Hokkaido A place where we see Full of Japan

Hokkaido | Destinations

Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, exceptional powder snow, fresh seafood, and rich indigenous culture. Only a short flight from Tokyo, it offers the perfect getaway year-round.

Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost island and Japan’s largest prefecture, accounting for over a fifth of Japan’s entire land area. Hokkaido experiences a colder winter than the rest of Japan due to its location but also a milder summer, which makes it a popular destination during the summer months to escape the heat from the southern regions. During the summer months, the Furano Lavender Fields attract thousands of tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the beautiful lavender that fills the field. Farm Tomita is among the most popular, and near the Lavender Train Station. Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital and largest city, holds its annual Sapporo Snow Festival which also attracts tourists in the wintertime, making Hokkaido a popular destination year round.

How to Get There

Hokkaido is accessible by plane from all major airports in Japan to New Chitose Airport near Sapporo, with international flights from Shanghai and Seoul. Direct flights from Tokyo take about 90 minutes. There are also several international flights. It is possible to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo. The Japan Rail Pass can be used to travel on the Shinkansen.

The fastest way to reach Hokkaido is by plane. Flights from Tokyo to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport take about 90 minutes. By train, it takes around eight hours from Tokyo. Take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, then transfer to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo. There are also some inexpensive long-distance ferries from Honshu to ports outside of Sapporo. Niigata, Oarai (Ibaraki Prefecture), Sendai, Nagoya, Maizuru (Kyoto Prefecture) and Tsuruga (Fukui Prefecture) all have ferries that go to Hokkaido.