Our Hokkaido holidays & tours
Many countries have their version of a northerly wilderness, but Japan’s comes with perfect powder, endangered cranes, and the freshest seafood in the country. Hovering above Honshu, Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost prefecture and its second largest island. Whilst it’s connected to Honshu by underground rail, it feels remote: it’s a land of log cabins in rolling fields, forests, crater lakes and national parks. It is also home to Japan’s indigenous people, the Ainu, who have a history on the island that stretches back 2,000 years. Our Hokkaido holidays keep to small groups, so you can enjoy small, locally-run inns and restaurants, whilst local guides give you the big picture behind every little detail – from Ainu motifs on local crafts, to the name of every wildflower.
Hokkaido tour in Japan
Discover Japan's Northern Most Island and natural beauty
From
US $5000 to US $9500
11 days
ex flights
Hokkaido holiday in Japan
Explore the mountains and tranquil lakes of Northern Japan.
From
£8050
15 days
inc UK flights
Hokkaido winter holiday in Japan, self guided
Vast snow landscapes and wildlife unique to Hokkaido
From
£2085
7 days
ex flights
Japan Guided Tour, Eastern Hokkaido
Explore the untamed wilderness of Hokkaido
From
£3995 to £4205
9 days
ex flights
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Hokkaido holiday highlights
Where to go in Hokkaido
Most holidays start in Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital and main city – which is famous for its eponymous beer. From here it’s not far to Furano and Beie: rural towns in the centre of the island that become alive with lavender fields and other flowers in summer, and a winter wonderland in the snowy months. Heading east, hit Kushiro on the southeast coast for seafood cooked on an open grill, Robatayaki-style, then to Shitsugen National Park nearby, Japan’s largest protected wetland, and famous for its red-crowned cranes. The north coast feels wild: from Abashiri you can take a boat into the Sea of Okhotsk to wildlife-watch among ice floes, then head into the Shiretoko National Park: a spit of wilderness famous for birdlife.
Things to do in Hokkaido
Hokkaido feels very different from other parts of Japan, but it shares other islands’ penchant for onsens – and thanks to its geothermal activity there are plenty of places to enjoy hot spring bathing. Speaking of geothermal activity, you can hike to impressive crater lakes and volcanoes on the island, including taking in the many fumaroles of Mount Iou. For gentler pursuits, you can go wildlife-watching by boat or on foot: there are whales and dolphins in the Sea of Okhotsk, Ezo red foxes and brown bears in Shirekoko. You can get around Hokkaido using your JR Rail Pass, but for even more freedom consider one of our self drive holidays to explore the island in your own time.
Cultural Hokkaido holidays
The Ainu people were Hokkaido’s earliest settlers and came down from Siberia. Their culture was marginalised for centuries in Japan, and today their language is one of the most endangered in the world. On our holidays, you can visit the Ainu Folklore Museum, North People Museum to learn about their history, but also see contemporary crafts, and learn about a nearly-lost cultural heritage. A visit to Ainu Kotan village, home to the last members of this indigenous ethnic group, is a special place to watch a traditional dance performance. Whilst you’re on Hokkaido, look out for artisan work particular to the region, such as textiles made from tree bark, hand-carved wooden trays, and funny Bolta figurines from Muroran, Hokkaido’s ‘city of iron’.
Best time to visit Hokkaido
Head to Hokkaido in summer or winter to see two very different sides to the island. Summer is a cool and refreshing haven compared to the humidity encountered in the rest of Japan at this time of year, and there are beautiful alpine flowers in the mountains, and lavender in the fields. Winter sees Hokkaido turn into a skiing haven – dry Siberian air makes for perfect powder for snowshoeing, and for Sapporo’s famous Snow Festival. On the north coast, winter is a great time to see massive ice floes drifting in the Sea of Okhotsk, and you might see cranes in the wetlands, whooper swans on the lakes, and endangered Steller's sea eagles soaring above in Shiretoko.
Our Hokkaido holidays reviews
4.7
3Hokkaido holidays reviews
Yvonne Lockett19 Jul 2026
Excellent - helped by having a personable and knowledgeable guide who made a big effort to point out the many natural flora and fauna. Quality accommodation, lots of onsen opportunities and superb food.read more
Brenda McNeill20 Aug 2025
Hokkaido was an unexpected joy--we were enchanted by the astounding beauty of the geography and the kindness of everyone we met. The accommodations were fantastic and our guides were outstanding. This holiday completely exceeded our expectations. WOW! A+read more
Antti Laine06 Oct 2023
The route was great, I had wished for some more hiking and more experienced fellow hikers. Itinerary can definitely be optimized, but for a slightly
different experience in Japan, I‘d recommend this trip.read more
