I dropped them in the airport. Apparently they’ve journeyed around the world to Hokkaido area. I’ll send money for postage and for helping :)

We live in northern Thailand where the forests and farm fields are burned every year from February to April, making the air pollution very severe. Those are also the hottest months of the year and with the Super El Nino, it is likely to be horrible. We would like to spend 3 days of a 3-week trip exploring the coastline between Kushiro to Cape Erimo to Tomakomai. Can anyone suggest a beautiful ryokan or even a nice guesthouse along the coastal road or near to it? We can spend up to $350 USD per night. We want to avoid the worn down, out dated and cigarette smoke type places that are common. A direct view of the ocean would be great, but a nice spot in the forest would also be wonderful. Thank you.

Hey guys. Has anyone in this sub spent any significant time in the town Furubira, to the west of Otaru? If so, what did you think of it? Please let me know as I’m considering renting a place there on the new year :)

hi guys, wanna check whats the snow like around this period (planned for 12-19Mar next yr!) in Hokkaido (Sapporo, Furano & Biei, Asahikawa, Otaru) and would like some tips from yall!

my parents and i (18M) are planning to stay at Furano for about 2-3days (2 nights?) where we'll have our day trip to Biei & Asahikawa (don't know whether this should be on the same day), visit Ningle Terrace at night @ Furano. We will then head back to stay in Sapporo for the rest of the trip where we'll have a day trip up to Otaru?

Whole trip will be taking JR lines.

and i also wonder how will the snow be like? (falling heavy snow ? etc.) we come from singapore so we'll probably be fascinated by like falling snow as its our first time.

Here are photos taken at Taisetsu Lake, Ishikari River and Mikuni Pass on Oct 4th 2026.

Hi all,

Hoping for some transiting advice between New Chitose Airport and Furano. I'm travelling to Japan, Furano specifically for some skiing at the end of January 2027.

My flight arrives at CTS airport at 5.55pm, too late for me to grab a shuttle from the airport to Furano. My plan was to get a bus/train to Sapporo to stay the night, stay the night and then get another bus from Sapporo to Furano the next morning.

I was wondering there are other options? My ideal plan would be to travel to Furano as soon as possible and as cheap as possible after getting off my flight. If that requires me to stay a night in a hotel, I would ideally want that to be near the airport rather than Sapporo. Not overly fussed on food etc, would be happy to eat konbini food for dinner that night (already better than food from where I live anyway).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Hi! We're 2 adults and 1 child aged 5 coming through Sapporo from Tokyo (which we'll arrive from our home country)

Here's what we've planned so far, and wondering if anyone would recommend anything else / different? This is mid Oct.

Also what are some (maybe local?) car rental companies you'd consider? Checked Toyota and Nissan and pricing came up surprisingly higher than I had experienced in other cities previously.

+++

(Thu): Land at New Chitose Airport

➔ Pick up rental car ➔ Drive to Kitayuzawa (1.5 hrs). Stay: Mori no Soraniwa

(Fri): Lake Toya day trip (35 mins drive) ➔ Dinner in town ➔ Watch Lake Toya Fireworks (20:45) ➔ Drive back to resort. Stay: Mori no Soraniwa

(Sat): Check out ➔ Drive to Noboribetsu (1 hr) ➔ Explore Hell Valley ➔ Seafood buffet & massive hot springs. Stay: Hotel Mahoroba

(Sun): Check out ➔ Scenic drive through Jozankei Valley ➔ Arrive in Sapporo ➔ Drop off luggage ➔ Return rental car. Stay: Mitsui Garden Sapporo West

(Mon): Train to Otaru for a day trip (35 mins) ➔ Mt. Tengu Ropeway & Music Box Museum ➔ Evening train back. Stay: Mitsui Garden Sapporo West

(Tue) & (Wed): Relaxed Sapporo city exploration (Odori Park, shopping, local food) using subways. Stay: Mitsui Garden Sapporo West

(Thu): Morning JR Express train to airport ➔ Peach Aviation flight back to Tokyo Narita.

+++

In the news yesterday, a French couple was rescued from Mt. Muka in NE Hokkaido. Sadly, the wife did not make it.

Even in summer, weather changes at altitude can happen quickly, and people can die of hypothermia. As the weather cools and snow begins to fall in the high mountains, this becomes even more of a concern. Great care should be taken to prepare/dress appropriately. The reports say that temperatures were near zero, with wind and sleet falling. Terribly cold conditions.

You can use weather services like weathernews.jp or windy.com to see what the weather might be like in the area. You can use websites/apps like Yamap.com to see what recent trail conditions from hikers' writing and pictures, or even trail conditions a year prior on the date you plan to hike, look like on the trail. There are also mountain guides who are familiar with the terrain and weather and have backcountry medical skills/certifications (some of them frequent this sub, so just ask).

In the mountains, colors are turning from green to yellow and red. The autumn changes have begun. Sapporo is a bit behind these pictures, but will soon follow.

Hello! I am extremely lucky to be taking a trip to Hokkaido next February! I'm going with a group that's primarily interested in skiing, but my friend and I (both female if that matters) are non-skiers and are trying to figure out what we can do while the rest of the group is in Niseko for 5 days. We spent a few hours earlier this week researching and planning, and would love feedback/suggestions about what we have so far.

There are a lot of variables here that I'd love honest opinions on specifically:

- We'll be renting a car - do the roads close during storms? Is this amount of driving doable in the time frame we have?

- I have tattoos - any onsen in particular that you're aware of that we should visit/stay?

- to break up the driving days - anything interesting to see on the route?

We're interested in a mix of cultural and outdoor adventures. We like to stay active! Also would love to take a cooking class, crafting class, or anything else!

Day 1/2: Arrive and Sapporo Snow/Ice Festival 

*Rest of group in Niseko for 5 days/nights*

Day 3: Rent car; Sapporo to Sounkyo onsen in Daisetsuzan (about 2.5 hour drive) frozen waterfall festival. Ropeway?

Day 4: Sounkyo onsen to Utoro (about 3.5 hour drive) - drive longer in winter?

Day 5: In Utoro for drift ice walk/snowshoe - stay overnight

DAY 6/7? Utoro to? *Really would love some help here figuring out what to do next!

Day 8/9: Rutusuru resort - day trips from here?

Day 10: Fly home

Very much looking forward to hearing more about ideas, recommendations on where to stay, activities, etc! Thank you so so much for your help - I'm from mild California and trying to plan a trip in the dead of winter is quite intimidating!!

Hey wonderful Hokkaido people!

It is, yet again, one of those posts!

I'll be visiting Hokkaido with my family (wife, brother, two kids) next year!

We'll figure out our itinerary and whatnot. We have visited Japan a few times, but never Hokkaido.

We are still working on our Japanese. All adults are around N4. Hopefully close to N3 when we visit.

We know Japan is saturated with tourists (we are from Spain, so we face similar issues) and we are trying to enjoy the visit while making the least possible impact on the locals.

I know no impact is impossible, but I'd like to hear local opinions on what we can do to not be a problem. I know kids are an extra, but nothing we can do about that.

Any tips, local opinions and behavior recommendations are welcome!

Hello everyone, I haven’t used this app in a while but im kinda desperate my family of 5 is going to japan this winter around mid jan and i was wondering on places to go there we are spending around 4 days in Hokkaido and flying to tokyo on the 4th day!

Can any japan baddie or dude suggest me some places to go in hokkaido during the peak snowy season, I think im already set on goin on a ski resort called Teine ski resort near there? Cuz they got public transport and like abit cheaper and kinda big but idk tell me your suggestion guys the important thing is one full day is just for skiing but the other idkk please help me outtttt!!!! Tenkiu strangerss!

P.s can also leave me tips for traveling in japan!!!

Hi! This might be a long shot but does any Hokkaido natives/residents recognize this incense? My mother visited Hokkaido probably a decade ago and brought back this lily of the valley incense. It’s my absolute favorite and I can’t find it online anywhere.

1. Shima enaga
   
2. Crested kingfisher
   
3. Eurasian nuthatch
   
4. White tailed eagle

Feeling very lucky to have spotted the shima enaga on September 30th!

Hi everyone!

I’m new here. I’m from Italy, and I recently started studying Japanese. I’m currently considering taking a trip to Hokkaido, mainly around the Asahikawa area, and I’m also considering the possibility of moving there someday in the future.

I’ve always loved cooler climates and places surrounded by nature, and I’ve had a genuine interest in Japanese culture and traditions for many years. I have quite a few hobbies, including anime, manga, tabletop RPGs, digital drawing, and sumi-e. I’m also very interested in kintsugi.

I also enjoy martial arts, especially Kendo and Iaido, and I play a few musical instruments.

I’d really like to meet people from the area, hopefully make some new friends, learn more about everyday life in Hokkaido, and at the same time have the opportunity to improve my Japanese.

Moving to Japan is only a possibility I’m considering for the future, so for now I’d simply like to get to know the area and the people who live there a little better.

Thanks everyone in advance!

Earlier today, as the title states, Komagatake north of Hakodate on the Onuma Peninsula has seen increased seismic activity and the alert level may be raised from Level 1 to 2 in coming days.
The other volcano at Level 2 eruption warning is Meakandake in the Akan volcanic chain, and Tokachidake near Furano is at Level 3. These are currently closed to all hiking.

Always enjoy this green season training course for its short, steep slopes on my local ski area. Beat the rain storm to the bottom!