The Complete Hokkaido Activity Guide
30 Hokkaido experiences, organized by category and season
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.
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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.
Read the Rafting guide →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.
Read the Canoeing guide →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.
Read the SUP guide →Canyoning
Descend a stream in a wetsuit and jump into waterfall pools — an activity best suited to Hokkaido's short summer.
Read the Canyoning guide →River Fishing
Stream fishing for yamame and iwana trout, as well as Hokkaido's native Dolly Varden char. Guided tours welcome complete beginners.
Read the River Fishing guide →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.
Read the Smelt Fishing guide →Ocean Activities
Sea Kayaking
Clear kayak tours across the crystal-clear waters known as "Shakotan Blue" are a popular choice.
Read the Sea Kayaking guide →Sea Fishing
Guided pier and boat fishing centered around Ishikari Bay. Rods and bait are provided, so you can come empty-handed.
Read the Sea Fishing guide →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.
Read the Whale Watching guide →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.
Read the ATV Buggy guide →Zipline
Niseko's "HANAZONO ZIPFLIGHT" boasts one of the longest total courses in Asia. Soar through the sky with views of Mt. Yotei.
Read the Zipline guide →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.
Read the Trekking guide →Cycling
Ride through Biei's gentle rolling hills or Furano's lavender fields. An e-bike makes the hillier stretches easy.
Read the Cycling guide →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.
Read the Wildlife Watching guide →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.
Read the Birdwatching guide →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.
Read the Stargazing guide →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.
Read the Horse Riding & Trail Rides guide →Fruit Picking
Centered on the "orchard village" of Niki, enjoy seasonal fruit picking — cherries, grapes, pears, and more.
Read the Fruit Picking guide →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.
Read the Ranch Experiences guide →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.
Read the Milking Experience guide →Cheese & Butter Making
"Shake butter making" using fresh milk is a popular activity simple enough for kids to try.
Read the Cheese & Butter Making guide →Ice Cream Making
Homemade ice cream using rich, fresh milk is one of the most popular farm programs among kids.
Read the Ice Cream Making guide →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.
Read the Drift Ice Walk & Cruise guide →Ski & Snowboard
World-renowned powder snow is the draw here, with distinct resorts to choose from — Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, and Tomamu.
Read the Ski & Snowboard guide →Snowshoeing
Walk across snowfields wearing Western-style snowshoes. No special skill is required, so it suits everyone from kids to seniors.
Read the Snowshoeing guide →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.
Read the Dog Sledding & Snowmobiling 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.
Read the Soba Noodle Making guide →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.
Read the Glass & Music Box Making guide →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.
Read the Hidden Hot Springs guide →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.
Read the Camping & Glamping guide →Before You Choose: Check the Travel Time
Hokkaido is big, and travel time varies a lot depending on where an activity is held. Lake Shikotsu, Otaru, Jozankei, Niseko and Lake Toya are easy day trips from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport. Furano is more than 2 hours each way, and eastern Hokkaido (Shiretoko, Abashiri, Kushiro) is best planned with an overnight stay.
| Destination | Drive time (approx.) | Transfer fare (one way, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| New Chitose Airport → Lake Shikotsu | About 45 min | ¥15,000 |
| New Chitose Airport → Otaru | About 1.5 hr | ¥28,000–33,000 |
| New Chitose Airport → Lake Toya | About 1.5 hr | ¥43,000–51,000 |
| New Chitose Airport → Niseko | About 2 hr | ¥35,000–40,000 |
| New Chitose Airport → Furano | About 2.5 hr | ¥45,000–50,000 |
| Sapporo → Jozankei Onsen | About 1 hr | ¥11,000 |
* Summer fares per vehicle, expressway tolls included (Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge, up to 6 passengers). Winter fares differ. Drive times depend on road conditions.
Check Fares & Book a TransferFind Hokkaido Activities on Rakuten Travel Experiences
Once you've picked an experience, a booking site is the most reliable place to check live availability and prices. On Rakuten Travel Experiences you can book tours across Hokkaido by date and group size, and switch the display language (including English) from the menu.
See All Hokkaido Activities on Rakuten Travel