Utoro (ウトロ)

Utoro (ウトロ) is the largest and only sizable town along the western coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula. Located at the entrance to the national park, it serves as a transportation hub and is the boarding point for sightseeing boat tours up the peninsula's coast.

Utoro is blessed with natural hot spring water and offers a range of accommodation from simple minshuku to large onsen ryokan. While the town's coastal area retains the atmosphere of a small fishing village, a short walk up the hill brings you into the hot spring area where the numerous, large onsen ryokan are located.

Several large rocks stand along the shores of Utoro. The most spectacular of them is the Oronko Rock, which stands 60 meters high just next to the harbor. A small path leads up to the top of the rock, from where you can enjoy nice views of the town and coast.

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Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉)

Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉) is located inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park between the high cliffs of the Toyohira River. The town is only one hour outside central Sapporo, making it a popular side trip from the city. As a result, Jozankei is rather developed compared to smaller onsen towns in Hokkaido.



The onsen waters of Jozankei were discovered in 1866 and the town now has dozens of ryokan, restaurants and shops catering to hot spring tourists. Many ryokan offer day visitors entrance to their baths for a fee of 500 to 1500 yen. Furthermore, free foot baths can be found around town.

Besides being an onsen destination, Jozankei is a popular fall colors destination when the trees along the valley and in the side valleys turn to brilliant yellows and reds. The best time to see the leaves is usually around mid October.

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Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (小樽雪あかりの路)

The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (小樽雪あかりの路) is a winter festival held every February in Otaru, during which the city becomes decorated in lights and small snow statues for ten days. The festival usually runs at the same time as the nearby Sapporo Snow Festival, making it possible for travelers in Hokkaido to visit both festivals on the same trip.

The combination of the snowy town and the glittering lanterns creates a very pleasant atmosphere. There are two main official festival areas which get lit up daily from 17:00 to 21:00: the Unga Kaijo area and the Temiyasen Kaijo area. In addition, many locals also put lantern displays in front of their shops and residences, which further adds to the festival spirit. The two main areas are both located within a fifteen minute walk of the train station, so travelers can easily enjoy the town's atmosphere on foot.

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Matsumae (松前)

 Matsumae (松前) is a former castle town just west of Cape Shirakami, the southernmost point of Hokkaido. Only 20 kilometers across the Tsugaru Strait from Aomori, Matsumae was the northern limit of Japan during the Edo Period and the sole feudal fief on the otherwise wild, untamed frontier of Hokkaido. The prosperous town attracted merchants engaged in the shipping trade, and was protected by a garrison at Matsumae Castle, the only Japanese style castle to have been built on Hokkaido.

Built on a hillside vantage point, Matsumae Castle (also known as Fukushima Castle) cemented a foothold on Hokkaido from where to tap the island's abundant natural resources. Toward the end of the Edo Period, the castle was outfitted with cannon to counter the threat of foreign ships. As with many Japanese castles, Matsumae Castle's original keep was destroyed several times over the centuries. The current three story high structure is a modern concrete reconstruction from the early 1960s which houses a local history museum displaying a selection of artifacts of the local Matsumae clan, including some items related to the Ainu.

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6 Places to Check Out in Japan's Northern Prefecture, Hokkaido!

Hokkaido (北海道) is the second largest, northernmost and least developed of Japan's four main islands. Its weather is harsh in winter with lots of snowfall, below zero temperatures and frozen seas, while in summer it does not get as hot and humid as in the other parts of the country.

With its unspoiled nature, Hokkaido attracts many outdoor lovers, including skiers and snowboarders in the colder seasons and hikers, cyclists and campers from June to September.

1. Shiretoko

Shiretoko National Park (知床国立公園), located on the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido, is one of Japan's most beautiful and unspoiled national parks. No roads lead further than about three fourths up the peninsula, and the northern tip can only be viewed from boats or be reached on multi day trekking tours.The peninsula is home to a variety of wildlife, including brown bears, deer and foxes.

2. Hakodate

Hakodate (函館) is Hokkaido's third largest city, located at the island's southern tip. Hakodate is best known for the spectacular views to be enjoyed from Mount Hakodate and its delicious, fresh seafood.


As one of the first Japanese harbor cities to be opened to international trade after the country's era of isolation, Hakodate has experienced notable influence from overseas, and the foreign population's former residential district and a Western style fort are among its main tourist attractions.

3. Daisetsuzan

Daisetsuzan (大雪山) is Hokkaido's largest national park. It preserves a mountainous area of virtually unspoiled wilderness, which is larger than some of Japan's smaller prefectures. It is a paradise for hikers, outdoor lovers, deer and brown bears, and the first place in Japan to see fall colors and snow each autumn.

4. Otaru

Otaru (小樽) is a small harbor city, about half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train. Its beautifully preserved canal area and interesting herring mansions make Otaru a pleasant day trip from Sapporo or a nice stop en route to or from Niseko or the Shakotan Peninsula.

From the early days of Hokkaido's colonization in the late 1800s, Otaru served as a major trade and fishing port. It was hence chosen as the terminal station of Hokkaido's first railway line that connected the port with nearby Sapporo. Many old warehouses and former office buildings by shipping and trade companies give Otaru's city center a special character reminiscent of past decades.

5. Jozankei Onsen

Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉) is located inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park between the high cliffs of the Toyohira River. The town is only one hour outside central Sapporo, making it a popular side trip from the city. As a result, Jozankei is rather developed compared to smaller onsen towns in Hokkaido.


The onsen waters of Jozankei were discovered in 1866 and the town now has dozens of ryokan, restaurants and shops catering to hot spring tourists. Many ryokan offer day visitors entrance to their baths for a fee of 500 to 1500 yen. Furthermore, free foot baths can be found around town.

6. Niseko

Niseko is the most famous ski resort in Japan, known for having tons of light powder snow, spectacular backcountry and a large number of foreigners - especially Australians - who in recent years have been responsible for popularizing the resort area with the skiing/snowboarding community outside of Japan. As a result, Niseko's resorts are very accessible and welcoming to foreign visitors, which they keep busy with plenty of vast, long ski runs, endless powder, and a growing number of after-ski activities.

In addition to kilometers of ski trails, many of Niseko's resorts offer winter adventure seekers the option to explore off trail skiing, a relatively uncommon attraction at most other ski resorts in Japan.

Photo sources:
Shiretoko
Hakodate
Daisetsuzan
Otaru
Jozankei Onsen
Niseko

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Hōheikan (豊平館)

The Hōheikan (豊平館) is a historical building and a wedding venue, located in Nakajima Park, Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. The building has previously been a hotel, guest house, event venue, and military camp. Currently, the Hōheikan is registered as one of the National Important Cultural Properties, and used as a wedding venue, restaurant and meeting facility. The building is run by the Sapporo city.

Used as a wedding venue, the Hōheikan has held wedding ceremonies for over 20,000 couples, as of January 2004. The Hōheikan has also been a party venue. The restaurant and cafe are also housed in the building, and guests also enjoy snacks. The restaurant serves Japanese and French cuisine, and uses ingredients harvested in Hokkaidō prefecture.

Photos:
Image Source
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Odori Park (大通公園)

Odori Park (大通公園) is a park located in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Ōdōri (大通) means "large street" in Japanese. During the urban planning of Sapporo, it was originally designated as the main street but it eventually became a park.

Throughout the year, many events and ceremonies such as the Sapporo Lilac Festival and the Sapporo Snow Festival are held in the park, and local landmarks including the Sapporo TV Tower and the Sapporo City Archive Museum are located within its boundaries.

Every June, the Yosakoi Soran Festival, a huge dance festival in Hokkaido, is held in the Odori Park. A number of special stages are constructed, and thousands of dancers parade and dance down the streets and on the stages.

In summer, the Park changes into a large beer garden. Major Japanese breweries including Sapporo Breweries Limited set up their own beer gardens, serving beers and snacks.The annual Hokkaido Marathon is staged from the park in late August.

It snows in winter in Sapporo, and the White Illumination, an event during which the trees lining the Park are decorated with illuminations, takes place during that season. Every February, the Sapporo Snow Festival, a festival with snow statues and several events, is held throughout Odori Park. A lot of visitors both from all over Japan and from other countries come to this huge festival.

Photos:

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source

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Daisetsuzan (大雪山)

Daisetsuzan (大雪山) is Hokkaido's largest national park. It preserves a mountainous area of virtually unspoiled wilderness, which is larger than some of Japan's smaller prefectures. It is a paradise for hikers, outdoor lovers, deer and brown bears, and the first place in Japan to see autumn colors and snow each year.

Daisetsuzan National Park is famous for its wildlife, and the park is home to several rare species. The park is notably home to a population of brown bears. Of the 450 species of alpine plants found in Hokkaido, half are found in Daisetsuzan National Park. Daisetsuzan National Park also includes the onsen hot spring resorts of Asahidake Onsen, Fukiage Onsen, Sounkyo Onsen and Tenninkyo Onsen.

Photos:
Image Source
Image Source

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Bokksu June Box: Hokkaido Review

Bokksu is a Japanese subscription box for people to discover authentic snacks and teas from all over Japan, it's a fairly new company for this being their second full box. Every box contains 13-15 premium snacks sourced from Japan, a tea pairing that complements that month's flavors, and a Tasting Guide that explains each item's story. They handpick high quality snacks from all over Japan and only the best snacks and teas.

Like I said earlier, each curated box includes 13-15 authentic Japanese snacks along with a tea pairing. It also includes free shipping within the United States. Boxes ship of the 10th of every month.

Comes with a nicely made information card that includes a photo and the description of the snacks and sweets included in the box. It also comes with a great personalized message from the founder of Bokksu. 

Jaga Pokkuru

These are amazing. They somehow made French fries shaped potato chips. They taste really natural and you can really taste the oil. I would definitely buy more of these.

Genmaicha 

I love the aroma of the tea. You can definitely smell the roasted rice and it really adds depth to the tea. It's a great pair to all the sweets in this box. 

Country Ma'am Bake Shop Northern Cheese Tart

This cheese tart is a great addition to tea. It has a light taste of both cream cheese and lemon zest. It's very soft and fluffy in texture.

Shiroi Koibito

Simple cookies that have white chocolate between butter biscuit. These are amazing. The quality of the chocolate is great and the butter biscuit makes the cookie complete. It's a great sweet to give as a gift and I think they sell these on amazon. 

Natural Yeast Bread Hokkaido Cream

This bread is simple yet delicious. It's made with Hokkaido cream, which is layered. It's similar to the bread pastries I've tasted when I went to France for vacations. I definitely want to buy more of this.

Oh! Yaki Toukibi

This is a snack that you can only get from the famous Sapporo Ohdori Park. It's made from locally grown rice and sweet corn. It's a bit salty but has a sweet corn flavor. It’s glazed with soy sauce.

This month's box was amazing, it had a great variety of snacks, savory and sweet with the addition of the tea. Although I loved all the items, my favorite was definitely the Hokkaido Cream Bread and Jaga Pokkuru. I love that you get a good amount of each item so that you can share (or eat it all yourself). I recommend this to anyone who wants more than the usual mainstream Japanese snacks or want to give a gift to someone. 

If you use the code SAKURA, you'll be able to get $10 off your first box! For more information, be sure to check out Bokksu's website and subscribe today!

Disclaimer: This box was provided by Bokksu for review. All opinions are my own, honest opinions ^_^ 

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Bokksu June Box: Hokkaido Sneak Peak

Bokksu is a Japanese subscription box for people to discover authentic snacks and teas from all over Japan. Every box contains 13-15 premium snacks sourced from Japan, a tea pairing that complements that month's flavors, and a Tasting Guide that explains each item's story. They meticulously craft each month's assortment to include only the best snacks and teas.

Hokkaido is the second largest and northernmost island of Japan. Because Hokkaido has about one-fourth of Japan’s total arable land, Hokkaido is well-known for its highly ranked agricultural products such as dairy, corn, potatoes, wheat, and soybeans. This month’s Bokksu was curated with these high quality agricultural products in mind to take you on a gourmet journey through Hokkaido.

June Sneak Peek: Shiroi Koibito (白い恋人)

A photo posted by Bokksu (@bokksu) on May 23, 2016 at 2:50pm PDT

Indisputably the most famous Hokkaido snack, Shiroi Koibito is the perfect harmony of langue de chat and white chocolate. Each bite of this buttery cookie infuses your mouth with hints of vanilla and finishes with a smooth chocolate taste.

Jaga Pokkuru is made from 100% Hokkaido-grown potatoes. These high quality potatoes are cut and processed using a unique method to achieve this snack’s signature crispy texture. The roasted salt further brings out the potato’s innate flavors. Jaga Pokkuru's crispy savory flavor is so addictive that it is impossible to eat just one!

If you use the code SAKURA, you'll be able to get $10 off your first box! Order by June 5 to receive your June Bokksu, make sure you subscribe now. Look forward to seeing a review of this Hokkaido Box mid-June on my blog!

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Furano Flower Fields (富良野フラワーフィールズ)

Lavender has been cultivated in Hokkaido for more than half a century. When the arrival of lower priced, imported lavender led to a decrease in demand for Hokkaido's lavender in the 1960s and 70s, the local lavender's main function shifted from agricultural product to tourist attraction.

Nowadays, Furano's lavender fields attract large numbers of visitors to the region every summer, when the plants are in full bloom. The majority of lavender usually starts blooming in late June and reaches its peak from around mid July to early August. Less numerous, later flowering varieties of lavender remain in bloom into mid August.

Many other flowers make Furano an attractive destination outside of the lavender season, as well. The main season for flower viewing takes place between June and September, although some flowers also bloom earlier and later than that. Flowers include rape blossoms, poppies and lupins from June, lilies from July and sunflowers, salvias and cosmos from August and September.

ラベンダーは、半世紀以上にわたり、北海道で栽培されています。低価格、インポートされたラベンダーの到着は1960年代と70年代に北海道のラベンダーの需要の減少につながった場合には、地元のラベンダーの主な機能は、観光地への農産物からシフト。

植物が満開にあるときに今日では、富良野のラベンダー畑は、毎年夏に地域への訪問者の多数を引き付ける。ラベンダーの大半は、通常、6月下旬に咲き始め、周りの中旬7月からの早期8月にピークに達する。少ない数々、後でラベン​​ダーの開花品種は中旬8月に咲いて残る。

他の多くの花は、同様に、富良野ラベンダーの季節の外に魅力的な地です。いくつかの花はまた後でそれより先に咲きとが、花見用のメインシーズンは、6月から9月の間で行われる。花は8月と9月から菜の花、ポピーやルピナス6月から、ユリ7月からとヒマワリ、サルビアやコスモスが含まれています。

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Blue Pond (青い池)

The Blue Pond (青い池) outside the hot spring town of Shirogane Onsen is named after is deep blue color which it owes to natural minerals dissolved in the water. Not promoted as a tourist spot until recent years, the pond is part of an erosion control system that was built to prevent damage to Biei in case of an eruption by nearby Mount Tokachidake.

Besides a free parking lot, the pond has not seen much touristic development. It takes visitors 5-10 minutes to walk through the forest to the pond. Around the pond there is not much to do other than to enjoy the scenery, which also includes some concrete structures of the erosion control system.

Photos:

きうこ, "blue pond" CC BY-ND 2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kiuko/19230260223/in/photolist-vij7oK-7aV8FN-f5Vjn3-cgavYN-6u1Cyi-fh2X3i-pecuX7-xPDCD-igfhVc-9FaTgE-5apWT5-6BLXwG-8dTN3c-jbLzjY-4yr3aD-nG1rWB-6LBdsh-nJvhRw-axRsiy-8kSBRk-vH58cY-6tZjnT-i7Sk4z-cPvWkS-5TzabF-hmjM4g-qh584v-6Kg59H-igRwkF-tve4wg-dritN4-34SJRF-oTmSdD-nCCuid-o9ZEDj-5Dzq7M-dnUXip-9Yw11T-a2T8gJ-oTVjLL-jThk5r-tJuBJ6-2H11fB-8UxMoB-gHRFLx-r8498J-fSzrb9-cn2a8Q-it6FuC-wwaPTi/

ozma, "Blue pond" CC BY 2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/birds_and_landscapes/14446695557/in/photolist-o1B6gT-9GcTpH-f5jZxN-3fXH5m-8E715f-33qoAN-hFLDee-ueftVc-uTDrpx-oWGBBv-79HKYW-7b6nM5-sKUJN-qmmWdh-24CwX-dypCB-sKUMP-73RfkC-3iEUXB-rCb6Wc-u1Rrt4-7nrztp-uMk3zJ-836d7B-6BiWwD-87NSJr-nQN3Q-4svkmY-eZbaDA-c6Tpp-fgKfCf-fgKfJS-kjg3Db-bopHYd-emSv3-8Qq58X-43wZeV-echLQ-3iEUut-utytm-7NrDBV-5oL13n-cD22nA-87Nyhk-6b5jf3-KCC9G-4srh3x-4svkbG-8391Yr-f55FQz/

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