Recommended by Hokkaido experts! Must-visit scenic spots for your Hokkaido trip!
From here, we'll introduce recommended scenic spots you should visit in Hokkaido. Please try to find a spot that suits your preference.
"Cape Kamui" where you can feel the mysteries of the Earth
Source:Shakotan Tourism AssociationOfficial website
Cape Kamui is an 80-meter-high cape that juts out into the Sea of Japan from the northwestern part of the Shakotan Peninsula. Walking along the promenade while viewing the Shakotan Blue sea, you'll reach a scenic spot where you can see 300 degrees around and the horizon appears curved. The collaboration of Hokkaido's blue sky and sea in summer is mystical. Additionally, TRAPOL offers tours where you can experience the great nature of Cape Kamui from a boat.
Click here for the trial site.
Address: Kami-Misaki-cho, Shakotan-cho, Hokkaido
Access: Approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes by Hokkaido Chuo Bus bound for Shakotan Cape Kamui from JR Yoichi Station (operates from late April to late October). Get off at the terminal stop and walk a short distance.
Business Hours: April to October only, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (varies by month)
Admission: Free
"Blue Pond": An Invitation to Another World
Source:Hokkaido Official Tourism Site
The "Blue Pond," where a magnificent view unfolds as if you've stepped into another world, is a classic Hokkaido tourist spot. The Blue Pond is an artificial lake formed by water accumulating behind a check dam placed in the Bieigawa River during construction to prevent mudflows from Mount Tokachi. In the summer, the contrast with the fresh greenery creates a "spectacular view x refreshing atmosphere." It's the perfect place to stop during your road trip.
Address: Shirogane, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
Access: Approximately 20 minutes by car or bus from JR Biei Station.
Opening Hours: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM (varies by month)
Admission: Free
A "Christmas Tree" with a dignified beauty
Source:Biei Town Tourism Portal Site
The Christmas Tree is a single fir tree standing on a gentle hill. It is said to have gotten its name because its shape resembles a Christmas tree, and it looks as if a star is perched on its tip. The atmosphere changes with the seasons, and in winter, a breathtaking view of crisp beauty unfolds.
There's also an article compiling the winter scenery of Hokkaido, so please be sure to check that out as well.
Address: Bibaushi, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
Access: Approximately 15 minutes by car from JR Biei Station
Business Hours: None
Admission: Free
"Lake Mashu," also known as the "Lake of the Gods"
Source:Teshikaga NabīOfficial Website
Lake Mashu is a mystical spot, also known as the "Lake of the Gods." Standing at the observation deck, you'll see Hokkaido's most beautiful blue lake, known as "Mashu Blue," spread out before you. The sight of the sky reflected in the lake, which boasts the world's highest transparency, is overwhelmingly beautiful. TRAPOL offers "Lake Mashu Night Watching," where you can gaze at a 360-degree, star-filled night sky from the observation deck.
Address: Hokkaido, Teshikaga Town, Genya
Access: Bus: Approximately 25 minutes from JR Mashu Station on the bus bound for Mashu-ko Daiichi Tenbodai (Lake Mashu First Observatory). Car: Approximately 120 minutes from Doto Expressway Ashoro IC.
Business Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Admission: Free
"Moerenuma Park": Where Art and Nature Converge
Source:Moerenuma ParkOfficial Website
Moerenuma Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, is a scenic park where art and nature blend, designed as a sculptural work by the world-renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Its vast grounds, covering an area equivalent to about 40 Tokyo Domes, are so large that it's called a "sculpture on the earth." The park is equipped with paved paths, and since many of the routes are flat, it's also perfect for cycling. Cycling allows you to efficiently tour the expansive park.
Address: 1-1 Moerenuma Park, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Access: Bus: Approximately 25 minutes from Kanjodori Higashi Subway Station, get off at "Moerenuma Park East Exit," then walk about 10 minutes.
Car: Approximately 15 minutes from Sapporo-Otaru Expressway Fukkotsu IC
Business hours: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Admission: Free
To see a hidden gem of a superb view, head to the "Kushiro River."
Source:TRAPOLOfficial website
The Kushiro River flows south through the Kushiro region of Hokkaido and empties into the Pacific Ocean. It is a rare river in Japan with no artificial dams or weirs, and is known as a hidden gem travel spot. TRAPOL offers canoe tours at the source of the Kushiro River. With unfamiliar plants and animals, the Kushiro River, where you can feel the richness of nature, is truly a hidden scenic spot!
Click here for the experience site
There's also an article that rounds up Hokkaido's summer scenic spots, so please be sure to check it out.
【エリア別】夏の北海道観光で行きたいおすすめ絶景スポット！知る人ぞ知る穴場スポットもご紹介 夏の北海道はベストシーズンでもあることから、多くの観光客が訪れます。今回は、混雑を避けてなるべく人の少ない観光地へ行きたいと考えている方へ、北海道を知り尽くすTRAPOL社員がおすすめする、マニアックな夏の北海道絶景スポットを紹介します！今年の夏に北海道旅行をするのであれば、ディープなスポットをまわるのはいかがでしょうか。Address: Kushiro-cho, Kushiro-gun
Access: 40 minutes by car from Kushiro Station (to the Hosooka Observation Deck)
Opening hours: None
Admission: Free
"New Akan Hotel" with a panoramic view of Lake Akan
Source:New Akan HotelOfficial website
Located in Akan-cho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido, the "New Akan Hotel" is a resort hotel situated on the shores of "Lake Akan," also known as the "mysterious lake." From the "Sky Garden Spa," you can enjoy a panoramic view that makes you feel one with the lake. The hotel also offers a rich selection of gourmet food, including Hokkaido's signature seafood and Jingisukan (grilled lamb). There is also a sauna where you can enjoy self-löyly using the hotel's original aroma water.
Address: 2-8-8 Akanko Onsen, Akan-cho, Kushiro City, Hokkaido
Access: 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Kushiro, 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Kitami, 2 hours by car from Obihiro
Business hours: Open 24 hours
Admission: Free
[Side Story] Looks like a bus, "Mashu Bus Sauna"
Source:TRAPOLOfficial Website
Here, as a bonus episode, we will introduce a unique sauna in Hokkaido. At the guesthouse "TESHIKAGA HOSTEL MISATO" in Teshikaga, Hokkaido, there is the "Mashu Bus Sauna," which looks like a bus but is a full-fledged wood-fired sauna inside. This bus-shaped sauna is the only one of its kind in Hokkaido. Furthermore, if you stay at the guesthouse, it's a spot where you can interact with other travelers and locals.
Address: Hokkaido, Teshikaga-cho, Kawakami-gun, Misato 2-11-1, TESHIKAGA HOSTEL MISATO
Access method: After traveling by plane to Memanbetsu Airport from each airport. It is about 1 hour by car to Mashu Bus Sauna.
Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Admission Fee: Sauna use 2 hours - 1 person: ¥3,300
Japan's most beautiful "Road to the Sky"
Source:Hokkaido Official Tourism Website
The Road to the Sky, with a total length of approximately 28.1 km, is also known as Japan's most beautiful road. Surrounded by the mountains of Shiretoko, the Sea of Okhotsk, and cultivated fields, it is a popular scenic driving route within Hokkaido.
We also have an article summarizing Hokkaido driving routes, so please be sure to check it out.
札幌から日帰りでいく！北海道の絶景ドライブモデルコース 豊かな自然で有名な北海道は、絶景スポットも盛りだくさん。広大な北海道では、ドライブにて絶景スポットを回る旅行がおすすめです。 今回は、北海道に詳しすぎるTRAPOL社員がおすすめする札幌からいける絶景スポットを巡る、日帰りドライブモデルコースをご紹介します。 北海道でドライブ旅行をしたいと考えている方はぜひ参考にしてください。Address: Minehama, Shari Town, Shari District, Hokkaido
Access: 15 minutes by car from JR Shiretoko-Shari Station
66 km / 1 hour 20 minutes via National Route 334 from Memanbetsu Airport
Business hours: Open 24 hours
Admission: Free
Shiretoko, registered as a World Natural Heritage site
Source:Shiretoko Shari Town Tourism AssociationOfficial website
Shiretoko Peninsula, located at the easternmost tip of Hokkaido. Shiretoko is a scenic area with diverse nature, including mountains spreading from the island's center and the sea where drift ice arrives. In 2005, it was registered as a World Natural Heritage site in recognition of its natural environment, which nurtures Shiretoko's rare flora and fauna, and its rich ecosystems created by land and sea.
It's full of natural tourist attractions like waterfalls, capes, and lakes, so please come and experience the grandeur of nature.
Address: Shari Town, Hokkaido
Access: Bus: Approximately 50 minutes from JR Shiretoko Shari Station, disembark at "Utoro Bus Terminal."
Car: Approximately 3.5 hours from Engaru Setose IC on the Asahikawa Monbetsu Expressway
Business Hours: None
Admission fee: Varies by facility
"Yumoto Ryounkaku," the highest hot spring inn in Hokkaido
Source:Ryounkaku Hot SpringOfficial Website
Ryunkaku Onsen is famous as the highest hot spring inn in Hokkaido. The open-air baths offer panoramic views of mountains and forests, and the changing scenery is captivating, from snow until early summer to autumn foliage. The hot springs can be enjoyed by both overnight guests and day-trippers. With a restaurant and shop also available, it's a great place to spend the day. It's recommended for those who want to enjoy hot springs in a spectacular setting.
When you visit Hokkaido for sightseeing, you'll want to enjoy hot springs while taking in the spectacular views, won't you?
We've also compiled an article on hot spring spots in Hokkaido where you can enjoy breathtaking scenery, so please be sure to check it out.
北海道の絶景を堪能できる温泉おすすめ6選 豊かな自然にあふれる北海道には、さまざまな絶景スポットがあります。そんな北海道には、絶景温泉もあるのです。この記事では、北海道で絶景の温泉を探しているあなたに、オーシャンビューの温泉や露天風呂、そしてちょっと変わった面白い温泉まで、厳選した6つの温泉を紹介します。仕事や家事など日常の疲れを癒し、特別なひとときを過ごせるぴったりの温泉をぜひ見つけてみてください。Address: Tokachidake Onsen, Kamifurano Town
Access: Bus: 50 minutes by bus from Kamifurano Town Station
Car: 60 minutes by car from Asahikawa Airport, 45 minutes by car from Furano
Business hours: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Hot springs)
Admission Fee: Bathing Fee / Junior High School Students and above ¥1000, Children ¥500, Infants Free
"Lake Toya," one of Hokkaido's three great landscapes
Source:TRAPOLOfficial website
Lake Toya is a caldera lake, the third largest in Japan, and is also famous as one of Hokkaido's "Three Great Sceneries" for its beauty. At TRAPOL, we offer a camping trip where you can enjoy kayaking on Lake Toya and savor exquisite cuisine under the blue sky. Kayaking on the lake allows you to enjoy a fantastical, breathtaking view in a tranquil setting. At the campsite, you can indulge in stylish meals while feeling the essence of nature.
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Address: Toyako Town, Sobetsu Town, Hokkaido
Access: Approximately 20 minutes by Donan Bus from JR Toya Station to Toyako Onsen, disembark at "Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal" and walk a short distance.
By car: Approximately 5 minutes (3 km) from the Dōō Expressway Abuta Tōyako Interchange via National Route 230.
Business hours: None
Admission: Free
In conclusion
This time, we've introduced recommended scenic spots to visit on a trip to Hokkaido. From popular destinations to hidden gems, Hokkaido has many places where you can feel nature with your whole being. Please use this article as a reference to plan your Hokkaido trip.
