Hokkaido Car Rental and Driving Guide
A practical guide to renting a car in Hokkaido — costs, insurance, winter driving, toll roads, and when trains are the better option.
Abashiri Travel Guide: Drift Ice, Prison History, and the Best Seafood in Eastern Hokkaido
Everything you need to know about visiting Abashiri — drift ice cruises, the infamous prison museum, seafood, and how to get there from Sapporo.
Things to Do in Hokkaido: The Honest Guide From Someone Who Keeps Going Back
The best things to do in Hokkaido, from skiing and onsen to ramen crawls and road trips. Honest recommendations from repeated visits, including what to skip.
Hokkaido Weather: What to Expect Each Month (And When to Go)
Month-by-month breakdown of Hokkaido weather — temperatures, snow, rain, and what to pack. Plus honest advice on which months are worth visiting and which to skip.
Lake Shikotsu: Hokkaido’s Clearest Lake (And Why It’s Worth the Detour)
Lake Shikotsu is Japan’s second deepest lake with water so clear they named the colour after it. Here’s everything you need to know — from kayaking and onsen to the winter ice festival.
Best JR Pass Routes in Hokkaido: Get Your Money’s Worth
How to plan your Hokkaido train trips to maximise the JR Pass. Sample routes for 5-day and 7-day passes with costs calculated.
3 Days in Hokkaido: The Best Short Trip Itinerary
Only have 3 days in Hokkaido? This itinerary covers the essentials – Sapporo, Otaru, and one wildcard day trip. Maximum Hokkaido in minimum time.
What to Buy in Hokkaido: The Best Souvenirs and Where to Find Them
The souvenirs worth bringing home from Hokkaido – from Royce chocolate and Shiroi Koibito to craft sake and lavender products. What to buy, where to buy it, and what to skip.
Best Onsen in Hokkaido: 12 Hot Springs Worth the Trip (2026)
The 12 best onsen towns and hot springs in Hokkaido – with prices, transport, tattoo policies, and honest reviews. From famous resort towns to wild outdoor baths nobody knows about.
Hokkaido vs Mainland Japan: How They Differ and Which to Visit
Hokkaido is not like the rest of Japan. Different food, different climate, different pace. Here is how they compare and when to choose one over the other.