I last bought Pokemon card booster packs for myself during Generation 1 in the early 2000s. When I look around the toy sections of the stores here in Asahikawa, the only booster packs I see are of non-Pokemon franchises like Ultraman. Where can I purchase the booster packs? What are the price ranges? Thank you!

Hi everyone, I’m a high school student from China (Grade 10) planning to apply to Hokkaido University ISP in 2028. I have a few quick questions: What GPA range is usually competitive for ISP? How important are science grades vs overall GPA? What is the interview like? (types of questions, difficulty ）？🥹💖

I would be very grateful if anyone could share Discord groups or communities for ISP applicants！

Wondering what the likelihood is I could splitboard tour Mt Yotei in early January. I’ll be on Hokkaido Dec 1 - January 10. I don’t have a touring partner though. Can anyone recommend a site for linking up with partners?

Hi! I've been lurking the past month building an impromptu trip for me and a buddy(shout out to everyone who contributes here <3). We have 7 days and will be renting a car and so far it looks like this:

Day 1 (July 21): Sapporo
Day 2 (July 22): Noribetsu
Day 3 (July 23): Furano / Hokuryu

Day 4 (July 24): Biei and head west stop Kawayuonsen
Day 5 (July 25): Shiretoko

Day 6 (July 26): Shiretoko and drive back west. Stay overnight around Lake Akan.

Day 7 (July 27): Make impromptu stops till back in Sapporo
Day 8 (July 28): 10:30am flight back to Tokyo

This is obviously a rough draft, but wanted some input if anyone has any! Is it too much and too hopeful? We are pretty flexible + whimsical in our travel style.

Also was wondering if its a better idea if we split the trip in half around Day 3 and fly out to the East side of Hokkaido and rent another car there and fly to Sapporo Day 7 to save time?

I went to uni in Sapporo, and moved back this month, one thing I’ve always felt is that the city has good food, good people, and a decent international community, but not always many spaces where different groups naturally mix.

I’m curious what people here think.

Do you feel Sapporo needs more international social events, food-focused events, music nights, casual networking, cultural events, or something completely different?

Also, would something inspired by the atmosphere of a Nigerian wedding reception sound interesting here? I mean food, music, fashion, an MC-led programme, interactive moments, and a mixed crowd, but in a more elegant evening setting rather than a club or festival.

Would that feel interesting for Sapporo, or too unfamiliar?

Hi everyone,

I am a solo traveler visiting Daisetsuzan in early August, staying at Asahidake Onsen for two nights (Aug 6 to 9). I would love to summit Mt. Asahidake, the highest point in Hokkaido, and I am trying to figure out the best way to do it.

A bit about me: I have solid hiking fitness (I did the Lares trek in Peru), so the physical side does not worry me. What I am less sure about is doing it alone for the first time in Japan, mainly around navigation in fog, the mostly-Japanese signage near the summit, and bear awareness. I plan to use the ropeway up to Sugatami and take the summit trail from there.

My questions:
1. Has anyone summited Asahidake solo? How was the route-finding near the top, especially if the weather turned?
2. Are there any groups or fellow hikers who tend to go up around the same time in early August, or ways to link up with others for the summit day?
3. I looked into a guided summit tour, but the solo private rate is high. Did anyone find a more affordable guided option, or a group they could join?
4. Any tips on timing, gear, or which of Aug 7 or 8 to aim for based on weather?

I have only those two days before I head to Sapporo, so I want to make the most of it. Any advice or experiences would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you.

I’ve recently been admitted to the ISP program at Hokkaido University, but I have a few questions about the enrollment/registration process. Is there anyone here who is currently enrolled in the program and would be willing to help answer a few questions?
Thank you very much!

Hi!

I'm wondering if anyone is aware of any buses that run from the New Chitose Airport directly to Furano? I'm having trouble finding a schedule that isn't for the winter. Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I’m doing my first trip to Japan, to Hokkaido this July end (10 nights) as a solo female traveller. Planning to stay in Sapporo, Otaru, Niseko and Noboribetsu.

A few questions:

1. How difficult is it travelling in this region without a car? I’ll be relying entirely on trains and buses.

2. Are there any good hikes, shrines, forest trails to not miss in this region?

3. Besides the Pokémon Center in Sapporo, are there any Hokkaido-exclusive Pokémon spots, merchandise, Poké Lids, or hidden things worth checking out?

4. Since I’ll be staying near Mt. Yōtei, are there any locations, viewpoints, shrines or places that really capture the atmosphere that inspired the Ghost of Yotei game?

5. Any related events such as the summer festival I should keep an eye out for?

Thanks! I’d love to hear any suggestions or personal experiences 😄

Going on a 11 day road trip next month in July, starting from Hakodate and driving all the way up to Shiretoko with stops in Lake Toya, Sapporo, Asahikawa and Lake Akan. Any recommendations for fun rest stops on the road? We are down for pretty much anything from sightseeing spots to checking out smaller towns/cities. I’ve done my due diligence on the popular stops so looking for places that are maybe more underrated.

Day 1 — Mon Aug 10 — Arrive Sapporo

 → 14:35 arrive New Chitose → pick up minivan → drive to Sapporo → Sapporo Beer Museum → dinner Ramen Yokocho, Susukino.

Day 2 — Tue Aug 11 — Cape Kamui · Yoichi · Otaru

7:30 depart west → Cape Kamui (Charenka Path, Shakotan Blue sea) → uni lunch → Nikka Whisky Distillery, Yoichi → Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street → return Sapporo → dinner

Day 3 — Wed Aug 12 — Hill of the Buddha · Sapporo Art Park → Kamifurano

8:15 check out → Hill of the Buddha (9am) → Sapporo Art Park (10:15) → drive to Kamifurano (~2.5h) → check in, free afternoon → Ningle Terrace evening.

Day 4 — Thu Aug 13 — Furano & Biei Flower Day

Farm Tomita → Furano Winery → Furano Cheese Factory (lunch) → Shikisai no Oka → Biei Patchwork Road (Ken & Mary's Tree, Seven Stars Tree) → Shirogane Blue Pond (evening).

Day 5 — Fri Aug 14 — Daisetsuzan National Park

Drive to Sounkyo (~2h) → Sounkyo Gorge walk (twin waterfalls) → Kurodake Ropeway to 1,520m → lunch in onsen village → check in, onsen afternoon.

Day 6 — Sat Aug 15 — Asahiyama Zoo → Lake Akan

9:30 Asahiyama Zoo (arrive at opening) → Asahikawa ramen lunch → drive to Lake Akan (~2.5h) → Ainu Kotan Village → Crane Center → Lake Akan boat tour (marimo) → evening Ainu dance performance.

Day 7 — Sun Aug 16 — Lake Akan → Noboribetsu → Upopoy

8:30 depart west (~3h) → lunch in Noboribetsu → Jigokudani Hell Valley (12:30) → Upopoy National Ainu Museum (14:00, open Sunday ✅) →

Day 8 — Mon Aug 17 — Noboribetsu → Orofure Pass → Lake Toya

Optional Bear Park or relaxed morning → check out 11am → Orofure Pass viewpoint (Pacific + Lake Toya) → lakeside lunch → Usu Ropeway → Showa Shinzan → check in 17:00–18:00 → evening fireworks.

Day 9 — Tue Aug 18 — Lake Toya → Shiroi Koibito Park → Fly out

8:30 short lakeside walk → 9:30 check out, drive to Sapporo (~1h) → 10:30–13:00 Shiroi Koibito Park (extended 2.5h visit) → drive to airport (~45 min) → return car → souvenir shopping → 18:30 depart

 

I am planning an upcoming trip to Hokkaido (flying into New Chitose) with my partner and have read competing things here and elsewhere about the criticality of renting a car to get to the best hikes with ease. I know a car would make life a lot easier, but I do not enjoy driving long distances in foreign countries, and Japan makes me nervous as I am unfamiliar with their laws, and Hokkaido has many long distances where there probably is no cell reception. Daisetsuzan (Asahidake, and Kurodake at Sounkyo) is at the top of my list. Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone,

I'm planning a late August Hokkaido road trip (Aug 15–26), this is my second time in japan (already done the Golden Route).

Confirmed itinerary:

Hakodate (2 nights)→ Lake Toya (1 n.) → Sapporo (2 n.) → Biei/Furano (1 n.) → Sounkyo (1 n.) → Shiretoko (Utoro) (2 n.) → Akan-Mashu (1 n.) → fly from Memanbetsu

Two questions:

1. I'm cutting Furano from 2 nights to 1.

Main reason: late August means no lavender, and the typical Furano activities (winery, cheese factory, Farm Tomita) don't interest me — I'm Italian, so those aren't exactly exotic. I'll keep 1 night as a base for Biei (Patchwork Road + Blue Pond), which I genuinely want to do. That frees up 1 extra night somewhere between Biei and Akanko/Shiretoko.

Where would you put it? Options I'm considering:

- Abashiri (convenient stop en route, Prison Museum) or any other city worth visiting

- Just add a 3rd night in Shiretoko (Kitakobushi) and do a whale watching day trip to Rausu

- Add a second night in Akan-Mashu and relax in a ryokan on the river (La vista Akangawa).

**2. On the night between Sounkyo and Shiretoko (Aug 22): is there anything worth stopping for that I'm missing?

Distance is ~220km / ~3h15 by car. Abashiri seems the obvious stop but not particularly exciting other than the prison museum. Anything hidden in that stretch?

We are a couple with rental car, not really interested in hiking but more in shightseeing, good food and nice cities to wander.

Thanks in advance :)

This is just for anyone interested in traveling Hokkaido and specifically Hakodate.

At the Hakodate Airport after 3 nights here solo and I want to capture my thoughts for anyone interested in coming here or even just going to Hokkaido.

I was just here last summer and did a solo road trip and the summer before that I did Sapporo solo. Search my posts if you want to know more on those as I wrote long entries for those too.

I had always wanted to come to Hakodate for no particular reason other than it sounded cool and looked nice from pictures. I ended up having a chance to scratch that itch this summer. So my expectations for whatever reason, were kind of high. Just looked like a chill place with nice views and good seafood.

One problem I ran into was I couldn't easily find a decent inexpensive place to stay. All of the hotels near the busier areas of Hakodate like near the station were really expensive, like more than $100 a night if I recall. I ended up getting a hostel called Tasogare Hostel more on the outskirts near the massive arena. I didn't know at the time but there is the Hakodate Marathon happening as I type this and that seems to have put quite a strain on the local accommodations and likely driven up the price.

Night 1: I arrived late enough so that when i checked into the hostel it was already dark. I hadn't figured out the tram system yet and I wanted to accomplish something so i did Lucky Pierrot that night. It was 30 min by walking and i hadn't got much exercise that day so I walked. By 8 PM it was like walking through a ghost town in that area. Kind of cool in some ways but really empty super dark. I had the Lucky Pierrot chicken burger with cheese and an egg and it was pretty good! Only like 680 yen. Nothing to make the trip for but it was good

Day 2/Night 2: This day ended up being really grey and then very rainy. I had a kaisendon for about 4000 yen at the morning market, a little expensive and a bit of a letdown. I had a really good kaisendon two summers ago in Sapporo and nothing has lived up to that. Walked all the way to Goryokaku Fort. Went to the top of the tower. Took the tram to the Red Brick Warehouse area and had some Petit Merveille. By then it was starting to really rain. Had soup curry, did the Northern Peoples museum. Eventually took a 3000 yen taxi ride back to the hostel as it was really starting to come down and be quite cold. By this point I was feeling disappointed by Hakodate.

Day 3/Night 3: The weather was much better and what a difference it made! Had a kaisendon at the morning market again, different place, still nothing that blew me away. Went to Onuma Quasi national park, nothing amazing but still calm and pretty. Had some nice potatoes at the Jagaimo Factory. Had Petit Merveille and some shio ramen at the morning market/station area. Went to the red brick warehouse area again and wow, when the sun is out and the breeze is cool and the sky is blue, it's a HUGE difference (obviously). It was really great. I toured some churches, stopped off at the bathhouse in the area (i love onsen) and and then did the Ropeway around 7:00 PM. The sky was clear and it was a great view but i can't overemphasize how many tourists are there. You're being squeezed for a good spot similar to the Battle of the Bastards in GoT. Made my way back to the hostel and was exhausted.

Thoughts:

I do think two nights max is all that's needed for Hakodate and just pray that when you're there the weather is beautiful as it makes all the difference. I know it goes without saying but it is a very small, not busy, spread out place. If you can stay closer to the station as i was just in too remote of an area. Also, the place ended up being great but I do think there's nothing here you can't get the same or better of in Sapporo. Kaisendons, night views, nature, all of that is easily accessible in Sapporo with in my opinion better food options and far more entertainment options. But there's more people so there's a trade off.

My thoughts after coming to Hokkaido for the last 3 summers:

My favorite experiences were spending several days in Sapporo and visiting Otaru (and the LeTao cheese soft serve was my favorite dairy product i've had in Japan) and taking a road trip through Central and East Hokkaido to see Furano and Biei and stopping in at little places to see flowers and visiting Asahidake and the Meakan trail which was a great hike.

Shiretoko, as interesting as it was to plan was for me a little underwhelming. Lake Akan was itself the same. Asahikawa was a non-factor for me. And Hakodate rates just a little higher than Asahikawa.

I would be interested in hitting up the remote Northern parts, Kusshiro and maybe Lake Toya in the future, and camping at Lake Kussharo looks fantastic with its clear water

Thanks for reading! If anyone has any questions on anything I would be happy to share any resources or answer any questions. Just respond or message me!