Hokkaido Travel Guide: Snow, Lavender and Seafood
Golden Tropics Travel · Updated
Hokkaido, Japan's northern island, is the place most Malaysians picture when they dream of snow. But it is just as beautiful in summer, when the hills of Furano turn purple with lavender. Here is how the seasons and the main stops fit together.
Winter (December to February): snow country
Winter brings deep, dry powder snow, frozen lakes and snow-covered towns. It is the most popular season for Malaysian travellers, and the most important to pack for.
- The Sapporo Snow Festival, usually in early February, fills Odori Park with giant snow and ice sculptures
- Otaru's canal is lit with lanterns in winter, with glass and music-box shops along the old streets
- Ski resorts such as Niseko and Furano are known around the world for their powder snow
- Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa holds penguin walks in winter
Summer (June to August): flowers and cool air
Summer in Hokkaido is mild, often in the low twenties, a welcome change from Malaysian heat. Furano's lavender fields are usually at their best in July, and the rolling farmland of Biei is patched with flowers and crops. The Blue Pond near Biei is famous for its unusual colour.
More of Hokkaido
- Hakodate: one of Japan's best night views from Mt. Hakodate, and a morning market for seafood
- Noboribetsu: a hot-spring town with a steaming volcanic valley called Hell Valley
- Lake Toya: a caldera lake with views of Mt. Showa-shinzan, a young volcano
- Autumn colours from late September in the mountains, earlier than the rest of Japan
Food
- Hokkaido is famous for seafood: crab, scallops, salmon roe and sea urchin.
- Try the dairy: soft-serve ice cream, cheese tarts and milk from local farms.
- Sapporo miso ramen and soup curry are local favourites, but they often use pork or chicken stock.
- Halal options are limited outside Sapporo; tell us your needs when you book so meals can be arranged.
Winter tips
- Temperatures often fall well below zero, especially inland and at night: bring thermal layers, a warm coat, gloves and a hat.
- Wear boots with good grip or buy slip-on ice cleats; pavements are often icy.
- Snowstorms can delay flights and roads, so keep a little flexibility in your plans.
- Hotels and coaches are warm inside, so dress in layers you can take off.