Hokkaido prefecture

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History

Hokkaido has been the homeland of the Ainu race since time immemorial. Many place names, such as Sapporo, are derived from the Ainu language.

Hokkaido was known as Ezo until the Meiji Restoration. Shortly after the Boshin War of 1868, a group of Tokugawa loyalists led by Enomoto Takeaki proclaimed the island's independence as the Republic of Ezo, but the rebellion was crushed in May 1869.

Geography

The prefecture of Hokkaido incorporates several smaller islands, including Rishiri Island, Okushiri Island, and Rebun Island. (By Japanese reckoning, the prefecture also incorporates several of the Kuril Islands.) Because the prefectural status of Hokkaido is denoted by the dō in its name, it is rarely referred to as "Hokkaido Prefecture," except when necessary to distinguish the prefecture from the island.

An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 struck near the island on September 25, 2003 at 19:50:07 (UTC).

It is divided into four parts:

• Eastern Circuit (道東):
  • Abashiri (網走)
  • Shiretoko (知床)
  • Akanko (阿寒湖)
  • Kussharoko (屈斜路湖)
  • Mashuko (摩周湖)
  • Kushiro (釧路)
  • Obihiro (帯広)
  • Tokachigawa (十勝川)
• Southern Circuit (道南):
  • Sapporo (札幌市)
  • Jozankei (定山溪)
  • Shikotsuko (支笏湖)
  • Touyako (洞爺湖)
  • Noboribetsu (登別)
  • Otaru (小樽)
  • Hakodate (函館)
  • Yunokawa (湯の川)
• Central Circuit (道央):
  • Furano (富良野)
  • Biei (美瑛)
  • Asahikawa (旭川)
  • Sounkyo (層雲峽)
• Northern Circuit (道北):
  • Wakkanai (稚内)

• 6 national parks:
  • Shiretoko N.P (知床)
  • Akan N.P (阿寒)
  • Kushiro Marshlands N.P. (釧路湿原)
  • Taisetsuzan N.P. (大雪山)
  • Shikotsu-Toya N.P. (支笏洞爺)
  • Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu N.P (利尻礼文サロベツ)
• 5 quasi-national parks (準国立公園)
• 12 circuital natural reserves

Subprefectures

Hokkaido is the only prefecture in Japan that is divided into subprefectures. This is mostly due to its great size: many parts of the prefecture are simply too far away to be effectively administered by Sapporo. Subprefectural offices in Hokkaido carry out many of the duties that prefectural offices would fulfill elsewhere in Japan.

• Abashiri
• Hidaka
• Hiyama
• Iburi
• Ishikari
• Kamikawa
• Kushiro
• Nemuro
• Oshima
• Rumoi
• Shiribeshi
• Sorachi
• Soya
• Tokachi

Climate

Hokkaido is known for its cool summers (which attract many tourists from other parts of Japan) and icy winters. The average August temperature is around 22°C (72°F), while the average January temperature ranges from -12°C to -4°C (10°F to 25°F) depending on elevation and latitude. The island tends to see isolated snowstorms that develop long-lasting snowbanks, in contrast to the constant flurries seen in the Hokuriku region.

During the winter, the Sea of Okhotsk turns to ice, rendering the northern coast impassable to marine traffic, and halting the lucrative fisheries there until the thaw.

Economy

Hokkaido is Japan's predominant agricultural area. It leads the country in the production of rice and fish, and shares the lead in vegetable farming.

Although there is some light industry (most notably paper milling, brewing (Sapporo beer), and food production), most of the population is employed by the service sector. Tourism is an important industry, especially during the cool summertime that attracts campers and hot spring-goers from across Japan. During the winter, skiing and other winter sports continue to bring tourists to Hokkaido (the 1972 Winter Olympics were held there).

Transportation

Hokkaido's only land link to the rest of Japan is the Seikan Tunnel. Most travelers to the island arrive by air: the main airport is New Chitose Airport in Chitose, just south of Sapporo. Tokyo-Chitose is the world's busiest air route, handling 45 widebody round trips on three airlines each day. Hokkaido can also be reached by ferry from Tokyo, Sendai, and Niigata.

Within Hokkaido, there is a fairly well-developed railway network (see Hokkaido Railway Company), but many cities can only be accessed by bus or car.

External links

• Official Hokkaido prefecture homepage