Resort Glamping.com
Nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Koshinetsu, Kansai, Tokai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa)
Resort Glamping.com
Nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Koshinetsu, Kansai, Tokai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa)
July 30, 2026
Hokkaido is immensely popular with tourists from Taiwan and Hong Kong as one of Japan's premier resort paradises. It displays completely different and beautiful scenery in each of the four seasons, with its vast landscape offering countless breathtaking views, from romantic canals to mystical volcanic lakes. This article provides a comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide for first-time visitors to Hokkaido, covering must-see spots in central, southern, northern, and eastern Hokkaido, as well as transportation access and local cuisine! We deliver a complete guide to help you fully and deeply enjoy the charms of Hokkaido.
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Hokkaido is larger than Taiwan, and its attractions are broadly divided into four areas. The first step to smart planning is to understand the geographical characteristics of each area and then narrow down your destinations according to the length of your trip.
| Area | Representative cities | Must-see tourist spots | Recommended number of days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Hokkaido | Sapporo and Otaru | Odori Park, Otaru Canal | 2 to 3 days |
| Southern Hokkaido | Hakodate | Night view from Mount Hakodate, Goryokaku Fort | 1 to 2 days |
| Northern Hokkaido | Asahikawa and Furano | Lavender flower field, Asahiyama Zoo | If you extend for |
| Eastern Hokkaido | Kushiro and Shiretoko | Kushiro Marsh, Shiretoko Five Lakes | 2 to 3 days |
It's not uncommon for travel between cities in Hokkaido to take 2-3 hours by car or train. Choosing the right mode of transportation is the key to a successful independent trip to Hokkaido.
New Chitose Airport handles many international flights. From the airport to Sapporo city center, you can reach the city in as little as 37 minutes using the JR Rapid Airport train. With frequent service and reasonable fares, you can smoothly transition to sightseeing in Sapporo immediately after arrival. If you have a lot of luggage or are traveling with senior citizens, we also recommend using the shuttle buses that go directly from the airport to various hot spring resorts (such as Noboribetsu and Lake Toya).
For efficient travel between major cities like Sapporo, Otaru, Asahikawa, and Hakodate, the "JR Hokkaido Rail Pass," exclusively for foreign tourists, is extremely convenient. It allows unlimited rides on JR Hokkaido trains within a specified period, significantly reducing transportation costs. If your main focus is sightseeing in the city center, combining trains and local buses is more than enough to fully enjoy your trip.
Official website: https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp
Driving in a rental car is overwhelmingly convenient for exploring the beautiful rolling hills of Furano and Biei, or the unspoiled natural landscapes of eastern Hokkaido. Hokkaido's roads are wide and have few traffic lights, and the exhilarating feeling of driving along beautiful, seemingly endless straight roads is one of the reasons why many travelers are captivated by Hokkaido. However, in winter, the roads in Hokkaido freeze completely. If you are not used to driving on snowy roads, it is safer to stick to driving trips in the summer and use trains or sightseeing taxis (chartered cars) in winter.
Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, boasts popular spots like Odori Park, Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade, and Sapporo TV Tower in its city center. The Sapporo Snow Festival, held every winter, is world-famous and a major event representing Hokkaido. Furthermore, it's a hub for Hokkaido's culinary trends, with famous dishes like soup curry and Genghis Khan (grilled lamb), so you won't get bored even if you stay for one or two days.
Located about 40 minutes by train from Sapporo, Otaru is a nostalgic port town. The historic red brick warehouses lining the Otaru Canal create a breathtakingly romantic atmosphere when the gas lamps light up at dusk. The town is also home to shops such as Kitaichi Glass, which sells glass crafts, and the Otaru Music Box Museum, making it perfect for souvenir shopping. The most popular and classic route for tourists is to enjoy fresh sushi and seafood bowls made with fish caught in the sea right in front of the town.
Hokkaido Tourism Official Website: https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp
Don't miss the nearby spots just a short trip from Sapporo. Lake Shikotsu is a beautiful caldera lake boasting some of the clearest waters in Japan, where you can feel the tranquility of nature. Jozankei Onsen is known as Sapporo's inner sanctuary and is a popular scenic spot where you can enjoy hot springs surrounded by magnificent autumn foliage.
The night view from Mount Hakodate is a spectacular sight, considered one of Japan's three greatest night views. During the day, head to Goryokaku, a unique star-shaped fortress. The view is especially breathtaking during cherry blossom season (spring) when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. At Hakodate Morning Market, you can enjoy freshly caught sea urchin and king crab, making it a true paradise for food lovers.
Located on the way from Hakodate to Sapporo, this is one of the most representative natural spots in southern Hokkaido. Lake Toya is a nearly circular caldera lake, and fireworks are launched over the lake every summer night. At Toyako Onsen on the lakeshore, you can enjoy a luxurious bath while gazing at the beautiful lake. Nearby, at Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley), white smoke and intensely hot water gush out from all directions, allowing you to experience Hokkaido's dynamic volcanic activity.
July is the best time to visit Furano. Vast farms, including Farm Tomita, are covered in a sea of purple lavender, creating one of Hokkaido's most popular summer landscapes. With a rental car, you can easily visit other attractions such as the mystical cobalt-blue "Blue Pond" in the Biei area and the "Shikisai-no-Oka" hills, where flowers bloom profusely.
Asahiyama Zoo, Japan's most popular zoo, is famous for its "behavioral exhibits" that allow visitors to observe animals in their natural habitats up close. The winter "penguin parade" and the sight of seals swimming in a cylindrical tank are extremely popular with families with children. The zoo is easy to navigate with strollers, making it a safe and enjoyable experience for the whole family. It is recommended to combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Asahiyama Park or the Akawa Ramen Village, which features local ramen dishes.
The Shiretoko Five Lakes and Kushiro Marsh in eastern Hokkaido, with their untouched natural beauty, are hidden gems for those who want to explore Hokkaido in more depth. In Shiretoko, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, you can enjoy the adventure of searching for wild brown bears and Steller's sea eagles from the sea aboard a sightseeing boat. Here, you'll find the overwhelming scale of the northern land, something you can never experience on a rushed group tour.
February - MarchIt is the season of beautiful flowers. The lavender fields of Furano and the patchwork hills of Biei are highlights of summer tourism in Hokkaido, and it is also an ideal summer resort, cooler and more comfortable than mainland Japan.
February - MarchAs autumn approaches, the mountains are suddenly dyed in vibrant autumn colors, transforming Jozankei, Daisetsuzan, and the shores of Lake Toya into breathtaking autumn landscapes that attract photography enthusiasts from all over the world.
February - MarchAround this time, Hokkaido transforms into a world of silver. The Sapporo Snow Festival, Otaru's Snow Light Path, and various ski resorts boasting some of the world's finest powder snow open up, offering a plethora of romantic winter experiences. Soaking in a warm open-air bath while watching the snow fall softly is a privilege only available in wintery Hokkaido.
This luxurious glamping facility is nestled in a prime location, just a 15-minute drive from the heart of Otaru city, surrounded by nature. At night, you can enjoy the beautiful night view of Otaru and a sky full of stars.
Right in front of the property is the famous Asarigawa Onsen hot spring, where you can refresh your mind and body by using the hot springs and authentic sauna. For dinner, you can enjoy Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) or BBQ made with fresh, high-quality ingredients unique to Hokkaido in a private setting, allowing you to spend a luxurious resort time amidst nature.
Located in Rusutsu, a resort town beloved by travelers from around the world, this glamping facility offers a chance to enjoy authentic BBQ, campfires, and other outdoor experiences surrounded by nature. Accommodation is provided in trailer house-style rooms, still rare in Japan. For dinner, you can enjoy Italian cuisine as well as dishes featuring fresh Hokkaido ingredients such as Rusutsu pork and Rusutsu radish.
This villa on the shores of Lake Toya in Hokkaido offers a luxurious stay. After relaxing and rejuvenating in the private hot spring, refresh your mind and body in the outdoor sauna. From July to October, you can also enjoy fruit picking at nearby partner orchards, including cherries, blueberries, and apples. Spend a comfortable holiday surrounded by nature.
This trailer house-style glamping facility offers an exciting and extraordinary experience. It provides a safe and comfortable environment for outdoor beginners and women, and offers a variety of activities, including a private sauna and authentic camping experiences. For meals, you can savor local delicacies such as thick-cut steaks of Hokkaido beef and pork, and Hokkaido's famous Jingisukan (grilled lamb).
A. For first-time visitors, the safest option is to base yourself in the "Central Hokkaido area (Sapporo and Otaru)," which has excellent transportation access and a concentration of attractions. The two cities are close together, about 40 minutes apart by rapid train, making day trips easy. If you have extra time, a classic plan would be to take the Shinkansen or limited express train from there to see the night view of Hakodate, or in the summer, extend your trip to the flower fields of Furano.
A. If you only plan to visit major cities like Sapporo, Otaru, and Hakodate, you can easily sightsee using only JR (railway) and local buses. However, public transportation is not very convenient for the hilly areas of Furano and Biei, or the vast natural landscapes of eastern Hokkaido. Therefore, having a rental car will allow you to move around much more freely and enjoy the area more thoroughly.
A. Our top recommendations for summer are, without a doubt, the lavender fields of Furano (July is the best month), the long-running fireworks display at Lake Toya that lights up the night sky, and Asahiyama Zoo, which will captivate both adults and children. A route combining these three is extremely popular with tourists from Taiwan and Hong Kong as a classic summer destination.
The reason Hokkaido offers new and exciting experiences no matter how many times you visit is that its exquisite powder snow, majestic volcanic lakes, endless flower fields, breathtaking night views, and fresh seafood are all condensed into this vast land. First, understand the relative locations of each area, and then, by cleverly planning your trip according to the length of your travel days, you can create lasting and memorable travel experiences, whether you're traveling independently or by rental car!
He is an editor at Resort Glamping.com, a glamping-focused media outlet visited by approximately 100 million people a month. He has written over 150 articles introducing glamping facilities and experience reports, and is involved in a wide range of glamping facility services, from planning and development to operation and customer acquisition consulting.
