★INTRO
BEFORE READING

Hokkaido Overview
Basic Information on Hokkaido I Japanese Public Holidays I Administrative Districts of Japan and Hokkaido I Comparison of Prices in Hokkaido and Korea I Emergency Contact Information for Hokkaido

Hokkaido's four seasons
Hokkaido Summer and Winter Clothing Tips I: Average Monthly Temperature & Rainfall in Major Cities in Hokkaido

Here! A great place to take a photo of your life.

A schedule of Hokkaido's representative festivals worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

Hokkaido, Let's Go Eat! (feat. Mukbang Map)
Hokkaido's Local Specialty Gourmet I Soft Ice Cream I Hokkaido Local Cuisine I Recommended Drinks I Recommended Snacks

Hokkaido Food Exploration Diary
Sapporo Ramen I Soup Curry I Genghis Khan I Crab Dishes I Kaisendon I Sushi

Hokkaido Shopping Exploration Diary
Drugstores I Duty-Free Benefits & Things to Know When Returning Home I Convenience Stores I Don Quijote I Japanese Beer & Sake
Special Page: Hokkaido's No. 1 Convenience Store, Seicomart

Recommended Hokkaido itinerary
Most popular with Koreans: Sapporo + Otaru 2 nights 3 days, Sapporo + Furano Scenic Spot 2 nights 3 days, Sapporo + Jozankei Onsen + Biei 3 nights 4 days, Sapporo + Hakodate 3 nights 4 days, Sapporo + Otaru + Furano + Biei 4 nights 5 days
A Great Hot Springs Trip with Parents: Noboribetsu and Toya, 3 Nights, 4 Days
Traveling with Kids: Asahikawa + Tokachi 3 Nights, 4 Days
In search of the mystical great outdoors: Kushiro + Akan-Mashu National Park (4 nights, 5 days), Wakkanai + Rishiri Island + Rebun Island (3 nights, 4 days), Sapporo + Abashiri + Shiretoko (4 nights, 5 days)

Hokkaido IN & OUT
Registering for Visit Japan Web I Entering the country I Getting around New Chitose Airport

Transportation in Hokkaido
JR, Highway Bus, Domestic Airline, Travel Times Between Major Cities in Hokkaido, From Reservation to Return! Complete Guide to Hokkaido Rental Car Travel, Top 6 Hokkaido Drive Routes, and 4 Recommended Hokkaido Drive Routes

Currency Exchange & Local Payment Know-How
Exchange Money & Prepare Cash I Credit Cards & Check Cards I Kakao Pay & Naver Pay I Fee-Free Prepaid Check Cards I How to Use ATMs

Japanese version of T-money & electronic money
Transportation IC Cards I IC Cards Available in Hokkaido I Charging & Balance Checking I Refunds

Smartphone data service
eSIM, USIM, Roaming, Pocket Wi-Fi, Useful Free Apps for Travel

Recommended accommodations in Hokkaido

Camping that immerses you in nature

★Sapporo
#Walk Around JR Sapporo Station, the heart of Sapporo travel
What's your first exciting meal for your trip to Japan?
Sweet Relaxation, Hokkaido Sweets
The joy of viewing other people's homes, a lifestyle brand
Japanese souvenirs that will make you feel like you're on vacation
You can even find a bargain here! A super-low-price sundry brand.
I'm so cute! Popular character goods shop
No one can stop you! A shopping paradise for nerds.
#Walk Sapporo Highlight Stamp Collection! Former Hokkaido Government Office Building to Odori Park
Special Page Odori Park is in the middle of a festival!
Picnic Buddy: Snacks Around Odori Park
Go with someone you like~ A cafe with a nice atmosphere
A delicious restaurant next to a delicious restaurant, a great restaurant in front of the former Hokkaido Government Office Building.
#Walk Susukino, the Sapporo of adults
Should I buy it? I already picked it up. Lifestyle Goods & Hobby Shop
See you in Susukino, dessert
Why I'm Searching for Sapporo Flights Without Realizing It: Soup Curry
Sapporo Miso Ramen, the ramen mecca that calls out to ramen enthusiasts
Genghis Khan, delicious lamb with no gamey odor
Prepare your empty stomach and your wallet, crab dishes
A sunset at a travel destination with a cool drink
A sweet end to a Sapporo night: Shime Parfait
#Walk Sapporo Old & New, Sosegawa East
A list of hidden restaurants nearby
Special Page Nakajima Park, Sapporo's oldest urban park
#Walk The joy of walking on campus, Hokkaido University
Special Page: A Sapporo Travel Essential! Sapporo Beer Tour
#Walk west along Odori Park's charming streets! Odori West
#Walk leisurely, quietly, Maruyama
Special Page Take a Closer Look at Maruyama Zoo!
#Walk A Pilgrimage to Maruyama Sweets & Gourmet Spots in Our Neighborhood
Special Page: Sapporo's Surprising Charm Seen from a Different Perspective
#Train A little further, a themed trip with family and friends
#WALK A quiet half-day stroll around Shin-Sapporo Station, exploring hot springs and museums.
Hokkaido Reporter's Diary

★Jozankei Hot Springs
#Bus+Walk A day trip to Jozankei Onsen!
Special Page: The Peak of Autumn Foliage Viewing, Hoheikyo Dam

★New Chitose Airport
#Train+Walk New Chitose Airport, perhaps more fun than a tourist attraction
The smell of delicious food wafts through the air~ New Chitose Airport's best restaurants
A taste of Hokkaido you'll want to take home with you: airport souvenirs
Hokkaido Reporter's Diary
Special Page Enjoying the Winter Sports Kingdom, Skiing & Snowboarding

★Otaru
#Walk Everything you've been waiting for in Otaru! JR Minami-Otaru Station to Otaru Canal
Special Page Enjoy Otaru Canal 200 Times More!
Is this heaven, Otaru Music Box?
It's so sparkly and dazzling~ Otaru Glass Crafts
Otaru = LeTAO, the city of LeTAO
The lingering effects of "Mr. Sushi King" and sushi
Mukbang Live ON! Street Snacks
#Walk Step by step, getting closer to the canal, JR Otaru Station ~ Otaru Canal
Made in Otaru, delicious noodle dishes
Special Page How about this Otaru?

★Yoichi & Shakotan
#Drive Enjoy the flavor of whiskey and head to the pristine blue sea!

★Lake Shikotsu
#Drive+Walk The pinnacle of Hokkaido healing travel, Lake Shikotsu Onsen Village

★Noboribetsu & Toya
#Walk A leisurely stroll through Hell Valley
Small snacks from Noboribetsu Onsen town
Special Page: Curious? Curious! Japanese Hot Springs
#Drive Like 〈Happy Happy Bread〉, find the happy spot in Toya!
#Drive The base camp for your Toya trip, Lake Toya Onsen Village

★Hakodate
#Walk The romance of a port embroidered with red bricks,
JR Hakodate Station - Bay Area
The market responsible for Hakodate's vitality!
B-class gourmet and izakaya loved by Hakodate residents
#Walk Motomachi Hill Road: Double the Beauty Day and Night
#Walk Hakodate's Daily Highlights: Motomachi Park & ​​Architecture
A small shop in Motomachi loved by locals
First encounter with Hakodate artists, Made in Hakodate
#Walk Hakodateyama overlooking the sparkling sea of ​​lights
Special Page Menus Are More Than Just Weapons! What Makes Hakodate's Cafes So Special
#Walk Pink cherry blossoms rain down in May, Goryokaku
#Walk Want to enjoy some refreshing fun while gazing at the ocean? Yunokawa Onsen
Special Page A Sweet Walk Through the Convent: Our Lady of the Angels Trappistine Monastery

★Onuma Park
#Train+Walk Onuma Park: A relaxing retreat with a lake, bicycles, and a relaxing retreat

★Asahikawa & Biei & Furano
#Walk Around Asahikawa Station, the gateway to Biei and Furano
Transferring is not enough! Shoyu Ramen Tour around Asahikawa Station
#Bus+Walk A must-see for both children and adults! The miraculous Asahiyama Zoo
#Bus+Walk Ueno Farm, the birthplace of Hokkaido gardens
#Drive along National Route 237 to completely conquer the flower fields of Furano and Biei
#Drive Take in the breathtaking scenery of Biei with your own eyes! Patchwork Road
#Drive A thrilling uphill road, Panoramic Road
#Drive Route 966 Don't miss the spectacular views! Shirogane
#Walk The background of the 'Furano Trilogy' where fairies will appear
Healthy omelet curry made with Furano ingredients
Freshness is my thing! Milk, pudding, cheese, and bakery.
Locals' Favorites: Biei and Furano Restaurants
#Walk A luxurious resort at the foot of Mount Tomamu, full of fun in both summer and winter.
Special Page: Hokkaido Wineries: Scenes from Movies That Excite Wine Enthusiasts

★Tokachi & Obihiro
#Walk The joys of traveling to small Japanese cities, around Obihiro Station
Obihiro's original specialty, butadon
#Walk 20,000 Won of Happiness: A Pilgrimage to Obihiro Sweets
#Drive Obihiro~Tokachi Garden Road, completely conquered by rental car!
Hokkaido Reporter's Diary

★Kushiro & Akan-Mashu National Park
#Walk Around Kushiro Station, the gateway to eastern Hokkaido
A journey of 30,000 miles in search of delicious restaurants, Kushiro's famous restaurants
#Train A day trip to the Eastern Wetlands on the Norokko Train
#Bus A day exploring the Western Wetlands on the Akan Bus
#Drive Drive into a Mysterious World! Akan National Park
#Walk A 2-day, 1-night healing trip to Akan Lake Hot Springs Village

★Abashiri & Shiretoko
#Bus Take the Meguri bus and go around Abashiri!
#Bus+Walk 2 days and 1 night in Shiretoko, a pristine area and a World Natural Heritage site!
#Drive Take a rental car and drive around Abashiri and Shiretoko!
Special Page A Mysterious Piece of Nature, Drift Ice

★Wakkanai & Rishiri Island & Rebun Island
#Drive 2 days and 1 night in Wakkanai, the southernmost village overlooking Sakhalin!
#Bus+Walk A day trip to Rishiri Island, where the wind blows
Special Page: Foods to Try on Rishiri Island
#Bus+Walk A day trip to Rebun Island, a small and pretty island of flowers.

★Index

★Mapbook (separate appendix)
Hokkaido evangelism
Travel times by train, bus, and car between major cities in Hokkaido
1) Sapporo Metropolitan Area
2) Sapporo city center
Sapporo Subway Map
Sapporo tram route map
3) Around Sapporo Station
4) Odori Park & ​​Susukino
5) Susukino center
6) Jozankei Onsen
7) Otaru city center
8) Otaru Metropolitan Area
9) Yoichi & Shakotan
10) Noboribetsu Hot Springs
11) Noboribetsu
12) Toya
13) Hakodate Metropolitan Area
14) Hakodate city center
Hakodate Tram Route Map
15) Yunokawa Onsen
16) Onuma Park
17) Around Onuma Koen Station
18) Asahikawa, Furano, and Biei
19) Around Asahikawa Station
20) Patchwork Road & Panorama Road
21) Furano
22) Around Obihiro Station
23) Tokachi & Obihiro
24) Kushiro & Akan-Mashu National Park
25) Around Kushiro Station
26) Akan Lake Hot Springs Village
27) Abashiri & Shiretoko
28) Abashiri
29) Utoro Hot Springs Village
30) Wakkanai & Rishiri Island & Rebun Island
31) Around Wakkanai Station

★ Adding depth to your travels - The standard for top-tier guidebooks with the most information

"This Is Hokkaido" is the most comprehensive guidebook on Hokkaido available, yet its clear structure makes it highly useful in practical situations.
The travel route between tourist attractions, recommended itinerary, and transportation information are efficiently organized to fit the flow of the trip, so even novice travelers can follow along without difficulty.
It offers a balanced selection of information to suit a variety of travel styles, from bustling city trips like Sapporo to leisurely strolls and small-town itineraries. It's perfect for those who want to go beyond simple travel and delve deeper into their experience.

★ 25 years of expertise from a travel publishing company, you can see the route the moment you read it.

The author has arranged the recommended attractions in the most efficient order by calculating the actual distance, flow, and time required, and the restaurant and shopping information has been organized around regional themes to naturally highlight the atmosphere and characteristics of the region.
This delicate and intuitive composition, perfectly tailored to the traveler's perspective, is why many readers consider the "This Is" series to be the "easiest guidebook to understand."
In particular, the Hokkaido section is filled with emotional maps and illustrations drawn by the author himself, as well as vivid information gleaned from the field, making it easy for anyone to follow along from planning to travel.

★ 27 cities and healing travel destinations with different charms and unique personalities at a glance!

Hokkaido, which covers four-fifths of the area of ​​South Korea, offers a variety of travel styles as well as its vast land.
This book covers a wide range of 22 places, including the five popular areas of Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate, Biei, and Furano, as well as unique areas and nearby attractions such as Noboribetsu, Toya, Asahikawa, Kushiro, Abashiri, Shiretoko, Obihiro, Wakkanai, Rishiri Island, and Rebun Island.
From strolling through hot spring towns, taking train rides, renting a car, and even journeys where the scenery itself is healing, like those on Rishiri Island or Lake Akan, there are options to satisfy both first-timers and those seeking a new route.

★ Travel influencer Saltmon's practical experience + cute illustrations

Saltmon, a travel writer and influencer sought after by SNS followers, shares her travel stories of what she saw, ate, and felt firsthand, filled with honest and vivid information that can only be obtained on-site.
It answers travelers' questions, such as when is the best time to go, where and when is the best time to take photos, and provides only the necessary information in a concise manner, making it a practical help in planning your itinerary.
The cute and warm emotional illustrations added here further increase the excitement before the trip.
For travelers who want to take in both information and emotion, there is no more reliable guide than this.

★ 245 restaurants, menus, prices, reservation tips, everything organized

From soup curry, Sapporo ramen, sushi, Jingisukan, seafood rice bowls, crab dishes, to desserts, cafes, bakeries, and bars, we introduce 245 restaurants from a traveler's perspective.
Not only does this Hokkaido guidebook include the most restaurants, it also stands out for its realistic explanations that clearly explain why each restaurant is recommended.
It's packed with practical information you can use right away, including tips on menu selection, ordering tips, and reservations. It even includes prices for representative menu items, making it a practical aid in budget planning.
We didn't miss out on small but useful information, such as recommended snacks from Seicomart, convenience stores, and supermarkets.

★ A complete guide to Hokkaido-exclusive shopping items! Even airport duty-free deals!

It provides answers to the questions that travelers most wonder about: "What should I buy and where should I buy it?"
It contains all the representative shopping spots of major cities such as Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate, Asahikawa, and Obihiro, as well as regional specialty items, music boxes, glass crafts, and sentimental stationery, Hokkaido-made sweets, cheese, and alcohol, and even popular Don Quijote items.
We provide detailed information on locations, business hours, recommended items, and store features to help you shop effectively for gifts and even for yourself. We also suggest a shopping list for airport duty-free shops.

★ When planning your itinerary feels overwhelming? 16 recommended courses, each themed.

We have a variety of itineraries, from popular courses like 2 nights and 3 days in Sapporo and Otaru, 3 nights and 4 days in Sapporo + Hakodate, and 4 nights and 5 days in Sapporo + Biei + Furano, to hot spring trips to Noboribetsu and Toya, family trips with children, a trip around the eastern part of Japan during the drift ice season, and scenic drives connecting Kushiro, Wakkanai, Rebun Island, and Rishiri Island.
The rental car schedule realistically reflects the travel time between major transit points, daily driving distance, and route flow, thereby enhancing the completeness of the itinerary.
If you just follow the recommended itinerary in this book, your Hokkaido trip will be complete in no time.

★ Unrivaled transportation information, from JR, buses, rental cars, and even flights

This book's transportation section, which concisely and easily explains the complex transportation system in Hokkaido, is a key element that has particularly high reader satisfaction. QR codes allow readers to instantly check intercity and highway bus schedules, and intuitive illustrations illustrate travel times and efficient routes for each mode of transportation, making it quick and easy to understand and utilize.
Thanks to the friendly structure that selects only the essential information and accurately points out the key points, planning your route in the vast Hokkaido becomes much easier.

★ Practical information for smart travel, just look at this!

How do I exchange currency? Can I reduce fees? Which card is convenient and affordable? This book provides clear answers to the most common, practical questions travelers ask before departure, with up-to-date information as of 2025.
We've compiled the essentials, including practical tips for fee-free travel cards, how to use mobile pay and IC cards, currency exchange tips, ATM usage, and tips for choosing eSIM, USIM, roaming, and pocket Wi-Fi.
Emergency contact information and simple Japanese expressions are also included, so you can respond smartly even when you are in the local area.
This is why actual readers say, “This is a book you absolutely have to read, like a checklist before leaving the country.”

★ From emotionally illustrated maps to ultra-precise map books, just one map is enough to provide peace of mind.

From emotional illustrations to practical detailed maps, intercity timetables, and recommended route maps, this book is packed with maps tailored to the traveler's level.
In particular, the emotional maps that sensually express the local atmosphere and routes with illustrations drawn by the author himself are the signature of “This Is Hokkaido.”
The detailed map based on actual measurements stands out for its accuracy and detail, and the separate map book, which includes the Sapporo-Hakodate route map, is convenient for viewing on-site.
The map that makes you want to have it as you turn the pages, and the structure that allows you to see the path and read the flow are the unique charms of this book.