Hokkaido Travel Guide

Guidebooks

Hokkaido is Japan with breathing space. People here don't put on the air-conditioning in summer—they open the windows. Outside, fragrant air, wild mountains, virgin forests, pristine lakes, and surf-beaten shores are all within easy reach of cities and towns.

Hotels

Hokkaido Hotels

Accommodations that are easily booked in English tend to be modern, characterless hotels built for Japanese tour groups. Gorgeous lobbies and sterile, cookie-cutter...read more

Fodor's Choice

Restaurants

Hokkaido Restaurants

Hokkaido's regional food includes excellent seafood, beef, lamb, corn on the cob, and potatoes. Dining out is generally much cheaper than in Tokyo and Osaka...read more

Things To Do

Things To Do in Hokkaido

Explore the best sights, entertainment, and shopping with our top choices and insider tips.

Travel Deals in Hokkaido

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Hotels

Hokkaido Experiences

  • Top Reasons to Go to Hokkaido

    The Beer: Hokkaido has the Sapporo Beer brewery and local microbreweries in Otaru and Hakodate.... Read more

  • Winter Sports in Hokkaido

    Hokkaido is a fantastic winter wonderland. Ridiculous amounts of powder snow and great resorts delight skiers and boarders from both Japan and... Read more

  • On the Calendar

    One of Japan's best-known annual events, held for a week beginning February 5 or 6, is the Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri). More... Read more

  • Hokkaido's First Inhabitants

    Once upon a time in Ainumosir (human being peaceful land), aynu (human beings) lived in kotan (villages), raising their families on a diet of... Read more

  • On the Menu

    Hokkaido is known for its seafood—the prefecture's name means "the Road to the Northern Sea." Shakeì or sakeì (salmon)... Read more

  • The Beer

    Sapporo means beer to drinkers around the world, and what would a visit to the city of the same name be without a little beer research?... Read more

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  • A tale of two Japans: a trip report

    Greetings all
    We are back, and I am jotting down a few things quickly while my mind is still fresh.
    First off: thanks to the many Japanophiles here on Fodors who infected us with their enthusiasm: hawaiiantraveller, Read more

  • Wild Hokkaido!

    Hokkaido, northern island is an amazing destination. Read more

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