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weigookin74 · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 265

How is Hokkaido's weather in summer time? I've been going down to street view on Google earth and it looks quite nice. Does it have that discusting humidty that the rest of North East Asia has or is the weather there quite pleasant? Does anyone live there or has travelled to there? The reason I ask is maybe in the next year or two, I'd like to travel there. Maybe go to Sapporo, rent a car and drive around it. But, I don't know how good or bad the English level is or even sights to see. I'm just guessing it'd be a nice way to escape the bad humid weather in summer without trekking it all the way back to North America. I'd appreciate any insight or expereinces you have had.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

It is good. I recommend going.
Go to Sapporo.
I would like to see Otaru and Hakodate someday.

I work in Tokyo and it gets humid, but up in Hokkaido the weather is really pleasant in the summer.

aynnej · Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 2:51 am Post subject:

I second Mitui's comments. I loved Hokkaido. The weather's nice in the summer. I traveled around the southeast for Obon one year--Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate, and Niseko. Would love to explore the rest of the Hokkaido someday.

There are a lot of microbreweries in that area (Otaru, Hakodate). Also be sure to try the sashimi around Hakodate. I think they're known for squid, but all the sashimi was good.

Also good trekking, some of it easy. Mountains around Niseko (although I didn't get to climb due to rain).

My Japanese friends spoke highly of the European-style architecture in Sapporo and Hakodate. If you're from a Western country, through, it's not really that impressive.

teenoso · Joined: 18 Sep 2013 Posts: 365 Location: south china

I spent a very happy 3 months in Sapporo back in the 90s . The weather in the autumn was very fresh and pleasant. Summer should be fine.
Beyond a few churches , I don't remember too much western architecture there, but certainly the city is very nice . Hakodate is worth a visit (although the locals' claim that the nightscape of the harbour /city is one of the best in the world seemed to be pushing it).
Otaru was mildly interesting, IMO .
I liked the outdoor spas in Noboribetsu , and there are some (touristy) Ainu cultural heritage places near there.
Parts of Hokkaido looked pretty bleak and windswept , as I remember.
At that time , few people spoke any English , which could be a problem with car rentals etc , but maybe things have changed dramatically since then. The local people were very welcoming and more open perhaps than in other parts of Japan.