Odori Park (Sapporo)
Located in the center of Sapporo City, Odori Park stretches east to west and is approximately 1.5 km long. Although located in an urban area lined with offices and department stores, the park overflowing with greenery is a place of relaxation not only for tourists but also for citizens.
In the park, there is a fountain where small children can enjoy playing with water in the summer.
Odori Park is also the site of various seasonal events and festivals, and is the site of the world-famous Sapporo Snow Festival.
The park is conveniently located in the center of the city and is connected to Sapporo Station and Susukino Station by an underground passageway, making it possible to visit without worrying about the weather.
＜Information＞
Facility name: Odori Park
Address: Odori-nishi 1-12, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Telephone number: 011-251-0438
Business hours: All day
Closed: No holidays
Budget: Free
Non-smoking/smoking: Both available
Space & Facilities：Toilets available Playground equipment available
Shiroi Koibito Park (Sapporo)
Shiroi Koibito Park is a factory and tourist facility operated by Ishiya Seika, a company that sells Hokkaido's famous confectionery, Shiroi Koibito. The park has a space where visitors can tour the factory line where Shiroi Koibito is produced and see the process of making the popular confectionery. A hands-on class where visitors can actually make their own Shiroi Koibito is also available.
In addition, there is a garden on the grounds where you can enjoy seasonal flowers, and in winter, it is decorated with illuminations, making it a fun date spot for couples.
With a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops, this is a place where visitors can enjoy themselves all day long.
＜Information＞
Name: Shiroi Koibito Park
Address: 2-11-36, Miyanosawa 2-jo, Nishi-ku, Sapporo, Japan Telephone number: 011-251-0438
Business hours: 10:00-17:00
Closed: Open every day
Budget: 1,000 yen to 5,000 yen
Non-smoking/non-smoking: Smoking is not permitted in the restaurant.
Jozankei Onsen (Sapporo)
Jozankei Onsen is also known as Sapporo's "backcountry," with several hot spring resorts lined up in the area. It is easily accessible from Sapporo City (50 minutes by car), making it a popular hot spring resort for weekend trips among locals.
In addition to the hot spring hotels, we also recommend "Jozan Fountainhead Park" where you can enjoy a footbath for free. Not only can you enjoy the footbath, but you can also make onsen egg in about 30 minutes by bringing in eggs sold at a nearby store. Those who wish to enjoy the footbath experience are advised to bring their own towels, as no towels or other facilities are provided.
In addition, during the fall foliage season, the surrounding mountains begin to change color, making it a popular spot for viewing the changing leaves. In particular, the Futami Suspension Bridge, painted bright red, is a popular photo spot.
＜Information＞
Facility name: Jozankei Onsen
Address: Jozankei Onsen Higashi 3-chome, Minami-ku, Sapporo
Opening hours: Open daily
Closed: Jozankei Onsen
Budget: From 10,000 yen
Asahiyama Zoo (Asahikawa City)
This zoo has become a hot topic throughout Japan for its ability to observe animals as they live in their natural habitat in a zoo setting. The zoo has more than 100 different species of animals, including some that are native to Hokkaido. Also noteworthy are the information boards placed next to the animals on display that introduce the animals' ecology and other information. These boards are handmade by the facility staff, and allow visitors to learn about the animals from a variety of perspectives.
The park also offers a variety of events, including a penguin parade show in the winter and "Mogumogu Time," a year-round event where visitors can watch penguins feeding animals, which is also popular among visitors.
＜Information＞
Name: Asahiyama Zoo
Address: Kuranuma, Higashi Asahikawa-cho, Asahikawa-shi, Asahikawa
Hours of operation
Summer business period (April 29, 2022 (Friday, holiday) to October 15, 2022 (Saturday))
Friday, April 29, 2022 (National Holiday) - Saturday, October 15, 2022
9:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. (last admission at 4:00 p.m.)
Sunday, October 16, 2022 - Thursday, November 3, 2022 (National Holiday)
9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (last admission at 4:00 p.m.)
Night Zoo
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 - Tuesday, August 16, 2022
9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (last admission at 8:00 p.m.)
Open during winter
Friday, November 11, 2022 - Sunday, April 9, 2023
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (last admission at 3:00 p.m.)
Closed: April 8 - 28, 2022, November 4 - 10, 2022, December 30 - January 1, 2022
Budget: 1,000 yen to 5,000 yen
Space/Facilities: Restaurant and museum attached
Farm Tomita (Furano Town)
Lavender fields are an absolute must-see during summer sightseeing in Hokkaido. There are several places of interest in Hokkaido, but Farm Tomita is particularly recommended. The vast park is divided into several areas, where you can appreciate a variety of flowers together from early summer to autumn. Some areas of the park are like small hills, and the difference in elevation creates a very beautiful landscape. The best time to view the lavenders is usually from early to mid-July.
The park also has a variety of facilities where visitors can eat, drink, and buy souvenirs. The melon bread baked in the park is especially recommended. Baked in the park, it is crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with a slightly sweet flavor that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
＜Information＞
Name: Farm Tomita
Address: 15, Motosen Kita, Nakafurano-cho, Sorachi-gun
Business hours: 10:00-16:00
Closed: Open every day
Budget: From 1000 yen
Space and Facilities：Cafe and museum attached
Shirogane Aoi Ike (Biei-cho)
A man-made lake located in the southeastern part of Biei-cho, it is a popular sightseeing spot called Aoi Ike (blue pond) because of its shining blue surface. The surrounding larch trees play a role in creating a unique atmosphere, and it is also a famous photo spot. Because of its beauty, it was chosen as the wallpaper for the computer released by Apple Computer Inc. in 2012.
Previously a popular summer destination, the lake is now lit up every year to attract visitors during the winter months. Visitors can discover a different beauty from that of summer with the white snow, blue lake surface, and lights illuminating the darkness.
＜Information＞
Facility name: Shirogane Blue Pond
Address: 15, Keisen-kita, Nakafurano-cho, Sorachi-gun
Business hours: May-October 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, November-April 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Closed: Open every day
Budget: 1000 yen
Non-smoking/smoking: Open every day
Space & Facilities：Toilets available
Goryokaku Tower (Hakodate)
Goryokaku, the last battlefield of the Boshin War, is now one of Hakodate's most popular tourist attractions. Goryokaku Tower stands 107 meters high in the park, and its observation deck offers a panoramic view of Goryokaku. The most distinctive feature of Goryokaku is the star-shaped moat that surrounds the fort. If you visit, be sure to climb Goryokaku Tower for a panoramic view.
The best time to visit is during the cherry blossom season in spring. The many cherry trees planted in the park are at their best during this season, and the park becomes a popular cherry blossom viewing spot. Hakodate is also the first place in Hokkaido where cherry blossoms bloom.
＜Information＞
Name: Goryokaku Tower
Address: 43-9 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate
Hours of operation: 9:00-18:00
Closed: Open every day
Budget: From 1,000 yen
Non-smoking/non-smoking：Open all year round
Space and Facilities：Restaurant and restrooms available
Mount Hakodate (Hakodate City)
Mount Hakodate is located at the western edge of Hakodate City, 334 meters above sea level, and its summit is an observatory from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The summit can be reached by a 3-minute ropeway or by private car. Entry by private car may be restricted depending on the time of day, so be sure to check the official website before visiting.
Daytime is recommended for the best views, but nighttime is also recommended when the area is shrouded in darkness and the lights of the city illuminate the darkness. The view from here is so highly acclaimed that it was awarded three stars by the Michelin Green Guide Japon.
There is also a legend that a man and a woman who see the night view from the top of Mt. Hakodate in the shape of a heart will be united in the future, so be sure to go see it with the person you are interested in.
＜Information＞
Name: Mount Hakodate Ropeway
Address: Hakodate City
Hours of operation: 10:00 - 22:00
Closed: Closed on weekends and holidays
Budget: From 1000 yen
Non-smoking/non-smoking：Open all year round
Space and Facilities：A restaurant is attached
Shiretoko, Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shari Town)
If you want to experience the great nature of Hokkaido firsthand, visit Shiretoko. Shiretoko was selected as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2005, and is a world-renowned scenic spot.
Some people may think that while there is a lot of nature in Shiretoko, it may be a harsh environment. However, please be assured. To make sightseeing in Shiretoko easy and enjoyable, a walking trail has been developed to the Shiretoko Five Lakes, allowing anyone to enjoy the great outdoors at ease.
＜Information＞
Facility name: Shiretoko Goko
Address: Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Toonebetsu Village
Opening hours
4/20 - 7/31: 8:00 - 18:00
8/1 - 8/31：8:00 - 18:00
9/1 - 9/15：8:00 - 17:30
9/16 - 9/30：8:00 - 17:00
10/1 - 10/20：8:00 - 16:30
10/21 - 10/31: 8:30 - 16:00
11/1 - 11/8: 8:30 - 16:00
Closed: 11/8 - 4/19
Budget: 1000 yen
Non-Smoking/Smoking: Smoking is not allowed in the restaurant.
Space & Facilities：Toilets available
Lake Akan (Kushiro City)
Lake Akan is located in Akan-Mashu National Park and is the fifth largest lake in Hokkaido. Lake Akan is inhabited by marimo, a species designated as a national natural treasure, and visitors can actually see them at the Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center located on an island in Lake Akan. The island can be reached by sightseeing boat.
The area around Lake Akan is also popular as a hot spring resort and a popular place to stay. The area offers a wide range of accommodations from budget inns to high-class inns that offer an extraordinary experience, making it an attractive place to stay according to your budget.
＜Information＞
Facility Name: Lake Akanko
Address : Kushiro City
Hours of operation
Budget：Free
Non-smoking/smoking：No smoking
Space/facilities： Restrooms available
Conclusion
How was everyone? We have introduced 10 recommended sightseeing spots in Hokkaido. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, Hokkaido is the largest prefecture in Japan in terms of area. Therefore, there are many more places that we could not introduce today, but we hope you will refer to this article when you visit Hokkaido.
Finally, I would like to give some advice to those who are planning a trip to Hokkaido. If you are planning to enjoy a round trip in Hokkaido, please try to calculate the distance between cities using Google MAP before booking a flight. For example, if you are planning to visit two popular tourist destinations, Sapporo and Hakodate, it will take about 310 km or about 4 hours by car. If you choose New Chitose Airport as your departure and arrival airport, you will have to make this round trip, but if you choose Hakodate Airport as your return airport, you will only have to make one trip, making it possible to enjoy sightseeing very efficiently. We hope you will fully enjoy sightseeing in Hokkaido while making full use of these tricks.
