If you are planning a trip to Hokkaido, you might have realized how big Hokkaido is and how many attractive destinations are there. Feeling lost about where to start?

Don’t worry — I’m here to guide you with my 7 travel destination maps.

I know how tricky it can be to plan, from my experience in traveling across Hokkaido for over 20 years and helping travelers plan their Hokkaido itineraries.

That’s why I designed these maps easy for you to see Hokkaido’s best spots at a glance.

Let’s find the best destinations for you!

Table of content

Hokkaido regional map
Onsen (hot spring) map
Summer festival map
Winter festival map
Autumn foliage map
Sakura (cherry blossom) map
Road map

Hokkaido Regional Map

Hokkaido is divided into 4 regions — the central, northern, eastern and southern regions. Each area has a different charm, so I’d recommend exploring at least two regions if your schedule allows.

Eastern Hokkaido: A beautiful nature-rich region (and my hometown!). It’s a perfect destination for outdoor lovers in both summer and winter. (5-7 days to spend)
Central Hokkaido: A well-connected area that’s easy to get around for Hokkaido first-timers. You’ll have a good mixture of destinations from the big city Sapporo to the famous onsen (hot spring) town Noboribetsu. (4-5 days to spend)
Northern Hokkaido: The most touristy area of Hokkaido with Furano and Biei offering many photogenic spots and flower fields. (3-4 days to spend)
Southern Hokkaido: Hakodate is a historical port town as a gateway to Hokkaido. If you are traveling from Tokyo to Hokkaido, you can take Shinkansen the bullet train to Hakodate. (2-3 days to spend)

If you want to know more about each destination, check out my complete guide to where to visit in Hokkaido.

Onsen (hot spring) map

Hokkaido is a paradise for onsen lovers! Wherever you go, there’s a good chance that you’ll find a hot spring nearby. There are many onsen destinations across the island, especially in Eastern Hokkaido.

If you are looking for an authentic onsen experience, I recommend booking a night at one of the onsen ryokans (the Japanese traditional style inns).

To learn more about each destination on the map and hotel recommendations, check out my ultimate onsen guide where I dive into the culture and etiquette of onsen as well.

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!

Hope you get some new trip ideas from my maps! If you like this article, join my Hokkaido Travel Newsletter to receive more tips & local news exclusive to my subscribers!