JAPAN’S HIDDEN GEM- SPOTLIGHT ON HOKKAIDO

Like most people when I think about traveling to Japan the first cities that come to mind are Tokyo and Kyoto, but many tourists don’t hear about how truly spectacular the Hokkaido prefecture is.

I’m here to share why you need to add this gorgeous hidden gem to your travel itinerary when visiting the “Land of the Rising Sun.”

Just a short flight from Tokyo, Hokkaido’s located in the northernmost island of the four main islands of Japan. 

Blessed with an abundance of incredible picture-postcard natural beauty, Hokkaido has been famous for years among Japanese tourists for its world-class powder snow and its historical indigenous Ainu culture.  

To note, while Hokkaido is the perfect escape year-round to experience the natural beauty of Japan’s four seasons, I had the immense pleasure of visiting this Fall and it was truly spectacular.

The first thing that hit me driving past the rolling, beautiful landscapes was the myriad of vividly colored Autumn foliage.

A dazzling display of colors; burnt oranges, reds and yellows showcased so perfectly across the scenic roadways, as if someone had painstakingly and methodically planted the trees on purpose to take my breath away. Mission accomplished!

The region is characterized by the majestic silhouette of Mt. Yotei – also known as “Mt. Fuji of Hokkaido” for its size and beautiful shape that follows you almost everywhere you go as the island’s watchful guardian.  

In fact, while staying at the newly opened 5-star luxury Setsu Niseko, Mount Yotei’s arresting presence was a constant source of pleasure to marvel its picturesque view from many vantage points throughout the hotel.

Timeless, modern Japanese inspired design with every contemporary luxury imaginable, the Setsu Niseko comprises 190 luxury hotel suites to indulge all your senses.

My favorite hotel amenity hands down is the property’s indoor/outdoor Onsen.  I was a regular fixture soaking in the mineral-rich outdoor Onsen each morning upon awakening and every night helping to put me blissfully to sleep.     

A sanctuary of wellness with its volcanic hot spring water direct from the hotel’s own source, the therapeutic health benefits of Japanese Onsen’s is world renown.  You can find Onsen’s literally everywhere in Hokkaido as well as many regions of Japan. It is so conveniently located on the property. I can attest firsthand soaking for 10 minutes in these naturally rich healing minerals will take away any ache or pain instantly.  Pure Heaven!

In addition, I loved wearing the Setsu’s Jinbei (house clothes) provided to hotel guests that I wore at every opportunity.

Autumn is a great time to delve into Hokkaido’s wine scene. Wine grapes of Hokkaido are usually ready to be harvested in early September and surprisingly there are tons of vineyards in the region to explore for a fabulous day of wine tasting.  

The NIKI Hills Winery has stunning grounds and offers tours of their beautiful facility with a wonderful tasting room and wine shop, not to mention their wine is delicious.  

Hokkaido’s abundant nature has made it one of the best culinary hotspots in Japan and I was blown away by the delicious variety of local cuisine and culinary creativity.

For a truly authentic farm-to-table experience I would highly recommend the Niseko Green Farm where you can hand pick organic, pesticide-free veggies and make your own pizza in their wood fire pizza oven.

More notable gastronomy that really stood out was savoring a delicious array of seasonal Hokkaido fresh produce and seafood in an eight-course dinner prepared by Chef Ozeki Tatsuya, at Somoza, a private gallery restaurant nestled in the forest in Hanazono.  And the crab paella prepared by Chef Niki at LOOP in Yoichi still leaves me salivating.

Forest Bathing to de-stress and reconnect with nature is my secret to mindful travel whenever the opportunity arises—it’s especially a must-do when vacationing in a natural treasure trove such as Hokkaido.  Of course, I can’t think of a better location to partake in this form of ecotherapy than Japan since it’s actually the birthplace of Forest Bathing, or shinrin-yoku –“taking in the forest atmosphere”.

Not far from Setsu Niseko is Lake Hangetsu or “Half Moon Lake” where I had a fantastic forest bathing “fix” taking in the lakeside scenery.  Formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, it is said that taking a deep breath at the pure waterside surrounded by Niseko’s virgin forest is very healing. 

Walking through the stunning array of autumn-colored trees, my hike was rewarded when I reached the bottom of the trailhead to discover the lake’s crescent-shaped dazzling, crystal-blue rippling water.  (See article cover shot). 

Perhaps the most impressive natural phenomena I experienced in Hokkaido was Noboribetsu, or “Hell Valley”.  A volcanic crater with massive amounts of steam rising from the mountains as hot water bubbles up from the Tessan Ike geyser. It’s a unique thermal station, ranked in the top 10 of the best 100 Onsen in Japan and the most famous in Hokkaido.  

As a geothermal hot spring’s lover, I took tons of videos because pictures just don’t do it justice…. 

To see Noboribetsu in action check out my Instagram reel.

Noboribetsu derives from the name Ainu nupuru petsu, which means “white muddy river, dark coloured river”.  In ancient times, the Ainu, the indigenous people of northern Japan, used these hot springs as medicinal baths. 

It’s an absolute must to visit The Upopoy National Ainu Museum to learn about the Ainu culture as these indigenous people originate from the northern region of the Japanese archipelago, particularly Hokkaido. 

The Museum is a wonderful tribute to Ainu history with many cultural exhibits educating visitors on its traditional dances, wood carving, embroidery using their unique patterns and the Ainu language which is unrelated to Japanese.

What really spoke to me about Ainu culture that mirrored my own beliefs is that respect and gratitude are the essence of their spirituality, and nothing is more important than harmonizing with and coexisting with nature.  

Hmmm… maybe I have Ainu ancestry??

The charms of sightseeing in Hokkaido are plentiful and the Japanese “Omotenashi” (hospitality) is unrivaled.  

Since the Japanese government has finally reopened Japan’s borders to tourists October 2022, there is no better time to start planning your trip and my suggestion is to add Hokkaido as the third leg to Tokyo and Kyoto on your travel itinerary.

When we travel, we drink in the energy of each new place in a way that can be transformational. It enhances our sense of being

and that energy stays with us and elevates us even after we leave.

As a TV Travel Host, I’m often asked which destination is my favorite and in the past, I’ve always answered “the next one” but now having experienced more regions of Japan, infused and forever changed by the culture and its beauty, my answer has changed.

I’m smitten with Japan.