JTRJapan Travel Rankings

Regional trip planning

Best places to visit in Hokkaido

Compare Sapporo, Otaru, central Hokkaido and the wilder east before building a route around long distances and seasonal transport.

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Night view of Hakodate from Mount Hakodate

Hokkaido

Hokkaido

Hokkaido is not a single-city extension of a Japan itinerary but an island-sized region whose landscapes, weather and transport gateways reward deliberate planning. Sapporo is an excellent arrival base, yet the 50-place Hokkaido list also reaches Otaru and the Shakotan side of central Hokkaido, Asahikawa, Biei and Furano in the north-central area, Hakodate and Matsumae in the south, and the wetlands, lakes, drift-ice coast and World Heritage nature of eastern Hokkaido. Choose one or two regional arcs, use different arrival and departure airports when possible, and leave enough time for weather to change the plan.

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