Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit covers the northern and inner part of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.| Tap on a place to explore it |
Essential Destinations
Top destinations include Asahikawa and Wakkanai.
Asahikawa
Asahikawa is the second-largest city on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan. It is located at the confluence of four rivers and is surrounded by hills.
Wakkanai
Photo: 100yen, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Wakkanai is the northernmost city in Japan. It has a population of about 34,000, and is in the subdistrict of Soya in northern Hokkaido. It is the gateway to Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park, Japan's northernmost national park.
Nayoro
Photo: Wikimedia, Public domain.
Nayoro is a city in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 31 January 2025, the city had an estimated population of 24,702, and a population density of 46 people per km2. The total area of the city is 534.861 km2.
Destinations to Discover
Explore places such as Furano and Shibetsu.
Furano
Photo: 100yen, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Furano, which is in the geographical center of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, is an amalgamation of several quaint farming towns around a small municipal center.
Shibetsu
Shibetsu is a city located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 31 December 2024, the city had an estimated population of 16,400 in 706 households, and a population density of 15 people per km2. The total area of the city is 1,119.22 km2.
Rishiri Island
Photo: Furiko7e, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Rishiri Island is on the north-west tip of Hokkaido, Japan and a part of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park. The island features native wildflowers, spectacular landscapes and fantastic hiking for experienced and beginner hikers.
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park
Photo: Furiko7e, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park is a national park on the Rishiri Island, Rebun Island, and a coastal area from Wakkanai to Horonobe at the north-western tip of Hokkaidō, Japan.
Biei
Photo: Soica2001, Public domain.
Biei is a town in Kamikawa subprefecture, Hokkaido. Beautiful flowers, rivers, trees, and snow are all what astonishes visitors. Biei is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Hokkaido.
Rebun Island
Photo: Ka23 13, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Rebun-to is an island off the north-west tip of Hokkaido, Japan and a part of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park. It features native wildflowers, spectacular landscapes and fantastic hiking for experienced and beginner hikers.
Kamikawa
Photo: Wikimedia, Public domain.
Kamikawa is a small town that shares its name with Kamikawa Subprefecture in Hokkaido's Northern Circuit.
Horonobe
Photo: 夢の散歩, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Horonobe-cho is a town located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 31 January 2025, the town had an estimated population of 2,036 in 1,499 households, and a population density of 3.5 people per km2.
Shimukappu
Photo: MIKI Yoshihito, CC BY 2.0.
Shimukappu is a village located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.
Sounkyo Onsen
Sōunkyō Onsen is a hot spring resort nestled in the Sōun Gorge of the Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido, Japan. It is in the municipal area of Kamikawa town.
Northern Circuit
Latitude of center
44.47° or 44° 28′ 12″ northLongitude of center
142.16° or 142° 9′ 36″ eastWikidata ID
Q8017899
This page is based on Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikivoyage.
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Satellite Map
Discover Northern Circuit from above in high-definition satellite imagery.
In Other Languages
From Chinese to Korean—“Northern Circuit” goes by many names.
- Chinese: “道北”
- Esperanto: “Norda Hokajdo”
- Indonesian: “Sirkuit Utara”
- Japanese: “道北”
- Japanese: “道北地方”
- Korean: “도호쿠 지방”
- Korean: “도호쿠”
Hokkaido: Must-Visit Destinations
Delve into Sapporo, Hakodate, Abashiri, and Otaru.
Explore These Curated Destinations
Discover places selected for their distinct character and enduring appeal.
About Mapcarta. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, except for photos, directions, and the map. Description text is based on the Wikivoyage page “Northern Circuit”. Photo: Chi King, CC BY 2.0.