Hokkaido in Spring: Our Three Favourite Cherry Blossom Areas

Unlike the rest of Japan where cherry blossoms mark the peak of spring, in Hokkaido the cherry blossom means spring is just beginning. Here are three places that never cease to impress:

*Hakadote: Goryokaku Park – Viewing Blossoms from the sky!

Our number one spot for cherry blossoms, Goryokaku Park in Hakadote is shaped like a giant star, surrounded by a moat lined with more than 1,600 cherry trees which can be viewed both day and night. Your best views of this picturesque setting are from the top of Goryokaku Tower (107 metres or 351 feet) – a panorama of pink.

*Sapporo: Maruyama Park – A Bevy of Blossoms to Enjoy

With 150 different types of cherry blossoms including the popular Yoshino and Sargent varieties, Maruyama Park in Sapporo promises blossoms from late April well into the month of May.

*Asahikawa: Asahiyama Park – May Time Blossoms

Located in northwest Hokkaido, the 3,500 cherry trees in Asahiyama Park in Asahikawa are best enjoyed through the month of May.

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Hokkaido in Summer: Fields of Flowers in Furano and Biei

Long after the snows of winter have melted and spring’s cherry blossoms have floated away, Hokkaido continues to enchant with its fields of summer flowers. The best place for this floral fantasy is located between Furano and Biei in central Hokkaido – here fields of flowers backed by the rugged Tokachi Mountains paint a landscape of unequalled beauty.

The stretch between Furano north to Biei (34 kilometres or 21 miles) is, in summer, a technicolor field of dreams, with lavender, lupins, poppies and much more. From June through September the farms (we recommend Tomita Farm near Furano and Shikisai no Oka close to Biei) are a collage of floral colours. Possibly the best way to enjoy the flowers is to hop aboard the Furano-Biei Norokko train which runs daily from late June through mid-August.

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Hokkaido in Autumn: Two Leafy Legends to Remember

Truth be told every corner of Hokkaido is splendid in the autumn with a rainbow of fall colours to enjoy. Here are two recommendations that guarantee autumn magic:

*Jozankei – Onsen Autumn Colours

Just one hour to the south of Sapporo, Jozankei is a popular onsen noted for its thermal waters and stunning landscapes. If you visit from late September through early November the surrounding region is ablaze with the red, gold and yellow colours of autumn – take a hike and enjoy these colourful scenes.

*Akan Mashu National Park – Blue Lakes and Autumn Colours

Situated 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Kushiro in eastern Hokkaido the autumn colours in Akan Mashu National Park are world famous. The park’s beautiful lake shorelines: Lake Akan famous for its marimo algae, Lake Mashu and Lake Kushiro are best visited from late September into early November when the forests are a stunning palette of autumn colours.

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Hokkaido in Winter: Enjoy Winter Three Ways

Winter wonders in Hokkaido are many so here are our three “must do” activities for travelers to this stunning part of Japan.

*Yuki-Matsuri – Sapporo Ice Festival

Started in 1950, the Yuki-Matsuri (Ice Festival) has become an international celebration of winter with more than 2 million visitors each year. Held for one week each February, the city’s festival areas feature hundreds of snow and ice sculptures, skating, parades, light shows and much more.

*Niseko and Beyond - Skiing

Niseko is known to skiers as the powder capital of the world and while it is Japan’s most internationally recognized ski destination, there are other perfect powder paradises to enjoy – don’t forget the following ski resorts: Rusutsu, Furano, Tomamu and Kiroro.

*Shiretoko Peninsula - Drift Ice Walking or …

Located on the far northeast of Hokkaido, the Shiretoko Peninsula is Hokkaido’s holy grail of natural wonders where you can experience the northern hemisphere’s southernmost ice pack. For those who want to experience it all Ice Drift Walking on the pack ice is the newest in extreme sports. Fear not, for those who do not want to walk on ice, you can take a ride on a local ice breaker.

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Eat, Drink, and Enjoy – Our Hokkaido Favorites

We bring this issue to a close, with Hokkaido food favorites which we suppose,
Will help you learn about this most delightful place - winter, spring, summer or fall,
Now you know Hokkaido food has got it all!

*Three Unique things to Eat

You cannot leave Hokkaido without having sampled these three uniquely “Hokkaido” specialties: Jingusikan BBQ – named in honour of Genghis Khan, this a popular lamb BBQ; Hokkaido Butter Ramen – features a rich soup of miso topped with a big dollop of Hokkaido butter; and Yubari King Melon – Japan’s king of all fruit - grown in the Yubari region - can fetch up to JPY 5 million (US$ 4,510.00) for a single, perfectly round melon!

*Seafood

Hokkaido’s sea waters teem with seafood including world-famous king crab, meaty scallops and much treasured squid and octopus while her mountain streams are home to Japan’s biggest and best trout and salmon.

*Whisky

Forget sake and think whiskey – Japan now is a world leader in producing fine blends – among the best in Japan are Suntory World Whisky, Hatozaki and Yoichi.

What more do you want or need – it’s time to travel to Hokkaido!

旅の道中お気をつけて

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