Sapporo

In a nation not renowned for preserving its heritage, the city elders of Sapporo must be applauded for saving a building that dates back to 1878. The American-designed, wood-slatted building includes a clock purchased from Boston that still chimes every hour.

From springtime onwards, the water level rises from the melting snow and Hokkaido becomes a hotspot for water sports. Visitors can choose relaxed options such as canoeing or opt for an adrenaline-charged river-rafting experience. Niseko Adventure Centre organises several river cruises, mountain biking and indoor rock-climbing activities. Similarly, Niseko Outdoor Center offers canoeing, trekking and fishing tours. 

Imagine whizzing down a deserted run in the dark, light penetrating through the trees and snow falling around you. Niseko is at its most surreal at night, when its mountains are lit up for seasonnaires. Lifts are open until 9pm every night.

One square city block is devoted to shops and restaurants providing seafood and fresh produce for which Hokkaido is rightly famous. Crab, tuna and salmon are scooped out of tanks on request and octopus tentacles as thick as a man's arm are laid out on styrofoam boxes.

The museum has a large collection of contemporary works but is particularly famous for its collection of glass art. As well as art nouveau pieces, it showcases works by Hokkaido artists such as Eien Iwahashi and Tamako Kataoka.

The population of Sapporo began with a mere seven individuals in 1857. This recreation of the early settlers' experiences includes old buildings arrayed along a main street, depictions of farm life and festivals throughout the year.

It would be a tragedy to visit Sapporo and not sample the beverage with which it has become synonymous. The red-brick building of the former brewery dates back more than a century and traces the history of Sapporo beer.

Standing tall at 1,898 metres, with a symmetrical cone, Mount Yotei is also known as "Yezo Fuj" – meaning the Mount Fuji of Hokkaido. Hiking the mountain is only possible when the snow has melted, so make it a summer's day trip by choosing one of the four hiking trails. Beginners could opt for the gradual incline of the Makkari Course, while the Kutchan (Hirafu) Course offers a tougher ascend. Several high-altitude plants, some listed as a Natural Monument of Japan, can be spotted along the climb. Suggested walking season: June to October

Niseko has four well-established golf courses, of which Rusutsu Resort's golf courses offer pleny of opportunity for you to practise your swing. Designed by famous golf pro Ozaki Masashi, the Tower Course offers excellent resort golfing with the spectacular sight of Mount Yotei in the background.

Every February, two million tourists flock to Sapporo for its snow festival, or Yuki Matsuri. What started in 1950 as six snow statues built by high school students has now evolved into a citywide, seven-day event headlined by 200 massive ice sculptures. Kids will love the snow rafting and ice slides at the festival’s Tsudome site.

Less than 5km south-west of Sapporo Station, Mount Moiwa has long served as the perfect hiking and skiing spot for the city's residents. From the summit a fantastic panorama of the city and the surrounding countryside can be seen.

To end the day on a high note, head to the atmospheric bars in the main village of Hirafu. The quirky Bar Gyu+, accessible through a vintage fridge door, serves killer cocktails, and there are pool tables, draft beer and live music at the ever-popular Wild Bill’s.

Explore Niseko the eco-friendly way by renting a free bike from one of the six Niseko Green Bike stations in the town. A total of 35 bicycles are available throughout the summer for tourists to explore the area's idyllic rural settings. 

The famous Kanronomori hot spring is a blend of a sulphur spring, sodium bicarbonate spring, sulphate spring and chloride spring – all reputed for their health and beauty benefits and for helping to rebuild the skin's collagen level, washing away fatigue and easing joint inflammation. The open-air hot spring – known as "Mori no Tenku Buro" – comes highly recommended and is surrounded by lush greenery, giving the illusion of floating in the middle of a forest.

If you fancy giving your legs a rest, snowmobiling is a great way to experience Niseko’s beautiful backcountry. The resort of Hanazono offers snowmobile tours that wind around Mount Yotei and the Niseko mountain range, with glimpses of the Sea of Japan along the way.

Unlike regular Japanese curries, this Hokkaido speciality features ample spices and herbs in its soup base. Throw in some seasonal Hokkaido produce and it’s truly an unforgettable dish. Try the soup curry at Niseko Curry Goya, which has been in business for more than 20 years.

Rakuichi Soba, a tiny 12-seater tucked away in An'nupuri, rocketed to international fame when Anthony Bourdian raved about it in his TV show “No Reservations”. The lunchtime menu is Spartan with nothing more than meticulously hand-cut soba and seasonal tempura, but after a morning on the slopes, simple pleasures such as this is all you need.

The slopes of resorts Hirafu, Higashiyama, An'nupuri and Hanazono add up to 800 hectares of skiable terrain known collectively as Niseko United. The slopes here are gentler than counterparts in America or Europe, but what it lacks in gradient it makes up for in fresh powder – metres thick, blown in straight from Siberia. Niseko also boasts 30 square kilometres of untouched backcountry.

About two dozen Ajino Tokeidai restaurants throughout the city serve up cheap and hearty ramen – particularly welcome on a bitterly cold winter's day. A local variant is the bata-kon, a powerful broth that includes generous helpings of sweet corn and butter.