An island separated from Hokkaido. Hokkaido Island, Japan: description, detailed information, interesting facts and reviews. Flora and fauna

Hokkaido (Jap. 北海道 Hokkaido:, "Northern Sea Governorate"), formerly known as Ezo, in the old Russian transcription Iesso, Ieddo, Iyozo, is the second largest island in Japan. Until 1859, Matsumae was also called by the name of the ruling feudal clan that owned the castle town of Matsumae - in the old Russian transcription - Matsmai, Matsmai.

Geography

Hokkaido is located in the northern part of Japan. The northern coast of the island is washed by the cold Sea of ​​Okhotsk and faces the Pacific coast of the Russian Far East. The territory of Hokkaido is almost equally divided between mountains and plains, moreover, the mountains are located in the center of the island and stretch in ridges from north to south. The highest peak is Mount Asahi (2290 m). In the western part of the island, along the Ishikari River (length 265 km), there is a valley with the same name, in the eastern part, along the Tokati River (156 km) - another valley. The southern part of Hokkaido is formed by the Oshima Peninsula, separated by the Sangar Strait from Honshu. Between these islands, the Seikan railway tunnel is laid under the seabed.

The island is the easternmost point of Japan - Cape Nosappu-Saki. Also on it is the northernmost point of Japan - Cape Soya.

The largest city of Hokkaido and the administrative center of the prefecture of the same name is Sapporo.

Flora and fauna

Most of Hokkaido is covered in forests. Coniferous forests of spruce and fir predominate, with dense thickets of bamboo in the undergrowth. Cedar and birch forests grow at a height, wastelands with shrubs are located. In the northern part, the border of forests of coniferous trees is at an altitude of 500 meters, in the south of the island, forests consist of broad-leaved trees. In the forests you can meet sable, ermine, weasel, brown bear, fox. Hokkaido bears have a ferocious disposition.

Historical information

Lake Shikotsu

Prehistoric and ancient times

The oldest artifacts found in Hokkaido belong to the late Paleolithic era. These are stone flakes made by primitive man 25-20 thousand years ago. They were found at the Shukyubai-Sankakuyama mountain site in Chitose City and the Shimaki site in Kamishihoro Township. 15-12 thousand years ago, in the Mesolithic era, the technique of making stone blades spread to Hokkaido, which is associated with the emergence of a culture of microlithic tools. At the same time, the inhabitants of the island learned to use a bow and arrow.

The appearance of ceramics in Hokkaido dates back to the 8th millennium BC. e. It is represented by the Jomon culture. On the island, this culture found its expression in two styles of tableware design - southwestern and northeastern. The first arose under the influence of the style of the Tohoku region of the neighboring island of Honshu, and the second took shape independently. The dishes of the southwestern part of Hokkaido were flat-bottomed, while those of the northeastern part were sharp-bottomed. About 6 millennium BC. e. sharp-bottomed dishes gave way to flat-bottomed ones, and the old styles evolved into new ones - cylindrical in the southwest and north-cylindrical in the northeast. In the 3-2 millennium BC. e. the inhabitants of Hokkaido adopted the opulent style of Kamegaoka from neighboring Honshu, which supplanted the regional styles.

At the turn of our era, a new Yayoi culture spread in Japan. Its carriers were settled farmers. They were engaged in rice cultivation, knew the technique of metal processing and made a new type of non-ornamental ceramics. Hokkaido remained outside the influence of this culture. Its inhabitants continued to live by hunting and gathering, were semi-sedentary and kept to the traditions of the previous Jōmon era. Their culture was called post-jomon. During the 3rd-4th centuries, under the influence of their southern neighbors, the inhabitants of Hokkaido began to use metal tools and make jewelry from precious stones.

Starting from the 7th century, the northeastern regions of Hokkaido, namely the lands of the coast of the Sea of ​​​​Okhotsk, were under the influence of the Okhotsk culture. Its carriers used stone, iron and bone tools. A large settlement and burial ground of these northern hunters were found at the Moyoro site in the territory of the city of Abashiri. The latest monuments of the Okhotsk culture date back to the 9th century.

In the 8th century, a new culture, Satsumon, emerged from the post-Jōmon culture. Its carriers were proto-Ainu. Like the Jomon, the proto-Ainu were primarily hunter-gatherers, although they practiced primitive agriculture. They made their weapons and tools from iron, less often from stone or bone. The proto-Ainu traded with the neighboring Nivkhs in the north and the Japanese in the south. The latter called the inhabitants of Hokkaido and the adjacent territories the term "ezo" (barbarians), and their country "island of Ezo", "Thousand islands of Eyozo" or "Island". The center of the proto-Ainu trade with the Japanese was the Japanese province of Dewa in the Tohoku region.

new time

In the extreme southwest of the Oshima Peninsula, in 1604, the feudal principality of Matsumae, vassal from the Tokugawa shoguns, was established, in whose possession the entire island was given. It was called Ezo at that time, and its indigenous population was the Ainu, whose conquest by the Japanese lasted more than two centuries. In 1712-1713, according to the questions of the Ainu and the stories of the Japanese, brought by a storm to Kamchatka in 1710, the Cossack Ivan Petrovich Kozyrevsky compiled his description of the island. In the spring of 1779, Russian sailors and fishermen, led by Antipin and Shabalin, headed for the shores of Hokkaido in seven canoes. On June 24 of the same year, they entered the harbor of Notcomo in the northeast of the island, where they collected yasak from the Ainu living there and actually accepted 1,500 people into Russian citizenship. This fact aroused the indignation of the Japanese. In the autumn of 1792, a Russian expedition led by Adam Laxman visited the north of Hokkaido, although the Japanese forbade the Russians to trade with the Hokkaido Ainu.

Nature in Hokkaido

In 1868-1869, the Republic of Ezo existed on the island, created by supporters of the shogunate; after the fall of the republic, the island was renamed Hokkaido. In 1869, the Japanese government established the Hokkaido Colonization Office.

In contrast to the usual appearance of people of the Mongoloid race with dark skin, the Mongolian fold of the eyelid, sparse facial hair, the Ainu had unusually thick hair covering their heads, wore huge beards and mustaches (holding them with special sticks while eating), Australoid features of their faces some features were similar to European ones.

[more photos at the end of the post]

No sooner had Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Japan come to an end than Tokyo took up the old - it again raised the issue of belonging to the Kuril Islands. And he did it in a sharper, more radical format, mentioning the island of Sakhalin in the context. Russia's willingness to compromise on the territorial issue was seen as a weakness, and therefore a pretext for attacking actions on the diplomatic front. Adding to the heat of the debate is the imminent election, in which incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expects to win with a tough stance. Russia, although deploying an additional military contingent in the disputed territories, is more likely to lose politically, remaining on the defensive. [ In this I completely disagree with the author. - my approx.] The way out of the situation could be a symmetrical demand - the question of ownership of the island of Hokkaido, where subjects of the Russian Empire once lived.

Retired diplomat Yoshike Mine spoke in detail about the views of the Japanese political establishment on the problem of settling the so-called "northern territories" in an interview with the influential publication Toyo Keizai. According to him, the problem has two levels. “In a narrow sense, the issue of the ‘Northern Territories’ refers to four islands. In a broader context, to Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands,” Mine noted. At the same time, he gave the Japanese name for Sakhalin - Karafuto. At the same time, the diplomat made a reservation that in the discussions in the parliament, the Japanese government is talking about only four islands: Habomai, Shikotan, Kunashir and Iturup. Mine also recalled that Russia had already declared its readiness to return Habomai and Shikotan. That is, the Japanese consider the transfer of the two southern islands a matter of principle decided. Broader territorial claims, including Sakhalin, are the maximum task for them.

The fact that such speeches are made by a non-acting civil servant does not mean at all that his words should not be given importance. In the Western political tradition, it is considered normal to give odious ideas to formally inactive, but authoritative politicians. They are used as an element of pressure in negotiations and a subject for political bargaining. Let us recall the numerous foreign policy missions of Carter or Kissinger. The defeated Japanese learn from the winners - the Yankees. Arguing his position in an interview with references to historical treaties and post-war diplomatic conflicts, Mine seeks to create the impression that Russia has no right to the South Kuriles and, in conclusion, appeals to the United States as an external force, calling for Japan and Russia to intervene in bilateral negotiations.

At first glance, the position of our Foreign Ministry is impeccable: the continuation of negotiations on the islands is possible only after Japan recognizes the results of the Second World War - Russian sovereignty over the "disputed territories" and the signing of a peace treaty. That is, “money in the morning - chairs in the evening”, and not vice versa. Although the transfer of Japan (suppose!) the two southern islands, albeit as a gesture of goodwill, is unlikely to find understanding among the Russians. Even if the notorious peace treaty is signed. The Japanese, however, are not satisfied with this, largely one-sided, option. Realizing this on the eve of his visit, Sergei Lavrov said that official Moscow demands clarity from Tokyo on this issue. However, the recent remark of the Russian President, told to journalists after a direct line that "a compromise can and will be found someday," seems to have once again inspired the politicians of the Land of the Rising Sun. Kommersant's sources at the Russian embassy in Tokyo also say the same.

Diplomatic games are taking place against the backdrop of Russia strengthening its defense capabilities in the region. Earlier it was reported that the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will deploy coastal missile systems "Bal" and "Bastion" in the Kuril Islands, as well as a group of new generation drones. This will happen as part of the planned rearmament of formations and military units deployed here. In addition, in April, sailors of the Pacific Fleet will set off on a three-month expedition to the islands of the Greater Kuril Ridge. The statement by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that the strengthening of the Russian military infrastructure in the southern Kuril Islands "would be incompatible with the position of Japan" looks harsh and leaves no room for compromise. Deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation added fuel to the fire, proposing to use the image of the disputed islands on the new banknote introduced by the Central Bank. Obviously, in the case of such a fixing of the symbol, there can be no question of any transfer of the islands.

Meanwhile, all these measures are more of a technical nature. Yes, the islands will be reliably protected, but once the USSR was not a weak power from a military point of view, but capitulated as soon as the weak General Secretary Gorbachev was at the helm, subject to influence. To consolidate the parity and assert its position, Russia would be helped by some kind of symmetrical demand on Japan of a political nature, which would balance the claims of Tokyo. And most importantly, it could be removed only in response to the withdrawn demands of the Japanese. Such a requirement could be the issue of the territorial belonging of the island of Hokkaido. Once the USSR intended to seize it from Japan, defeated in the war, but the resistance of US President Harry Truman prevented. There are historical arguments justifying Russia's claims to the island.

At the moment, the Japanese side is appealing to the Shimoda Treaty of 1855. However, if we take previous events as a basis, the situation ceases to be ambiguous. Thus, the Spatial Land Description of the Russian State, compiled under Catherine II, included not only all the Kuril Islands, but also Hokkaido in the Russian Empire. The reason is that ethnic Japanese at that time did not even populate it. The indigenous population - the Ainu - following the results of the expedition of Antipin and Shabalin, were recorded as Russian subjects. They fought with the Japanese not only in the south of Hokkaido, but also in the northern part of the island of Honshu. The Cossacks themselves explored and taxed the Kuriles in the 17th century.

The fact of Russian citizenship of the inhabitants of Hokkaido was noted in a letter from Alexander I to the Japanese Emperor in 1803. Moreover, this did not cause any objections from the Japanese side, let alone official protest. Hokkaido for Tokyo was a foreign territory like Korea. When the first Japanese arrived on the island in 1786, the Ainu came out to meet them, bearing Russian names and surnames. And what's more - Orthodox! Japan's first claims to Sakhalin date back only to 1845. Then Emperor Nicholas I immediately gave a diplomatic rebuff. Only the weakening of Russia in the following decades led to the occupation of the southern part of Sakhalin by the Japanese. It is interesting that the Bolsheviks in 1925 condemned the former government, which had given Russian lands to Japan.

So in 1945, historical justice was only restored. The army and navy of the USSR resolved the Russo-Japanese territorial issue by force. Khrushchev in 1956 signed the Joint Declaration of the USSR and Japan, article 9 of which read: “The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, meeting the wishes of Japan and taking into account the interests of the Japanese state, agrees to the transfer of the Habomai Islands and the Sikotan Island to Japan, with the fact, however, that the actual transfer of these islands of Japan will be produced after the conclusion of the Peace Treaty between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Japan. That is, now our Foreign Ministry proposes to do exactly what is recorded in Khrushchev's declaration.

There is, however, some difference. Khrushchev's goal was the demilitarization of Japan. He was ready to sacrifice a couple of islands in order to remove American military bases from the Soviet Far East. Now, obviously, we are no longer talking about demilitarization. Washington clung to his "unsinkable aircraft carrier" with a stranglehold. Moreover, Tokyo's dependence on the United States has even increased. Abe's visit to Russia has just been canceled precisely because of pressure from Washington, as told by the head of the information department of the Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova. Well, if so, then the gratuitous transfer as a “goodwill gesture” loses its attractiveness. It is reasonable not to follow Khrushchev's declaration, but to put forward symmetrical claims based on well-known historical facts. Shaking ancient scrolls and manuscripts, which is normal and practice in such cases.

An insistence on giving up Hokkaido would be a cold shower for Tokyo. We would have to argue in the negotiations not about Sakhalin or even about the Kuriles, but about our own territory at the moment. I would have to defend myself, justify myself, prove my right. Russia from diplomatic defense would thus go over to the offensive. You can also remember the opinion of the people and hold a referendum, or at least a VTsIOM poll on whether people agree with Nikita Khrushchev's decision to "meet the wishes of Japan and take into account the interests of the Japanese state." Our peasant people, for the most part, feel unmistakably that the land must never be given away. The answer is a categorical "no". The Russia Today TV channel and the Sputnik agency will inform the world about the will of the Russians.

If official state structures cannot start such a campaign for diplomatic reasons, one of the informal patriotic organizations can do it. The state will support the initiative. This is how Americans sometimes act, calling it a public-private partnership. Why is Russia worse? To permanently remove the problem of ownership of the Kuril Islands, "trolling" Tokyo in advance with media and diplomatic attacks, is a worthy task for such a practice. The slogan of the campaign could be the words: "Hokkaido is a Russian island!"

The second largest island in Japan, Hokkaido, on the one hand, is a typical Japanese region, where a person lives in peace with the surrounding nature, while developing traditional crafts and high technologies. At the same time, Hokkaido is exotic in its own way - its territories are located in the very north of Japan, and therefore winters are snowy here, and the sun shines through on average seventeen days a year. In addition, the island formed the first within Japan, albeit a short-lived, democratic state.

LAND OF THE AINU

The Ainu people lived in Hokkaido for thousands of years, who later had to fight the Japanese for the right to live in their native lands.

The original settlement of the Japanese island of Hokkaido occurred about twenty thousand years ago. Then the Ainu lived here - one of the most ancient peoples of the Japanese islands. However, the history of the development of Hokkaido still holds many mysteries: after all, the first mention of the island, known to scientists today, appeared on the pages of the Japanese written monument “Hon Seki”, dated to the eighth century. There is a widespread theory that according to it, the island of Watarishima, which is referred to in the annals, is Hokkaido, which was named so only in 1869.

Local residents were engaged in hunting and fishing, and trade relations with other islands allowed them to provide themselves with rice. The Ainu also bought iron from their neighbors.

However, their peaceful life was destined to end in the XIV-XV centuries, when the Japanese began to expand their spheres of influence. Gradually, they began to populate the Oshima Peninsula, located in the southwest of Hokkaido, which was aggressively perceived by the Ainu. The tension in relations between the peoples grew into a war, which ended in 1475 with the death of the leader of the Ainu. Japanese warriors did not seize the possessions of the vanquished, but received privileged rights to trade with the indigenous inhabitants of the island.

During the heyday of the Matsumae principality, whose main territories were located on the island of Oshima, Hokkaido became part of the possessions of local rulers. From that moment on, the long-term struggle between the Japanese, who claimed their rights to the territories, and the indigenous inhabitants of the lands flared up with renewed vigor on the island. Ainu uprisings took place until the second half of the 18th century, but they did not bring any results: in the face of a possible Russian attack from the west, the Japanese confidently held a strategically important island.

During the year (1868/1869), when Japan was engulfed in the Boshin War (a conflict between supporters of the feudal government led by the Tokugawa dynasty and representatives of the movement in support of the imperial power), the independent Republic of Ezo existed on the island of Hokkaido. It was proclaimed after the military defeat of the Tokugawa forces: thousands of military men moved to Hokkaido, who, as a result of the first elections in Japanese history, elected the head of the new republic, Admiral Enomoto Takeaki.

However, the emperor did not tolerate arbitrariness in his territories for long, and on March 20, 1869, a navy was sent to the shores of the island. The battle that followed soon was resolved not in favor of the fleeing warriors: the Ezo Republic was abolished, and its president was sentenced to serving a prison term.

In 1882, Hokkaido was divided into three prefectures: Hakodate, Sapporo, and Nemuro. Four years later, the island was merged into one prefecture, which by 1947 was equal to other Japanese prefectures.

The last years of the Second World War became a difficult test for Hokkaido. In 1945, its territories were bombed, as a result of which more than seventy cities and villages were badly damaged.

Hokkaido is located much to the north of the rest of Japan, which causes sharp differences in climatic conditions. This is especially noticeable during a cold and snowy winter: in the north of the island, water transport stops due to strong winds and the danger of floating ice in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

GOLDEN MEAN

The inhabitants of Hokkaido manage to harmoniously combine the development of industry and agriculture with the work of preserving the nature of the island.

Hokkaido is located in the north of Japan, and its shores overlook the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, as well as the Pacific Ocean. On the Nemuro Peninsula - the Hokkaido region - there is the easternmost point of Japan, Cape Nosappu-Saki. In terms of area, the island ranks 21st in the world, and in terms of population - 20th (however, in recent years, Hokkaido has faced serious problems of depopulation).

Approximately half of the island's territory is occupied by mountain ranges that stretch along the central axis of Hokkaido from north to south, while coastal lands are predominantly plains.

Huge spaces (more than 70%) on the island of Hokkaido are occupied by forests. Many forested areas are under state protection: there are six national parks, five quasi-national parks, and twelve prefectural natural parks. Their total area is approximately 10% of the area of ​​Hokkaido.

The climate in Hokkaido is humid continental and has slightly cooler temperatures throughout the year than other parts of Japan. Winters here are long, cold and snowy, but in summer the island does not experience the usual heat for Japanese lands, and therefore, in the summer, the popularity of Hokkaido cities among Japanese tourists from other prefectures increases. True, according to rough estimates, there are only about seventeen sunny days a year in Hokkaido, while there are about 272 snowy and rainy days a year.

However, special weather conditions do not prevent the inhabitants of Hokkaido from engaging in agriculture, moreover, quite successfully. Soybeans, potatoes, carrots, onions and cereals are grown on the lands of the island. The traditional crop for Japanese plantations - rice - is practically not cultivated here.

In general, the island of Hokkaido plays an important role in the Japanese economy. Along with agriculture, a developed industry has been built on the island. Iron ore and coal are mined here, equipment is produced (including for nuclear power plants). Traditionally, the coastal cities of the prefecture also serve as a source of fresh fish (especially salmon) and seafood for neighboring lands. Despite the large number of jobs offered in industrial companies, most locals work in the service sector (this sector makes up about three-quarters of Hokkaido's GDP). Import volumes here significantly exceed export volumes.

From a legal point of view, the island of Hokkaido is part of the territories of the prefecture of the same name. It also includes the small islands of Rishiri, Okusuri and Rebun. In addition, according to the Japanese authorities, the prefecture also includes some islands of the Kuril Islands group.

The largest city of the island is Sapporo, located in the west of Hokkaido and is the administrative center of the prefecture of the same name. It is also the fifth largest city in all of Japan. Numerous industrial enterprises are concentrated here, including those specializing in the field of high technologies, the food industry, and paper production. Sapporo is also a popular resort. There are many hot springs on the island, which contributes to the development of tourism.

CURIOUS FACTS

■ Since 1859, a mission of the Russian Orthodox Church has been operating in Sapporo, with the help of which one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Japan, the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, was erected. Since 1983, it has been listed as a cultural heritage of Japan.

■ In addition to earthquakes, Hokkaido is also threatened by volcanic eruptions: there are five active volcanoes on the island.

■ Hokkaido is roughly the size of Austria.

■ Sapporo is famous for the annual Snow Festival. It was first held in 1950, and then it was a small exhibition of snow figures created by amateurs. However, the scale grew over time, and now the festival is held simultaneously on three sites, professional sculptors and beginners take part in it on an equal footing.

■ There are many hot springs in Hokkaido. The most interesting of them is Jigokudani, or Hell Valley. The area received such an ominous name because of the numerous geysers periodically soaring above the ground. Great lovers of swimming in the geothermal waters of local sources are Japanese macaques. Here they can often be found in winter.

■ The Ainu, who once made up the main population of the island of Hokkaido, formerly also lived in the territories of Russia, in particular in the south of Kamchatka, on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. A distinctive feature of the Ainu is their European appearance. Today, about thirty thousand descendants of the Ainu live in Japan, but over many centuries they managed to assimilate with the Japanese.

ATTRACTIONS

■ Sapporo: The Sapporo Clock Tower is one of the few remaining buildings in Hokkaido from the late 19th century. in the American colonial style; Odori Boulevard - one of the central streets of the city; Botanical Garden - he retained part of the forest that grew on the site of Sapporo; television tower (147 m) Sapporo; Nakajima park; Mount Moiwa - 8 km from Sapporo; Beer Museum (former sugar factory);
■ Hakodate: Five-bastion fortress (1864); Church of the Resurrection of the Lord; Koryuji Monastery; Higashi-Honganji Monastery, Momomachi Catholic Church;
■ National parks: Akan, Shiretoko, Kushiro-Shitsugen, Taiseiuzan, Shikotsu-Toya, Rishiri-Rebun;
■ Quasi-national parks: Onuma, Abashiri, Hidaka;
■ Akkeshi Prefectural Nature Park.

Atlas. The whole world is in your hands #92

Over an area of ​​83,400 sq. km, it is the second in the state. Its population is about 5.5 million inhabitants. The Japanese island of Hokkaido is the northernmost of the state's four largest islands. It is separated from Honshu by the Sangar Strait.

The whole territory is divided into 14 districts. Under the control of Hokkaido there are several adjacent islands, for example, Rishiri, Rebun and others. There are nine main cities on the island: Sapporo, Hakodate, Kushiro, Asahikawa, Ebetsu, Otaru, Tomakomai, Obihiro and Kitami. Sapporo is the administrative center, it is home to about 30% of the population of Hokkaido. There are 39 colleges and 37 universities on the island.

Hokkaido is a popular destination for tourists. Most often, it is reached by ferry or plane; it is connected with other islands of the state only by a railway tunnel that leads directly to the island of Honshu. The tunnel called "Seikan" is located at a depth of 240 meters.

History of Hokkaido

The first settlements arose 20 thousand years ago in Hokkaido. The islands of the central part of Japan are significantly different from the northern ones, where it is located. For a long time, the life and traditions of one culture were continued in others. Such continuity was observed in the Satsumon culture, which was a transformed post-Jōmon. It is Jomon that is considered the first culture that arose in Hokkaido. On the basis of Satsumon, the Ainu culture arose in the 13th century, which still exists today.

In the Middle Ages, the Japanese arrived on the island. Warring with the Ainu, they occupy the southern part of the territory. In the 17th century, the Japanese create a feudal principality, which establishes control over the entire island, without subjugating the Ainu to the end.

In the 19th century, the Hokkaido Administration was created, which performs the functions of a state body. The island is undergoing significant work to improve infrastructure. Railways and ports are being built, and a transport system between Hokkaido and Honshu is being established. There are steel, sawmills, paper mills, agriculture is developing. Since then, industry has been one of the important industries on the island.

Geography of Hokkaido

The islands of Japan are mostly of volcanic origin, Hokkaido is no exception. The territory of the island is formed by ophiolites and sedimentary-volcanic rocks. From the northern coast is the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The island is also washed by the Sea of ​​Japan and the waters of the Pacific Ocean. In the south, Hokkaido is represented by the Oshima Peninsula. On this island there are two extreme points of the country at once: in the north it is Cape Soya, and in the east - Nosappu-Saki.

The terrain is mountainous and flat at the same time. Volcanoes and mountains stretch through the entire central part. The island is affected by seismic activity, and some volcanoes are considered active (Koma, Usu, Tokachi, Tarume, Mezakan). Asahi is the highest peak. This mountain on the island of Hokkaido reaches 2290 meters in height. The plains are located closer to the coasts.

Climate

Due to its length from north to south, the climatic conditions of Japan differ in different parts of the country. Cold temperatures are different in Hokkaido. The islands in the southwestern part, on the contrary, have warm conditions, as a subtropical climate has formed here.

Winters in Hokkaido are colder than in other regions of Japan, with snow on the island up to 120 days per season. On the mountain ranges closer to the northern part of the island, snowdrifts can reach 11 meters, and almost two meters near the Pacific coast. In January, the average temperature is from -12 to -4 degrees. Throughout the winter, many drifting ice floes are observed from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

Summers are usually cool too. The average August temperature is from 17 to 22 degrees. In summer, the number of rainy days averages up to 150, although this figure is much higher on other islands.

Animal and plant world

The nature of Hokkaido is the main reason why tourists visit it. Despite the large number of industrial enterprises, the government managed to preserve natural resources. Approximately 70% is occupied by forests. Coniferous trees grow in the northern part, they are represented by spruces, cedars, and firs. Broad-leaved trees grow in the southern part. Bamboo is also widespread in Hokkaido.

The animal world is quite diverse. It is home to the largest population of brown bears in Asia. Stoats, sables, foxes live on the island. Local lakes are full of fish, and in spring many birds fly here. One of the local residents is a flying squirrel called "ezo momonga", which can only be found in Hokkaido.

Attractions

The main attractions of the island, of course, are natural objects. Hokkaido has about 20 national, quasi-national parks and reserves. The island has a huge number of lakes, hot springs and picturesque mountains.

In the city of Kushiro there is a natural park of Japanese cranes, which are under special protection of the state. Akan National Park, which is located on the shores of the lake of the same name, is famous for its hot springs.

At the Tomita farm in Furano, you can observe stunning beauties. Hectares of the territory are planted with various varieties of lavender. From June to July, the fields are decorated with lilac, white and other flowers. Sunflowers, poppies, and daffodils grow here.

One of the most popular places on the island is Blue Lake. Gray trunks of withered trees peep out of the bright blue water, creating a truly bewitching sight.

Resorts and festivals

Thanks to snowy winters and mountains, ski resorts open in Hokkaido in November. They operate in the city of Furano, Niseki, Biei. In addition, interesting festivals are organized on the island. In the main city of Hokkaido, the Snow Festival opens every year. At this time, huge snowdrifts become a real material for creativity. About two million people from all over the world come to compete in the ability to create sculptures from ice and snow. Another winter festival is organized in the city of Mombetsu, it is called the “Drifting Ice Festival”.

On the Furano farm we already know, the Lavender Festival opens every summer. This action is dedicated, of course, to the flowering of this plant. In total, more than a thousand different festivals and celebrations take place on the island. One of them, by the way, is very reminiscent of European harvest festivals, only everything happens near the seashores, and instead of gratitude for the fruit harvest, the locals thank nature for the generous catch.

Conclusion

Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku are the largest Japanese islands. Hokkaido is the second largest island. It is located in the northern part of the country, due to which its climate is colder and harsher than in the rest of Japan. Despite this, the island has a unique nature, which millions of people from different parts of our planet come to see.

For a long time I had such a dream, to visit all four main islands of Japan. And the last was the northern island, Hokkaido. For various reasons, I still could not get there. But now it has finally happened, and here I am going to Hokkaido, to its capital, the city of Sapporo. It's eight hours from Tokyo by train!

Once in Hokkaido, I realized that everything here is not quite the same as in central Japan, which is more familiar to me. Huge uninhabited expanses, mountain landscapes and cold weather - that's what you can expect on this northern island.

1. Brand new Hokkaido Shinkansen go to Hokkaido - they,. And these are green!

2. In these trains, in addition to the usual "green" cars (this is something like a business class), there is also the so-called Grand class, according to the hierarchy, it's more like the first on airplanes. True, in terms of comfort level, it is more like an ordinary one. I can't even imagine how much this ticket costs. An ordinary "economy" from Tokyo to Sapporo costs $240 each way! It's good that JR-Pass covers these trips.

3. The Japanese are constantly developing their network of super-expresses, stretching it throughout the country. So Hokkaido Shinkansen is a new thing. It was only launched in March 2016.

4. Just recently celebrated its first anniversary.

5. Also, Hokkaido Shinkansen doesn't just walk By Hokkaido how much on him. The first station on the island is the terminal for these express trains. To get from one island to another, the Shinkansen passes through a 54-kilometer tunnel under the Tsugaru Strait. The rails are located at a depth of 100 meters under the seabed!

6. We took this Shinkansen to a town called Hokadate and decided to look around a bit before moving on to Sapporo.

7. Here, the appearance of the Shinkansen is very welcome, these green express trains are found everywhere. It seems they will even replace the previous symbol of the city - squids. Throughout Japan, building barriers are held up by funny little animals, and here they use Shinkansen for this purpose!

8. The station square is just a huge parking lot.

9. Hakodate is a coastal, port city, and in the mornings there is a seafood market.

10. Crabs, squids, sea urchins, and other incomprehensible seafood are on sale. All this was still running yesterday.

11. Max bought an octopus on a stick. He says it was delicious.

12. View of the bay. Once the Americans forced the Japanese government to open trade with them. The Japanese thought and thought, and chose Hakodate as a place where American ships would be allowed to enter. At that time, the Dutch had already won the right to trade in the south, in Nagasaki. The authorities did not want foreigners to appear in the more central parts of Japan, and specifically chose ports far from Tokyo and Kyoto for such trade in order to reduce outside influence.

13. Pointers to sights are built into the sidewalk. Here you have a railway station, and old brick warehouses.

14. These warehouses were built to trade with foreigners, they are somewhat reminiscent of the port buildings in New York's Red Hook.

15. Today, there are shops and cafes here, this is one of the places that tourists are offered to see in Hakodate.

16. View from these warehouses to the bay. Mountains looming in the distance. There is a very strong wind in Hakodate, and the temperature is almost zero now, in mid-April. So it's not pleasant to be outside for a long time.

17. Let's go inside, to the warehouses. In one of the shops I came across nesting dolls! The Russian trace is evident. Look, there is even a Cheburashka with Gena!

18. Behind the counter next door there are a lot of eared ones from my childhood. Good to see that! True, it comes across somehow further from the center.

19. And here, next to the warehouses, is a real log hut. What is this? How did she get here? It is not clear that it was closed inside.

20. Old wooden houses have been preserved in Hakodate. There are probably temples in the city, but we didn’t come across, this is not Kyoto for you.

21. In general, this is a fairly standard Japanese town. There is a hatch design here (I'll show you later), but on the streets,.

22. And there are plenty of people in Hokadata who receive various benefits in exchange for small dimensions.

23. But most importantly, there is a tram in the city! I even felt embarrassed. , and here, even in such a hole - here you are. Again it became a shame for New York, where all the trams in the 20th century were cut out.

24. A strange inscription in English in the cockpit: "The driver has a pen and a notebook for communication." Is this what he has to write on the go? ..

25. Okay, we walked around Hakodate, and it's time to move on to Sapporo. We still have about three hours to go by this train. It is diesel, which is rare in central Japan, but here in Hokkaido the tracks have not yet been fully electrified. According to the plans of Hokkaido Shinkansen, it will reach Sapporo only by 2031!

26. Our neighbours. They turned two chairs facing each other, making a small compartment for themselves.

27. Landscape outside the window. In Tokyo and, and here in the north of the country there is still snow.

28. In some places there are huge snowdrifts!

29. And in the distance - beautiful snow-capped mountains. There are many mountains in Hokkaido, as in the rest of Japan.

30. Closer to the coast, the snow had melted. We pass endless fields, with greenhouses. I wonder what they grow here.

31. Solar storage panels. Compared to other parts of Japan, Hokkaido is spacious and you can collect electricity.

32. Birches outside the window! Nesting dolls, Cheburashka, hut, and now also birches! Hokkaido clearly loves everything Russian!

33. For most of the journey, the train runs along the seashore. When a shinkansen is built here, it will cut the distance with the help of tunnels - up to 75% of the way will be underground. And yet it's beautiful.

34. True, we chose the wrong side of the car, our neighbors were more fortunate. For the future, we will know that from Hokadate to Sapporo you need to sit on the right. Back - left.

35. Clouds and mountains. Soon sunset.

36. Well, beauty!

37. Sometimes we pass small towns. In Hokkaido, houses in such settlements are simpler than