Hokkaido

Northernmost and second-largest of the four main islands of Japan, separated from Honshu to the south by Tsugaru Strait (20 km/12 mi wide), and from Sakhalin (Russia) to the north by Soya Strait; area 83,500 sq km/32,239 sq mi; population (2000 est) 5,683,000 (including 16,000 Ainus). The capital is Sapporo; other major cities are Hakodate, Asahikawa, Otaru, and Muroran. The main industries are coal, mercury, manganese, oil, natural gas, and tourism; agriculture centres on rice cultivation, dairying, forestry, and fishing.

Hokkaido was little developed until the Meiji Restoration in 1868 when disbanded samurai were settled here. Following World War II there was intensive industrial and agricultural development on the island.

Features The island is snow-covered for half the year and has unspoiled dramatic scenery of active volcanoes, forests, and a large lake. There are five national parks. At Tomakomai there is an artificial harbour. The undersea rail tunnel, the Seikan Tunnel, linking the old port of Hakodate with Aomori on Honshu opened in 1988.