Hokkaido

About Hokkaido

Hokkaido prefecture spans 83,422.22 square kilometres, first in Japan, with population 4,966,179 as of June 30 2026, about 4.97 million and density 59.5 per square kilometre, the lowest nationally. The capital is Sapporo, a designated city of about 1,950,000 residents concentrating nearly four tenths of Hokkaido. Geography includes the main Hokkaido Island of 77,983 square kilometres plus Rishiri, Rebun, Okushiri and numerous small islets, encircled by the Pacific Ocean southeast, Sea of Japan west and Sea of Okhotsk north, separated from Honshu by the Tsugaru Strait via the Seikan Tunnel. Mount Asahi 2,291 metres in the Daisetsuzan Range is the highest, with Hidaka Mountains, Tokachi Plain, Kushiro Wetland and Ishikari River forming a north-south spine. The island's name was decided in 1869. Formerly called Ezochi, explorer Matsuura Takeshiro proposed six names including Hokkai-do, Hitakami and Kaihoku, the Meiji government adopting Hokkaido modelled on the Ritsuryo Gokishichido system, establishing 11 provinces and 86 districts. In 1882 the Kaitakushi was abolished and split into Sapporo, Hakodate and Nemuro prefectures, reunified as Hokkaido-cho in 1886, and became the present local government in 1947 under the Local Autonomy Law. Climate is mostly subarctic humid Dfb, Sea of Japan side is heavy snow zone with about 5 metres in mountain passes, central inland shows winter lows below minus 20 Celsius with deep persistent snow, Pacific side is cooler in summer due to Oyashio current and less snow in winter. Annual mean temperature in Sapporo is about 9.2 Celsius. Industry leads Japan with agricultural output 1.3748 trillion yen, more than half livestock dairy, and fisheries output 902.8 billion yen producing salmon, scallop, kelp, potatoes, onions and wheat. Manufacturing includes Sapporo Beer, paper, steel, plus wind power holding Japan's largest capacity around Cape Soya and Ishikari. Hokkaido has no heavy industry dominance and instead food processing is strong. Tourism centres on Shiretoko World Natural Heritage site inscribed in 2005 for brown bear and drift ice ecosystem, Shikotsu-Toya National Park with caldera lakes, Furano and Biei flower fields, Noboribetsu and Toyako hot spring resorts, Sapporo Snow Festival attracting over two million visitors every February, Asahiyama Zoo and Goryokaku star fort and night view in Hakodate. Agriculture, tourism and renewable energy drive the economy while maintaining high food self sufficiency. Moreover Sapporo's ramen, soup curry, Shiroi Koibito sweets, Yubari melon and dairy desserts create a strong food tourism culture, while winter sports at Niseko and Furano draw international skiers. The prefecture also hosts universities, museums and Ainu cultural sites such as Upopoy National Museum in Shiraoi promoting indigenous heritage.