Escape the summer heat and head to Hokkaido and Tohoku—where cool breezes and misty mountains await.
Ask people about a summer trip to Japan, and they’ll picture packed trains, sweltering heat, and tourists fanning themselves outside temples. But here’s what most travelers miss: head north, and you’ll find yourself in a paradise of rolling hills and crisp, cool mountain air. Yes, even in the summer.
Hokkaido and Tohoku, Japan’s northernmost regions, have mild temperatures and wide-open landscapes, making them ideal for a cool, relaxing summer vacation in Japan. Between exploring wildflower meadows and enjoying vibrant summer festivals, you’re in for a wonderful vacation in these regions in Japan.
INDEX
Hokkaido—the great northern escape
Tohoku—the land of festivals and traditions
Plan your summer vacations to Japan with Japan Airlines
While Hokkaido is a favorite winter destination among travelers, its low humidity and refreshing dry air make it the perfect summer spot, too, especially for those who love the outdoors. From exploring flower fields to kayaking across the lake, here’s what you can do in Hokkaido in the summer.
Summer is the best time to see Hokkaido awash in color with vibrant blooms.
Farm Tomita is home to some of the oldest lavender fields in Japan. The lavender flowers bloom from late June to early August. You can walk from the slope to the top of the field and gaze at the flowers swaying gently against the enchanting backdrop of the Furano valley and the Tokachi mountains. It’s the perfect setting for your travel photos.
Address: 15 Kisen Kita, Nakafurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 071-0704, Japan
How to get to Farm Tomita from Asahikawa Airport: For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to Asahikawa Airport by flying with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass. From the airport, ride the Asahikawa Bus to Asahikawa Station. Take the Furano Bus and get off at Nakafurano. Ride a taxi to Farm Tomita.
A visit to Hokkaido in the summer isn’t complete without a trip to Hokuryu Town, home to Japan’s largest sunflower fields. Every summer, the town comes to life with over 2 million blooms, blanketing the hills with a vibrant yellow.
As you wander around and take photos, you’ll see unique varieties with distinct shapes, textures, and shades. The best time to visit Hokuryu Sunflower Village is in early August when all the fields are in full bloom. You can also try to catch the Sunflower Festival.
Address: 143-2 Itaya, Hokuryu-cho, Uryu-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 078-2511
How to get to Hokuryu Sunflower Village from Asahikawa Airport: For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to Asahikawa Airport by flying with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass. From Asahikawa Airport, take the airport bus to Asahikawa Station. Ride the train to Fukagawa Station. Catch a bus in front of Fukagawa Hospital, and ride until the second to the last stop, Hokuryu Junior High School (Hokuryu Chugakko). Walk five minutes to get to the sunflower fields.
With their vibrant colors and spectacular colors across 15 hectares of land, Oka-no-machi in Biei is a paradise of blooming flowers from spring to fall—and summer is one of the best times to visit. It’s home to the famous "rainbow carpet" of blooms, from tulips to dahlias to lupines and more.
Tour the fields on a tractor bus and visit a nearby alpaca ranch. The fields are open from June to September, when the flowers are in full bloom.
Address: 3 Shinsei, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 071-0473
How to get to Shikisai-no-Oka from Asahikawa Airport: For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to Asahikawa Airport by flying with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass. From the airport, take the bus to Asahikawa Station. Hop on the Furano Line, and ride until Bibaushi Station. Take a taxi to get to Shikisai-no-Oka.
Your summer visit to Hokkaido isn’t complete without tasting the in-season delicacies and other dishes unique to the area.
After touring the lush fields of Farm Tomita, treat yourself to some of their soft-serve ice cream. They have various flavors, but their popular lavender ice cream is one-of-a-kind and available only at Farm Tomita.
Ice cream lovers—check out Hokkaido’s delicious milk ice cream and other dairy delicacies you can have.
Yubari City is home to the Yubari Melon, known as the king of melons. With its proximity to the mountains, abundant volcanic ash that helps drain the soil, and the difference between day and night temperatures, Yubari is the perfect place for cultivating melons.
The Yubari cantaloupes have an orange flesh and a sweet taste. The outer skin features a fine white mesh. The finer the mesh, the sweeter the melon. The peak harvest season is in June and July, when the city hosts the Yubari Melon Festival.
Known as the "butter of the sea," Hokkaido’s sea urchins, uni, are a must-try when you’re in the area. Sea urchin season lasts from June to August, with people flocking to Shakotan to enjoy its fresh, rich, sweet flavor. You can enjoy it with a delicious bowl of rice in one of the many seaside restaurants near Cape Kamui and the Kamui and the Shimamui Coast.
If you love the outdoors, you can find various nature activities that will show you Hokkaido’s finest sights.
Lake Shikotsu’s waters are known for their vibrant color, often called "Shikotsu Blue". Nature lovers can paddle around the lake in a kayak with a transparent bottom. See the fish swimming or admire the sky reflected in the pristine waters. You may also spot deer and other wild animals along the shores.
How to get to Lake Shikotsu from New Chitose Airport: For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to New Chitose Airport by flying with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass. From the airport, take the bus headed to Shikotsuko Kohan and get off at Chitose Station. Switch to the bus headed for Shikotsuko Kohan and get off at Shikotsuko Onsen.
Daisetsuzan National Park is one of the largest mountain parks in Japan and covers much of Hokkaido. With towering mountains and scenic views, it is often called the "roof of Hokkaido" and the "playground of the gods". Even in the summer, the temperatures remain cool, making it the perfect place for those who want to explore the trails and other nature spots.
How to get to Daisetsuzan National Park from Asahikawa Airport: For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to Asahikawa Airport by flying with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass. From the airport, take the shuttle bus to Asahikawa Station. Next, ride the bus bound for Asahidake Onsen. The onsen is located within the park.
Fancy a romantic and historic walk by the sea? The Otaru Canal—a one-kilometer waterway—is an iconic symbol of Hokkaido’s maritime history, once a bustling hub where small boats transported cargo from larger ships. As it winds its way through the city, the canal features stone warehouses preserved over the years and gas lamps that light up at night.
How to get to the Otaru Canal from New Chitose Airport: For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to New Chitose Airport by flying with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass. From the airport, take the bus headed towards Otaru Station. You can walk for 10 minutes to get to the canals or head over to the JR Otaru Station and take a 2-minute bus ride to the canals.
Tohoku is home to cooler climates and vibrant summer festivals like no other. You can also find delicious food and breathtaking scenes that boast some of the best views in Japan.
Japan has hundreds of thousands of festivals, called matsuri, every year. Tohoku is home to several of the most popular festivals that you can see in the summer.
The Aomori Nebuta Festival (held in August) is one of Japan’s most famous summer festivals, often attracting thousands of visitors from around the world. The main attractions are the colorful, gigantic human-shaped floats, called Nebuta. They usually resemble ancient warlords or historical characters in Japan. The festival also features haneto dancers wearing colorful costumes and nebuta music bands, consisting of drums, flutes, and cymbals.
Aomori City is serviced by Aomori Airport. For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to Aomori Airport by flying with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass.
The Akita Kanto Festival (held in August) is a summer festival held to pray for a good harvest of the five grains: rice, wheat, beans, foxtail millet, and Chinese millet. At night, the festival comes to life with performers balancing giant bamboo poles filled with lanterns. The poles are shaped like rice plant ears and can weigh up to 50 kilograms.
Akita City is serviced by Akita Airport. For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 5 minutes to Akita Airport by flying with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass.
The Sendai Tanabata Festival (held in August) is Japan’s most famous "Star Festival," celebrating an ancient legend about star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi. During the festival, shopping arcades around the city are decorated with brightly colored streamers. People wear yukata (summer kimonos) in vibrant colors, enjoy food stalls, and play carnival games.
For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes approximately 90-100 minutes to Miyagi via the shinkansen (bullet train).
Your trip to Tohoku isn’t complete without tasting some of the best summer dishes.
When the weather gets too hot, a bowl of morioka reimen—cold soup featuring chewy noodles, a rich chilled broth, and some kimchi toppings. It’s a refreshing treat that combats the summer heat.
Wanko soba is Japan’s most famous all-you-can-eat challenge, where servers serve small portions of soba noodles onto your bowl while encouraging you to eat more. You can enjoy it with various condiments and garnishes. When you’re done, the soba bowls are stacked on top of one another, so it’s easy to keep track of how many you’ve eaten so far. It’s an interactive and fun experience that’s a must-try for foodies.
Recently popularized on social media, the Zunda Shake is a creamy, refreshing milkshake made from sweetened edamame (Japanese soybeans). It is one of the best desserts in Sendai and the perfect "grab-and-go" drink when you’re sightseeing in Sendai in the summer.
Babahera ice cream is a unique dessert sold only in Akita. It features strawberry and banana ice cream flavors scooped and molded into a rose shape. Keep a lookout for the parasol-covered carts along the side of most Akita roads, so you can give this popular dessert a try.
Tohoku’s natural landscape keeps you cool even with outdoor activities. Here are some of the best summer activities in Tohoku.
While the Oirase Mountain Stream in Oirase Gorge is a popular fall destination for its vibrant autumn foliage, it is also worth visiting in the summer. You’ll walk along a lush green canopy of trees while enjoying the various waterfalls that will keep you cool.
Address: Okuse, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture 034-0301
How to get to Oirase Mountain Stream from Aomori Airport: For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to Aomori Airport by flying with a JAL Japan Explorer Pass. Take the airport bus to Aomori Station. Ride the JR Bus to Yakeyama. Oirase Gorge is approximately 5 minutes away.
Mount Zao is one of the most well-known mountains in the Tohoku Region. It features an active volcanic crater called the "Five-Color Pond" because of its stunning turquoise waters. The trail is easy to hike and also leads to a shrine and other sights.
Address: Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture 990-2301
How to get to the Zao Okama Quasi-National Park from Yamagata Airport: For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes approximately 55 minutes to Yamagata Airport by flying with a JAL Japan Explorer Pass. From Yamagata Airport, take the airport line to the JR Yamagata Station. From there, board a train bound for Kaminoyama. Use the free shuttle bus to get to the park.
Known as one of Japan's top three scenic views, Matsushima Bay features over 200 small islands covered in pine trees. One of the best ways to explore the place is on a sightseeing cruise that introduces you to some of the interesting names and facts about the diverse islands and rock formations dotting the bay.
Address: 85 Matsushima-chonai, Matsushima-machi, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture 981-0213
Matsushima Bay is serviced by Sendai Airport. For travelers arriving in Tokyo, it takes approximately 90-100 minutes to Miyagi via the shinkansen (bullet train).
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