Itmay seem odd to associate Japan
withwilderness, but consider this:
Hokkaido is Japan’s second-largest is-
land, yet only a fraction of the Japanese
live there (most in the pleasant city of
Sopporo). Added summer boon:While
July andAugust can be hot and humid
onmainland Japan, Hokkaido, the
northernmost island, is cool and dry.
Another summer enticement: Since it
takes longer towarm up inHokkaido,
the breathtakingmarvel of sakura
(cherry blossom) season unfolds as late
asmid-May (MatsumaeKoenandNenohi
Park offer spectacular blossomings).
Hokkaido is filledwith hiking trails (tip:
Avoid the summer crowds inDaisetsu-
zanNational Park by escaping to the
park’smore remote Tokachidake area,
pictured left, or, remoter still, head for
Shiretoko Peninsula, one of Japan’smost
pristinewilderness areas), and almost
any of Hokkaido’s coastal roads offers
superb cyclingwith stunning seascapes.
Back on themainland, summer is also
prime time to summitMt. Fuji (from
late July to late August theweather on
Japan’s iconic peak is at itsmost stable).
After frolicking in the outdoors, treat
yourself to civilization: Tokyo’s freshest
sushi is found in the tiny restaurants
within the vast Tsukiji FishMarket, and
Kyoto’s famed Kiyomizu Temple (and the
window shopping that lines theway)
shouldn’t bemissed.
➤
