Welcome to Hokkaido - the head of a mighty dragon. It is said that Japan is
shaped like a dragon - Hokkaido forming it's head, Honshu it's body and
Kyushu and the line of islands around Okinawa being the tail.

Hokkaido is the homeland of Japan's indigenous Ainu peoples and famous for
its lush scenic beauty and fresh seafood. The capital, Sapporo, is the fifth
largest city in Japan and the venue for many festivals and events
throughout the year. Although Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island, it
has only 5% of the population and therefore has an abundance of untamed
wilderness, changing dramatically throughout the four seasons. In winter,
Hokkaido becomes quite the winter wonderland, a powder paradise. Bears
and furry creatures hibernate deep beneath the snow, seas freeze over in
the north, and the Sapporo Snow Festival and powdered snow resorts
attract many a visitor from afar. This is a great time to relax in one of
Hokkaido's mineral hot springs - many of which are outdoors, set amongst
the scenery and snow. Spring is cherry blossom season and brings a burst of
lush greenery including an array of wild mountain vegetables. Summertime
encourages adventures of outdoor sports among the National Parks, and a
chance to explore the many volcanic mountains, dramatic gorges and
pristine lakes. Finally Autumn arrives - perhaps the most beautiful time - as
the air cools down, whole mountain ranges become on fire with the colours
of autumn leaves.

The history of Hokkaido is interwoven with the culture of the indigenous
Ainu people. There are some good cultural museums, Ainu festivals,
exhibitions and workshops which allow an insight into the crafts and
traditions of the Ainu culture.

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