Hidden gem Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost prefecture and second largest island. During the winter, it becomes a magical snowy wonderland, famous for the Sapporo Snow Festival held annually in early February. In the summer months, the island enjoys mild temperatures without the humidity more common in other Japanese prefectures. Read on to learn why Hokkaido is a perfect year-round destination for school trips, filled with quaint coastal towns, breathtaking natural landscapes, and an unexpected history.
You can soak in the hot springs of Noboribetsu.
Hokkaido is famous for its volcanoes and natural hot springs. The best place to witness this geothermal activity is in the town of Noboribetsu, south of Sapporo. Here, Jigokudani Hell Valley is an earth science teacher’s dream. It’s a great spot to hike through steamy sulphuric ponds and beautiful foliage. Keep an eye out for the occasional stone devil statue.
You can sample Hokkaido’s famous agricultural products.
Tasting fruit in Japan is an experience in itself and Hokkaido’s sweet Yubari melons lives up to the hype. Visit a melon farm and try melon ice cream, a rich soft serve which also features another one of Hokkaido’s famous products: dairy! All over Japan, you’ll find Hokkaido-made butter, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. In fact, Hokkaido’s farmland produces 60% of Japan’s dairy products. Hokkaido ramen is famous for being served with a pat of butter on top. Try it and you’ll never go back!
You can frolic through endless fields of flowers in the summertime.
If you visit in the summer, don’t feel too bad about missing the Sapporo Snow Festival. Your students can walk through the lavender fields of Furano instead. July is the perfect time to see and smell rows of different colored lavender. They even operate the ski lifts during the summer so you can get a bird’s eye view of the gorgeous flowers.
You can learn about the Ainu people of Hokkaido.
Before Hokkaido became part of Japan, it was known as Ezo and it was inhabited by the indigenous Ainu people. They had a distinct spoken language without a system of writing and worshiped bears as sacred beings. Today, it is estimated that there are 25,000 Ainu descendants, separate from the Ainu who have fully assimilated into Japanese culture over the past centuries. If you find yourself in eastern Hokkaido, you can stop by Lake Akan Ainu Village to see artifacts and learn more about the Ainu way of life.
If, like us, you think Japan is the perfect school trip destination for your students, take a look at our wide variety of school trips to Japan. Can’t find the itinerary that fits what you’re looking for? Get in touch by emailing info@thelearningadventure.com, calling our London office on +44 (0)20 3817 5974 or our Boston office on +1 617 372 4583, to find out how The Learning Adventure can meet your specific educational requirements.
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