19 Popular Date Spots in Hokkaido: A trip filled with breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences

Otaru Port grew as a gateway for Hokkaido’s development. As cargo volumes increased year by year, the Otaru Canal was completed in 1923 to make transportation work more efficient.
The promenade is lined with 63 gas lamps that light up at dusk. Along the canal, rows of stone warehouses remain as they once were and have been repurposed as restaurants and more.
At twilight, the gas lamps and illuminated warehouses create a beautifully nostalgic, retro streetscape.

Japan’s northernmost zoo, Asahiyama Zoo is famous for its “behavioral exhibitions,” designed to create comfortable environments matched to each animal’s ecology and bring out their natural behaviors for visitors to observe.
Highlights include the Penguin House, where penguins swim freely through an underwater tunnel; the Seal House, where seals move up and down through a cylindrical tank; and the Polar Bear House, where you can watch polar bears dive into a pool—bringing you closer to animals living actively and vividly.

Goryokaku is a Western-style fortress built in 1866.
At its center, many remnants from its days as a fort still remain, including cannons and a food storehouse, along with other facilities that evoke its wartime past.
Goryokaku Park is also well known as a place to enjoy beautiful flowers—especially cherry blossoms. In fact, it’s so famous that “Goryokaku means sakura” for many visitors. The sight of Approx. 1,530 cherry trees blooming all at once is truly spectacular.

Shiroi Koibito is one of Sapporo’s best-known signature sweets.
Shiroi Koibito Park is a confectionery theme park where you can tour the production line for Shiroi Koibito and other treats, learn about the history of chocolate, and even make your own original Shiroi Koibito.
There’s plenty for chocolate lovers, including the Chocotopia House, which introduces the four major chocolate revolutions through projection mapping, and Study Base Cacao Pod, where you can learn how to taste chocolate.

This open-air museum sits next to the expansive, nature-rich Nopporo Forest Park. True to its name, it relocates, restores, recreates, and exhibits buildings from across Hokkaido that were originally built during the era of Hokkaido’s development, from the Meiji period through the early Showa period.
Spanning 54.2 hectares, the grounds are divided into four areas—town, fishing village, farming village, and mountain village—home to 52 buildings in total.
With authentic exteriors and carefully recreated interiors filled with period furniture and tools, walking through the village feels like stepping back into frontier-era Hokkaido.

Moerenuma Park is an art park created as part of Sapporo’s circular greenbelt plan, designed to wrap the city in parks and green spaces.
The entire park was designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi as a single sculptural work, revealing different expressions to visitors as the seasons change.

Sapporo Stellar Place is one of Japan’s largest shopping centers, located inside JR Tower.
With more than 200 stores, it offers a wide range of options centered on fashion, plus lifestyle goods, restaurants, cafes, and more.
Directly connected to the station, it’s easy to access and is a true hub of Sapporo—frequented not only by tourists but also by locals in their everyday lives.

A historic hot spring town in Minami Ward, Sapporo—often called Sapporo’s “inner parlor” getaway.
With a history of over 150 years, it lies within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, spreading across riverbanks carved by the Shirai River and Toyohira River.
Starting with Jozan Gensen Park, the town offers free footbaths and handbaths. You’ll also spot whimsical kappa statues throughout the area, including a Kappa King statue in Futami Park along the Toyohira River.

Built next to Goryokaku Park, Goryokaku Tower is a beloved Hakodate landmark. From its 90-meter-high observation deck, you can look down over the Goryokaku Fort site, a Special Historic Site of Japan.
The 360-degree panorama offers sweeping views of seasonal scenery in Goryokaku Park—cherry blossoms, fall foliage, fresh greenery, and snowy landscapes—along with famous sights like Mt. Hakodate, the Tsugaru Strait, and Hakodate Bay.

This caldera lake lies within Akan-Mashu National Park in eastern Hokkaido. With a circumference of Approx. 20 km and an area of Approx. 19.6 km², the lake’s surroundings are designated as a Special Protection Zone.
In the Ainu language, Lake Mashu is called Kamuito, meaning “Lake of the Gods.” Its water is among the clearest in the world, reflecting the blue of the sky to create a pure, deep hue known as “Mashu Blue.” The lake’s appearance changes from moment to moment with shifting clouds and sunlight, and on calm days, the blue stands out even more vividly.

With its striking, vivid blue, Shirogane Blue Pond is one of Biei’s most famous sightseeing spots.
This man-made pond formed by chance when water accumulated behind a block dam built on the Biei River as part of disaster-prevention construction to stop volcanic mudflows from Mt. Tokachi.
Its mysteriously beautiful blue water, combined with the surrounding lush nature and standing dead larch trees, creates an enchanting atmosphere that feels straight out of a fairy tale.

A tourist farm in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, famous for its elegant lavender fields spreading across a vast landscape.
Its signature area is the Irodori Field, where vivid bands of flowers paint a gently sloping canvas.
The farm features a variety of flower gardens, including the Hanabito Field, where colorful blooms like violas and marigolds flourish, and the Hanabito Garden, where nearly 120 types of plants coexist in a small garden—delighting visitors throughout the grounds.

Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill is a rare place where you can enjoy magnificent natural scenery while still in the two-million-person city of Sapporo.
With expansive seasonal landscapes, it’s also a top photo spot.
Another popular place to take pictures is the statue modeled after Dr. William Smith Clark—known for the famous quote, “Boys, be ambitious”—often called the father of Hokkaido’s development.

In 1950, a traveling zoo from Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo was held in Sapporo and proved so popular that Maruyama Zoo opened the following year as Hokkaido’s first zoo.
One major highlight is the Polar Bear House, where you can observe polar bears swimming from an underwater tunnel.
The pool is divided for polar bears and seals, and if the timing is right, you may even see polar bears watching for seals.

Located in the nature-rich Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park, the aquarium is Approx. 20 minutes from JR Otaru Station by bus or sightseeing boat.
It exhibits Approx. 5,000 creatures across around 250 species, with a focus on animals native to Hokkaido and colder regions.
From dynamic dolphin shows and powerful sea lion shows to touch areas where you can interact with marine life from Hokkaido’s seas, its performances and hands-on experiences are especially popular.

Onuma Quasi-National Park was designated in July 1958 as Japan’s 13th quasi-national park—and the only one in southern Hokkaido.
It’s located in the central Oshima Peninsula, Approx. 20 minutes by car from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station on the Hokkaido Shinkansen. The park covers Mt. Komagatake—an active volcano—along with Onuma, Konuma, Junsainuma, and many other ponds, as well as the lush surrounding area.
Mt. Komagatake, in particular, is a well-known active volcano in southern Hokkaido with a distinctive shape. Spanning a total area of 9,083 hectares, it offers truly grand scenery.

Odori Park sits in the heart of Sapporo. It’s surrounded by Approx. 4,700 trees across 92 species—including lilacs and Japanese elms—and offers a relaxing setting with lawns and fountains, making it a beloved oasis for both tourists and residents amid the office district.
It’s also known as a venue for events such as the Sapporo Lilac Festival and the YOSAKOI Soran Festival. Among them, the Sapporo Snow Festival is especially famous, drawing Approx. 2 million visitors from Japan and around the world each year.

A viewing facility at Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU where you can admire dramatic seas of clouds up close.
It’s typically open only in the early morning from May to October, when the sea of clouds tends to form.
When weather conditions align and clouds flow over the mountains, the vast unkai feels like a true view above the sky.
From a deck that seems to float in midair, you can feel as if you’re setting sail into a sea of clouds.

Since opening in 1859, Hakodate Port has been at the heart of the city’s development.
As one of Japan’s earliest ports to open, it also played a major role in Hakodate’s growth as a tourism city.
From the deep bay and the dramatic presence of Mt. Hakodate to the modern 19th-century atmosphere and exotic streetscapes, the area is photogenic in every direction.

Approx. 20 minutes from central Sapporo by public transportation, this 531-meter mountain is still home to protected primeval forest.
From the summit observation deck, you can look out over the Ishikari Plain and, in the distance, take in sweeping sea views of Ishikari Bay.
The daytime views are impressive, but the night scenery is especially stunning. Selected as one of the “New Three Great Night Views of Japan,” the 360-degree panorama lets you fully enjoy Sapporo’s nightscape.
The vast view of city lights and illuminations shimmering in the twilight is often hailed as one of Sapporo’s best sights.

Mt. Hakodate Summit Observatory is located at the terminal station of the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway.
The night view is said to be worth a million dollars and is counted among the “World’s Three Great Night Views.”
The contrast between the darkness of the sea and the city lights—created by Hakodate’s unique, sea-flanked shape—is truly breathtaking.
You can also enjoy the night view of Hakodate spreading out below from the Mt. Hakodate Ropeway.

Built in 1956 in West 1-chome, the starting point of Odori Park, Sapporo TV Tower is an iconic landmark.
The observation deck at Approx. 90 meters above ground offers spectacular views across Sapporo—and on clear days, you can even see the Ishikari Plain and the Sea of Japan.
It’s not just the daytime views that impress. The tower is also known for its night views and is registered as a “Heritage of Night View in Japan,” with a panoramic look over Odori Park and Sapporo’s glittering cityscape.
For anniversaries or special occasions, the “Private Observation Deck Plan” is recommended.
After business hours, you can reserve the observation deck for 30 minutes and enjoy a romantic moment for just the two of you.

Located at the top of Horomi Pass, this “Horomi Pass Observation Parking Lot” is Approx. 30 minutes by car from central Sapporo.
It’s the only “parking lot dedicated to night views” in Japan and is typically open from April 1 to November 30.
In July, Approx. 5,000 lavender plants bloom in full, covering the area with vivid purple fields.
Enjoying the city view while surrounded by the scent of lavender is part of the charm.
Since you can view the nightscape from inside your car, renting a car also means you can enjoy a private space together—another great perk.

Located at the top of Mt. Okura, the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium was a venue for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics.
The view from the observation deck is another popular draw.
It’s a one-of-a-kind facility where you can look out over Sapporo past the ski jump, with views of the city and the Ishikari Plain from an elevation of 307 meters, beyond the inrun.
After sunset, the night view—spreading along the ridgeline like a carpet of lights—is a scene you can only experience at Okurayama.

Shirotai Ranch (Shirotai Bokujō) was established in 1920 as a village-owned grazing field and wild grass pasture. Today, it’s used as a town-run ranch with a vast pasture area developed across Approx. 160 hectares.
The Shirotai Ranch “Observation Deck (Administration and Related Facilities)” was newly built in 2012 at an elevation of Approx. 500 meters, overlooking this peaceful landscape where grazing cattle feed on grass.
At night, it’s also known as a spot for the “hidden night view (Seven Stars Night View),” offering a jewel-like panorama of sparkling lights.

JR Tower is a major complex directly connected to JR Sapporo Station.
Its observation deck on the top floor, the 38th, is JR Tower Observation Deck T38.
From 160 meters above ground, you can take in views to the north toward Ishikari Bay New Port, to the west toward Mt. Teine, and to the south over central Sapporo’s grid layout, including Sapporo Dome.
After dark, lights come on across the city, and a beautiful grid-patterned night view emerges.
Another highlight is relaxing by the windows at the attached cafe, T’ CAFE, with a glass of wine or a cocktail while enjoying the scenery.

An observation deck located at the summit of Sokuryozan in Muroran, Hokkaido, offering spectacular views over Muroran city, Muroran Port, and the Shiratori Bridge.
It’s counted as one of the “Eight Views of Muroran” and is also famous as a night view spot registered as a “Heritage of Night View in Japan” and among the “Top 100 Night Views.”
At night, the lights of the port’s industrial complexes and the illuminated Shiratori Bridge create a mesmerizing scene.

Otaru Tenguyama is a symbolic mountain of Otaru, with an elevation of 532.4 meters.
At the summit is an observation deck listed as a one-star spot in the Michelin Green Guide Japan, with views over the city and the Sea of Japan.
At night, you can take in Otaru’s beautiful night view, known as one of the “Three Great Night Views of Hokkaido,” alongside Mt. Moiwa and Mt. Hakodate.

In Sapporo—Hokkaido’s hottest gourmet battleground—this ultra-famous restaurant is said to be known by every true foodie: the two-Michelin-star Sushisai Wakichi.
Facing the chef across a white-wood counter, you’ll enjoy a high-end sushi experience where each dish is served one by one, timed to your pace.
The menu is an “omakase course” by the chef, featuring seven appetizers and around 10 pieces of nigiri. With carefully refined dishes that highlight the best seasonal ingredients and top-tier hospitality, it’s an exceptional dining experience.

Mt. Hakodate is known for its spectacular views shaped by a unique landscape bordered by sea on both sides, along with night views that sparkle in the crisp northern air.
At the restaurant located just below the summit observation deck, you can enjoy a relaxed meal while taking in the scenery through expansive glass windows.
The menu features plenty of ingredients from Hokkaido, including local produce from southern Hokkaido (Donan).
Options range widely, from Japanese set meals, gozen sets, and seafood rice bowls to Western dishes like Hokkaido beef steak and stew, plus seafood pasta.

A wine specialty shop located in the Otaru Canal Terminal. Inside, more than 70 varieties line the shelves, including Hokkaido wines sourced from wineries across the region and locally produced Otaru Wine.
The Otaru Canal Terminal building itself was constructed in 1922 as the former Mitsubishi Bank Otaru Branch and has been designated a historic building by the City of Otaru.
Otaru Bine’s main location also serves as a restaurant, where you can enjoy dishes made with local ingredients along with wine pairings selected to complement your meal.

Sapporo Kaniya Main Branch is one of Hokkaido’s largest crab specialty restaurants by seating capacity—an entire large building spanning seven floors above ground and two below dedicated solely to crab cuisine. Along with private rooms of various sizes, it also offers a large banquet hall that can accommodate up to 120 guests.
Centered around carefully selected king crab, snow crab, and hairy crab, you can indulge in a wide variety of luxurious crab dishes showcasing Hokkaido’s renowned flavors.

A meat-focused restaurant on Sapporo Ekimae-dori, also close to the popular Clock Tower sightseeing spot.
It serves carefully selected meats—such as aged beef and branded wagyu—in their best condition.
In a New York-inspired setting, you can enjoy not only beef, pork, and chicken, but also well-loved game meats like Ezo deer and wild boar.
The menu is wide-ranging, from hearty grilled dishes like shareable T-bone steak and roast chicken to curated courses featuring house specialties and great bites to pair with drinks.

La Vista Hakodate Bay is a hotel inspired by Taisho Romance, set in the international port city of Hakodate.
From the common spaces to the guest rooms, its classical design creates an elegant, calm atmosphere well suited to Hakodate.
Breakfast is one of the hotel’s must-try highlights.
Voted No. 1 for breakfast in Hokkaido for seven consecutive years in reviews, it features indulgent options like build-your-own seafood rice bowls with unlimited Hokkaido salmon roe, plus grilled seafood and vegetables prepared right in front of you—letting you fully enjoy Hokkaido’s mountain and sea bounty.

A resort hotel where you can fully enjoy both a luxurious stay and the overwhelming natural beauty of Shiretoko.
Located near Utoro Fishing Port, where sightseeing boats depart and arrive, it’s convenient for exploring Shiretoko—whether you’re into nature watching, sea kayaking, or hiking.
One reason it’s so popular is the outstanding location: from the top-floor scenic public bath with an open-air bath, the sauna with a large exterior window, and the terrace with a footbath, you can take in sweeping views of the Sea of Okhotsk and Shiretoko’s mountains.

This hotel occupies the upper floors of JR Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Hokkaido. Directly connected to Sapporo Station, it offers an ideal location for sightseeing and business. From all 330 guest rooms, you can enjoy expansive views of Sapporo’s cityscape, Ishikari Bay, and even as far as the Daisetsuzan mountain range.
The rooms feature a clean, refined design and are well equipped with free Wi-Fi, wired LAN, and amenities.

A hot spring resort in Noboribetsu Onsen, one of Japan’s leading hot spring destinations, formed by volcanic activity Approx. 10,000 years ago. Nestled in the mountains, it offers a luxurious stay while surrounded by rich nature.
The hotel features one of Noboribetsu Onsen’s largest bath areas, where you can enjoy four types of spring water: acidic iron spring, simple sulfur spring, salt spring, and sulfur spring—among the 11 types of spring qualities Noboribetsu is known for.
In winter, its rustic open-air baths are especially appealing, letting you enjoy a snowy outdoor soak.

A 435-room city hotel with one of the largest banquet halls in the Hakodate area, plus three restaurants and a modern tea lounge.
At the natural hot spring panoramic public bath, Shiomi-no-Yu, on the 13th floor of the main building, you can relax while taking in sweeping views of Hakodate Port through large windows.
Its breakfast buffet is also well regarded, featuring plenty of Hokkaido ingredients. With a live kitchen where chefs finish dishes right in front of you, you can enjoy an elegant morning from the start of the day.