6 Treasures in Hokkaido

Posted on 05/17/2022 Last updated on 05/17/2022

Hokkaido, Japan’s very own ‘Last Frontier’, is a place with much to discover. You have to do a bit of searching sometimes, but it’s there between the frosty mountains and snowy fields. Here are six of our favorite spots and features of Japan’s most northern prefecture.

Sapporo Snow Festival

The Snow Festival is held annually in Sapporo over seven days in February. Sapporo’s signature festival began as a one-day event in 1950, when six local high school students built snow statues in Odori Park. Now, the festival attracts millions of visitors a year. An International Snow Sculpture Contest has been held at the Odori Park site since 1974.

Sapporo Concert Hall

The concert hall, “Kitara”, is a municipal musical venue located in Nakajima Park, Sapporo. Established in 1997, the building is owned by Sapporo City, and was opened on July 4, 1997. The concert hall is home to the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, and its regular concert is held in the hall each year.

Hakodate

Hakodate is a city and port located in the Oshima Subprefecture of Hokkaido. The city was Japan’s first city whose port opened to foreign trade in 1854. As a result of the Convention of Kanagawa, it used to be the most important port in northern Japan. Boasting a population of 264,845, this peninsular city is home to the Hakodate Fish Market and Goryokaku Park.

Kyowa Marshes

The mountains north of Kyowa-cho, Hokkaido boast beautiful natural marshes which are wonderful for viewing during the non-winter months. They’re also a popular place for stargazing, due to their elevation and the lack of light pollution.

Doushinkan Folk Toy Museum

This charming little museum is located in the small village of Kamoenai, Hokkaido. In September 1998, the former Sannai Elementary and Junior High Schools were renovated. Old toys and kites from all over Japan were gathered to be displayed here. Some of these treasures have been passed down since the Edo period. This is a place full of wonder and nostalgia, and truly worth a visit.

Ganso (Original) Ramen Alley

The Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho is a tourism hot spot in Susukino featuring 17 popular miso ramen shops. The 42-meter long narrow alley is always crowded with visitors from morning until night. It is also popular among locals as their last stop of the night for a ramen snack after spending an evening out drinking in Susukino. The alleyway offers up many different flavors of miso ramen, from a simple traditional take on the Sapporo staple to ones with particular choices of ingredients.

And that’s just scratching the surface. There’s plenty more to find here and in every other prefecture across Japan. Which one’s your favorite?

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Cover Image: meguraw645 on Pixabay