Hokkaido or Naoshima for a 2-3 day trip

Hello, we have already planned a trip to Kansai, Kanto and Chubu regions in the beginning of May. We would also like to extend our trip either by going to Hokkaido (Noboribetsu and some flower park nearby) or to Naoshima. We do not have time to visit both, which one would you recommend for 2 nights?

since you are already in kansai area , naoshima will make more sense logistic wise. You will need to fly over to hokkaido and that will take up the travel time

Thank you Chickenman905. I imagine all trips (including ferry and train changes) would take about half day to get to the destination, plus if we fly, we can fly back to another city and save some travelling by land, so I do not see nuch difference in travelling.

But I am wondering, which destination would be more interesting? Hokkaido, Naoshima, or maybe Fukuoka-Beppu (including flower park there as well)?

Beginning of May is in Golden Week in Japan. Depending on your actual days flights might be expensive

The most interesting destination will be Hokkaido. Regardless of what your own interests are.
This is a fact.

Alternatively, the most interesting destination will be the one which offers the things that you are most interested in.

You will never know, unless you go to both places.

Both locations are significantly different. Visiting in May will also significantly change what you can do at this time.

In early May - you should get some Cherry blossoms in Hokkaido but it's not particularly known as the best place in the country for that. It's too late for Cherry blossoms for most of Honshu apart from hilly areas in Tohoku. Due to this - the larger flower fields will not be flowering in Hokkaido at this time.

If you like flowers - then Wisteria should be at it's potential peak at this time. There are also meant to be some nice Nemofilia flowers (the blue flowers which have a Mt Fuji background) is also around this time.

Hokkaido is also large in size and a fair distance from where you are staying. It will take you half a day just to get from one airport to the other.

Getting to Naoshima is not too difficult but it is slow. Take that into consideration. I've also stayed at some of the strangest accommodation I've ever stayed in (a yurt overlooking the ocean) on Naoshima.

People visit Naoshima for the art along with the island life. Note that finding accomodation on Naoshima during Golden week will be expensive and potentially close to impossible. My guess is hotel availability might actually decide where you visit.

Unless money is no object - I don't think it's worth visiting Hokkaido for 2 days. It's doing the location a disservice. Note that Hokkaido is more about nature than culture. Apart from southern Hokkaido, it's not been a part of Japan for as long as the other major islands so you won't find any old temples/shrines in Hokkaido. Otaru is interesting though with the money made through fishing.....