Entering the cold autumn-winter days, there is no place more mysterious and attractive than the “Northern pole” of Hokkaido for a self-sufficient travel trip to Japan. Making itself completely different from the usual beauty of Spring-Summer, Hokkaido will make everyone admire. Let us suggest all the “eat – play – stay” places for those who are planning to travel to Hokkaido this winter.

Entering the last days of the year, is also the time when Japan begins to “cling” before the cold wind of winter. Everywhere is slowly changing, but with Hokkaido, snow has begun to cover the road surface. The temperature here is also colder than any other part of Japan. But also because of that, all the fun and beauty of winter is focused on the first land of the North Pole. This is not a pleasant place to travel, but for those who love the feeling of adventure and a bit of adventure, Hokkaido will be a memorable experience for a self-sufficient winter trip to Japan.

PART 1: NOTE BEFORE ARRIVING TO HOKKAIDO

1. Don’t forget your JR Pass

As a self-sufficient Japanese tourist, you should have your own JR Pass. This is a ticket that allows you to travel on all trains of the National Railway – Japan Rail, for free. JR Pass has many types, such as JR Pass All Japan for all of Japan, JR Pass Hokkaido for Hokkaido region; or shelf life 7-14-21 days. You can choose according to your preferences, but you should buy the JR Pass All Japan to save money on traveling between Hokkaido and Tokyo. In addition, it will also be very convenient if you are planning to visit lands other than Hokkaido.

2. How to go to Hokkaido?

Coming to Hokkaido is probably quite a difficult thing for Vietnamese friends, because there is no flight to Hokkaido from Vietnam. One of the reasonable ways to travel for self-sufficient Japanese tourists is to fly to the international airports of Tokyo or Fukuoka, and take the Hokkaido Shinkansen train to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto station, Hokkaido. From there you can take the JR train to enter Sapporo Station. With the JR Pass in hand, you won’t have to pay any fees to ride the Hokkaido Shinkansen.

Alternatively, you can fly domestically with Peach Airline, but with the erratic winter weather, this is not really the safest way, and you will incur additional costs for airfare.

3. What should I bring?

Autumn-Winter days in Hokkaido are very cold. In November, December, the temperature here can drop to minus level. And from January to March, the temperature can drop to about -20 degrees Celsius. Therefore, you should equip thick warm clothes such as life jackets, trench coats, warm towels, wool hats, etc. In addition, prepare a pair of specialized boots to move on the snowy winter road.

Finally, do not forget to prepare lotions and especially, lip balm to keep the surface of your skin moist. Here are the colorless lip balm products suitable for men that you can refer to. And now let’s start the journey!

PART 2: WHAT TO PLAY, WHERE IN HOKKAIDO?

1. Ski area (Niseko, Furano)

Set foot in the coldest land in Japan, there is nothing better than experiencing skiing in Hokkaido. Since the end of November, while other places have just begun to change the season, Hokkaido has been covered with a dense white full of snow and snow. And this is the time for skiing activities at the resorts. In Hokkaido, perhaps the most famous ski resort is Niseko. Here, the skiing scene is extremely majestic, surrounded by mountain ranges, no different from the mountains of Europe. Niseko is bustling with tourists, and you can choose from beginner to expert runs. At night, don’t go to sleep in a hurry, but try to ski late at night with friends once. It will be an unforgettable experience for you.

If you want to have a poetic experience in the midst of nature in Niseko, you should look to Niseko Konbu Onsen Tsuruga Besso Moku no Sho . A famous ryokan in the mountains of Niseko, Moku no Sho will give you romantic natural scenery, pure hot springs, and a traditional Japanese atmosphere. If you are a person who prefers moderate prices but still ensures quality service, you can still consider Tomten Lodge .

If you prefer a quieter and quieter resort space, perhaps Furano will be a more ideal place for you. Although not a major resort in Hokkaido, Furano offers tourists a special sense of serenity, and the skiing space here is extremely suitable for family and friends. There are also gentle slopes suitable for beginners, and slopes for professionals. At night, the lights will light up the slides here to support those who want to ski at night.

With high prices and dedicated service as well as excellent room quality, you can absolutely choose Furano Prince Hotel , belonging to the famous Prince hotel chain in Japan. In addition, with a more reasonable price, you can choose Hotel Naturward Furano .

Usually, there will be rental services for clothes, ski equipment and accompanying equipment (sweater hats, ski goggles, waterproof gloves, …) at shops, hotels near Niseko and Furano. Therefore, you should research these stores in advance to be able to best prepare for the ski session. If you are experiencing it for the first time, you should rent a full outfit – tools, including glasses and warm waterproof gloves because the weather here is really harsh.

How to move:

Niseko: from Sapporo Station to Kutchan Station in 100 minutes via the Rapid Niseko Liner Line (JR Pass available), from Kutchan Station take a bus to Niseko’s resorts.

Furano: from Sapporo Station to Takikawa Station in 52 minutes via the Limited Express Train, then to Furano Station in 65 minutes via the Local Line (JR Pass available).

2. Noboribetsu Hot Spring Land

Welcome to the land of hot springs Noboribetsu. And first, visit the famous Hell Valley (Jigkokudani, 地獄谷). You will have the opportunity to admire the fanciful smoke coming out of gas holes in the ground and steep hills, like the breath of a volcano. Truly, this is a one-of-a-kind view of Hokkaido, and of Japan as a whole.

Tired of sightseeing, take a break and soak in the town’s warm hot springs. In Noboribetsu, hot springs are very diverse in water quality. That’s right, not all hot water is created equal. There are 9 types of hot water at Noboribetsu, from common salt hot water to iron ion hot water. And each type will have a certain effect on our health, like water containing iron ions will be beneficial for people with anemia. A hot bath is both an experience and a beauty for the skin, but it also detoxifies the body.

If you want a luxurious stay, especially enjoying the romantic hot lake view, then Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is the place you should consider. On the contrary, if you want to have a budget experience for your self-sufficient trip to Japan, Takimoto Inn will be the right place for you.

How to get there: travel from Sapporo Station to Noboribetsu Station in 75 minutes via the Limited Express Train (JR Pass available).

3. Sapporo and the Snow Festival

Sapporo is a familiar name for all Japanese self-sufficient tourists to Hokkaido. This can be said to be the ideal place to rest, not only because of the modern nature of a city, but Sapporo itself also brings its own cultural characteristics. In Sapporo, there’s nothing better than visiting the TV Tower, going to local eateries, and then enjoying a few warm draft beers.

That’s the routine, but wait until February, and soak up the splendor of the Sapporo Snow Festival. Taking place every year in 3 areas – Odori Park, Susukino Kaijou and Tsudomu Kaijou, you will admire ingenious ice sculptures, enjoy hot festival food and watch literary performances together. evening art. Even though it’s cold and freezing, being immersed in the festive atmosphere with the people here still makes me extremely warm.

Most Hokkaido tourists will choose Sapporo as a place to stay, because this place is central and can go everywhere quite conveniently. The selection of hotels and motels is wide here, and we recommend 2 of the many places for you to consider: Jozankei View Hotel and Iyasu Hostel Sapporo .

4. Asahikawa

Asahikawa is probably not a strange name to those who have seen the movie Close Your Eyes and See Summer . But now Asahikawa has a different beauty, completely engraved with the fields of golden sunflowers. It is the arrival of winter animals at Asahiyama Zoo. You will have the opportunity to watch a fun “parade” of very cute penguins.

Not only the penguins, but the polar bears here are also extremely cute.

After visiting the zoo, be sure to make a bowl of the famous Asahikawa Ramen here!

In Asahikawa, you can set foot in Ryokan Sensyosen . It’s one of the region’s famous ryokan, and you’ll get to enjoy a taste of old Japanese life at Sensyosen. However, the ryokan is located quite deep in nature and far from Asahiyama Zoo. In addition, you can still choose JR Inn Asahikawa for convenient service and convenient location for commuting.

How to get there: travel from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station in 95 minutes via the Limited Express Train (JR Pass available).

5. Biei

The same beauty from the rivers, but now it is no longer a colorful town, but a mystical natural area of ​​Biei. Famous for many unique landmarks, Biei always brings mystery to the self-sufficient Japanese tourists. Shirahige Waterfall is the first natural color for the trip to visit Biei. Located in Shirogane Onsen – Biei hot spring town, Shirahige waterfall has a majestic natural beauty, but is equally poetic and cool in winter. In the last days of the year, the twinkling lights will be lit up, and you can enjoy the brilliant world inside the falls.

Shirahige Waterfall falls into the Biei River, where the water finds its way to neighboring lakes, one of which is Shirogane Blue Lake, also known as Biei Blue Lake. As a “product” of anti-volcanic works, Blue Lake Biei has a surprising and poetic green color. Whether it’s spring, summer, autumn, winter, the lake’s surface always keeps its clear blue features, and you will be amazed and captivated when you can admire this unique scene with your own eyes.

In Biei with a relatively small number of hotels, we  would like to introduce to you the following 2 places: Yumoto Shirogane Onsen Hotel for a budget price, and ryokan Mori no Ryotei Biei for a more advanced price.

Access: From Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station in 95 minutes via the Limited Express Train, then to Biei Station in 35 minutes via the Local Line (JR Pass available). From Biei, take the Dohoku Bus to Shirahige Falls and Shironage Blue Lake in 30 minutes.

6. Otaru . Canal

A romantic, nostalgic town like the scenery of Europe, the Otaru canal is a place you must definitely visit. Regardless of the season, the Otaru Canal always has its own beauty. Different from the colorful scenery of Spring-Summer, Autumn-Winter at Otaru Canal has a more monochromatic beauty, but still equally attractive. Surrounded by snow, winter in Otaru will be extremely romantic if you go with your lover, and look forward to the light festival here.

How to get there: 45 minutes from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station via the Rapid Hakodate Line, Ishikari Liner (JR Pass available).

PART 3: WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK AT HOKKAIDO?

1. Miso ramen

In Hokkaido, the long-standing famous is miso ramen. Unlike Tokyo’s colorful and flavorful noodle bowls, ramen in Hokkaido is simpler. Miso soup has the pure salty taste of fermented soybeans, mixed with the sweetness of corn kernels, creating a balanced, pleasant overall taste.

There are many good ramen shops in Sapporo, but try Shingen . Surely this long-standing noodle shop will help you feel the most authentic traditional taste here.

Shingen’s address:〒064-0806 Sapporo-shi, Chuo-ku, Minami 6 Jonishi, 8-8-2

2. Seafood

Going to Hokkaido without eating seafood is a waste. Japan is a country famous for seafood, and enjoy the dishes from the sea here, you will understand why. Head to the famous Nijo Market in Hakodate, and enjoy all the fresh seafood dishes here.

Nijo Market Address:〒060-0052 Sapporo, Chuo-ku, Minami 3 Higashi, 1

Sushi, sashimi, grilled fish,… with a little shoyu and wasabi, it’s amazing.

If you want to enjoy a variety of fish at the same time, make a bowl of kaisendon (roughly translated: seafood rice) for the cold winter.

3. Jingisukan

If you’re a foodie, you’ll want to try this roast lamb. The dish is flavored with lamb, accompanied by vegetables such as cabbage, pumpkin, bean sprouts, etc. Jingisukan translated into Vietnamese is Genghis Khan – the great king of feudal Mongolia. It’s strange, because Genghis Khan and the Mongols have never invaded Hokkaido in history. In Sapporo, in addition to the Sapporo Beer Garden Hall at the Sapporo Beer Museum, you should go to the Sapporo Genghis Khan Main Store in Sapporo. Delicious for sure!

Sapporo Genghis Khan Main Store Address:〒064-0806 Sapporo-shi, Chuo-ku, Minami 6 Jonishi, 6-7-1 dai (6th Asahi Building, 1st Floor)

4. Soup curry

Continuing to be an equally famous local dish of Hokkaido. Soup curry is a perfect winter dish with the warmth of the soup and the rich flavor of the soup. You can eat with chicken, or lamb. But the lamb will have a specific smell, so remember to keep this in mind. If you want to enjoy quality Soup curry, remember to go to Samurai shop in Sapporo!

Samurai shop address:〒060-0063 Hokkaido, Sapporo-shi, Chuo-ku, Minami 3 Jonishi, 6-1-3

5. Beer

With a cold land like Hokkaido, beer becomes an indispensable drink for the people here. And the beer in Hokkaido is really good too. You can enjoy local beers in bars, casual eateries to the stalls of the fairground.

And in addition, you can absolutely go to the Sapporo Beer Museum to both visit the history and enjoy Sapporo’s quality beers.

Sapporo Beer Museum Address:〒065-8633 Sapporo-shi, Kita 7 Joigashi, 9-1-1

And those are some interesting places and special dishes that we  believe you will absolutely love to experience. Let’s look forward to the next self-sufficient Japan travel destination!