List of special features related to Hokkaido

Fulfill your desire to fly in the sky with the popular hot air balloon experience in Furano, Hokkaido.

Hello to everyone who is viewing Activity Japan. I'm a total shut-in, so I don't leave the house. But I want to go on a trip somewhere... I was really jealous when I heard that my friend went to Hokkaido, but just imagining it being -15 degrees Celsius makes me shiver. But I want to go somewhere. When I think of activities that can be enjoyed in the winter, I think of things that are quite physically hard, like skiing and snowboarding, but I was looking for something that I wanted to do that wasn't like that, and I found out about the experience of taking an aerial walk in a hot air balloon. It's a much easier way to fulfill your "desire to fly in the sky" than skydiving or paragliding. But with a hot air balloon experience, you're just riding, so I guess the physical sensation is more like floating on a vehicle than flying in the sky. I'm curious to know how much of a floating sensation you can experience.

[Hokkaido, Sapporo] Special feature on activities and leisure activities that can be enjoyed in the vicinity of the "Sapporo Snow Festival 2019" held from January 31st (Thursday) to February 11th (Monday) 《Recommended and popular reservation plans》

The Sapporo Snow Festival, a seasonal winter event in Sapporo, Hokkaido, will be held from January 31st (Thursday) to February 11th (Monday, national holiday) in 2019. This monster event, which boasts over 2.5 million visitors every year, is surely one of the most popular attractions in Japan's winter. Many people are planning a trip to Hokkaido to see this monster event. When it comes to Hokkaido in winter, gourmet tours where you can eat fresh seafood and touring tourist spots such as the Sapporo Clock Tower and Sapporo TV Tower are the norm, but if you're going to Hokkaido, you should definitely try out some leisure activities to enjoy the magnificent natural scenery, as well as craft experiences and Japanese cultural experiences that allow you to experience the local culture. ◎ In fact, during this season, Activity Japan has seen a sharp rise in searches and reservations for experience plans in the Hokkaido area, and many customers enjoy a wide variety of leisure activities every year. Therefore, this time, along with information on the Sapporo Snow Festival 2019, which is about to be held, we will introduce rankings of popular events and plans focusing on the areas that can be accessed on a day trip from Sapporo, such as Jozankei, Otaru, Kiroro, Shakotan, Niseko, Rusutsu, Toya, Noboribetsu, Tomakomai, and Ishikari, Sorachi, Chitose, as well as information on shops offering various courses.

[2018 Activity Popularity Ranking] Outdoor leisure, indoor leisure facilities, craft experiences, Japanese cultural experiences, etc. A summary of the trends across Japan for the 2018 season!

There are only a few days left in 2018♪ Outdoor activities, Japanese culture experiences, craft experience classes, leisure facilities, etc. As one of the largest activity reservation sites in Japan, ACTIVITY JAPAN has introduced many activities and experience plans this year as well↑We hope that by matching users with over 3,000 affiliated partners across Japan and experiencing nature and culture in each region, you can have a more fulfilling time on your trips, drives, dates, and other outings☆On this page, we will announce the "2018 Activity Popularity Ranking" based on all reservation data for 2018↑By ​​looking back at the activity and leisure trends of the 2018 season from standard activities and activities that are rapidly gaining popularity, we hope that it will stimulate your "new curiosity" and help you plan for the upcoming 2019 season◎From Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, Japan, which shows its different faces in each season of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, is sure to still have a lot of "unexperienced" things to do♫Let's encounter new "impressions" through "first experiences" through "play"☆

Want to try "ice fishing for smelt" on your winter trip to Hakodate, Hokkaido? We've found a great deal that will let you enjoy the silvery white world to the fullest!

Last season, I was considering smelt fishing on a dome boat on Lake Yamanaka, but I was unable to experience it halfway through, so this was also a chance for me to get revenge. And what's more, it's something you can only experience in Hokkaido! It's not a dome boat, but "smelt fishing on ice"! I've heard that dome boats are warm, and the larger ones have toilets so you can enjoy fishing comfortably, but when you think of smelt fishing, it's the image that comes to mind from childhood: drilling holes in the frozen lake surface under the cold sky, dropping a fishing line and aiming for your prey. It's something I've never experienced before, so I wanted to give it a try once!

《2018 Latest》Top 10 Recommended Gourmet and Leisure Spots in Shiretoko, Hokkaido

《2018 Latest》Hokkaido/Sapporo Winter Tourism Recommended Gourmet/Leisure Spots BEST 10 Ranking

Even though it's a big city, Sapporo receives 6 meters of snow a year. It's a popular tourist destination with good access from New Chitose Airport. There are plenty of beautiful landscapes and ways to enjoy winter! We've ranked the best tourist spots where you can enjoy a wide range of things in Sapporo in winter, including sightseeing, art, seafood gourmet, hot springs, and night views, as well as tourist spots where you can spend your time comfortably without worrying about the cold. Let's enjoy Sapporo in a way that you can only experience in winter!

Hakodate, Hokkaido. We will introduce information on "Ice Fishing for Smelt" that can be enjoyed by both children and adults!

Wakasagi fishing is a popular activity in Hokkaido, so there are many tours available in various places. The location of the plan introduced this time is Onuma Quasi-National Park, known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Hokkaido. Apparently this park was the setting for the famous song "A Thousand Winds," so you'll just have to sing it with a good voice. Please don't cry in front of my grave. There are three smelt fishing spots near the park: Lake Onuma, Lake Konuma, and Junsai Swamp. It's exciting to experience something you may have seen on TV: drilling a hole in the frozen lake and casting a fishing line with bait through it to fish.

《2019 Latest》Hokkaido / Hakodate Tourism Recommended Gourmet / Leisure Spots Ranking BEST 10

With the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the tourist destination of Hakodate has become even more lively. With plenty to see from spring to winter, it's a place that's always bustling with tourists. Buildings with retro, stylish, exotic exteriors, such as the Old Hakodate Ward Public Hall, which has been designated an Important Cultural Property, are a part of the city. Stylish streets spread out around the bay area. Fresh fish landed in the bay... Take a walk, savor gourmet food, soothe your fatigue in a hot spring... This time, we'll be checking out Hakodate, which has plenty of fun things to do! Let's introduce all the interesting sights at once♪

《2019 Latest》Top 10 gourmet and leisure spots in Furano, Hokkaido

Furano City, also known as the "Heso Town," is located almost in the center of Hokkaido and is famous as a lavender village overlooking Mt. Tokachi. Furano is 150 km away from New Chitose Airport, but you can travel by direct bus or train. Renting a car is recommended as it allows you to travel freely around the area! During the peak season from mid-July to early August, the hills are covered with lavender, and in winter, skiing and snowboarding events are held at Furano Ski Resort, which is crowded with tourists. In addition, the center of Furano City is full of popular tourist spots such as the "From the North Country" Museum, Furano Marche, which has a wide selection of local ingredients, Gokokuzan Furano Temple, the mountains of the Daisetsu Mountain Range, and parks with spectacular views! Here are the top 10 recommended gourmet and leisure spots in Furano!

《2019 Latest Edition》Top 10 Recommended Gourmet and Leisure Spots in Otaru, Hokkaido

Otaru is a port city located northwest of Sapporo facing Ishikari Bay. It is easily accessible, about 30 minutes by express train from Sapporo Station! There are also many tourist spots within walking distance of the station. Due to its ease of transportation, it is a popular tourist destination, famous for its glass crafts, music boxes, and sake breweries. The old warehouse district along the Otaru Canal is a modern streetscape that flourished from the Meiji to Taisho periods. It makes visitors feel nostalgic. Lined with cute retro cafes and modern shops, you're sure to be distracted. On this page, we've picked out and ranked the most popular sightseeing spots in Otaru, from gourmet spots to hidden leisure spots!

A must-see for Sapporo locals. A great plan to rent a kimono and take commemorative photos with a kimono dressing set! Perfect for various events!

The kimono rental and dressing set we are introducing this time allows you to go out in a "komon" kimono, which is a casual and fashionable type of kimono, unlike a tomesode. (You can try on and choose your favorite kimono from a wide variety of over 30 kimonos!) The rental set includes a kimono, obi, nagajuban, underwear, a set of dressing accessories, tabi socks, sandals, and a drawstring bag, so you can come empty-handed. Staff will help you dress, so even kimono beginners can rest assured!

Feel refreshed! Rafting on the cleanest river in Japan at Niseko Shiribetsu River

Niseko's rafting experience involves descending the Shiribetsu River, Japan's purest river, at the foot of Mt. Yotei, in a rubber boat. The actual river rafting time is about an hour and a half, so you can be sure to enjoy the great outdoors at your leisure! A qualified guide will give you a safety talk before the start and provide support during the experience, so you can participate without worrying about your safety. The event is held from late April to late October (elementary school students can participate from June), and there are spring and summer courses. In spring, the water level increases due to melting snow, and in summer, you can enjoy playing in the river. The start and finish points are different in spring and summer, so you can experience the change in scenery depending on the season. *Elementary school students will participate in the summer course.

Make your own glass products, a specialty of Otaru, Hokkaido! We will introduce you to the experience of making glass beads, which are also perfect as souvenirs from Otaru!

This is a glass bead making experience. To be honest, there are facilities where you can experience glass craft all over the country, but I think the place where you experience it will be unforgettable. Also, for a thoughtful souvenir and memories, this "Glass Lights Irodaya" is located in Sakaimachi Shopping Street, which is also a tourist spot in Otaru. It's a great place to stop by while sightseeing!

A very popular spot in Otaru, Hokkaido! Blue Cave Tour

There are famous hidden places called "Blue Grotto" all over the world, but Hokkaido, Japan is! One of the three major tourist spots (Otaru, Shakotan, and Shiriuchi) known for its scenic beauty, the Blue Grotto. This tour boards a sea kayak and departs from the Otaru Canal to cruise the wide blue ocean, the only marine quasi-national park in Hokkaido. The main attraction is the "Blue Grotto", where you can see the beautiful blue color of the sea surface only when various conditions are met. Its charm is not only the wonderful scenery, but also the seabirds and, if you're lucky, you might even encounter dolphins! I heard in the reviews that there are also sea lions. I'd love to see this. It looks impressive. You'll definitely feel like you're on an adventure inside the cave! It's a fulfilling tour guided by a guide. Children will be delighted!

Ride a hot air balloon and experience a panoramic view of Hokkaido's Niseko mountain range!

Hokkaido in summer! Niseko, Abuta-gun! It's cool, the food is delicious, and the air is clean, so it's great to be in touch with nature. It is said to be held in a place in Hokkaido where the rate of hot air balloon tethering experiences is high. Safety first, it will be held depending on the weather on the day. (It will be canceled if it rains or the wind speed is over 3m. It depends on the pilot's judgment.) The event will be held from June to September, so it doesn't seem to be too cold. Reservations can be made for up to 100 people, so it's fine for groups. However, I didn't know the capacity of the balloon, so if you need it, please check with Activity Japan's phone reception. The reservation deadline is during business hours the day before. As for transportation access... Hokkaido, the land of the north. This area is 3 hours by train from Chitose Airport and 2 hours by car. The address of the meeting place listed can be accessed by a 10-minute taxi ride from Niseko Station. (Unfortunately, there is no free shuttle service.) By the way, when I searched, it takes about two and a half hours to get to Niseko Station from Sapporo. Plan according to your schedule. Personally, I think I'll rent a car depending on my schedule after that. If I had a motorcycle, I'd like to go sightseeing on a tour.

Making glass beads in Otaru, Hokkaido! My daughter was thrilled with the sparkly accessories she made herself!

There was a workshop called "Irodoriya" running it, and I highly recommend it! First of all, the building is cool. There are many historic buildings built in the Meiji and Taisho periods in Otaru city, and the building this shop is in was also built in 1907. I'm sure they maintain it, but I'm really impressed by how they've preserved the warmth of the building, with its wooden-framed windows, while still using it carefully. I'm sure it's also good for people looking for something "Instagrammable" (lol).

The feeling of exhilaration is amazing! I want you to know the fun of canyoning! Furano, Hokkaido Edition!

Sorachi River in Furano City, Hokkaido, a somewhat advanced canyoning point. Since it says, ``Participation is open to junior high school students and older, but energetic upper elementary school students are also welcome,'' my tall and active daughter (who is in the lower elementary school grades) might be able to participate. That's what I'm thinking. If your daughter still doesn't want to go canyoning, you can wait a year (lol). There are many places to enjoy in the surrounding area, including fishing spots, scenic spots in Biei, and the popular Tomamu Resort. Hokkaido is huge, and there are plenty of spots and ways to get in touch with nature. The Sorachi River has a wide drainage area, and there may be spots that cannot be found on rivers in Honshu. Even if you can't do it right away, it's a canyoning spot that you definitely want to conquer.

We are considering the spectacular view "Furano Sorachi River canoe experience" as our first choice for Hokkaido activity trip!

This is a canoe cruising tour on the Sorachi River held in Furano, Hokkaido from late April to the end of October. There are also rafting experience tours held on the Sorachi River, which is a popular area for activities, but I chose this because the image of leisurely rowing a canoe while admiring the magnificent scenery of Hokkaido was perfect for my current mood. What's more, the selling point of this plan is that it is a "completely chartered private tour for one tour, one boat, and one group." I feel like it's a little different to have a noisy experience with other customers in such a magnificent scenery (of course, there are times when it's good)