Blessed with its vast land and abundant nature, Hokkaido offers beautiful scenery in each of the four seasons. Magnificent mountains, crystal clear lakes, expansive grasslands, and forests teeming with diverse wildlife are just a few of the natural attractions. Let’s relax and have a wonderful time of refreshment at Hokkaido’s nature-rich spots to relieve your daily fatigue.
Daisetsuzan National Park （大雪山国立公園）
Daisetsuzan National Park is the largest national park in Japan, located in the center of Hokkaido. It offers beautiful scenery that seems to condense the charm of Hokkaido. From the Asahidake ropeway, visitors can view a series of 2,000-meter-high mountains. There are many hot springs scattered throughout the park, so after a day of climbing or strolling, why not relax your tired body in one of the hot springs?
Farm Tomita（ファーム富田）
Farm Tomita, famous for its lavender fields, is a sightseeing farm located in Furano Town. The best time to see the lavenders is usually around July, when the entire slope is covered with purple lavenders, a very beautiful sight.
In addition to lavender, there are many other types of flower gardens in the spacious park, where you can enjoy colorful seasonal flowers. There are also a variety of cafes and stores, making this a spot where visitors are likely to forget about time and linger for a long time.
Lake Shikotsu（支笏湖）
Lake Shikotsu is known as one of the clearest lakes in Japan. There are campgrounds and places for bird watching in the surrounding area, making it a spot where visitors can get in touch with nature. Hot spring facilities are scattered nearby, and visitors can soak in hot springs while enjoying the view of the lake.
Hokuryu Town Sunflower Village（北竜町ひまわりの里）
Hokuryu Town Sunflower Village is the largest sunflower field in Japan, with approximately 2 million sunflowers in bloom. It is also popular as an Instagram-worthy spot, attracting many tourists every day.
The best time to see sunflowers is usually from late July to mid-August. Taking advantage of Hokkaido’s vast land, the sunflower fields spread out all over the island, and just looking at them is enough to cheer you up.
Shiretoko Goko Lakes（知床五湖）
Shiretoko is registered as a World Natural Heritage site. The Shiretoko Five Lakes are five fantastic lakes surrounded by virgin forest. There are two routes, the “Elevated Wooden Path” and the “Ground Pathway.” The “Elevated Wooden Path” is free and open to everyone, and is recommended for a casual stroll. The beauty of the Shiretoko mountain range reflected on the surface of the lake is exceptional.
Niseko Annupuri（ニセコアンヌプリ）
Niseko is popular among tourists from overseas. Niseko Annupuri is a ski resort in winter and the gondola operates in summer. From the observation plaza, visitors can view Mt. Yotei, Mt. Usu, and other representative natural scenery of Hokkaido. The autumn foliage is also spectacular, making it a place where visitors can enjoy the scenery in all four seasons.
Mt. Moiwa（藻岩山）
Mt. Moiwa is close to the center of Sapporo City, making it relatively easy to visit despite its great natural beauty. Moiwa is attractive for its seasonal beauty, and is especially crowded with climbers during the wildflower season in spring and the autumn foliage season in fall.
A ropeway is also available, making it easy to climb to the top of the mountain. From the observatory at the top of the mountain, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the vast cityscape of Sapporo, and at night you can enjoy the beautiful night view. The night view of Sapporo is so beautiful that it has been selected as one of the “New Three Great Night Views of Japan,” and this spectacular view is worth seeing at least once.
Blue Pond （青い池）
Blue Pond in Biei-cho shines in a beautiful blue color due to a combination of various conditions. Especially in early summer, when the pond is freshly green, the contrast between the green and the blue makes it even more beautiful. The color changes slightly depending on the angle of view, the season, and the weather, so you will have to wait until the day of your visit to see what color it will look like.
Lake Toya（洞爺湖）
Lake Toya is the third largest caldera lake in Japan and is surrounded by hot springs and hotels. Lake Toya also offers sightseeing boats, and is a rich natural spot from which to view Mount Yotei and Mount Usu.
From spring to early fall, canoeing is available, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the natural scenery. During the same period, the “Lake Toya Long-Run Fireworks Festival” is held, and large fireworks are shot over Lake Toya every night.
Onuma Quasi-National Park（大沼国定公園）
Onuma Quasi-National Park is a natural park in Hakodate that has been selected as one of the three most scenic spots in New Japan. From spring through fall, visitors can enjoy cycling, boating, and sightseeing boats, while taking in the scenery of the rich natural beauty of Onuma. In winter, visitors can try their hand at wakasagi (Japanese pond smelt ice fishing) fishing and snowmobiling, making it a spot where visitors can also enjoy a variety of activities throughout the year.
