It’s a different world up in Hokkaido. Japan’s northern island holds 20% of the country’s land but only 5% of its people, so you get a feeling of genuine remoteness that’s increasingly hard to find anywhere . . . let alone in Japan. And it all comes wrapped in the efficiency, superb road infrastructure, wonderful manners and knock-out food that come with any trip to Japan. Remote wilderness where everything just works – a rare combo.
Here’s the thing though – the vast majority of visitors stick to the classic spots in the west: Niseko for the skiing, Toya-ko for the Windsor Hotel views and Furano for the flowers. Head east of Sapporo and you’ve ticked the adventure box ahead of 90% of your fellow travellers before you’ve even started. Once you do, expect HUGE national parks, volcanoes, dramatic gorges, small onsen towns, views across the water to Russia and somewhere north of 10,000 brown bears.
Honestly, the feeling of being able to just point the car at the Hokkaido mountain and forest wilderness is worth the trip alone.