Note/Disclaimer: This is a post that is meant to give a quick overview of some of Hokkaido and not full detail of everything. Hokkaido is much like a state in the US with a rich past, present, and future to come. I can’t possibly cover everything and getting the tip of everything would be a book.
Name: Hokkaido
Island: Hokkaido
Population: 5,600,000
Capital: Sapporo
Major Cities: Hakodate, Asahikawa, Kushiro, Obihiro, Abashiri, Nemuro
Hokkaido is a region and prefecture
History
To start with history we need to start with the earliest inhabitants the Ainu. They are the indigenous people of Hokkaido whom were forced to assimilate into the Japanese culture after the Development Commission was formed in Japan to secure Hokkaido before Russia could get control of the island.
Some of the reason for the escape from traditional Japan and more to internationalism is because the person put in charge of developing Hokkaido went to the United States and recruited Horace Capron to teach about agriculture and mining in the west. In 1876 a year after Capron left William S Clark showed up at an agricultural college in Sapporo. While Clark’s stay was short he left quite a bit there from more information and teaching about agriculture to Christianity which is a thriving religion today.
Some other interesting notes about Hokkaido. In 1882 the Development Commission was done away with and the land was separated into three prefectures, Hakodate, Sapporo, and Nemuro. 4 years later in 1886 the merged back into one prefecture. However, it wasn’t until 1947 that Hokkaido became a prefecture equal to all the others in Japan, an official prefecture if you will.
Culture
Hokkaido is still looked at to some degree as a frontier to be tamed. Many who move here do so to break out of the traditional roles and live more of a pioneer lifestyle with many homesteading. Many parts of Hokkaido are planned cities for specific purposes to offer a more international feel to help tourism and again to help leave more traditional Japanese ways.
Sapporo Snow Festival - In 1950 the Sapporo Snow Festival was started by six high school students who built six different snow statues in Odori Park. 5 Years later the Japan Self Defense Forces built the first massive sculpture for which the festival has become known. It has become one of the largest and most distinct winter events in Japan and as such since it is not a traditional event is used as an opportunity to promote international relations. It is a time to come together as friends see all the amazing tings that have been built out of snow from statues to slides, and even mazes.
Climate
Hokkaido is known as the coldest part of Japan because it is the furthest north. However, Hokkaido does have 4 seasons usually a cold winter and a mild summer with average Temperatures in July at 72f (22c) and winter averages at 25f (-4C). In general the region has low humidity with no rainy season like the rest of Japan therefor isn’t as affected by typhoons. For technicality Hokkaido is in the Humid Continental Climate Zone.
Interesting Facts:
Accounts for 22% of Japans Total Area
1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo
Consists of one large island and 5 smaller islands
Only holds 5% of its population
Portland, Oregon is Sapporo’s sister city
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Winter in Hokkaido is cold but its just stunning scenery
http://www.japansugoi.com/wordpress/winter-on-the-hakodate-train-line-in-hokkaido/