Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Asahikawa, the base for sightseeing in northern Hokkaido

Asahikawa is located in the center of Hokkaido. It is the second largest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo. It has an abundance of popular tourist spots and attractions. With easy access to Furano and Biei, Asahikawa is recommended as a base for sightseeing.

Asashiyama Zoo in Asahikawa City is a popular spot where you can see lively animals as if they are in their natural habitat. Ueno Farm, with its beautiful garden that takes advantage of Hokkaido's climate, is another attractive spot. The Asahikawa Winter Festival is a major winter event in Hokkaido. It is held every year in early February. Many tourists from far and wide visit the festival, and the illuminated main street is a bustling place.

The Asahikawa Ramen Village features popular restaurants that serve Asahikawa ramen, one of Hokkaido's three major ramen varieties. Visitors can also enjoy a tour of sake breweries.

Daisetsuzan National Park, a range of 2,000-meter-high mountains

Daisetsuzan National Park is the largest national park in Japan. It covers an area of approximately 230,000 hectares. The Daisetsuzan mountain range and mountains are known as the "roof of Hokkaido." It is said that more than 250 species of plants grow here. There are also species that are endemic to Daisetsuzan, and in summer, many tourists come to observe the alpine flora. Mt. Asahidake and Mt. Kurodake have ropeways that take you halfway up the mountain, making hiking easy and enjoyable. Due to the low temperatures at the high altitude, please be prepared with cold-weather gear even in summer.

Autumn arrives in mid-September, and the trees begin to turn bright colors. It is said to be the earliest autumn foliage in Japan. Sounkyo, located at the foot of Mt. Kurodake, boasts beautiful valleys, with cliffs stretching 24 km, and the autumn leaves in the surrounding area creating a spectacular view. There are also a number of waterfalls nearby, such as the Ginga-no-Taki Falls and Ryusei-no-Taki Falls, which cascade down from the cliffs like a landscape painting.

Another pleasure is the hot springs. There are many hot springs in this area. They are a great way to heal your body after a hard day's climbing or walking. There is an abundance of hot spring water and good quality hot springs are gushing out. We recommend that you visit the area for the purpose of enjoying the hot springs.

A variety of popular scenic spots

The areas around Furano and Biei are dotted with some of the most colorful spots in Hokkaido. The vast lavender fields dyed in purple and the flower fields with dozens of different flowers in full bloom are spectacular. The scenery is so beautiful it could be a picture postcard. From mid-July to August, when the lavender is at its best, the area attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad. It is recommended to visit early in the morning when the roads are free.

Furano and Biei are also excellent stargazing spots. The star-filled sky is like a natural planetarium. The beauty of this space will make you forget your daily life.

Enjoy some of the best wineries in Japan and exquisite cheese unique to Hokkaido

The areas around Furano and Biei are areas where agriculture and livestock farming are thriving.

Furano is suitable for growing grapes, the ingredient for making wine. Furano is a major cultivation area for wine grapes. Furano wine boasts a track record in domestic wine competitions, including winning with more than 10 points.

At the winery, visitors can observe the production process of Furano wine and visit the wine aging room. Visitors can also enjoy wine tasting. At the nearby Furano Wine House restaurant, you can enjoy dishes based on the concept of "local production for local consumption," using many local ingredients such as Furano wine and Furano cheese.

The Biei area, with its vast fields, has many restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy dishes using local vegetables. Restaurants with terrace seating are also popular. The food is exceptional when enjoyed with a view of the beautiful scenery of Biei.

At "Furano Marche," you will find a direct sales shop for agricultural products and stores that specialize in local ingredients. You can also find souvenirs and local gourmet foods at JA Biei's antenna store "Biei Senka".

Popular ski resort area in winter

Hokkaido, with its low temperatures, is covered with fine powder snow. For this reason, there are many slopes where you can enjoy skiing. Furano and Tomamu, in particular, boast some of the best snow quality in Hokkaido due to the cold temperatures. Many fans are attracted by the quality of the snow, and in winter, many skiers, both domestic and international, visit the ski resorts. World-class competitions are also held at the ski resorts. There are many different types of slopes, and everyone from families to advanced skiers can enjoy the slopes according to their level. You can enjoy the fresh snow on the slopes on the ski run early in the morning.

Through an endless expanse of land to the farthest point, Wakkanai

Wakkanai is the northernmost point of Japan, sandwiched between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. It is also the gateway to the popular tourist destinations of Rishiri Island and Rebun Island. Many tourists visit here.

From Cape Soya, you can see as far as Sakhalin on a clear day, giving you a real sense that you are standing at the northernmost tip of Japan. A "Certificate of Arrival at the Northernmost Point of Japan" with the date is available at souvenir stores in the area. It is recommended as a souvenir of your visit.

The Soya Hills are gently sloping hills in the southern part of Cape Soya. It is a vast prairie. On top of a small hill is one of the largest wind power plants in Japan, with about 50 wind turbines lined up in a row. The sight of so many white wind turbines standing side by side in the prairie is breathtaking.

The "White Road" is a popular photo spot. The road was made by laying white scallop shells on the off-road of Soya Farm. The contrast between the road and the blue ocean at the end of the road makes for a photogenic sight. It is a spot that cannot be missed in Wakkanai sightseeing.

In Wakkanai, there are "Wakkanai Footpaths" where you can enjoy walking in any style you like. Footpaths are walking paths that allow visitors to enjoy walking in the countryside and nature, such as pastures and fields. Wakkanai Footpaths" offer four different routes that allow you to fully enjoy Wakkanai's rich nature and beautiful scenery. Visitors can choose the course of their choice according to distance and time, and enjoy it at their leisure.

Scenic "Rishiri Island" and floating island of flowers, "Rebun Island"

Rishiri Island is an island of fishing and tourism. The symbol of the island is Mt. Rishiri, which rises 1,721 meters above sea level and is located in the center of the island. It is called "Rishiri Fuji" because of its beautiful shape. Himenuma is a small marsh about 1 km in circumference and is a popular sightseeing spot. There is a walking path, and it takes about 20 minutes to go around the marsh. On sunny days when the wind is calm, you can sometimes see "upside-down Rishiri Fuji" reflected on the surface of the water. There are also many other spots where visitors can enjoy the natural scenery, such as Otatomari-numa and Senhoshimisaki Park.

Rebun Island is the northernmost island in Japan. Here, visitors can observe alpine flora found on 2,000-meter mountains without having to climb the mountain. The island is called "Floating Island of Flowers" because about 300 kinds of flowers are in full bloom. Trekking while viewing the hills and cliffs where flowers bloom is popular. Visitors of all levels, from beginners to experts, can choose a route that suits their level of experience.

Both islands are dotted with many places of interest, so it is recommended to rent a car for a round-the-island tour.

Rumoi area, where you can enjoy nature and food nurtured by the harsh northern climate

Rumoi area is located between Sapporo and Wakkanai.

The coastline on the Sea of Japan side is called the "Sea of Japan Oloron Line." It is popular as a scenic driving route that runs along the coastline for about 300 km to Wakkanai. There are many places of interest along the route. The Kunimare Sake Brewery in Mashike-cho is the northernmost sake brewery in Japan, boasting a history of over 100 years. A tour of the brewery is available. Since you are driving, you cannot taste the sake, but you can buy souvenirs.

The Sea of Japan side of the northern Hokkaido area once prospered from herring fishing. The Former Hanada Family Banya is a building that tells of the prosperity of those days. It is designated as an important cultural property. It is now attached to the roadside station "Obira Nishinbanya".

Teuri Island is a very small island with a circumference of about 12 km. It is home to about one million sea birds, including the common murre and the rhinoceros auklet. The cliffs surrounding the island are a perfect place to protect the birds from outside enemies. It is one of the world's largest seabird breeding grounds, where a variety of seabirds nest from March to August. Bird watchers come from all over Japan to enjoy bird watching.

Yagishiri Island is a peaceful island with one-third of the island covered with virgin forest and grasslands in the center. Suffolk sheep graze on the grasslands. Renting a bicycle is a great way to tour around the island, taking in the beautiful coastline and horizon. You can also enjoy a walk in Uguisudani and Hibarigaoka Park, which are ideal for nature observation.

Teuri Island and Yagishiri Island can be reached by ferry or high-speed boat from Haboro.

■ Click here for a list of spots in Asahikawa, Sounkyo, and Tenninkyo.

■ Click here for a list of spots in the areas around Furano and Biei.

■ Click here for a list of spots in Wakkanai, Rishiri, Rebun, and Rumoi.

■ Click here for "Central Hokkaido Area Guide”

■ Click here for "Southern Hokkaido Area Guide"

■ Click here for "Eastern Hokkaido Area Guide"