bi-ya gaa-den.
When the sultry summer air gets too much, make for the milder climes of Hokkaidō, Japan’s northernmost island. Summer is perfect for hiking one of the prefecture’s multiple mountains, and for exploring its remote and rugged national parks, many of which become inaccessible during the colder months. Yotei-zan, Rishiri-zan, Daisetsuzan National Park and Shiretoko National Park are just a handful of the many outdoorsy options.
Summer is also when Alpine wildflowers make their appearance and the stunning flower fields of Furano come to life. At Farm Tomita, the landscape blooms into broad ribbons of pink, orange, yellow and purple from mid- to late July. Of course, you could just hang out in Hokkaidō’s capital Sapporo and take it easy. The Sapporo Summer Festival runs from late July to mid-August and centres on a beer garden that seats around 13,000 people. The festival has traditional dancing, firefly watching, and fireworks, too.
Official climbing season for Mt Fuji runs from July to mid-September. People do climb outside the official season, though authorities caution against this as there are fewer facilities and weather can be unpredictable. With vending machines at the summit, free wi-fi hotspots along the climb, and a few hundred thousand people traipsing up and down the volcano each summer, this is hardly the place for getting away from it all. To avoid the biggest crowds, steer clear of O-bon week and school holidays, or try for a weekday. Otherwise, it’s best to just embrace the experience.
