Are you planning a trip to Hokkaido, but wondering where to visit? Here are 5 travel maps that will help you find places to go in Hokkaido at a glance.
Let’s dive in!
Table of content
- Summer festival map
- Winter festival map
- Autumn foliage map
- Sakura (cherry blossom) map
- Road map
Hokkaido Travel Maps
Hokkaido Summer festival Map
Summer is the best time to visit Hokkaido. If you are planning a summer trip, make sure to check out some of the local summer festivals. Most festivals take place in July and August.
They are free to walk in and open to the public. Locals love strolling in a festival with friends and families. You will find many street food stalls, traditional performances and games.
If you like big fireworks, plan your itinerary around the Toyohira River Fireworks Festival in Sapporo and the Senshin Fireworks Festival in Kushiro.
For more details of each festival on the map, read my blog post on 27 local summer festivals in Hokkaido and their schedule.
Hokkaido Winter Festival Map
Hokkaido has many winter festivals across the island, even more unique than summer ones. Most festivals are scheduled from late January to February, when it’s the coldest in Hokkaido. Make sure to visit one or two during your winter trip.
The most popular and biggest winter festival is Sapporo Snow Festival with large-scale snow sculptures, but there are many more fun festivals that are worth the visit.
For example, Sounkyo Icefall Festival features unique ice attractions, like an ice tunnel and an ice bar. Akan Ice Festival takes place on a frozen lake, offering fun winter activities such as ice fishing and snowmobiles.
For more details of each festival on the map, check out the 12 best winter festivals in Hokkaido and their schedules.
Also, I have more winter travel maps that will help your trip planning, including winter view spots and ski resorts. Sign up below to get them right now!
Hokkaido Autumn foliage Map
Hokkaido has a number of beautiful autumn color spots to visit. The foliage season in Hokkaido is from mid-September to late October.
In general, autumn foliage in Hokkaido slowly progresses from the northeast area to the southwest area over the season. If you want to visit multiple places to view the colors, follow this direction in your itinerary.
To help you plan your autumn trip and learn about each spot on the map, here are autumn itineraries and some of the best spots across Hokkaido.
Another helpful resource: I also have a comprehensive list of 40 foliage spots, including Google Map links and peak season estimation. Sign up below and you will receive instant access to the list!
Hokkaido Sakura Map
Are you hoping to catch some sakura (cherry blossom) in Hokkaido? Then aim to visit there from late April to mid-May.
Sakura in Hokkaido blooms from the south to the north, starting from Hakodate. It’s also later than the other parts of Japan, so you can enjoy them somewhere else first, like in Tokyo or Kyoto, and then come to Hokkaido for more Sakura views!
To learn about each spot on the map, check out the 12 best cherry blossom spots in Hokkaido.
Useful Resources
✨Traveling to Eastern Hokkaido? Grab my Eastern Hokkaido Travel Planner
✨Planning a winter trip? Check out my Winter Hokkaido Travel Planner
✨Stuck in your trip planning? Ask for my Local Expert Advice
Hokkaido road map
If you are planning a road trip, it’s good to know where you have access to highways, as they allow you to travel more efficiently with less effort.
In Hokkaido, there are three main highways connected to Sapporo. Other cities are also linked with big local roads that are fairly easy to drive. For navigation, Google Maps works just fine, so make sure to have it handy.
Looking for more tips for driving in Hokkaido? I have put together useful information for international travelers planning to drive. Sign up in the form below to get access to my guide!
THAT’S ALL!
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