Activities in Hokkaidō
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Hiking
Most people come here to hike, whether it's the eight-hour version or some of the tamer three-hour counterparts. (Some people may even wish to hire a scooter or motorcycle) Rebun-tō is a naturalist's dream: fields of over 300 species of wildflower explode from May through to August; the terrain is varied and each walking track is unique; and the beaches harbour all sorts of cool finds, from interesting (and edible!) marine animals to semiprecious stones.
When hiking it's a good idea to take a bus to the northern tip of the island, Cape Sukoton, and hike your way back past breathtaking cliffside vistas, fields of flowers and dwarf bamboo, thick forests and tiny fishing vi…
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Hiking on Rishiri-zan
A near-perfect cinder cone rising like a miniature Mt Fuji from the surrounding sea, Rishiri-zan (1721m) provides numerous hiking opportunities and stunning scenery. If you're feeling energetic and have good footwear you can hike to the summit in a day. The two most reliable hiking tracks to the summit start at Oshidomari and Kutsugata (about 3km from town). A road encircles the island and a limited bus service links the small fishing villages on the way.
This service runs to the start of each track; otherwise walk (about an hour), hitch, take a taxi or ask your lodgings if they can drop you off. Prepare properly for a mountain hike and pay particular attention to the sea…
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Sapporo Beer-En
A museum and beer garden, Sapporo Beer-En is located in the original Sapporo brewery. Two tour options are possible: visitors on the short tour (30 minutes) get a takeaway goody bag with a can of beer per person and various other items; those wanting more action should take the 50-minute option, which includes a 20-minute all-you-can-drink afterwards.
The adjoining beer garden has food, a variety of beverages and serves the local grilled lamb speciality, jingus kān, which has become a popular Sapporo dish.
To get here, take the Tōhō subway to the Higashi-Kuyakusho-mae stop and take Exit 4. Head south along Higashi-Nana-Chōme-dōri to N8E8 (about 10 minutes). The large bri…
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Hokkaidō Brewery
Diehard beer fans will want to take the 40-minute train ride out to this current brewing and bottling facility, This mammoth production plant seems more like something out of a James Bond movie than a place where beer is made: technicians in white lab coats peer into test tubes; immaculate stainless-steel tanks are covered with computerised gauges and dials; and video cameras monitor the bottles as they whizz by.
The tour is self-guided and English is minimal, but you'll be rewarded with a refreshing 20 minutes to tipple at the end. Take the JR Chitose line towards the airport and get off at the Sapporo Beer Teien Station. Head away from the tracks towards the giant white…
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Sapporo Winter Sports Museum
At the foot of the awe-inspiring ski-jump (134m) used in Sapporo's Olympics, this new museum dares you not to break a sweat as you try computer-simulated challenges in hockey, cross-country skiing, speed-skating and ski-jumping. A well-done English-language audio guide takes you through a history of winter sporting and the Sapporo Winter Olympics.
You can also ride the chairlift to the top of the real jump, or hike it. The chairlift costs almost as much as the museum, and operating hours vary.
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Cable car
This mode of transport whisks you to the top of Hokadate-yama mountain in a few minutes. Take tram 2 or 5 to the Jūjigai stop (around 200) and walk uphill to the ropeway platform (seven minutes). A summit-bound bus (around 360, 30 minutes) leaves directly from the station, is cheaper and stops at several viewing places as it winds to the top. Those wanting to rough it old-style can take the hiking track (from May to late October).
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Teine Highland
Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing can all be done near to Sapporo. The closest place is Teine, 10 minutes' train ride away. Teine has 14 lifts and is very much geared towards beginners. It's the place to ski if you're wanting to play around for a while; it's probably a disappointment for hard-core skiers, but is good for families with children. As with other skiing resorts, all equipment can be rented when you arrive.
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Jōzankei Hot Spring
Another very popular option in the area, which also has several 'foot onsen' (ashiyu) where you can soak your tired feet. To get there, take the Jozankei-bound Donan or Jōtetsu Bus and get off at the Jozankei stop. It's approximately an hour from JR Sapporo Station.
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Sapporo KOKUSAI Skiing Resort
Sapporo KOKUSAI has five lifts, powder snow and is mainly suitable for beginner and intermediate snowboarders and skiers. It's very, very crowded, especially on the weekends, but has more of a family vibe than Niseko or Furano.
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Octopus expeditions
If you want to catch your own squid, the cruiser offers two-hour expeditions. It costs extra to have them cook the unfortunate cephalopod for you.
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Yōtei-zan
Yōtei-zan is covered in alpine flowers during the summer, though you're going to face a 10-hour, 10km slog to the top to see them. The Ezo violet in particular is a rare endemic found above the 1600m threshold. From the peak, the Sea of Japan, the Pacific and Lake Toya are all visible. And in comparison to the real Fuji, Ezo Fuji sees few hikers, ensuring long bouts of silent contemplation. The trailhead for Yōtei-zan is at Yōtei-zan Tozan-guchi , which is south of Kutchan near JR Hirafu Station, and is accessible by local bus lines.
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Wakoto Onsen
Special not for what it has, but for what it doesn't, Wakoto is merely a scalding-hot pool in the middle of nowhere on the southern shore of a beautiful lake. Best reached by car or bicycle, the onsen has none of the razzle-dazzle of most spa resorts. There's no electricity, no soap, no buckets, not even any doors on the bathhouse: you just strip, dip and enjoy. Not for everyone, but true onsen buffs will appreciate it. It has a view of the western side of Kussharo-ko and, in season, snow geese fly overhead as the sun slips behind the mountains. Not for the shy either, as it's a konyoku (mixed-sex bath) and there's algae on the rocks, which makes getting in and out a slip…
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Takasago Meiji Jyōzō
If you want to turn the afternoon into a sake crawl, Takasago Meiji has a 30-minute free tour of its own. From January to March it also has an aisudōmu, a sake-filled ice dome where you can warm up with a drink. Take bus 1, 3 or 17 from bus stop 17 in front of the station to 1-jō 18-chōme (¥150, 10 minutes). It's a large whitewashed building with a cedar ball hanging outside the door. Even if you don't speak Japanese, English pamphlets and friendly staff help make both tours worthwhile.
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Sōunkyō Ropeway
This combination ropeway-chairlift provides fast and easy access to Kuro-dake. One-way/return tickets on the ropeway cost ¥100/1850 and on the chairlift ¥400/600.
Once at the top, you have three options: you can explore Kurodake for a few hours before returning to Sōunkyō Onsen, head to Asahidake on an all-day, no-return excursion, or spend the next three days heading south on the grand traverse.
From July to the end of September, one bus a day goes to Ginsen-dai (銀泉台), where the trailhead Aka-dake (赤岳; 2078m) is located. Set a bit back from the grand traverse, Aka-dake sees far fewer hikers and is a nice escape for anyone seeking near isolation while on the trail…
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Shiretoko Traverse
The classic traverse is a two-day hike that stretches for 25km from Iwaobetsu Onsen to Kamuiwakka-yu-no-taki (カムイワッカ湯の滝). It winds up and down the spine of the peninsula, with views of violent seas on both sides, and takes in old-growth pine forests and several active volcanic peaks. While it probably goes without mention, you need to be properly equipped to tackle this route, and you shouldn't underestimate the difficulty of the terrain that awaits you.
The first day is an 8km hike to the campsite at Mitsumine (三ツ峰), which should take about five to six hours. Before setting out on the trail, you can soak (for free!) in the natural hot springs scattered a…
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Shiretoko-go-ko
A scenic region with mountain-backed lakes that is easily accessible from Iwaobetsu Onsen and suited for relaxed day-hiking.
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Sapporo Teine
With Niseko just around the corner, alpine enthusiasts aren't too keen on spending any more time in Sapporo than they have to. But you can't beat Teine for convenience, as the slopes lie quite literally on the edge of the city.
With only 15 runs and nine lifts, Teine caters primarily to families with children. The highlights include a 4km-long beginner trail that undulates from the highland zone down to the village, and then continues into a low-lying valley. There is also an exhilarating 700m black-diamond chute that was featured in the downhill rotation at the Sapporo Olympics.
Cafeteria-style restaurants are located at each of the various levels, and offer winter warmers…
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Sango Sōgunraku
Known as salt pickle or glasswort in other parts of the world, the humble marsh plant of coral glass gets its 15 minutes of fame in mid-September, when it turns bright red. Busloads of tourists flock to a few boardwalk viewing spots. Nature lovers will enjoy the bird life, as the marshes attract not only seagulls but also curlews, terns, egrets, herons and more.
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Ryūhyō Norokko-gō
Running concurrently with the Aurora is this sightseeing train, puttering along twice a day from Abashiri to Shiretoko-shari Station (¥810, 40 minutes) through a field of utterly white snow. Stare out at this frozen landscape while eating toasted surume (squid) and nursing a can of Sapporo lager.
In the fall, a cycling road runs for 25km from Abashiri proper to the coral-grass-viewing areas and beyond, providing some beautiful views of lakes, forests and pumpkin fields. In the summer, the northern coastal areas are perfect for beachcombing with lots of sand dollars and other small shells.
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Otokoyama Jyōzō
If you want a free tipple, take the 30-minute tour of this legendary brewery, which appears in old ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and historic literature. Take bus 67, 68, 70, 71, 667 or 669 from bus stop 18 in front of the station, and get off at Nagayama 2-jō 6-chōme (¥200, 20 minutes); from there it's a two-minute walk (look for the large white cube that rests on the roof of the building).
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Niseko United
Niseko United is the umbrella name for four resorts, namely Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu and Hanazono. What makes Niseko United stand out from the competition is that you can ski or snowboard on all four slopes by purchasing a single all-mountain pass. This electronic tag gives you access to 18 lifts and gondolas, as well as free rides on the inter-mountain shuttle bus. If you're planning on skiing for several days, a week or even the season, you can also buy discounted multi-day passes.
While it's difficult to generalise about such a massive area, Niseko United offers arguably some of the finest skiing in Japan and Asia – and the whole world for that matt…
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K's Blowing
At this famous gallery and studio, you can take a short lesson in glass-blowing (in English). Prices are based on what you want to make – simple but elegant cups, bowls and vases are all within your capacity.
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Kamuiwakka Cruising
Boats depart from the pier in Utoro, and take in the Shiretoko coastline including Kamuiwakka-no-taki.
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Harp Seals
There is some wonderful wildlife-watching in Bakkai, where a few hundred harp seals arrive each year and stay from November to the end of March. A basic viewing hut provides shelter, a toilet and some information about the seals. Frequent futsū run on the JR Sōya line between Wakkanai and Bakkai (¥260, 15 minutes). Dress warmly as the hut is a 30-minute walk from JR Bakkai Station, and temperatures can be well below freezing.
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Goshiki Onsen
While the mild summer months may represent low season in Niseko, this is actually the best time of the year to tackle some of the area's challenging wilderness hikes. There is a 16km circuit that starts just west of the summit of Niseko Annupuri at Goshiki Onsen, and traverses several summits in the western Niseko range. This hike can be tackled in six to seven hours, and the trailhead is accessible by local bus lines. From Goshiki Onsen, you can also take a side trip by hiking east for two hours up the summit of Niseko Annupuri (ニセコアンヌプリ; 1308m). If it's a clear day, the panorama at the top will be of the Niseko United ski resort as well as of neighbouring Yōtei-zan.…
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