City: Hokkaido
Top Things to do in Hokkaido
Top 10 Nature & Wildlife Areas in Hokkaido, Japan
Hokkaido (北海道, Hokkaidō, literally "Northern Sea Circuit") (Japanese: [hokkaꜜidoː] ( listen)), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is the second largest island of Japan, and the largest and northernmost prefecture. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu. The two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The largest city on Hokkaido is its capital, Sapporo, which is also its only ordinance-designated city. About 43 km north of Hokkaido lies Sakhalin Island, Russia, whereas to its east and north-east are the disputed Kuril Islands.
Restaurants in Hokkaido
1. Shinsennuma
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By nadiahkimie - Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
The walk to Shinsennuma marsh is lovely and filled with greenery in summer. The path is covered throughout, and while there are spots where the planks have come loose or are starting to rot (they are wooden planks having to withstand four seaons of weather changes after all), it is generally in good quality. There are paths where nature makes the walk a bit of an obstacle course, when you have to squeeze through or duck in between branches, but I didn't mind it at all and enjoyed the experience. The view leading up to the actual marsh is beautiful too, and if I'd been there earlier and it hadn't started to drizzle down, I would have loved to just stay still there for awhile and soak in the atmosphere. Note though the rest stop in the parking area seems closed for renovation at the moment. There was no access to the bathroom when we went.
2. Tsurui Ito Red-crowned Crane Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 89 reviews
Reviewed By simon_and_emma69 - Workington, United Kingdom
In spite of the freezing temperatures (below -20 deg C with wind chill) this was such an evocative experience that the temperature didn't even seem to matter. Watching these elegant and beautiful birds strut their stuff and occasionally face off was absolutely wonderful. The small shop, information centre and cafe was great to retreat to when we needed a warm up and while we didn't use them, there were spotting scopes and binoculars you could use to watch the birds from indoors if you wanted to. If you don't have a car, plan you bus trip carefully from Kushiro as the service isn't regular, but you can manage a couple of hours stopover late morning and the service is reliable - even in freezing winter weather!. If you are in Kushiro - don't miss this place.
3. Fukuhara Sanso
4. Kagaminuma
5. Shiretoko Peninsula
6. Viva Alpaca Farm
7. Onnenai Boardwalk
8. Earth Dream Kakuyama Farm
9. Kiritappu Wetland
10. Kushiro City Tanchozuru Nature Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 248 reviews
Reviewed By MaximeLecl - France, null
We went on October 22nd early morning when it opens at 9am. Our advice is to come when the center opens because we had the morning light, less tourists, and the cranes were the most active (2 of them flew and came on the visitors path and 2 others were showing off for pride to each other, doing their famous danse and call more or less). Cranes are free to fly away if they want to. There are behind a protective wired fence. Some holes allow you to photograph them properly without the fence. We believe the cranes are being taken care of and the ones that are ill are receiving treatment in an outside area visitors can see from afar but cannot visit. Also saw red kites and black woodpecker in the trees next to the cranes. Directions: take bus number 30 from Kushiro bus terminal to go and come back. Beware though that the number of buses going and coming is highly limited (2 per morning depending on season). You can also take the bus to airport terminal and walk 30 minutes on the road, it's ok but I don't really recommend this option
