, and sweeping pastoral views. The city serves as a gateway to the remote islands of Rebun and Rishiri, accessible by ferry. In winter, drift ice approaches from Siberia, creating a breathtaking frozen seascape, while the city's legendary sunsets are said to be among the most beautiful in the world.

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Biei Town

Biei Town, known as the Town of Hills, is a picturesque farming village in the Kamikawa region of central Hokkaido. The gently rolling hills create a stunning patchwork of colorful crop fields, while the mystical Blue Pond (Aoiike) shimmers with an otherworldly blue-green hue. Framed by the majestic Tokachidake Mountain Range, the scenery changes dramatically with each season, from vibrant fields of canola, sunflowers, and lavender in summer, to a magical winter landscape of snow-covered plains and frost-covered trees. One of Hokkaido's most beloved destinations for international visitors, Biei also offers delicious cuisine made from the freshest local produce.

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Nakafurano Town

Nakafurano Town

Located in the Furano Basin in the heart of Hokkaido, Nakafurano Town is globally renowned as the "Sacred Land of Lavender." Home to the famous Farm Tomita, which pioneered the region's lavender boom, the town sees its rolling hills blanketed in a vibrant purple carpet every summer, drawing countless visitors from around the world. Framed by the majestic Tokachidake Mountain Range, the landscape features idyllic pastoral scenery and patchwork flower fields that soothe the soul. In winter, the slopes of Mount Hokusei transform into a snowy ski resort. Nakafurano is a floral paradise where anyone can immerse themselves in the...

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