Where To Go With the JR Hokkaido Pass

Hokkaido is Japan’s largest prefecture. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan, and the Sea of Okhotsk, it's a land with a rich natural environment, deep history, and an endless list of things to do. 

The northernmost island region of Japan offers seasonal festivals, ice spectacles, national parks, and delicious cuisine. You also can't miss their spectacular fresh produce, including world-renowned snow crab, seafood, and popular dishes like Hokkaido ramen and soup curry. 

Luckily with a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass, it's easier and cheaper to move and see all the best spots Hokkaido has to offer. Here are five places to visit in Hokkaido on a JR Pass. 

What is a Hokkaido Rail Pass? It’s a transportation pass issued by Japan Railways (JR) Hokkaido Railway Company, and it allows unlimited rides on all JR Hokkaido Lines (except Hokkaido Shinkansen) during the selected validity period. 

There’s a 5-day or 7-day option, which is counted consecutively from your choice of starting date. JR passes are only available to foreign visitors, and there are two ways to purchase them; you can buy them outside of Japan at a travel agency (and redeem them at the pass exchange place in Hokkaido) or purchase them directly in Japan.

The pass allows you to see your favorite spots without worrying about buying a new ticket each time. Keep in mind that the pass doesn’t cover the fares for local buses or taxis, though.  

Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido and Japan's fifth largest city, is a brilliant base to explore. In Japanese characters, 札幌 means "great river flowing through a plain" in the indigenous Ainu language. 

Here, you should visit Sapporo Art Park for a walk through art in the sculpture garden or craft hall. There's also a craft studio for hands-on activities, including pottery, glassware, and textile dying classes for individuals and groups. Head to Nijo Market for fresh seafood, open between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for popular dishes such as uni (sea urchin) and ikura (salmon egg) donburi on rice.  

During winter, the Sapporo Snow Festival is not to be missed. The festival often attracts many locals and tourists with gigantic snow sculptures shaped like buildings, animals, pop culture icons, and all sorts. 
For dinner, visit Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho, a narrow alleyway in Susukino home to 17 popular miso ramen shops. Be ready to savor rich broth varieties from spicy miso and miso char siu to classic Sapporo miso. 

Hakodate has deep-rooted history sites and with relics from every age in Japan's history, dating back to the prehistoric Jomon period (traditionally dated between c. 14,000 - 300 BCE). 

To better understand the city's culture and history, visit Hakodate Jomon Culture Center. Here, you can learn about Jomon craftsmanship and artifacts and try your hand at making Jomon pottery yourself. 

You'll probably be getting hungry after ancient-style crafts work, so we recommend heading to Kantaro Sushi, which is conveniently located next to Goryokaku Park. After lunch, you'll be able to explore Goryokaku Fort, a fascinating star-shaped fortress and landmark which was built in the last years of the Edo Period (1603-1868).

For a spectacular view of the city, head up to Mt. Hakodate at the peninsula's southern end. Known mainly for its beautiful night view, we recommend making your way by the Hakodateyama Ropeway from Motomachi District before sunset. You can also go directly via bus. 

Noboribetsu is a place where you can feel the force of nature. The hot spring town is just above Noboribetsu Jigokudani, or “Hell Valley”, a volcanic valley formed by the eruptions of Mt. Hiyori. You can understand why it’s named this way when you see its clouds of hot steam, sulfurous streams, and bubbling hot springs. 

You can hike up wooded hills from the valley and find Oyunumagawa, a river flowing out from a hot sulfurous pond. Further along the river, there’s a warm natural footbath where you can dip your feet for a refresher. 

If you’re keen on more of a hike, head to Orofure Pass Orofureyama, which is about 45 minutes by car. You might want to hike with a local certified guide, especially if you’re not that used to hiking. 

The area is not the most accessible, so while you might consider dining out, we recommend staying at a Japanese ryokan inn with hot spring facilities for soaking in and a traditional evening meal.  

Asahikawa is Hokkaido’s second-largest city, known for its family-friendly Asahiyama Zoo. Some of the animals at the zoo include penguins, seals, polar bears, and pandas. A tip, we recommend going on a weekday to avoid the crowds. 

Enjoy a traditional Japanese-style lunch at Tenkin Honten, which serves up tempura and sashimi set meals with an assortment of sides, miso soup, and rice. If you’re after a hot bowl of noodles, head to Asahikawa Ramen Aoba. 

For an activity that will renew your appreciation for sake Japanese rice wine, visit Otokoyama Sake Brewery (free entry). You can learn about sake brewing culture, the industry, and history and sample and buy different kinds of sake at their store. 

In terms of seasonal activities in Asahikawa, there’s Yuki Matsuri or Asahikawa Snow festival during winter and the beautiful lavender fields of Furano or Daisetsuzan National Park that are certainly worth visiting during the warmer months.

Abashiri City is situated in northeastern Hokkaido along the Okhotsk Sea. With 35 percent of its land mass forested, the city itself lies within Abashiri Quasi-National Park. 

Here, you’ll truly want to make the most of nature’s bounty. During the winter, you can go on a cruise or tour to see drift ice on the shores of the Okhotsk Sea. Drift ice (流氷, ryūhyō) is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the middle of winter where the frozen white chunks of ice flow southward across the ocean, often accompanied by marine wildlife such as seals. One of the drift ice cruises are offered by the icebreaker ship Aurora. 

Nearby, visit Ryuhyo Glass Museum, which crafts and displays beautiful works of glass artwork with an inspiring story and environmental message. Ryuhyo Glass company uses locally produced recycled glass for their products, doing their part to reduce environmental impacts and encouraging others to think about recycling and the effect of rising temperatures on the ice.  

There are several cozy lunch spots nearby in Abashiri, including retro family restaurant Arcadia and Japanese-pub-tapas style izakaya O! Den. 

Abashiri Prison Museum is a fascinating open-air museum that has been reassembled from the original building of the Meiji era (1868 - 1912). The facility captures the history of prisoners and their daily lives, and you can even have a traditional “prison meal" for lunch.