Hokkaidō
Native name:
北海道
Geography
LocationEast Asia
Coordinates43°N 142°E / 43°N 142°E / 43; 142
ArchipelagoJapanese archipelago
Area77,981.87 km2 (30,108.97 sq mi)
Highest elevation2,290 m (7510 ft)
Highest pointMount Asahi
Administration
Japan
PrefecturesHokkaidō
Largest settlementSapporo (pop. 1,890,561)
Demographics
Population5,377,435 (September 30, 2016)
Pop. density64.5/km2 (167.1/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsAinu
Japanese

The island of Hokkaidō is located in the north of Japan, near Russia (Sakhalin Oblast). It has coastlines on the Sea of Japan (to the west of the island), the Sea of Okhotsk (to the north), and the Pacific Ocean (to the east). The center of the island is mountainous, with volcanic plateaux. Hokkaidō has multiple plains such as the Ishikari Plain 3,800 km2 (1,500 sq mi), Tokachi Plain 3,600 km2 (1,400 sq mi), the Kushiro Plain 2,510 km2 (970 sq mi) (the largest wetland in Japan) and Sarobetsu Plain 200 km2 (77 sq mi). Hokkaidō is 83,423.84 km2 (32,210.12 sq mi) which makes it the second-largest island of Japan.

The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu (Aomori Prefecture);[1] La Pérouse Strait separates Hokkaidō from the island of Sakhalin in Russia; Nemuro Strait separates Hokkaidō from Kunashir Island in the Russian Kuril Islands.

The governmental jurisdiction of Hokkaidō incorporates several smaller islands, including Rishiri, Okushiri Island, and Rebun. (By Japanese reckoning, Hokkaidō also incorporates several of the Kuril Islands.) Hokkaidō Prefecture is the largest and northernmost Japanese prefecture. The island ranks 21st in the world by area.

Ecology

Flora and fauna

There are three populations of the Ussuri brown bear found on the island. There are more brown bears in Hokkaidō than anywhere else in Asia besides Russia. The Hokkaidō brown bear is separated into three distinct lineages. There are only eight lineages in the world.[2] Those on Honshu died out long ago.

The native conifer species in northern Hokkaidō is the Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis).[3] The flowering plant Hydrangea hirta is also found on the island.

Notable flora and fauna[4]
NameType Notes
Ussuri brown bear Fauna One of the largest populations by average size of brown bears (Ursus arctos lasiotus)
Steller's sea eagle Fauna On average, the heaviest eagle species in the world (Haliaeetus pelagicus)
Hokkaido wolfFauna Extinct subspecies of the gray wolf (Canis lupus hattai).
Yezo sika deerFauna Large subspecies of the sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis)
Ezoris Fauna Also called the Ezo squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris orientis)
Ezo red fox Fauna Native to northern Japanese archipelago (Vulpes vulpes schrencki)
Ezo tanuki Fauna Subspecies of raccoon dog native to Hokkaido (Nyctereutes viverrinus albus)
Hokkaido dog Fauna A Spitz-type domesticated hunting dog perhaps descend from introduced Akitas
Dosanko Fauna Also called the "Hokkaido horse"
Sable Fauna (Martes zibellina) A species of marten which inhabits Hokkaido and Northern Asia.
Viviparous lizard Fauna (Zootoca vivipara)
Ezo salamander Fauna (Hynobius retardatus)
Dolly Varden trout Fauna (Salvelinus malma)
Sasakia charonda Fauna National butterfly of Japan (ō-murasaki, "great purple")
Grey Heron Fauna (Ardea cinerea) Long legged wading bird.
Chum salmon Fauna (white salmon (白鮭 シロサケ) is native to middle and northern Honshu, Hokkaido and the North Pacific.
Sockeye salmon Fauna (Oncorhynchus nerka, ベニザケ - Benizake) live in Hokkaido and the North Pacific.
Ezo spruce Flora Picea jezoensis
Sakhalin spruce Flora Picea glehnii
Japanese rose Flora Rosa rugosa

Geology

Like many areas of Japan, Hokkaidō is seismically active. Aside from numerous earthquakes, the following volcanoes are considered still active (at least one eruption since 1850):

In 1993, an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 generated a tsunami which devastated Okushiri, killing 202 inhabitants. An earthquake of magnitude 8.3 struck near the island on September 26, 2003. On September 6, 2018, an earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck with its epicenter near the city of Tomakomai, causing a blackout across the whole island.[5]

On May 16, 2021, an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck off Japan's Hokkaidō prefecture.[6]

Parks

National parks (国立公園)
Shiretoko National Park*知床
Akan Mashu National Park阿寒
Kushiro-shitsugen National Park釧路湿原
Daisetsuzan National Park大雪山
Shikotsu-Tōya National Park支笏洞爺
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park利尻礼文サロベツ

* designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 2005-07-14.

Quasi-national parks (国定公園)
Abashiri Quasi-National Park網走
Hidaka-sanmyaku Erimo Quasi-National Park日高山脈襟裳
Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Parkニセコ積丹小樽海岸
Ōnuma Quasi-National Park大沼
Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park暑寒別天売焼尻
Ramsar wetland sites
since
Kushiro Wetland 釧路湿原1980-06-17
Lake Kutcharo クッチャロ湖1989-07-06
Lake Utonai ウトナイ湖1991-12-12
Kiritappu Wetland 霧多布湿原1993-06-10
Lake Akkeshi, Bekkanbeushi Wetland 厚岸湖・別寒辺牛湿原1993-06-10,
enlarged 2005-11-08
Miyajima Marsh 宮島沼2002-11-18
Uryūnuma Wetland 雨竜沼湿原2005-11-08
Sarobetsu plain サロベツ原野
Lake Tōfutsu 濤沸湖
Lake Akan 阿寒湖
Notsuke Peninsula, Notsuke Bay 野付半島・野付湾
Lake Fūren, Shunkunitai 風蓮湖・春国岱

Subprefectures

Map of Hokkaido showing the subprefectures and the primary cities

As of April 2010, Hokkaidō has nine General Subprefectural Bureaus (総合振興局) and five Subprefectural Bureaus (振興局). Hokkaidō is one of eight prefectures in Japan that have subprefectures (支庁 shichō). However, it is the only one of the eight to have such offices covering the whole of its territory outside the main cities (rather than having them just for outlying islands or remote areas). This is mostly because of its great size; many parts of the prefecture are simply too far away to be effectively administered by Sapporo. Subprefectural offices in Hokkaidō carry out many of the duties that prefectural offices fulfill elsewhere in Japan.

Subprefecture Japanese Main city Largest municipality Pop.
(2009)		 Area
(km2)		 Municipalities
1 Sorachi 空知総合振興局 Iwamizawa Iwamizawa 338,485 5,791.19 10 cities14 towns
a ↳ Ishikari 石狩振興局 Sapporo Sapporo 2,324,878 3,539.86 6 cities1 town1 village
2 Shiribeshi 後志総合振興局 Kutchan Otaru 234,984 4,305.83 1 city13 towns6 villages
3 Iburi 胆振総合振興局 Muroran Tomakomai 419,115 3,698.00 4 cities7 towns
b ↳ Hidaka 日高振興局 Urakawa Shinhidaka 76,084 4,811.97 7 towns
4 Oshima 渡島総合振興局 Hakodate Hakodate 433,475 3,936.46 2 cities9 towns
c ↳ Hiyama 檜山振興局 Esashi Setana 43,210 2,629.94 7 towns
5 Kamikawa 上川総合振興局 Asahikawa Asahikawa 527,575 10,619.20 4 cities17 towns2 villages
d ↳ Rumoi 留萌振興局 Rumoi Rumoi 53,916 3,445.75 1 city6 towns1 village
6 Sōya 宗谷総合振興局 Wakkanai Wakkanai 71,423 4,625.09 1 city8 towns1 village
7 Okhotsk オホーツク総合振興局 Abashiri Kitami 309,487 10,690.62 3 cities14 towns1 village
8 Tokachi 十勝総合振興局 Obihiro Obihiro 353,291 10,831.24 1 city16 towns2 villages
9 Kushiro 釧路総合振興局 Kushiro Kushiro 252,571 5,997.38 1 city6 towns1 village
e ↳ Nemuro 根室振興局 Nemuro Nemuro 84,035 3,406.23 1 city4 towns
*
* Japan claims the southern part of Kuril Islands (Northern Territories), currently administered by Russia,
belong to Nemuro Subprefecture divided into six villages. However, the table above excludes these islands' data.

Climate

Satellite image of Hokkaidō in winter
Hokkaido in winter and summer

As Japan's coldest region, Hokkaidō has relatively cool summers and icy/snowy winters. Most of the island falls in the humid continental climate zone with Köppen climate classification Dfb (hemiboreal) in most areas but Dfa (hot summer humid continental) in some inland lowlands. The average August temperature ranges from 17 to 22 °C (62.6 to 71.6 °F), while the average January temperature ranges from −12 to −4 °C (10.4 to 24.8 °F), in both cases depending on elevation and distance from the ocean, though temperatures on the western side of the island tend to be a little warmer than on the eastern. The highest temperature ever recorded is 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) on 26 May 2019.[8]

The northern portion of Hokkaidō falls into the taiga biome[9] with significant snowfall. Snowfall varies widely from as much as 11 metres (400 in) on the mountains adjacent to the Sea of Japan down to around 1.8 metres (71 in) on the Pacific coast. The island tends to have isolated snowstorms that develop long-lasting snowbanks. Total precipitation varies from 1,600 millimetres (63 in) on the mountains of the Sea of Japan coast to around 800 millimetres (31 in) (the lowest in Japan) on the Sea of Okhotsk coast and interior lowlands and up to around 1,100 millimetres (43 in) on the Pacific side. The generally high quality of powder snow and numerous mountains in Hokkaidō make it a popular region for snow sports. The snowfall usually commences in earnest in November and ski resorts (such as those at Niseko, Furano, Teine and Rusutsu) usually operate between December and April. Hokkaidō celebrates its winter weather at the Sapporo Snow Festival.

During the winter, passage through the Sea of Okhotsk is often complicated by large floes of drift ice. Combined with high winds that occur during winter, this frequently brings air travel and maritime activity to a halt beyond the northern coast of Hokkaidō. Ports on the open Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan are generally ice-free year round, though most rivers freeze during the winter.

Unlike the other major islands of Japan, Hokkaidō is normally not affected by the May–June monsoon season and the lack of relative humidity and typically warm, rather than hot, summer weather makes its climate an attraction for tourists from other parts of Japan.

Climate data

Monthly average highs and lows
for various cities and towns in Hokkaido
in Celsius and Fahrenheit
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Sapporo −0.4 / −6.4
(31.3 / 20.5)		 0.4 / −6.2
(32.7 / 20.8)		 4.5 / −2.4
(40.1 / 27.7)		 11.7 / 3.4
(53.1 / 38.1)		 17.9 / 9.0
(64.2 / 48.2)		 21.8 / 13.4
(71.2 / 56.1)		 25.4 / 17.9
(77.7 / 64.2)		 26.4 / 19.1
(79.5 / 66.4)		 22.8 / 14.8
(73.0 / 58.6)		 16.4 / 8.0
(61.5 / 46.4)		 8.7 / 1.6
(47.7 / 34.9)		 2.0 / −4.0
(35.6 / 24.8)
Hakodate 0.9 / −6.0
(33.6 / 21.2)		 1.8 / −5.7
(35.2 / 21.7)		 5.8 / −2.2
(42.4 / 28.0)		 12.0 / 2.8
(53.6 / 37.0)		 17.0 / 8.0
(62.6 / 46.4)		 20.4 / 12.6
(68.7 / 54.7)		 24.1 / 17.3
(75.4 / 63.1)		 25.9 / 18.9
(78.6 / 66.0)		 23.2 / 14.6
(73.8 / 58.3)		 17.1 / 7.8
(62.8 / 46.0)		 10.0 / 1.8
(50.0 / 35.2)		 3.2 / −3.6
(37.8 / 25.5)
Asahikawa −3.3 / −11.7
(26.1 / 10.9)		 −1.7 / −11.8
(28.9 / 10.8)		 3.0 / −6.1
(37.4 / 21.0)		 11.2 / 0.2
(52.2 / 32.4)		 18.8 / 6.1
(65.8 / 43.0)		 22.8 / 12.0
(73.0 / 53.6)		 26.2 / 16.4
(79.2 / 61.5)		 26.6 / 16.9
(79.9 / 62.4)		 21.9 / 11.7
(71.4 / 53.1)		 14.9 / 4.4
(58.8 / 39.9)		 6.2 / −1.5
(43.2 / 29.3)		 −0.8 / −8.0
(30.6 / 17.6)
Kushiro −0.2 / −9.8
(31.6 / 14.4)		 −0.1 / −9.4
(31.8 / 15.1)		 3.3 / −4.2
(37.9 / 24.4)		 8.0 / 0.7
(46.4 / 33.3)		 12.6 / 5.4
(54.7 / 41.7)		 15.8 / 9.5
(60.4 / 49.1)		 19.6 / 13.6
(67.3 / 56.5)		 21.5 / 15.7
(70.7 / 60.3)		 20.1 / 12.9
(68.2 / 55.2)		 15.1 / 6.1
(59.2 / 43.0)		 8.9 / −0.3
(48.0 / 31.5)		 2.5 / −7.0
(36.5 / 19.4)
Wakkanai −2.4 / −6.4
(27.7 / 20.5)		 −2.0 / −6.7
(28.4 / 19.9)		 1.6 / −3.1
(34.9 / 26.4)		 7.4 / 1.8
(45.3 / 35.2)		 12.4 / 6.3
(54.3 / 43.3)		 16.1 / 10.4
(61.0 / 50.7)		 20.1 / 14.9
(68.2 / 58.8)		 22.3 / 17.2
(72.1 / 63.0)		 20.1 / 14.4
(68.2 / 57.9)		 14.1 / 8.4
(57.4 / 47.1)		 6.3 / 1.3
(43.3 / 34.3)		 0.0 / −4.2
(32.0 / 24.4)
Rikubetsu −2.5 / −19.6
(27.5 / −3.3)		 −1.4 / −18.8
(29.5 / −1.8)		 3.2 / −10.6
(37.8 / 12.9)		 10.5 / −2.5
(50.9 / 27.5)		 17.1 / 3.4
(62.8 / 38.1)		 20.6 / 9.1
(69.1 / 48.4)		 23.7 / 14.0
(74.7 / 57.2)		 24.4 / 15.0
(75.9 / 59.0)		 20.8 / 9.8
(69.4 / 49.6)		 14.7 / 1.8
(58.5 / 35.2)		 7.1 / −5.3
(44.8 / 22.5)		 −0.2 / −14.9
(31.6 / 5.2)
Saroma −2.6 / −15.6
(27.3 / 3.9)		 −2.2 / −16.3
(28.0 / 2.7)		 2.5 / −9.5
(36.5 / 14.9)		 10.2 / −1.8
(50.4 / 28.8)		 16.9 / 3.8
(62.4 / 38.8)		 20.2 / 8.9
(68.4 / 48.0)		 23.9 / 13.6
(75.0 / 56.5)		 24.9 / 14.8
(76.8 / 58.6)		 21.6 / 10.1
(70.9 / 50.2)		 15.3 / 2.9
(59.5 / 37.2)		 7.5 / −3.2
(45.5 / 26.2)		 0.1 / −11.7
(32.2 / 10.9)
Okushiri 1.6 / −2.4
(34.9 / 27.7)		 1.9 / −2.2
(35.4 / 28.0)		 5.3 / 0.7
(41.5 / 33.3)		 10.0 / 5.0
(50.0 / 41.0)		 14.6 / 9.3
(58.3 / 48.7)		 19.0 / 13.6
(66.2 / 56.5)		 22.9 / 17.9
(73.2 / 64.2)		 25.4 / 20.1
(77.7 / 68.2)		 22.6 / 17.5
(72.7 / 63.5)		 16.6 / 11.8
(61.9 / 53.2)		 10.0 / 5.1
(50.0 / 41.2)		 3.9 / −0.5
(39.0 / 31.1)
Erimo 0.2 / −4.0
(32.4 / 24.8)		 −0.2 / −4.3
(31.6 / 24.3)		 2.2 / −1.9
(36.0 / 28.6)		 6.1 / 1.3
(43.0 / 34.3)		 10.1 / 5.0
(50.2 / 41.0)		 13.6 / 9.0
(56.5 / 48.2)		 17.5 / 13.4
(63.5 / 56.1)		 19.9 / 15.8
(67.8 / 60.4)		 19.0 / 14.9
(66.2 / 58.8)		 14.7 / 10.2
(58.5 / 50.4)		 9.3 / 4.2
(48.7 / 39.6)		 3.3 / −1.3
(37.9 / 29.7)
Climate data for Sapporo (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1877−present) (Köppen Dfa)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.2
(52.2)		 10.8
(51.4)		 18.3
(64.9)		 28.0
(82.4)		 34.2
(93.6)		 33.7
(92.7)		 36.0
(96.8)		 36.2
(97.2)		 32.7
(90.9)		 27.3
(81.1)		 22.4
(72.3)		 14.8
(58.6)		 36.2
(97.2)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 5.1
(41.2)		 7.0
(44.6)		 12.3
(54.1)		 21.3
(70.3)		 27.4
(81.3)		 29.0
(84.2)		 31.4
(88.5)		 32.0
(89.6)		 28.8
(83.8)		 22.7
(72.9)		 17.2
(63.0)		 9.4
(48.9)		 32.7
(90.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)		 0.4
(32.7)		 4.5
(40.1)		 11.7
(53.1)		 17.9
(64.2)		 21.8
(71.2)		 25.4
(77.7)		 26.4
(79.5)		 22.8
(73.0)		 16.4
(61.5)		 8.7
(47.7)		 2.0
(35.6)		 13.1
(55.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.2
(26.2)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 1.1
(34.0)		 7.3
(45.1)		 13.0
(55.4)		 17.0
(62.6)		 21.1
(70.0)		 22.3
(72.1)		 18.6
(65.5)		 12.1
(53.8)		 5.2
(41.4)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 9.2
(48.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.4
(20.5)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 3.4
(38.1)		 9.0
(48.2)		 13.4
(56.1)		 17.9
(64.2)		 19.1
(66.4)		 14.8
(58.6)		 8.0
(46.4)		 1.6
(34.9)		 −4.0
(24.8)		 5.7
(42.3)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −11.8
(10.8)		 −11.7
(10.9)		 −7.9
(17.8)		 −1.4
(29.5)		 3.9
(39.0)		 9.0
(48.2)		 13.7
(56.7)		 14.7
(58.5)		 8.7
(47.7)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −4.6
(23.7)		 −9.0
(15.8)		 −12.8
(9.0)
Record low °C (°F) −27.0
(−16.6)		 −28.5
(−19.3)		 −22.6
(−8.7)		 −14.6
(5.7)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 0.0
(32.0)		 5.2
(41.4)		 5.3
(41.5)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 −15.5
(4.1)		 −24.7
(−12.5)		 −28.5
(−19.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 108.4
(4.27)		 91.9
(3.62)		 77.6
(3.06)		 54.6
(2.15)		 55.5
(2.19)		 60.4
(2.38)		 90.7
(3.57)		 126.8
(4.99)		 142.2
(5.60)		 109.9
(4.33)		 113.8
(4.48)		 114.5
(4.51)		 1,146.1
(45.12)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 137
(54)		 116
(46)		 74
(29)		 6
(2.4)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1
(0.4)		 30
(12)		 113
(44)		 479
(189)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) 22.1 19.2 18.3 12.3 10.2 9.3 9.4 10.5 11.7 14.0 18.3 19.9 175.1
Average relative humidity (%) 69 68 65 61 65 72 75 75 71 67 67 68 69
Average dew point °C (°F) −8
(18)		 −8
(18)		 −5
(23)		 −1
(30)		 6
(43)		 12
(54)		 16
(61)		 18
(64)		 13
(55)		 6
(43)		 0
(32)		 −6
(21)		 4
(39)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 90.4 103.5 144.7 175.8 200.4 180.0 168.0 168.1 159.3 145.9 99.1 82.7 1,718
Average ultraviolet index 1 1 1 3 4 5 5 5 4 2 1 1 3
Source 1: Japan Meteorological Agency[10][11]
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV),[12] Time and Date (dewpoints, 2005-2015),[13] Météo Climat[14][15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hokkaidō" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 343, p. 343, at Google Books
  2. ↑ Hirata, Daisuke; et al. (2013). "Molecular Phylogeography of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) in Northeastern Asia Based on Analyses of Complete Mitochondrial DNA Sequences". Mol Biol Evol. 30 (7): 1644–1652. doi:10.1093/molbev/mst077. PMID 23619144.
  3. ↑ Zhang, D.; Katsuki, T.; Rushforth, K. (2013). "Abies sachalinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42298A2970610. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42298A2970610.en. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  4. ↑ Japanese Wiki page ja:北海道
  5. ↑ "M 6.6 - 27km E of Tomakomai, Japan". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "Earthquake ALERT! 6.1-magnitude quake strikes this country". Zee Business. 2021-05-16. Archived from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  7. ↑ "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment Japan. 31 March 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  8. ↑ Sim, Walter (26 May 2019). "Hokkaidō sizzling in temperatures up to 39.5 deg C as unseasonal heat wave grips Japan". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  9. ↑ C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Taiga. eds. M.McGinley & C.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC Archived 2013-11-04 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  11. ↑ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  12. ↑ "Sapporo, Japan – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "Climate & Weather Averages in Sapporo". Time and Date. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "Météo climat stats for Sapporo". Météo Climat. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Météo climat stats for Sapporo". Météo Climat. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
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