Hokkaido: The Japan Most Tourists Never See
Hokkaido: The Japan Most Tourists Never See
Notable moments
- 02:01 View from Sapporo TV Tower Observatory
Standing 90 meters above ground in the observation deck, visitors can admire a full 360-degree panorama of downtown Sapporo and Odori Park beneath snowy skies. The interior features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, structural steel cross-beams, and souvenir displays.
Sapporo TV Tower, Sapporo, Japan - 02:08 Sapporo Clock Tower Historic Interior
Built in 1878 as a drill hall for the Sapporo Agricultural College, this historic wooden structure features a functioning Boston-made clock mechanism on display inside. Visitors can explore the second-floor wooden hall furnished with rows of benches under an open-timber ceiling.
Sapporo Clock Tower, Sapporo, Japan - 03:09 Former Hokkaido Government Office Museum
The Red Brick Building was completed in 1888 in an American neo-baroque style, reflecting Western influence during Hokkaido's early development. Today it serves as a public museum where visitors can walk along red-carpeted hallways lined with paintings and view preserved historic office rooms.
Former Hokkaido Government Office, Sapporo, Japan - 05:21 Sapporo Underground Underground Walkway
Pole Town and Aurora Town form an extensive underground walkway connecting subway stations with shops, convenience stores, and cafes. It allows pedestrians to navigate downtown Sapporo warm and dry during the freezing winter months without facing snow or street traffic.
Pole Town, Sapporo, Japan - 05:55 Fresh Seafood Meal at Nijo Market
Operating for over a century, Nijo Market features vendor stalls selling fresh Hokkaido seafood including giant king crabs, sea urchin, raw tuna, and grilled scallops. The host enjoys a seafood meal served on wooden trays and shell platters at a narrow market counter alongside travelers from Singapore.
Nijo Market, Sapporo, Japan - 07:20 Standing Soba Noodles at Hinode Soba
Located inside a train station concourse, Hinode Soba is a classic tachikui (standing soba) noodle shop where customers order and quickly consume hot bowls of soba or udon noodles without sitting down. It provides a quick and affordable meal for busy commuters rushing to catch their next train.
Hinode Soba, Sapporo, Japan - 07:45 Snowy Walk through Hokkaido University
Founded in 1876, Hokkaido University spans 180 hectares with grand tree-lined avenues covered in thick snow during winter. The host speaks with a civil engineering student in front of the historic stone library building surrounded by snow-draped trees.
Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan - 09:21 Tasting Fresh Hokkaido University Milk
The campus maintains its own dairy cattle as part of agricultural research programs, producing fresh milk sold at campus cafes. The host and a local student enjoy hot coffee made with university milk along with matcha ice cream in the snowy park.
Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan - 10:06 Exploring Susukino Nightlife District
Susukino is Sapporo's primary entertainment district, brightly lit at night with neon signs, bars, restaurants, and the iconic glowing Nikka Whiskey billboard. Crowds gather along the snow-covered avenues, with visitors climbing high snow banks for photos against the city lights.
Susukino, Sapporo, Japan - 10:58 Hot Miso Ramen in Ganso Ramen Yokocho
Ganso Ramen Yokocho (Ramen Alley) in Susukino is a narrow alleyway lined with small noodle shops that have been serving ramen since the 1950s. The host sits at a wooden counter to enjoy a rich bowl of Sapporo-style miso ramen served with a soft-boiled egg, sliced pork, and wood-ear mushrooms.
Ganso Ramen Yokocho, Sapporo, Japan - 12:08 JDM Tuning Culture at Liberty Walk Sapporo
Liberty Walk is a globally famous Japanese car tuning brand known for aggressive widebody kits and custom performance builds. Inside the showroom, a heavily modified white Nissan Skyline with custom fender flares and racing bucket seats is displayed alongside branded automotive merchandise.
Liberty Walk Sapporo, Sapporo, Japan - 13:18 Sapporo Snow Festival at Odori Park
Held every February, the Sapporo Snow Festival transforms Odori Park into a mile-long display of massive snow and ice sculptures depicting horses, anime characters, and creative designs. At night, the intricate multi-story snow structures are illuminated with colorful projection mapping and stage lighting.
Odori Park, Sapporo, Japan - 13:48 Crystal-Clear Carvings at Susukino Ice World
As part of the snow festival, Susukino hosts Ice World featuring detailed crystal-clear ice carvings along the main street. Displays include ice bars, carved crabs, zodiac figures, and frozen blocks containing whole fish illuminated by surrounding city lights.
Susukino, Sapporo, Japan - 14:06 Mount Moiwa Ropeway and City Observatory
Visitors reach the 531-meter summit of Mount Moiwa via ropeway and mini cable car to enjoy sweeping panoramic views of Sapporo's grid layout stretching out to the Sea of Japan. At the observation deck, couples ring the Bell of Happiness and attach engraved padlocks along the metal railing.
Mount Moiwa Observatory, Sapporo, Japan - 14:35 Sapporo Beer Museum and Jingisukan Grill
Housed in a historic red-brick brewery from 1876, the museum details Japan's beer brewing history and offers draft beer tastings at the bar. In the adjoining Beer Garden restaurant, diners grill thin slices of lamb on dome-shaped metal skillets in a traditional feast called Jingisukan.
Sapporo Beer Museum, Sapporo, Japan - 15:30 Shiroi Koibito Park Chocolate Factory Tour
Designed like a fairytale European village, this theme park and factory produces Hokkaido's famous white chocolate butter cookies. Visitors can observe the automated production line, participate in cookie-decorating workshops, and relax in a panoramic cafe while sipping hot chocolate.
Shiroi Koibito Park, Sapporo, Japan - 16:49 Scenic Winter Stroll Along Otaru Canal
Originally constructed in 1923 for unloading cargo, Otaru Canal is flanked by restored stone warehouses and gas lamps draped in winter ice. Snow-covered footpaths along the waterway offer a picturesque stroll through Otaru's historic port quarter.
Otaru Canal, Otaru, Japan - 17:21 Kaisen-don Bowl at Sankaku Market in Otaru
Situated next to Otaru Station, Sankaku Market is a bustling indoor seafood market packed with small eateries. The host orders kaisen-don, a bowl of rice piled high with fresh raw salmon, sweet shrimp, scallops, and salmon roe, served alongside a bowl of hot miso soup.
Sankaku Market, Otaru, Japan - 18:08 Steam Clock Chimes at Otaru Music Box Museum
Standing outside Japan's largest music box store at the end of Sakaimachi Street, a historic steam clock chiming melodies every 15 minutes releases clouds of white steam into the cold air. Inside the brick building, thousands of ornate music boxes and glass crafts are displayed across multiple floors.
Otaru Music Box Museum, Otaru, Japan - 18:21 Cable Car Ride Up Mount Tengu
A ropeway carries passengers up Mount Tengu, offering an expansive viewpoint looking down over Otaru's harbor, city streets, and the Sea of Japan. The summit features ski slopes, observation platforms, and scenic winter walking trails.
Mount Tengu, Otaru, Japan - 19:18 Powder Skiing at Rusutsu Resort
Rusutsu Resort boasts three mountains with 42 kilometers of groomed slopes and off-piste tree trails famous for deep Japow powder snow. The host takes ski lifts up to pristine slopes with views of Mount Yotei and rides snowmobiles through surrounding winter forests.
Rusutsu Resort, Rusutsu, Japan - 20:43 Local Sapporo Soup Curry Feast
Originated in Sapporo, soup curry consists of a flavor-rich, spicy curry broth served with oversized fried vegetables like lotus root, pumpkin, and broccoli alongside tender chicken or pork. The host eats the meal by dipping spoonfuls of steamed rice into the steaming bowl of broth.
Sapporo, Japan - 22:06 Ainu Performance at Upopoy National Museum
Dedicated to preserving the culture of Hokkaido's indigenous Ainu people, Upopoy features interactive museum exhibits, traditional thatch-roofed houses, and live cultural performances. Visitors watch performers dressed in traditional patterned robes sing Ainu songs, play traditional mukkuri mouth harps, and demonstrate sword dances.
Upopoy National Ainu Museum, Shiraoi, Japan - 25:00 Hot Meals at Seicomart Convenience Store
Seicomart is Hokkaido's ubiquitous local convenience store chain, distinct from national chains due to its in-store Hot Chef kitchen section. The host purchases freshly prepared hot bento bowls and crispy fried chicken packaged in red paper boxes.
Seicomart, Japan - 25:44 Volcanic Waters of Lake Toya
Lake Toya is a volcanic caldera lake surrounded by snow-covered peaks, known for blue waters that rarely freeze during winter. Scenic viewpoints around the shoreline highlight central volcanic islands and lakeside hot spring resort towns.
Lake Toya, Japan - 26:03 Active Lava Dome at Showa Shinzan
Showa Shinzan is a volcanic lava dome that dramatically emerged from flat wheat fields between 1943 and 1945 during intense seismic eruptions. The reddish-brown mountain remains geologically active today, with sulfurous steam constantly rising from vents along its steep, snow-draped slopes.
Showa Shinzan, Sobetsu, Japan - 27:39 Steaming Vents at Jigokudani Hell Valley
Jigokudani (Hell Valley) is a dramatic volcanic crater in Noboribetsu where sulfurous steam vents and boiling thermal pools spew from barren white rock cliffs. Wooden boardwalks lead visitors through the snowy valley, feeding the hot spring baths of nearby onsen hotels.
Jigokudani, Noboribetsu, Japan - 28:40 Hokkaido Brown Bears at Noboribetsu Bear Park
Reached via a scenic ropeway where a salmon-drying gondola can be seen, this mountain sanctuary houses dozens of Hokkaido brown bears. Visitors can view the bears from elevated platforms, buy snacks to feed them, and watch them play in snow-covered enclosures.
Noboribetsu Bear Park, Noboribetsu, Japan - 29:18 Penguin Parade at Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe
Modeled after a Danish castle, this marine park features underwater glass tunnels, stingray touch tanks, and cold-water marine life exhibits. A key highlight includes watching gentoo and king penguins swim in clear outdoor pools and march through snowy pathways.
Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, Noboribetsu, Japan - 30:12 Hakucho Suspension Bridge over Muroran Port
The Hakucho Bridge is a large suspension bridge spanning Muroran Port, connecting key industrial areas across the bay. Framed by snowy shores and coastal fog, it forms a striking architectural landmark in this industrial port city.
Hakucho Bridge, Muroran, Japan - 30:20 Pacific Ocean Views from Cape Chikyu
Perched atop 100-meter-high coastal cliffs, Cape Chikyu offers a dramatic view of a white lighthouse standing over the sweeping expanse of the Pacific Ocean. The circular observation deck gives visitors a clear view of the horizon on crisp winter days.
Cape Chikyu, Muroran, Japan - 31:09 Retro Kissaten Coffee Break in Muroran
The host sits down in a vintage Japanese coffee shop (kissaten) with dark wood paneling, red velvet chairs, and arched brick windows to chat with local guide Kazu. Over hot coffee, they discuss wildlife sightings in Hokkaido and why 4WD vehicles like the Suzuki Jimny are necessary for winter driving.
Muroran, Japan
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