Summer in Hokkaido is famous for lavender fields, fireworks, and one of Japan's biggest outdoor beer festivals. If you're planning a trip to Hokkaido between July and August, don't miss these two iconic events in Sapporo.
Sapporo Odori Beer Garden
Held in Odori Park, this is Japan's largest outdoor beer garden, attracting more than one million visitors every summer.
Visitors can enjoy freshly poured draft beer, local specialties, German sausages, international beers, and live summer atmosphere in the heart of Sapporo.
Reservations are highly recommended for evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
Sapporo Craft Beer Forest
Date 11–12 July 2026
Venue Bankei Ski Area, Sapporo
This unique festival transforms a ski resort into an outdoor craft beer paradise.
Breweries from Hokkaido, across Japan, and overseas gather to showcase hundreds of craft beers.
Summer in Hokkaido is one of the best seasons for a road trip. Besides pleasant weather and stunning scenery, visitors can enjoy spectacular fireworks festivals held across the island.
If you're planning a Hokkaido summer road trip, these five fireworks events are among the most popular in 2026. Renting a car allows you to travel comfortably between cities, explore nearby attractions, and avoid crowded public transportation after the shows.
Tokachi Fireworks Festival (Kachimai Fireworks Festival)
📍 Tokachi River Riverside, Obihiro
Date: August 13, 2026 (Thursday)
The Tokachi Fireworks Festival is widely recognized as the largest fireworks event in Hokkaido. Organized by The Tokachi Mainichi Newspaper, this annual celebration features approximately 20,000 fireworks in a breathtaking 90-minute performance.
What makes this festival unique is its computer-controlled synchronization of fireworks, music, lighting, and special effects, creating a spectacular multimedia show unlike any other in Japan. Set against the vast Tokachi night sky, it's consistently ranked among Japan's best fireworks festivals.
The Makomanai Fireworks Festival is one of Sapporo's largest urban fireworks events. Visitors can enjoy an impressive display of approximately 22,000 fireworks, perfectly synchronized with music, laser lighting, and flame effects. The event features productions by renowned Japanese fireworks companies, including Nihonbashi Marutamaya and Beniya Aoki Fireworks, both famous for winning prestigious national fireworks awards. If you're staying in Sapporo during July, this is one of the city's must-see summer events.
The Doshin UHB Fireworks Festival is one of the easiest fireworks events to access in Hokkaido, making it especially popular among both locals and tourists. Around 4,000 fireworks illuminate the Toyohira River, stretching between Toyohira Bridge and Minami 19-jo Bridge. Due to heavy crowds, traffic restrictions and station entry controls are expected around Nakajima Koen and Horohira-bashi Stations. Visitors are encouraged to use alternative subway stations such as Hosui Susukino, Gakuen-mae, or Nakanoshima.
August 1: 71st Doshin Fireworks Festival August 2–3: Wasshoi Hakodate Parade & Dance Festival August 4: Reserve Day August 5: Fireworks Postponement Date (if required)
The Hakodate Port Festival is one of Hokkaido's most iconic summer celebrations. The festival begins with a spectacular fireworks display over Hakodate Bay before continuing with lively parades, traditional performances, and local festivities. Approximately 5,000 fireworks light up the waterfront, creating an unforgettable combination of fireworks and Hakodate's famous night views.
The Otaru Ushio Festival Fireworks Display is one of Hokkaido's most scenic harbor fireworks events. Around 5,000 fireworks are launched over Otaru Port, beautifully reflecting on the sea and complementing the city's historic canal and charming waterfront atmosphere. It's a perfect highlight for anyone planning an Otaru day trip or a Hokkaido summer vacation.
We provide multilingual customer support in English, Chinese, and Japanese, transparent pricing, comprehensive insurance options, and convenient pick-up and return services in Sapporo and New Chitose Airport.
Whether you're chasing Hokkaido's spectacular summer fireworks or planning the ultimate scenic road trip, HAYAKU Rent A Car helps you explore the island with complete freedom.
If you're planning a summer trip to Hokkaido and looking for a magical destination where you can watch fireworks almost every night, the Lake Toya Fireworks Festival should be at the top of your itinerary.
Known as one of the most romantic fireworks events in Hokkaido, this spectacular show runs from spring through autumn, making it one of the few long-running fireworks festivals in Japan.
What Is the Lake Toya Fireworks Festival?
Unlike traditional fireworks festivals held at a fixed location, the Lake Toya Fireworks Festival features a unique moving fireworks display.
A fireworks boat travels across approximately 2 kilometers of the lake while launching fireworks, allowing visitors to enjoy different perspectives depending on where they are along the lakeshore.
This means:
Multiple lakeside viewing locations
A different fireworks experience from every angle
No need to squeeze into one crowded viewing area
On calm evenings, the fireworks reflect beautifully on the surface of Lake Toya, creating one of the most breathtaking night views in Hokkaido.
Best Ways to Watch the Lake Toya Fireworks
1. Stroll Along the Lakeside (Most Relaxing)
Simply take a walk around the Lake Toya Onsen area and enjoy the fireworks from the waterfront.
Perfect for:
Couples
Families
Casual evening walks
2. Watch from a Lake View Onsen Hotel (Most Luxurious)
Many lakeside hot spring hotels offer rooms with direct views of the fireworks.
Imagine soaking in a natural hot spring while watching fireworks illuminate the night sky—one of Hokkaido's most unforgettable travel experiences.
A Hokkaido Summer Road Trip Isn't Complete Without Lake Toya
The Lake Toya Fireworks Festival isn't just another fireworks display—it's a one-of-a-kind moving fireworks experience that can only be found in Hokkaido.
If you want to:
Enjoy complete travel freedom
Find the best lakeside photography spots
Explore southern Hokkaido at your own pace
then renting a car is the perfect way to experience everything Lake Toya has to offer.
Planning a Lake Toya Road Trip?
Summer is one of the busiest travel seasons in Hokkaido, so we recommend reserving your rental car as early as possible.
With HAYAKU Rent A Car, you'll enjoy:
Flexible pick-up and drop-off locations
Airport vehicle delivery available
Vehicles ideal for scenic road trips and photography
Comfortable cars for long-distance driving
Rent a Car in Hokkaido with HAYAKU Rent A Car
HAYAKU Rent A Car specializes in vehicles designed for unforgettable Hokkaido road trips, including:
JDM Sports Cars
4WD Vehicles
8-Seater Family Cars
Winter-ready vehicles for safe driving
We provide multilingual customer support in English, Chinese, and Japanese, transparent pricing, comprehensive insurance options, and convenient pick-up and return services in Sapporo and New Chitose Airport.
Book your Hokkaido rental car today and discover the freedom to experience Lake Toya, breathtaking fireworks, and the island's most scenic drives at your own pace.
When it comes to a Hokkaido road trip, one of the most iconic photography subjects is Mount Yotei. Often called the "Mount Fuji of Hokkaido," this perfectly shaped volcano attracts photographers, road-trippers, and car enthusiasts from around the world.
Whether you're searching for the best Mount Yotei viewpoints, Niseko Instagram spots, or scenic driving locations in Hokkaido, these destinations deserve a place on your itinerary.
4 Best Mount Yotei Photo Spots
1. Aikawa View Point Parking (Must-Visit)
Why Visit?
Iconic straight road leading directly to Mount Yotei
One of the most popular photography locations among local photographers
Beautiful during both sunrise and sunset
Perfect for capturing your car with Mount Yotei in the background
If you're planning a photography-focused road trip around Niseko, choosing the right vehicle can make your photos even more memorable.
Performance cars such as the Honda Civic Type R FL5, Subaru WRX, or Toyota GR Yaris pair perfectly with the dramatic scenery of Mount Yotei and create stunning automotive photography opportunities.
Suggested One-Day Mount Yotei Road Trip
Morning
Aikawa View Point Parking — Capture the iconic straight road with Mount Yotei and your car.
Makkari Village — Enjoy peaceful countryside landscapes and panoramic mountain views.
Midday
Niseko View Plaza Roadside Station — Take a break, enjoy local snacks, and capture more scenic photos.
Evening
Lawson Hirafu — Finish the day with one of Niseko's most famous night photography locations featuring Mount Yotei and the convenience store.
Explore Mount Yotei with the Freedom of a Rental Car
Whether you're searching for the best Mount Yotei photo spots, Niseko photography locations, or planning the ultimate Hokkaido driving itinerary, renting a car gives you the flexibility to explore at your own pace and visit multiple scenic viewpoints in a single day.
Rent a Car in Hokkaido with HAYAKU Rent A Car
HAYAKU Rent A Car specializes in vehicles for unforgettable Hokkaido road trips, including:
JDM Sports Cars
4WD Vehicles
8-Seater Family Cars
Winter-ready vehicles for safe driving
We provide multilingual customer support in English, Chinese, and Japanese, transparent pricing, comprehensive insurance coverage, and convenient pick-up and return services in Sapporo and New Chitose Airport.
