7 Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan's Wild North – Be geared to witness the wild and beautiful!

Beautiful and wild Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan, a cold region due to its position at a northern latitude, parallel to Italy and New York. Hokkaido may have temperatures dropping below 20C during the day, hence be sure to carry the right amount of warm clothing based on your period of travel. Irrespective of the season there is plenty to see and do in Hokkaido.

The island is so large it covers nearly a quarter of entire Japan’s surface area. Most visitors love to explore the capital of Hokkaido which is Sapporo, this city is almost 50 km away from the airport in Hokkaido, the Chitose airport. So keep this in mind when you are looking for hotels in Hokkaido Japan. Plan your itinerary in Hokkaido around the hotel you will be using, to make the most of your visit.

Apart from riding by car, public transport in Hokkaido such as buses and trains are reasonably priced and operate to a schedule enabling you to plan your travel. There are overnight buses if you wish to use that option to rest during your journey and arrive fresh to explore a new location. Train journeys provide scenic landscapes as you glide along which is an enchanting experience. If you intend to travel often by public transport, check out the passes which help you save on the charges.

Based on the duration of your visit plan to cover some of the iconic sites and attractions in Hokkaido. In the main city of Sapporo, the Sapporo Clock Tower and Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill are unique features appreciated by guests at Grand Park Otaru, whilst Niseko is famous for her powdery snow offering many hours of pleasure for lovers of winter sports and during the summer offering river rafting. Hakodate on the other hand takes you back in time with its historical buildings whilst at night offering beautiful nightscapes.

In the large prefecture of Hokkaido, each area boasts its distinct cuisine with different variations of ingredients resulting in fascinating and mouthwatering cuisine. From abundant seafood dishes which are very popular to meat, the combinations are awesome with rice bowls, sashimi and even hot pots. Don’t forget to enjoy the gorgeous fruits, especially the melons in Hokkaido.

Hokkaido is famous for festivals happening throughout the year, whether it is spring, summer, winter or autumn. Plan your visit to coincide with one of the festivals to witness the excitement, colour and festivities. Sapporo snow festival, Otaru Ushio Matsuri and many others are worth witnessing.

An array of items can be bought as souvenirs such as lavender-based or mint-based products such as essential oils and cosmetics. confectionary items such as cookies and chocolates and the famous sake from each region of Hokkaido are some of the hot favourites.