Fall Activities: September - November
Hokkaido in the fall is absolutely spectacular. For many, it's their favorite season to visit as the mountains are engulfed by waves of foliage in myriad colors, the days are pleasant and nights cool, and there are a fraction of the crowds of mid-summer. There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, such as foliage tours, wildlife spotting, scenic drives, gourmet tours, hot springs, fall festivals, hiking, boat excursions and much more. 

Fall Sightseeing

Our English speaking guides will accompany you to the best sightseeing spots in Hokkaido with the comfort of private transportation to visit temples, museums, zoos, aquariums, farms, distilleries and anywhere else you may want to go. In the fall, riding ropeways to mountaintops and scenic drives across mountain passes should not be missed. 
 
Sightseeing tours are available all over Hokkaido.. Visit the Fall Sightseeing page to learn more about the top activities offered in the fall season.

Time of Year: September - November
Fitness Level: All levels

Fall Gourmet

Hokkaido's cuisine is famous throughout Japan and across Asia. Come with us on a Gourmet Tour to sample the best seafood, beef, lamb, Genghis Khan, soup curry, ramen, soft cream, dessert houses, cafes and many, many other great eats. Incredible in every season, gourmet Hokkaido really shines in the fall, a time when Hanasaki crab, top-end fruit, the burgeoning wine industry, huge Akkeshi oysters and other delectable seafood take center stage. 

We visit a wide variety of gourmet locations - local restaurants, famous establishments, homestead farms and wholesale markets, to name a few - all according to your taste and budget. Of course, the fall season has plentiful harvests, when fruit picking - apples, pears, plums, grapes and chestnuts - is available across Hokkaido.

Gourmet Tours: Available across Hokkaido throughout the year. 
Fruit Picking:  June - October

Fall Festivals

Hokkaido's fall festivals center around food as the island's agricultural communities reap their autumn harvests. The Sapporo Autumn Fest and eastern Hokkaido's Grand Harvest Festivals showcase the rich culinary offerings in Hokkaido. There are also cultural festivals such as the Shakotan Fire Festival, where you can witness fire walking, and the Abashiri Come Back Salmon Festival, among many others across the island.    

Take a look at our Fall Festivals page for more details on the season's festivals (coming soon).

Time of Year: September - November

Foliage Viewing Tours 

During the months of September and October, Hokkaido's forests take center stage as the island becomes one of the premier places in the world for foliage viewing. Depending on the dates, we'll take you to the most famous foliage viewing areas in Hokkaido to see the turning leaves at their peak. These scenic trips, coupled with great accommodation, cuisine and hot springs, have all the makings of a fantastic tour.   

Contact us for more information on the peak foliage areas during the different fall periods in Hokkaido. 
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Time of Year: September - October
Fitness Level: All

Hot Springs  

Few experiences are as iconic to Japan as a long soak in a hot spring, and none are more relaxing. We are veritable connoisseurs of Hokkaido's hot springs offerings: Small ryoukans, large hotels, "wild" hot springs, foot baths and even hot springs waterfalls are all possible in Hokkaido.  

Time of Year: All year
Fitness Level: All levels

Fall Wildlife & Zoos

Wildlife in Hokkaido can be viewed all year around, with whales and brown bears stealing the show in the fall. Shiretoko nature cruises are the headquarters as boats traverse along the rugged western shore of the UNESCO-listed peninsula. Additionally, there are birding tours, deer spotting walks, Blakiston's fish owl ryokans and red-crested cranes all waiting to be discovered.    

If you're not lucky enough to spot wildlife during your tour, Hokkaido has some fantastic zoos and aquariums where you can quickly become acquainted with the island's local fauna. Take a look at our Fall Wildlife & Zoos page for more information (coming soon).      

Time of Year: September - November
Fitness Level: All levels

Ferry & Boat Excursions

Hokkaido offers many exciting boating excursions at the plentiful lakes, rivers and coastlines that bless the island. The ferry rides at Lake Toya, Lake Shikotsu, Lake Onuma and Lake Akan are a relaxing way to take in spectacular volcanic scenery. Nature cruises at the Sea of Okhotsk and Tsugaru Strait are remarkable for their wildlife viewing, and can include dolphin and whale-watching, birding and more. There are also charter services available for private tours around remote coastline regions. Ferry & boating excursions are available in spring, summer and fall. 

Time of Year: April - November
Fitness Level: All levels

Hiking & Trekking

There are countless mountains to hike in Hokkaido, both volcanic and tectonic in their formation. The biggest drawcard is Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan National Park, but eastern, northern and central Hokkaido all offer their share of amazing hikes. 

We offer complete mountain guiding across Hokkaido, with many years of hiking and trekking experience both in Japan and abroad. Hikes can last a few hours to a few weeks, and by hiking and trekking with us you'll receive excellent service with private transportation, the best of Hokkaido's hot springs selections, high safety standards and an intimate connection with nature.   

Time of Year: April - November 
Fitness Level: All levels

Gliders & Hot Air Ballooning

Takikawa glider flights are an incredible way to see Hokkaido's landscape from the Ishikari Plains to the Daisetsuzan National Park mountain range. Flights last about 30 minutes from take-off to landing. The perfect silence of the descending glider will leave a strong impression that is completely different from an airplane flight.

Hot air balloon flights are also available in the fall season, with operators from Niseko, Furano and eastern Hokkaido flying daily when the weather cooperates.      

Time of Year: All year
Fitness Level: All levels

Hokkaido Farm Visits & Horseback Riding

For people who lead busy lives in crowded cities, farm visits are a great way to unwind and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of farm life. Overnight farm stays include vegetable, fruit, dairy and sheep farms; from just outside Sapporo to the pasture land of eastern Hokkaido. This is your chance to milk a Holstein, shear a sheep or just watch the asparagus grow before you munch it down over a slow-cooked country dinner. 

​Horseback riding is another popular and relaxing way to get back in touch with nature. You can participate in beginner to advanced horseback rides all over Hokkaido on seaside, grassland, hilly and forested courses. 

Time of Year: All year
Fitness Level: All levels

Adventure Activities

For those seeking adrenaline on their visit to Hokkaido, adventure activities are for you. On offer are whitewater rafting, river and sea kayaking, bridge swinging, canyoning and stand-up paddle boarding and more, with transportation to/from Sapporo included.    

We work with licensed professional operators who maintain the highest safety standards in their industry. Contact us for more information on how to include adventure activities in your tour.

Time of Year: April - November
Fitness Level: All levels

Daisetsuzan National Park: Fall  

As Japan's largest national park, a visit to Daisetsuzan National Park should be on every Hokkaido itinerary. The fall season comes early to Daisetsuzan, with many trees and shrubs turning color in late September, a few weeks ahead of other areas in Hokkaido. It's a great time to ride a ropeway up to a viewing point, walk along highland plateaus, or sneak a hike up a peak before the snow arrives in October. 
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Popular fall activities include riding ropeways, waterfall viewing, hiking, sightseeing and hot springs. Top places to visit include Tokachidake Onsen Resort, Asahidake Onsen Resort, Sounkyo Gorge, Ginsendai and Shikaribetsu Lake. We highly recommend making Daisetsuzan National Park a part of your tour to Hokkaido.
 
Time of Year: All year
Fitness Level: All levels

Crafts, Culture & Cooking Courses

Want to try a new craft, learn about Japanese culture or how to cook a typical Hokkaido meal? Our Craft, Culture & Cooking Courses offer a wide variety of activities all over Hokkaido, including: soba noodle making, glass blowing, ceramic arts, wooden crafts, kimono ​fitting, tea ceremony, Japanese calligraphy, pounding rice into mochi, sausage making, sheep shearing and much more. 

Time of Year: All year
Fitness Level: All levels