Hokkaido in October/November

This website has all the info you need specifically for Hokkaido and you can use it for planning for free. You can also print off anything you would like to carry along. Hokkaido is a fantastic place to visit!!
www.japan-guide.com/list/e1101.html

I've never seen an only Hokkaido guidebook on paper - just country guides, as you say. If you like Lonely Planet, you could buy the Japan book and just take the Hokkaido section with you. Or, if you prefer, you can buy just the Hokkaido section as a PDF for only $4.46: http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/japan/japan-travel-guide-14/japan-sapporo-hokkaido-chapter-14/

I'm headed for Hokkaido too, but in July. I have found no travel books at all on Hokkaido, only all-Japan books generally with scant details on Hokkaido.
That said, the Japan Guide website listed above is awesome and AFAIK is the best online resource for all things related to travel in Japan.

Be aware that fall (and winter) comes early to Hokkaido...although only about as far north as Oregon, from what I can tell (at a distance, I haven't been there yet) Hokkaido is a bit like "Japan's Alaska." November may be more wintery than one might expect.

Thanks all for the tips. Specifically we will be there from Oct. 27 through Nov. 9th. When we went to Japan last year it was during the last two weeks of November with a few days into December, but it was in Tokyo and other parts of Honshu. We found it quite cold during that time, no snow, but definitely cold. Although, our first few days in Tokyo at the start of the trip there were a few warm days, to where we could be in short sleeves and not freeze.

So for this year's trip I'm expecting cold too, since it's further north but a month earlier that last year's trip. From what I read I don't expect snow at that time of year. But I'll take cold over sweaty sweltering heat any day.

I don't have any suggestions on guidebooks, but here is a restaurant suggestion:

https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/japan/moliere-hokkaido-sapporo

We did Inside Japan's Winter Highlights tour in February 2015, which had about half the time on Hokkaido. They had heavy snow that winter, even snowed in Tokyo the day before we arrived. Inside Japan will do custom tour arrangements as well, if you need help putting things together.

Neil

Thanks for the suggestions. I checked Lonely Planet's website and it says a new edition of the Japan guidebook will be out this fall. So I plan to get that edition, and then rip out the Hokkaido chapter for use on this trip.