10 Best Things to Do in Hokkaido with Kids

Looking for fun things to do in Hokkaido with kids?

Most travelers go to Sapporo or Furano, but if you want your little ones to enjoy wild nature, open space, and fewer crowds, Eastern Hokkaido is your hidden gem.

That’s my home region, and I grew up here. Since I was little, my travel-loving parents took me to all the kid-friendly places and did lots of fun things that I’m going to share with you in this post.

Now, as a mom myself, I know your kids will love them too!

Here are my 10 favorite family-friendly activities in Hokkaido for your trip. I’ve got indoor playgrounds, activities with animals, an aquarium, cycling, and more. Enjoy!

1. Wooden Toy Wonderland – Cha Cha World

Cha Cha World in Ikutahara is a great museum of 1,000 kinds of wooden toys from Japan and around the world. The exhibitions are very well presented to bring you back to your childhood!

The best part is the playroom. Your Kids will love it. Be prepared to spend hours here. There are wooden ball pools with a slide, kitchen playsets, ride-ons, and many more, tons of toys for kids of all ages from toddlers to pre-teens.

They also have wooden toy craft workshops on Mondays and Thursdays.

Information

🎟 Ticket – 630 yen per adult, 320 yen per child
🕒 Hours – 9:30 am – 6 pm, every day in Apr-Oct
10 am – 5 pm, closed on Mondays in Nov-Mar
🚃 By public transportation – 10 min walk from JR Ikutahara Station
🚗 By car – 20 min drive from Engaru, one hour from Kitami
📍Google Map

2. Wood Toy Playroom in Onneyu

On a much smaller scale, but as fun as Cha Cha World is the Wood Toy Playroom in Onneyu. It’s full of wooden toys – a giant jungle gym, slides, a wooden ball pool, ride-ons, and children’s books. My one-year-old niece’s favorite was a fishing pond!

This playroom is very budget-friendly, costing only 270 yen per adult and 130 yen per child. It makes a great day out combined with the aquarium below.

Information

• Ticket: 270 yen per adult, 130 yen per child
• Hours: 8:30 am to 5 pm in Apr-Oct
  9 am – 5 pm, closed on Mondays in Nov-Mar
• By public transportation: One hour by bus from JR Kitami station to Michi no Eki, Onneyu Onsen
• By car: 30 min from Kitami
• Google Map

3. Aquarium in Onneyu

Although this is a relatively small-sized aquarium, there are some special things about this place. As soon as entering the gate, you will be welcomed by a floor-to-ceiling glass fish tank where you can see how fish live in a strong current under a waterfall.

Next to it is a big window to an artificial river situated outside. You can observe the world under a frozen river if you visit here in winter. The exhibits nicely showcase the natural habitat of aquatic life in the region.

Only found in Hokkaido, Ito is the biggest freshwater fish in Japan. This aquarium is home to 20 Ito fish. There is no other place you can see this many Ito at once in the world.

There are also cute little fishes jumping and swimming upstream, as well as tropical fishes whose tanks are kept at a perfect warm temperature with local hot spring water. Don’t forget to get a hand spa by Doctor Fish at the end!

Information

• Ticket: 670 JPY per adult, 300 JPY per child
• Hours: 9 am – 5.30 pm (check holidays on the official website)
• By public transportation: One hour by bus from JR Kitami station to Michi no Eki, Onneyu Onsen
• By car: 30 min from Kitami
• Official website
• Google Map

4. Chipmunk Park in Abashiri

Any kids will love this really fun spot. Chipmunk Park (Shimarisu Koen) in Abashiri is home to 30-50 Okhotsk Chipmunks, where you can feed them in a caged area.

Upon arrival, you will be briefed on dos and don’ts by staff there, and receive a pair of gloves and a small packet of sunflower seeds. Once you put a couple of them on your palm, cute chipmunks will approach you to get their food!

It’s super fun for both parents and kids. Make sure not to run around in the case to avoid hurting the chipmunks by accident.

Abashiri is a great destination for families to spend a few days in summer and enjoy unique museums and nature.

Information

• Ticket: 400 yen per person, from 3 years old
• Hours: 10 am to 4 pm, open from May to mid-October
• No public transportation access
• By car: 15 min from Abashiri, 50 min from Kitami
• Instagram
• Google Map

5. Seal Protection Center in Monbetsu

Tokkari Center in Monbetsu is a shelter for injured seals rescued from the Okhotsk Sea, and it’s open for the public to visit. The center provides seals with treatment and rehabilitation training to return to the sea.

While those under treatment stay in pools inside its facility, which visitors don’t have access to, those who have recovered and are in training are in open-air pools, and we can see them swimming and just relaxing.

The entrance fee is used to buy their food. So please make a visit to support the center if you are around!

There is feeding time at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3 pm. You can see staff giving fish to the seals and it’s so cute!

If you want to try feeding them by yourself, Azarashi Sea Paradise, located just a few minutes walk away, offers a feeding opportunity at 12 pm, 2 pm, and 3:30 pm. The entrance fee is 500 yen per person.

Information

• Ticket: 400 JPY per adult, 200 JPY per child
• Hours: 10 am to 4 pm, open every day
• By public transportation: 20 min by bus from Monbetsu Bus Terminal to Okhotsk Tower + 10 min walk
• By car: 10 min from Monbetsu city center
• Official website
• Google Map

6. Make Your Own Onsen in Sand – Sunayu

Sunayu, literally meaning “sand hot spring” in Japanese, is a unique destination in the Lake Kussharo area. It’s a lakeside beach where you can make your own little onsen in the sand!

Just dig the sand into 10-20 cm, and you will see warm water coming up. Thanks to the area’s geothermal activity, there’s underground hot spring water everywhere.

A public foot bath is also available. Enjoy the lake view while relaxing there!

The Lake Kussharo area is great for a day trip from major destinations in Eastern Hokkaido.

Information

• Free admission
• Open 24 hours, except in winter
• By public transportation: 45 min by bus from JR Kawayu Onsen
• By car: 1.5 hours from Abashiri and Memanbetsu Airport
• Google Map

7. Say Hi to Wild Swans in Lake Kussharo

During winter months, Lake Kussharo becomes home to wild swans migrating from Russia to enjoy “warmer” weather there (it’s pretty cold for humans though…).

One of the best spots to see them is near Kotan Onsen. There will be a number of swans in the lake – your kids will be so surprised to see them!

The onsen is a public open-air hot spring where anyone can take a dip for free. Relaxing in onsen watching swans with a beautiful lake view is a very unique experience. If you want to try, make sure to bring your towel!

Information

• Admission free
• Best season: late October to April
• By public transportation: One hour by bus from JR Kawayu Onsen
• By car: One hour from Shari, 1.5 hours from Kitami
• Google Map

8. Cycling in a Nature Reserve in Saroma

If your kids are old enough to ride a bicycle, cycling in Wakka Nature Reserve in Saroma would be a great outdoor activity for them.

The nature reserve is one of the biggest coastal grasslands in Japan. It is a 20 km spit between the Okhotsk Sea and Lake Saroma. To explore the area, you can rent a bicycle at the information center.

The cycling path is 4.5 km long and takes you through beautiful landscapes to reach a rest area in a forest at the end of the route. There is a public bathroom as well. The round trip would take around 1.5 hours.

Information

• Rental bicycle: 650 JPY per adult, 320 JPY per child
• Hours: 8 am to 5 pm in May & from September to mid-October
  8 am – 6 am from June to August (Closed during winter)
• By public transportation: 5 min from Tokoro Bus Terminal to Wakka Iriguchi
• By car: One hour from Abashiri and Kitami
• Official website
• Google Map

9. Gemstone Hunt in Saroma

In the same nature reserve as cycling above, you can go on a gemstone hunt with your kids! There is a beach in the area just a 10-15 min walk away, or a 5 min bike ride, from the information center.

There are many pebbles on that beach – and some of them are gemstones like this! This was one of my favorite activities to do with my sisters when I was a kid. It’s really fun to compete finding the best-looking one 🙂

Information: See 8. Cycling in a Nature Reserve in Saroma above.

10. Canoeing in Kushiro River

A canoeing tour in Kushiro River is perfect for kids who are not yet familiar with intensive outdoor activities. The river stream is very calm with no ups and downs, which makes it easy for beginners and children to enjoy canoeing in beautiful nature.

Tour guides will provide instructions and any necessary gear for you. Kushiro River is home to abundant wildlife – your kids will have fun spotting them in the forest. This activity is suitable for children over 3 years old, accompanied by an adult on the same canoe.

If you are heading to Kushiro, I have a 6-day road trip itinerary starting from Kushiro here.

Information

• Price: starting from 5,000 yen per person
• 1-3 hours depending on the tour

Your next steps

Now you know the best things to do in Hokkaido with kids! Ready to plan a fun trip in Hokkaido with your family? Here are helpful posts to guide your next steps.

If you are going in summer, check out local summer festivals and less-crowded flower parks. This 5-day family trip itinerary might also give you some good ideas.

Not sure when to visit? This post will help you find the best time for you.

Not sure where to visit because Hokkaido is too big? I know, that’s why I made a destination guide and travel maps.

Happy trip planning!