2017-11-05

Hokkaido: The Land Where People Live

Advice

Hokkaido, the second largest island in the country, lies in the most northern part of Japan. The locals are proud of the big island, where nature stands side by side with people's lives so well. Hokkaido promised a comfortable living environment. Hokkaido offers a well-balanced environment for both vacation and everyday life.

Live like a tourist in Hokkaido

Hokkaido is amazingly picturesque and those who are living here will feel that they are on their vacations forever. In Hokkaido, we can find some of the most beautiful natural spaces in Japan. There are 6 national parks, 12 natural parks, 12 wetlands and 6 active volcanoes. With camping sites, golf courses, and hot springs, Hokkaido is the most beautiful prefecture in Japan.

The Nature

Hokkaido is an island that rich in beautiful sakura (cherry blossoms) and its infamous snow. A different atmosphere for every season. Offering various scenery, activities, and food, Hokkaido has been attracting a lot of domestic and international tourists. Hills decorated with various colorful flowers and natural wonders are going to make you stop and stare everytime. Starting the day with fantastic hills veiled in morning haze and end it with a breathtaking sunset over the shoreline.

The Food

Hokkaido is so famous for its miso ramen that they even built a theme park dedicated to the tasty noodle dish. In Sapporo itself, you can find the ramen alley. There are about 10 restaurants in the alley and all are award winning. The walls are often decorated with pictures and signatures of celebrities who have visited the ramen restaurants over the years. Last but not least, as an island prefecture, Hokkaido is also very famous for its fresh seafood from the sea. Satisfy your hunger with freshly caught seafood everyday.

Sapporo: the heart of Hokkaido

Hokkaido has a population of 5.5 million and the capital city, Sapporo, has a population of 1.91 million. This largest population of Hokkaido makes it the largest city in Hokkaido. Like most of Japan’s major cities, Sapporo has a good public transportation system that makes it easier for people to commute around.

Odori

Odori area is well-known with its Odori Park and it has become one of Sapporo’s most visited places. Odori Park is also popular for hosting the famous Sapporo Snow Festival every February, and Christmas markets in December. There are office and commercial areas nearby with a quiet and nice atmosphere to feel some relaxation.

Sapporo Station

Famous for large shopping malls and department stores near Sapporo Station. Living in this area will be convenient to get anything for your daily needs. This area is also proffered because of the central transit hub. Sapporo station gives easy access to commuting and traveling.

Susukino

If you prefer to live in the downtown area, Susukino can be a good choice. Susukino is Sapporo’s entertainment district with a lot of bars, nightclubs, hotels, restaurants and shopping street district. For more hype atmosphere (content), living in Susukino suits the needs for young-adult minds. When it comes to balancing the working and living, it makes Susukino a delighting place to come home to. This is probably the area where most of the expats in Sapporo choose to live.

Hakodate: the gateway to Hokkaido

Located in the far south of Hokkaido prefecture, Hakodate is the door to Hokkaido from Tokyo and other southern big cities. With about 300,000 population, Hakodate is the third largest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo and Asahikawa. Hakodate port is the busiest port in Hokkaido prefecture, making it the center of economic activities in Hakodate.

Bay-area

Hakodate Port was the first Japanese port opened for international trading towards the end of the Edo Period (1600-1867). Bay-area has become central to the town’s activities. Several red brick warehouses that were built for the tradings in the past have been redeveloped into an atmospheric shopping, dining, and entertainment area. This area offers a scenic view of the bay from the high-rise residential building.

Motomachi

The Hakodate port has a long history since it was the first port that was opened to foreign trade. After that, many traders from Russia, China, and Western countries had migrated to Hakodate. Motomachi, located at the foot of Mount Hakodate, has become the popular area among all the new foreign residents. Nowadays, Motomachi is one of the best areas for the expats who live in Hakodate.