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Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/22 19:49
I would like to go to Hokkaido but I don't know when, I don't intend to drive car so what would you suggest?

Winter for snow festival and hot springs? or summer with lavender fields in Furano?

Which one do you think is better?
by Peter1986  

Re: Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/23 11:51
Entirely depends on what you want to see....
by . (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/23 12:45
Of course .(guest) is right, but I would post my personal opinion.

Feb and Jul are the best two months while Apr and Nov are the worst.

Jan. good. lots of snow but no big festival or drifting ice.
Feb. best. Snow festivals and drifting ice.
Mar. Good for ski.
Apr. Worst. Cold and windy but snow is melting.
May. Good for cherry blossom, but may be cold.
Jun. Good for flowers in Rebun island.
July. Best for many places including Biei (flowers) and northern islands.
Aug. Good season but school holidays make this month crowded.
Sep. Good for autumn leaves in Daisetsuzan mountains.
Oct. Good for autumn leaves for lower regions.
Nov. Worst. No snow scenery, no autumn leaves, but cold.
Dec. Start of ski season.
by frog1954 (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/23 12:48
Of course .(guest) is right, but I would post my personal opinion.

Feb and Jul are the best two months while Apr and Nov are the worst.

Jan. good. lots of snow but no big festival or drifting ice.
Feb. best. Snow festivals and drifting ice.
Mar. Good for ski.
Apr. Worst. Cold and windy but snow is melting.
May. Good for cherry blossom, but may be cold.
Jun. Good for flowers in Rebun island.
July. Best for many places including Biei (flowers) and northern islands.
Aug. Good season but school holidays make this month crowded.
Sep. Good for autumn leaves in Daisetsuzan mountains.
Oct. Good for autumn leaves for lower regions.
Nov. Worst. No snow scenery, no autumn leaves, but cold.
Dec. Start of ski season.
by frog1954 (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/23 17:35
For my personal preference I think that winter is best; I've been twice in January and loved it, next time I will make sure to visit in February: http://monochrome.me.uk/blog/tag/hokkaido/

We had rented a car and driving in the snow and on ice was not much of an issue; I loved it actually :-)
by Hoshisato rate this post as useful

Re: Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/23 19:26
It totally depends on your preference.

I'm from Greater Tokyo, I love hot summers, and I have no interest in lavender fields, so naturally I enjoyed the winters in Sapporo, Otaru and Hakodate over their summers, because the seafood is more fatty.

I found Sapporo particularly fascinating because every place is equipped with comfortable heating, closets for big coats (especially at BBQ restaurants), and the city's extended underground pedestrian routes and organized roads allow tourists to travel anywhere within the city.
by Uco rate this post as useful

Re: Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/23 20:58
I was there in June and it was a nice mild temperature, so definitely nice for onsen. The flowers at Rebun were very pretty and I loved the hiking, scenery and vastness.

I'd like to return in February one day for the festivals, drift ice and rotenburo in snow.
by Sal1980 rate this post as useful

Re: Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/23 22:57
Nothing beats a rotenburo in the snow and at a freezing -5C: http://monochrome.me.uk/news/kotan-onsen/ :-) Many of my favourite Hokkaido memories are from rotenburo
by Hoshisato rate this post as useful

Re: Hokkaido when best? 2017/5/24 10:12

I have visited Hokkaido several times in different seasons. My personal best Hokkaido experience was a few years ago in deep winter. I spend 3 weeks travelling from Hakodate to as far as Shiretokoshari , visiting many places only winter Hokkaido could offer. It turned out to be my best memory of Japan ever!
by liem (guest) rate this post as useful

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