Central Hokkaido | Travel and Itineraries

Otaru & Yoichi

小樽・余市

HISTORY ⚫︎ SHOPPING ⚫︎ COASTAL SCENERY

Otaru is a nostalgic port town, with an atmospheric, hilly setting overlooking the Sea of Japan. The cultural weight of its heyday can be felt throughout the town, such as century-old Western-style buildings and warehouses.

Around Sapporo

札幌近郊

CULTURE ⚫︎ CYCLING ⚫︎ BASEBALL

With idyllic countryside, pleasant onsen, excellent golf links, scenic beaches and attractive breweries, Sapporo’s suburban makes excellent day or overnight trips out of the two million metropolis.

Niseko

ニセコ

SKIING ⚫︎ HIKING ⚫︎ ONSEN

One of the world’s best ski resorts look over the stunning Yotei-zan, Niseko has great slopes, excellent onsen, stylish villas and hiking trails around Annupuri. If you want to enjoy more skiing, head to Rusutsu.

Shikotsu-Toya National Park

支笏洞爺国立公園

LAKES ⚫︎ ONSEN ⚫︎ HIKING

This mountainous national park centered on the picturesque caldera lakes, Toya-ko and Shikotsu-ko, dotted with active volcanoes, Tarumae-san and Usu-zan, and excellent onsen resort, the most famous of which is Noboribetsu.

Sorachi

空知

COAL MINES ⚫︎ AGRICULTURE ⚫︎ ONSEN

From the 1870s to the 1980s, Sorachi Region was one of Japan’s major coalfields with more than a hundred mining sites. Today this region produces about half of the rice in Hokkaido.

Hidaka

日高

LANDSCAPES ⚫︎ HORSES ⚫︎ AINU CULTURE

Hemmed in by the Hidaka Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this sun-kissed region is Japan’s top racehorse breeding ground with countless stables. Nibutani is one of Hokkaido’s most famous Ainu villages.