Hokkaido

Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost main island, distinguished by its cool climate, broad landscapes, and lower population density than the other main islands.

Sapporo: Sapporo is Hokkaido’s largest city and the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture. Its urban scale and winter festival make it the island’s main gateway and cultural center.
Ainu: The Ainu are an Indigenous people of northern Japan and nearby regions, with distinct languages and cultural traditions. Ainu communities lived across Hokkaido before Japanese state settlement expanded onto the island.
Japanese archipelago: The Japanese archipelago is the chain of islands forming the territory of Japan. Hokkaido is its northernmost main island, separated from Honshu by a strait.
Honshu: Honshu is Japan’s largest and most populous main island, containing Tokyo and many major cities. Its denser population and warmer regions contrast with Hokkaido’s cooler, more sparsely settled landscape.
Daisetsuzan National Park: Daisetsuzan National Park is Japan’s largest national park, spanning a mountainous area of central Hokkaido. Its alpine terrain illustrates the island’s extensive wilderness and supports hiking and winter recreation.
Ezo: Ezo was the historical Japanese name for northern lands and peoples beyond the main area of Japanese rule. The name reflects how Hokkaido was regarded before its incorporation into the modern Japanese state.
Tsugaru Strait: The Tsugaru Strait is the sea passage between Hokkaido and Honshu in northern Japan. It forms Hokkaido’s southern boundary and is crossed by the Seikan Tunnel.
Kyushu: Kyushu is Japan’s southwestern main island, known for its warmer climate and volcanic landscapes. Its subtropical influences sharply contrast with Hokkaido’s northern climate.
Hokkaido agriculture: Hokkaido agriculture is the island’s large-scale farming sector, producing crops and dairy products. Cool summers and broad plains support crops and dairy production on a scale unusual elsewhere in Japan.
Matsumae Domain: The Matsumae Domain was a feudal domain in southern Hokkaido that controlled trade with Ainu communities. Its rule in the island’s south preceded the modern settlement and administration of Hokkaido.

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