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About Hokkaido

Hokkaido is the second largest island in Japan.  While the land area aaccounts for 22 ％ of the total of Japan,  the population acounts only for 5 ％.  So tehre is more space and nature.

Hokkaido is surrounded by three sea areas, so we can enjoy various marine products.  People in Hokkaido are very open-minded and friendly.  Beautiful nature, delicious foods and friendly people are what we are proud of Hokkaido.

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Hostory of Hokkaido

The development of Hokkaido by the Japanese government started in the late 19th century.  The government encouraged western style agriculture such as dairy farming.  Specialists from overseas were invited to help develop Hokkaido.

Places to visit

Sapporo

Sappro is the fifth largest city in Japan.  Sapporo became world famous in 1972 when the Olympic winter games were held there.  The city is well known for its Ramen noodles, beer and snow festival held in February.

Otaru

Otaru is a port city with lots of steep hills.  The canal districut is the most popular tourist spot.  The city is famous for fresh and good quality sushi.  In February, Otaru snow gleaming festival is held.  Many candles are lit up in the canal areas.

Furano

Furano is the city of Lavender.  Lavender is a fragrant purple flower.  At the harvest season, the whole town smells good.

Hakodate

Hakodate is the 3rd largest city in Hokkaido. Japan’s first western style fort and drinking water system wre built in Hakodate.

From the top of Mt. Hakodate, we can have a beautiful night veiw of  the city.

Shiretoko

Shiretoko peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shiretoko is considered to be the last pristine wilderness remaining in Japan. The Shiretoko consists of steep mountain peaks covered with virgin forests. Cormorants and white-tailed sea eagles live there, and the whole area has been designated as a national park. The towns of Utoro and Rausu on the eastern side of the peninsula are the starting points for tourists. Visitors can see the whole of the peninsula and its cliffs by boarding a sightseeing boat that departs from Utoro Port.

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Kushiro wetland

KUshiro shitsugen or wetland is the largest marsh land in Japan and is resistered wetland under the Ramsar convention.  The area originally was a part of sea.  About 80％ of the peatland is a low moor dorminated by a reed and sedge community and alder forest. The plant community in the wedland has a variety of species inclluding Marsh Jacob’s Ladder, a relict of the ice age.  

Lake Akan

Lake Akan is  a beautiful crater lake in Akan National Park.  It is home to Marimo, rare algue species that forms itself into beautiful green balls.  Left alone for a few centuries, Marimo can reach the size of socer balls.  

Lake Mashu

Lake Mashu is one of the lakes in Japan which has high transparency and it ranks 2nd in the world next to the lke Baikal.  

There is only a small degree of reflection of light, due to its drastically increasing depth and transparency, people call the color of the lake surface in sunny days as Mashu Blue.

Summary

Hokkaido is the second largest island in Japan.  While the land area aaccounts for 22 ％ of the total of Japan,  the population acounts only for 5 ％.  So tehre is more space and nature.

The development of Hokkaido by the Japanese government started in the late 19th century.  The government encouraged western style agriculture such as dairy farming.

There are some good places for visit in Hokkaido.

Sapporo is well known for its Ramen noodles, beer and snow festival held in February.

Otaru is a port city with lots of steep hills.  The canal districut is the most popular tourist spot.  The city is famous for fresh and good quality sushi.

Hakodate is the 3rd largest city in Hokkaido. Japan’s first western style fort and drinking water system wre built in Hakodate.

Shiretoko peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shiretoko is considered to be the last pristine wilderness remaining in Japan.

KUshiro shitsugen or wetland is the largest marsh land in Japan and is resistered wetland under the Ramsar convention.  The area originally was a part of sea.  About 80％ of the peatland is a low moor dorminated by a reed and sedge community and alder forest.

ake Akan is  a beautiful crater lake in Akan National Park.  It is home to Marimo, rare algue species that forms itself into beautiful green balls.

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