北海道内、どこへでも

空港送迎からリゾート間の移動まで、貸切ハイヤーでお任せください

予約はこちら

The Complete Hokkaido Activity Guide

From water activities like rafting and canoeing, to winter experiences like drift ice walks and skiing, to time with farm animals and hot-spring hopping, Hokkaido offers something to enjoy in every season. This page organizes everything you can experience in Hokkaido by category. Tap anything that catches your eye to jump to a detailed guide with pricing, the best season, and how to get there. We'll keep adding and updating this page over time.

Water & Lakes Ocean Mountains & Nature Animals & Farms Winter Crafts & Food Hot Springs Other

Water, River & Lake Activities

Rafting

River rafting on Hokkaido's clear rivers, including the Shiribetsu (Niseko) and Sorachi (Furano). Feel the thrill of the rapids along with a splash of water play.

Best Season: June–September

Main Areas: Niseko, Furano, Tokachi, Jozankei

Beginners & Families: Guide-led, beginner-friendly. Some courses accept children as young as 3–4

Canoeing

A relaxed paddle across Lake Shikotsu, among Japan's clearest lakes, or Lake Toya with its views of Mt. Yotei. Calmer than rafting, canoeing is easy to enjoy even with young children.

Best Season: July–September (some areas also run winter tours)

Main Areas: Lake Shikotsu, Lake Toya, Kushiro Wetlands, Lake Shikaribetsu

Beginners & Families: Some tours accept children from around age 4

SUP

Stand-up paddleboarding across mirror-still water at Lake Shikotsu, Lake Toya, or Niseko's Shiribetsu River — a refreshing way to take in the scenery.

Best Season: July–August

Main Areas: Lake Shikotsu, Lake Toya, Shakotan, Niseko

Beginners & Families: Some tours accept children from around age 4–6

Canyoning

Descend a stream in a wetsuit and jump into waterfall pools — an activity best suited to Hokkaido's short summer.

Best Season: July–August (summer only)

Main Areas: Niseko, Furano, Tomamu

Beginners & Families: Some courses accept elementary-school-age children (physically demanding)

River Fishing

Stream fishing for yamame and iwana trout, as well as Hokkaido's native Dolly Varden char. Guided tours welcome complete beginners.

Best Season: July–September

Main Areas: Niseko, Furano

Beginners & Families: Guide-led, beginner-friendly

Smelt Fishing

A classic winter Hokkaido pastime: drilling a hole in a frozen lake and fishing for smelt. Some facilities will even tempura-fry your catch on the spot.

Best Season: January–March

Main Areas: Lake Akan, Lake Abashiri, Lake Poroto (Shiraoi), Lake Kanayama

Beginners & Families: Many facilities let you come empty-handed — popular with families

Ocean Activities

Sea Kayaking

Clear kayak tours across the crystal-clear waters known as "Shakotan Blue" are a popular choice.

Best Season: July–September

Main Areas: Shakotan, Otaru, Lake Toya, Abashiri

Beginners & Families: Some tours accept children from around age 4

Sea Fishing

Guided pier and boat fishing centered around Ishikari Bay. Rods and bait are provided, so you can come empty-handed.

Best Season: July–September

Main Areas: Ishikari Bay, Otaru, Shakotan, Rumoi

Beginners & Families: Some family-friendly tours accept children from around age 3

Whale Watching

The waters off Rausu, near Shiretoko, are a globally rare hotspot for whales and dolphins. Depending on the season, you might spot orcas, sperm whales, or dolphins.

Best Season: April–October (combined with drift ice cruises in winter)

Main Areas: Rausu (Shiretoko)

Beginners & Families: Some tours accept infants (note: this is in eastern Hokkaido, so factor in travel time)

Mountains, Forests & Wilderness

ATV Buggy

No license required for this off-road riding activity. Some facilities are just minutes from New Chitose Airport, making it easy to fit into your itinerary.

Best Season: April–November

Main Areas: Near New Chitose Airport, near Sapporo, Furano

Beginners & Families: No license needed, open to children from around age 6

Zipline

Niseko's "HANAZONO ZIPFLIGHT" boasts one of the longest total courses in Asia. Soar through the sky with views of Mt. Yotei.

Best Season: July–September (Eniwa also offers a winter-only plan)

Main Areas: Niseko, Eniwa

Beginners & Families: A safety briefing is included, so no experience is needed

Trekking

From the boardwalk trails of the Shiretoko Five Lakes to Daisetsuzan and Mt. Apoi in Hidaka, there's a route for every level, from casual to serious hikers.

Best Season: July–September

Main Areas: Shiretoko Five Lakes, Daisetsuzan, Furano/Biei, Hidaka

Beginners & Families: The Shiretoko Five Lakes has guided tours open to elementary-school-age children

Cycling

Ride through Biei's gentle rolling hills or Furano's lavender fields. An e-bike makes the hillier stretches easy.

Best Season: July–early August (flower fields at their peak)

Main Areas: Biei, Furano, Lake Toya, Lake Shikotsu

Beginners & Families: E-bikes make this reassuring for beginners and families

Wildlife Watching

Sika deer and red foxes can be spotted island-wide, year-round, while Shiretoko's brown bears and eastern Hokkaido's red-crowned cranes are more region-specific sightings.

Best Season: Year-round (varies by species)

Main Areas: Across Hokkaido, Shiretoko, Notsuke Peninsula, Kushiro Wetlands

Beginners & Families: Easy for anyone to enjoy while driving

Birdwatching

From the greater white-fronted geese at Lake Miyajima, an easy day trip from Sapporo, to the red-crowned cranes of the Kushiro Wetlands and the Steller's sea eagles of Rausu, this is birdwatching on an impressive scale.

Best Season: Spring & autumn (geese), winter (cranes & eagles)

Main Areas: Lake Miyajima, Kushiro Wetlands, Rausu

Beginners & Families: Lake Miyajima has a viewing facility, making it easy to enjoy

Stargazing

With little light pollution, areas like Furano and Tokachi's Lake Shikaribetsu offer a sky so full of stars you can clearly make out the Milky Way.

Best Season: Year-round (crisp winter air, comfortable summer nights)

Main Areas: Furano, Tokachi (Lake Shikaribetsu), Shiretoko

Beginners & Families: A guided tour means no prior knowledge is needed

Animal & Farm Experiences

Horse Riding & Trail Rides

From trail rides in the horse-breeding region of Hidaka, to ranches in Noboribetsu and Tokachi, to Northern Horse Park near New Chitose Airport, there's a wide range of options.

Best Season: July–September

Main Areas: Hidaka, Tokachi, Noboribetsu, near Sapporo

Beginners & Families: Some facilities offer led-horse experiences for children not yet in school

Fruit Picking

Centered on the "orchard village" of Niki, enjoy seasonal fruit picking — cherries, grapes, pears, and more.

Best Season: Late June–late October (varies by fruit)

Main Areas: Niki (near Otaru), eastern Hokkaido

Beginners & Families: Family-friendly pricing, with free admission for young children and discounts for elementary schoolers

Ranch Experiences

At farms close to New Chitose Airport, like Heidi Farm and Hokkaido Hakone Farm, you can interact with cows, horses, alpacas, and more.

Best Season: April–November

Main Areas: Naganuma, near Chitose, Tokachi

Beginners & Families: A family-trip favorite, easy for young children too

Milking Experience

A dairy-farm experience where you can feel the warmth of fresh milk firsthand. At Tokachi's dairy education farms, you can also taste milk and ice cream alongside the milking.

Best Season: Late April–October

Main Areas: Tokachi (Shikaoi), Naganuma

Beginners & Families: Staff give careful instruction — popular with kids too

Cheese & Butter Making

"Shake butter making" using fresh milk is a popular activity simple enough for kids to try.

Best Season: Late April–October

Main Areas: Tokachi (Hanabatake Farm, Fujita Farm), Naganuma

Beginners & Families: Simple enough for the whole family to enjoy

Ice Cream Making

Homemade ice cream using rich, fresh milk is one of the most popular farm programs among kids.

Best Season: Late April–October

Main Areas: Naganuma (Heidi Farm), Tokachi

Beginners & Families: Many facilities welcome children not yet in school

Winter Activities

Drift Ice Walk & Cruise

Take an icebreaker cruise or don a dry suit to walk across the ice at Mombetsu and Abashiri on the Okhotsk coast, or at the World Heritage site of Shiretoko — the signature winter experience of eastern Hokkaido's Okhotsk side.

Best Season: Mid-January–late March

Main Areas: Mombetsu, Abashiri, Shiretoko/Utoro, Rausu

Beginners & Families: Some tours accept children from around age 6 (note: this is in eastern Hokkaido, so factor in travel time)

Ski & Snowboard

World-renowned powder snow is the draw here, with distinct resorts to choose from — Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, and Tomamu.

Best Season: January–February

Main Areas: Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Tomamu

Beginners & Families: Well-equipped ski schools and kids' parks

Snowshoeing

Walk across snowfields wearing Western-style snowshoes. No special skill is required, so it suits everyone from kids to seniors.

Best Season: January–February

Main Areas: Niseko, Lake Shikotsu, Lake Kussharo, Sounkyo

Beginners & Families: Open to children from around age 6, and popular with seniors too

Dog Sledding & Snowmobiling

Dog sledding pulled by energetic huskies, or racing across the snow on a snowmobile. Available near Asahikawa in Takasu, as well as in Niseko and Tomamu.

Best Season: Mid-December–mid-March

Main Areas: Asahikawa/Takasu, Tokachi, Niseko, Tomamu

Beginners & Families: Children under 7 can ride tandem with a guide

Crafts & Food Experiences

Soba Noodle Making

Try your hand at making soba noodles with locally grown buckwheat flour, starting in Horokanai — Japan's top soba-producing town — as well as in Furano and Biei.

Best Season: Year-round (varies by facility)

Main Areas: Horokanai, Furano

Beginners & Families: No experience needed; a parent may need to accompany children during the knife-cutting step

Glass & Music Box Making

In the retro streets of Otaru, make a one-of-a-kind glass creation or music box. Hakodate has similar workshops as well.

Best Season: Year-round

Main Areas: Otaru, Hakodate

Beginners & Families: Popular for kids' school projects

Hot Springs & Relaxation

Hidden Hot Springs

From Noboribetsu, the "department store of hot springs," to the high-elevation Tokachidake Onsen, easily-accessible Jozankei, and Niseko's Onsen-kyo, compare the water and scenery of hot spring towns across Hokkaido. Beyond a single bath, it's easy to turn this into a full hot-spring-hopping trip paired with nearby sightseeing.

Best Season: Year-round (autumn foliage and snowy seasons are especially popular)

Main Areas: Noboribetsu, Niseko, Jozankei, Tokachi, eastern/northern Hokkaido

Beginners & Families: Many facilities offer family or private baths

Other

Camping & Glamping

Hokkaido's cool summers make it ideal for the outdoors. From a stunning lakeside site on Lake Shikotsu to winter-only dome glamping, there's something for every season.

Best Season: July–September (some facilities also operate in winter)

Main Areas: Lake Shikotsu, Niseko, Rusutsu, Tomamu, Tokachi

Beginners & Families: No gear needed with glamping — ideal for family trips

Public transport can be limited depending on where a Hokkaido activity is held. This is especially true for families, groups, anyone with extra luggage, or if you'd like to fit several activities into one day — a private taxi direct from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport is often the easiest option.

MUTO TAXI for Your Hokkaido Activity Transfer