Enjoyable no matter how many times you go! A list of things to do in Hokkaido from people who love to travel

JALPAK Hokkaido Area Manager's To-Do List

JALPAK Co., Ltd. Domestic Planning Product Division 1 Domestic Dynamic Package Group AM

20 years of experience working at a travel agency (15 years in charge of international travel, 5 years in domestic travel)
Our annual family trip is always to Hokkaido, but recently my family has been saying they want to go to Okinawa.
This is a list of things to do in Hokkaido in the summer, but we also recommend some activities that can only be experienced in Hokkaido in the winter!

AM from JALPAK was in charge of the Hokkaido area five years ago and became fascinated by the area's rich nature and food. As part of his job, he sells travel products to a wide range of people, and he said that the area is enjoyable for both active and relaxed travelers.

Whale, dolphin and bird watching in Shiretoko (Rausu)

Shiretoko, a well-known World Heritage Site, is a place where you can encounter precious animals that live in the abundant nature.

Shiretoko is known for its brown bears, but in fact, in the Rausu area, you can see dolphins and sperm whales up close from spring to summer! If you're lucky, you might even see a killer whale! Did you know that you have a chance to meet a wild killer whale in Japan? Of course, since they're wild, you might not be able to see them, but you'll definitely want to keep coming back until you do!

You can enjoy whale, dolphin and bird watching on the Shiretoko Nature Cruise. The animals spew steam and make a spectacular display. In the background, the majestic Shiretoko mountain range and the Northern Territories' Kunashiri Island on the opposite shore blend together in a truly spectacular sight! If you come to Hokkaido, you can't miss the animal-hunting cruise in Rausu, where you can have chance encounters in nature.

Shiretoko Nature Cruise

Make your skin smooth in the rare spring waters of Tokachigawa Onsen

Of the many hot springs in Hokkaido, my recommendation is Tokachigawa Onsen in Otofuke Town. This is a rare moor hot spring (hot water containing a lot of organic matter from plants that have accumulated over a long period of time, such as reeds) which is rare even in Japan.

I've visited many hot springs all over Japan, but this one may be the best in terms of the viscous water! Every time I bathe, I feel like my skin becomes smooth and supple! After the hot spring, I can enjoy delicious gourmet food made with ingredients grown in the fertile Tokachi Plain!

Tokachigawa Onsen is about 40 minutes by bus or car from Tokachi Obihiro Airport. There are many hot springs in Hokkaido, but this one has a rare spring quality compared to typical mineral hot springs, and is so precious that it was selected as a Hokkaido Heritage Site in 2004. If you are visiting Hokkaido on a trip to treat yourself, why not give your mind and body plenty of nourishment here at Tokachigawa Onsen?

Tokachigawa Onsen

Hotel Lover Influencer Bucket List

Konomi-san

A genuine hotel lover and content creator who travels around hotels all over Japan. Her love of hotels has led her to promote various hotels as a brand manager and ambassador for HOTEL SHE. She is skilled in planning and content creation that matches the brand's worldview, managing social media, and taking photos.
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Konomi used to live in Hokkaido, and even now she loves Hokkaido and travels there regularly. "When you think of Hokkaido, you think of nature!" she said, and the list she gave us was all about being one with nature.

Enjoy a drive and cafe time at the largest public ranch in Japan

Naitai Highland Farm is the largest public farm in Japan, covering an area of about 1,700 hectares (358 Tokyo Domes). On the 7km road that runs from the entrance gate to an altitude of 800m, you will be greeted by a spectacular view that will make you think, "Are you in New Zealand!?"

About 2,000 cows from inside and outside the town are grazing on the ranch, and as far as the eye can see, there are cows! Greenery! Cows! You'll surely be surprised and think, "A landscape like this really exists..."! Haha

At the top, there is a terrace with a full-length glass window that overlooks the ranch, where you can enjoy gourmet food unique to Hokkaido, such as fresh soft serve ice cream, hamburgers, fries, and coffee! It's a place you definitely want to visit at least once!

It's about an hour and a half's drive from Tokachi Obihiro Airport. "Naitai" means "deep valley" in Ainu. It's a driving road with a spectacular view, but also has the idyllic scenery of cows leisurely grazing, making it the best spot in Tokachi, full of "This is Hokkaido!" scenery. Why not rent a car and enjoy the clear Hokkaido air?

Naitai Plateau Farm/Naitai Terrace

Stay at "Earth" in the midst of 180,000m2 of nature

MEMU EARTH HOTEL is a hotel built on a magnificent 189,000m2 plot of land. This site used to be a ranch for raising race horses, and with the concept of "staying on Earth and learning from the local climate," you can enjoy the pristine nature of Tokachi!

All of the buildings on display here, including experimental houses designed by Japan's leading architects such as Kengo Kuma and Toyo Ito, and the winning entry of the International University Architectural Competition, were built on the theme of "coexistence with Hokkaido's natural environment."

In this globally rare "Mecca of architecture," experiences like enjoying fresh Tokachi vegetables and meat, gazing at the moon and stars through a telescope, horseback riding, and mountain biking to the sea are sure to create unforgettable memories...!

MEMU EARTH HOTEL opened in November 2018. It offers rooms with various concepts, referred to as experimental houses, such as a "modern Ainu house" and a "house that presents a new form of coexistence between horses and humans." The hotel gives you the opportunity to think about the land and yourself, and it offers not only a comfortable stay but also a travel experience that is one step above. Experience for yourself what it means to "stay on Earth."

MEMU EARTH HOTEL

A bucket list for a travel writer who loves activities

Kaoru Togo

A travel writer who stays in resort hotels and luxury hotels both in Japan and abroad. She is often asked by local governments to create model itineraries.
I love beach resorts, but I love mountain resorts even more! I absolutely adore Hokkaido in early summer, and every June is my Hokkaido promotion month.
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Kaoru Togo, a luxury hotel writer, is the type of person who likes to actively enjoy activities when traveling, and he recommended experiences that can be had near the water in Hokkaido.

Morning canoeing on the mirror-like Lake Toya

A must-try experience at Lake Toya is canoeing on the quiet lake surface in the early morning. There are few tourists participating in this activity early in the morning, so if you're lucky, you'll have the empty Lake Toya all to yourself! All you can hear are the birds singing and the sound of the paddle hitting the water's surface. If there's no wind, the mirror-like Lake Toya and the mystical view of Nakajima floating on the lake's surface will spread out before your eyes.

Depending on the season, water level, and weather conditions, there are also spots where you can take mysterious photos that make it seem as if you are standing on the lake surface. Because this is a landscape that is left to nature, the impression you get when you encounter it is exceptional!

Lake Toya, with its impressive floating island in the middle of the lake, was formed when water accumulated in a caldera created by an eruption about 110,000 years ago. It is famous as a tourist spot, but few people know what Lake Toya looks like in the morning. The beautiful view of the morning sun reflecting on the lake's surface is definitely worth getting up early to see.

Toya Toy Box

Watch wild seals in Notsuke Bay

In Betsukai Town, Hokkaido, there are other nature experiences worth checking out besides Todowara and waterfowl watching. From around June, wild spotted seals can be seen in Notsuke Bay. At low tide, you can see the adorable spotted seals relaxing in a shrimp pose in the shallows of the eelgrass! From August, spotted seals will also be joining the group.

This easy 1-hour cruise allows you to experience the richness of Hokkaido's nature, so it's a must-try!

Notsuke Peninsula in Betsukai Town, located between the Shiretoko Peninsula and the Nemuro Peninsula, is a Ramsar Convention registered wetland and known as a habitat for waterfowl. This land is known as the "cradle of living things," so you can feel the real breath of wild seals. Why not add this to your bucket list as an experience unique to Hokkaido?

Betsukai Town Sightseeing Boat

Even if you've been to Hokkaido many times, you may have discovered new charms of Hokkaido through the bucket list of travel lovers. If you want to try something different on your next trip to Hokkaido, be sure to use this bucket list as a reference when planning your trip! I'm sure you'll enjoy a new trip to Hokkaido.