2026 Mori Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

Onuma Quasi-National Park is a stunning nature reserve in Hokkaido, located just about 20 km from downtown Hakodate 🚗. Even though it's the smallest quasi-national park in Hokkaido, it proudly holds the title of the "Matsushima of the Lakes" and was once named one of the "New Three Views of Japan"! You definitely don't want to miss this spot~😍 🎯 Must-See Highlights: 1️⃣ 126 Islets + 18 Picturesque Bridges: Spanning across the three barrier lakes—Lake Onuma, Lake Konuma, and Lake Junsainuma—these tiny islands are connected by charming bridges, offering endless photo ops! Take a leisurely stroll along the "Island Hopping Trail" to capture the reflection of Mt. Komagatake from various angles. The scenery is so breathtaking you won't be able to stop snapping pics 📸. 2️⃣ Mt. Komagatake: Standing tall at 1,131 meters, this gorgeous volcanic mountain is the absolute centerpiece of the park. Its rugged ridgelines, set against the ever-changing seasonal lake views, make it the ultimate star of your photos 🔥. 3️⃣ "A Thousand Winds" Monument: This park is the birthplace of the ultra-classic Japanese hit song "Sen no Kaze ni Natte" (A Thousand Winds). The specially designed monument is a must-visit spot for fans and artsy souls alike~🎶 🌸 Top Seasonal Outdoor Experiences: Spring | May: Pure white Asian skunk cabbages bloom beautifully, and flocks of wild birds are in full flight mode~ Summer | June to August: Yellow water lilies blossom on the lake. You can hop on a sightseeing boat for a chill cruise (about 30 mins), rent a bike to ride around Lake Onuma (a 14 km loop), or try canoeing to soak in the crisp, refreshing vibes of the lake~🚴♀️🛶 Autumn | Mid-October to Early November: Peak foliage season! The lake surface turns into a perfect mirror, reflecting vibrant maple and ginkgo leaves. It's an absolute paradise for leaf-peepers 🍁 Winter | January to March: The lake freezes over with thick ice, unlocking epic winter activities like ice fishing (fry up your catch right on the spot—sooo fresh!), snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. You'll have so much fun you won't want to leave! ⛸️⛷️ 🔎 Address & Transportation Info: Address: Onumacho, Nanae, Kameda District, Hokkaido, Japan Transportation: Take the JR Limited Express "Hokuto" from JR Hakodate Station to Onumakoen Station. It takes just about 25 minutes! The park entrance is right outside the station, making your visit incredibly easy and hassle-free! 🙌 Grab your friends and head over to Onuma Quasi-National Park to experience the unique and stunning beauty of all four seasons!

Looking for a serene getaway surrounded by snowy landscapes? Greenpia Onuma in Hokkaido is your perfect choice! Nestled beside a ski resort with breathtaking views, you can even catch a glimpse of Mount Komagatake. Especially during the snow season, the scenery is absolutely stunning. The hotel offers a variety of room types, including Japanese-style, Western-style, capsule rooms, and camping tents, catering to all kinds of travelers. The facilities are comprehensive: the first floor features an onsen, a manga room, and a bowling alley, while the second floor boasts a grand lobby and a restaurant. Clear signage by the elevator buttons ensures you won't get lost. [Convenient Shuttle Service] The hotel provides a mid-sized bus shuttle service. We took the night shuttle to Hakodate, reaching the ropeway station in just 40 minutes to enjoy the million-dollar night view, and then returned to the hotel effortlessly. It's both time-saving and convenient. [Onsen Experience] The bicarbonate spring is open for extended hours. I visited around 10 PM, and it was pleasantly uncrowded, allowing me to enjoy the entire onsen area in peace. The onsen features both indoor and outdoor sections, with all the necessary amenities, including sakura horse oil lotion for your use. [Room Experience] We stayed in a Japanese-style room. The carpeted hallway was quiet and comfortable. The room's entrance was spacious, providing ample space for luggage. The toilet and bathroom were separate, ensuring no interference, and the bath amenities were surprisingly high-quality. The room was furnished with light green tatami mats, and the futon was already laid out. The thick mattress was more comfortable than a spring bed, and the lightweight down duvet kept me warm throughout the night, even though the room was slightly cool. The view outside the window, veiled by sheer white curtains, offered a different charm during the day and night.

Hokkaido Hokkaido Tourism If you come to Hokkaido, you want to eat delicious food! This time, I will share a restaurant in Akaigawa, Morimachi, Hokkaido! 📍Restaurant Cologne 📍 106-5 Akaigawa, Morimachi, Kayabe-gun, Hokkaido ☞ 2 minutes by car from Onuma Park IC on the expressway The most practical place to go is by car, but it is definitely worth going! It is no exaggeration to say that the hamburger here is the best hamburger you will ever have! lol When it comes to hamburgers, the famous phrases are 📍Soft❤️ 📍Amazing gravy❤️ But this one is different! 📍Meaty (not hard) 📍Fluffy hamburger (not juicy) More than a hamburger, it feels like you are eating meat A hamburger that lets you fully experience the deliciousness of the meat! Hamburg steak that you should try at least once in your life It was Restaurant Cologne! #Hokkaido #Hokkaido Tourism #Hokkaido Trip #Hamburg steak #Restaurant Cologne #Morimachi #Restaurant Cologne Hamburg steak #Domestic travel

Traveling... Even if you think, "I'll go someday," it's not always possible to go the same way. There are health issues to consider, natural disasters, volcanic activity, and restrictions on mountain access, which can change the scenery you saw yesterday. That's why lately, I've been thinking I want to go while I can, and see what I can while I can. This time, I felt that way again when I visited Mount Komagatake in Hokkaido. It's a mountain I've been gazing at since my last post from Onuma Quasi-National Park. It's an active volcano with an elevation of 1,131m, straddling Mori, Shikabe, and Nanae towns. Apparently, it used to be a cone-shaped mountain like Mount Fuji, but the summit collapsed significantly during a major eruption in 1640. The debris avalanche that occurred at that time is said to have led to the current appearance of Onuma and Konuma lakes. Thinking about it that way, it's interesting how everything connects to the scenery of Onuma from my previous post. Mount Komagatake is still an active volcano under observation, and access to the crater floor and the main peak, Kengamine, is restricted. You can only climb as far as "Uma-no-se" on the Akaigawa trail. Furthermore, even this route to Uma-no-se isn't open year-round; it's only open from June to October each year. Restrictions are reviewed annually, so it's not guaranteed that you'll be able to hike it the same way in the future. As you progress along the trail, the trees thin out, revealing rugged rock faces and the large crater wall. Looking back, you can see a grand panorama stretching to Lake Onuma and the surrounding towns. It's a different kind of scenery than hiking through greenery; it truly makes you feel like you're "walking on a volcano." You should see these views while you can. Mount Komagatake made me realize that once again ✨ (※Some of the photos were taken at the time of my visit) 📍Mount Komagatake, Hokkaido (Akaigawa Trail) ⛰️Elevation 1,131m (Kengamine Peak) 🚗Accessible by car to the trailhead at the 6th station ⚠️Climbing is only possible up to Umanose. Furthermore, it's only available for a limited time each year, from June to October. Please be sure to check the latest volcanic information and restrictions before entering the mountain. #GoWhileYouCan #SeeWhileYouCan #MountKomagatakeInHokkaido #Komagatake #MoriTown #OnumaQuasiNationalPark #ActiveVolcano #HokkaidoHiking #HokkaidoScenery #LimitedTimeHiking #HokkaidoTravel #HikingJapan #JapanTravel

On day two of our Southern Hokkaido trip, we went park-hopping to "Hachironuma Park" and "Onuma Quasi-National Park" to fully embrace the great outdoors! Here’s a rundown of our real-life experiences, complete with fun activities and unexpected happenings. 🦞 Getting in touch with nature! Hachironuma Park We hit up Hachironuma Park first thing in the morning! We were super excited because we'd heard you could "catch crayfish, fish, and tadpoles," but it turned out there were no rental shops or gear available. It’s actually a BYOG (bring your own gear) kind of spot to fish in the pond💦 The kids were bummed out for a split second, but their excitement skyrocketed the moment they spotted tiny fish swimming in the water! We ended up having a blast rescuing a struggling bug from the pond and observing the local wildlife. All in all, a super satisfying time🤭 🛥️ Endless fun! Onuma Quasi-National Park Next, we headed over to Onuma Quasi-National Park! It was the ultimate spot for playing all day surrounded by magnificent nature. 🍱 Cafe & local specialty lunch: The cafe by the sightseeing boat pier is totally fine for just taking a break! We grabbed some takeout of Hokkaido’s famous "Yakitori Bento" and enjoyed a delicious lunch right there. ⛰️ Lake activities: After an awesome ride on the impressive sightseeing boat, we decided to try the swan pedal boats! Naturally, the kids ended up fighting over who got to steer😂 🌲 Old-school park games in the shade: Under the cool shade of the trees, we played classic retro games like pulling pine needles, tag, and even had a shoe-kicking contest! Honestly, simple games are always the most fun. 🍦 Stunning views & local soft serve: We treated ourselves to some mouth-watering melon soft serve at the local shop! We also snapped a bunch of gorgeous photos with the "A Thousand Winds" monument and the majestic Mt. Komagatake in the background📸 ⚠️ (A quick heads-up!) There was a fishing pond inside the park, and the sign clearly stated it was open until 4:00 PM. But when we showed up at 3:00 PM, the lovely lady running it was already packing up, saying, "I'm heading home now~"! lol I guess that laid-back vibe is just part of the Hokkaido charm (?), but if you want to fish, I highly recommend going early!

❄️ If you’re dreaming of a cozy, snow-covered escape in Mori, look no further than the local cabin-style hotels nestled among winter forests. These charming retreats offer independent log cabins you can drive up to, balancing secluded comfort with all the essentials for a magical stay. From steaming onsen baths to a hearty breakfast spread, every detail makes this a perfect winter hideaway. Inside your private cabin, you’ll find top-notch comfort and a full kitchen stocked with everything you need for a self-cooked meal—ideal for those nights when you want to stay warm after a day out in the snow. The breakfast here is something special: expect local flavors and plenty of options to fuel up before hitting the slopes or exploring the frosty woodland trails. One unmissable experience is the hotel’s onsen: picture yourself steaming away in mineral-rich waters while the snow falls gently outside. For photo enthusiasts, step outside your cabin at sunrise or dusk to capture “insta-worthy” shots—think smiling faces against snowy pines and rustic wooden cabins, just like your own image moment. The area is also perfect for skiing, snow activities, and scenic walks through the whispering trees. Extra tip—a rental car is a must for maximum flexibility, making it easy to reach your cabin and explore Mori’s best outdoor and cultural spots. To book your stay, check trip.com for special winter packages and discounts, especially if you’re seeking a cabin with the best mountain views. #Mori #CabinHotel #OnsenExperience #WinterTravel #JapanSnow

📍📍 [Must-Visit Attractions] 1. Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe 2. Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse 3. Onuma Quasi-National Park 4. Toyako Onsen 5. Nakajima Park 6. Tanukikoji Shopping Street 7. Hill of the Buddha 🥘🥘 [Must-Try Food] Hairy Crab Melon Soft serve Soup curry 🏠🏠 [Accommodation ] 1. LiVEMAX RESORT UPOPOY SHIRAOI ONSEN 2. LiVEMAX RESORT HAKODATE GREENPIA ONUMA 3. Toya Kanko Hotel 4. the b sapporo

Komagatake was in the beautiful autumn foliage season.

The early bird catches the McGriddle After checking out, we drove for about an hour and arrived at the Noboribetsu Sakuragi Tunnel at 0955. The cherry trees were already very withered. The weather was very good and I suddenly wanted to visit Jigokudani. The sky was cloudless and I felt particularly refreshed. At 1100, we took a short break at "Usuyama SA". There was a large group of middle school students resting here, sitting on the grass, looking at (from left to right) Usuyama, Showa Shinzan, Toyako Nakajima, and Mt. Yotei. What a carefree life. It takes 40 minutes by car to reach Uju Zenkoji Temple. The cherry blossoms in the temple are in full bloom. Many Japanese people come here to enjoy the cherry blossoms. We arrived at Aoba-gaoka Park in Mori-machi at around 13:30 along the toll road. There were dense cherry blossoms, mainly Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms. Unfortunately, the cherry blossom season had passed, otherwise the snow-white cherry blossoms would have been stunning. The Sakura Festival also has performances and street markets, so there must be a constant stream of tourists. We were a bit rushed for the cherry blossom viewing in Hakodate this time, and wanted to skip some of our original itinerary, but luckily we did not miss "Michi-no-Eki YOU・遊・もり", which is less than a 5-minute drive away. The very large Michi-no-Eki Park is planted with many Somei Yoshino cherry trees, Oshima cherry trees, Horii Hizakura trees, and Yae red weeping cherry trees. With the breeze, the legendary scene of cherry blossoms blowing in the snow is hard to erase from our minds. From the observation deck, we can also see the scene of Hokkaido Komagatake and cherry blossoms in the same frame. This is a place in southern Hokkaido that cannot be missed for cherry blossom viewing. After driving for more than two hours, we arrived at Matsumae Castle, one of the top 100 famous castles in Japan at 1615. This is the northernmost castle tower in Japan and the only feudal castle in Hokkaido. It is of great significance. Although it was rebuilt after the disaster, you can still experience the grand occasion of the year. It is also a place to enjoy cherry blossoms. Combined with the tranquility of Matsumae Castle, the cherry blossoms are particularly beautiful. On the way back, the sun set. We went to the nearby Shirakami Cape, the southernmost observation square in Hokkaido, and looked out at the Tsugaru Peninsula on the other side. It was very peaceful and comfortable to listen to the sound of the waves and watch the sunset. However, we had to return to Hakodate before sunset, so we chose a charcoal grill restaurant for dinner. "Charcoal-grilled meat, Izumi-tei", high cost performance, good quality meat, ordered a stone pot scallop crab meat pot rice, and two plates of Matsusaka beef (a total of more than 3,000 yen) Accommodation: "Yunokawa Ferry Hotel"

#Sapporo Attractions Komagatake is a stunning mountain range with natural scenery that makes you feel like you are in Wonderland. The lush green trees and magnificent mountain scenery surrounding Komagatake, as well as the fresh air, are so refreshing that you can't help but want to relax in this natural environment. 🌲✨ The winding trails in the mountains are suitable for all kinds of hiking enthusiasts. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced climber, you can find a route that suits you here. The scenery along the way is picturesque, especially in spring, when the mountain flowers are in full bloom, making people feel the vitality of life. 🌼🏞️ The summit of Komagatake is a must-see, and when you reach the top, the stunning views will take your breath away. Looking around from a distance, you can see the mountains, rivers and streams in full view, as if you are in a fairyland on earth, which is very exciting. 📸🌅

Hokkaido

I stopped at Mori Station on the way from Sapporo to Hakodate by train. This station is a junction where the railway lines split into right- and left-handed directions with Mt. Komagatake at the center. The reason I stopped at this station is because it is actually very close to the sea, and if the weather is good, it is a nice photo spot where you can see Mt. Komagatake clearly. Taking a photo with the beautiful sea in the background creates a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere. Also, taking a photo with Mt. Komagatake in the background is a railway photo at the end of the line. There is a famous squid rice restaurant in front of the station, so if you stop by on the way, you can have a surprisingly good time. #DomesticTravel #HokkaidoTrip #HokkaidoTourism #MoriStation #JourneyWithStoppingOffTheRound

Morimachi, a town near Hakodate, Hokkaido Morimachi is famous for squid rice and is a port town facing the sea. It is about an hour's drive from Hakodate, and I visited for lunch during a trip to Hakodate. Sushi Ooneda 174-11 Honmachi, Morimachi, Kayabe-gun, Hokkaido #gw2022jp #HokkaidoTrip