✨FREE GUIDE✨ Hokkaido

✨FREE GUIDE✨ Hokkaido

King Kogi
Please enjoy my free guide to the absolutely gorgeous Hokkaido. We spent two weeks driving around Hokkaido, and have compiled a list of most excellent restaurants, cafes, scenic scenery, and hotels. TRAVEL TIPS: Fly from Tokyo (Haneda Airport) to New Chitose Airport (the closest airport to Sapporo, and third largest airport in Japan). It takes less than 2 hours, and since it is a local flight, you only have to arrive 1 hour before you fly out. I recommend this route over the Shinkansen (bullet train) which will take much longer and will cost more money. CAR RENTAL: A free shuttle bus from the airport took us to the car rental location. We drove to Sapporo and stayed for a few days before embarking on this excellent summer roadtrip. Please note, renting a car in Hokkaido in the wintertime takes an experienced and skilled snow driver, so if this isn't you, I recommend leaving the driving to the summertime. GUIDE INDEX: 1. Sapporo 2. Furano 3. Niseko
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1. SAPPORO

HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS

UNWIND HOTEL&BAR SAPPORO
@kingkogi
I really enjoyed this hotel! Neat decor, fantastic rooftop bar (with outdoor fire-pit and BBQ foods to order), and a super neat breakfast. Soup! Homemade, and served in cute canisters. Books up fast, so don't hesitate.
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Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Sapporo
@kingkogi
This hotel is nice and modern, equipped with a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. The hot bath area is divine, and I was able to walk over to the station with my luggage easily.
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LAMP LIGHT BOOKS HOTEL sapporo
@kingkogi
Larger rooms than most Japanese hotels. A great cafe downstairs and quite popular amongst couples.
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COFFEE AND TREATS

STANDARD COFFEE LAB (Floor 4 Mitsukoshi Department Store)
@kingkogi
Located on the 4th floor of Mitsukoshi Department Store, the green tea latte (not made with coffee) is scrumptious!
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COFFEE&WINE STANDARD COFFEE LAB.
@kingkogi
The barista Sho Tanaka won the Sapporo latte art championships twice. Once in 2020 and 2024, and the latte artwork is just fabulous. The food and pastries are yummy too, so just head on over and enjoy!
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THE BEST MISO RAMEN 

Sapporo Ichiryuan
@kingkogi
The classic ramen to try here is the "Ramen Sapporo Ichiruan - Genki no Deru Miso Ramen" This ramen is made with medium-thick curly noodles, which are popular in Sapporo. The garlic is delicious because it is cooked in a way that does not smell. The vegetable in the center, is a wild green onion only found locally. Please note: Sunday's he has special items on his menu, so check the website and use google translate if you can't read Japanese. They also serve Halal ramen, and if you order ahead via their website, they have vegan ramen too.
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A VERY LOCAL IZAKAYA

Mitsuhashi
@kingkogi
The most charming little izakaya. It is very local, with classic Japanese Pub dishes. The owner is a lovely old lady, and the food might come out a bit slowly if it is a crowded night, but the vibe of the place and the home cooked foods are worth it.
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HOKKAIDO CLASSIC: SOUP CURRY

Suage+
@kingkogi
A Hokkaido classic: Soup Curry! Big pieces of vegetables and whatever other topping you might add. During the wintert time, this will help warm your bones.
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A VERY LOCAL SAKE BAR

SAKEBAR かまえ
@kingkogi
A small, local drinking bar called a "snack". This is my favourite types of spot, one or two people behind the bar serving simple snacks and pouring drinks. Not dark and moody, just a great vibe. If you're feeling adventurous, head on in! I can't guarantee whoever is behind the counter will speak English (one lady does), but you'll absolutely have a good time.
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SAPPORO SPOTS TO VISIT

Nijo Market
@kingkogi
A local fish market that is popular amongst tourist and locals alike. You can try super fresh sea urchin, sashimi, snow crabs, and seafood donburi (rice bowls with toppings) at the local restaurants.
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Tanukikoji Shopping Street
@kingkogi
A classic Japanese covered shopping area. Quite important in Sapporo during the wintertime, and Sapporo gets quite massive piles of snow!
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Sapporo Beer Museum
@kingkogi
Admission is free to the Sapporo beer museum located in a former factory. It has exhibits, tours, and paid tastings.
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BOOKOFF Sapporo Minami 2 Jo Store
@kingkogi
Used vinyl, CDs, manga, Kpop merch, and more! I love BOOKOFF and visit them at every chance I get as each city or area has different items.
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BONUS

I'm a vinyl collector, so I visit multiple shops wherever I go.  Give this place a dig if you're a collector yourself!

FreshAir(フレッシュエアー)
@kingkogi
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2. FURANO (Naka-Furano)

Boasting lavender, poppy, lily, and sunflower fields growing in the Naka-furano area, the Furano Ski Resort hosts skiing and snowboarding in the winter.

The Furano Ropeway, one of the resort’s gondolas, has panoramic views over the valley, and it stays open all year.

Furano Ropeway
@kingkogi
In the Autumn and Summer, you can take the Furano Ropeway to enjoy the view. If you are a hiker, from the top you can access a number of well kept hiking trails.
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Autumn Time in Furano

Winter Time in Furano

FLOWER FARMS

Farm Tomita
@kingkogi
Farm Tomita grows lavender amongst other flowers. It has lavender ice cream, and if you visit in the summertime, you can enjoy locally grown fresh melon.
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Tomita Melon House
@kingkogi
Only serving melon in the summer, Furano Melon is unique to this region and does not transport well as it must be eaten as soon as it is ripe.
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PANORAMIC FLOWER GARDEN (SHIKISAI-NO-OKA)

Panoramic Flower Gardens Shikisai-no-oka
@kingkogi
This giant flower garden features patterned rows of colourful blossoms,  plus a small alpacas farm (careful, the spit haha) as well as a Hokkaido souvenir shop and an upstairs eatery! Please be aware, the upstairs restaurant is cash only.
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Alpaca Farm (Panoramic Flower Garden)
@kingkogi
Careful, they spit! Located inside the Panoramic Flower Garden, it costs extra to enter.
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NATURE SPOTS

Panorama Road
@kingkogi
Look for the cute wooden sign at the side of the road and you'll know you're at the top and ready to enjoy the view.
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Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike)
@kingkogi
A place to swing by and to check out, but not a place to plan your whole day around. This blue pond changes colour depending on the weather of the day, so each visitor gets a unique experience. It can be busy if a tour bus happens to come by when you're there, but it's just a path through through the wood and you can view the pond from many different spots.
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COFFEE + CAFE

Kaneko Coffee Beans (KCB) Farmette
@kingkogi
A great place to get roasted coffee beans, coffee, and a hearty lunch.
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Dining Chevre
@kingkogi
A small local French restaurant run by a couple using fresh seasonal ingredients. Please check their hours of operation before heading over!
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CHEESE + ICE CREAM

Furano Cheese Factory
@kingkogi
A large cheese factory with local cheese and Furano products for sale. Snap a picture by the big cow statue with homemade gelato or ice cream made with local Furano milk! They also sell wood oven pizza made with the factories own mozzarella cheese.
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Goats and goats cheese
@kingkogi
A pretty self explanatory shop: it has goats, and goat cheese. But also ice cream and food!
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BONUS: Not so far from Furano, the lovely countryside has so many things to explore.  If you've got a car, I recommend driving out on over and exploring these spots! 

Hokuryu Sunflower Village
@kingkogi
Free admission to enter, the Sunflower Village is gorgeous. Last week of July and early August is the peak time for sunflower blooming. You can pay an extra fee to enter a Sunflower Maze, and there is also a duck farm and a sightseeing car.
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Ya Yell
@kingkogi
NOTE: CASH ONLY This adorable cafe is located in the backyard of a sweet ol'grannie's home. She makes homemade fruit ice cream bars and desserts, and the view from her backyard is amazing. (If you're a paid member of the King Kogi community, you've seen a video from this epic place!)
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3. NISEKO

A 2 hour drive away from Sapporo, Niseko is known for the world’s best powder snow in the winter. The hotels and resorts are packed with visitors, but the summer is less busy.

In the summer, hiking, river rafting, golfing, camping, ziplines, and BBQing are excellent activities. 

HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS

THE GREEN LEAF NISEKO VILLAGE
@kingkogi
A great location in the winter, and a beautiful spot in the woods near the mountain in the summer. This spot has an outdoor pool and indoor onsen.
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CAFES + COFFEE + RESTAURANTS

picnic
@kingkogi
Follow a sign into the woods, and I promise you won't get whisked away into a fairy trap. This amazing cafe will appear and you can eat inside or out, at a picnic table. It is a set menu with a few homemade items served in a little tray.
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Garden Restaurant 817
@kingkogi
A modern farm house serving pasta, pastries, lattes, and more. Very picturesque and adorable!
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Niseko Bang Bang
@kingkogi
A causal izakaya that offers yakitori (grilled chicken) and other Hokkaido locals such as sashimi (seafood) and oden.
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CHEESE + LOCAL FARM FOOD

Niseko Cheese
@kingkogi
Pick up some locally made cheese, try a cheese ice cream, or enjoy a little taster platter. I recommend trying the Haskap Soda which is made with local edible blue honeysuckle berries. If cranberry and raspberry had a baby, that would be Haskap. I absolutely loved the tart and sweet taste!
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Niseko Okutsuchi Farm
@kingkogi
Right across the street from the Niseko Cheese Factory, this lovely little farm makes pastries, bread, and offers local vegetables.
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Makkari Tofu Kobo (Wakimizu no Sato)
@kingkogi
A tofu shop as well as local goods. They offer soba as well, and make sure you bring yaur water bottle. They have fresh spring water coming from a local mountain that you can drink.
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Thanks for all your support.  Keep keeping it cool, in the King Kogi village!

Martina aka King Kogi 👑🐷 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
King Kogi
👑🐷 こんにちは~ I'm Martina Sazunic, known as King Kogi on YouTube. Born in Toronto (Canada) but living in Asia since 2008, exploring South Korea and Japan 🔎 🗺 Use my Digital Travel Guides to confidently explore Japan knowing you've got one of my hand-picked spots nearby. Plus, you can watch my Tokyo Tours, Osaka Tours, Kyoto Tours, and Yokohama Tours for free on King Kogi YouTube My guides include a wide range of restaurants: izakayas 🍶 ramen/udon 🍜 sushi 🍣 coffee ☕️ cafes 🍵 street food 🥟 bistros 🍝 curry 🍛 vegetarian/vegan 🌱 snacks 🍡 dessert 🍧 local craft beer 🍺 secret bars 🥃 As well as popular (and hidden) parks, temples, shrines, museums, shopping spots, interesting finds, and more ⛩ If you're feeling overwhelmed with planning a visit to Japan, the Mega Guides cover 100+ spots and features all the tourist hit list locations, plus off-the-beaten path finds too. It also includes a Japanese language and culture guide.
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