Hokkaido carries Sapporo's Snow Festival ice sculptures, Niseko's Japan-leading powder skiing on Mount Yotei, the Furano lavender fields, and the Shiretoko UNESCO peninsula's brown bears and drift-ice cruises.
Highlights
Sapporo
Niseko
Furano
Shiretoko
When to Visit
Dec-Mar
Powder season with Niseko receiving 15m of snowfall yearly, Sapporo Snow Festival the first week of February, and drift-ice cruises from Abashiri February-March.
Jul-Aug
Furano lavender fields at peak in mid-July, Hokkaido's cool 22°C provides relief from the Honshu summer, and Shiretoko brown-bear watching at peak.
Sep-Oct
Daisetsuzan autumn colour the country's earliest, peaking late September, Hokkaido new-rice harvest, and the Sapporo Autumn Fest in Odori Park.
Apr-May
Cherry blossoms reach Hokkaido a month after Tokyo, blooming in early May at Goryokaku Fort in Hakodate and Matsumae Castle, and the season's last sakura.
Best time to travel — world map
Explore the best months to travel around the world based on weather, temperature, and travel conditions.
Best time to visit Europe
Explore the best months to travel across Europe based on weather, temperature, and travel conditions.
Best time to visit Asia
Discover when to travel across Asia, from Southeast Asia to East Asia, based on climate and weather patterns.
Best time to visit Italy
Plan your trip to Italy with monthly insights on temperature, rainfall, and travel conditions.
