10 Best Things to Do in Hokkaido in Summer: Your Travel Guide

Published: 2026-10-01 / Updated: 2026-10-01 ・ 10 min read

Summer in Hokkaido offers a refreshing escape from the humid heat of mainland Japan, featuring vast flower fields, cool outdoor adventures, and world-class seasonal seafood. Visitors can easily experience the region’s highlights by utilizing Hokkaido's extensive rail network, starting from the main transport hub of Sapporo Station (札幌駅).

While many travelers assume you need a car to explore Japan's northernmost island, independent travelers can easily access the top summer destinations using trains and dedicated sightseeing buses. This guide covers the absolute best things to do in Hokkaido in summer, complete with practical transport steps, packing tips, and local secrets for first-time visitors.

1. Marvel at the Purple Lavender Fields in Furano

The iconic image of Hokkaido in summer is the rolling purple hills of Furano (富良野). The lavender season typically runs from late June to early August, with the peak bloom usually occurring in mid-to-late July.

The most famous spot is Farm Tomita (ファーム富田) in Nakafurano. Here, you can walk through vast fields of traditional lavender, white birch forests, and the brilliant "Irodori Field," which features rows of purple, yellow, white, and red flowers. Don't leave without trying the famous lavender-flavored soft-serve ice cream.

• How to get there: From Sapporo Station, take the JR Lilac or Kamui Limited Express to Asahikawa Station (旭川駅), which takes about 85 minutes. From Asahikawa, transfer to the JR Furano Line. During the summer, JR operates a special seasonal train called the Furano Biei Norokko-go (富良野・美瑛ノロッコ号), a vintage open-sided train that stops at the temporary Lavender Farm Station (ラベンダー畑駅). From this station, Farm Tomita is just a 7-minute walk.
• What to bring: Sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and comfortable walking shoes, as you will be walking on dirt paths and gentle slopes.

2. Explore the Patchwork Hills and Blue Pond of Biei

Located just north of Furano, the town of Biei (美瑛) is famous for its undulating agricultural hills that look like a giant patchwork quilt. The "Patchwork Road" (パッチワークの路) and "Panorama Road" (パノラマロード) offer stunning vistas of green, yellow, and brown fields under wide blue skies.

Another must-see summer spot in Biei is the Shirogane Blue Pond (白金青い池). This man-made pond is famous for its surreal, deep blue water and the stark, dead silver birch trees that stand in the center. The blue color, caused by natural minerals in the water mixing with the river, is particularly vibrant on sunny summer days.

• How to get there: Biei Station (美瑛駅) is on the JR Furano Line, about 30 to 40 minutes from Asahikawa Station.
• Local travel tip: Since Biei is hilly, walking can be exhausting. At Biei Station, you can rent electric-assist bicycles (mamachari) from shops right outside the station. Alternatively, you can book a seat on the "Biei View Bus," a seasonal sightseeing bus run by the local tourism association that departs directly from Biei Station and visits the Blue Pond and major viewpoints.

3. Feast on Fresh Sea Urchin (Uni) in Shakotan

For food lovers, summer is the absolute best time to eat sea urchin (uni) in Hokkaido. The coastal waters around the Shakotan Peninsula (積丹半島) are famous for high-quality kelp, which is the primary food source for the local sea urchins. The fishing season for Shakotan uni is strictly limited to the summer months, typically from June to August.

The local specialty is Uni-don (うに丼), a bowl of hot rice piled high with fresh, sweet, creamy sea urchin. The orange-colored Ezo-bafun-uni is the highly prized, premium variety, while the yellow-colored Kita-murasaki-uni offers a milder, delicate flavor.

• How to get there: Start at Sapporo Station and take the JR Hakodate Main Line rapid train to Otaru Station (小樽駅), which takes about 35 minutes. From Otaru Station, local buses operated by Hokkaido Chuo Bus run to the Shakotan Peninsula (destinations like Cape Kamui or Cape Shakotan) during the summer. The bus ride takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Common mistake: Shakotan uni is incredibly popular, and famous restaurants often run out of sea urchin by early afternoon. Plan to arrive for an early lunch around 11:00 AM.

4. Experience the Sapporo Summer Festival and Beer Garden

If you are visiting between late July and mid-August, the Sapporo Summer Festival (さっぽろ夏まつり) is an unforgettable experience. The centerpiece of the festival is the giant Odori Park Beer Garden (福祉協賛さっぽろ大通ビアガーデン), which stretches for several blocks through the center of the city.

Thousands of outdoor seats are set up under the trees, with different blocks hosted by Japan’s major breweries (Sapporo, Asahi, Kirin, and Suntory) alongside international beer gardens. You can order draft beer in massive communal pitchers or towering dispensers, accompanied by classic Japanese festival foods like yakitori, grilled corn, and Hokkaido potatoes with butter.

• How to get there: Odori Park (大通公園) is a short 10-minute walk south of Sapporo Station, or a 1-minute ride via the Nanboku or Toho Subway Lines to Odori Station.
• What to know: The atmosphere is incredibly lively and welcoming to foreigners. Ordering is usually done via ticket booths or smartphone QR codes, with many English menus available.

5. Walk Along the Historic Otaru Canal at Night

Otaru (小樽) is a charming port town filled with historic brick warehouses, old stone buildings, and glasswork shops. In the summer, the temperature in Otaru is delightfully cool, making it perfect for an evening stroll along the Otaru Canal (小樽運河).

Gas lamps along the canal light up at dusk, casting a warm glow over the water and the historic warehouses, which have been converted into restaurants and breweries. You can also take a short 40-minute canal cruise boat to see the town from the water.

• How to get there: Otaru Station is easily reached from Sapporo Station via the JR Hakodate Main Line. Rapid trains run frequently and take about 35 minutes. The canal is a straight, 10-minute walk down the hill from Otaru Station.

6. Hike the Volcanic Landscape of Noboribetsu Jigokudani

Noboribetsu Onsen (登別温泉) is one of Hokkaido's most famous hot spring towns. Just a short walk from the town center lies Jigokudani (地獄谷), or "Hell Valley." This is a spectacular, dramatic crater formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago.

In summer, you can walk along well-maintained wooden boardwalks that wind through the steaming vents, sulfurous streams, and boiling mud pools. The contrast between the lush green summer forests and the barren, steaming yellow-grey volcanic rock is breathtaking. Follow the trail further into the forest to reach Oyunuma (大湯沼), a massive steaming sulfur lake, and enjoy a natural, warm footbath in the Oyunuma River.

• How to get there: From Sapporo Station, take the JR Hokuto Limited Express to Noboribetsu Station (登別駅), which takes about 75 minutes. From Noboribetsu Station, transfer to a local Donan Bus bound for Noboribetsu Onsen (approx. 15 minutes).
• What to bring: Sturdy walking shoes with good grip, as the wooden walkways can sometimes be slippery from condensation or light summer rain.

7. Taste Sweet Yubari Melon

Summer is peak melon season in Hokkaido, and the Yubari King Melon (夕張メロン) is legendary for its intense sweetness, juicy orange flesh, and high price tag. While perfect specimen melons sell for thousands of dollars at auctions, visitors can easily enjoy slices or half-melons topped with soft-serve vanilla ice cream at local markets for very reasonable prices.

• Where to find it: You do not need to travel all the way to Yubari to taste them. Head to the Nijo Market (二条市場) or the Curb Market (場外市場) in Sapporo. Both markets are easily accessible from Sapporo Station via short subway or bus rides and feature numerous fruit stalls selling fresh-cut melon slices.

8. Take the Ropeway up Mount Hakodate

Located on the southern tip of Hokkaido, the historic port city of Hakodate (函館) is famous for its night view, which is widely considered one of the finest in Japan. Summer offers clear night skies, making it the perfect time to ascend Mount Hakodate (函館山).

From the observation deck at the summit, you can look down on the unique silhouette of the city, squeezed between Hakodate Bay and the Tsugaru Strait, glowing with millions of glittering lights.

• How to get there: Hakodate is best visited as a multi-day trip or as a stop when entering Hokkaido. From Tokyo, you can take the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen directly to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station (approx. 4 hours), then transfer to the Hakodate Liner train to Hakodate Station (函館駅). To reach the ropeway, take a local Hakodate tram from Hakodate Station to the Jujigai (十字街) stop, then walk 10 minutes to the ropeway station.
• Travel tip: The summit can get incredibly windy and cold, even in July and August. Always bring a windbreaker or a warm jacket with you.

9. See the Sunflower Fields of Hokuryu

For an off-the-beaten-path summer experience, visit the Himawari-no-Sato (ひまわりの里) in Hokuryu (北竜町). This is home to Japan’s largest sunflower field, where roughly two million bright yellow sunflowers bloom across rolling hills from late July to mid-August.

Visitors can rent bicycles to ride along the paths, navigate a giant sunflower maze, and eat unique sunflower-seed-flavored soft-serve ice cream.

• How to get there: From Sapporo Station, take the JR Limited Express to Fukagawa Station (深川駅), which takes about 60 minutes. From Fukagawa Station, take a local Sorachi Chuo Bus bound for Rumoi and get off at the "Himawari-no-Sato Nonaka" (ひまわりの里野中) bus stop (approx. 30 minutes).

10. Walk Through the Primeval Forests of Kushiro Shitsugen

For nature lovers, the Kushiro Shitsugen National Park (釧路湿原国立公園) in eastern Hokkaido is a must-visit. This is Japan's largest wetland and marsh habitat, home to the rare red-crowned crane. Summer brings lush, vibrant green landscapes and cool, pleasant breezes.

You can explore the wetlands via elevated wooden boardwalks at the Kushiro Shitsugen Onnenai Visitor Center, which protect the fragile ecosystem while letting you walk right through the heart of the marsh.

• How to get there: From Sapporo Station, take the JR Ozora Limited Express directly to Kushiro Station (釧路駅), which takes about 4 hours. During the summer, you can ride the seasonal JR Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go train, which runs slowly through the wetlands and stops at the tiny Kushiroshitsugen Station (釧路湿原駅).
• What to bring: Insect repellent is essential, as mosquitoes are active in the wetlands during the summer months.

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Practical Tips for Traveling Hokkaido in Summer

Weather and Clothing

Summer in Hokkaido (June to August) is much cooler and less humid than Tokyo or Kyoto. Daytime temperatures generally range from 20°C to 28°C (68°F to 82°F). However, mornings and evenings can drop below 15°C (59°F), especially in mountainous areas or coastal towns like Hakodate and Kushiro.

• What to pack: Pack short-sleeved shirts for the daytime, but always bring a light jacket, cardigan, or windbreaker for the evenings.

Navigating by Train

Hokkaido is vast, and train travel times can be long. To save money, consider purchasing a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass, which offers unlimited rides on JR Hokkaido train lines (excluding the Hokkaido Shinkansen). You can find more details on the official JR East or Japan National Tourism Organization websites.

• Seat Reservations: Summer is peak domestic travel season in Japan, especially during the Obon holiday week in mid-August. It is highly recommended to reserve your limited express train seats in advance at a JR ticket office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) or online.

FAQ

Q. What is the best month to visit Hokkaido in summer?

A. July is generally the best month to visit, as this is when the famous lavender fields in Furano are in full bloom.

Q. Do I need to rent a car to see Hokkaido in summer?

A. No, you can reach major summer destinations like Sapporo, Otaru, Asahikawa, and Furano using the JR Hokkaido train network and local buses.

Q. What should I pack for a summer trip to Hokkaido?

A. Pack light summer clothes for the daytime, but bring a light jacket or cardigan as evenings can get surprisingly cool.