| Page Views: 9,247 Last Visit to Hokkaido: May, 2005 | Spring Lingers in Hokkaido ... by idy - last update: Mar 25, 2006 |
Brrrrrrrrr! | Ahhhh ... cherry blossoms! |
My first visit to Japan and it is to Hokkaido, in all its spring splendor. As spring was still sipping her last cup of tea, not many of the famous cherry blossom trees were in full bloom. Fortunately, we caught some in the warmer areas near the city, and yes, they are lovely indeed! With branches ladened with countless pink or white blooms, you'd think that these trees have no leaves! |
| In the middle of nowhere in Hokkaido |
|  | Blowing hot and cold? Hokkaido, being the northern-most region of Japan, can get very cold. In winter, despite the sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall, its mountain ranges are the playgrounds of skiiing enthusiasts and the city of Sapporo is the gracious host of visitors who arrive for the Snow Festival.
Hokkaido is, on the other hand, also one of Japan's most popular hot spring regions. Many Japanese travel to Hokkaido specifically for a hot spring vacation. The region also boasts several national parks, including Japan's largest - the Daisetsuzan National Park, which attracts countless hikers and campers during the summer months.
Visitors will also see another side of Hokkaido as they travel the region - agriculture and farming. Padi fields and tobacco plants line the road, black and white cows graze in distant pastures, and in the summer, lavender blooms cover the hillside and fill the air with a familiar potporri scent! While seafood is aplenty here, visitors should not miss some of Hokkaido's best produce such as sweet corn, fresh milk, sweet potato and lavender ice cream!
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| | The Statistics Length of stay: 6 days, 6 nights
Weather: Chilly, with small drizzles (depending on the season)
Accomodation: Various hotels and spa resorts
Went:
Sapporo
1. Sapporo Brewery
2. Ishiya Chocolate Factory
3. Odori Park & TV tower
4. Susukino
5. Nijo Market
6. Li Xiao Lu shopping arcade
Do-o (Central Hokkaido)
7. Otaru
8. Noboribetsu (Jigokudani)
9. Shiraoi (Ainu Village & Museum)
Do-hoku (Northern Hokkaido)
10. Asahikawa (Otokoyama Sake Brewery & Museum)
Daisetsuzan National Park
11. Sounkyo Gorge
12. Mount Kurodake
13. Furano (Farm Tomita)
NB: Backpacking is generally the norm for me, but not in this instance. If you've got backpacking questions, all I can really say is that the attractions or places a visitor might plausibly want to visit are generally quite a distance apart, so its best if you've got lots of time to spend on the road. Also, backpackers may find a travel guide that provides bus numbers and road directions very handy. Unless, of course, you can speak Japanese.
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 Comments for idy about Hokkaido | | | | |
y_lyn Tue Apr 24, 2007 09:28 UTC
Wow... Sakura! Every season gives a different feel! | shikokuzen Fri Aug 25, 2006 09:24 UTC
aaaaahhhhhhhhh sakura!!!!!!!! love cherry blossoms....doing well i hope....... | bpacker Thu Mar 23, 2006 04:17 UTC
Beautiful photos, am considering backpacking here. Did you backpack as well? | maxmtxmix Thu Jan 5, 2006 09:03 UTC
Nice write-up! Was wondering if you did Hokkaido in a tour group or did you backpack or travel on your own? I want to do it either this or next year on my own - wondering if it's possible. Anyway, happy new year! |
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Hokkaido Hotels
- Sapporo Hotels
- Hokkaido Hotels
- Hakodate Harborview Hotel
14-10, Wakamatsucho, Hakodate Hokkaido, 040-0063,, Hokkaido
- Windsor Toya Resort And Spa
336 Shimizu, Hokkaido
- Hakodate Kokusai Hotel
5-10 Otemachi, Hakodate City Hokkaido Japan040-006, Hokkaido
- Hotel Nikko Chitose
4-4 Honcho, Hokkaido
- Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Noboribetsu Onsen Cho 154, Noboribetsu City, Hokk, Hokkaido
- Kushiro Hotels
- Fukushima Hotels
- Fukushima View Hotel
13-73 Ota-machi, Fukushima
- Fukushima Rich Hotel
2-36 Sakae-cho, Fukushima
- Hotel Hamatsu
3-18 Toramarumachi, Fukushima
- Tokyu Inn
9-1 Taira Aza Siragin,Iwaki, FUKUSHIMA, JP, Fukushima
- View Annex Hotel Fukushima
10-10 Nakamachi Koriyama City, Fukushima, Japan, Fukushima
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