All About Hokkaido

In Asia, Hokkaido is Japan’s biggest island and prefecture; it covers 22% of Japan’s
land area, equivalent to Ireland or South Carolina. Most north-eastern Japanese
prefecture, it is surrounded by the Sea of Japan (west), Sea of Okhotsk (north-east) and
Pacific Ocean (south-east).

The regional capital Sapporo (43°N like London) is 515 miles (830 km) north-east from
Tokyo (35°N like Santa Fe) so their climates and ways of life are very different. In
Hokkaido, cold winds and heavy snow come from nearby Russia’s Siberia
(Vladivostok is 435 miles i.e. 700 km west) whereas snow is rare in Tokyo. On the
contrary, typhoons are common on the mainland but rare in Hokkaido: they do not
come that north or weaken so much that few are worrisome.

Hokkaido features impressive mountains and peaks, the highest being Mount Asahi
(7,513 feet i.e. 2,290 m), and a few look like Mount Fuji: Mount Rishiri (aka
Rishiri-Fuji), Mount Yotei (aka Ezo Fuji)… The nearby Japan Trench part of the
Pacific Ring of Fire lets you see active volcanoes and relax in diverse natural hot
springs surrounded by mountains, under a starry sky, while watching the sunrise, after
skiing, or after hiking!

You would probably not go all around Hokkaido Island on foot but if you have time you
may enjoy coastal treks, cycling, or long drives.

Unique in the World, Unique in Japan?

Wildest part of Japan and with a low population density (it is 100 times bigger in Tokyo
metropolis!), Hokkaido is world-class for nature! Unique aspects include:

. Destinations recognized by UNESCO: Shiretoko world heritage, Mt. Apoi

geopark, and Toya Caldera & Usu Volcano geopark.
. Akan Mashu National Park with its extremely rare marimo moss balls.
. Seikan Tunnel, world’s deepest & longest undersea tunnel.
. Ancestral land of Ainu indigenous people, who live close to nature and who
have their own language, culture and religion.
. Japan’s largest national park (Daisetsuzan), largest marshland (Kushiro
Wetlands), most impressive lavender fields (Furano-biei), jewelry ice, and
local animals different from those on the mainland.
. Outdoor activities such as dog sled races, horseback riding on snow, and ice
diving.
. Seasons different from the mainland.
. A food lover’s paradise.
 Seasons in Hokkaido

You can enjoy the four seasons in Hokkaido. Spring & autumn are very
comfortable but quite short, summer is warm but much less humid than on the
mainland, and winter is long! The temperatures vary much depending on the
elevation, distance to the sea, and time of the day/night. Air conditioning is
typically available at hotels, shopping centres, etc. so there is no problem even
during the coldest & hottest periods.

During winter, Hokkaido is covered with snow and you can enjoy a clear starry sky,
winter festivals, shows with fireworks, hot springs surrounded by snowy mountains,
and various winter activities! Particularly famous ski resorts include Niseko, Furano
and Sapporo Teine. Pile up layers of clothes to adapt to the situation because you
may feel hot inside buildings but super cold outside… and remember that
Asahikawa city holds Japan’s low-temperature record: -42°F (-41°C)! You may
consider buying “kairo” heating patches to put under your clothes; they are sold at
many convenience stores.

Hokkaido: Where to go
Hokkaido is known for its many beautiful natural sceneries, great food, and festivals.
Hokkaido is a place unlike anywhere else in Japan, and it has so much to offer! If
you're not sure about where to go visit, here is a bit of background information on
Hokkaido's most popular and well-known cities!

---Sapporo---

Hokkaido’s biggest metropolis, in Sapporo you can enjoy all the great features of a
major Japanese city (world class cuisine, bustling modern culture, fascinating
historical monuments, crazy nightlife, etc.) while also taking in the feel of Hokkaido.
Amazing daytrips are also available from Sapporo in all directions. The coastal city
Otaru, known for its nostalgic and romantic scenery, is a popular Sapporo Day Trip.
In February Sapporo hosts its world famous Snow Festival, where you can enjoy huge,
amazingly detailed snow sculptures while enjoying local cuisine from lots of festive
food carts!
---Hakodate---

Although Sapporo didn’t become a major city until the late 19th century, Hakodate’s
history dates back several hundred years earlier, at which time it was an important
port town and the capital of Hokkaido. For that reason, it has a slightly different feel
than Hokkaido’s other major cities, with a more openly historic atmosphere. It’s also
known as a place with a lot of foreign influence, and a historical Russian Orthodox
Church is one of its famous landmarks. Sandwiched on both sides by water, Hakodate
is known for its squid fishing, and the ghostly lights of squid fishing boats can be seen
by night. The view of the whole city from the top of nearby Mt. Hakodate is listed as
one of the best night views in the entire world!

---Asahikawa---

Farther north than Sapporo and Hakodate, Asahikawa is Japan’s coldest city. While
this may seem daunting, it also means great snow and skiing, and the city can serve as
home base for some of Hokkaido’s many great skiing spots. Perhaps the most famous
tourist attraction in the city is the Asahiyama Zoo, famous as a great spot to see polar
bears, seals, penguins, and other winter critters up close! Add some great local
ramen and sake, easy access to some of Hokkaido’s best natural wonders, and you’ve
got a great base to explore Hokkaido’s northern regions!

Also worthy of note is that Hokkaido was originally inhabited by an ethnic group
separate from most Japanese, the Ainu people. Although, like the Native Americans
in America, their influence has gradually waned as they have been incorporated into
mainstream Japanese culture, in recent times there has been more of a push to

preserve the Ainu’s unique culture and language.

Hokkaido Food Guide
No doubt, Hokkaido is one of the places in Japan that's known for their food. Often
times, when people think of food in Hokkaido, fresh seafood and dairy products come
to mind. Although that is in truth what they are best known for, there are other
specific dishes in addition to seafood and dairy that are local to Hokkaido that are
definitely worth trying. Here's a food guide to help you decide what you should try
when in Hokkaido.

Hokkaido Seafood
Hokkaido is known for their fresh seafood, and like much of Japan, there are many
sushi restaurants.

Kaisen-don/Donburi
One of the most popular seafood dishes is a simple dish that can be enjoyed at fish
markets as well. Kaisen-don simply consists of a bowl of rice and various seafood
topped over the rice. The quality of the seafood often is what makes this dish. There is
a combination of different seafoods topped like ikura(salmon roe), ika(squid), uni(sea
urchin), and hotate(scallops). Usually, this dish is eaten with soy sauce poured over
top, and there are many that recommend eating this in the morning at Nijo Fish
Market for breakfast.
Hokkaido Crab

Kani, or crab is another seafood item that Hokkaido is especially known for. The
crabs are best tried in the wintertime as that is usually when they are "in season."
There are three types of crabs that Hokkaido is known for; the king crab, snow crab,
and hairy crab. In Hokkaido, it is pretty easy to find and try them as there are
restaurants that serve them including an all-you-can-eat crab restaurant. There are
different crab dishes that can be enjoyed, but many Japanese people enjoy crab in
hotpots, over rice, dipped in vinegar and soy sauce, or just plain! Eating the crab miso
that is found towards the head of the crab is also considered a delicacy, and some
make soups with it
as well. There is no
better place than to
get crab than in
Hokkaido!
Hokkaido Dairy Products
Because of their expansive land area, it is possible for Hokkaido to have large dairy
farms. They produce much of Japan's dairy products, and are known for it. They
produce milk, cheese, cream, butter, and ice cream to name a few. There are also
some popular dairy product dishes in Hokkaido including cheese dishes and soft-serve
ice cream. They have a variety of different flavors of soft-serve that you can get
around Hokkaido, but to truly appreciate Hokkaido dairy, it is recommended you try
the original vanilla soft serve first. There are also butter cookies that are a local classic
including marusei, that features a creamy butter and raisin filling sandwiched between
two butter cookies.
Hokkaido Ramen
Hokkaido is famous around Japan for their ramen. Some of the main, most popular
types of ramen come from Hokkaido.
Sapporo is known for their miso ramen and Hakodate for their shio(salt) ramen. There
are plenty of ramen restaurants in Hokkaido that make trying Hokkaido ramen easily
accessible, and a must try for noodle lovers.
Hokkaido Soup Curry
A specific dish that is popular in Hokkaido is soup curry. Essentially it is just like
curry but into a more liquid like consistency that resembles soup more so than a thick
stewed curry. The ingredients in the soup vary, but are sometimes similar or the same
to what is found in regular Japanese curry. Meats, carrots, and other various
vegetables are found in it, creating a hearty and delicious soup perfect for the cold
months in Hokkaido.
Jingisukan
Jingisukan "Genghis Khan" is another dish popular is Hokkaido. It essentially is a barbecue
dish that includes mutton and vegetables grilled over a round, helmet-shaped grill. Essentially
like a mini version of korean barbeque with a smaller grill, the meat is cooked and then dipped
into sauces. Places that serve this dish are relatively common in Hokkaido, namely Sapporo.

Foreign Language 2
 Nihongo

“All About Hokkaido”

Submitted By:
Romero, Iola Cher O.
TM3-01