Hokkaido Travel: Recommended Sightseeing Spots and Seasonal Delights in October

If you're going to Hokkaido in September, be sure to enjoy the autumn scenery! The highlights are the autumn foliage and the saury and salmon!

Autumn leaves

Location: Daisetsuzan Mountains Time of year: Early September to early October

Daisetsuzan is the first place in Japan where autumn leaves begin to change color. The leaves near the summit start to change color in late August and descend to the foot of the mountain over the course of about a month. In early September, hike to Akadake Ginsendai, where the leaves are at their peak for the first time. Bring sneakers and a water bottle for a mountaineering experience. Vehicle restrictions are in place during the autumn foliage season. From mid-September onwards, it becomes easier to enjoy the autumn leaves from places like the Asahidake Ropeway and Sounkyo Gorge.

Traffic restrictions for vehicles during the autumn foliage season

Location: Jozankei Season: Late September to October

Located just an hour's drive from Sapporo and easily accessible to Otaru, Jozankei is a perfect tourist destination, with its autumn foliage season in early October. As it's a hot spring town, you can enjoy both overnight stays and day trips to admire the autumn leaves and soak in the hot springs.

There are plenty of direct buses from Sapporo city to Jozankei, so you can enjoy the autumn foliage even without a car.

Jozankei Kappa Liner

Location: Abashiri, Lake Notori Time of year: September to early October

Finally, let me introduce a unique plant: the autumn foliage of the coral grass. Coral grass is a seaside plant that grows in salt marshes.

In Hokkaido, they can only be seen in parts of eastern Hokkaido, such as Lake Notori and Lake Saroma. Also, because they are located near the sea, they are submerged at high tide and cannot be seen. At their peak in late September, a bright red carpet spreads across Abashiri.

Please also see the related articles.

Seasonal foods

Pacific saury

Pacific saury, landed at various ports throughout Hokkaido, is at its fattiest from September to October. On September 16th and 17th, 2017, the "Nemuro Pacific Saury Festival" was held at Nemuro Port, where people could feast on Pacific saury under the open sky.

Click here for details about the Nemuro pacific saury Festival.

Autumn Salmon

Eighty percent of salmon in Japan comes from Hokkaido. In the autumn, before the salmon swim upstream to spawn, they are especially fatty and delicious. The eastern part of Hokkaido, including Nemuro, Rausu, and Abashiri, is a famous production area.

Scallop

Scallops are farmed and available year-round, but their peak season is definitely from autumn before spawning until early spring! You can enjoy the sweet adductor muscle as sashimi, or lightly grill it and savor the broth that seeps out. Autumn in Hokkaido is the perfect time to enjoy seafood!

Hokkaido events in October

Sapporo Autumn Fest

September 8th (Friday) – 30th (Saturday), 2017 @ Odori Park

The Sapporo Autumn Fest is the perfect way to fully enjoy the autumn season and its delicious food. A wide variety of mouthwatering gourmet foods from across Hokkaido gather on Odori Street, allowing you to savor them while enjoying the autumn breeze.

Please also see the related articles.

Furano Wine Grape Festival

September 3, 2017 (Sun) @ Furano Station Front Park

This festival celebrates the harvest of grapes used to make Furano wine. Enjoy the luxury of wine and grape juice, as befits a grape-producing region. In connection with this, events such as the Furano Pub Crawl will fill the town of Furano with a festive atmosphere in autumn.

Iomante Fire Festival in Akan Town

September-November 2017 @ Akan Ainu Theater Ikor

This is one of the rituals of the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido. It is said to have the meaning of releasing the soul of a brown bear, which is a temporary dwelling place for the gods (kamuy), by killing it and sending it to the world of the gods. It has also been designated as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage.