Hokkaido in summer is a land of lavender fields, fresh produce-fuelled fine dining and wildlife you won’t see anywhere else in Japan.

Most visitors know Hokkaido for its snow, but locals eagerly anticipate the months after the thaw. Long days mean farm-to-table dining under clear skies, hot springs without the winter chill, and the freedom to hike or cycle without the crowds. There’s still that classic Japanese ambience (miso ramen at midnight, wine from Yoichi, ice cream churned just metres from the paddock), but the island feels relaxed and easier to savour. Discover the best things to do outside of snow season with this Hokkaido summer guide.

Food and wine

In Hokkaido, summer is officially harvest time for sweet corn, melons and cherries. And seafood markets brim with scallops, sea urchin and crabs pulled from the icy currents surrounding the island.

No trip here is complete without Genghis Khan barbecue, a succulent lamb dish grilled over domed plates and paired with seasonal veggies. If sushi is more your pace, Otaru Sushiya Dori packs countless restaurants into one stretch, each serving plates that double as works of art.

And then there’s wine. At Camel Farm Winery in Yoichi, the cool climate nurtures vines that produce crisp whites and berry-rich reds, further proof that Japan’s northern frontier provides healthy competition to some of the world’s best wine regions.

Roughly half of Japan’s raw milk comes from Hokkaido and is considered famously rich, finding its way into cheeses, pastries and the kind of soft-serve ice cream you’ll have dreams about. Pull into a roadside stand for a cone, and you might see the herd that supplied it grazing in the paddock next door.

Nightlife

As dusk settles, Hokkaido trades wildflowers for wild nights on the town (within reason). Sapporo’s Susukino district hums with more than 3500 bars, izakaya and shopping establishments ranging from hole-in-the-wall ramen joints to sleek cocktail lounges. The best way to dive in is on a Susukino Night Walking Tour, where guides usher you down narrow laneways and into miniature worlds you’d never stumble across on your own.

For a quieter affair, take the ropeway up Mount Moiwa and watch the city twinkle beneath you, save for the dark patches reserved for neighbouring mountains. Or, wander through the Jozankei Nature Luminarie, where forest trails glow with illuminated sculptures and lanterns, creating a dreamlike nocturnal landscape to float through.

Nature

Daisetsuzan National Park is the crème de la crème for hikers. Trails weave between alpine meadows, while Mount Asahi’s peak follows you wherever you go. In summer, the park becomes a natural flower garden with more than 250 species blooming across its ridges.

Cyclists can head south to Biei and Furano, where the patchwork fields roll on endlessly and lavender season turns the valleys into a sea of purple, perfuming the air like nature’s scented candle. Even if you’re not one for cycling, a frolic through the fields could very well be the most whimsical moment of your adult life.

Aquaphiles aren’t left out, either. Lake Shikotsu is so clear it’s arguably Japan’s most transparent lake, while Lake Tōya hides tiny volcanic islands at its centre. Paddle quietly and you might spot sea eagles swooping low or dolphins majestically breaching high.

Back onshore, Hokkaido is the exclusive home to Japan’s Usuri brown bears, but the animals are notoriously shy, so most travellers only see paw prints.

Also discover Shiretoko Peninsula – a UNESCO World Heritage site – is one of Japan’s last true wildernesses. Waterfalls plunge straight into the sea, lush trails appear endless and quiet inlets provide a moment’s peace from the real world.

Wellness

If there’s one thing Hokkaido takes seriously, it’s bathing. Hot springs (or onsen) bubble up across the island, offering the perfect end to long days outdoors.

Noboribetsu Onsen is often considered to be the most famous of the bunch, and its mineral pools are said to cure everything from fatigue to arthritis. At Tokachigawa Onsen, rare plant-based minerals soften the skin, while Yunokawa Onsen offers outdoor baths that overlook the Tsugaru Strait. Even in the heart of Sapporo, you can retreat to Jozankei Onsen, where forested hills cradle open-air pools.

Culture

The word ‘Hokkaido’ itself only came into use in the 19th century. Before that, the island was widely known as ‘Ezo’, a name closely tied to the Ainu – Hokkaido’s Indigenous people.

In Nibutani, you’ll encounter the living culture of the Ainu, an Indigenous group from northern Japan. Museums and craft centres here share stories through textiles, carvings and performances, keeping traditions alive while welcoming curious visitors. It’s a chance to see the island not just as a landscape but as a homeland.

Summer in Hokkaido is a destination in its own right; rich in nature, flavour and well-preserved Japanese traditions. Although most travellers flock to Hokkaido for its renowned slopes, few people know what this island’s capable of when the sun works its magic.

For a one-of-a-kind summer adventure, start planning at visit-hokkaido.jp/en and book your rail travel at jtbtravel.com.au. Or, for your chance to win the trip of a lifetime, enter this competition.