Hokkaidō
At the top of the hill in the Ainu kotan, this small museum has changing exhibitions of contemporary Ainu artisan work, and sometimes thought-provoking…
Must-see attractions in Hokkaidō
Sapporo
This sculpture in Ōdōri-kōen by Japanese-American artist Noguchi Isamu is hands-on art at its best: made of black stone to stand out in the snow, the…
Sapporo
Hokkaidō's top collection of modern art includes many works from artists who were born here, lived here or were inspired by the northern island…
Hokkaidō
Dating from 1916, this Russian Orthodox church is adorned with distinctive copper domes and spires. It's still in use by the 300 or so (mostly elderly)…
Sapporo
Fans of Japan's national drink will enjoy this museum, which – though English signage is lacking – has visually understandable displays about the history…
Hokkaidō
Take the elevator to the observatory atop this 98m-tall tower to see the star-shaped footprint of Goryō-kaku-kōen. There are also displays on the history…
Hokkaidō
This lookout point on Rte 243, which runs between Abashiri and Mashū, has a fantastic panoramic view over Kussharo-ko, with Naka-jima in the middle.
Hokkaidō
Until snow falls in October, Tomita's fields are covered in a rainbow array of flowers. With the mountains of Daisetsuzan National Park as a backdrop,…
Hokkaidō
These early-20th-century red-brick warehouses on the waterfront are the legacy of Hakodate's status as a historic, international trade port. They've been…
Sapporo
This is one of the current brewing and bottling facilities for Sapporo beer. Guided tours are led (in Japanese only) by very enthusiastic brand…
Hokkaidō
Otokoyama, one of Japan's oldest and most esteemed breweries, was founded in Hyōgo prefecture centuries ago but since 1899 its sake has been made here in…
Hokkaidō
This fish market is as much a sightseeing spot as a place to eat. The speciality here is called katte-don (勝手丼) – literally 'rice bowl as you like it'…
Otaru
The former Otaru branch of the venerable Bank of Japan (日本銀行), completed in 1912 and designed by the same architect who did Tokyo Station, has been so…
Hokkaidō
This museum is full of photos, both official and candid, of legendary hometown hero, the sumo wrestler Taihō (大鵬; 1940–2013). He was born on Karafuto …
Hokkaidō
Known Japan-wide, the country's northernmost zoo attracts visitors with its stars from cold climates: polar bears and penguins. More interesting to…
Hokkaidō
The highlights of this highly polished museum are the exceptional examples of Ainu craftwork. The rest of the displays are fairly inaccessible, as all the…
Otaru
This museum has clearly, uh, struck a chord: there are now five of them in town, with over 25,000 music boxes on display. Actually everything is for sale…
Hokkaidō
About a 10-minute walk south of JR Wakkanai Station, this complex has restaurants, souvenir shops and the Minato-no-yu Onsen. It's designed to evoke the…
Hokkaidō
Some of the original Meiji-era prison buildings were restored and relocated to this oddly pleasant museum park. The Kangoku Hakubutsukan (penal museum)…
Hokkaidō Museum of Northern Peoples
Hokkaidō
The examples here of traditional dress, tools and musical instruments from the indigenous cultures of the northern latitudes demonstrate the…
Hokkaidō
Known as salt pickle or grasswort in other parts of the world, coral grass, an otherwise humble marsh plant, gets its moment of fame in September when it…
Hokkaidō
This interesting multimedia center has displays mainly aimed at a young crowd, but it is worth stopping at for the events, videos, performances, and…
Hokkaidō
Along the bay, on the western fringe of town (where few visitors venture) is the small, grassy cemetery that contains the graves of sailors, clergy and…
Hokkaidō
Thirty kilometres east of Wakkanai, Sōya-misaki is mainland Japan's northernmost point, where walkers and cyclists traversing the full length of Japan…
Sapporo
Established in 1876 this university is a scenic spot, with a number of unique buildings, including the Furukawa Memorial Hall and the Seikatei. The bust…
Sapporo
No Japanese tourist can leave Sapporo without snapping a photo of the city's signature landmark and oldest building, the clock tower. Built in 1878, the…
Hokkaidō
The second most northern point in mainland Japan, this cape is a pleasant walk (45 minutes) or bike ride (6km, 20 minutes) north of town. On the way, look…
Hakodate Museum of Northern Peoples
Hokkaidō
Inside the old Japan Bank building (1926), this museum has interesting exhibitions (labelled in English) about Ainu culture and also some of the other…
Hokkaidō
Stop by this museum and visitor centre in Kawayu Onsen to see how the surrounding volcanic landscape got its shape and to pick up hiking maps. There's a…
Sapporo
Defeating Sapporo TV Tower when it comes to views and class (but not cultural significance!), the 38-floor JR Tower (173m) has a spacious observatory with…
Hokkaidō
Come here to see videos of the drift ice in winter and small tanks of the fascinating creatures that live beneath it, such as the tiny kurione (sea angel)…
Sapporo
Dating back to 1869, this is one of the oldest shrines in Hokkaidō and is known for its spectacular cherry and plum blossoms in spring. It's inside…
Old Sapporo Court of Appeals Building
Sapporo
This impressive building at the western end of Ōdōri-kōen was built in 1926, of tuff stone, to serve as Sapporo's High Court. Inside are a few galleries…
Hokkaidō
Fans of kitsch will want to walk a few minutes north of the ferry terminal to see Wakkanai's breakwater, built in 1936 to look like a straightened version…
Otaru
Once known as the 'Wall Street of the North', Nichigin-dōri is lined with elegant buildings that speak to Otaru's past life as a prominent financial…
Hokkaidō
From 1913 to 1934, this whitewashed mansion served as the British consulate. You can see the restored interior and have tea (¥540) on the ground floor.
Hokkaidō
Wakkanai's best public onsen has outdoor baths that look over the harbour, and funky boat-shaped stairs for those who opt out of taking the elevator.
Hokkaidō
Tokachi wine is aged in this 'castle' – which looks a bit like a chateau-themed love hotel – set on a hillside overlooking the town. Samples and bottles…
Hokkaidō
See a few fluffy sheep outside, wool-spinning inside and a small shop of knitted goods.
