(from Hokkaido government official website)

Since January, my new job was set down , I kept following up the situation of  COVID-19 in Hokkaido. The government announce the infected location in Subprefectural Bureau. In this way, I noticed that the  administrative division is a little different from other places in Japan. In this article I organize some Geographical information about Hokkaido, maybe it can help you for your next trip.

◆How may times is Hokkaido bigger than Taiwan？
◆Northern Hokkaido(Douhoku)？Eastern Hokkaido(Doutou)？Where is it?
◆What tour spots are there in different areas？


◆How may times is Hokkaido bigger than Taiwan？

Hokkaido：83,450 km² v.s Taiwan：36,190 km²
It's about 2.306 times bigger than Taiwan！The TV show in Japan interviewed people in other places, they thought that it will take two or three hours to go to Asahikawa from Hakodate. Let's see how google map say:

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Wake up guys！More than 5 hours！We can see that not every Japanese know much about Hokkaido too. That's why I chat with my co-workers in Hokkaido, They thing driving for two or three hours is often.(In Taiwan, for more than two hours people think is too far)This is why you can't find tour group to take you travel around Hokkaido, because it's too big!  



◆Northern Hokkaido(Douhoku)？Eastern Hokkaido(Doutou)？Where is it?

14 Subprefectures

knowing the Subprefectures of Hokkaido it can help you to buy the travel ticket, for example, now I live in 上川(Kamikawa)  in Northern Hokkaido .  If I recognized other Subprefectures in Northern Hokkaido, I can  use the area bus card in a discount to travel there. When traveling, using those knowledge can help you to save more money and also integrate with the local living.



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・道央(Douou) Central Hokkaido石狩・空知・胆振・日高・後志
・「道南」(Dounan) Southern Hokkaido渡島・檜山
・「道北」(Douhoku) Northern Hokkaido上川・留萌・宗谷
・「道東」(Doutou) Eastern Hokkaido網走・十勝・釧路・根室



◆What tour spots are there in different areas？


・道央(Douou) Central Hokkaido

石狩(Ishikari )
Include Sapporo、New Chitose Airport、Lake Shikotsu
(Ice Festival leaflet，The picture is from Sapporo Tourism Bureau)

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空知(Iwamizawa) 
Include Yubari where is famous of it's melon!And the biggest sunflower field in Japan -Hokuryu sunflower field(press me to the official website)！
(The picture is from Hokuryu sunflower field official website)

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胆振(Iburi) 
Include Lake Toya、Showa-Shinzan、Usuzan ropeway(press me to the official website)、Bear Park。It also has Murolan Ramen、Noboribetsu Onsen and Tomakoma where has a lot of ferries to go to other cities in Japan. 
(The picture is from Usuzan ropeway official website)

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日高(Hidaka)
 It's famous of the horse industry for Travel Pamphlet(please press me)。The picture down is Lake Toyoni, the lake in a heart shape,also others think that it looks like a horse hoof.
(The picture is from Lake Toyoni official website)

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後志(Shiribeshi) 
Include Otaru、Yoichi、Yoteizan、Shakotan peninsula and Niseko
(The picture is from Shakotan peninsula Tourism Bureau)

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・「道南」(Dounan) Southern Hokkaido

渡島(Oshima) 
The southernmost area of Hokkaido，includes Goryokaku、Hakodate
(The picture is from  Goryokaku tower official website)

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檜山(Hiyama) 
tourism bureau website(press me)，the picture is Inouzan
(The picture is from Hiyama Tourism Bureau)

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・「道北」(Douhoku) Northern Hokkaido

上川(Kamikawa) 
Where I live now, this area includes Asahidaka, the tallest mountain in Hokkaido、there also have Sounkyo、Snow Crystals Museum、Furano、Biei and Asahiyama zoo，too many places！
(The picture is from Asahidake ropeway official website，here has the earliest red maple in Japan, in about September.)

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留萌(Rumoi) 
This area looks like eastern Taiwan, it's famous of the coastline. The picture is Ogonmisaki.
(The picture is from Rumoi Tourism Bureau)

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宗谷(Soya) 
The northernmost area of Japan，includes Rebunto、Rishirito、Wakkanai
(The picture is from Rebunto Tourism Bureau)

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・「道東」(Doutou) Eastern Hokkaido

オホーツク(Okhotsk)：
Includes Abashiri、Shiretokogoko、Lake Notoro also you can see floating ice here.
(The picture is from Abashiri Tourism Bureau)

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十勝(Tokachi)  
The famous souvenir of Hokkaido ROKKATEI it's headquarters is here. Rokkanomori、Lake Shikaribetsu、Obihiro and TOMARU resort.
(The picture is from ROKKATEI official website)

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釧路(Kushiro) 
Include Lake Akam and be known for the Marimo(Japanese moss ball)and the Red-crowned crane
(The picture is from  Lake Akam  official website)

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根室(Nemuro) 
The easternmost area of Japan，also Nemuro be known as the earliest sunrise city and the latest sakura blooming city. The picture is the easternmost spot of Japan, Nosappumisaki.
(The picture is from Nemuro Tourism Bureau)

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In different areas it has different culture,weather and scenery. Next time when you plan to travel Hokkaido, let's give it a try to explore the known places!