Hokkaido

Sapporo:

to stay:

Kurokoni Guesthouse - in Niseko. Owned by an Australian guy and his Japanese wife, who are incredibly helpful. They can drive you to the slopes and to the grocery store if you ask nicely and there are no other guests.

Ice Hotels

http://www.town.shikaoi.hokkaido.jp/hot/n-page/index218.html

The Place has an Ice Hotel, Ice Bar and an outdoor onsen on the lake. It's a bit off the beaten track and needs some Japanese to make it happen, but it looks worth the hassle.

The Snow Festival (Yuki Matsuri):

The official site for the Sapporo Snow Festival - http://www.snowfes.com/ Most of it's in Japanese, but there is an English link with limited information.

HAJET's website seems to carry no information on the festival, though this may change nearer the time.

Besides the ice and snow sculptures in the middle of the city, there is also a place called Satoland that is run during the Yuki Matsuri. This place is more geared for kids, but they have more snow sculptures, a snow maze, a toboggan run, etc. that anyone can do. You need to take a bus to get there.

You can also go skiing at Niseko, which is highly recommended. March is supposedly the best time to go, by April some of the lifts may be closed.

If you don't want to go on the JET trip, here is another way:

About ￥37,300 would get you return flight Sendai-Sapporo, and one night's accommodation in Sapporo (leaving 2nd night free to stay near Rusutsu Mount or find you own accom). In 2007 the organiser was Noriko 090 1061 0609. Accomodation sites in Japanese:

http://www.jalan.net/jalan/jweb/yado/LRG_010800.HTML (rusutsu/niseko)

http://www.jalan.net/a/shisetsu/010000/LRG_010200.html?vos=njaladww0017000064 (Sapporo-shi)

Hiking:

Hiking in Hokkaido is absolutely wonderful and alpine hiking (in the snow - mainly from October to May) is a whole different world, beautiful in a very special, different way! In Golden week on most mountains in Hokkaido (especially the big ones of Daisetsuzan where the peaks are almost all well above the treeline) there is still a LOT of snow. Many of the ski fields won't even be finished by then so you'll need to be well prepared and preferably hiking with someone who is experienced in alpine hiking. It can be quite dangerous and it's very easy to get lost when all the landmarks and the trail are covered in a couple of metres of snow - you'll need to know how to read a map and use a compass. Also, camping at that time of year, even on the plains, can be very cold at night so bring a very warm sleeping bag! The weather in spring can be very changeable, so you need to be well equipped to deal with whatever mother nature feels like throwing at you when in exposed locations like the Daisetsuzan range.

Hokkaido Hikes is a new company doing good value hiking tours throughout Hokkaido. They are very experienced and tours include all the good-quality alpine gear you'll need. The website is still under construction so try giving it a google.

Leon at Japan Adventures is an English speaking guide in Hokkaido with over 10 years experience guiding everything from single to large groups. Example Trips: Daisetsu-Zan 11 day friendship camping trek, North East Hokkaido 15 day discovery and adventure trip including the spectacular Shiretoko peninsula. Check the event calendar for more information.

http://www.japan-adventures.com or email hokkaido@japan-adventures.com

Smaller Islands

Rebun and Rishiri

Catch a ferry from Wakkanai - they are quite frequent.

to stay:

In Rebun the Momo-iwa Youth Hostel is a very unique experience. It's worth staying for a night simply for the location - it has one of the most spectacular views in Japan. It's on a cliff high above the ocean, pointing direcly west for amazing sunsets. It's surrounded by lush green cliffs and hills, including the peach shaped Momo-iwa. The building is old and interesting in itself. The insane staff are renowned for their loud song and dance routines that seem to never stop and while its worth experiencing it may get on your nerves after awhile, but you forgive them when for example they all get on top of the hostel roof and welcome you with a song and dance when you return from the cross-island hike or when everyone gathers out front and sends off the departing guests with song, that doesn't stop until you've passed out of sight, over a hill on the way to the ferry terminal. The hostel also has strict rules, which can be annoying.

The youth hostel on Rishiri is more run of the mill and much more quiet and laid back. Nothing special.

to see:

For activities on Rebun definitely do the 8 hour cross island hike. It's organized by the youth hostel, they pack you a lunch and provide you with transport to the starting point. You pass through amazing scenery, which is quite varied at times, see the summer flowers, get amazing views of Rishiri in the distance, and pass through tiny little fishing towns that may soon disappear when all the old folks who live there have passed away. There's also a short hiking course around Momo-iwa which may be worth doing.

In Rishiri the thing to do would be to rent a car and circle the island hitting up the various sightseeing spots that are in the guidebooks. You can drive halfway up Rishiri-zan or hike it all the way to the top.

There's nothing in Wakkanai unless you enjoy staring at concrete tetrapods.

Links:

http://www.sap-hok.com/ - official site to see what's going on all year round.

http://www.shift.jp.org/111/tomamu/ - details of a snow village in Tomamu.