For the past two long years, we have had to do away with life-enriching gatherings such  as concerts, theaters, sport events and we could not even think about trips. At long last, the world around us is beginning to stir. The conditions and restrictions for entry into Japan and activities have become relaxed. Hokkaido has spent two full seasons waiting for you to come and visit. While we spent a quiet time without tourists, new kinds of tours to enjoy Hokkaido more fully were created.

First Time in the World? Hokkaido Ballpark F Village Allows You to Watch Baseball Games While Enjoying a Sauna or Hot Spring Bath

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, one of 12 pro baseball teams in Japan, will open a new kind of ballpark in Kitahiroshima, next to Sapporo, in the spring of 2023. A new town is being created centered around the ballpark, “ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO.” The ballpark is equipped with a play area for younger and older children, as well as a space for eateries that serve foods from various parts of Hokkaido and an area where people can watch ball games while enjoying a sauna or hot spring bath.

UPOPOI - A Museum Where Ainu Sing Together With Hokkaido

The Ainu people have lived in northern Tohoku, Hokkaido, and far-eastern Russia since ancient times. Upopoi or the National Ainu Museum and Park, was opened on the 12th of July, 2020.  The National Ainu Museum is the first national museum in Hokkaido and an experiential field museum in the town of Shiraoi. The popular name Upopoi refers to (many people) singing together in Ainu. Visitors will be able to learn about Ainu daily life and culture by a first-hand experience.

Treasury of Foods,  Newly Added Charm

For the past few years, Hokkaido as the “Kingdom of Food” has been enriched by an increase in the number of breweries and distilleries which produce a variety of alcoholic drinks. Each of the cardinal points of Hokkaido is surrounded by a different ocean current endowing the areas with differing climates and topographies. Each area takes advantage of the locally grown raw materials and climate to create a unique variety of sake, wine, whisky, gin, and beer of high reputation. In the sphere of sake, Kamikawa Taisetsu Sake Brewery, has opened sake cellars in Obihiro and Hakodate; Michizakura Sake Brewery moved from Gifu prefecture to Higashikawa-cho near Asahikawa; and  Hakodate (written in pre-Meiji style) Sake Brewery just opened in Hakodate last year. If you visit an anntena shop, which specializes in local products from various regions, or one of the cellars, you can sample the sake of these newcomers with seasoned skills, or you can buy the sake of these breweries at local liquor stores. As for whisky, the Akkeshi Distillery was opened in the town of Akkeshi situated along the coast of eastern Hokkaido. It has won the highest award at various international competitions such as San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2021. Hakkaizan Brewery, famous for its sake, has opened a distillery in Niseko manufacturing whisky and gin. On the Shakotan Peninsula not too far from the scenic Kamui Promontory,  a distillery makes Shakotan Gin from local ingredients. If you visit areas with these distilleries or breweries, the local restaurants serve the locally made alcoholic drinks or you can buy these brands at an anntena shop. 

The Nikka Whisky Distillery in Yoichi has offered tours and tasting since long ago and is now enjoying a resurgence in popularity because of the attention Japanese whisky is getting these days. The new Akkeshi Whisky Distillery sells whisky associated with 24 Sekki or 24 micro seasons. In 24 Sekki Calendar, each of the four seasons is further divided into six micro seasons — each lasting 15 days. Unfortunately, the whisky sells out soon after it hits the stores; however, if you go to Konkirie, the roadside station in Akkeshi, you can enjoy oysters, the specialty of Akkeshi, with a few drops of whisky on top, or you may be lucky enough to buy the blended Akkeshi whisky at the gift shop. At Hakkaizan Niseko Distillery, you can tour and taste a maturing whisky by making reservation. Until the whisky is ready for shipment, you can taste and purchase their craft gin.

Hokkaido is the Third Greatest Producer of Wine in Japan
As for wine, the produced volume has been increasing year by year as the vineyard owners make the most of their wide fields. Similar to the vineyards in the European cooler and less moist areas, vineyard owners in Hokkaido are working hard to cultivate cold-hardy species,  achieving higher quality year by year. As of October, 2021, there were 53 wineries in Hokkaido. 

Debut of Yamasachi from Hokkaido
Against such a background, a wine titled Yamasachi was born in the beautiful yet harsh environment of Tokachi area. Yamasachi was created by the town of Ikeda famous for its wine castle. This town has been working to produce wine for the longest time in the Tokachi area. Its species of grape has been acknowledged internationally as a high quality grape for producing wine. It has been registered as such with O.I.V. (International Organisation of Vine and Wine headquartered in France)

Delicious Food –From Paris to Hokkaido- (English Version) 
https://youtu.be/0CAfB7PtJvI