Hokkaido Travel Guide

Hokkaido at a glance

Japan's northernmost and second largest island, Hokkaido's vast nature make it a popular tourist destination. The peak travel seasons are summer, when the mild weather attracts campers, cyclists, and hikers, and winter, when thick snow powders the island's ski slopes and rising steam beckons visitors to its many hot springs. The Sapporo Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri) held every year in February is one of the most popular festivals in Japan.

Hokkaido is also home to Japan's indigenous people, the Ainu, who are said to have settled the area some 20,000 years ago. The Japanese, on the other hand, began moving to the area in earnest during the Meiji Period, when the government promoted migration to Hokkaido to protect Japan's northern front from Russian expansionism. Ainu culture has played an important role in shaping Hokkaido's history and many of the area names, including the capital of Sapporo, come from the Ainu language.

After heavily discriminating against the Ainu for over a century, the Japanese government finally passed a law in 1998 to use government funds to research and promote Ainu language and culture. The past few decades has seen a resurgence in Ainu culture and many children of Ainu who hid their identity due to cultural persecution now take pride in their Ainu heritage.

Today, Hokkaido is famous for some of Japan's tastiest foods, including crab, Sapporo ramen noodles, salmon roe, sea urchin, and Sapporo Beer.

Orientation

Slightly smaller than Ireland, Hokkaido is a large island located near Russia at the northern tip of Japan. Despite being Japan's largest prefecture and comprising 22% of its land mass, the island's 5.6 million residents only account for 5% of the country's population. Hokkaido is home to some of Japan's best national parks, including Daisetsuzan National Park, Akan National Park, and Shiretoko National Park.

Hokkaido is separated from Honshu by the Tsugaru Straight. In 1988, the island was connected to Aomori Prefecture with the completion of the Seikan Tunnel. The tunnel is 33.5 miles (54km) long and is the longest undersea tunnel in the world.

Hokkaido Regions

Hokkaido is divided into four circuits or regions, called Do.

• Do-o (Central Circuit) is the main region and is home to the capital of Sapporo.
• Do-to (Eastern Circuit) is the largest region and is home to many of Hokkaido's national parks.
• Do-hoku (Norther Circuit) is home to Cape Soya, the northernmost point in Japan, and the Wakkanai, where visitors can take ferries to and from Russia.
• Do-nan (Southern Circuit) is home to Hakodate, Hokkaido's second largest city and the entry point for trains coming through the Seikan Tunnel.

Most of Hokkaido's development has taken place within the past 100 years and many of its cities are built on a Western-type grid system with intersecting perpendicular lines. The organization makes it easy to find your way around and is a welcome relief from the seemingly haphazard streets of Tokyo and other cities in Japan.

How to get to Hokkaido

Hokkaido can be reached by plane, train, and ferry. The island's primary airport is located just outside of Sapporo, the trains arrive in Hakodate, and ferries arrive at ports in Otaru, Muroran, and Tomakomai.

Flights to Hokkaido

Most international and domestic flights to Hokkaido land at Sapporo's Chiotse Airport. Deals can usually be found on the internet and through discount travel agencies. Hakodate Airport also has direct flights to Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities in mainland Japan.

Trains to Hokkaido

The Kaikyo Railway Line travels through the Seikan Tunnel connecting Hakodate with Aomori Prefecture. Both day and night trains depart Tokyo for Hakodate and all trains continue on to Sapporo.

Day trains from Tokyo to Hokkaido

The fastest way to get to Hokkaido by train is by taking a hayate train on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo's Ueno Station to Hachinohe Station in Aomori. At Hachinohe, switch to the Hakucho or Super Hakucho limited express (tokkyu) to Hakodate. The total trip takes 6 hours and costs about 19,000 yen one way, 15,000 yen for 7-Day Japan Rail Pass holders.

Night trains from Tokyo to Hokkaido

The Hokutosei Express night train is also a popular option for people traveling to Hokkaido from Tokyo. The overnight ride from Ueno Station to Hakodate costs about 25,000 yen and will save you the price staying at a hotel. The ride takes from 12-14 hours.

Tickets on the more luxurious Cassiopeia sleeper train cost about 32,000 yen.