Japan’s Coolest Island Escape
The island of Hokkaido is a wonderland of snow-dusted landscapes, crystal-clear lakes and rich traditions.
Hokkaido feels like a seasonal snow globe. In the warmer months, brightly coloured flowers blanket rolling hills, while autumn’s rich tones sweep across mountain towns. Come winter, snow glistens on the water, casting a magic that’s hard to replicate.
The country’s northernmost island is also its least developed — though far from barren. Sapporo, home to the beer of the same name, is Hokkaido’s most famous city, where visitors can explore the brewery’s free museum and learn about Japan’s beer-making history dating back to 1876. It’s also the ancestral home of the Indigenous Ainu people, whose culture centres on living in harmony with the land. The result is a natural retreat, highlighted by the deep-blue, crystalline waters of Lake Shikotsu, among the clearest in Japan. Enjoy it warmed or chilled — either way, it’s a perfect après-soak indulgence.
In winter, the lake — tucked inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park — is ringed by towering ice sculptures, formed by spraying and freezing its own waters. The annual Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, usually held in February, features an ice slide, skating (in boots or skates), horse rides for children, and dips in traditional Japanese onsen (hot springs).
Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to explore. Hokkaido offers an impressive network of hiking trails, from mountain loops to snowshoe-friendly paths. Shiretoko National Park, Akan-Mashu National Park, and Daisetsuzan National Park reward visitors with sweeping wildlife and wilderness views. In Sapporo, the Olympic Museum — a legacy of the 1972 Winter Games — invites guests to trek up the ski hill for panoramic city vistas. Curated itineraries from companies like Remote Lands combine skiing in the Japanese Alps, onsen tours in Noboribetsu, historic streets in Hakodate (one of Hokkaido’s oldest cities), stargazing under clear night skies, and more experiences that evoke a profound sense of peace.
For a stay that mirrors the snow globe effect, Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Besso Ao no Za hotel pairs traditional Japanese hospitality with sweeping lake views. The hotel offers a kaiseki dining experience — multiple chef-driven courses showcasing locally sourced, artistically plated dishes — and a teppanyaki restaurant serving rice, vegetables, meat and abundant seafood. Hokkaido’s scallops and salmon are highlights, alongside crab and prawns. Don’t miss the wagyu beef, paired perfectly with local sake.
Japan has no shortage of postcard-perfect views, but few match the stillness of Hokkaido under a winter sky. And with the island just 90 minutes by flight from Tokyo, its wild beauty is closer than you think.
3 WAYS TO WARM UP IN HOKKAIDO
Soak in an onsen
Slip into restorative hot springs in Noboribetsu — famous for its varied, mineral-rich waters born from volcanic hell-valley — or in scenic Jōzankei nestled in Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
Tuck into a bowl of Sapporo miso ramen
Hokkaido’s signature miso ramen delivers rich, savoury broth with hearty toppings like butter, corn, chashu pork, bean sprouts — and sometimes local seafood — for the ultimate winter comfort.
Sip local sake
Hokkaido’s sake breweries craft crisp and pure pours using mountain spring water, from the Daisetsuzan range to local rivers.
