A Sneak Peek at Our Hokkaido Adventure + Photography Gear Tips!

We timed our visit for early February to fulfill a bucket list dream: witnessing the Sapporo Snow Festival in all its frosty glory! Over these two weeks, we explored the best of Hokkaido—from breathtaking winter landscapes to charming historical towns. Our full itinerary drops next week, but here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming your way, plus our photography gear recommendations to help you capture the magic.

In today’s email: Best photography gear for Hokkaido’s winter wonderland
🎿 All the photography gear and suggestions for your Hokkaido trip
🍣 Upcoming Hokkaido guide

👇🏻 Check out our full guides in our website: With the best places to stay, amazing experiences to try and delicious food to taste.

Top Photography Gear for Hokkaido

These are our go-to picks for capturing Hokkaido’s landscapes, festivals, and street scenes:

• Camera: Sony A6700 (cropped sensor)

• Lenses:

  • Sigma 10-18mm f2.8 – Wide shots & vlogs

  • Sigma 35mm f1.4 – Portraits & street photography

  • Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 – Wildlife & zoom shots

  • Sigma 16mm f1.4 – Night & astrophotography

• Filters: Marumi Black Mist 1/4 for a cinematic glow, Freewell M2 kit for ND & UV filtering

• Drone: DJI 4K Pro Mini (check local flight restrictions)

Best Lens for Each Location:

• Sapporo Snow Festival – 10-18mm f2.8 (wide festival shots), 35mm f1.4 (portraits & details)

• Susukino Street – 35mm f1.4 + Marumi Black Mist 1/4 for cinematic night shots

• Otaru Canal – 35mm f1.4 (streets & architecture), 10-18mm f2.8 (cityscapes)

• Hill of the Buddha – 10-18mm f2.8 (landscapes), 35mm f1.4 (Buddha details)

• Blue Pond & Biei Falls Illumination – 16mm f1.4 (night), 10-18mm f2.8 (day)

• Ningle Terrace – 35mm f1.4 (charming cabins), 16mm f1.4 (night scenes)

• Mount Hakodate Ropeway – 16mm f1.4 (cityscape at night), 70-200mm f2.8 (zoomed-in details)

• Hell Valley (Jigokudani) – 10-18mm f2.8 (landscape), 70-200mm f2.8 (geothermal vents)

• Goryokaku Park & Tower – 10-18mm f2.8 (wide shots), 70-200mm f2.8 (aerial perspectives)

Drone Reminder: Many areas have restrictions—check before flying! Check here to read about flying Drones in Japan 👇🏻

Hokkaido Itinerary Sneak Peek