The northernmost of the four main islands of Japan. It is bounded by the Sea of Japan to the west, the Sea of Okhotsk to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the southeast. Hokkaido and its neighboring smaller islands make up the administrative unit "Michinoku," which has an area of 83,520 square kilometers (32,247 square miles), accounting for 21% of Japan's land area. The area is characterized by a cool climate and recently formed mountains and volcanoes. Sapporo was long occupied by the Ezo people, but was first settled by the Japanese in 1869. Sapporo is the administrative, industrial, commercial and tourist center of the island. Hokkaido University was established in 1876. Other important port towns include Hakodate, Otaru and Muroran. The economy is based on iron and steel, wood pulp, dairy products and fishing. Crops include rice, soybeans, kidney beans, oats, barley and potatoes. The island has Japan's largest coal deposit, and construction of a tunnel across the Tsugaru Strait to connect Honshu began in 1964 and was completed in 1988. The population is estimated at 5,699,995 (1998).

Hokkaido occupies about one-fifth of Japan's land mass (1,121.12 square kilometers) and is the northernmost island of Japan, home to about 1,839,586 people. It is located between 40°33'N and 45°33'N, and between 139°20'E and 148°53'E. Cities at the same latitude as it are Toronto (Canada), Boston (U.S.A.), Rome (Italy), and Shenyang (People's Republic of China). Compared to the densely populated island of Honshu, Hokkaido's pristine nature, wilderness, and endless land have a unique charm, and you can carefully play with the different changes of the seasons in your life.

The second largest island in Japan. It is located in the northernmost part of the Japanese archipelago. It is 420 kilometers wide from north to south and 540 kilometers long from east to west. It has an area of 78,000 square kilometers. Population 5.54 million (1981). West of the Sea of Japan, south of the Pacific Ocean, northeast of the Sea of Okhotsk; southwest of the Tsugaru Strait and Honshu adjacent to the north across the Straits of Lapiluzi (Soya Strait) with the Russian Kuril Islands (Sakhalin Island), for the control of the two gorges of the strategic location of the northern border outposts of Japan, there is a "Japan's northern gate lock and key," as the name. Hokkaido island ancient name shrimp island, the original inhabitants of the Ainu people. 12 century, the Japanese began to enter. 1807, the Japanese shogunate control of the whole island, set up to open up the ambassador. 1869, set up the Hokkaido, change the current name. 1886, set up the Hokkaido Office. 1945, the United States army stationed in 1951, the end of the occupation, there are still Chitose camps and Tokachi, Wakkanai's communications facilities for the use of the United States military. The main military bases on the island are Chitose, Chuju and Hakodate. The topography of the island is high in the center and low in the surrounding area. Mountains make up 60% of the island's area, with volcanoes making up 40% of the area. In the east, there are Akan and Shiretoko volcano groups; in the west, there are Tennyo and Yubari mountains; the Kitami and Hidaka mountain ranges run through the center of the island, and there is Daisetsuzan volcano group; the highest peak, Asahidake, is 2,290 meters above sea level. There are many plains along the coast, including Ishikari and Yufu plains in the west and Tokachi plains in the east. The main rivers are the Ishikari River, the Tennyo River and the Tokachi River. Forests cover more than 70% of the island. Major cities include Sapporo, the capital, Asahikawa and Hakodate. The total length of railroad lines is 4,140 kilometers, and there are more than 10 ports along the coast that can berth ships of more than 5,000 tons, as well as ferries and the Seikan Tunnel that connect to Honshu. Temperate maritime climate. Average temperature: January -4～-10℃, August 18～20℃. Annual precipitation ranges from 800 to 1,200 millimeters, and snow accumulates from December to March, reaching a maximum depth of 4 meters. In summer, there are sea mists on the southeastern coast, and in winter, there are drift ice on the northern and eastern coasts. It is rich in mineral deposits, with coal reserves and production accounting for more than half of the country's total. Food processing is the main industry, wood processing, paper, iron and steel industry is developed. Wheat, potatoes, dairy cattle production are the country's first, is Japan's main agricultural and animal husbandry base.