The Japanese central government established the Hokkaidō Development Agency (北海道開発庁, Hokkaidō Kaihatsuchō) as an agency of the Prime Minister’s Office in 1949 to maintain its executive power in Hokkaidō. The agency was absorbed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2001. The Hokkaidō Bureau (北海道局, Hokkaidō-kyoku) and the Hokkaidō Regional Development Bureau (北海道開発局, Hokkaidō Kaihatsukyoku) of the ministry still have a strong influence on public construction projects in Hokkaidō. These Uni trays are usually reserved for professional food services or high-end restaurants only but we can get it for you.
A first-timer’s guide to Hokkaidō, Japan
Hokkaido used to be known as Ezo (蝦夷), in earlier times pronounced Yezo, whence modern Latin yezoensis in the scientific names of local species. The current name Hokkaido was only given following the Meiji Restoration in 1869. This four-day Osaka and Kyoto itinerary is a perfect add-on to any trip to Japan. The historical suffix 道 (-dō) translates to “prefecture” in English, ambiguously the same hokkaidu as 府 (-fu) for Osaka and Kyoto, and 県 (-ken) for the rest of the “prefectures”. Dō, as shorthand, can be used to uniquely identify Hokkaido, for example as in 道道 (dōdō, “Hokkaido road”)[12] or 道議会 (Dōgikai, “Hokkaido Assembly”),[13] the same way 都 (-to) is used for Tokyo. The prefecture’s government calls itself the “Hokkaidō Government” rather than the “Hokkaidō Prefectural Government”.
The Climate in Hokkaido
- The lake is a part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and it’s a caldera lake that formed from volcanic activity.
- In Hokkaido, you can experience marshlands, mountains, and developed cities with history and culture like Sapporo in one trip.
- This amusement park offers so many wonders and attractions that you will need more than a day to explore it.
- The terminal station in Hokkaido for the shinkansen is Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station (新函館北斗).
From here, travelers can take a 15- to 20-minute shuttle train ride down to the center of Hakodate city, or take a limited express train up to Sapporo. Hokkaido was finally linked to the national shinkansen high speed network in March 2016 with the opening of the segment between Aomori and Hakodate via the undersea Seikan Tunnel. A one-seat trip from Tokyo to Hakodate now takes just four hours using the Hayabusa service. By 2030, the line from Hakodate to Sapporo is expected to be finished. Serious Japanese settlement of the island began in 1869, when the territory, which was then called Yezo province, was renamed Hokkaido (“North Sea Province”). Most Ainu subsequently were assimilated under the growing Japanese presence, but small numbers of people of Ainu descent have retained their Ainu identity, primarily in northern Hokkaido.
Otaru Aquarium
Sapporo Snow Festival – Hokkaidō’s most famous festival – is also held in February, and during these months you’ll need to plan ahead, booking accommodations as early as possible. With its unspoiled nature, many national parks and rural landscapes, Hokkaido attracts many outdoor lovers, including skiers and snowboarders in the colder seasons and hikers, cyclists and campers from June to September. Indeed, much of what makes Hokkaido worth visiting is actually in Hakodate, a city so far south it’s practically in Honshu. Unlike was the case with Sapporo, Hakodate was love at first sight for me. Stretching from Cape Shirakami in the south, at 41.2ºN latitude, to Cape Sōya in the north at 45.3ºN, Hokkaidō is in the far north of Japan. Along with enjoying skiing, Furano ski resort also has shops and hot springs to have a dip and enjoy a good time.
Hokkaido’s 3 major cities
As Hokkaido is known for its freshly caught seafood, fish lovers can’t miss out on dishes like Uni Ikura Donburi, a special rice bowl featuring some of Hokkaido’s delicacies like sea urchin and lavishly topped with salmon roe. Crab fans will also be spoiled for choice with options such as the umami-rich horsehair crab, the treasured snow crab, and the hearty king crab and hanasaki queen crab. Make sure to visit famous fresh seafood markets such as Nijo Market in Sapporo, which has more than 60 stores inside, or Otaru Sankaku Market where you can shop and enjoy a wide selection of dining and drinking establishments. The Sapporo Snow Festival is a truly magnificent event, with the biggest illuminated sculptures often reaching up to 80 feet wide and 50 feet high.
Hokkaido University museum houses more than four million materials that were collected in the hundred fifty year of its establishment. And if you wish to have more beer, there is the Sapporo Beer Garden, just next to the museum, where you’ll get several beer halls to satisfy your beer thirst. Sapporo Beer Museum offers a free tour and a premium tour; you can choose any of them. After the exhibitions of a free tour, you can taste some authentic beer at a small charge. During your climb to the mountain, you will also get acquainted with several exotic animals like the titmouse, the Hokkaido squirrel, the Ezo red fox, and the Ezo owl.
However, access to many of the more interesting sites, such as Hokkaido’s many national parks, will require either relying on infrequent and expensive buses, renting your own car, or trying your luck at hitchhiking. Hokkaido (北海道 Hokkaidō) is the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands and at the same time a prefecture. With both size and population (5.3 million in 2019) similar to Scotland, it is the most sparsely populated part of Japan. Rail passes, like the Japan Rail Pass and the Hokkaido Rail Pass, can make travel around the island more economical. Hokkaido is huge, a fact compounded by the lack of any Shinkansen past Hakodate (at least until 2030—and even then, it’ll only go until Sapporo).
You can even take advantage of the rich mineral water for yourself with nearby Noboribetsu Onsen available to bathe in. The area is particularly stunning in the fall season when the trees turn a spectacular red and orange which combines with the vibrancy of the valley itself. Don’t miss the Oyunuma Pond which reaches an intense 260 degrees F. There are two main observation points where you can really take in the combination of thermal valley and nature, and it’s definitely worth seeing this natural phenomenon from above.
November 22nd – December 25thFor a month spanning the end of November through to Christmas, Sapporo’s Odori Park (again!) is the setting for a free annual illumination event. Multicoloured lights adorn the trees and waterfalls of bulbs hang from local landmarks and fountains. The Mt. Fuji-like Mount Yōtei provides a spectacular natural backdrop to the proceedings. Mid AugustHokkaido’s take on Japan’s popular Bon Odori dance and music festivals which have been taking pace for more than 500 years takes place on Sapporo’s Odori Park.
The park consists of numbers of mountains and untouched nature with wild animals. One of the mountains, Mt.Asahi is the first place in Japan to see autumn leaves and snow falls. Furano (富良野) is a town located in the central area of Hokkaido, known for its beautiful rural landscape. The city is rich in nature, and there are many fields and gardens with colourful flowers which bloom colourfully during summer.
While it’s the second largest of Japan’s islands, less than 5 percent of the population lives there, including most of the country’s remaining indigenous inhabitants, the Ainu. For foreign and Japanese travelers alike, Hokkaido offers an enticing range of riches that manifest a rarely seen side of Japan. Like stepping on Mars, this is the kind of landscape that you wouldn’t expect from a trip to Japan. Hokkaido’s volcanic geothermal area is an incredible experience as you walk the boardwalks among the colored steaming hot pools with the intense smell of sulfur surrounding you.
All ski resorts have fantastic dining and drinking options and, of course, luxurious hot springs to relax in after a day of fun. In Hokkaido, you can experience marshlands, mountains, and developed cities with history and culture like Sapporo in one trip. The popular tourist Places to Visit in Hokkaido include national parks, lake Tōya , skiing spots, and art galleries. Hokkaido is colder than the rest of Japan, and the merciful lack of Japan’s muggy summers and monsoon season makes it a very popular domestic destination between May and August.
Most are free, and they’re both a cheap sleep and a good cultural experience. Hokkaido is one of Japan’s best places for camping, but beware of the nighttime chill – even in the summer months you’ll need a good sleeping bag. In particular, the https://turbo-tax.org/ southwest coast can be surprisingly cold, due to the ocean currents. JR offers a special Hokkaido Pass, separate from the Japan Rail Pass, which allows the bearer to ride all JR trains in Hokkaido, as well as most JR buses for seven days.
The vast Goryōkaku (‘five-point fort’) is a spectacular sight, particularly when seen from the air. Designed by Japanese-American artist and landscape architect, Isamu Noguchi, the whole park is a single sculpture. The park won a Good Design award in 2002 for its revitalization of what previously had been a waste treatment area.
Before 1983, the governorship had been held by Liberal Democrats Naohiro Dōgakinai and Kingo Machimura for 24 years. In 1959, Machimura had defeated Yokomichi’s father Setsuo in the race to succeed Hokkaidō’s first elected governor, Socialist Toshibumi Tanaka who retired after three terms. Tanaka had only won the governorship in 1947 in a run-off election against Democrat Eiji Arima because no candidate had received the necessary vote share to win in the first round as required by law at the time. Sourcing premium quality fresh Uni is not an east task but as we live and work in this small island, leading Uni processor is located just down the street.
A Christmas market with food stalls and gifts help create a seasonal atmosphere along Sapporo’s main street. Mid JuneThis free festival in Asahidake Onsen signals the official start of the hiking season. Visitors and locals gather around a bonfire and watch traditional Ainu dancing and rituals. Ice sculptors from around the world compete to create incredible ice and snow sculptures, some reaching over 25 meters wide and 15 meters high. At night the sculptures are lit up as tourists and local families take advantage of the yatai street food stalls. A 25-minute drive northwest of Sapporo you’ll find Otaru, a historic port town with beautiful waterfront architecture looking out on Ishikari Bay, like something from a bygone era.
Visitor centers around the park can help with maps and guides to the nearby wildlife and plant species. This is a must for anyone who enjoys hiking or wants an accessible taster of Hokkaido’s spectacular landscapes. While winter is the most popular time of year for international travelers, summer is peak season for Japanese visitors. July, August and September are the months for hiking, camping and cycling in and around the island’s spectacular national parks.