Why you should visit Hokkaido in the green season

Hokkaido has more to offer than just sensational skiing. Visit during the green months and partake in some of the country’s best dining and adventure experiences

Most Australian travellers see Hokkaido through a prism of powdered snow. But Japan’s northernmost island – the country’s second largest – is a chameleon, changing its personality with the seasons.

In its “green” months, visitors are seduced by fields of lavender and sunflowers, fireworks and festivals, swimming and camping, cycling, train, wheel and camper van trips, hot springs and onsens. Hokkaido’s short summer (July and August) has little humidity, making it perfect for playing outdoors.

For landscape thrill-seekers, it’s hard to know where to start. Perhaps the small town of Biei? It’s home to the Shirogane Blue Pond whose startling blue is the result of a mix of natural minerals.

And for that head-in-the-clouds thrill, you need Unkai Terrace, located at the Hoshino Resorts Tomamu at an altitude of 1,088m above sea level. It is a viewing facility that enables a close-up view of a sea of clouds from June to September.

Wide open roads are a Hokkaido magnet in warmer months. Take your pick of spectacular drives.

Mikuni Pass is the highest pass on National Route 273, a spectacular spot where you can see the dynamic scenery of the sea of ​​trees and Matsumi Ohashi Bridge.

The Ororon Line starts in Otaru and runs along the coastline for about 380km to Wakkanai, the northernmost point of Hokkaido; sake and herring are your reward.

The Esanuka Line, pastures either side, stretches 16km. The white road leading to the sea (Wakkanai City) is white because it is paved with crushed scallop shells. Spread out before you, Japan’s largest wind farm. 

The Road to the Sky is a spectacular road in Shiretoko, a natural world heritage site. The road stretches straight down towards the setting sun, which, for just a few days a year, creates the impression you are heading straight into the sunset.

The Shizunai Nijukken Road is lined with approximately 2,200 cherry trees in full bloom along a 7km stretch. It is said to be the most scenic cherry blossom road in Hokkaido.

Located about 30 minutes by car from Märchen Hill, Bihoro Pass is one of the prettiest spots in eastern Hokkaido. Jag a panoramic view of Lake Kussharo, the largest caldera lake in Japan, from an observation deck at an altitude of 525m.

Wild about wilderness

Hokkaido is also known for its rich Indigenous history, for the unique culture of the Ainu people who live here and the Jōmon people, indigenous hunter-gatherers who lived in the Japanese archipelago during the Jōmon period c. 14,000 to 300 BC. It was a period rich in tools and jewellery made from bone, stone, shell and antler; pottery figurines and vessels; and lacquerware.

Explore the culture and traditions of the Ainu at Lake Akan, a beautiful crater lake in Akan Mashu National Park, home to marimo, a rare algae that forms itself into big green balls (think velvety moss) that can grow to the size of soccer balls.

Journey to the Shiretoko Peninsula to see some of Japan’s most pristine and unspoiled natural beauty, along with free-roaming brown bears, foxes and deer.

Fine food to go

The local food culture is a key Hokkaido drawcard. Each region has its own “local legends”, from pork rice bowls in Obihiro to shrimp and octopus dumplings in Haboro. Genghis Khan, a traditional Hokkaido dish that is a mixture of lamb and vegetables barbecued on a helmet-like hot plate, is a favourite with both visitors and locals.

Hokkaido is the birthplace of several unique flavours of ramen, a type of Japanese noodle soup. There’s sapporo (miso), asahikawa (soy sauce), and hakodate (salt). Ramen tends to be distinct to each region.

You will want scallops! Hokkaido has the largest scallop catch in Japan. Order up big, too, on flying squid, luscious melon and fresh corn.

Enjoy the catch of the day at a sushi restaurant or a morning fish market. Conveyor belt sushi restaurants are popular as are parfait shops for crazy artisanal desserts.

Foodies in Hokkaido seek out sea urchin, asparagus, hairy crabs, jingisukan (lamb) and oysters.

From sake to single malts

Nightlife in Hokkaido is hot right now, driven by its vibrant cities and a beverage boom.

Susukino, in Sapporo, is one of Japan’s best known entertainment districts, lined with cafes, bars and izakaya.

There are dance clubs, night clubs, disco clubs, happening bars, jazz, mixologists everywhere you look, video game nights, and beer halls.

The climate of Hokkaido and high-quality hops help produce good beer. This same climate ensures a sought-after supply of wine, sake, and whisky as well. Celebrate your favourite beverage at on-site breweries, wineries and distilleries. Don’t forget to factor in a dram of award-winning single-malt Yoichi!

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