{"id":44904,"date":"2022-11-26T13:52:47","date_gmt":"2022-11-26T05:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/?p=44904"},"modified":"2026-03-06T11:12:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T03:12:36","slug":"hokkaido-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/blog\/hokkaido-bucket-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things To Do In Hokkaido, Japan 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With Japan reopened, everyone\u2019s headed to the tourist hotspots of Tokyo and Kyoto~ Beat the crowd and head up north to Hokkaido, a winter wonderland with breathtaking natural sceneries. Here are the best all-year-round things to do in Japan\u2019s Snow Country \u2014 Hokkaido!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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While planning a trip to Japan, places like Tokyo and Kyoto instantly come to mind as the<\/em> go-to destinations. And while they are absolutely worthy of merit, there’s a lot more to this country than what meets the eye. Cue Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan! Covering more than 22% of Japan\u2019s surface area, this island is populated with some of the most breathtaking natural sceneries to ever experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Major cities like Sapporo (the capital city) or Hakodate are a good base to anchor your trip around while you visit national parks, ski slopes, and flora and fauna that make you feel like a part of a fairytale. There\u2019s plenty to do in Hokkaido all year round. But as the island sprawls on the higher latitudes of the Pacific Ocean, don\u2019t forget to bring a jacket (It\u2019s a winter wonderland for a reason!). Without further ado, here’s a bucket list of the best things to do in Hokkaido!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udc9c Stay Up To Date:<\/strong>
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1. First Off: Catch The Late-Blooming Sakura<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Didn’t catch the spring-time sakura because of work\/school\/life? Hokkaido\u2019s got your back. Given its high altitude, the cherry blossoms of Hokkaido blush pink during early summer, around May. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Hokkaido, it’s more common to prepare meat on a charcoal fire called Jingisukan<\/em> under the cherry blossoms instead of the usual bento boxes around the rest of Japan. Places to visit include Matsumae Park<\/a>, Goryokaku Park<\/a>, and Morimachi Oniushi Park<\/a> among many others! Ready to get that amazing shot for the Gram? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Hokkaido Cherry Blossom <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Soak Yourself In A Hot Spring<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In the chilly winter moments of Hokkaido, there’s no better place to decompress than in one of the natural hot springs that the island boasts. Onsens are adored by locals and tourists alike, and the best ones are to be found in Noboribetsu<\/a>, Jozankei<\/a>, and Lake Toya<\/a>. Ready to soak your worries away? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission fees<\/strong>: Between \u00a5500 – \u00a52000 (S$5-S$20) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Hot Springs <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Clear Your Mind At Lake Mashu<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Located in Akan National Park, Lake Mashu is covered by a thick blanket of fog. However, when the fog dissipates, you’ll find one of the clearest caldera lakes in the world: Sky blue, crystalline, and deep. Although visitors are not allowed to enter the lake, we suggest viewing this beautiful pool of blue through observation decks and hiking trails! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission fees:<\/strong> Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address<\/strong>: Kawakami District, Teshikaga, Hokkaido<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get there: <\/strong>15 to 20-minute drive from Mashu Station in the town of Teshikaga. Buses are available, however, infrequently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Lake Mashu <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Be Awestruck At The Blue Pond In Biei <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For a whimsical, almost dreamlike experience, visit the Blue Pond in Biei. Half-submerged in turquoise waters, hundreds of bare Japanese larch trees stand with a calming stillness like floating will-o-wisps. An unmissable sight for photographers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission fees: <\/strong>Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address: <\/strong>Shirogane, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get there: <\/strong>By taking a bus tour from Sapporo, by bus or taxi from nearby communities, or by car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Blue Pond <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5.<\/strong> Visit Hakodate<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One of the cities with the most foreign influences, Hakodate stands apart with its occasional European-style buildings (especially in the hillside Motomachi district) as well as its bays with red brick warehouses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try a bowl of the original salt ramen and visit the morning markets where fresh seafood is abundantly available! For a spectacular view, take a trip atop Mt. Hakodate and watch the city glitter under the night sky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Hakodate <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. Nothing Beats A Hot Bowl Of Ramen<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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On a trip to Hokkaido, it’s nearly obligatory to treat yourself to a bowl of authentic ramen, especially given the freezing weather. Ready to get spoiled for choice? Check out Hokkaido’s abundant variety: Miso from Sapporo, Shoyu from Asahikawa, Shio from Hakodate, and Curry from Muroran \u2014 now all you have to do is choose your favourite! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Hokkaido Ramen <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7. Have A Beer In Sapporo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, has plenty to offer: Starting from the Snow Festival in February, there’s a plethora of museums, shopping malls, and delectable food sprawled across the city. Known as the birthplace of beer in Japan, check out the Sapporo Beer Museum! Loved by beer enthusiasts, hop on to beer tours and taste the best Hokkaido has to offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attractions like the TV Tower<\/a>, Odori Park<\/a>, and Nijo Market<\/a> make Sapporo an extensive destination seeking local culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Sapporo <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8. Learn About The Goryokaku Fort<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Star-Shaped Goryokaku Fort marks an important<\/em> part of Japanese history. Perfectly paired with a viewing of cherry blossoms during summer, get a perfect vantage point at the 100m tall observation tower and see the star points engulfed with flowers. Plus: There’s also a museum for resident history buffs to explore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission fees: <\/strong>From \u00a5900 (~S$8.9). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Hours: <\/strong>9.00 am to 6.00 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address: <\/strong>Goryokaku Tower Corporation 43-9 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Goryokaku Fort <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9. Colour Yourself Purple At Farm Tomita<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In July, the flower fields of Furano compete with Provence as lavender stretches as far as the horizon. Besides the gorgeous and aromatic fields, there are also opportunities for mountain biking, canyoning, and rafting in the vicinity. Don’t forget to grab some lavender soft-serve when you\u2019re there! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address:<\/strong> Kisen Kita 15-go, Nakafurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Hours: <\/strong>9 am to 4.30 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get there: <\/strong>Take a train from Furano Sta. on the JR Furano Line or from Asahikawa Sta. on the JR Hakodate Trunk Line to Lavender Farm Station. It’s also a 7-8 minute walk from Lavender Farm Station to Farm Tomita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Farm Tomita <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Enjoy A Cone Or Two Of Soft Serve <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Hokkaido milk is known to be of the highest quality. So by correlation, the ultimate soft-serve can, too, be found here! While the original vanilla reigns supreme for its rich and milky taste, the other local flavours are also inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find vibrantly blue ones at Biei Town, lavender creamy goodness at Tomita, Japanese Pumpkin at Eniwa City, and Densuke Watermelon inspired by the gifting of the prestigious Densuke watermelons in Toma Town. You can never have too much ice cream! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Soft Serves <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Last & Definitely Not Least: Slide Down A Slippery Slope! <\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Hokkaido gets the perfect powdery and fine snow for skiing and snowboarding, so if you\u2019re there in winter, you\u2019re all set for the best <\/em>experience. With plenty of ski resorts available across the island, Niseko and Furano are popular favourites when it comes to terrain. Whether you\u2019re an expert or putting on skiing gear for the first time ever, it’s worth sliding down the slopes in this skier\u2019s paradise! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Travel Bucket List: Best Things to do in Hokkaido 2022 \u2014 Find out more about Snowsports in Hokkaido <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hokkaido Here We Come! <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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So you already have your perfect Hokkaido bucket list now, all you have to do is to check all those boxes! While paying for your tickets or buying your cone of blue soft-serve, don\u2019t forget to use your YouTrip Card to lock in our ever-reliable wholesale exchange rates<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. Don\u2019t have a YouTrip Card yet? Sign up for your complimentary card today with <YTBLOG5><\/strong> to get FREE S$5 <\/strong>in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks<\/a> page for exclusive offers and promotions \u2014 we promise you won\u2019t regret. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram<\/a> (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here<\/a> or down below.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while you’re at it, why not join the conversation with thousands of #YouTroopers in our very own Community Telegram Group @YouTripSquad<\/a>? Get tips and tricks to everything YouTrip including exclusive invites to exciting events and experiences, & be part of the #YouTripSquad! \ud83d\udc9c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay safe and happy travels! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Related Articles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Best Things To Do In Hokkaido 2022<\/a>
Japan\u2019s Reopened For Travel: Hot Spots To Visit<\/a>
Japan Cherry Blossom: Forecast, Best Spots, Tips<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Soft serve all day every day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":44921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8119,623,624],"tags":[39546,39341,39435,39129],"class_list":["post-44904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides-tips","category-lifestyle","category-travel","tag-hokkaido","tag-hokkaido-travel","tag-japan","tag-travel"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44904","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44904"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44904\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44904"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.you.co\/sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}