This week on Love Hokkaido, we introduce many activities to enjoy in the popular tourist location, Niseko.
MCs Li Qiang and Isis are shocked and excited to find out they can go rafting in winter, and take on the challenge. The snowy landscape view from the raft in the calm winter river introduces you to a new winter world. We dock on a snow-covered island in the middle of the river for some fun you can only experience in winter!
After the outdoor adventure, they head to a handmade muffin and scone shop. These treats are simply perfect, matched with delicious coffee. Fresh and full of flavor, you are sure to recover quickly from any winter fatigue.
Thousands of tourists from abroad come to Niseko for the fresh powder snow. Our hosts visit a supermarket that caters specifically to these visitors from across the ocean, and are thrilled to find plenty of exotic foods! They buy sandwiches from the popular Deli section, stock up on some groceries for dinner, and head towards their rental apartment for the night. In a spacious room with a great view of Mt. Yotei, they relax and enjoy a steak dinner they fried themselves, along with the Deli goods bought from the Niseko supermarket. Felt like royalty!
Then… MC Isis makes a sudden confession…

This week we introduce the city with the largest landmass in Hokkaido, Kitami. With intense temperature differences between summer and winter, we experience a whopping -15 degrees Celsius; it was warm that day, with lows as far down as -25!
The locals come together each year for a special event in February, to slap this freezing cold in the face with their cheer, in the “Freezing Cold Mid-Winter Kitami Barbecue Festival”.
MCs Li Qiang and Isis join the event for the first time. They joined the 100 volunteers preparing for the event with meat packaging and BBQ setting. Once the fire is lit to 400 grills, the party begins.
Trying to ignore the cold, we join the participants of the festival, eating the delicious meat and onions famous in Kitami. Everyone is super excited!!
The amount of Yakiniku (BBQ) restaurants in Kitami is much more than the average town, with the most shops for this population, compared to the rest of Hokkaido. Li Qiang and Isis ask Mr. Nishino, who loves the taste of Kitami’s BBQ so much, he calls himself a BBQ Master, or “Yakinikist”, to guide us around a few popular BBQ restaurants. You can really see just how much the Kitami people have a passion and love for Yakiniku BBQ.
For dessert, we go to a popular local sweets shop called “Tinker Bell” to try their new “Okhotsk Bake” cake. Our hosts are moved beyond words by such a rich local taste!
This is real Hokkaido!

This week our hosts Li Qiang and Isis enjoy the freezing cold of Eastern Hokkaido!
The first stop is Lake Akan. They slip and slide on thrilling rides over the frozen lake with a fun buggy, and even on a banana boat! For another icy activity, they dug a hole in the ice for some Wakasagi fishing! In freezing temperatures, our hosts sit still patiently for some fish to take their bait; were they successful?
They meet a master Ezo Deer chef that makes a fabulous dish called “Ezo Miyama Donburi”, which translated to Hokkaido’s Deep Mountain Bowl”. Incredible taste!
When night falls at Lake Akan, a new world comes to life! They head back to the ice for a frozen festival! The local staff wanted visitors to enjoy midwinter’s cold, so they made their own snow festival! Our hosts are thrilled to be part of it, it’s definitely un unforgettable experience with sights you can only see in such cold temperatures!
Their next stop is Kawayu Onsen. We drive up to the mystical Lake Mashu for a refreshing snowshoe walk with fantastic sights! After fun in the snow, they head to a long-established hot spring hotel. After a nice dip in the warm hot springs, a lovely king crab dinner is served! Li Qiang and Isis couldn’t wipe the grins off their faces.
Once again, the night brings another spectacular event, “Diamond Dust in Kawayu”. We were lucky to help in lighting snow candles to warm up visitor’s hearts. Even in midwinter, Hokkaido’s outdoor adventures are one of a kind, and worth having to wear an extra layer or two to enjoy it!

This week, our host Li Qiang visits Shintotsu-Kawa Town to join in the Snow Festival there. You can enjoy plenty of winter outdoor activities.
The main event of Shintotsu-Kawa Snow Festival is the "International Wok Push Sumo Tournament". Li Qiang, being Chinese, is super interested, and visits the event's executive committee to find out how to compete. He got some tips from previous champions, and heads to the tournament fully prepared. To cheer him on is HTB announcer Megumi Ohno, who is excited to see the results. Can Li Qiang succeed??

There is also a winter hot pot competition at the Shintotsu-Kawa Snow Festival.
Our hosts compare and enjoy ten different unique hot pot soups gathered from the region of Shintotsu-Kawa.
They are very satisfied with the warm atmosphere of the festival. Please watch to find out the joy for yourselves!