![\"sapporo-city-shopping\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sapporo-city-shopping-2.jpg\")
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Rugged and wildly beautiful, I\u2019ve always been fascinated by Hokkaido<\/a>, which is vastly different to Japan\u2019s many metropolitan cities. From hiking and camping in the summer to luxuriating in onsen<\/em> (hot springs) and skiing or snowboarding at\u00a0Niseko\u2019s\u00a0ski resorts during winter, there are endless outdoorsy options here for adventurous\u00a0jet-setters.<\/p>\n Of course, as a traveller who wants it all, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that capital city Sapporo is a bustling yet friendly destination with excellent food and lots of shopping for souvenir hunters, too. Here are my picks for the best things to do to make the most of your Hokkaido travel experience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tim Lucas<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Yes, Hokkaido has some of the world\u2019s freshest fish, making this the ideal place to feast on sushi and\u00a0sashimi. But you must make time to sample a lesser known culinary gem \u2013 soup curry. This genius dish comprises a curry-flavoured broth that\u2019s loaded with plenty of fresh Japanese ingredients, including juicy\u00a0daikon, sweet lotus root and Japanese pumpkin.<\/p>\n At most soup curry establishments, you will get to choose a combination of vegetables and meat, as well as decide on the spice level of the soup. The piping hot dish is served with a bowl of Japanese rice and will warm you up in a jiffy during the bitter cold winters. As a seasoned spicy food lover, I am pleased to report that unlike the milder Japanese curries, soup curry can pose a challenge even to hard-core\u00a0chilli\u00a0padi\u00a0eaters, especially if you order the spiciest levels offered.<\/p>\n You can find soup curry joints all over Hokkaido, but for tried and tested favourites, try\u00a0Nishitondendori<\/a>\u00a0in Sapporo or\u00a0Tsubara\u00a0Tsubara<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Niseko.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Niseko<\/a>\u00a0is famous for its\u00a0ultra-fine\u00a0powder snow, which allows experienced skiers and snowboarders to zip down the slopes at top speed.<\/p>\n Newbies, yours truly included, will also appreciate the picture perfect snow, not just for\u00a0Instagram\u00a0moments, but because it provides a soft landing for hard tumbles. After five days of intensive beginner lessons, I managed to make my way down a bunny slope, albeit slowly but uninjured. Achievement unlocked!<\/p>\n [quote align=’left’]Pro tip: Don\u2019t worry about packing winter sport gear as you can rent everything in Niseko, leaving you with more luggage space for shopping<\/span>.<\/em>[\/quote]<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hot spring baths, or\u00a0onsens<\/em>, are one of the more unique aspects of Japanese culture. Once you get over the initial awkwardness of being in your birthday suit \u2013 however,\u00a0onsens<\/em>\u00a0are segregated by gender \u2013 the ancient ritual of cleansing yourself and then soaking in a restorative hot spring is incredibly calming. Plus, there\u2019s nothing like immersing yourself in waters that are believed to have medicinal properties after a long day of touring and sightseeing.<\/p>\n Noboribetsu<\/a>\u00a0is the most popular hot spring resort in Hokkaido, with many ryokans<\/em> (traditional Japanese guesthouses) offering in-house\u00a0onsen<\/em>\u00a0facilities.<\/p>\n [button style=’blue’ url=’https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/Akan-National-Park-Hotels-New-Akan-Hotel.h7996629.Hotel-Information’ icon=’entypo-suitcase’ fullwidth=’true’] New Akan Hotel with Onsen[\/button]<\/p>\n [button style=’blue’ url=’https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/Noboribetsu-Hotels-Hotel-Mahoroba.h8139251.Hotel-Information’ icon=’entypo-suitcase’ fullwidth=’true’] Hotel Mahoroba with Onsen[\/button]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As you travel Japan, you will surely become familiar with the best of Japanese food. But there is promise in the drinks department too, with unique Japanese liquour.<\/p>\n In recent years, Japanese whisky has gained an international reputation for its excellent quality. Lucky for whisky connoisseurs, Japan’s first distillery,\u00a0Nikka\u00a0Whisky<\/a>, is located in Hokkaido. This distillery in\u00a0Yoichi, built to resemble the Scottish town where its founder,\u00a0Masataka\u00a0Taketsuru,\u00a0learnt the art and craft of whisky production, makes for an interesting afternoon tour. Best of all, you\u2019ll get to sample a few whisky varieties, including blends that are not distributed for sale outside the distillery.<\/p>\n You may want to pick up a bottle as a souvenir, but remember to stick to your duty-free allowance!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While Sapporo<\/a> has no shortage of popular Japanese department stores and brands, those on the lookout for unique finds won\u2019t be disappointed either. It has a small but well regarded scene for\u00a0indie\u00a0designers and local artisans that offer one-of-a-kind clothing, accessories and\u00a0homewares\u00a0that can\u2019t be found outside the city.<\/p>\n One of my favourite finds is\u00a0Space 1-15<\/a>, an old apartment block that has been converted into a retail space. There are about 20 retailers here, including cosy cafes, a kimono fabric maker, jewellery designers and a ceramics artisan, so give yourself a couple of hours to browse this space.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [tabs]<\/p>\n [tab title=”Best Time to Visit” icon=”entypo-light-up”]<\/p>\n Weather in Hokkaido:<\/strong> In general, the weather in Hokkaido is cooler compared to the rest of Japan, with less humid summers and Siberian-style winters that come with deep snow. For warmer weather, when you can enjoy Hokkaido\u2019s lush natural landscape and go hiking or camping, plan to visit from late May to September.<\/p>\n Best Time to Visit Hokkaido:<\/strong> If you prefer to indulge in winter activities, such as skiing or snowboarding, plan to visit Hokkaido from December to early March, when snowfall is at its peak. Every year in early February, Sapporo holds a\u00a0Snow Festival<\/a>, where the city\u2019s streets come to life with elaborate ice sculptures.<\/p>\n [\/tab]<\/p>\n [tab title=”Where to Stay” icon=”entypo-suitcase”]<\/p>\n Accommodation in Hokkaido:<\/strong> Sapporo has a wide variety of hotel options, ranging from the high-end\u00a0Sapporo Grand Hotel<\/a>\u00a0to mid-range options, such as\u00a0Hotel\u00a0Shikanoyu<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Niseko, prices for hotel rooms tend to shoot up during the winter months. If you\u2019re into summer sports, such as cycling and mountain climbing, you may be able to get good deals when the weather is warm at highly rated resorts, such as\u00a0Hilton Niseko Village<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Ki Niseko<\/a>.<\/p>\nDine On Soup Curry<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Lamb](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lamb-curry-soup-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLearn to Ski<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Niseko](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Winter-Sapporo-Hokkaido-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSoak in an<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Onsen<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Outdoor](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/new-akan-hokkaido-hotel-onsen-2.jpg\")
New Akan Hotel<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nSample Japanese Whisky<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Bars](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.my\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sapporo-whiskey-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nShop Local<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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