HOKKAIDO

Nijo Market

Nijo Market is located near the center of Sapporo and is known for fresh seafood, including its famous seafood rice bowls.Nijo Market is said to have developed in the early Meiji Period, when fishermen from Ishikari Bay started selling fresh fish there. There used to be a row of fish markets running from Nishi 1-chome to Higashi 2-chome along the bank opposite the Sosei River. Eventually, noodle shops, bars, and greengrocers opened, laying the foundations for today’s Nijo Market

Maruyama Zoo

A short 10-minute subway ride from the center of Sapporo will take you to Maruyama Zoo, where you can encounter everything from giraffes and polar bears to rare Siberian Tigers. Maruyama Zoo opened in 1951 and was the country's tenth zoo. Its history can be traced back to when Sapporo hosted a traveling zoo from Tokyo's famous Ueno Zoo. The public response was so positive that the city decided to open its own. The zoo's exhibits and breeding programs feature 991 mammals, birds, reptiles, etc., from 184 species.

Goryokaku

The fortress was originally built to defend the northern part of the country. It was the first fortress in Japan to feature the French-style star design and is designated as a Special Historic Site. It is also famous as the site of the Battle of Hakodate, the final battle between Imperial government forces and those of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Mount Hakodate Ropeway

Many visitors to Hakodate look forward to going to the top of Mt. Hakodate and taking in the exquisite view that earned 3 stars from the Michelin Green Guide. The main method for getting there, regardless of the time of year, is the ropeway, which takes visitors from the base of the mountain to the summit in just 3 minutes. Motor vehicles (taxis, tour buses, cars) cannot be used during the winter because the road is closed. Furthermore, private vehicles are prohibited during congested times (17:00-22:00) in the summer. There is also the option of climbing the mountain on foot and riding the ropeway back down.

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse

The first generation Kumashiro Watanabe founded these warehouses as a business in 1887. The current warehouses were rebuilt in 1909 after a fire had destroyed the previous buildings. The warehouses are now a waterfront tourist attraction and are home to restaurants and souvenir shops.

Lake Mashu

Located 11 km from Teshikaga and 12 km from Kawayu Onsen, the surface of Lake Mashu sits 351 m above sea level. With a 20 km shoreline, an area of 19.2 km2, and a maximum depth of 211.4 m, the waters of this crater lake have been called the clearest in the world and it mesmerizes visitors with its ever-changing surface. The lake is surrounded by the crater wall, which is 300-400 m tall and has an average grade of 45 degrees. No other lake in Japan has such an unforgiving shoreline.

Lake Akan

In October 4, 2017, the national park that encompassed Lake Akan was renamed as the Akan-Mashu National Park. Lake Akan is surrounded by three majestic peaks: Mt. Meakan (pronounced "may-ah-con"), Mt. Oakan ("oh-ah-con"), and Mt. Akan Fuji. There is also the smaller, gem-like Lake Onneto located to the southwest.

Mount Moiwa

Mt. Moiwa is situated close to the center of Sapporo and rises 531 meters above the city.

Odori Park

Odori Park is an oasis in the middle of Sapporo's business district, with 4,700 trees and plants from 92 species, including lilac and Japanese elm. You can see locals and tourists alike relaxing on its lawns and around its fountains. Odori Park is called a park, but it is actually a street.

Cape Noshappu

In the Ainu language, this place is called "not-sam," which is said to have the following 2 meanings: "the cape that juts out like a chin" and "the place where the waves break." There is plenty to see in the vicinity as well. The Wakkanai Youth & Children's Science Museum features exhibits related to astronomy and Antarctic exploration. At the Noshappu Cold Current Aquarium, visitors can see a huge tank with schools of fish that can be found in these northern waters, including the rare Japanese Huchen.

The Rolling Soya Hills

The Soya Hills are located just inland from Cape Soya. This unique periglacial landscape was formed during the Ice Age and is designated as a Hokkaido Heritage. There are also 57 wind turbines installed on these hills, which makes for some stunning scenery.

Cape Soya

Located at a latitude of 45 degrees, 31 minutes, 14 seconds north, Cape Soya is Japan's most northern point. The point is marked by a 5.44 m tall triangular pyramid-shaped monument that features the North Star as its motif. It is illuminated at night as a further symbol of its celestial inspiration. The monument is a popular spot for people to take photos to commemorate their visits. Visitors can also purchase a certificate to show that they had reached the northernmost point of Japan as a souvenir.

The Circular Rishiri Island

Rishiri Island is located to the west of Wakkanai, Japan's northernmost point, and across the Rishiri Strait from the Sarobetsu Plain. It is a circular island about 20 km off the coast of Hokkaido that has a circumference of 63 km.

The Orthodox Church in Japan

When Hakodate's port was opened to the world near the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, new cultures arrived and several churches and monasteries were built in the city. The early Christian missionaries faced many difficulties in a land that predominantly practiced Shinto and Buddhism, but many of the buildings that they built still stand today as splendid cultural landmarks.

Yunokawa Hot Spring

Yunokawa Onsen is considered to be one of Hokkaido's top 3 hot spring areas. It is situated next to the ocean and offers cuisine that reflects its great location. It is also just a 5-minute drive from Hakodate Airport.
About half of the people who visit the Hakodate area each year, or 1.3 million people, choose to stay at this popular area, From December to May, visitors can even watch monkeys enjoying the hot springs at the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden.
Many hot spring facilities at Yunokawa Onsen welcome day-trip visitors, so even those who do not stay the night can feel free to visit.