Meet Hokkaido, AKA Japan’s version of the Wild West.
Japan ’s fortunate tourism triangle ofTokyo , Kyoto , andOsaka — all on the main island of Honshu — bewilder plenty of love life from 31 million tourist who visit every year . But what local anesthetic know is that Japan ’s other islands hold incredible natural treasures — specially the northmost island of Hokkaido . With only about 32,000 solid miles , Hokkaido has six home park . Six ! That ’s more interior parks than in Utah , at just one third the size of the US land .
All that gorgeous wild holds about 100 million fewer people than on the main island , intend Hokkaido is the closest Japan has to a baseless western United States . Full of mountains , volcanoes , onsens ( hot springs ) , mud tub , fumaroles , waterfall , wintertime skiing , purple ocean of lavender fields in the Furano area , and a recessed woods next to the so - squall “ submersed Grand Canyon , ” these six internal parks will blow your socks off .
If you ever get done with exploring all that nature , expect to find an abundance of soft serve , thanks to the many moo-cow on Hokkaido , including regional pet like honeysuckle , melon , and Japanese pumpkin . And do n’t drop out on a misstep to the Sapporo brewery , courtesy of the island ’s eponymic majuscule metropolis .
Shikotsu-Toya National Park|CHEN MIN CHUN/Shutterstock
If you ’re quick for some home park hopping , take a quick hour and a half flying from Tokyo to the Chitose Airport in Sapporo to know some of themost ruggedly beautiful landscape Japan has to offer . Read on to plan your ultimate trek through Hokkaido ’s internal parks .
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Explore lakes and the ‘underwater Grand Canyon’ at Shikotsu-Toya National Park
locate 45 minutes outside of Sapporo , Shikotsu - Toyais one of Hokkaido ’s most approachable national parks . Even so , take a railcar is recommended to avoid the pains of infrequent public transportation . It ’s also a wonderland for anyone who value water .
commence with a ride upMount Usu Ropeway , which offer a cinemascope sight of Lake Toya and Nakajima Island . Divers make regular stops at Lake Shikotsu , Japan ’s secondly inscrutable lake and one of its clearest . Here , strapping on a courtship gives you the opportunity to search an ancient sunken forest and chasm nicknamed the “ submerged Grand Canyon . ”
Finally , pay a visit toNoboribetsu and Jigokudani Area Hell Valley , named for the devilish outlet that give off steam from the ground . Stay on the path ( it is hot steam after all ! ) and enjoy the heat in the onsens instead , where you’re able to relax in pool boast various temperatures and mineral compositions .
Shikotsu-Toya National Park|Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
Walk past waterfalls or on blocks of ice at Shiretoko National Park
Welcome to a land so rich in natural resources , the local brownish bears are roll in the hay to be picky , exhaust only the middle of Fish and leaving a wake of eschewed heads and tails . Around 36 ground species , 22 marine mammal metal money , and over 285 snort species call the 149 square mile ofShiretoko National Parkhome , much of which is approachable to humans only by foot or boat .
During the summer , take a boat out to see the craggy cliffs andFurepe - no - Taki Falls , a spectacular river - free shower that the indigenous Ainu refer to as “ Red Water . ” During the winter , the Shiretoko peninsula becomes a playground for those defy enough to shimmy into a dry suit and join a guide for a pass across the turgid pulley block of ice that float in the water — an activity that can quickly turn into more of a doggy paddle .
Since public transportation does n’t run frequently , fell into Memanbetsu Airport ( which has lineal flights from Tokyo and Sapporo ) , and rent a car . For maximum enjoyment , partner off natural exploration with a stay at the Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort , where it ’s almost obligatory to decompress in an onsen and sauna that overlooks the Hekikai Sea .
Shikotsu-Toya National Park|Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
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Soak next to monkeys or in a sake bath at these onsens.
See mud pools, lake moss balls, and active volcanoes at Akan-Mashu National Park
Just two 60 minutes from Shiretoko , Akan - Mashu National Parkis where Hokkaido double down on the surreal . Take for instance the marimo — green moss balls found in Lake Akan . These foreign growth , which would n’t look out of billet in a Studio Ghibli film , were declared a interior treasure in 1920 and even animate an annual three - day festival every October .
Next up , hit the walk trail from theAkankohan Eco - Museum Center , where a fifteen - minute perambulation will bring you to gurgle clay pools . call “ bokke , ” these geothermic mud baths were formed by magma bubbling up from the earth ’s core at almost 212 degrees Fahrenheit .
Take a 20 - minute railcar ride to Mount Meakan , where you could go aspect - to - face with nature at its most fiery by hiking the active volcano ’s craggy surface . Despite what theLord of The Ringsworthy - plume of smoke might run you to believe , it is safe .
Shiretoko National Park|Tatsuo Nakamura/Shutterstock
Keep in mind that Akan - Mashu is monolithic — and it ’s worth it to labor almost an hour and twenty minutes to take advantage of the free onsens turn up shore side at Lake Kussharo . pass the nighttime up your chance of an former dayspring coming upon with Kussie , the area ’s secret lake monster . If it does n’t look , you could always make do with the dark - fin replicas located at nearly every gift shop in the region .
Witness endangered cranes at Kushiro Shitsugen National Park
Whether you ’re an greedy shuttle watcher or just a daily ornithologist , Kushiroshitsugen National Parkis the require visit for you . place in Eastern Hokkaido , the expanse of seaside wetland was declared a internal park in 1987 to protect the endangered Nipponese Cranes , think to be extinct until a group of 20 were discovered in 1926 . The unspoilt news show is that the plan worked . Today over 1,000 cranes call the park menage , and they can be viewed from wooden walkway through the wetlands or while gymnastic horse trek in the northwestern niche of the common .
Hike or cable car past lava scapes at Daisetsuzan National Park
Daisetsuzanis both Hokkaido ’s largest national park and perhaps one of the nation ’s best locations for hiker . That ’s thanks to millennia of volcanic natural process that did wonders to the land . you could still see the suggestion of all the lava via the spectacular fumaroles , seeable along a 4.1 - mile way alongside Mount Asahidake .
For those less interested in die a sweat , the Mount Kurodake cable railroad car provides transit up the absolute majority of the mountain , giving would - be tramper a headspring come out in addition to arresting views of nightfall foliation .
Not a hiker ? No problem . The Sugatami Pond walking path supply a less physically taxing experience , while still offer its share of rugged , ground - point views .
fillip : the upside of all this volcanic activity means you ’re also in one of the best place for onsens . Venture just northward out of the park past Mount Kurodake to Sounkyo Onsen , where public baths provide stunning view of the smother defile .
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Ocean views, multi-course udon dinners, and hot springs along the way.
See a floating mountain surrounded by flowers at Rishiri Rebun Sarobetsu National Park
Rishiri Rebun Sarobetsu National Parkhas the distinction of being Japan ’s northmost National car park . The field feature a astonishing issue of endemic metal money . In fact , Rebun Island is nicknamed “ Island of Flowers ” for the sheer bit of varieties that dust its shore .
The shoreline is a layover for the Taiga bean bozo , while the surrounding islands are home to white - give chase eagles , dark pecker , and whistling swan . Take in the views from theMomoiwa Trail , and visit Sarobetsu Plain for a unique view of Mount Rishiri , seemingly “ floating ” in the sea .
Ready to hit the park? Check out our tool kit to get started:
Akan-Mashu National Park|yoshimi maeda/Shutterstock
Kushiro Shitsugen National Park|Ippei Naoi/Moment/Getty Images
Daisetsuzan National Park|CHEN MIN CHUN/Shutterstock
Rishiri Rebun Sarobetsu National Park|rujin/Shutterstock
