Home to Japan's aboriginal Ainu race, Hokkaido continues to represent the untamed wilderness with many great National Parks. For many visitors the scenery resembles northern Europe, with rice paddies and concrete warrens replaced by rolling fields and faux-German cottages.

Hokkaido is by far Japan's largest prefecture, consisting of Japan's entire northern island and its surrounding islets. Hokkaido is cooler than the rest of Japan, and the merciful lack of Japan's muggy summers and rainy season makes it a very popular domestic destination between May and August. Some of Hokkaido's inland areas have a continental climate, with large daily and yearly temperature variation.

Most of Hokkaido was settled by the Japanese within the last 100 years, compared to the thousands of years of Japanese history and pre-history. As a result, its architecture and cities are much more modern, and mostly based on western-like grid layouts.

Regions

Alone among the main Japanese islands Hokkaido is not divided into multiple prefectures. Instead, there are four circuits, which are in turn split into subprefectures.

Central Circuit, with capital Sapporo and much of the mountainous interior
Ishikari, Shiribeshi, Sorachi, Iburi and Hidaka subprefectures

Eastern Circuit, the largest and remotest part of the island
Abashiri, Tokachi, Kushiro and Nemuro subprefectures

Northern Circuit, covering the northern peninsula but poking down toward the center
Kamikawa, Rumoi and Soya subprefectures

Southern Circuit, centered on Hakodate
Oshima and Hiyama subprefectures
, and mostly based on western-like grid layouts.

Abashiri - northern fishing port, home to Japan's most infamous prison
Asahikawa - the coldest city in Japan (literally)
Hakodate - historical city and the capital of the short-lived Ezo Republic
Otaru - Hokkaido's largest port
Sapporo - the capital and by far the largest city in Hokkaido
Obihiro - the main city in the Tokachi Plain, one of Japan's major agricultural belts
Furano - with lavender in the summer and some of the world's best powder in winter
Kitami - between Saroma and Lake Akan, this city is well known for its peppermint farms
Wakkanai - Japan's northernmost city, a major port with many connections to Russia

Getting To Hokkaido

The Seikan Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel, is the only land link that Hokkaido has to Japan's main island of Honshu. Trains through the tunnel, ferries, and airliners are the only means of reaching Hokkaido. The only way to enter Hokkaido by car is to ship it across on one of the many car ferries.

By plane

Hokkaido's sole international gateway of significance is Sapporo's Chitose Airport. The route to Tokyo is, in terms of capacity and planes flown daily, the busiest in the world.

By train

Hokkaido is not (yet) linked to the Shinkansen high speed network, but night sleeper trains from Tokyo are a popular option.

Another way to access Hokkaido by rail is the Hakucho and Super Hakucho limited express service between Aomori and Hakodate (2 hours, \5,340 one way). There are nine trains per day.

When the Seishun 18 Ticket is effective, it can be used on Hakucho limited express trains between Kanita and Kikonai, making it possible to cross between Honshu and Hokkaido for as little as \2,000. However, because of the scarcity of local trains around Aomori and Hakodate, scheduling such a trip can be a bit of a hassle.
[edit] By ferry

Ferries are mostly popular among people bringing their own cars to Hokkaido.

* Ferries from Hakodate link to northern ports in Tohoku, including the Shimokita Peninsula.

* Otaru provides links to Maizuru (near Kyoto) and Seoul.

* Tomakomai also provides a number of domestic ferries.

* Wakkanai links to a number of Russian ports.