8 cool things to do in Hokkaido's winter

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While mainland Japan has lured hundreds of tourists year-round, it's during the winter time that north island of Hokkaido truly comes alive.

In Hokkaido's winter, it seems as if every spot was like a beautiful picture. Watching the romantic winter lights and the cute penguin walk, Joining the Sapporo Ice and Snow Festival with millions of people, experiencing the floating ice by the SL train - Hokkaido's winter offers more than we could ever imagine. Let's take a look at the following eight cool things that you can't miss in Hokkaido.

1. Sapporo White Illumination: Light up Sapporo's winter romance

The winter in Sapporo is twinkling with white snow and fantastic decorative lightings. The Sapporo White Illumination originated in 1981 at Odori Park. From then on, every year from the end of November, hundreds of light bulbs have been used to illuminate objects centered on cosmic and Christmas themes, lighting up Sapporo's winter nights with breathtaking views.

Spectators look at light bulbs shining in Odori Park in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo during the annual Sapporo White Illumination event on November 24, 2017. /VCG Photo

2. Fishing in winter: Unique experience of Shinotsu Lake

From Sapporo, about an hour's drive to the Shinotsu Lake District, you can experience the interesting fishing on ice – digging a hole in the frozen lake and waiting to catch some fish. You could bring your fresh fish to the nearby restaurants and enjoy your own self-made lunch.

Tourists go fishing on Shinotsu Lake. /Photo via Weibo

3. Hokkaido Shrine: Experience the Japanese New Year blessing

Hokkaido Shrine is the tutelary shrine for Hokkaido. As the largest shrine in Hokkaido, the Hokkaido Shrine is a place where local people often go to worship and pray. There is a long cherry blossom road at the entrance to the shrine. When covered by heavy snowfall, it becomes another beauty of the shrine.

The Hokkaido Shrine in winter. /VCG Photo

During Hatsumōde, an important ceremony for Japanese to celebrate the New Year, people in Japan visit shrines and temples during the first three days of the year, waiting patiently in long lines to begin their New Year with good fortune.

4. Sapporo Snow Festival and Otaru Snow Light Path Festival: Join the winter carnival

Known as one of the world's three major snow festivals, the Sapporo Snow Festival is a winter festival that has attracted millions of tourists from all over the world. This festival is all about the snow and ice sculpture. Apart from the appreciation of the art of ice and snow, the delicious food is another highlight of the festival.

Snow and ice sculptures at the Sapporo Snow Festival. /VCG Photo

Started in 1999 with the hopes of creating a place for people to feel easy and forget their daily trouble, Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is held at the same time with Sapporo Snow Festival, but it just has limited 10 days.

Compared with the Sapporo Snow Festival, Otaru Snow Light Path Festival provides an atmosphere which is more peaceful and spiritual. Unga Kaijo and Temiyasen Kaijo are the two main sites for this festival. When it snows, the whole town would lighten up with beautiful lights, making it one of the ideal location for travelers to take stunning photos.

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival along the canal. /VCG Photo

5. Asahiyama Zoo: Walk with lovely penguins

Asahikawa Zoo is one of the popular zoos in Japan located outside of central Asahikawa City in the middle of Hokkaido. The polar bears and penguins are the star animals in the zoo. Every year from November to March, there will be a separate famous penguin walk in the morning and the afternoon every day, which draws many tourists.

Visitors are attracted to the penguins at the Asahikawa Zoo. /VCG Photo

6. Kushiro Marsh: Take an SL train to watch red-crowned cranes

Japan's largest unexploited wetland Kushiro Marsh has many red-crowned cranes that fly from Siberia to Hokkaido every winter. Winter is the best time to visit this nature reserve by a steam locomotive (SL) train.

Tips: Remember to check the train's timetable before you go. In 2019, the first steam locomotive train will start from January 26.

The red-crowned cranes at Kushiro Marsh. /VCG Photo

7. Hokkaido Dao Dong: Take an Aurora Icebreaker ship to appreciate the floating ice

When you travel to Dao Dong of Hokkaido, taking an Aurora Icebreaker ship to appreciate the amazing floating ice is a must-do thing. With Seagulls seals and white swans accompanied along the way, you would gain a great opportunity to get closer to nature. Those who have good cold resistance can stand in the bow and face the cold wind, witnessing the great ice-breaking moment.

The floating ice in Hokkaido. /VCG Photo

8. Travel with movie "Love Letter"

"Love Letter" is a 1995 Japanese film which was shot mainly in the city of Otaru in Hokkaido. When talking about this movie, the first thing springs to mind would be Otaru. Shunji Iwai wrote the script of “Love Letter” in Otaru, which has made it the capital of romance in the minds of many. Roaming along ancient Otaru Canal would be a good choice to immerse yourselves into the atmosphere of this film.

Otaru Canal in winter. /VCG Photo

2217km