Hokkaido is THE place to visit in the winter. When it’s the time to hibernate and get cozy, Hokkaido seems to come alive. It is cold, with a latitude similar to that of New York, people are meant to bundle up when they came here! 

The City of Hakodate

Hakodate is known for its ports, expensive little Hokkaido melons in the summer (Y5000 each!), rich Hokkaido ramen broth, and plenty of snow. The winters here get so much snow, think… lots and lots of snow.  Do a search for ski resorts in Hokkaido, and you will have the best snowboarding/skiing experience of your life. It doesn’t take long to discover that Northern Japan has some of the best snow in the world.  

Hakodate was my favorite city in Hokkaido.  This was the first Japanese city whose port was opened to the world for foreign trade in 1854 as a result of the Convention of Kanagawa and it used to be the most important port of Japan.  Hakodate is the second largest city, surprisingly full of foreigners and foreign features. 

I came across a monastery, a Museum of Northern People, a star shaped fortress called Goryokaku, and a red brick warehouse district full of shopping and dining, even cemeteries for foreigners.  Downtown, there is a streetcar to get you from one end of town to the other.  In the middle of town, there is a foot onset, one of my favorite features after a long day of walking, or just some time out in the cold!  On the west side, there is a ropeway to take you up Mt. Hakodate for an aerial view of the city, best seen at night! 

Plus, don’t forget about the ocean air, quiet beaches with increased chances of finding those coveted antique glass fishing floats, or even camping in the summer months.  It may seem like a small island, but it’s not that limited!  

Hokkaido’s Biggest City: Sapporo

I’m sure you’ve heard of one of Hokkaido’s biggest cities because of a popular product you’ve seen around restaurants and Izakayas. Sapporo is Hokkaido’s capital city and its largest city, but fifth largest in Japan overall.  Its name itself boasts of beer, ramen, and snow. 

Every year (minus covid!), Sapporo hosts the Sapporo Snow Festival in Odori Park.  It started in 1950 when a few high school students began creating giant statues out of snow in the park.  It has developed into a large, week-long event featuring sculptures out of snow and ice, attracting visitors from all over the world.  This event is free to attend, however, transit and accommodations are up to you.  The 2025 festival is slated for February 4th-11th.  Don’t let that date slide past you, hotels and flights will book up fast!  Plan now for the Sapporo Snow Festival!  

Besides this event, Sapporo has many distilleries, museums, festivals, plus many agricultural and marine products.  Its port became a gateway to the rest of the world when it first opened its doors, diversifying Japan into the world. 

You might also check out the clock tower, the Nikka distillery and whiskey museum, Mt. Moiwa, and the Yasakoi Soran festival, which takes place in Odori Park.  This is an epic dance-off with folk melodies and ‘Naruko Clappers.’  Watching these dancers, you may want to join in!   Some have said that originally these clappers were used to scare away birds, but the rhythm was added to their dancing.  

 Other Cities in Hokkaido Worth Mentioning

• Otaru is a port city with glassware, music boxes, and distilleries.
• Kamikawa was voted the best city. Notoriously the ‘ribbons of color’ are found on Shikisai hill and it also hosts the Asahi brewery.
• Kushiro has an active volcano 
• Asahikawa is known for Mt. Asahi, the tallest mountain in Hokkaido, plus many onsens.   

Getting to Hokkaido

Getting to Japan’s northernmost island from its southernmost group of islands, a plane will definitely be involved.  There are airports in all of the main cities, 13 airports, in fact.  If you fly to Aomori prefecture, you may have the chance to take the recently constructed underwater Shinkansen from Aomori city to Hakodate. 

There are a few streetcars available in the larger cities, but renting a car is necessary to get from one city to another.  Mass transit is not the same on this island, but it does connect most of the cities.  However, if you plan your activities close to your hotel, a little bit of walking won’t hurt you!  Just do your research!

Each area offers unique scenery, a different taste, a different feel, but one thing in common: something you will never forget.  If you have the opportunity to visit Hokkaido, take it!  Do your homework and find THE spot you want to visit.  There are beautiful landscapes and rich history, just waiting to be discovered!

Looking for more? Check out these other popular articles on activities in Okinawa.

Tiffany Leary is an Air Force spouse of 14 years and counting!  She grew up in San Diego, CA, has a degree in Spanish, and has travelled quite a bit.  This is her 6th duty station (her husband’s 7th!) and they have mostly been stationed in PACAF.  This is their family’s third tour in Japan, fulfilling the Air Force trifecta: Misawa, Yokota, and capping it off with a tropical location, Kadena.  Their daughter recently graduated from college, but she has joined them on the island as she does grad school, so they are not quite empty nesters.  She love all that is Japan: the food, the people, the scenery, even the language. She tries to get off base and explore every chance she gets and to experience the beauty of Okinawa.