the に行きます construction and particles


I know the (place)へ(noun)を(verb)に行きます construction, but I also know that in
some instances the particle に can indicate the place where we're going. Is it
possible to use に instead of へ in this construction? For example, to say
北海道に雪を見に行きます? If not, why?

Is it any different when there is no noun, just (place)へ(verb)に行きます?




In saying "going _**to**_ a place", nearly all Japanese speakers, myself
included, would use both 「へ」 and 「に」 interchangeably. That is the cold fact
whether or not the strictest grammarians would approve of it.

Both of these sentences are correct and natural-sounding:

> 「北海道{ほっかいどう} **に** 雪{ゆき}を見{み}に行{い}きます。」
>
> 「北海道 **へ** 雪を見に行きます。」

Saying that the two sentences mean different things would be nitpicking.

> Is it any different when there is no noun, just (place)へ(verb)に行きます?

No, it is the same. Either 「に」 or 「へ」 can still be used to indicate the
destination.

It is perfectly OK to use _**two**_ に's because the meanings/usages are
different. One indicates destination and the other, purpose. For instance, you
can say:

「北海道 **に/へ** 遊{あそ}び **に** 行きます。」

「遊ぶ」 is the purpose of your visit. It just needs to be conjugated into its
continuative form 「遊び」 to connect to the purpose-marking particle 「に」.




In saying "going _**to**_ a place", nearly all Japanese speakers, myself
included, would use both 「へ」 and 「に」 interchangeably. That is the cold fact
whether or not the strictest grammarians would approve of it.

Both of these sentences are correct and natural-sounding:

> 「北海道{ほっかいどう} **に** 雪{ゆき}を見{み}に行{い}きます。」
>
> 「北海道 **へ** 雪を見に行きます。」

Saying that the two sentences mean different things would be nitpicking.

> Is it any different when there is no noun, just (place)へ(verb)に行きます?

No, it is the same. Either 「に」 or 「へ」 can still be used to indicate the
destination.

It is perfectly OK to use _**two**_ に's because the meanings/usages are
different. One indicates destination and the other, purpose. For instance, you
can say:

「北海道 **に/へ** 遊{あそ}び **に** 行きます。」

「遊ぶ」 is the purpose of your visit. It just needs to be conjugated into its
continuative form 「遊び」 to connect to the purpose-marking particle 「に」.

