Is Hokkaido fun in winter?

Is Hokkaido fun in winter_What are the fun places in Hokkaido in winter

Kushiro: Dancing Snow Cranes

Kushiro is located in the southeast of Hokkaido and is the eastern part of the country The largest city and the largest fishing port in Hokkaido. Although you can eat delicious seafood everywhere in Japan, if you want to taste the freshest and most affordable seafood, you must not miss the local fresh seafood market.

Only the red-crowned crane in Hokkaido is a resident bird and does not migrate.

It is said that the red-crowned cranes that flew from Siberia more than half a century ago are on the verge of extinction due to lack of food in winter. So local farmers voluntarily protected and fed the red-crowned cranes in winter. Thanks to people's generous gifts, the red-crowned cranes not only survived the crisis of extinction and continued to multiply, but also gradually evolved from migratory birds to resident birds, becoming a scenery in Kushiro all year round. This is the real-life story of crane repaying kindness.

1. Check out the Ice Falls Festival

If you’ve ever dreamed of being transported into the scenery from the movie Frozen, then the Sounkyo Music Festival might be the closest you’ll get to it. This icefall show runs from late January to late March and is a winter wonderland of ice sculptures of all shapes and sizes. The highlight of the festival is the spectacular Ice Castle, which is truly a sight to behold! After checking out, head to the nearby Sounkaku Grand Hotel to unwind in the hotel's hot springs and experience a traditional Japanese room.

2. Get lost in the magic of Ningle Terrace

Adjacent to the New Furano Prince Hotel, Ningle Terrace is a charming collection of boutique cottages selling specialty arts and crafts. All buildings and walkways are set in the forest, made of natural wood and decorated with fairy lights. The store is open year-round, but the place is even more magical when it's covered in a layer of fluffy snow. This is hands down my favorite place that I stumbled across while I was in Hokkaido and I really can't recommend it enough!

3. Soak in the hot springs

4. Taste some of Hokkaido’s best products

Among Hokkaido’s specialties, the region is known for its excellent milk famous for its products. For example, Hokkaido cheese pie is popular all over the world. Reminiscent of cheesecake, the dessert tart was delicious in every way. You can also find fresh creamy milk ice cream just about anywhere - no matter what the temperature is outside, people will still eat it! In addition to dairy products, the region is also famous for its melons, potatoes and the famous Hokkaido crab.

5. Go skiing/snowboarding in Furano

Hokkaido is world-famous for its powder skiing, and with the slopes you can see here, you’ll understand why. Although I didn't have the opportunity to go skiing myself, we went to the Furano Ropeway to see the Furano Ski Area and I can confirm that it is one of the most incredible ski areas I have ever seen! The powder is incredible and the views are simply out of this world. There are plenty of other ski resorts around Hokkaido, including Niseko and Rusutsu - you'll really love the options here.

6. Board the Aurora icebreaker

If you want to experience the feeling of traveling through the Arctic, please board the Aurora icebreaker. The cruise departs from the southernmost town of Abashiri in the northern hemisphere and witness the phenomenon of drifting ice! If you're lucky, you can spot seals, marine wildlife, and birds on the ice. Keep in mind that there's no guarantee you'll see anything from the boat - sadly when we were out we didn't see any ice as it had obviously drifted too far!

7. Understand how Sak? is made

Sak? is the most traditional alcoholic drink in Japan. It is a kind of wine made from fermented rice. Since sake is best brewed in cold climates, Hokkaido is a prime location for this production. As a result, you'll find many sake factories in the area, with many local manufacturers focusing on quality over mass production. Visiting a local factory is a great way to learn the true art behind sake making and understand that not all sake is created equal.

8. Take part in snow activities

For those who don’t like skiing or snowboarding, don’t miss out on any winter fun! There are also many ways to enjoy the snow, including snow tubing, sledding, and ice skating. In winter, you can find these activities at Hokkaido's ski resorts, amusement parks (entrance fees), and festivals.

9. Experience the natural beauty of Biei

Located between Asahikawa and Furano is the small town Biei. With its vast fields and rolling hills, this place certainly has no shortage of picturesque landscapes. Some of Biei's most famous attractions include the Blue Pond (pictured above), a patchwork of roads, and the Ken and Mary Tree (a lone tree in the valley that was famous for a Nissan commercial in the 1970s). While these views are most popular in the summer, they still have plenty of charm when covered in snow (and can be enjoyed without tons of tourists)!

10. Try some Hokkaido specialty restaurants

Sushi Yasu Sushi

You cannot come to Japan without eating sushi.

If you're in Abashiri, Sushi Yasu is a traditional sushi restaurant that opened in 1956 and uses high-quality fresh ingredients from the Sea of ??Okhotsk. Some of the specialties at Sushi Yasu include Salmon, Scallops, Hokkigai, Button Shrimp, and Crab Sotoko. If seafood isn't your thing, they also offer a variety of vegetarian dishes such as vegetable tempura and tofu hotpot.

Japanese/Italian Cuisine at Ristorante Foresta Verde

Japanese and Italian cuisine may both be important figures on the world food stage, but I have never seen either. Ristorante Foresta Verde is a perfect start to Italian food with a Japanese twist (which I understand is actually a very popular combination in Japan). Everything is made with fresh, local ingredients, and despite some odd flavor combinations like pasta and cabbage, the food here is actually pretty tasty. The restaurant has a charming atmosphere, with views of Asahikawa's cityscape and the Daisetsuzan Mountains.

Gieber Cuisine in Kumagera

Gieber Cuisine is undoubtedly one of the most unique specialties of the region. This is a game meat restaurant that serves venison hotpot. As a vegetarian, it's definitely not my cup of tea (I just had a tofu hotpot), but I enjoyed it along with everyone else!

Gengis Khan at Tonden Farm Factory Restaurant

Gengis Khan is a Hokkaido specialty that involves cooking your own meat and vegetables on a hot plate and then dipping them in a special sauce after cooking in the sauce.

We tried Gengis Khan at Tonden Farm Factory where they have a buffet where you can choose your own meat/vegetables back to your table and cook it yourself!

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