Hokkaido offers world-class powder skiing at Niseko in winter, lavender fields in Furano in July, Sapporo's snow festival and fresh seafood year round. Cool summers are a refuge from Japan's heat.
Good to know
- Book ski lodges in Niseko early for January and February.
- Rent a car in summer; the island is huge and public transport is sparse.
- Eat crab, uni and sushi at Sapporo's Nijo Market.
Eat this
Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Fresh crab, salmon roe and sea urchin bowls at a morning market.
Brewery history and a tasting hall with Genghis Khan lamb barbecue.
Some of the world's lightest powder across four connected resorts.
February festival with enormous snow and ice sculptures.
Purple rows at Farm Tomita, in bloom from late June to early August.
Canal town of old warehouses, glassware, sushi and music boxes.
Rich miso broth with corn and butter at Ramen Alley.
Volcanic Hell Valley and mineral-rich onsen baths.
Surreal blue lake and patchwork hills, photogenic in any season.
Famous for penguin walks in winter and polar bear tunnel viewing.
Cable car to one of Japan's best night views over a twin-bay.
UNESCO wilderness with brown bears, drift ice and boat cruises.