The famous Jigokudani at Noboribetsu Onsen

Hokkaido is one of the four main islands of Japan. Located in the north, it is known as one of Japan's leading tourist destinations, with its many ski resorts being popular among Australian visitors. Other winter attractions include hot springs in the snow and the Sapporo Snow Festival. Hokkaido also produces a rich array of seafood, dairy, and agriculture products.

Images courtesy of Hokkaido Tourism Organization, Alpha Resort Tomamu, JNTO, JALPAK, Kamori Kanko co.,ltd., Niseko Resort Kanko Kyokai

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Hokkaido hot springs
The hot springs of Hokkaido are highly diverse and range from snow-covered springs to outdoor springs with spectacular panoramic views.
Noboribetsu Onsen is one of Japan's best-known hot springs. Home to 11 types of hot-spring water, it is popular because of its high quality. The springs pump 10,000 tonnes of water per day and is thought to be therapeutic. The individual springs differ from each other by their water content, which can contain sulphur, salt, aluminium, magnesium, iron and even acid.
About an hour's drive from Sapporo, Jozankei Onsen is also popular for its therapeutic waters, beautiful view of the nearby forest and its array of traditional Japanese inns. One of the main features, the Yu-no-taki, is a hot waterfall. The saline content in Jozankei Onsen is said to help those with gastro-enteric disorders or rheumatism.

Located at the bottom of Mount Usu along Lake Toya, Toyako Onsen is home to a large number of hot springs and hotels including the Kohan Tei and Gokiraku Tei, which feature open-air baths and spectacular views. At night, visitors can relax in the footbaths just outside the hotels while enjoying the seasonal fireworks display.
The venue for the Tokachigawa Hot Spring Autumn Festival and Swan Festival, the experience of visiting Tokachigawa Onsen is truly fantastic. Visitors can gaze at the swans in the Tokachi River while bathing in the open-air hot springs. The water is coloured light brown by underground vegetation and is said to treat skin ailments and relieve stress.

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Recommended events in Hokkaido 2008

4 - 8 Jun Sapporo - Yosakoi Soran Festival Groups Perform in a style that combines Kochi Prefecture's yosakoi dancing with Hokkaido's soran folk songs.	Late Jan - 17 Feb Chitose - Shikotsuko Hyoto Festival Using ice formulated from the lake, various structures are sculpted, lit up, and displayed. Wedding ceremonies surrounded by ice and fireworks tournaments are some of the events held.
Mid-Jul Toya - Toyako Onsen Yukata Festival Bon-odori (dancing) and a temple fair are held daily for the duration of the festival. Expect a climactic mood following the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit to be held July 7-9.	Late Jan - Early Mar Tokachigawa Onsen - Swan Festival (Sairinka) This event features a fantastic light and sound show, as well as a special winter outdoor experience.
Early Aug Sapporo - Susukiho Festival Featuring mikoshi (portable shrine), a courtesan procession, beer-drinking contest, karaoke competition and wagon sales, the whole district of Susuki plays host during the festival.	arly Feb Noboribetsu Onsen Festival A festival held in honour of the hot spring so it will not dry up, it also prays for fertility and the driving out of evil spirits. There is a hot spring water fight too!
7 Oct Ikeda - Autumn Wine Festival Activities include all-you-can-eat and drink of Tokachi beef and wine, a wine-tasting contest and a Miss Grape-Presser contest.	5 - 11 Feb Sapporo Snow Festival An international event that represents Hokkaido. Some 300 ice sculptures, large and small, are displayed in three venues - Odori Park, Susukino and Sapporo Sato-land.
Mid-Nov - 25 Dec Otaru Long Christmas Glass Christmas trees are displayed, and you can also enjoy a stamp rally and concert. Participating stores have special offers and discounts.	Early Feb - Late Mar Shiretoko - Shari Fantasia A dynamic laser and sound show, 'Aurora Fantasy', is held nightly, filling the winter sky with fantastic colour and aurora lights.
Mid Jan - 1 Apr Abashiri - Drift-ice observation icebreakers The 'Aurora' and 'Aurora 2' are icebreakers that operate between the four courses of the inside bay area, Futatsuiwa, Notorimisaki, and the offshore area.	Early May Asahikawa - Asahiyama Park Night Sakura Festival 2000 cherry blossom trees are lit up, offering night-time sakura scenery. A yosakoi soran dance display and mochi-maki (scattering rice cakes) also feature.
The Sapporo Snow Festival is a nationally renowned Hokkaido event

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World-renowned ski resorts of Hokkaido Niseko
Niseko is a ski-resort town located in Shiribeshi and is highly popular among skiers because of its good snow and massive resorts. In 2003 Niseko saw a large increase in Australian visitors and currently around 5000-6000 Australian tourists travel here every year. Snow falls from weather streams originating in Siberia, which produces a high fall of extremely light powder snow. The four major resorts of Niseko are Moiwa, Annapuri, Higashiyama and Hirafu. Accessing the different resorts is a breeze using high-speed chair lifts and the free shuttle bus.
The Higashiyama resort caters for families, Annapuri is known to have strong winds and the best snow, and Moiwa, the smallest resort, lies west of Annapuri.
Since 2005 Australian investors have been buying ski resorts and their surrounding property, with developers building more than 80 luxury condominiums that cater to Australian tourists. The Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort is one such place. Scenic tours in English can also be enjoyed in Niseko, as well as the Australian-run pub located at the bottom of the slopes.

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Other ski resorts in Hokkaido

	Rusutsu Rusutsu is one of the largest ski resorts in Hokkaido with more than 30 courses from beginner to advanced. It also has an amusement park and golf course. It was the first Japanese ski resort to attain the Best Small Resort award given by the British magazine, The Great Skiing & Snowboarding Guide.
	Furano With over 20 ski courses to choose from, this mountain area has good terrain that spreads over 25 kilometres. It is not as busy as the other resorts and caters well for families. Visitors can dine at various local restaurants.
	Tomamu Tomamu boasts an average snowfall of eight metres, off-piste skiing and 25km of slope. Snowboarding, hot-air ballooning, snowmobiling and dog sledding are some of the other activities that can be enjoyed by tourists.
	Sahoro After touring the resort's 17 trails with the longest track being 3000m, visitors can also enjoy activities such as snowmobile tours, snow rafting, pond-smelt fishing and hot-spring trekking.
	Teine Located near Sapporo, Teine offers 13 courses, the longest being 6000m. With a highest average snowfall of about two metres, Teine easily fits into one of Japan's best skiing locations with modern facilities and good weather.

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More than just a ski resort :Tomamu
Located 150km east of Sapporo, Tomamu Ski Resort lies on the spacious terrain of Mount Tomamu. Equipped with excellent skiing facilities including three types of gondolas and state-of-the-art rental skis, as well as an average powder snow fall of 8m, 25km of ski slopes, and a vertical drop of 680m, the resort caters to skiers of all levels. Tomamu offers off-piste skiing, half-pipe skiing, CAT skiing, and heli-skiing, where you can jump onto the snow out of a helicopter in flight. Tomamu has also recently added more advanced courses and expanded the off-piste area for the expert skier. The slopes are thoroughly maintained twice a day and there are even private slope areas where you can hire your own spot! If you are a bit rusty or not too confident about skiing or snowboarding, lessons are available and once youﾕve mastered the sport take a break at the rest house, which features a variety of eateries as well as a childcare unit. After a long day on the slopes, kick back and relax at one of the three luxury hotels: the Galleria Tower Suite Hotel, which has a jacuzzi and sauna in each room; The Tower, a 36-storey skyscraper and icon of Tomamu; or the Villa Sport, a large yet cosy hotel popular with families. The recommended time to visit Tomamu is from December to April.

Ice Village
Tomamu is more than just a ski resort - it is home to the Ice Village, a collection of igloo-like "snow huts" made from ice and illuminated with lights, giving the whole village a colourful glow throughout midwinter. You can experiment with ice chiselling at the Ice Glass Studio, warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or wine at the Ice Bar or Cafe, spend a night on an ice bed at the Ice Hotel, or even get married at the spectacular Ice Church! The venues themselves, including much of the furniture, are all made from ice.

Polar Village
Here visitors can enjoy an array of activities such as snowshoe nature- watching, dog-sled night cruising, hot-air ballooning, and snow trekking.

Viz Spa House
The Viz Spa House, which is also located at the resort, is a complete 180-degree change from its surrounding winter wonderland. The tropical-themed indoor spa caters well for families and features a jet spa, childrenﾕs pool and activities, as well as an 80m by 30m wave pool that creates artificial waves. Poolside dining is also available where an exotic mix of food and drink is served. Another highlight is the kirin no yu, a highly modern open-air bath that looks onto beautiful views of the snow and forest.

Other activities
Other outdoor activities include snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, para-skiing and back-country tours that allow you to fully embrace the nature of Hokkaido.

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A taste of Hokkaido
Crabs, clams, salmon roe and mackerel are only a fraction of the abundance of fresh seafood that can be found in Hokkaido. Rich in sea life, the Sea of Okhotsk abuts northern Hokkaido and Russia and is considered a 'pot of gold' by local fishermen. Delicacies such as sea urchin and abalone are also plentiful.
Ramen is enjoyed as much as the local catch and depending on which city you go to, the flavour will vary. Sapporo is the home of miso-flavoured ramen, Hakodate favours salt and Asahikawa's favourite is soy sauce. Hokkaido is also widely known for its agricultural and dairy produce. The delicious butter, milk, potatoes, corn and cheeses are favourites all over Japan.

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Four seasons in the great outdoors of Hokkaido
Many Australians visit Hokkaido in winter for its ski resorts, however, the region is also popular for the beautiful scenery of its outdoors that can be enjoyed at any time of year. Visitors are encouraged to rent a car and explore the colourful plants and interesting animals. Driving down the scenic highway known as the Tenhoku Ororon route, visitors can gaze at breathtaking sunsets as well as the marshlands and plateaus of Kushiro shitsugen and Tokachi heiya. Many sightseeing tours are also available.
Hokkaido is well known for its variety of flowers; the vast lavender fields of Furano and Biei have become iconic of the region. The best time to visit is from June to August, when the lavender is in full bloom. Farm Tomita, near Nakafurano, is an excellent spot to see the flowers and also houses a dried-flower exhibition and gift shop selling lavender products such as soap and perfume. The Hill of Zerubu and Hill of Atoms in Biei are home to lavender as well as an array of flowers such as the rose, iris germanica, scarlet sage and French marigold. Other flower farms in Furano and Biei include the Hill of Shikisai and Flower Land Kamifurano.
One of the largest zoos and popular tourist destinations in Japan, Asahiyama Zoo is known for its creative presentation of exhibits that allow visitors to interact with the animals. The zoo is currently constructing an enclosure for wolves, which is due to be completed in late 2008.
Exploring the great outdoors of Hokkaido would not be complete without hot-air ballooning, rafting, and iceberg-watching. Hot-air balloon tours can be enjoyed from December to April in Furano and Tomamu. Rafting season is from April to October on the Sorachi River and most tours accommodate small children so families can enjoy the experience. Drift-ice-watching season is generally from January to March with tours guiding visitors on board a boat or train to reach the best observation spots on the coasts of Monbetsu and Abashiri.

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Other Hotspots

	Hakodate A thriving port located at the southern tip of Hokkaido, Hakodate is an historical city considered to have helped expose Japan to the West - it was one of the few ports that allowed foreign trade in the mid 1800s. Highlights of the area are Mount Hakodate and the annual Hakodate Port Festival held in August.
	Otaru A port town located in western Hokkaido, Otaru is a short drive from Sapporo and has many historical buildings. Tourists can enjoy the clear waters of Ranshima and Sunset Beach, as well as the picturesque sight of the city streets lined with Victorian-style lamps.
	Sapporo The capital city of Hokkaido is a highly popular tourist destination that hosts the annual Sapporo Snow Festival and is home to many historical buildings, shopping venues and seafood outlets. Visitors can enjoy a day trip to the Sapporo Beer Museum and head to Susukino for a taste of its nightlife.
	Shiretoko A UNESCO World-Heritage Site, this northern peninsula is home to the Shiretoko National Park as well as a number of volcanoes and hot springs. Local wildlife is abundant with seals, deer, owls, and brown bears.
	Mashuko Located in eastern Hokkaido, Mashuko is a crater lake that can be found in Akan National Park. The region is scattered with hot springs and is home to a national treasure-marimo, which are rare clusters of algae.

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