1. Hokkaido's History

Everyone knows Japan has distinctive change of seasons and these seasonal changes have added more beauty to Hokkaido. Hokkaido is a beautiful place with clean air, blue sky, colorful flowers, undulating hills, and the majesty of the mountains which are admired by tourists around the world. Yet, it seems that most of the people who travel to here know nothing about its history. Therefore, this post will give a brief and clear story about Hokkaido in the past and present so that everyone will keep in mind on it.

The flag of Hokkaido

Photo Credit: Hokkaido's Wikipedia

Hokkaido has had a different history from that of the rest of Japan. In sharp contrast to Japan’s mainland, where a farming-based culture thrived from early on, Hokkaido maintained Jomon culture characterized by hunting and fishing until about 2,000 years ago, which was then followed by Ainu culture. Ainu is a indigenous people who live mainly in Northern Japan’s main island, Honshu, Ezochi (Hokkaido), Sakhalin, and the Kurile Islands. Athough Hokkaido was originally inhabited by the Ainu people, but there is an increasing numbers of Wajin (Japanese people from mainland Japan) moved to settle in the region.

The Ainu People

Photo Credit: Ainu People's Wikipedia

Around 150 years ago, the new Meiji Government started land reclamation in Hokkaido as part of the nation’s modernization policy. During Hokkaido’s development, many advanced techniques were introduced from Western countries. Today, the heritage of these techniques remains not only in Hokkaido but also in the daily lives of local residents. 

Western Building: Sapporo Clock Tower
Photo Credit: WANDERING MYRA

Former Hokkaido Government Office which was westernized.
Photo Credit: Japan Photo Trip

The Name Of Hokkaido

The Name of Hokkaido
Photo Credit: Japanese Dining's website

When establishing the Development Commission (開拓使 Kaitakushi), the Meiji Government decided to change the name of Ezochi. Matsuura Takeshiro submitted six proposals, including names such as Kaihokudō (海北道) and Hokkaidō (北加伊道), to the government. The government eventually decided to use the name Hokkaidō, but decided to write it as 北海道, as a compromise between 海北道 and because of the similarity with names such as Tokaido(東海道). According to Matsuura, the name was thought up because the Ainu called the region Kai.

The Location

The Map of Hokkaido
 Photo Credit: d-maps.com

Hokkaido is the second largest island of Japan, and the largest and northernmost prefecture. Despite its latitude at 41 to 45 degrees north with is similar to that of southern France, the prefecture has a much cooler climate. The region’s cool climate with low humidity is hardly affected by the rainy season and typhoons that characterize the rest of Japan during the summer months. 

Flower Power Season in Hokkaido
Photo Credit: Timeout Shanghai's Website

The Nature of Beautiful Lake Toya-ko
Photo Credit: Japan National Tourism Organization's website

It is surrounded by the Pacific, the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, and its landscapes include magnificent mountains in various forms, vast wetlands, and beautiful lakes and marshes. Although Hokkaido is part of Japan, it is highly distinct from the rest of the country. While mainland Japan exhibits the hot, humid conditions associated with its temperate-zone location, Hokkaido (excluding its southernmost part) has the relatively low temperatures and humidity of the sub-frigid zone. Naturally, vegetation and lifestyles in Hokkaido differ from those of mainland Japan.