Enjoy the pleasant weather! Hokkaido Autumn Travel Guide!
Autumn is the season of clear skies and pleasant weather. In Hokkaido, the leaves begin to turn red earlier than any other time of year in Japan, and at the same time, preparations for winter begin.
Hokkaido's specialty foods are in season and events are held throughout the prefecture.
In this issue, we will introduce information you need to know in order to enjoy Hokkaido in autumn!
- * Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.
Temperature, Clothing and Preparation -Foliage starts in September! -
●Average temperatures from September to November
Hokkaido has an image of cold weather. Many people may wonder, "What kind of clothes should I wear in Hokkaido in the fall?"
You can imagine that September in Hokkaido is like October in Honshu. Please note that while temperatures are comfortable during the daytime, it can feel chilly in the mornings and evenings.
Then, it gets colder and colder day by day, and by late October or early November, the first snowfall is observed, and the climate changes to one that reminds one of winter at a stretch.
Please come well prepared for the cold with a thick coat and long-sleeved innerwear during this season!
Recommended spots in autumn to enjoy the vast landscape typical of Hokkaido.
- Leaves changing color
- Autumn is the season for colored leaves. Hokkaido's autumn foliage is characterized by the colorful colors of red, yellow, green, and orange mixed with the green of coniferous trees.
Enjoy the earliest autumn leaves in Japan! 
- Click here to see autumn foliage spots! (Japanese site)
- Cosmos Fields
- Check out the famous cosmos viewing spots, such as "Taiyo-no-Oka," where 10 million cosmos are in full bloom! The sight of pretty flowers spreading across the vast grounds is like something out of a story.
- Search for cosmos fields!
- Hometown of Salmon Chitose Aquarium
- This aquarium is equipped with a window that allows visitors to see the Chitose River underwater.
It is only in Hokkaido in autumn that you can observe salmon coming up the river to spawn! 
- View more (Japanese site)
- Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park
- For the Ainu people, this is the beginning of winter, and also the season for festivals called "Kamuinomi." At Upopoy, visitors can try their hand at making dumplings and other seasonal activities.
- View more
Gourmet food is still a must for those with an appetite in the fall!
- Salmon
- Hokkaido is such a famous salmon producing region that it catches about 90% of Japan's fall salmon.
You can enjoy the sweet fat and even salmon roe, which is one of the best parts of this season! It is a must-try on your autumn trip to Hokkaido! 
- View more (Japanese site)
- Pacific saury
- Hokkaido has the largest catch of Pacific saury in Japan.
The fish are well nourished for the spawning season and have a great amount of fat! The freshness of the sashimi can be enjoyed only in the area where it is caught. 
- View more (Japanese site)
- Smelt
- Smelt in Hokkaido? Some people may think that Hokkaido is the only place in the world where real smelt can be caught, but in fact Hokkaido is the only place in the world where smelt can be found!
"Smelt sushi" is only available in Hokkaido and attracts fans from all over the country. You should try it too. 
- View more (Japanese site)
- Soba
- Soba (buckwheat noodles), whose flavor is concentrated by the cold weather, is another gourmet delicacy to be enjoyed in Hokkaido.
From October to December, you can enjoy "fresh soba" that has just been harvested. Don't miss this season's unique taste of fragrant and sweet buckwheat noodles! 
- View more (Japanese site)
Hokkaido events to enjoy under the sky-high autumn sky
- Nemuro pacific saury Festival
- This is an annual festival held in Nemuro, which has the largest catch of Pacific saury in Japan. An all you can eat Sanma feast will also be held. During the festival, the area around Nemuro Port, the venue of the festival, will be filled with fragrant smells and smoke.
- Nemuro City Official Website (Japanese site)
- Marimo Festival
- The "Marimo Festival" on Lake Akan began as a way to "return the marimo of Lake Akan to the lake and protect it." The festival features a fantastic ritual with traditional Ainu dances from around the region.
- View more (Japanese site)
- Kushiro Big Catch Donpaku
- This is an annual fireworks display held in Kushiro City in early autumn. The highlight of the event is the largest class of fireworks in Hokkaido, the 3 Shaku-dama, which is the largest class of fireworks in Hokkaido!
Beautiful fireworks shot into the night sky and delicious Hokkaido food will add color to the long autumn nights. 
- View more (Japanese site)
- Sapporo Autumn Fest
- A food festival to celebrate the harvest season and enjoy the taste buds! This popular event attracts more than 2 million visitors with seasonal ingredients and local gourmet foods from all over Hokkaido.
From seafood and meat to ramen, curry and sweets, you are sure to find what you want to eat! 
- View more
Ranking of popular articles
- Hokkaido Spring Travel Guide
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/travelguide_spring
- Hokkaido Summer Travel Guide
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/travelguide_summer
- Where & What To Eat in Hokkaido: 6 Must-Try Local Foods
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/where-what-to-eat-in-hokkaido-must-try-local-foods
- Hokkaido travel guide for winter in Hokkaido's uniqueness.
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/travelguide_winter
- Best Places to View Flowers in Hokkaido vol. 1
- https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/best-places-to-view-flowers-in-hokkaido-vol-1