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🇯🇵 Japan Region Guide · 2026

Hokkaido — Northern island

Northern island · snow · lavender · seafood · Main cities: Sapporo · Hakodate · Otaru · Furano

About Hokkaido

The Hokkaido region

Northern island · snow · lavender · seafood. Covers 1 prefecture · main cities: Sapporo · Hakodate · Otaru · Furano. One of Japan's 9 regions, with its own distinctive charm — culture, food, climate, and destinations that show you a side of Japan most travellers never see.

Prefectures · 1 in this region

All 1 prefecture in Hokkaido

Every prefecture in the Hokkaido region — we'll review them all · click for individual prefecture guides

Hokkaido (北海道)
HOKKAIDO · Capital: Sapporo
Snow Festival Feb · Niseko powder · miso ramen · seafood
✓ Guide ready
Hakodate (函館)
HAKODATE · southern Hokkaido
Million-dollar night view · red-brick warehouses · squid morning market · Goryokaku
✓ Guide ready
Otaru (小樽)
OTARU · canal town near Sapporo
Romantic canal · music boxes · glassworks · sushi
✓ Guide ready
Region 101

Hokkaido at a glance

👥
Population
5.2 million
📐
Area
83,400 km² (largest in Japan)
🚄
Transit
Hokkaido Shinkansen + JR Hokkaido
❄️
Best season
Winter Dec-Feb (Snow Festival)
🍜
Signature food
Miso ramen · Genghis Khan · seafood
🌡️
Weather
Summer 15-25°C · Winter -10 to 0°C
FAQ

FAQ · Hokkaido travel

How many days for Hokkaido?
5-7 days for main island · 10+ days with outer areas · Hokkaido Rail Pass good value
Best season?
Feb Snow Festival in Sapporo · Jul-Aug lavender in Furano · Dec-Mar ski Niseko
How to get to Hokkaido?
Fly to New Chitose Airport (CTS) via Tokyo/Taipei · or Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo 4hr

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