Winter in Hokkaido is a must-see for its powder snow.

❄️ When you think of winter in Hokkaido, images of snow-covered open-air hot springs, Hakodate's night view (one of the world's top three night views), the long sloping streets of Otaru featured in the movie "Love Letter," and the globally recognized powder snow paradise come to mind...
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🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com often offers limited-time deals, and many hotels only require a credit card for reservation without prepayment.
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✈️ Flights: ANA (All Nippon Airways) has a special ticket promotion for foreigners. You can first arrive in Japan and then enjoy discounts on flights to other Japanese cities. The website is available in Chinese, so it's worth checking out if needed.
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🚝 JR: Japan's railway system is very convenient for traveling between cities. You don't need to book tickets in advance; simply purchase them at the station. Trains run frequently. If you're planning to visit multiple cities within a short period and the destinations are far apart, buying a 7-day JR PASS is highly cost-effective.
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🚗 Car rental: Hokkaido's natural scenery is vast and sparsely populated, with attractions spread out. Public transportation has limited service in the evenings. For efficient travel around Sapporo and nearby areas, consider renting a car for a day trip. For family trips, renting a 7-seater or 10-seater car for multiple days allows for flexible scheduling and hassle-free travel, making it the best choice.
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📡 Wi-Fi: Portable Wi-Fi devices can be rented online (available on platforms like Mafengwo and Fliggy, with similar pricing). You can pick them up at the international departure terminal of the airport. They offer unlimited data daily and decent internet speed.
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📱 APP: Google Maps is essential for international travel. It even provides platform numbers for JR trains, making navigation highly accurate.
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📦 Luggage essentials: Winter in Hokkaido is extremely cold! Besides warm clothing, make sure to bring heat packs (for your body and feet), gloves, scarves, hats, a sturdy umbrella (snowy days can be very windy), and chargers (both phones and cameras tend to lose battery quickly).
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💯 Must-try experiences in Hokkaido:
1️⃣ Premium Japanese hot springs, such as those in Noboribetsu and Lake Toya.
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❄️ Imagine walking barefoot on snow to enter a hot spring pool, soaking in the warm water while snowflakes drift in from the garden's fence and land on your head...
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♨️ Lake Toya offers many open-air hot springs with excellent locations. The warm spring water combined with the chilly wind creates a unique and unforgettable experience of fire and ice. Additionally, the well-developed and thoughtful tourist facilities have earned Lake Toya hot springs a great reputation.
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♨️ Noboribetsu Onsen is the largest hot spring area in Hokkaido, known as "Hokkaido's top hot spring destination." Its fame comes from Hell Valley, the source of all Noboribetsu hot spring water. The water from Hell Valley is naturally hot, making it ideal for hot springs. The steam rising from Hell Valley is also warm, adding to the allure.