The Natural Beauty Of Hokkaido With Super Value Tours | Travel Research Online

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The Natural Beauty Of Hokkaido With Super Value Tours

Standing as the second largest and northernmost island in Japan, Hokkaido is a place of breathtaking natural beauty. From bustling cities and top notch sake to undisturbed forest and National Parks, Hokkaido has many reasons to be on your travel list this year thanks to Super Value Tours, the supplier sponsor of this article.

60-Second Geography

Hokkaido, Japan

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  • Known previously by other names such as Ezo and Yesso, Hokkaido is one of Japan’s shining jewels, deserving of a visit by all who venture to Japan. Hokkaido has many different things to offer to visitors and residents alike. One of the most popular aspects of Hokkaido is its landscape and forests. Hokkaido is home to a plethora of undisturbed forests and National Parks. Shiretoko National Park is one of these. Located at the northeastern tip of Hokkaido and covering most of the Shiretoko Peninsula, this National Park is only accessible by foot or boat; it is one of the most remote regions in Japan, and home to its largest brown bear population. Shiretoko National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and offers stellar views of Kunashiri Island. Visit the spectacular and refreshing Kamuiwakka Falls, the park’s resident waterfall and hot springs. Daisetsuzan National Park is another of Hokkaido’s parks worth exploring on your Japanese vacation. It is one of the oldest National Parks in Japan, established in 1934, as well as the largest National Park in Japan. Located in the mountains, Daisetsuzan National Park has 16 peaks that stand at over 6,000 ft. It also offers some of the most jagged terrain in Japan, making it a great place for experienced hikers. The park is also home to many different rare species, like the pika: a small round-bodied mammal with resemblance to a rabbit. If you’re lucky you might see one as you trek through the wilderness!

 

  • Another National Park that Hokkaido is home to that will give visitors an experience unlike one they’ve had before is Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. Located in the western park of Hokkaido, there are multiple features to this National Park that make it a destination to check off your list when visiting the island. The park itself is divided into five designated areas, with each one offering its own highlight. Arguably the most famous of these areas are Toya and Shikotsu: the caldera lakes from which the park’s name is derived from. The stratovolcano of Mount Usu is located on the southern rim of Lake Toya, and the lake itself is almost completely circular in shape. Lake Shikotsu may not be known for being nearly a perfect circle, but it is the second deepest lake in Japan and is surrounded by three volcanoes. With views like that, exploring the outdoors in Hokkaido is sure to be explosive. Sapporo, Hokkaido’s capital and also its largest city, has many cultural delights and activities to offer visitors. One of Sapporo’s most known areas is Odori Park. Originally constructed to be the city’s main street, Odori Park is often used for local events and gatherings. Visit Hokkaido’s capital at the right time and you’ll be able to see one of these events first hand: The Sapporo Snow Festival.

 

  • The festival takes place every year in February over a span of seven days, and is one of the areas most distinct winter-based functions. Explore hundreds of snow statues and ice sculptures; often times the festival’s winter art will feature a famous figure from the previous year. Catch a performance on a stage made of snow, or help guide your family through a snow maze; The Sapporo Snow Festival even has snow and ice slides exciting for all ages. Another interesting feature Odori Park has to offer is the Sapporo TV Tower. Built in 1957 by the same architect famous for the planning of Tokyo Tower, the Sapporo TV Tower stands at over 450 feet high! The tower has an observation deck at 295 feet, and from there you can see all of Odori Park. Not only does the tower offer stellar views, but on its lower floors you can find other ways to spend your time. An information center, as well as souvenir shop and restaurant area called Tele-chika Gourmet Court are all found in the tower. The basement even connects to an underground shopping arcade. Odori Park is also home to monuments such as the Monument of Takuboku Ishikawa and the Seion Monument.
  • Hokkaido’s capital is also home to the only beer museum in all of Japan, The Sapporo Beer Museum, which makes for a great way to spend an afternoon on your vacation and taste some brews at the same time. The museum has three floors and offers free admission. The red-brick building that currently houses the museum was built in 1890 for the Sapporo Sugar Company, but became the beer museum in 1987. The Sapporo Beer Museum displays multiple exhibits that highlight the history of the Sapporo Brewery and those who were involved, and includes items like signs, posters, beer bottles, and even instruments used to brew. On the second floor of the museum you will find a bar where you can try different Sapporo alcohol products; if the weather is too nice to stay inside, take your drink to the Beer Garden adjacent to the museum. Or, for a more in depth educational experience, take the guided tour offered by the museum.
  • Cape Soya is considered the northernmost point on the island of Hokkaido, and contains over ten different monuments commemorating different points in the history of the island. For the history buffs visiting Hokkaido, Cape Soya is a place not to be missed. One of the most notable monuments located at the northernmost point on the island is The Monument of Peace, which was erected to memorialize the USS Wahoo and merchant ships that were sunk in 1943. Another monument located at Cape Soya that makes the area worth a visit is The Tower of Prayer. This monument stands in remembrance of Korean Airlines flight 007, which was shot down in 1983. To explore more of Hokkaido’s history, be sure to visit the Historical Village of Hokkaido. Located in Sapporo, this open-air museum was opened in 1983 and contains historical structures from the Meiji and Taisho periods. These structures are placed in four categories: town, fishing village, mountain village, and farming village. Stepping through the entrance to the museum will transport you back to frontier times, when Hokkaido’s development was carried out on a larger scale. To continue learning about Hokkaido and its development, you can make your way down to the Hokkaido Museum; it is a short walk from the open air museum, and investigates the relationship between the natural environment and the culture of the Ainu people.

Hokkaido is a island full of luscious nature, history, and beauty sure to entice any visitor back again. Don’t miss out on what Hokkaido has to offer!

Trek Hokkaido with Super Value Tours

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Spring – 9 Days 2018

On this trip, you will have a chance to stay at six different onsen hotels with natural hot springs, taste delicious fresh Hokkaido seafood, and see the unforgettable Moss Cherry Blossom blanket the entire Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park like a giant fuzzy pink carpet.

Summer – 9 Days

Cool off from the heat in the -15c° simulated drift ice room in Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum where a wet towel freezes within seconds. Visit the Farm Tomita in Furano to admire one of the oldest lavender fields in Japan and many other colorful seasonal flowers in full bloom stretched across the rolling fields, a wonder that only occurs in the summer.

Fall – 9 Days

As Fall sweeps across Hokkaido, ride the Mt. Kurodake Ropeway for a splendid view of Daisetsuzan Mountain Range covered in vibrant hues of Autumn. Try Moor hot springs, unique to the town of Otofuke. Soak in the golden-brown water enriched with native organic matters and leave feeling rejuvenated and your skin silky smooth.

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