Condé Nast TravelerOct 20, 2025
What to Do in Central Hokkaido, Japan's Tranquil Northern Escape
Central Hokkaido deserves a spot on your Japan itinerary—here's where to stay, what to do, and where to eat while you're there.
26 things in this story
- Hotel SoseiHotelMaximalist marvel in a former brewery building
- Kai PorotoHotelLakeside retreat blending minimalism and Ainu design
- ZaborinHotelLuxury ryokan hidden within a birch forest
- ShiguchiHotelExclusive retreat of five restored kominka farmhouses
- New Chitose AirportAirportBy both traffic and land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō.
- Central HokkaidoNeighborhood北海道日本ハムファイターズの新球場、エスコンフィールドHOKKAIDOを擁する北海道ボールパークFビレッジ。様々なパートナーの方々とともに、"北海道のシンボル"となる空間を目指します。…
- Yukari CabinsHotelFamily-run timber-boltholes near Daisetsuzan National Park
- JigokudaniSightGeothermal valley with steaming vents and hot springs
- Noboribetsu OnsenMuseumAncient hot springs fed by geothermal valley
- Lake ToyaSightCaldera lake circled by forest with islets
- Nakajima IslandsSightIslets in Lake Toya, one has a museum and shrine
- Niseko Hanazono ResortPlacePlayground for outdoorsy, nature-based activities in summer
- Shiribetsu RiverSightWhitewater hot-spot for rafting in summer
- Mount YoteiSightMount Yōtei is an active stratovolcano located in Shikotsu-Tōya National Park, Hokkaidō, Japan.
- Hanazono ZipflightPlaceAsia's longest mega-zipline with 1,700-meter line
- Domaine RaisonRestaurantDomaine Raison Location: Higashi 1-sen, Kita 4-go, Nakafurano Town, Sorachi District, Hokkaido, Japan Established...
- Daisetsuzan National ParkTrailJapan's largest and wildest national park
- Mount AsahiTrailSummit hikes available in Daisetsuzan National Park
- Ansei crater walkTrailEasy afternoon hike with valley views
- Ryounkaku bathhouseSightOnsen with hot copper-colored waters and valley views
- Moch-no-RonRestaurantElevated casual haunt in Sapporo for ramen or izakaya
- OtaruNeighborhoodThe city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay.
- MasazushiRestaurantSushi restaurant to taste the day's catch
- Genghis KhanRestaurantFamous mutton barbecue grilled on domed hot plates
- Niseko Takahashi Dairy FarmRestaurantDairy farm with views of Mount Yotei
- Lake Forest MuseumMuseum