Things to Do in Hokkaido
Hand-picked sights and experiences across Hokkaido.
When to catch the colours in Hokkaido?
Average red maple, golden ginkgo and cherry blossom dates for Hokkaido, from the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals — the fortnight to aim for, not a promise for any particular year.
- Red maples
- Leaves turnOct 28
- Peak viewingOct 28 – Nov 11
- Golden ginkgo
- Leaves turnNov 4
- Peak viewingNov 4 – Nov 18
- Cherry blossom
- First flowersMay 1
- Full bloomMay 6
Where to look next?
The prefectures we've mapped so far, nearest to Hokkaido first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hokkaido genuinely has two peaks: July for lavender fields and cool summer hiking, and January–February for powder snow, drift ice and the Sapporo Snow Festival. Shoulder months are quiet and cheap, but greyer — pick your Hokkaido first, then your dates.
Not for Sapporo, Otaru and the rail corridor. But the countryside that makes Hokkaido special — Biei's rolling hills, Furano's farms, the Blue Pond — spreads out on a very un-Japanese scale, so a rental car or a day tour that does the driving is the practical answer.
Flying is the default — Tokyo–Sapporo is one of the busiest air routes on earth and often cheaper than rail. The shinkansen reaches Hakodate in about four hours and suits travellers working their way north through Tohoku.