Summer heat is on the wane but for the travel-hungry, here’s the best place to visit in Asia this time around the year.
It’s actually a seismically-active island in Japan’s north with verdant landscapes and welcoming atmosphere. And, it tops the list of best 10 tourist spots in Asia that has just been released by the Lonely Planet.
Lonely Planet’s A(sia)-list features Hakkaido (Japan), Shanghai (China), Jeonju (South Korea), the Con Dao Islands, Hong Kong, Ipoh (Malaysia), Pemuteran (Indonesia), Trang Islands (Thailand), Meghalaya (India) and Taitung (Taiwan).
Hokkaido is known for volcanoes, natural hot springs and ski resorts. National parks include rugged Daisetsuzan, home to steaming, volcanic Mt. Asahi, and Shikotsu-Tōya park, containing caldera lakes, geothermal springs and Mt. Fuji look-alike Mt. Yotei. Rusutsu, Furano and Niseko are popular ski destinations, with Niseko also offering fishing, biking and rafting in the summer.
Its summers are relatively cool and the average August temperature ranges from 17 to 22 °C (62.6 to 71.6 °F).