Hokkaido is one of Japan’s 4 main islands and is located northern most part of Japan and when translated, Hokkaido literally means “Road of the North Sea”. The island is a very popular destination for tourists on vacation holiday in Japan because of its natural beauty, especially during winter.
The island of Hokkaido is actually a huge land mass and is about twenty three percent of Japan’s entire land mass. Even if you visit Hokkaido in summer, the weather can be very pleasant because of its low humidity.
Before the mainstream Japanese considered the island as suitable for human habitation after the Meiji Restoration, the island was home only to a few exile samurais and the native Ainu people who are the aboriginal tribesmen. The Ainu people are the last of Japan’s indigenous people most of whom are still dwelling in Hokkaido.
In the past, the island’s inhabitants are very concerned about their survival and thought that the island is spooked with the restless spirits of Ainu gods who often belch fire from the mountains (volcanic eruptions) and trampled the earth in anger (earthquakes).
There are many natural...