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Hokkaido
With its rolling hills, wide open spaces, lakes, rivers and nature reserves, Hokkaido is a haven for wildlife and natural scenery.
Whether you're visiting in the middle of summer for walking and hiking, or in the depths of winter to see the breathtaking ice floes and the huge sea eagles that make this rugged landscape their own, Hokkaido offers those who make the journey north a unique experience of Japan.
Sapporo, the island's capital, is a cosmopolitan city of two million residents, with a vibrant cultural and economic life and of course, delicious local dishes of the best locally caught seafood, Hokkaido cheeses and the famous Genghis Khan lamb barbecue.
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Rugged and remote, in Hokkaido you really get a sense of being somewhere completely different - it doesn't even feel like Japan, until you come across a roadside vending machine to remind you that you're still in civilisation!
Tom Weston - Sales Director -
Asahikawa
Asahikawa is Hokkaido's second-largest city and sits in the middle of Japan's northern island. Home to 350 thousand people, this is a very pleasant little city set against the stunning background of the mountains and forests of Daisetsu-zan National Park.
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Abashiri
Abashiri, the largest town on the Okhostk Coast of northeastern Hokkaido, is predominantly a fishing town. As well as an abundance of fresh seafood available throughout the year, it is also blessed with natural beauty such as flower gardens and lakes - as well as dramatic ice floes in winter.
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Rausu
The Shiretoko Peninsula sticks out like an angry finger into the icy waters of the Sea of Okhotsk. But what exactly is it pointing at? Perhaps at Russia, who has occupied the nearby Kuril Islands, also claimed by Japan, since World War 2.
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Lake Shikotsu
Lake Shikotsu is Japan's second-deepest lake at over 360 metres; and is surrounded on all sides by high mountain peaks, which provide some great hiking opportunities, in turn providing fantastic panoramic views over the lake.
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Noboribetsu
The most popular hot spring resort in Hokkaido, Noboribetsu Onsen is nestled amongst the lush green mountain slopes and contrasting volcanic landscapes of the Toya-ko national park.
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Hakodate
Situated in the far south-west corner of Hokkaido island, Hakodate is the laidback gateway to the far north of Japan. As one of the first ports in Japan to open up to foreign traders, the city has a unique notable influence from overseas and a distinctive blend of Japanese and Western architecture.
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Toya Onsen
Toya Onsen, located in southwest Hokkaido, is a popular getaway for Japanese urbanites - offering hiking, fishing, watersports and hot spring baths in a beautiful lakeside setting surrounded by mountains.
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Niseko
An amazing location for outdoor exploration in summer and a fantastic skiing destination in winter; powder hunters from all over the world flock to Niseko in search of spectacular deep powder, off-piste runs and challenging terrain.
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Sapporo
Renowned for its snow festival and summer beer gardens, its relaxed atmosphere, green parks, and tree-lined boulevards, Sapporo is a modern Japanese city quite unlike any other.
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Tsurui
Tsurui is a tiny village located around 30minutes by car from Kushiro Airport. This is very much remote Japan yet every year thousands of visitors head here to see one of the world's rarest birds, the red-crowned crane, which has its breeding grounds in close to the village.
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Biei
Biei is the name of a small town, but it is the rural scenery that surrounds the town that gives it its fame. In contrast to the flat plains of rice fields and steep mountain ranges that cover much of Japan, Biei is surrounding by fields and rolling hills.
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Kushiro
Kushiro is the largest city in Eastern Hokkaido and is home to Japan's largest marshland - making it a popular stop for birdwatchers who come in search of the Japanese crane and other species.
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