Hokkaidō

History

Hokkaidō was in the beginning the ground of the people aïnu. One finds besides the trace of the language aïnu in the toponymy of the island, like that of many cities of which Sapporo, and of many species of trees and animals (for example, ezomatsu , or pine of Hokkaidō).

Hokkaidō was called a long time Ezochi until the Restauration Meiji. Shortly after the War of Boshin of 1868, a group of faithful of Tokugawa, directed by Takeaki Enomoto, declared the independence of the island under the name of République independent of Ezo, but the rebellion was crushed in May 1869. After the Meiji Restoration, Hokkaidō remained separate in four departments during several years.

Geography

Hokkaidō is an island located in the north of Japan, near the Siberia. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean (in the east), the Mer of Japan (in the west) and the Mer of Okhotsk (in north).

It is covered with 71 % by forests and with 16 % by arable lands.

The prefecture of Hokkaidō includes many islands, like Rishiri, Okushiri and Rebun.

The epicentre of a seism magnitude 8 was located near the island the September 25th 2003 at 19:50: 07 (UTC).

Climate

Hokkaidō is known for its summers fresh and dry (what attracts many tourists) and its rigorous winters. The average temperature in August is of approximately 22 °C, while that of January varies between -12 °C and -4 °C, according to altitude and of the latitude. The snowstorms, brought by the winds coming from Siberia, are not rare.

In winter, the sea of Okhotsk freezes mainly, making navigation impossible on all the Northern coast. The fish shops must cease their activity until the thaw.

Principal cities

Sapporo (札幌市)
Hakodate (函館市)
Asahikawa (旭川市)

Sub-prefectures

Hokkaidō is the only Japanese prefecture divided into sub-prefectures. That is due mainly to its big size. The town of Sapporo is indeed too distant from certain parts of the island to be able to deal with all administrative management. The sub-prefectures of Hokkaidō carry out work usually accomplished by the prefectures in the remainder of Japan. The sub-prefectures are the following ones:

Abashiri
Hidaka
Hiyama
Iburi
Ishikari
Kamikawa
Kushiro
Nemuro
Ōshima
Rumoi
Shiribeshi
Sorachi
Sōya
Tokachi

Economy

Hokkaidō occupies the first rank in the agriculture of Japan, in particular for the production of rice and fish. The whole of the agricultural die is very developed: breeding, Culture, fishing.

Although light industry is also represented (in particular paper mill, mixing of beer and production of food), the greatest part of employment is in the service sector. Tourism is very important for the economy, in particular during the summer, whose freshness attracts the holiday makers (the weather is very hot in the remainder of Japan at this period of the year). In winter, in fact the ski stations take over.

The Winter Olympics of 1972 took place with Sapporo.

Transport

The only terrestrial bond of Hokkaidō with the remainder of Japan is the Tunnel of Seikan, but the majority of the travellers arrive on the island by plane. The principal airport is that of Chitose, called Shin Chitose kūkō , in the south of Sapporo. Tōkyō - Chitose is the most used line of Japan with more forty-five flights per day, ensured by three compagnies.
One can also go to Hokkaidō by ferry, starting from the ports of Sendai and Niigata.

The rail network inside Hokkaidō is well developed, but certain cities are accessible only in the bus or the car.

To see in Hokkaidō

the festival of snow with Sapporo (giant sculptures in ice)
national parks:

National park of Akan
National park of Daisetsuzan
National park of Kushiro Shitsugen
National park of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu
National park of Shiretoko
National park of Shikotsu-Toya

Old provinces of the island of Hokkaidō

External bonds

Official site of the prefecture
the site of the university of Hokkaidō
Directory and search engine

Simple: Hokkaido Zh-yue: 北海道

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