These national parks offer serenity in Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture

Hokkaido’s national parks, a total of seven, stand in stark contrast to Japan's heavily-touristed Golden Route. Three of the parks—Daisetsuzan National Park, Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park—are shaped by volcanic forces, teaming with abundant wildlife, steeped in spiritual traditions of the Indigenous Ainu, and/or ideal for a relaxing soak in a hot spring to ease winter's grip. Here's how you can explore a lesser-known, less-traveled side of Japan in the winter and beyond. These three national parks should be at the top of your list when visiting the Hokkaido Prefecture.

(Hokkaido springs to life in winter—see it now.)

Daisetsuzan National Park

Hokkaido's largest national park is more than 560,000 acres of volcanic landscape that includes steamy snow-capped peaks and ancient forests of Yezo spruce and Todo fir shelter some of Japan's rarest wildlife, including Ezo brown bears, Yezo stoats, pikas, and rare alpine butterflies, such as the translucent yellow-winged Eversmann's Parnassian.

Mount Asahidake, the island's highest summit, anchors the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. The Indigenous Ainu call it the “playground of the gods.”

“For the Kamikawa Ainu, this mountain area yielded many blessings,” says Kazuhiro Arai, co-founder of Adventure Hokkaido. “The summit of Mount Asahidake is where many animals gathered, including brown bears believed to be incarnations of the deities.” It's a special place where prayers were offered to express gratitude for successful hunting, with the hope the deities would continue to provide for the people.

To explore the park, visitors can hop on the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway, an aerial cable car, which provides the only access to the park's high-altitude trails. Parkgoers ascend 4,593 feet up from the base to Sugatami Station in just 10 minutes. From there, trails wind through the Jigokudani active volcanic zone, where plumes of vapor blast year-round from roughly 20 vents along craggy slopes.

“Within a single day, you can visit four very different environments in a compact area. There’s the alpine zone, wetlands, a gorge with an 885-foot waterfall, and deep forests at the base,” explains Arai. 

Winter transforms Daisetsuzan into a powder paradise from December to February. The season extends remarkably long, with skiers and snowboarders discovering hidden powder stashes or tucked-away locations well into June.

“From March to May, non-skiers can explore the winter landscape on guided snowshoe walks across the Sugatami Plateau, including a spectacular one-hour hike on the Sugatami Pond Loop to steaming fumaroles,” says Arai. “Clearer skies, milder temperatures, and deep snow create ideal conditions for scenic walks and fun sled rides back down through a still, white alpine world.” 

Travelers may want to consider arranging a six-day hiking trek or opt for a one-day Daisetsuzan Discovery Tour through Daisetsuzan National Park with Adventure Hokkaido.

(Carving a way forward: Toru Kaizawa on preserving Ainu traditions in Hokkaido.) 

Where to stay
Hotel Bearmonte, Higashikawa: Located just 15 minutes from the Asahidake cable car, this hotel has 56 rooms with on-site washer-dryers, and some rooms feature kitchenettes for extended stays. On-site amenities also include an onsen with a cold plunge and sauna to soothe sore muscles. 

Rourenai Base, Biei: Guests choose between Western-style rooms with beds or Japanese-style rooms with tatami mat flooring and futon bedding. A sauna and wood-fired bath offer post-hike recovery. Situated near Biei’s famed flower fields, this guesthouse is an ideal hub between Daisetsuzan National Park, Furano Ski Resort, and Asahikawa city.

How to get there
Four daily buses connect Asahikawa Station and Airport to Mount Asahidake. Tour operators also offer pickup service from Asahikawa and New Chitose Airport. 

(Why winter is the perfect time to visit Japan.)

Shikotsu-Toya National Park 

Every year, more than 2.4 million people visit Shikotsu-Toya National Park, which features  mirror-like caldera lakes, including Lake Toya and Lake Shikotsu, active volcanoes like Mount Usu, and natural hot springs in Noboribetsu and Jozankei.

“This national park is easy to access from Sapporo, and the road conditions for cycling are just  great,” says Yuya Ishizuka, a cycling guide with Cycling Frontier.

Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark, a designated area within the park, offers visitors an accessible way to explore the history of Japan’s volcanoes and the caves and cave-like formations surrounding Mount Usu, an active volcano that erupted in 2000.

“Here, you can feel the power of volcanoes and the history of Japan, including Jomon and Ainu cultures,” says Mihoko Sasaki, a volcano meister guide at HIO’OY. Sasaki is one of the few registered guides authorized to lead tours of Jomon-period archaeological sites that are otherwise closed to the public. 

Shingo Arakawa, a ranger at Shikotsu-Toya National Park, recommends birdwatchers visit the Osaru River Route within the Geopark to observe white-tailed eagles, impressive birds of prey designated as a Natural Monument in Japan. 

For a relaxing break, visitors can enjoy several hot springs scattered throughout Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Sodium-rich onsen baths are available at hotels and, unusual for Japan, at standalone day-use facilities, which allow visitors to experience traditional hot springs without an overnight stay. Free foot baths also appear along the trail for quick soaks. The largest hot spring town in Hokkaido, Jozankei, sits within the national park, less than an hour from Sapporo, an easy day trip. 

Kyujitsu offers day passes with a cinema and DJ lounge, with the option of unlimited beer and wine. At Jozankei Tsuruga Resort Spa, visitors can try a traditional shiatsu massage before soaking in the indoor and outdoor baths.

Known for having some of the clearest water in Japan, Lake Shikotsu is the year-round spot for parkgoers to go stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. “Because it's so deep with underlying geothermal heat, it never freezes,” says Junya Narumi, guide at Canoa, a lakeside company that offers tours and rentals. 

Where to stay
Toyoura Ocean House, Toyoura-cho: For a private, tranquil seaside retreat, visitors can rent this entire house just steps from Funka Bay (Uchiura Bay). The house is located within Shikotsu-Toya National Park and a 15 to 20-minute drive from Lake Toya. 

Shikotsu Tsuruga Resort Spa Mizu No Uta, Lake Shikotsu: Guests can choose between traditional tatami rooms, featuring rice straw mat flooring and futon bedding on the floor, or rooms with Western-style beds that feature hot spring water flowing directly into private tubs. The premier resort is situated within the park on the shores of Lake Shikotsu.

Sappolodge, Sapporo: Run by mountain guide Wataru Nara, this guesthouse is an hour from the park and serves as a gathering spot for adventure travelers. Budget-friendly options range from private rooms to dormitories, with amenities including a restaurant-bar downstairs where guests swap trail stories and plan expeditions.

How to get there
Public buses and trains link Sapporo and New Chitose Airport to the park's main hubs. From the airport, Jozankei and Noboribetsu, both famous hot spring towns, are between a 60- and 90-minute bus or train ride away. The airport is about a 40-minute drive from Lake Shikotsu and an hour and a half from the Toyako Onsen. 

(How to see the wild side of Japan.)

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park 

Spanning 93 square miles across two islands and a coastal plain, this park features alpine plants flourishing unusually close to sea level. Rebun is renowned for its unusual concentration of plant life, earning it the nickname "Floating Flower Island.” More than 300 wildflower species bloom from May through August, including endemic varieties such as the Rebun Lady’s Slipper Orchid, while Mount Rishiri towers above, and Sarobetsu’s coastal plain, containing peat-based wetlands, stretches to the horizon.  

“These flowers can only be seen on this island. The most popular walking route is the Momoiwa Observatory Trail. From here, you can also view Mount Rishiri seemingly floating on the sea,” says Yuko Fujimori, a Hokkaido-based translator and guide.

On Rishiri, Park Ranger Hitoshi Nakamura recommends visitors see the park from the seat of a bicycle. “The roughly 37-mile course encircling the island offers views of Mount Rishiri, whose appearance changes with the angle. From July to September, you can also see the islanders drying kelp,” he says. “July is the perfect season for outdoor activities, with many flowers blooming in each region. September has fewer flowers, but the weather is stable.”

For solo jaunts, visitors can rent bikes from Rishiri Activity or take a guided tour with Cycling Frontier, which offers a five-day itinerary combining Cape Soya, Sarobetsu Wetland, and Rishiri Island.

Where to stay
Rebun Hotel Saryo, Rebun Island: Offers Western and Japanese-style rooms with direct views of Mount Rishiri across the Sea of Japan. Within the national park and walking distance from the ferry port, this 100-room seasonal hotel (open May-October) is not only Rebun's largest accommodation, but also centrally located to explore the rest of the island. 

 Island Inn Rishiri, Kutsugata, Rishiri Island: Set within the park on the island’s west coast, these guest Western-style rooms overlook either Mount Rishiri or the Sea of Japan, offering a great sunset view. Guests have access to bike rentals and complimentary shuttle service.  

How to get there
Fly into Wakkanai (Wakkanai Airport), Hokkaido’s northernmost city, only 26 miles away from Russia’s Sakhalin Island. Then, take the ferry to Rishiri or Rebun. Buses and bicycles suit Rishiri, while Rebun is best explored by car rental or Soya Bus tours (in Japanese). 

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