Outdoor More than just skiing! Winter activities to enjoy in Hokkaido

Dog sledding, which you may have seen only in comics and movies, is something you can enjoy in Takasu-cho, a town next to Asahikawa. The sleds pulled by the eager dogs dash through pure white country scenery that overlooks the Daisetsuzan peaks and the Tokachidake range. Visitors generally ride solo on the original wooden sleds, taking turns if part of a group. While waiting your turn, you can ride a sled for study tours and take pictures. A variety of breeds pull visitors, mainly Alaskan Huskies with outstanding speed and stamina. Dogs are grouped into teams suited to the participants and the weather. Beginners can rest assured that the course is well maintained and inspected in advance. Anyone with enough sense of balance to ride a bicycle, even kids, can ride alone.

Adults and kids alike can have fun fishing for smelt on an ice-covered lake. The season runs from late December to mid-March, when the lake is frozen over. Rods, bait, and other necessities are all available, so you can show up with nothing other than proper protection against the cold. Smelt fishing is possible in lakes and marshes throughout Hokkaido during the season, but it is particularly recommended at Lake Onuma, against the spectacular view of Mt. Komagatake. Also recommended is Lake Shinotsu, where you can enjoy fishing inside a warm greenhouse! An adjacent onsen hot spring is also available for warming up.

Put on a special suit and walk with a guide on the ice floes that drift along the coast of Okhotsk. You can observe ice floes up close, and even experience them from the perspective of sea otters and seals as you float in the frigid sea. You may occasionally encounter a clione, the sea-dwelling "angel of the ice floes." With a guide nearby, you can play safely and learn a lot about ice floes. This special winter experience in Shiretoko will leave you with a memory like no other. The season runs from early February to late March when ice floes come alongside the shore. When conditions are good, you can take in the magnificent view of the ice floe field spreading over the sea.

Kushiro Marsh in winter is known as a breeding ground for the Japanese crane. Ice and frost crystals spread out over the marshland, where the snow is sparser than in Sapporo and Asahikawa. Particularly recommended is the morning tour with views of "white frost," a phenomenon in which branches and reeds become coated with pure white frost under conditions of low temperature and the presence of spring water. Travel leisurely by canoe on Lake Touro, where fields of ice stretch onward, and down the Arekinai River, shrouded in fog. Gazing upon lovely trees encased in white frost while observing wildlife such as the kingfisher in this quiet and fantastic world is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Many ways to enjoy the location await, as nature's expressions change according to the season and the time.

Ice stakes are beautiful pillars of ice found only in caves during midwinter. Upside-down icicles are formed through instantaneous freezing of water droplets falling from the ceiling. Their Japanese name translates to "ice bamboo shoots." The season for the phenomenon runs from early January to late March and the site has great access from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. About 2,500 of the stakes grow in a cave deep in the forest, said to be Japan's largest field of ice stakes. Access to the cave passes through private land, making a guided tour necessary. During the ice stakes outdoor adventure exploration tour, participants walk about 5 kilometers round-trip on a snowy road and spend about 30 minutes in the cave. The necessary gear is available for rent. Guides maintain safety in the cave while explaining the growth of the ice stakes and the history of the Ainu people and the cave. This wonderful activity lets participants feel the history and the mystique of nature. As recent years have seen some instances of lapses in manners creating trouble for local residents, please be sure to follow the rules on the tour.

A snowmobile is a motor vehicle that is driven like a scooter over snow. Snowmobile Land Sapporo, located about 30 minutes by car from central Sapporo, is a place to experience an activity that runs through an authentic mountain course. The snowmobile course, the longest in Japan, highlights the Hokkaido wilderness over its total length of about 90 kilometers. You'll forget time and the cold as you enjoy the exhilaration of driving! Licenses are not required, but solo riding is generally for those of age 16 or older. Children may ride with an adult. The activity is welcoming for beginners, practicing on a flat area before heading to the mountain course. A free shuttle bus from the city and free clothing rental are available. At this outdoor resort facility, adults can enjoy playing in the snow, with no special gear needed.

Lake Shikaribetsu lies at the highest elevation of Hokkaido's lakes. Shikaribetsu-ko Kotan is a dreamlike village of ice that appears on the shore of the lake only during winter, going back about 40 years. Each winter, blocks of ice cut from the beautifully clear lake are stacked to create a bar counter entirely made from snow and ice. Colorful and exceptional cocktails are also served in cups made of ice! We also recommend visitors making the trip to Lake Shikaribetsu-ko Kotan are recommended to warm up in the open-air bath on the ice, taking in spectacular views.