This Hokkaido self-guided travel guide is for everyone heading to Hokkaido for the first time! After Tokyo, Hokkaido is the place both Japanese and Taiwanese travelers love most, and it shows a different face in every season: people come for cherry blossoms in spring and skiing in winter, making it a wonderful place to explore. Hokkaido is about 2.3 times the size of Taiwan, so if it’s your first self-guided trip there, it pays to plan your itinerary carefully and know what to watch out for. Here’s the must-read guide to read before you go!
What to know for your first self-guided trip to Hokkaido
Hokkaido weather: what you need to know
In Sapporo, Hokkaido’s largest city, the highest temperature reaches 27°C in August and the lowest is -8°C in January — a huge swing. Check the month you’re traveling and buy warm clothing in advance, since you won’t find heavy-duty winter coats or non-slip snow boots in Taiwan 🙂 And in August and September, when rainfall peaks, remember to bring rain gear!
April–May
Average temperature: 7°C–11°C
Notes: The snow starts to melt and the cherry blossoms gradually open. Be extra careful not to catch a chill as the seasons change; it usually doesn’t warm up noticeably until late May, but rainfall starts to increase, so bring rain gear.
June–September
Average temperature: 16°C–21°C
Notes: This is when Hokkaido is at its greenest! Dress in layers and bring a light jacket and rain gear — in July and August temperatures can still hit 30°C.
October–November
Average temperature: 7°C–11°C
Notes: Winter preparations begin. You’ll want a sweater during the day, and since temperatures drop at night, bring a scarf, gloves, a coat and other warm clothing. The first snow usually arrives in mid-November!
December–March
Average temperature: -3°C–0°C
Notes: Everything turns white. Be sure to pack a very warm coat, a beanie to protect your ears, cold-weather pants and other winter gear. Roads also freeze over, so wear non-slip snow boots to avoid slipping and hurting yourself.
Hokkaido entry requirements
Taiwanese travelers don’t need a visa to enter Japan, but Japan’s mask rules haven’t been lifted yet — you can only take your mask off if you can keep 2 meters of social distance, so remember to bring masks with you.
If you “have 3 doses” on your vaccination certificate, you don’t need a negative PCR test to enter. If you “haven’t completed 3 doses”, you need a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours. Either way, there’s no quarantine testing, no isolation and no home health management. Note that Taiwan’s “Medigen” vaccine is not recognized by Japan 🙂 so it counts as not having completed three doses.
Quarantine procedures used to be completed through My SOS, but from November 14 entry to Japan uses the upgraded Visit Japan Web instead, where you register your vaccination records, negative PCR test taken within 72 hours, immigration declaration, customs declaration and so on.
Getting online in Hokkaido: SIM card or pocket WiFi?
For internet access in Hokkaido there are two options: a pocket WiFi router or a SIM card.
| SIM card | WIFI | |
| Pros | Light and convenient; no WiFi device to carry around | Cheaper when shared among a group of friends |
| Cons | Once you swap out your Taiwanese SIM card, you won’t receive texts or calls from Taiwan | You have to carry it with you and the battery can run out |
Power outlets and voltage in Hokkaido
Japanese plugs are two-pronged, so if you need a three-pronged outlet, bring your own adapter. The voltage is 100V, lower than Taiwan’s 110V, so charging may be slower. If you’re addicted to gadgets like we are, consider bringing a power bank to rotate between devices!
How much does a self-guided trip to Hokkaido cost?
Costs vary depending on the level of comfort you choose and how many people are traveling together. Take transportation: if you rely on public transit, transportation runs about NT$2,000–5,000 per person; but if 5 of you travel together and rent a car, it can be as little as NT$1,300 per person! The bigger the group, the cheaper it gets.
| 5 days / 4 nights (based on the most popular trip length) |
| Total: about NT$32,500–NT$40,000 |
| Flights: about NT$9,000–NT$13,000 Transportation: about NT$7,500 or NT$6,200 Accommodation: about NT$10,000–NT$14,000 Meals: about NT$4,500–NT$6,000 Other admission fees and incidentals: about NT$1,500 |
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How to get the best deal on flights to Hokkaido
The flight from Taiwan to Hokkaido takes about 4 hours. Hokkaido has three main airports: Hakodate (HKD), Sapporo (CTS) and Asahikawa (AKJ). Budget carriers include Scoot, Tigerair Taiwan and Peach Aviation (summer schedules, roughly April–October, differ from winter schedules), while full-service options include China Airlines and EVA Air.
So which airport should you choose? It mainly depends on your itinerary. Distances within Hokkaido are huge, so we suggest picking one or two regions, planning your route first, and then deciding on the airport.
| If you’re heading first to | Recommended airport |
| Sapporo, the Mount Moiwa night view, Otaru, Noboribetsu and other spots in central Hokkaido | New Chitose Airport |
| Furano, Asahikawa, Lake Mashu, Asahiyama Zoo and other spots in eastern and northern Hokkaido | Asahikawa Airport |
| The Hakodate night view, Onuma Quasi-National Park and Goryokaku Park in southern Hokkaido | Hakodate Airport |
Payment options for your Hokkaido trip
Note that “LINE Pay” registered with a Taiwanese LINE account currently can’t be used in Japan — that option only works for people living in Japan.
| Option | Things to note |
| VISA and Mastercard credit cards | Watch out for foreign transaction fees and exchange rates, and make sure overseas cash withdrawals are enabled on the card. |
| Transit IC cards | The most common are Pasmo and Suica. Once topped up, you can use them on trains, buses and other transportation, and they also work for payments at convenience stores and some shops in Japan. |
| Apple Pay Google Pay | You must link a Japanese credit card, otherwise it can’t be used in Japan |
| PayPay | You need to create an account first and then link a bank account |
| Rakuten Pay | Every purchase earns Rakuten points, and if you link a Rakuten credit card, you get double points. |
What to know about exchanging money in Hokkaido
If you plan to use an ATM card to withdraw cash, note that you must activate the “overseas withdrawal” function in Taiwan before you leave in order to withdraw money. Also keep in mind that extra fees and exchange-rate spreads apply.
| Option | Things to note |
| Airport currency exchange counter “Travelex” | You can head straight to the counter as soon as you land, which is very convenient. There are also several ATMs outside the airport where you can withdraw cash. |
| Automatic currency exchange machines | You’ll find currency exchange machines at popular tourist spots and next to hotels. To check whether there’s a machine nearby, use SMART EXCHANGE to search. The machines support multiple languages, so there’s no need to worry about a language barrier. |
| Ticket shops (kinken shops) | These are specialty shops that mainly sell admission tickets, transport tickets, movie tickets and similar vouchers at lower prices. Most of them also offer currency exchange services. |
| Japan Post Bank | Besides exchanging currency at the service counter, you can also withdraw cash from the ATMs, which support multiple languages, so there’s no need to worry about a language barrier. |
| Convenience stores | You’ll need an international PLUS-network ATM card such as VISA, JCB or Master Card. |
For comparing flight prices, we recommend Skyscanner — travelers find it both affordable and easy to use for booking flights.
Comparing 4 ways to get around Hokkaido
| Option | Details | Price |
| JR | A JR PASS made specifically for foreign travelers, giving you unlimited rides on JR trains during the validity period. Passes come in 3-day, 5-day, 7-day and flexible 4-day versions at different prices. | 3 days ¥16,500 5 days ¥22,000 7 days ¥24,000 Flexible 4 days ¥22,000 |
| Bus | Divided into highway buses between cities, local buses within a single city, and buses on specific sightseeing routes. | 3 days ¥11,000 5 days ¥17,000 |
| Self-drive car rental | No pressure from fixed schedules or locations, making it easy to visit hidden gems and spots outside the city. But Japan drives on the left, so be sure to read up on Japanese traffic rules before hitting the road. | 5 days, 5-seater ¥28,400 |
We recommend searching on your phone for 「バスキタ」 (Bus Kita). On this site you can see real-time bus operating status, how long it takes to reach your destination, routes and bus stop locations, and it offers service in several languages, so you won’t have trouble understanding it.
Recommended apps for your Hokkaido trip: live like a local
Here’s a handy app we recommend: the official Japan travel app! When you enter a location or destination, you’ll see the latest travel information, including travel guide content, route searches and details about attractions. It even shows nearby free Wi-Fi spots and station locations. Best of all, it has a full Traditional Chinese version.
There’s also the super useful 「食べログ」 (Tabelog), Japan’s largest restaurant review site. Many Japanese diners leave reviews after eating, and you can search by area or by type of cuisine. It also has rankings by page views, number of reviews and number of photos. Because its rating system uses 1 to 5 stars along with photos and comments, it’s considered quite trustworthy.
Read more articles about traveling in Japan:
☞The latest guide to renting a car in Hokkaido (9 must-know tips before you hit the road)
☞Where to stay in Okinawa (9 top-rated picks for 2024 you can book with confidence!)
☞Must-eat Okinawa food — 15 top restaurants across 3 styles of cuisine you shouldn’t miss
☞The 2024 Okinawa independent travel guide! Health measures, great-value tips and the Okinawa you didn’t know — all in one article!
☞The must-read 2024 Okinawa self-drive guide (documents, traffic rules and insurance tips)
This article was translated by AI from the original Chinese version.
