8 best-kept secrets to uncover in Hokkaido

Famed for its fresh seafood, abundant farm produce, and breathtaking scenery, Hokkaido is a popular destination for many Singaporeans.

It is now even easier to get to Japan’s largest prefecture. Scoot has launched its inaugural flight to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport on Oct 1, and the carrier now flies to Sapporo three times a week.

For those who want the 10-hour flight to Hokkaido (inclusive of a 75 minute layover in Taoyuan International Airport) to be even more comfortable, Scoot lets you upgrade yourself to either ScootinSilence or ScootBiz at affordable prices. The former is a designated area closed off to children below the age of 12. Seats in ScootinSilence also have four inches more legroom than the standard economy seat. A seat on ScootBiz also includes a hot meal, access to ScooTV and an in-seat charging station in your ticket price.

After you have reached Sappro, what should you do? Well, start eating, of course.

1) Get first dibs on the best uni and kombu in Japan

From the New Chitose Airport, take a taxi or a bus to the Sapporo Okadama Airport for a domestic flight to Rishiri Island. An island formed by the extinct volcanic peak of Mount Rishiri, it has a circumference of just 63km.

Rishiri produces some 47 tons of uni (sea urchin) and 205 tons of kombu (seaweed) a year. The best season to visit is between July and September when visitors can enjoy clear views of the sights. It is also the period for uni harvesting.

Get the best of both at the souvenir shop located by Lake Otatomari. Around Rishiri, you will also find restaurants offering uni ramen and uni don. For a modern twist, Tsuki Cafe at the Oshidomari Ferry Port makes a wicked uni cream pasta that will leave you craving for more long after you leave the island.

2) Hike and bike to your heart’s content on Rishiri Island

Rishiri Island’s wondrous sights make it a great place for one to get active, especially in the summer months. There is a road built just for cycling that spans almost half the island. To get a closer look of the forest around Lake Himenuma, hikers can choose between two trails. For running enthusiasts, you can sign up for the Rishiri Island marathon happening every first Sunday of June. The event accepts only 500 participants and you run the circumference of the island.

3) Up your Instagram game at Wakkanai

An hour and forty minutes away from Rishiri Island by ferry, Wakkanai has the honour of being known as the northernmost city of Japan. At Cape Soya, a sculpture marks the northernmost point of Japan from which one can see the once Japanese-held Russian island of Sakhalin on a clear day.

Other spots that make for great Instagram shots include the Hyosetsu-no-Mon, a statue honouring the people who died longing to return to Sakhalin after the island was reclaimed by the Russians at the end of World War II, and the Wakkanai Port Northern Breakwater Dome, a 427m-long half-arch dome that casts interesting lights and shadows on your picture depending on the weather and time of the day.

Here is a tip: Look out for local businesses proclaiming to be the northernmost-whatever all over Wakkanai. From “northernmost canteen” to “northernmost souvenir shop”, these signs make for awesome photo opportunities, too.

4) Tuck into “Genghis Khan” in Shibetsu

That’s right, the name of the Mongol conqueror is also a dish in Shibetsu. Lamb and mutton do not typically feature in Japanese cuisine but here at Suffolk Land Shibetsu, you can enjoy a meal of tender lamb grilled at your table with local vegetables; which is called “Genghis Khan”.

The sheep are bred right here in Hokkaido with expertise borrowed from the town of Suffolk, England, and so they share the black-face, black-legs traits of the Suffolk sheep. To keep the gamey-flavour of the lamb to a minimium, the sheep is fed a diet of grain, beets, soybeans, and Indian millet, instead of just grass.

5) Uncover good eats in Asahikawa

There is no lack of yummy food in Japan but here in Hokkaido’s second largest city, there are a number of notable spots you’ve got to visit. Take part in a traditional tea ceremony at Jyomyo-an, where you get to also enjoy handmade sweets that accompany the matcha.

Then, head to Jiyuken, the perennial winner at Asahikawa’s annual food festival. The restaurant is run by the chef and his son — the latter honed his culinary skills in France. It is known for its pork cutlet, but you should really try the omakase menu.

Sake-lovers will want to pay a visit to the Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum. With over 340 years of history and being the chosen tipple of the Tokugawa Shogunate, it is arguably one of Japan’s most famous sakes. Its Junmai Daiginjo has won several awards both at home and overseas, and is definitely a must-buy.

6) Eat a croquette on Hokkaido’s highest mountain

At 2,291m above sea level, Mount Asahidake is the prefecture’s highest peak. You don’t have to be an experienced mountaineer to take in its beauty up close. A cable car takes you halfway up to 1,100m and from there, a ropeway marks out several courses that lead you to a number of observation points. The entire area is relatively easy to walk; both old folks and children could be seen traipsing around with the help of their loved ones or trekking poles. Do not leave without trying the mountain croquette, though. Sold exclusively at the summit station, the potato cutlet is freshly fried on order and filled with juicy bits of pork. Crispy on the outside and fluffy within, it is sure to hit the spot after your trek in what the indigenous Ainu people called, “The garden where gods play”.

7) Marvel at the beauty of Biei

A small town known for its picturesque landscape of rolling hills and flower fields, the area is a favourite among creatives who have used it as a backdrop for several commercials and product labels. A must-visit is definitely Blue Pond, a man-made water feature built to protect the town from volcanic mudflows.

The water is naturally blue from the presence of colloidal aluminum hydroxide. Apple fans will also know the Blue Pond as the background wallpaper in OSX Mountain Lion.

8) Get cheesy in Furano

While Furano is known for many farm products, its most outstanding one has to be the dairy products. The excellent quality of the milk here means that the yogurt, butter and cheeses are delectable and worth every calorie. Top picks include the Furano Yukidoke Cheesecake, cheese fondue at Furano Wine House, cheese and ice cream at Furano Cheese Factory, and the Double Fromage cake from Furano Delice. Even non-cheese fans have been known to capitulate to these creamy wonders.

BONUS!

9) We love Hokkaido so much, here's one more reason: Souvenirs with a difference at Ningle Terrace

Ningle Terrace is a cluster of wooden cabins located in a forest next to Prince Hotel in Furano. Each cabin is a wonderland of original crafted souvenirs that would make a cheerful addition to any home. Even if you do not find something to buy, the place is so photogenic, it’s a guaranteed Instagram hit.

This trip was made possible by Scoot together with Hokkaido District Transport Bureau, Hokkaido Tourism Organisation, and Asahikawa Touring Promotion Council.