Island of Hokkaido

The city of Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido and the fifth largest city in Japan. Sapporo is also one of Japan’s youngest major cities as is seen by its western style grid layout. The city is known for ramen, beer and hosting the Snow Festival each February.

A picturesque small town located at the foot of the Daisetsuzan National Park in the center of Hokkaido. The bright colors of its vast flower fields, beautiful trees and hills attract as many as 1.2 million visitors annually.

Aoiike is a small, artificial pond built as part of an erosion control system to protect Biei in case of volcanic eruption from nearby Mt. Tokachidake. The pond is famous for its deep blue color which was formed through dissolved minerals in the water.

The location's name is created by combining 'Shikisai" meaning color, and "Shiki" meaning four seasons. Shisainooka is a 7-hectare field covered in seasonal fragrant flowers from April to October. During the spring and fall season, several dozen different species of flower and grass flourish resembling colors of the rainbow.

First discovered by the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido, the gorge is one of nature’s masterpieces. Situated inside the Daisetsuzan National Park, it is home to various rock formations, waterfalls, and cliffs. Enjoy the magnificent scenery and famous hot springs.

At 1984m high, Mt. Kurodake is a lava dome located in Daisetsuzan Volcanic Range. Take the Kurodake Ropeway halfway up to the summit and enjoy a splendid view of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range.

Ryusei No Taki Falls (Shooting Star Falls) and Ginga Mo Taki Falls (Milky Way Falls) are two of the most beautiful falls in Sounkyo Valley. Known as husband and wife waterfalls, Ginga no taki (wife) gracefully flows down like white threads while Ryusei No Taki (husband) plummets down from 90m with great force.

Obako is considered the most beautiful rock formation in Sounkyo Valley and is said to resemble folding screens. It was formed through the eruption of Mt. Daisetus and the erosion of Ishikari River.

Located in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Abashiri faces the Sea of Okhotsk. It is surrounded by rich lakes, mountains, and other natural landscapes. In the winter, one can witness drift ice on the Okhotsk Sea.

Stay current on Shiretoko’s sites and learn about the proper etiquettes and rules of observing Shiretoko’s nature. Visitors can also see life-size photographs of animals such as blakiston’s fish-owl, brown bears, and deer of Shiretoko at the center.

Located in the north-east of Hokkaido, Shiretoko peninsula is rich in natural resources. Considered to be the last pristine wilderness remaining in Japan, Shiretoko, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, is home to many endangered species and rare plants.

Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shiretoko Goko) are a set of five small lakes formed by eruption of nearby Mount Lo and fed by underground springs. The five lakes are said to be God’s five finger prints. Surrounded by mountains, trees, and wildness, it is a great place to enjoy Shiretoko’s unspoiled nature. A wooden elevated boardwalk was built so visitors can enjoy the lakes without harming the ecosystem.

Utoro is the largest town along the western coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula. It is also the gateway into Shiretoko Peninsula.

Lake Mashu, also known as Foggy Lake Mashu, is blanketed by fog most of the time. Visitors can truly enjoy the lake's distinct clarity and beautiful blue tone on a clear day. Not only is this lake the deepest lake in Japan (211 meters), it can also be considered the “clearest lake in the world” with visibility of 41.6 meters.

Lake Akan is a crater lake formed by volcanic activities more than 6,000 years ago. Located in Akan National Park, it is the home to Marimo, a rare species of algae that forms itself into beautiful green balls. The individual algae can grow up to a size of a soccer ball if left undisturbed.

Tokachi is the only place in the world to see Ban'ei Horse Racing. Horses have to pull 1 ton of weighted sleds through obstacles on the track for 200m. Witness the powerful horses up close for an unforgettable experience.