Get Out: Japan's Snowy Hokkaido Paradise

Get Out is our regular feature in the Beijinger where we highlight a new travel destination for your consideration.

Hokkaido gets 15 meters of snow per year, transforming Japan’s northernmost island into a playground for anyone that loves snow and winter.

A 90-minute flight north of Tokyo, Sapporo is Hokkaido’s laid-back capital, a clean, low-rise city of five million best known, like Qingdao, for its eponymous beer, and a baseball team called the Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Visiting anywhere in Japan would be a waste without making every meal count. The perfect lunch, Hokkaido ramen comes served in a miso base, not the usual shoyu found elsewhere, and usually features a slice of butter and a spoonful of corn. Be sure to slurp – silent noodle eating is a signal of dissatisfaction. Ramen Alley in the middle of Sapporo’s entertainment district, is the place to try the best in the city.

Consider eating those ramen early in the day because there’s even better fare at night. The Sapporo Beer Museum, the original factory location of Sapporo Beer, serves Genghis Khan, a lamb barbecue feast that will remind Beijingers of Korean barbecue. It offers a 100-minute, all-you-can-eat-all-and-drink feast for about JPY 6,800 (about RMB 400) per person, which should leave participants sauced and stuffed for days.

Continue to read this article in the Beijinger's January issue online.

Photos: Steven Schwankert