Hokkaido
Hokkaido (北海道, literally "North Sea Circuit"), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island and the largest, northernmost of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater Seikan Tunnel. The largest city on Hokkaido is its capital, Sapporo, which is also its only ordinance-designated city.
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Geography
The island of Hokkaido is located at the north end of Japan, near Russia, and has coastlines on the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Pacific Ocean. The center of the island has a number of mountains and volcanic plateaus, and there are coastal plains in all directions. Major cities include Sapporo and Asahikawa in the central region and the port of Hakodate facing Honshu.
The island ranks 21st in the world by area. It is 3.6% smaller than the island of Ireland while Hispaniola is 6.1% smaller than Hokkaidō. By population it ranks 20th, between Ireland and Sicily. Hokkaido's population is 4.7% less than that of the island of Ireland, and Sicily's is 12% lower than Hokkaido's.
Climate
Hokkaido is known for its cooler summers and icy winters. Most of the island falls in the humid continental climate zone (Köppen Dfa (humid continental) in some inland lowlands, Dfb (hemiboreal) in most other areas). The average temperature of August ranges from 17 °C to 22 °C (63 °F to 72 °F), while the average temperature of January ranges from −12 °C to −4 °C (10 °F to 25 °F) depending on elevation and latitude. The island tends to see isolated snowstorms that develop long-lasting snowbanks, in contrast to the constant flurries seen in the Hokuriku region.
Unlike the other major islands of Japan, Hokkaido is normally not affected by the June-July rainy season and the relative lack of humidity and typically warm, rather than hot, summer weather makes its climate an attraction for tourists from other parts of Japan.
In winter, the generally high quality of powder snow and numerous mountains in Hokkaido make it one of Japan's most popular regions for snow sports. The snowfall usually commences in earnest in November and ski resorts (such as those at Niseko, Furano and Rusutsu) usually operate between December and April. Hokkaido celebrates its winter weather at the Sapporo Snow Festival.
During the winter, passage through the Sea of Okhotsk is often complicated by large ice floes broken loose from the Kamchatka Peninsula. Combined with high winds that occur during winter, this brings air travel and maritime activity almost to a halt on the northern coast of Hokkaido.
Economy
Although there is some light industry (most notably paper milling, beer brewing) most of the population is employed by the service sector. In 2001, the service sector and other tertiary industries generated more than three quarters of the gross domestic product.
However, agriculture and other primary industries play a large role in Hokkaido's economy. Hokkaido has nearly one fourth of Japan's total arable land. It ranks first in the nation in the production of a host of agricultural products, including wheat, soybeans, potatoes, sugar beet, onions, pumpkins, corn, raw milk, and beef. Hokkaido also accounts for 22% of Japan's forests with a sizable timber industry. The prefecture is also first in the nation in production of marine products and aquaculture.
Tourism is an important industry, especially during the cool summertime when visitors are attracted to Hokkaido's open spaces from hotter and more humid parts of Japan. During the winter, skiing and other winter sports bring other tourists, and increasingly international ones, to the island.
Subprefectures
Hokkaido is one of eight prefectures in Japan that have subprefectures or local offices (the others being Tokyo, Yamagata Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture, Kagoshima Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture).
However, it is the only one of the eight to have such offices covering the whole of its territory outside the main cities (rather than having them just for outlying islands or remote areas). This is mostly due to its great size: many parts of the prefecture are simply too far away to be effectively administered by Sapporo. Subprefectural offices in Hokkaido carry out many of the duties that prefectural offices fulfill elsewhere in Japan.
- Abashiri
- Hidaka
- Hiyama
- Iburi
- Ishikari
- Kamikawa
- Kushiro
- Nemuro
- Oshima
- Rumoi
- Shiribeshi
- Sorachi
- Sōya
- Tokachi
Major cities and towns
Hokkaido's largest city is the capital, Sapporo. Other major cities include Hakodate in the south and Asahikawa in the central region. Other important population centers include Kushiro, Obihiro, Abashiri, Nemuro.
Hokkaido has the highest rate of depopulation in Japan. In 2000, 152 (71.7%) of Hokkaido's 212 municipalities were shrinking. Total shrinking municipalities in Japan in the same year number 1,171.
Other destinations
Northern Area-It is relatively cool even in summer. In winter, the temperature drops low in the inland area and has heavy snow. Sapporo Area
Central Area-It is relatively mild in the vicinity of Sapporo but, in winter, it becomes windy and has heavy snow. In Niseko and the foot of Mt. Yotei, the brisk highland weather lasts in summer and has heavy snow in winter. The Pacific side, such as Toya, Noboribetsu and Shiraoi, has mild weather, where the snow accumulation level is somewhat lower.
Southern Area-Pacific-type climate. Relatively mild compared to the other areas in Hokkaido. The urban area such as Hakodate has relatively little snow while the mountain area accumulates heavy snow. The blooming season of cherry blossom begins the earliest in Hokkaido.
Eastern Area-It has an East Pacific climate, where fog is generated in summer. It is cool even in summer and the temperature drastically changes during the day. Although the snow accumulation level is low, it is severely cold, causing lakes and rivers to freeze. Drifting ice can be seen on the side of Sea of Okhotsk.
Taisetsu Tokachi Area-The Daisetsu area has an inland climate where the temperature is high in summer while it is severely cold in winter. The snow accumulation level is the highest in Hokkaido. Also, in the Tokachi area, the temperature is high in summer and cold in winter, however, it does not snow much.
Things to do
Sapporo Snow Festival(Feb 5-11)-An international festival representing Hokkaido. There will be approx. 300 snow/ice statues in three avenues.
Hokkai Heso (Belly Button) Festival(July 28 & 29)-A festival of unique Heso (belly button) Dance. Dancers make their “heso” (bellybutton) into a face, using paint, special costumes, and props. A dance competition and various events are held in the festival square. The name of the festival is after the fact that Furano is located in the center of Hokkaido.
Hokkaido Shrine Festival(June 14-16)-The highlight of the festival is the parade of portable shrine in the city centre. Street stalls in the shrine and Nakajima Park attracts numbers of people. It is also called "Sapporo Festival".
Toya lake Long-run Fireworks Display(late Apr - Oct 31)-Approx. 400 fireworks illuminate Lake Toya every night during the period. [[ Sapporo Summer Festival]](late Jul - mid Aug)-There are various events including Open-air Beer Garden in Odori Park, Hokkai Bon Dance Festival and lots more. Also "Susukino Festival", "Jozanke Kappa Festival" and "Tanuki Festival" are held in the same period.
Pacific Music Festival(early July - early August)-A music festival fostering young musicians, international cultural exchanges, development and dissemination of music.
Yosakoi Soran Festival( 5days in early June)-Group dances mixed with Kochi Prefecture's Yosakoi Dance and Hokkaido's folk music "Soran". [[ Sapporo Lilac Festival]]( Late May)-With approx. 400 of blooming lilac trees, designated as the tree of Sapporo, there will be giveaway of nursery trees, hands-on experience, concerts, etc.
Lake Shikotsu Lake Water Festival(The beginning of Jul)-
Noboribetsu Hell Festival(The last Fri , Sat , Sun in Aug)-
Matsumae Town Castle Town Era Festival( Aug 13 - Aug 15)-
Esashi Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival(Aug 9 - Aug 11)-
Furano Wine Grape Festival(The middle of Sep)-
Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival(May 1 - May 20)-
Specialties
Jingisukan (ジンギスカン, Jingisukan "Genghis Khan") is a Japanese dish prepared by grilling mutton on a convex metal skillet or other grill.
Ruibe - a frozen salmon sashimi traditional in Ainu cuisine.
Ramen(Chinese noodles)
Places to stay
Niseko Northern Resort Annupuri
Hotel Monterey Edelhof Sapporo
Getting in
Hokkaido's only land link to the rest of Japan is the Seikan Tunnel. Most travelers to the island arrive by air: the main airport is New Chitose Airport at Chitose, just south of Sapporo. Tokyo-Chitose is in the top 10 of the world's busiest air routes, handling 45 wide body round trips on four airlines each day. One of the airlines, Air Do was named after Hokkaido. Hokkaido can also be reached by ferry from Sendai, Niigata Prefecture and some other cities, with the ferries from Tokyo dealing only in cargo .
Getting around
Within Hokkaido, there is a fairly well-developed railway network (see Hokkaido Railway Company), but many cities can only be accessed by road.
Hokkaido is home to one of Japan's three Melody Roads, which is made from grooves cut into the ground, which when driven over causes a tactile vibration and audible rumbling transmitted through the wheels into the car body.
See also
Links
Immigration offices can be found in Sapporo, as well as Kushiro, Otaru, Chitose, Hakodate, and Wakkanai. They do not all handle the same sort of immigration matters, though. More information can be found at this web site: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/soshiki/kikou/address/01.html#1_1
Access to Hokkaido from other parts of Japan can be made by train (no shinkansen yet), by ferry (http://eslwell.com/article/taking-ferry-hokkaido), or by plane (http://www.ourairports.com/countries/JP/01/).
An excellent Web site on Hokkaido can be found here. http://hokkaidoguide.com/
Some content adapted from Wikipedia.org.
