For those who wish to enjoy a winter holiday in Hokkaido, we have prepared a recommended 7 Days Hokkaido Winter Itinerary. Here’s our suggested plan to make the most of your trip.
Day 1 Landing CTS, Airport Transfer, Sapporo City Tour
Sapporo Odori Park
Odori Park is the heart of Sapporo and becomes especially magical during winter. The park, which stretches for about 1.5 kilometers through the city center, is beautifully covered in snow and often hosts seasonal events. The most famous is the Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri), held every February, where massive snow and ice sculptures transform the park into a winter wonderland.
During this season, you can enjoy illuminations, food stalls offering Hokkaido specialties, and a festive atmosphere that captures the spirit of winter in Sapporo. It’s a must-visit spot for first-time travelers to Hokkaido in winter.
Tanukikoji Shopping Archade
Tanukikoji Shopping Street is one of Sapporo’s most famous covered arcades, stretching for nearly 1 kilometer with over 200 shops, restaurants, and entertainment spots. In winter, it becomes a cozy escape from the cold and snow outside, allowing visitors to shop and stroll comfortably under its roofed walkway.
Here, you’ll find everything from local souvenirs, traditional snacks, and fashion boutiques to drugstores and duty-free shops, making it a perfect place for both shopping and experiencing local flavors. In the colder months, many visitors enjoy warming up with hot ramen or Hokkaido specialties in the restaurants lining the street.
Moerenuma Park
Moerenuma Park, designed by the world renowned artist Isamu Noguchi, turns into a striking winter landscape when blanketed in snow. The vast park, located on the outskirts of Sapporo, offers unique seasonal activities such as cross-country skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing.
One of the highlights is Mt. Moere, an artificial hill that becomes a popular spot for sledding and provides panoramic views of the snowy cityscape. The park’s geometric designs and art-inspired structures, like the glass pyramid Hidamari, look especially enchanting against the winter backdrop.
It’s a great place for families, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to experience a blend of art, nature, and winter fun in Hokkaido.
Day 2 Asahikawa Furano From Sapporo
Asahiyama Zoo
Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa is one of Japan’s most famous zoos, and winter is the best season to visit. The highlight is the Penguin Walk, where adorable penguins waddle freely through the snow, delighting visitors of all ages. The cold season also allows animals like polar bears, wolves, and snow leopards to be more active in their natural like habitats.
The zoo’s unique enclosures let you observe animals from various angles, such as underwater tunnels for seals and close-up views of polar bears. Covered in snow, the entire zoo feels like a true winter wonderland, making it a must-visit attraction during your Hokkaido winter trip.
Furano Cheese Factory
The Furano Cheese Factory is a fun and delicious stop during winter in Hokkaido. Surrounded by snowy landscapes, this spot lets visitors see how Furano’s famous cheese is made and even try hands on workshops like butter, ice cream, or cheese making.
Inside, you can taste a variety of local dairy products, including unique items like squid ink cheese. The cozy atmosphere is perfect for escaping the cold, while outside, the snow-covered scenery adds to the charm of visiting Furano in winter.
Asahikawa Ramen Village
Asahikawa Ramen Village is the perfect place to warm up during Hokkaido’s cold winter. This famous food spot brings together several of Asahikawa’s most popular ramen shops, each serving their own version of the city’s signature soy sauce-based ramen.
The rich, savory broth and steaming noodles are especially comforting when enjoyed on a snowy winter day. Visitors can try different ramen styles in one location, making it a must visit culinary stop during your winter journey in Asahikawa.
Ningle Terrace
Ningle Terrace, located in Furano, is a charming collection of small log cabins set in a forest, connected by wooden paths. In winter, the entire area is blanketed in snow and beautifully lit up at night, creating a magical, fairytale-like atmosphere.
The cabins house artisan shops selling handmade crafts, candles, and souvenirs perfect for unique gifts. With the snow, soft lights, and forest setting, Ningle Terrace feels cozy and romantic, making it a must-visit winter spot in Furano.
Day 3 Otaru Niseko
Otaru Canal
Otaru Canal is one of Hokkaido’s most romantic winter sights. The historic warehouses lining the canal are beautifully illuminated, while the snow covered paths create a charming, nostalgic atmosphere. During February, the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival makes the scene even more magical with hundreds of lanterns and candles lighting up the night.
A stroll along the canal in winter is the perfect way to experience Otaru’s old-town charm, blending snowy scenery, history, and romance.
Otaru Music Box
The Otaru Music Box Museum is a warm and enchanting escape during the snowy winter season. Inside the historic building, you’ll find thousands of beautifully crafted music boxes, from traditional designs to unique modern creations. Visitors can also join hands on workshops to create their own music box an especially cozy activity on a cold winter day.
With the snow covered streets of Otaru outside and the magical sounds of music boxes inside, this spot offers both charm and nostalgia, making it a must-visit in winter.
Dairy Farm Milk Kobo
Milk Kobo in Niseko is famous for its fresh Hokkaido dairy products, and winter makes the experience even more special. Surrounded by snowy fields and Mt. Yotei in the distance, this spot offers creamy delights such as soft serve ice cream, cheesecakes, custard pudding, and freshly baked pastries, all made from rich local milk.
The warm, cozy café atmosphere contrasts beautifully with the crisp winter scenery outside, making it a perfect stop to relax and enjoy Hokkaido’s finest dairy treats during the cold season.
Day 4 Fullday Niseko
Niseko Village Snow Resort
Niseko Village is one of Hokkaido’s top winter destinations, famous for its world class powder snow. The resort offers a wide range of activities beyond skiing and snowboarding, such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, reindeer sled rides, and even hot springs to relax after a day in the snow.
With stunning views of Mt. Yotei and a variety of slopes for all levels, Niseko Village is the perfect place to enjoy the best of Hokkaido’s winter adventure and scenery.
Day 5 Hakodate
Mount Hakodate
Mount Hakodate is renowned for offering one of the most beautiful night views in Japan, and winter makes it even more breathtaking. The snowcovered city below sparkles with lights, creating a magical contrast against the dark sea and mountains.
Visitors can take the ropeway to the summit, where observation decks provide panoramic views of Hakodate’s winter landscape. The crisp winter air and snowy scenery add an extra charm, making it a must-visit highlight during a Hokkaido winter trip.
Redbrick Warehouse
The historic Red Brick Warehouses in Hakodate become especially charming in winter. Snow blankets the old brick buildings along the bay, while warm lights reflect beautifully on the water, creating a cozy and romantic atmosphere. Inside, the warehouses are filled with shops, cafés, and restaurants where visitors can enjoy local specialties, sweets, and souvenirs.
It’s a perfect spot for a winter stroll by the harbor, combining history, shopping, and scenic beauty in one place.
Hakodate Morning Market Winter
Hakodate Morning Market is a lively spot even in winter, offering the freshest seafood and local specialties. Visitors can enjoy seasonal delicacies like Hokkaido crab, sea urchin, and scallops, or warm up with a steaming bowl of kaisen-don (seafood rice bowl) or hot soup.
The market’s energetic atmosphere, combined with the crisp winter air and snowy surroundings, makes it a must-visit to experience Hakodate’s food culture during the cold season.
Day 6 Lake Toya Noboribetsu
Usuzan Ropeway
The Usuzan Ropeway in Lake Toya offers a breathtaking ride to the summit of Mount Usu, an active volcano with sweeping views of the snow covered landscape. In winter, you can admire the contrast of the white snow blanketing Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan, and the surrounding mountains.
At the top, observation decks provide panoramic views, and on clear days you can even see the Pacific Ocean. The crisp winter air and snowy scenery make the ropeway experience truly unforgettable.
Wakasaimo ( Cafe In Lake Toya )
Wakasaimo is a famous Hokkaido confectionery brand, and its shop near Lake Toya is a delightful stop in winter. Visitors can taste the signature Wakasaimo sweet made to resemble grilled sweet potato but crafted from white bean paste along with other seasonal treats.
The shop’s cozy atmosphere offers a warm break from the cold, while the snowy Lake Toya scenery outside adds to the experience. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy local flavors and pick up souvenirs during a winter visit to Lake Toya.
Noboribetsu Jigokudani Hell Valley
Jigokudani, also known as Hell Valley, is one of Hokkaido’s most dramatic natural sights especially in winter. The snowy landscape contrasts beautifully with the steaming hot springs, sulfurous vents, and bubbling ponds, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.
Winter makes the valley even more mystical, with rising steam blending into the cold air. It’s also the source of Noboribetsu’s famous hot spring resorts, perfect for relaxing after exploring the frosty scenery.
Day 7 Airport Transfer
Please enjoy a traditional Kaiseki-style Japanese breakfast before you and your family depart for Chitose Airport.
The Wisatajepangofficial team will accompany you to the airport.
We look forward to welcoming you again on your next Hokkaido tour!
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