Hokkaido Hokkaido

Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Okhotsk, and Sea of Japan, Hokkaido is the northernmost region among the eight that comprise the Japanese archipelago.
Although it is only one out of the 47 prefectures in total, it occupies approximately 22% of Japan's total area.

In terms of climate, Hokkaido is on the boarder between the temperate zone and the sub-arctic zone. While summers are cool and pleasant, extremely cold days continue in wintertime with the temperature dropping 20 degrees below zero and there are days when it stays at 0℃ or drop even lower.

Hokkaido also experiences heavy snowfall and the entire region is a snowbelt. Since winters are long, the coming of spring is late and cherry blossoms finally start to bloom at the end of April or the beginning of May.

This region is almost unaffected by the rainy season or typhoons. Therefore, unlike Honshu which belongs to the temperate zone, the weather is very pleasant in summertime without being humid or sweltering hot.
Although being a northernmost part of Japan, Hokkaido is located more toward the south than London and Paris on a global level.

Some of its sightseeing features are the peninsula designated as a World Heritage site called Shiretoko and Hokkaido's majestic nature. Winter leisure activities can also be enjoyed; the good-quality snow (powder snow) is indeed extremely appreciated by skiers and snowboarders. There are many skiing grounds everywhere in this region where hundreds of people visit from all over Japan as well as from abroad.

Different kinds of food can also be enjoyed such as Sushi (vinegared rice balls usually topped with raw fish) made from fresh seafood and Ramen (noodles in hot broth), one of Hokkaido's specialties. Additionally, a variety of dairy products are offered since the dairy industry is popular here. Indeed, Hokkaido is able to provide plenty of its specialties and local products.

Furthermore, the Ainu, native inhabitants of Hokkaido, have been living here from long ago and their history and culture are deeply rooted in this region. There are many places with names taken from the Ainu language such as Monbetsu and Onnebetsu, revealing a history quite different from other parts of Japan.


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