Hi Hokkaido travelers,

Last week, I talked about the region visited by only 1.5% of international travelers to Hokkaido.

Today, I will talk about something opposite - places that the majority of visitors (85%!) go to.

That’s the central and northern regions of Hokkaido, which includes popular cities like Sapporo, Furano, Biei, etc..

I’m not here to say “DON’T GO TO THOSE AREAS”

They are accessible and easy to navigate, especially for first-time visitors.

(But don’t go there if you want to avoid the crowd😁)

So here, I’m going to share with you tips to explore these touristy places like a local, in a less touristy way.
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Sapporo

• Visit the Maruyama area, just 7 mins by metro from Odori Park in the city center. This is a quiet residential neighborhood with many cafes, art galleries and nature spots. For example, an antique cafe Morihiko, Maruyama Pancake, a ceramic gallery cafe Sabita, art galleries Salon Cojica, Gallery Sou, to ov cafe/gallery.
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• Take an easy hike in Mount Maruyama. A round trip to the summit takes about 1.5 hours with a nice Sapporo city view.
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• Check out museums, such as Sapporo’s oldest sake brewery Chitosetsuru Sake Museum, Hokkaido Museum to learn about Hokkaido’s culture and history, and Sapporo Science Center.
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• If you’re looking for hidden gem restaurants or diners, head to the 7th and 8th blocks of Tanuki Koji Shopping Street. At the very end of this busy street are hideaways for gourmet locals, such as Aruko for Hokkaido-style lamb BBQ Jingisukan and a small Italian wine bar Bar Menta​
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• Join an izakaya hopping tour guided by a local.

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Furano & Biei

• In summer, visit melon farms. Instead of going to touristy melon shops in the city, you can buy fresh melons directly from the farmers. Check out the Melon Road on this post.
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• Check out these hidden spots recommended by a friend of mine from Furano.
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• ​This 3-day itinerary for Furano, Biei and Asahikwa also has some local spots that you wouldn’t find in other typical, touristy itineraries.

📍 The 8 best hotels in Sapporo​

📍 The 6 best hotels in Furano​

🚗 7-day Hokkaido Road Trip Itinerary including Sapporo, Furano & Biei

Hope this helps you think outside the box and go more adventurous in those popular spots.

Happy trip planning!

Best,
Yuuka

P.S. my top recommended​ resources.

✅ List of Hokkaido itineraries
​✅ My Hokkaido travel planners
​✅ The best hotels in Hokkaido​​​

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