Editing Hokkaido

{{Short description|Island, prefecture, and region of Japan}}
{{About|the island, prefecture, and region of Japan}}
{{Redirect|Mosir|the entity dedicated to promoting physical culture named "Mosir"|Sports and Recreation Center (Poland)}}

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Info box settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Hokkaido
| native_name        = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|{{lang|ja|北海道}}}}}}<br />''{{lang|ain| アイヌ モシㇼ / Ainu Mosir}}''
| settlement_type    = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]] and [[list of regions of Japan|region]]
| translit_lang1     = Japanese
| translit_lang1_type = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| translit_lang1_info = {{lang|ja|{{lang|ja|北海道}}}}
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ja-Latn|Hokkaidō}}
| image_skyline      = Satellite image of Hokkaido, Japan in May 2001.jpg
| image_caption      = Satellite image of Hokkaido by ''[[Terra (satellite)|Terra]]'', May 2001
| image_flag         = Flag of Hokkaido Prefecture.svg
| flag_size          = 100px
| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Hokkaido Prefecture.svg
| blank_emblem_size  = 80px
| blank_emblem_type  = Symbol
| image_map          = Map of Japan with highlight on 02edit Hokkaido prefecture.svg
| coordinates        = {{Coord|43|N|142|E|scale:2500000_region:JP-01|display=title,inline}}
<!-- Geographic center (center of gravity): 142°49′26"43°28′11"
http://www.gsi.go.jp/KOKUJYOHO/CENTER/kitaheso.htm
Hokkaido Government Office: 141°20′49"43°03′51"
http://www.gsi.go.jp/KOKUJYOHO/CENTER/kitaheso.htm  -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[List of islands of Japan|Island]]
| subdivision_name1  = Hokkaido
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = Hokkaido
| seat_type          = [[List of capitals in Japan|Capital]]
| seat               = [[Sapporo]]
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = Sapporo
| parts_type         = Subdivisions
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = [[Districts of Japan|Districts]]: 74
| p2                 = [[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]: 179
| leader_title       = [[List of governors of Hokkaido Prefecture|Governor]]
| leader_name        = [[Naomichi Suzuki]]
| area_total_km2     = 83,423.84
| area_water_percent = 6.4
| area_rank          = [[List of Japanese prefectures by area|1st]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 5,111,691
| population_as_of   = July 31, 2023
| population_rank    = [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|8th]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = [[Japanese yen|JPY]] 20,465 billion<br />[[United States dollar|USD]] 187.7 billion (2019)
| iso_code           = JP-01
| website            = {{URL|http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/}}
| module             = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| country  = Hokkaido
| bird     = ''Tanchō'' ([[red-crowned crane]], ''Grus&nbsp;japonensis'')
| fish     = 
| flower   = ''Hamanasu'' ([[rugosa rose]], ''Rosa&nbsp;rugosa'')
| tree     = ''Ezomatsu'' ([[Jezo spruce]], ''Picea&nbsp;jezoensis'')
| mascot   = Kyun-chan (キュンちゃん)
 }}
| anthem             = [[:ja:光あふれて|Hikari afurete]],  [[:ja:むかしのむかし|Mukashi no mukashi]] and [[:ja:北海ばやし|Hokkai bayashi]]
}}

{{Nihongo|lead=yes|'''Hokkaido'''|北海道|Hokkaidō|{{IPA|ja|hok.kaꜜi.doː|pron|Ja-hokkaido.ogg}}, {{lit|Northern Sea [[Circuit (administrative division)|Circuit]]}}; {{langx|ain|Ainu Mosir}}, {{lit|Land of the Ainu}}}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_4bN3cJSx0gC|title=An itinerary of Hokkaido, Japan, Volume 1|year=1893|first=John|last=Batchelor|author2=Japanese Central Association|publisher=Hakodate Chamber of Commerce|location= Tokyo}}</ref> is the [[list of islands of Japan by area|second-largest island]] of [[Japan]] and comprises the largest and northernmost [[prefectures of Japan|prefecture]], making up its own [[list of regions of Japan|region]].<ref name="main-islands-japan">{{cite web |title=離島とは(島の基礎知識) (what is a remote island?) |publisher=[[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism]] |url=http://www.mlit.go.jp/crd/chirit/ritoutoha.html |website= MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) |date=22 August 2015 |access-date= 9 August 2019 |language=ja |format=website  |quote=MILT classification 6,852 islands (main islands: 5 islands, remote islands: 6,847 islands)  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113053915/http://www.mlit.go.jp/crd/chirit/ritoutoha.html |archive-date=2007-11-13}}</ref> The [[Tsugaru Strait]] separates Hokkaidō from [[Honshu]]; the two islands are connected by railway via the [[Seikan Tunnel]].

The largest city on Hokkaido is its capital, [[Sapporo]], which is also its only [[cities designated by government ordinance of Japan|ordinance-designated city]]. [[Sakhalin]] lies about {{convert|43|km}} to the north of Hokkaidō, and to the east and northeast are the [[Kuril Islands]], which are administered by [[Russia]], though the four most southerly are [[Kuril Islands dispute|claimed by Japan]]. The position of the island on the northern end of the archipelago results in a colder climate, with the island seeing significant snowfall each winter. Despite the harsher climate, it serves as an agricultural [[breadbasket]] for many crops.

Hokkaido was formerly known as ''[[Ezo]]'', ''Yezo'', ''Yeso'', or ''Yesso''.<ref name="nussbaum343">[[Louis Frédéric|Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric]]. (2005). "Hokkaidō" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 343|page=343}}</ref> Although Japanese settlers ruled the southern tip of the island since the 16th century, Hokkaido was primarily inhabited by the [[Ainu people]].<ref name="oxfordre.com">{{Cite book| url=https://oxfordre.com/asianhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277727-e-76 | doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.013.76 | chapter=Japanese Empire in Hokkaido | title=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History | year=2017 | last1=Seaton | first1=Philip | isbn=978-0-19-027772-7 }}</ref> In 1869, following the [[Meiji Restoration]], the entire island was [[annexed]], [[settler colonialism|colonized]] and renamed Hokkaido by Japan.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dominant Narratives of Colonial Hokkaido and Imperial Japan: Envisioning the Periphery and the Modern Nation-State|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan| pages=7–9 |year=2012|last1=Mason | first1=Michele | isbn=978-1-349-45025-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://manifold.uhpress.hawaii.edu/read/migrant-ecologies/section/b03b25af-b873-47e5-9417-dce686ed0a37 | title=University of Hawai'i Press - Manifold }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first=John|last=Hennessey|title=Engineering Japanese Settler Colonialism in Hokkaido: A Postcolonial Reevaluation of William Wheeler's Work for the Kaitakushi|url=https://lucris.lub.lu.se/ws/portalfiles/portal/99779409/AIF_ISSUE6_Final_Hennessey.pdf|journal=Asia in Focus|volume=6|issue=6|pages=3|date=2018}}</ref><ref name="apjjf.org">{{cite journal | url=https://apjjf.org/2020/20/Jolliffe.html | title=Forced Labour in Imperial Japan's First Colony: Hokkaidō |last=Jolliffe |first=Pia M. |journal=The Asia–Pacific Journal |date=15 October 2020 |volume=18 |issue=20 }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=https://www.visit-hokkaido.jp/en/feature/ogawamotoi | title=How the Sharing of Ainu Culture Became One Man's Lifework｜Features｜HOKKAIDO LOVE! -Hokkaido Official Tourism Site | date=15 July 2023 }}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web |url=https://www.hm.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/wp-content/themes/hokkaidomuseum/images/forign_pdf/ENG-2-4.pdf |title=Recent History of the Ainu |series=The Culture and Recent History of the Ainu |publisher=Hokkaido Museum |access-date=22 January 2025 |archive-date=14 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814201002/https://www.hm.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/wp-content/themes/hokkaidomuseum/images/forign_pdf/ENG-2-4.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Japanese settlers dispossessed the Ainu of their land and [[Forced assimilation|forced them to assimilate]].<ref name="oxfordre.com"/><ref name="apjjf.org"/> In the 21st century, the Ainu are almost totally assimilated into Japanese society; as a result, the majority of Japanese people of Ainu descent have no knowledge of their heritage and culture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200519-japans-forgotten-indigenous-people |title=Japan's forgotten indigenous people |last=Cobb |first=Ellie |work=BBC Travel |date=20 May 2020 |access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Honna |first1=Nobuyuki |url=https://archive.org/details/languagepolicies0000unse |title=Language Policies and Language Education: The Impact in East Asian Countries in the Next Decade |last2=Tajima |first2=Hiroko Tina |last3=Minamoto |first3=Kunihiko |publisher=Times Academic Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-9-81210-149-5 |editor-last1=Kam |editor-first1=Ho Wah |location=Singapore |chapter=Japan |editor-last2=Wong |editor-first2=Ruth Y. L. |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Hohmann |first=S. |date=2008 |title=The Ainu's modern struggle |journal=World Watch |volume=21 |number=6 |pages=20–24}}</ref>

==Names==
[[File:Former government office, Hokkaido.JPG|thumb|[[Former Hokkaidō Government Office]] in [[Chūō-ku, Sapporo]]]]
When establishing the [[Hokkaidō Development Commission|Development Commission]], the Meiji government decided to change the name of Ezochi. [[Matsuura Takeshirō]] submitted six proposals, including names such as {{Nihongo3||海北道|Kaihokudō}} and {{Nihongo3||北加伊道|Hokkaidō}}, to the government. The government eventually decided to use the name Hokkaidō, but decided to write it as {{nihongo2|北海道}}, as a compromise between {{nihongo2|海北道}} and {{nihongo2|北加伊道}} because of the similarity with names such as {{Nihongo|[[Tōkaidō (region)|Tōkaidō]]|東海道}}. According to Matsuura, the name was thought up because the Ainu called the region ''Kai''. The ''kai'' element also strongly resembles the [[Kanji homograph|On'yomi]], or [[Sino-Japanese vocabulary|Sino-Japanese]], reading of the characters {{nihongo2|蝦夷}} (''on'yomi'' as [{{IPA|ka.i}}, カイ], ''[[kun'yomi]]'' as [{{IPA|e.mi.ɕi}}, えみし]) which have been used for over a thousand years in China and Japan as the standard orthographic form to be used when referring to Ainu and related peoples; it is possible that Matsuura's ''kai'' was actually an alteration, influenced by the Sino-Japanese reading of {{nihongo2|蝦夷}} ''Ka-i'', of the [[Nivkh languages|Nivkh]] [[Endonym and exonym|exonym]] for the Ainu, namely ''Qoy'' or {{IPA|niv|kʰuɣɪ}}.<ref>"Chapter 3: Nivkh as an Aspiration Language," p. 53 [http://dissertations.ub.rug.nl/FILES/faculties/arts/2006/h.shiraishi/03_c3.pdf RUG.nl] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928112148/http://dissertations.ub.rug.nl/FILES/faculties/arts/2006/h.shiraishi/03_c3.pdf |date=2011-09-28 }}</ref>

In 1947, Hokkaidō became a full-fledged prefecture. The historical suffix [[Circuit (administrative division)|道 (''-dō'')]] translates to "prefecture" in English, ambiguously the same as [[Fu (administrative division)|府 (''-fu'')]] for [[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]] and [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]], and 県 (''-ken'') for the rest of the "prefectures". ''Dō'', as shorthand, can be used to uniquely identify Hokkaido, for example as in 道道 (''dōdō'', "Hokkaido road")<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%81%93%E9%81%93-638548 |title=道道 |publisher=kotobank.com |access-date=2022-01-12 |archive-date=2021-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803082810/https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%81%93%E9%81%93-638548 |url-status=live }}</ref> or 道議会 (''Dōgikai'', "[[Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly|Hokkaido Assembly]]"),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%81%93%E8%AD%B0%E4%BC%9A-579846 |title=道議会 |publisher=kotobank.com |access-date=2024-09-01  }}</ref> the same way 都 (''-to'') is used for [[Tokyo]]. The prefecture's government calls itself the "Hokkaidō Government" rather than the "Hokkaidō Prefectural Government".

With the rise of indigenous rights movements, there emerged a notion that Hokkaido should have an [[Ainu language]] name. If a decision to change the name is made, however, whichever Ainu phrase is chosen, its original referent is critically different from the large geographical entity. The phrase ''{{lang|ain|aynumosir}}'' ({{lang|ain|アイヌモシㇼ}}) has been a preferred choice among Japanese activists.<ref name="kojima2009">{{cite book
 |author=Kojima Kyōko 児島恭子
 |title=Emishi Eo kara Ainu e |script-title=ja:エミシ・エゾからアイヌへ
 |publisher=Yoshikawa Kobunkan
 |language=ja
 |year=2009
}}</ref> Its primary meaning is the "land of humans", as opposed to the "land of gods" (''{{lang|ain|kamuymosir}}''). When contrasted with ''{{lang|ain|sisammosir}}'' (the land of the neighbors, often pointing to [[Honshu]] or Japanese settlements on the southern tip of Hokkaido), it means the land of the Ainu people, which, depending on context, can refer to Hokkaido,<ref name="kayano1996">{{cite book
 |author=Kayano Shigeru 萱野茂
 |title=Kayano Shigeru no Ainu-go jiten |script-title=ja:萱野茂のアイヌ語辞典.
 |language=ja
 |year=1996
}}</ref> although from a modern ethnolinguistic point of view, the Ainu people have extended their domain to a large part of Sakhalin and the entire Kuril Islands. Another phrase, ''{{lang|ain|yaunmosir}}'' (ヤウンモシㇼ), has gained prominence. It literally means the "onshore land", as opposed to the "offshore land" ({{lang|ain|repunmosir}}), which, depending on context, can refer to the Kuril Islands, Honshu, or any foreign country. If the speaker is a resident of Hokkaido, ''{{lang|ain|yaunmosir}}'' can refer to Hokkaido.<ref name="tamura1996">{{cite book
 |author=Tamura Suzuko 田村すず子
 |title=Ainu-go Saru-hōgen jiten  |script-title=ja:アイヌ語沙流方言辞典
 |language=ja
 |year=1996
}}</ref> Yet another phrase, ''{{lang|ain|<nowiki>akor mosir</nowiki>}}'' (アコㇿモシㇼ) means "[[Clusivity|our (inclusive)]] land". When used by Hokkaido Ainus, it can refer to Hokkaido or Japan as a whole.<ref name="kayano1996" />

==History==
{{see also|Historic Sites of Hokkaidō|Zoku-Jōmon period|Satsumon culture|Okhotsk culture}}

=== Early history ===
During the [[Jōmon period|Jomon period]] the local culture and the associated [[hunter-gatherer]] lifestyle flourished in Hokkaidō, beginning over 15,000 years ago. In contrast to the island of Honshu, Hokkaidō saw an absence of conflict during this time period. Jomon beliefs in natural spirits are theorized to be the origins of Ainu spirituality. About 2,000 years ago, the island was colonized by [[Yayoi period|Yayoi]] people, and much of the island's population shifted away from hunting and gathering towards agriculture.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.hkd.mlit.go.jp/ky/ki/renkei/ud49g70000000mki-att/en_all.pdf|title=A Journey into the culture and history of Hokkaidō.|website=hkd.mlit.go.jp|access-date=2019-05-29|archive-date=2020-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917161923/https://www.hkd.mlit.go.jp/ky/ki/renkei/ud49g70000000mki-att/en_all.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The {{Lang|ja-latn|[[Nihon Shoki]]}}, finished in 720 AD, is often said to be the first mention of Hokkaidō in [[recorded history]]. According to the text, [[Abe no Hirafu]]<ref name="Japan Handbook p760">''Japan Handbook'', p. 760</ref> led a large navy and army to northern areas from 658 to 660 and came into contact with the [[Mishihase]] and [[Emishi]]. One of the places Hirafu went to was called {{nihongo|Watarishima|渡島}}, which is often believed to be present-day Hokkaidō. However, many theories exist concerning the details of this event, including the location of Watarishima and the common belief that the Emishi in Watarishima were the ancestors of the present-day [[Ainu people]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

During the [[Nara period|Nara]] and [[Heian period]]s (710–1185), people in Hokkaidō conducted trade with [[Dewa Province]], an outpost of the Japanese central government. From the [[Feudal Japan|feudal period]], the people in Hokkaidō began to be called [[Ezo]]. Hokkaidō subsequently became known as {{nihongo|Ezochi|蝦夷地||lit. "Ezo-land"}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=McClain|first1=James L.|title=Japan, A Modern History|date=2002|publisher=W.W. Norton & Company|location=New York, N.Y.|isbn=978-0-393-04156-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/japanmodernhisto00mccl/page/285 285]|edition=First|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/japanmodernhisto00mccl/page/285}}</ref> or {{nihongo|Ezogashima|蝦夷ヶ島||lit. "Island of the Ezo"}}. The Ezo mainly relied upon hunting and fishing and obtained rice and iron through trade with the Japanese.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

=== Feudal Japan ===
[[File:Palace reception near Hakodate in 1751. Ainu bringing gifts.jpg|thumb|300px|Palace reception near [[Hakodate]] in 1751. [[Ainu people|Ainu]] bringing gifts (''cf.'' ''[[omusha]]'')]]

During the [[Muromachi period]] (1336–1573), the Japanese established a settlement at the south of the [[Oshima Peninsula]], with a series of fortified residences such as that of [[Shinoridate]]. As more people moved to the settlement to avoid battles, disputes arose between the Japanese and the Ainu. The disputes eventually developed into war. [[Takeda Nobuhiro]] (1431 – 1494) killed the Ainu leader, Koshamain,<ref name="Japan Handbook p760"/> and [[Koshamain's War|defeated the opposition]] in 1457. Nobuhiro's descendants became the rulers of the [[Matsumae clan|Matsumae-han]], which was granted exclusive trading rights with the Ainu in the [[Azuchi–Momoyama period|Azuchi-Momoyama]] and [[Edo period]]s (1568–1868). The [[Matsumae clan|Matsumae family]]'s economy relied upon trade with the Ainu,{{cn|date=March 2024}} who had extensive trading networks.<ref>
{{cite book
 |last1                = Lie
 |first1               = John
 |author-link1         = John Lie (professor)
 |year                 = 2009
 |orig-date            = 2001
 |title                = Multiethnic Japan
 |url                  = https://books.google.com/books?id=3aGeH0keCGUC
 |edition              = revised
 |publication-place    = Cambridge, Massachusetts
 |publisher            = Harvard University Press
 |pages                = 89–90
 |isbn                 = 9780674040175
 |access-date          = 15 March 2024
 |quote                = By the fifteenth century Ainu people were principally hunter-fisher-gatherers and engaged in far-flung trade with others, ranging from Aleutian islanders to the east, Russians and Chinese to the west, and Shamo (as the Ainu call Wajin, or Japanese people) to the south [....].
}} 
</ref>
The Matsumae held authority over the south of Ezochi until the end of the Edo period.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

[[File:Samurai and Ainu Fuzoku Ema.jpg|thumb|The [[samurai]] and the Ainu, {{circa|1775}}]]

The Matsumae clan rule over the Ainu must be understood{{cn|date=March 2024}} in the context of the expansion of the Japanese feudal state. Medieval military leaders in northern Honshu (ex. [[Northern Fujiwara]], [[Akita clan]]) maintained only tenuous political and cultural ties to the imperial court and its proxies, the [[Kamakura shogunate]] and [[Ashikaga shogunate]]. Feudal strongmen sometimes defined their own roles within the medieval institutional order, taking shogunate titles, while in other times they assumed titles that seemed to give them a non-Japanese identity. In fact, many of the feudal strongmen were descended from [[Emishi]] military leaders who had been assimilated into Japanese society.<ref>Howell, David. "Ainu Ethnicity and the Boundaries of the Early Modern Japanese State", Past and Present 142 (February 1994), p. 142</ref> The Matsumae clan were of [[Yamato people|Yamato]] descent like other ethnic [[Japanese people]], whereas the Emishi of northern Honshu were a distinctive group related to the Ainu. The Emishi were conquered and integrated into the Japanese state dating back as far as the 8th century and as result began to lose their distinctive culture and ethnicity as they became minorities. By the time the Matsumae clan ruled over the Ainu, most of the Emishi were ethnically mixed and physically closer to Japanese than they were to Ainu. From this, the "transformation" theory postulates that native Jōmon peoples changed gradually with the infusion of Yayoi immigrants into the [[Tōhoku region]] of northern Honshu, in contrast to the "replacement" theory that posits the Jōmon was ''replaced'' by the Yayoi.<ref>Ossenberg, Nancy (see reference) has the best evidence of this relationship with the Jōmon. Also, a newer study, Ossenberg, et al., "Ethnogenesis and craniofacial change in Japan from the perspective of nonmetric traits" (''Anthropological Science'' v.114:99–115) is an updated analysis published in 2006 which confirms this finding.</ref>

[[File:Matumae Takahiro.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Matsumae Takahiro]], a [[Matsumae clan|Matsumae lord]] of the late [[Edo period]] (December 10, 1829 – June 9, 1866)]]

There were numerous revolts by the Ainu against feudal rule. The last large-scale resistance was [[Shakushain's revolt]] in 1669–1672. In 1789, a smaller movement known as the [[Menashi–Kunashir rebellion]] was crushed. After that rebellion, the terms "Japanese" and "Ainu" referred to clearly distinguished groups, and the Matsumae were unequivocally Japanese.

According to John A. Harrison of the [[University of Florida]], prior to 1868 Japan used proximity as its claim to Hokkaido, [[Sakhalin]] and the [[Kuril Islands]]; however, Japan had never thoroughly explored, governed, or exploited the areas, and this claim was invalidated by the movement of Russia into the Northeast Pacific area and by Russian settlements on [[Kamchatka]] (from 1699), [[Sakhalin]] (1850s) and the [[Sea of Okhotsk Coast]] (1640s onwards).<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3740831 |jstor=3740831 |title= The Capron Mission and the Colonization of Hokkaido, 1868-1875 |last1=Harrison |first1=John A. |journal=Agricultural History |year=1951 |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=135–136}}</ref>

Prior to the [[Meiji Restoration]] of 1868, the Tokugawa shogunate realized the need to prepare northern defenses against a possible Russian invasion and took over control of most of Ezochi in 1855-1858.<ref>Nakamura, Akemi, "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/07/08/news/japans-last-frontier-took-time-to-tame-cultivate-image/ Japan's last frontier took time to tame, cultivate image] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131104100311/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/07/08/news/japans-last-frontier-took-time-to-tame-cultivate-image/ |date= 2013-11-04 }}", ''[[The Japan Times]]'', 8 July 2008, p. 3.</ref> Many Japanese settlers regarded the Ainu as "inhuman and the inferior descendants of dogs".<ref name="apjjf.org"/><ref>
Compare:
{{cite journal
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=uu0YAQAAMAAJ
| journal = The American Asian Review
| publisher = Institute of Asian Studies, St. John's University
| publication-place = New York
| publication-date = 1995
| volume = 13
| issue = 1–2
| page = 77
| quote = Using the expressive sound 'ah', and the Japanese copula da ('it is'), wajin encountering an Ainu person would shout out the insulting pun, 'ah, inu da,' 'It's an Ainu' or 'Oh, it's a dog!' 
| access-date = 15 March 2024
}}
</ref>
The Tokugawa irregularly imposed various assimilation programs on the Ainu due to the Tokugawa's perception of a threat from Russia.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> For example, assimilation programs were implemented in response to perceived threats from Russia, which included the {{ill|Laxman expedition|ru|Посольство Адама Лаксмана в Японию}}  of 1793 and the [[Golovnin Incident]] of 1804.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> Once the respective Russian threats appeared to subside, the assimilation programs were halted until 1855.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> However, in 1855, once the [[Treaty of Shimoda]] was signed, which defined the borders between Russian Empire and Tokugawa Japan, the Tokugawa again viewed Russia as a threat to Japanese sovereignty over Hokkaido and reinstated assimilation programs on the Ainu.<ref name="apjjf.org"/>

=== Meiji era ===
==== Colonization of Hokkaido ====
Prior to the Meiji era, the island was called Ezochi, which can be translated as "land of the barbarians" or "the land for people who did not obey the government."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Siripala |first=Thisanka |date=2020 |title=Far-Right Politics and Indigenous Ainu Activism in Japan |url=https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1059391/GJAA%20Vol.6_Far-Right%20Politics%20and%20Indigenous%20Ainu%20Activism%20in%20Japan.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |journal=Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs |volume=6 |pages=36–37}}</ref> Shortly after the [[Boshin War]] in 1868, a group of Tokugawa loyalists led by [[Enomoto Takeaki]] temporarily occupied the island (the [[polity]] is commonly but mistakenly known as the [[Republic of Ezo]]), but the rebellion was defeated in May 1869. Through colonial practices, Ezochi was annexed into Japanese territory.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Siripala |first=Thisanka |date=2020 |title=Far-Right Politics and Indigenous Ainu Activism in Japan |url=https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1059391/GJAA%20Vol.6_Far-Right%20Politics%20and%20Indigenous%20Ainu%20Activism%20in%20Japan.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |journal=Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs |volume=6 |pages=36–37}}</ref><ref name="apjjf.org"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto1"/> Ezochi was subsequently put under control of Hakodate Prefectural Government. When establishing the {{Nihongo|[[Hokkaidō Development Commission|Development Commission]]|開拓使|Kaitakushi}}, the Meiji government introduced a new name. After 1869, the northern Japanese island was known as Hokkaidō, which can be translated to "northern sea route,"<ref name="nussbaum343" /> and regional subdivisions were established, including the provinces of [[Oshima Province|Oshima]], [[Shiribeshi Province|Shiribeshi]], [[Iburi Province|Iburi]], [[Ishikari Province|Ishikari]], [[Teshio Province|Teshio]], [[Kitami Province|Kitami]], [[Hidaka Province|Hidaka]], [[Tokachi Province|Tokachi]], [[Kushiro Province|Kushiro]], [[Nemuro Province|Nemuro]] and [[Chishima Province|Chishima]].<ref>[[Ernest Mason Satow|Satow, Ernest]]. (1882). "The Geography of Japan" in {{Google books|gGYYAAAAYAAJ|''Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan'', Vols. 1–2, p. 88.|page=33}}</ref>

The initiative to colonize Ezo, which later became Hokkaido, traces back to 1869, where Japanese proponents argued that the colonization of Ezo would serve as a strategic move to enhance Japan's standing and influence on the global stage, particularly in negotiations with Western powers, specifically Russia.<ref name="M.Mason">{{Cite book| url=http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/71693/1/29.pdf.pdf|title=Dominant Narratives of Colonial Hokkaido and Imperial Japan: Envisioning the Periphery and the Modern Nation-State | publisher=Palgrave Macmillan| pages=14–15 |year=2012|last1=Mason | first1=Michele | isbn=978-1-349-45025-1}}</ref> The Meiji government invested heavily in colonizing Hokkaido for several reasons.<ref name="JohnHennessey3">{{cite journal|first=John|last=Hennessey|title=Engineering Japanese Settler Colonialism in Hokkaido: A Postcolonial Reevaluation of William Wheeler's Work for the Kaitakushi|url=https://lucris.lub.lu.se/ws/portalfiles/portal/99779409/AIF_ISSUE6_Final_Hennessey.pdf|journal=Asia in Focus|volume=6|issue=6|pages=3|date=2018}}</ref> Firstly, they aimed to assert their control over the region as a buffer against potential Russian advances.<ref name = JohnHennessey3/> Secondly, they were attracted to Hokkaido's rich natural resources, including coal, timber, fish, and fertile land.<ref name = JohnHennessey3/> Lastly, since Western powers viewed colonial expansion as a symbol of prestige, Japan viewed the colonization of Hokkaido as an opportunity to present itself as a modern and respected nation to Western powers.<ref name = JohnHennessey3/>

[[File:Hakodate Goryokaku Panorama 1.JPG|thumb|The [[Goryōkaku]] fort in Hakodate]]
[[File:Ainu old man circa 1930.JPG|thumb|The [[Ainu people|Ainu]], Hokkaidō's indigenous people]]

The primary purpose of the Development Commission was to secure Hokkaidō before the [[Russian Empire|Russians]] extended their control of the Far East beyond [[Vladivostok]]. The Japanese failed to settle in the interior lowlands of the island because of aboriginal resistance.<ref name="auto">{{Cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3740831 | jstor=3740831 | title=The Capron Mission and the Colonization of Hokkaido, 1868-1875 | last1=Harrison | first1=John A. | journal=Agricultural History | year=1951 | volume=25 | issue=3 | pages=135–142 }}</ref> The resistance was eventually destroyed, and the lowlands were under the control of the commission.<ref name="auto"/> The most important goal of the Japanese was to increase the farm population and to create a conducive environment for emigration and settlement.<ref name="auto"/> However, the Japanese did not have expertise in modern agricultural techniques, and only possessed primitive mining and lumbering methods.<ref name="auto"/> [[Kuroda Kiyotaka]] was put in charge of the project, and turned to the United States for help.<ref name="auto"/>

His first step was to journey to the United States and recruit [[Horace Capron]], President [[Ulysses S. Grant]]'s commissioner of agriculture. From 1871 to 1873 Capron bent his efforts to expounding Western agriculture and mining, with mixed results. Frustrated with obstacles to his efforts, Capron returned home in 1875. In 1876, [[William S. Clark]] arrived to found an [[Sapporo Agricultural College|agricultural college in Sapporo]]. Although he only remained a year, Clark left a lasting impression on Hokkaidō, inspiring the Japanese with his teachings on agriculture as well as Christianity.<ref>McDougall, Walter A. (1993). ''Let the Sea Make a Noise,'' pp. 355–356.</ref> His parting words, ''"Boys, be ambitious!"'', can be found on public buildings in Hokkaidō to this day. The population of Hokkaidō increased from 58,000 to 240,000 during that decade.<ref>McDougall, p. 357.</ref> 

Kuroda hired Capron for $10,000 per year and paid for all expenses related to the mission. Kuroda and his government were likely intrigued by Capron's previous colonial experience, particularly his involvement in the forced removal of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] from Texas to new territories after the [[Mexican–American War]].<ref name = "KatsuyaHiranoEight">{{cite web | url=https://manifold.uhpress.hawaii.edu/read/migrant-ecologies/section/b03b25af-b873-47e5-9417-dce686ed0a37 | title=University of Hawai'i Press - Manifold }}</ref> Capron introduced capital-intensive farming techniques by adopting American methods and tools, importing seeds for Western crops, and bringing in European livestock breeds, which included his favorite [[North Devon cattle]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://manifold.uhpress.hawaii.edu/read/migrant-ecologies/section/b03b25af-b873-47e5-9417-dce686ed0a37 | title=University of Hawai'i Press - Manifold }}</ref> He founded experimental farms in Hokkaido, conducted surveys to assess mineral deposits and agricultural potential, and advocated for improvements in water access, mills, and roads.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://manifold.uhpress.hawaii.edu/read/migrant-ecologies/section/b03b25af-b873-47e5-9417-dce686ed0a37 | title=University of Hawai'i Press - Manifold }}</ref>

The settler colonization of Hokkaido by the Japanese was organized and supported through collaboration between the Japanese state and American experts and technology.<ref name = KatsuyaHiranoEight/>  From the 1870s to the 1880s, Japanese leaders placed their efforts on settling Hokkaido by systematically migrating former samurai lords, samurai retainers, and common citizens, which included farmers and peasants, providing them with "free" land and financial assistance.<ref name = KatsuyaHiranoEight/> This transformation was facilitated with the expertise of American advisors who introduced various colonization technologies, transforming Hokkaido into land suitable for Japan's capitalist aspirations.<ref name = KatsuyaHiranoEight/> 

Japanese leaders drew inspiration from American settler colonialism during their diplomatic visits to the United States.<ref name = JohnHennessey3/> Japanese colonial officials learned settler colonial techniques from Western imperial powers, particularly the United States. This included declaring large portions of Hokkaido as ownerless land, providing a pretext for the dispossession of the Ainu people.<ref name = JohnHennessey3/><ref name = "Mason">{{Cite book|title=Dominant Narratives of Colonial Hokkaido and Imperial Japan: Envisioning the Periphery and the Modern Nation-State | publisher=Palgrave Macmillan| pages=7–9|year=2012|last1=Mason | first1=Michele | isbn=978-1-349-45025-1}}</ref> Japan established the Hokkaido Colonization Board in 1869, a year after the start of the Meiji era, with the goal of encouraging Japanese settlers to Hokkaido.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Recognition for a People Who Faded as Japan Grew |work=The New York Times |date=3 July 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/world/asia/03ainu.html |access-date=2024-04-11 |last1=Onishi |first1=Norimitsu }}</ref> Mainland Japanese settlers began migrating to Hokkaido, leading to Japan's colonization of the island.<ref name="Mason"/>  Motivated by capitalist and industrial goals, the Meiji government forcefully appropriated fertile land and mineral-rich regions throughout Hokkaido, without consideration for their historical Ainu inhabitancy.<ref name="Mason"/> The Meiji government implemented land seizures and enacted land ownership laws that favored Japanese settlers, effectively stripping Ainu people of their customary land rights and traditional means of subsistence.<ref name="Mason"/> The 1899 [[Hokkaido Former Aborigines Protection Act]] further marginalized and impoverished the Ainu people by forcing them to leave their traditional lands and relocating them to the rugged, mountainous regions in the center of the island.<ref name="forgotten-people">{{Cite web |title=Japan's forgotten indigenous people |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200519-japans-forgotten-indigenous-people |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.bbc.com|date=20 May 2020 }}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last=Siripala |first=Thisanka |date=2020 |title=Far-Right Politics and Indigenous Ainu Activism in Japan |url=https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1059391/GJAA%20Vol.6_Far-Right%20Politics%20and%20Indigenous%20Ainu%20Activism%20in%20Japan.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |journal=Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs |volume=6 |pages=37}}</ref> The act prohibited the Ainu from fishing and hunting, which were their main source of subsistence.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Siripala |first=Thisanka |date=2020 |title=Far-Right Politics and Indigenous Ainu Activism in Japan |url=https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1059391/GJAA%20Vol.6_Far-Right%20Politics%20and%20Indigenous%20Ainu%20Activism%20in%20Japan.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |journal=Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs |volume=6 |pages=36–38}}</ref> The Ainu were valued primarily as a source of inexpensive manual labor, and discriminatory assimilation policies further entrenched their sense of inferiority as well as worsened poverty and disease within Ainu communities.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Siripala |first=Thisanka |date=2020 |title=Far-Right Politics and Indigenous Ainu Activism in Japan |url=https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1059391/GJAA%20Vol.6_Far-Right%20Politics%20and%20Indigenous%20Ainu%20Activism%20in%20Japan.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |journal=Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs |volume=6 |pages=38}}</ref> These policies exacerbated diasporic trends among the Ainu population, as many sought employment with the government or private enterprises, often earning meager wages that barely sustained their families.<ref name="Mason"/>  

The Meiji government embarked on assimilation campaigns aimed not only at assimilating the Ainu but also eradicating their language and culture entirely.<ref name="Mason"/> They were forced to take on Japanese names and language, and gradually saw their culture and traditions eroded.<ref name="forgotten-people"/> The Ainu were forbidden to speak their own language and taught only Japanese at school.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Recognition for a People Who Faded as Japan Grew |work=The New York Times |date=3 July 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/world/asia/03ainu.html |access-date=2024-04-11 |last1=Onishi |first1=Norimitsu }}</ref> Facing pervasive stigma, many Ainu concealed their heritage.<ref name="forgotten-people"/> [[UNESCO]] has recognized the [[Ainu language]] as critically endangered.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://minorityrights.org/communities/ainu/ |title=Ainu in Japan |publisher=Minority Rights Group |access-date=22 January 2025}}</ref> Given the Meiji state's full political control over the island, the subsequent subjugation of its indigenous inhabitants, aggressive economic exploitation, and ambitious permanent settlement endeavors, Hokkaido emerged as the sole successful [[settler colony]] of Japan.<ref name="Mason"/> 

After the Meiji colonization of Hokkaido, Meiji Japan depended on prison labour to accelerate the colonization process.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> The Japanese built three prisons and rendered Hokkaido a prison island, where political prisoners were incarcerated and used as prison labour.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> During the opening ceremony of the first prison, the Ainu name “Shibetsuputo” was replaced with the Japanese name “Tsukigata,” as an attempt to “Japanize” Hokkaido's geography.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> The second prison opened near the [[Hokutan Horonai coal mine]], where Ainu people were  forced to work.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> Cheap prison labour played an important role in coal and sulphur mining, as well as road construction in Hokkaido.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> Eventually, several types of indentured labour, Korean labour, child labour and women labour replaced convict labour in Hokkaido.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> Working conditions were difficult and dangerous.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> Japan's transition to capitalism depended heavily on the growth of the coal mining sector in Hokkaidō.<ref name="apjjf.org"/> The importance of coal from Hokkaidō increased throughout the First World War, and the mines required a large amount of labourers.<ref name="apjjf.org"/>

=== World War II ===
In mid-July 1945, various shipping ports, cities, and military facilities in Hokkaidō were attacked by the [[United States Navy]]'s [[Fast Carrier Task Force|Task Force 38]]. On 14–15 July, aircraft operating from the task force's aircraft carriers sank and damaged a large number of ships in ports along Hokkaidō's southern coastline as well as in northern Honshu. In addition, on 15 July a force of three battleships and two light cruisers [[Allied naval bombardments of Japan during World War II#Muroran|bombarded the city of Muroran]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Chapter VII: 1945|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1945.html|work=The Official Chronology of the US Navy in World War II|publisher=Hyperwar|access-date=20 September 2011|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002213903/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1945.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender]] was formalized, the Soviet Union made preparations for an [[Proposed Soviet invasion of Hokkaido|invasion of Hokkaidō]], but U.S. President [[Harry S. Truman|Harry Truman]] made it clear that the surrender of all of the [[Japanese archipelago|Japanese home islands]] would be accepted by General [[Douglas MacArthur]] per the [[1943 Cairo Declaration]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Translation of Message from Harry S. Truman to Joseph Stalin |url=https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/translation-message-harry-s-truman-joseph-stalin |access-date=2024-04-11}}</ref>

=== Present ===
Hokkaidō became equal with other prefectures in 1947, when the revised [[Local Autonomy Act]] became effective. The Japanese central government established the {{Nihongo|Hokkaidō Development Agency|北海道開発庁|Hokkaidō Kaihatsuchō}} as an agency of the [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]]'s Office in 1949 to maintain its executive power in Hokkaidō. The agency was absorbed by the [[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism|Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]] in 2001. {{Nihongo|The Hokkaidō Bureau|北海道局|Hokkaidō-kyoku}} and the {{Nihongo|Hokkaidō Regional Development Bureau|北海道開発局|Hokkaidō Kaihatsukyoku}} of the ministry still have a strong influence on public construction projects in Hokkaidō.

== Geography ==
{{main|Geography of Hokkaido}}
{{Infobox islands
| name               = Hokkaidō
| image_name         = Hokkaidomap-en.png
| image_caption      = 
| locator_map        = 
| native_name        = {{lang|ja|北海道}}
| native_name_link   = Japanese language
| location           = [[East Asia]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|43|N|142|E|scale:500000|display=inline}}
| archipelago        = [[Japanese archipelago]]
| area_km2           = 77981.87
| highest_mount      = [[Asahi-dake|Mount Asahi]]
| elevation_m        = 2,290
| country            = Japan
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefectures]]
| country_admin_divisions = Hokkaidō
| country_largest_city = [[Sapporo]]
| country_largest_city_population = 1,890,561
| population         = 5,377,435
| population_as_of   = September 30, 2016
| density_km2        = 64.5
| ethnic_groups      = [[Ainu people|Ainu]] <br /> [[Japanese people|Japanese]]
}}

The island of Hokkaidō is located in the north of Japan, near [[Russia]] ([[Sakhalin Oblast]]). It has coastlines on the [[Sea of Japan]] (to the west of the island), the [[Sea of Okhotsk]] (to the north), and the [[Pacific Ocean]] (to the east). The center of the island is mountainous, with [[volcanic plateau]]x. Hokkaidō has multiple plains such as the [[Ishikari Plain]] {{convert|3800|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}, [[Tokachi Plain]] {{convert|3600|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}, the {{ill|Kushiro Plain|ja|釧路平野}} {{convert|2510|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} (the largest wetland in Japan) and [[Sarobetsu Plain]] {{convert|200|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}. Hokkaidō is {{convert|83,423.84|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} which make it the [[list of islands of Japan|second-largest island]] of Japan.

The [[Tsugaru Strait]] separates Hokkaidō from Honshu ([[Aomori Prefecture]]);<ref name="nussbaum343"/> [[La Pérouse Strait]] separates Hokkaidō from the island of [[Sakhalin]] in Russia; [[Nemuro Strait]] separates Hokkaidō from [[Kunashir Island]] in the Russian [[Kuril Islands]].

The [[Prefectures of Japan|governmental jurisdiction]] of Hokkaidō incorporates several smaller islands, including [[Rishiri Island|Rishiri]], [[Okushiri Island]], and [[Rebun Island|Rebun]]. (By Japanese reckoning, Hokkaidō also incorporates several of the [[Kuril Islands]].) Hokkaidō Prefecture is the largest and northernmost [[Prefectures of Japan|Japanese prefecture]]. The island ranks 21st in the world [[List of islands by area|by area]].

<gallery mode="packed" heights="130px">
File:130922 Lake Toya Toyako Hokkaido Japan03s3.jpg|[[Lake Tōya]], a volcanic [[caldera]] lake
File:Hokkaido-Japan-ISS-Space.png|Hokkaido seen from the [[International Space Station]]
File:140829 Ichiko of Shiretoko Goko Lakes Hokkaido Japan04s3.jpg|[[Shiretoko Goko Lakes]] in the town of [[Shari, Hokkaido|Shari]], [[Okhotsk Subprefecture]], Hokkaidō
File:Spring Bloom Colors the Pacific Near Hokkaido.jpg|The [[Oyashio Current]] colliding with the [[Kuroshio Current]] off the coast of Hokkaido
</gallery>

===Population===
[[File:SapporoCity Skylines2020.jpg|thumb|Skyline of Sapporo city, the most populous city in Hokkaido and the 5th most populous city in Japan]]
[[File:Hokkaido prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|290x290px|Hokkaido prefecture population pyramid in 2020]]
{{historical populations|13=1721|14=15,615|15=1750|16=21,807|17=1786|18=26,310|19=1798|20=28,711|21=1822|22=61,948|23=1834|24=67,862|25=1846|26=70,887|27=1873|28=123,668
|29=1890|30=414,430|31=1903|32=1,089,503|33=1920|34=2,359,183|35=1930|36=2,812,335|37=1940|38=3,272,718|39=1950|40=4,295,567|41=1960|42=5,039,206|43=1970|44=5,184,287|45=1980|46=5,575,989|47=1990|48=5,643,647|49=2000|50=5,683,062|51=2010|52=5,506,419|53=2020|54=5,281,297|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stat.go.jp/english/index.html |title=Statistics Bureau of Japan |access-date=2019-07-21 |archive-date=2020-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108132422/http://www.stat.go.jp/english/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[[Demographic history of Japan before the Meiji Restoration|Hokkaidō Population during Tokugawa Shogun]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=August 2020}}}}

Hokkaidō has the third-largest population of Japan's five main islands, with 5,111,691 people {{as of|2023|lc=on}}.<ref name="main-islands-japan"/><ref name="JPCensus">{{cite web|url= http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/c-gyousei/daityo/index.html|title= 総務省｜住基ネット|work= soumu.go.jp|access-date= 2019-09-15|archive-date= 2021-02-24|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210224144613/https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/c-gyousei/daityo/index.html|url-status= live}}</ref> It has the lowest population density in Japan, with just {{convert|61|PD/km2}}. Hokkaidō ranks 21st in [[List of islands by population|population]] among the world's islands. Major cities include [[Sapporo]] and [[Asahikawa]] in the central region, and the port of [[Hakodate]] facing [[Honshu]] in the south. Sapporo is Hokkaidō's largest city and the fifth-largest in Japan. It had a population of 1,959,750 {{as of|2023|July|31|lc=on}} and a population density of {{convert|1,748|PD/km2|abbr=on}}.

{| class="wikitable"
|- class="hintergrundfarbe6"
! City''(-[[Cities of Japan|shi]])''
! Inhabitants<br /><small>{{As of|2023|July|31|df=US|bare=yes}}</small>
|-
| [[Sapporo]]
| style="text-align:right;"|1,959,750
|-
| [[Asahikawa]]
| style="text-align:right;"|321,906
|-
| [[Hakodate]]
| style="text-align:right;"|241,747
|-
| [[Kushiro]]
| style="text-align:right;"|158,741
|-
| [[Tomakomai]]
| style="text-align:right;"|167,372
|-
| [[Obihiro]]
| style="text-align:right;"|163,084
|-
| [[Otaru]]
| style="text-align:right;"|107,432
|-
| [[Kitami]]
| style="text-align:right;"|112,185
|-
| [[Ebetsu]]
| style="text-align:right;"|118,764
|-
| [[Muroran]]
| style="text-align:right;"|77,173
|-
| [[Iwamizawa]]
| style="text-align:right;"|75,949
|-
| [[Chitose, Hokkaido|Chitose]]
| style="text-align:right;"|98,047
|-
| [[Eniwa, Hokkaido|Eniwa]]
| style="text-align:right;"|70,278
|}

=== Flora and fauna ===
{{see also|List of Natural Monuments of Japan (Hokkaidō)}}
There are three populations of the [[Ussuri brown bear]] found on the island. There are more brown bears in Hokkaidō than anywhere else in Asia besides Russia. The Hokkaidō brown bear is separated into three distinct lineages. There are only eight lineages in the world.<ref name="Hirata et al. 2013">{{cite journal|last1=Hirata|first1=Daisuke|title=Molecular Phylogeography of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) in Northeastern Asia Based on Analyses of Complete Mitochondrial DNA Sequences|journal=Mol Biol Evol|date=2013|volume=30|issue=7|pages=1644–1652|doi=10.1093/molbev/mst077|display-authors=etal|pmid=23619144|doi-access=free}}</ref> Those on Honshu died out long ago.

The native conifer species in northern Hokkaidō is the Sakhalin fir (''[[Abies sachalinensis]]'').<ref>{{cite iucn |author1=Zhang, D. |author2=Katsuki, T. |author3=Rushforth, K. |date=2013 |title=''Abies sachalinensis'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T42298A2970610 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42298A2970610.en |access-date=7 September 2021}}</ref> The flowering plant ''[[Hydrangea hirta]]'' is also found on the island.

:{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Notable flora and fauna<ref>Japanese Wiki page [[:ja:北海道]]</ref>
|-
! Name !! Type 
! Notes
|-
| [[Ussuri brown bear]]
| Fauna 
| One of the largest populations by average size of brown bears (''Ursus arctos lasiotus'')
|-
| [[Steller's sea eagle]]
| Fauna
| On average, the heaviest [[eagle]] species in the world (''[[Haliaeetus pelagicus]]'')
|-
| [[Hokkaido wolf]] || Fauna 
| Extinct subspecies of the [[gray wolf]] (''[[Canis lupus]] hattai'').
|-
| [[Yezo sika deer]] || Fauna 
| Large subspecies of the [[sika deer]] (''[[Cervus nippon]] yesoensis'')
|-
| [[Sciurus vulgaris|Ezoris]]
| Fauna
| Also called the Ezo squirrel (''[[Sciurus vulgaris]] orientis'')
|-
| [[Ezo red fox]]
| Fauna
| Native to northern Japanese archipelago (''[[Vulpes vulpes]] schrencki'')
|-
| [[Nyctereutes viverrinus|Ezo tanuki]]
| Fauna
| Subspecies of [[Japanese raccoon dog|raccoon dog]] native to Hokkaido (''[[Nyctereutes viverrinus]] albus'')
|-
| [[Hokkaido (dog)|Hokkaido dog]]
| Fauna
| A [[Spitz|Spitz-type]] domesticated hunting dog perhaps descend from introduced [[Akita (dog)|Akitas]]
|-
| [[Dosanko]]
| Fauna
| Also called the "[[Dosanko|Hokkaido horse]]" 
|-
|[[Sable]]
|Fauna
|(''Martes zibellina'') A [[species]] of [[marten]] which inhabits Hokkaido and Northern Asia.
|-
| [[Viviparous lizard]]
| Fauna
| (''[[Zootoca vivipara]]'')
|-
| [[Ezo salamander]]
| Fauna
| (''[[Hynobius retardatus]]'')
|-
| [[Dolly Varden trout]]
| Fauna
| (''[[Salvelinus malma]]'')
|-
|[[Sasakia charonda|Japanese emperor]]
|Fauna
|National butterfly of Japan (''ō-murasaki'', "great purple")
|-
|[[Grey heron|Grey Heron]]
|Fauna
|(Ardea cinerea) Long legged wading bird.
|-
|[[Chum salmon]]
|Fauna
|(white salmon (白鮭 シロサケ) is native to middle and northern Honshu, Hokkaido and the [[North Pacific]].
|-
|[[Sockeye salmon]]
|Fauna
|(''Oncorhynchus nerka, ベニザケ - Benizake'') live in Hokkaido and the [[North Pacific]].
|-
| [[Picea jezoensis|Ezo spruce]]
| Flora
| ''[[Picea jezoensis]]''
|-
| [[Picea glehnii|Sakhalin spruce]]
| Flora
| ''[[Picea glehnii]]''
|-
| [[Rosa rugosa|Japanese rose]]
| Flora
| ''[[Rosa rugosa]]''
|}

=== Geologic activity ===
{{See also|Category:Volcanoes of Hokkaido}}

Like many areas of Japan, Hokkaidō is [[seismology|seismically]] active. Aside from numerous [[earthquake]]s, the following volcanoes are considered still active (at least one eruption since 1850):

* [[Hokkaido Koma-ga-take]]
* [[Mount Meakan]]
* [[Mount Tarumae]]
* [[Mount Tokachi (Daisetsuzan)|Mount Tokachi]]
* [[Mount Usu]] and [[Shōwa-shinzan]]

In [[1993 Okushiri earthquake|1993, an earthquake]] of [[Moment magnitude scale|magnitude 7.7]] generated a [[tsunami]] which devastated [[Okushiri, Hokkaido|Okushiri]], killing 202 inhabitants. An [[2003 Tokachi earthquake|earthquake of magnitude 8.3]] struck near the island on September 26, 2003. On September 6, 2018, an [[2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake|earthquake of magnitude 6.6]] struck with its epicenter near the city of [[Tomakomai]], causing a blackout across the whole island.<ref name="USGS">{{cite web |title=M 6.6 - 27km E of Tomakomai, Japan |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us2000h8ty#executive |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |access-date=6 September 2018 |archive-date=6 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906015303/https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us2000h8ty#executive |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 16, 2021, an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck off Japan's Hokkaidō prefecture.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-05-16|title=Earthquake ALERT! 6.1-magnitude quake strikes this country|url=https://www.zeebiz.com/world/news-earthquake-alert-61-magnitude-quake-strikes-this-country-156754|access-date=2021-05-16|website=Zee Business|archive-date=2021-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516133541/https://www.zeebiz.com/world/news-earthquake-alert-61-magnitude-quake-strikes-this-country-156754|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Parks ===
{{Main|National parks in Hokkaido}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ National parks (国立公園)
|-
| [[Shiretoko National Park]]*              || 知床
|-
| [[Akan Mashu National Park]]              || 阿寒
|-
| [[Kushiro-shitsugen National Park]]       || 釧路湿原
|-
| [[Daisetsuzan National Park]]             || 大雪山
|-
| [[Shikotsu-Tōya National Park]]           || 支笏洞爺
|-
| [[Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park]] || 利尻礼文サロベツ
|-
| [[Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park]]        || 日高山脈襟裳十勝
|}
{{smaller|* designated a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]] on 2005-07-14.}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Quasi-national parks (国定公園)
|-
| [[Abashiri Quasi-National Park]]                     || 網走
|-
| [[Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park]] || ニセコ積丹小樽海岸
|-
| [[Ōnuma Quasi-National Park]]                        || 大沼
|-
| [[Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park]]  || 暑寒別天売焼尻
|}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="130px">
File:Kottaro situgen 2009.jpg|Overview of [[Kushiro Wetland]]
File:Lake Akan and Mount Oakan - 2005.jpg|[[Lake Akan]] and [[Mount Meakan]]
File:Image-2008 Lake Masshu.jpg|View of [[Lake Mashū]]
File:Lake Shikotsu17n4272.jpg|[[Lake Shikotsu]]
File:Sounkyo1.jpg|[[Sōunkyō]], a gorge in the [[Daisetsu-zan]] Volcanic Area
</gallery>

* Twelve prefectural natural parks (道立自然公園). The prefectural natural parks cover 146,802&nbsp;ha, the largest area of any prefecture.<ref name="MoEJ">{{cite web|url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf|title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture|date=31 March 2008|publisher=Ministry of the Environment Japan|access-date=2009-06-02|archive-date=2012-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421180819/http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
**[[Akkeshi Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Esan Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Furano-Ashibetsu Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Hiyama Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Kariba-Motta Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Matsumae Yagoshi Prefectural Natural Park|Matsumae-Yagoshi Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[North Okhotsk Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Nopporo Shinrin Kōen Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Notsuke-Fūren Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Sharidake Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Shumarinai Prefectural Natural Park]]
**[[Teshiodake Prefectural Natural Park]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[Ramsar sites in Japan|Ramsar wetland sites]]
|-
! !! !! style="text-align:left;"| {{smaller|since}}
|-
| [[Kushiro Wetland]]
| [[:ja:釧路湿原|釧路湿原]] || {{smaller|1980-06-17}}
|-
| [[Lake Kutcharo]]
| [[:ja:クッチャロ湖|クッチャロ湖]] || {{smaller|1989-07-06}}
|-
| [[Lake Utonai]]
| [[:ja:ウトナイ湖|ウトナイ湖]] || {{smaller|1991-12-12}}
|-
| [[Kiritappu Wetland]]
| [[:ja:霧多布湿原|霧多布湿原]] || {{smaller|1993-06-10}}
|-
| [[Lake Akkeshi]], [[Bekkanbeushi Wetland]]
| [[:ja:厚岸湖|厚岸湖]]・[[:ja:別寒辺牛湿原|別寒辺牛湿原]] || {{smaller|1993-06-10,<br />enlarged 2005-11-08}}
|-
| [[Miyajima Marsh]]
| [[:ja:宮島沼|宮島沼]] || {{smaller|2002-11-18}}
|-
| [[Uryūnuma Wetland]]
| [[:ja:雨竜沼湿原|雨竜沼湿原]] ||rowspan="6" style="vertical-align:middle;"| {{smaller|2005-11-08}}
|-
| [[Sarobetsu plain]]
| [[:ja:サロベツ原野|サロベツ原野]]
|-
| [[Lake Tōfutsu]]
| [[:ja:濤沸湖|濤沸湖]]
|-
| [[Lake Akan]]
| [[:ja:阿寒湖|阿寒湖]]
|-
| [[Notsuke Peninsula]], [[Notsuke Bay]]
| [[:ja:野付半島|野付半島]]・[[:ja:野付湾|野付湾]]
|-
| [[Lake Furen|Lake Fūren, Shunkunitai]]
| [[:ja:風蓮湖|風蓮湖]]・[[:ja:春国岱|春国岱]]
|}

== Subprefectures ==
{{Main|Subprefectures of Hokkaido|List of mergers in Hokkaido}}
{{See also|List of municipalities of Hokkaido|Former provinces of Hokkaido}}
[[File:Large map of Hokkaido within Japan.png|thumb|Map of Hokkaido showing the subprefectures and the primary cities (pre-2010)]]
[[File:Hokkaido_in_Japan_(claimed).svg|thumb|Map of Hokkaido within Japan, including the disputed Kuril islands]]

{{As of|2010|April}}, Hokkaidō has nine General Subprefectural Bureaus (総合振興局) and five Subprefectural Bureaus (振興局). Hokkaidō is one of eight prefectures in Japan that have [[Subprefectures of Japan|subprefectures]] (支庁 ''shichō''). However, it is the only one of the eight to have such offices covering the whole of its territory outside the main cities (rather than having them just for outlying islands or remote areas). This is mostly because of its great size; many parts of the prefecture are simply too far away to be effectively administered by Sapporo. Subprefectural offices in Hokkaidō carry out many of the duties that prefectural offices fulfill elsewhere in Japan.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan="10" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 18%"|{{Image label begin|image=Subprefectures of Hokkaido.svg|width=500}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.38|y=0.40|text='''1'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.32|y=0.45|text='''a'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.23|y=0.48|text='''2'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.28|y=0.55|text='''3'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.45|y=0.55|text='''b'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.21|y=0.65|text='''4'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.1|y=0.6|text='''c'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.47|y=0.32|text='''5'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.37|y=0.29|text='''d'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.4|y=0.1|text='''6'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.60|y=0.32|text='''7'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.55|y=0.50|text='''8'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.69|y=0.46|text='''9'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.76|y=0.37|text='''e'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=0.87|y=0.27|text='''<small>(disputed)</small>'''}}
{{Image label|scale=|x=1.00|y=0.1|text='''<small>(disputed)</small>'''}}
{{Image label end}}
|-
!colspan="2"|[[Subprefectures of Japan|Subprefecture]]
!Japanese
!Main city
!Largest municipality
!Pop.<br />({{As of|2009|bare=yes}})
!Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
!colspan=3|[[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]
|-
!1
|'''[[Sorachi Subprefecture|Sorachi]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|空知総合振興局}}}}
|[[Iwamizawa]]
|Iwamizawa
|align=right|338,485
|align=right|5,791.19
|10 cities || 14 towns || 
|-
!a
|↳ '''[[Ishikari Subprefecture|Ishikari]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|石狩振興局}}}}
|[[Sapporo]]
|Sapporo
|align=right|2,324,878
|align=right|3,539.86
|6 cities || 1 town || 1 village
|-
!2
|'''[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture|Shiribeshi]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|後志総合振興局}}}}
|[[Kutchan, Hokkaido|Kutchan]]
|[[Otaru]]
|align=right|234,984
|align=right|4,305.83
|1 city || 13 towns || 6 villages
|-
!3
|'''[[Iburi Subprefecture|Iburi]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|胆振総合振興局}}}}
|[[Muroran]]
|[[Tomakomai]]
|align=right|419,115
|align=right|3,698.00
|4 cities || 7 towns || 
|-
!b
|↳ '''[[Hidaka Subprefecture|Hidaka]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|日高振興局}}}}
|[[Urakawa, Hokkaido|Urakawa]]
|[[Shinhidaka, Hokkaido|Shinhidaka]]
|align=right|76,084
|align=right|4,811.97
| || 7 towns || 
|-
!4
|'''[[Oshima Subprefecture|Oshima]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|渡島総合振興局}}}}
|[[Hakodate]]
|Hakodate
|align=right|433,475
|align=right|3,936.46
|2 cities || 9 towns || 
|-
!c
|↳ '''[[Hiyama Subprefecture|Hiyama]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|檜山振興局}}}}
|[[Esashi, Hokkaido (Hiyama)|Esashi]]
|[[Setana, Hokkaido|Setana]]
|align=right|43,210
|align=right|2,629.94
| || 7 towns ||
|-
!5
|'''[[Kamikawa Subprefecture|Kamikawa]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|上川総合振興局}}}}
|[[Asahikawa]]
|Asahikawa
|align=right|527,575
|align=right|10,619.20
|4 cities || 17 towns || 2 villages
|-
!d
|↳ '''[[Rumoi Subprefecture|Rumoi]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|留萌振興局}}}}
|[[Rumoi, Hokkaido|Rumoi]]
|Rumoi
|align=right|53,916
|align=right|3,445.75
|1 city || 6 towns || 1 village
|-
!6
|'''[[Sōya Subprefecture|Sōya]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|宗谷総合振興局}}}}
|[[Wakkanai]]
|Wakkanai
|align=right|71,423
|align=right|4,625.09
|1 city || 8 towns || 1 village
|-
!7
|'''[[Okhotsk Subprefecture|Okhotsk]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|オホーツク総合振興局}}}}
|[[Abashiri]]
|[[Kitami]]
|align=right|309,487
|align=right|10,690.62
|3 cities || 14 towns || 1 village
|-
!8
|'''[[Tokachi Subprefecture|Tokachi]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|十勝総合振興局}}}}
|[[Obihiro]]
|Obihiro
|align=right|353,291
|align=right|10,831.24
|1 city || 16 towns || 2 villages
|-
!9
|'''[[Kushiro Subprefecture|Kushiro]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|釧路総合振興局}}}}
|[[Kushiro]]
|Kushiro
|align=right|252,571
|align=right|5,997.38
|1 city || 6 towns || 1 village
|-
!e
|↳ '''[[Nemuro Subprefecture|Nemuro]]'''
|{{nowrap|{{lang|ja|根室振興局}}}}
|[[Nemuro, Hokkaido|Nemuro]]
|Nemuro
|align=right|84,035
|align=right|3,406.23
|1 city || 4 towns || {{center|*}}
|-
|colspan="10"|* Japan claims the southern part of [[Kuril Islands]] ([[Kuril Islands dispute|Northern Territories]]), currently administered by Russia,<br />belong to Nemuro Subprefecture divided into six villages. However, the table above excludes these islands' data.
|}

== Municipalities ==
Hokkaidō is divided into 179 municipalities.
[[File:Map of Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg|thumb|Map of Hokkaido as seen by municipalities<br />{{legend0|#D8E|Government Ordinance Designated City}} {{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}} {{legend0|#BFE|Village}}]]

=== Cities ===
There are 35 cities in Hokkaidō:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Subprefecture
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Abashiri,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Abashiri]]
|網走市
|470.94
|34,919
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Abashiri_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Akabira,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Akabira]]
|赤平市
|129.88
|10,686
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Akabira_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Asahikawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Asahikawa]]
|旭川市
|747.6
|333,530
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Asahikawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Ashibetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ashibetsu]]
|芦別市
|865.02
|14,260
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Ashibetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Bibai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Bibai]]
|美唄市
|277.61
|24,768
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Bibai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Chitose,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Chitose, Hokkaido|Chitose]]
|千歳市
|594.5
|96,475
|[[Ishikari Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Chitose_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Date,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Date, Hokkaido|Date]]
|伊達市
|444.28
|34,898
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Date_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Ebetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ebetsu]]
|江別市
|187.57
|119,086
|[[Ishikari Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Ebetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Eniwa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Eniwa, Hokkaido|Eniwa]]
|恵庭市
|294.87
|68,883
|[[Ishikari Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Eniwa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Fukagawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Fukagawa, Hokkaido|Fukagawa]]
|深川市
|529.12
|21,618
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Fukagawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Furano,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Furano, Hokkaido|Furano]]
|富良野市
|600.97
|22,715
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Furano_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Hakodate,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hakodate]]
|函館市
|677.89
|264,845
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Hakodate_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Hokuto,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hokuto, Hokkaido|Hokuto]]
|北斗市
|397.29
|46,083
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Hokuto_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Ishikari,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ishikari, Hokkaido|Ishikari]]
|石狩市
|721.86
|58,755
|[[Ishikari Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Ishikari_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Iwamizawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Iwamizawa]]
|岩見沢市
|481.1
|84,127
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Iwamizawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kitahiroshima,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido|Kitahiroshima]]
|北広島市
|118.54
|58,918
|[[Ishikari Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Kitahiroshima_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kitami,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kitami]]
|北見市
|1,427.56
|119,135
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Kitami_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kushiro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kushiro]]
|釧路市
|1,362.75
|167,875
|[[Kushiro Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Kushiro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Mikasa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mikasa, Hokkaido|Mikasa]]
|三笠市
|302.64
|9,056
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Mikasa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Monbetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Monbetsu, Hokkaido|Monbetsu]]
|紋別市
|830.7
|22,983
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Mombetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Muroran,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Muroran]]
|室蘭市
|80.65
|93,716
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Muroran_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nayoro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nayoro]]
|名寄市
|535.23
|28,373
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Nayoro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nemuro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nemuro, Hokkaido|Nemuro]]
|根室市
|512.63
|27,109
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Nemuro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Noboribetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Noboribetsu]]
|登別市
|212.11
|49,523
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Noboribetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Obihiro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Obihiro]]
|帯広市
|618.94
|165,851
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Obihiro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Otaru,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Otaru]]
|小樽市
|243.13
|115,333
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Otaru_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rumoi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rumoi, Hokkaido|Rumoi]]
|留萌市
|297.44
|22,242
|[[Rumoi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Rumoi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Sapporo,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sapporo]] (capital)
|札幌市
|1,121.26
|1,973,432
|[[Ishikari Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Sapporo_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shibetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shibetsu, Hokkaido|Shibetsu]]
|士別市
|1,119.29
|19,794
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Shibetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Sunagawa_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sunagawa, Hokkaido|Sunagawa]]
|砂川市
|78.69
|17,589
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Sunagawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Takikawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Takikawa, Hokkaido|Takikawa]]
|滝川市
|115.9
|41,306
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Takikawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Tomakomai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tomakomai]]
|苫小牧市
|561.49
|174,216
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Tomakomai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Utashinai Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Utashinai]]
|歌志内市
|55.99
|3,019
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Iwamizawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Wakkanai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Wakkanai]]
|稚内市
|761.47
|33,869
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Wakkanai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Yubari,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yūbari, Hokkaido|Yūbari]]
|夕張市
|763.2
|8,612
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[File:Yubari_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|}

=== Towns and villages ===
These are the towns and villages in Hokkaido Prefecture:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Subprefecture
! rowspan="2" |District
! rowspan="2" |Type
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Abira,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Abira, Hokkaido|Abira]]
|安平町
|237.13
|8,323
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yūfutsu District, Hokkaido|Yūfutsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Abira_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Aibetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Aibetsu, Hokkaido|Aibetsu]]
|愛別町
|250.13
|2,992
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Aibetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Akaigawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Akaigawa, Hokkaido|Akaigawa]]
|赤井川村
|280.11
|1,157
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yoichi District, Hokkaido|Yoichi District]]
|Village
|[[File:Akaigawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Akkeshi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Akkeshi, Hokkaido|Akkeshi]]
|厚岸町
|734.82
|9,048
|[[Kushiro Subprefecture]]
|[[Akkeshi District, Hokkaido|Akkeshi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Akkeshi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Ashoro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ashoro, Hokkaido|Ashoro]]
|足寄町
|1,408.09
|7,150
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Ashoro District, Hokkaido|Ashoro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Ashoro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Assabu, Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Assabu, Hokkaido|Assabu]]
|厚沢部町
|460.58
|3,884
|[[Hiyama Subprefecture]]
|[[Hiyama District, Hokkaido|Hiyama District]]
|Town
|[[File:Assabu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Atsuma Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Atsuma, Hokkaido|Atsuma]]
|厚真町
|404.56
|4,659
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yūfutsu District, Hokkaido|Yūfutsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Atsuma_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Betsukai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Betsukai, Hokkaido|Betsukai]]
|別海町
|1,320.15
|15,179
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Notsuke District, Hokkaido|Notsuke District]]
|Town
|[[File:Betsukai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Biei,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Biei, Hokkaido|Biei]]
|美瑛町
|677.16
|10,374
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Biei_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Bifuka,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Bifuka, Hokkaido|Bifuka]]
|美深町
|672.14
|4,609
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Nakagawa (Teshio) District, Hokkaido|Nakagawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Bifuka_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Bihoro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Bihoro, Hokkaido|Bihoro]]
|美幌町
|438.36
|20,920
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Abashiri District, Hokkaido|Abashiri District]]
|Town
|[[File:Bihoro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Biratori, Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Biratori, Hokkaido|Biratori]]
|平取町
|743.16
|5,305
|[[Hidaka Subprefecture]]
|[[Saru District, Hokkaido|Saru District]]
|Town
|[[File:Biratori_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Chippubetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Chippubetsu, Hokkaido|Chippubetsu]]
|秩父別町
|47.26
|2,463
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Uryū District, Hokkaido|Uryū District]]
|Town
|[[File:Chippubetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Enbetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Enbetsu, Hokkaido|Enbetsu]]
|遠別町
|590.86
|2,966
|[[Rumoi Subprefecture]]
|[[Teshio District, Hokkaido|Teshio District]]
|Town
|[[File:Embetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Engaru,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Engaru, Hokkaido|Engaru]]
|遠軽町
|1,332.32
|20,757
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Monbetsu District, Hokkaido|Monbetsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Engaru_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Erimo,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Erimo, Hokkaido|Erimo]]
|えりも町
|283.93
|4,954
|[[Hidaka Subprefecture]]
|[[Horoizumi District, Hokkaido|Horoizumi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Erimo_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Esashi,_Hiyama,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Esashi, Hokkaido (Hiyama)|Esashi]]
|江差町
|109.57
|8,117
|[[Hiyama Subprefecture]]
|[[Hiyama District, Hokkaido|Hiyama District]]
|Town
|[[File:Esashi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Esashi,_Sōya,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Esashi, Hokkaido (Sōya)|Esashi]]
|枝幸町
|1,115.67
|8,578
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Esashi District, Hokkaido|Esashi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Esashi_(Soya)_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Fukushima,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Fukushima, Hokkaido|Fukushima]]
|福島町
|187.23
|4,390
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Matsumae District, Hokkaido|Matsumae District]]
|Town
|[[File:Fukushima_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Furubira,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Furubira, Hokkaido|Furubira]]
|古平町
|188.41
|3,265
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Furubira District, Hokkaido|Furubira District]]
|Town
|[[File:Furubira_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Haboro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Haboro, Hokkaido|Haboro]]
|羽幌町
|472.49
|7,338
|[[Rumoi Subprefecture]]
|[[Tomamae District, Hokkaido|Tomamae District]]
|Town
|[[File:Haboro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Hamanaka,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hamanaka, Hokkaido|Hamanaka]]
|浜中町
|427.68
|6,120
|[[Kushiro Subprefecture]]
|[[Akkeshi District, Hokkaido|Akkeshi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hamanaka_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Hamatonbetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hamatonbetsu, Hokkaido|Hamatonbetsu]]
|浜頓別町
|401.56
|3,841
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Esashi District, Hokkaido|Esashi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hamatombetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Hidaka,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hidaka, Hokkaido|Hidaka]]
|日高町
|992.67
|12,596
|[[Hidaka Subprefecture]]
|[[Saru District, Hokkaido|Saru District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hidaka_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Higashikagura,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Higashikagura, Hokkaido|Higashikagura]]
|東神楽町
|68.64
|10,385
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Higashikagura_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Higashikawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Higashikawa, Hokkaido|Higashikawa]]
|東川町
|247.06
|8,092
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Higashikawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Hiroo,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hiroo, Hokkaido|Hiroo]]
|広尾町
|596.14
|7,182
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Hiroo District, Hokkaido|Hiroo District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hiroo_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Hokuryu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hokuryū, Hokkaido|Hokuryū]]
|北竜町
|158.82
|1,965
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Uryū District, Hokkaido|Uryū District]]
|Town
|[[File:Hokuryu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Honbetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Honbetsu, Hokkaido|Honbetsu]]
|本別町
|391.99
|7,441
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Nakagawa (Tokachi) District, Hokkaido|Nakagawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Honbetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Horokanai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Horokanai, Hokkaido|Horokanai]]
|幌加内町
|767.03
|1,571
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Uryū District, Hokkaido|Uryū District]]
|Town
|[[File:Horokanai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Horonobe,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Horonobe, Hokkaido|Horonobe]]
|幌延町
|574.27
|2,415
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Teshio District, Hokkaido|Teshio District]]
|Town
|[[File:Horonobe_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Ikeda,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ikeda, Hokkaido|Ikeda]]
|池田町
|371.91
|6,933
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Nakagawa (Tokachi) District, Hokkaido|Nakagawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Ikeda_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Imakane,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Imakane, Hokkaido|Imakane]]
|今金町
|568.14
|5,575
|[[Hiyama Subprefecture]]
|[[Setana District, Hokkaido|Setana District]]
|Town
|[[File:Imakane_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Iwanai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Iwanai, Hokkaido|Iwanai]]
|岩内町
|70.64
|13,210
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Iwanai District, Hokkaido|Iwanai District]]
|Town
|[[File:Iwanai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kamifurano,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kamifurano, Hokkaido|Kamifurano]]
|上富良野町
|237.18
|11,055
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Sorachi District, Hokkaido|Sorachi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kamifurano_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kamikawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kamikawa, Hokkaido|Kamikawa]]
|上川町
|1,049.24
|3,706
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kamikawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kaminokuni,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kaminokuni, Hokkaido|Kaminokuni]]
|上ノ国町
|547.58
|5,161
|[[Hiyama Subprefecture]]
|[[Hiyama District, Hokkaido|Hiyama District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kaminokuni_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kamishihoro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kamishihoro, Hokkaido|Kamishihoro]]
|上士幌町
|700.87
|4,908
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Katō District, Hokkaido|Katō District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kamishihoro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kamisunagawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kamisunagawa, Hokkaido|Kamisunagawa]]
|上砂川町
|39.91
|3,278
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Sorachi District, Hokkaido|Sorachi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kamisunagawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kamoenai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kamoenai, Hokkaido|Kamoenai]]
|神恵内村
|147.71
|904
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Furuu District, Hokkaido|Furuu District]]
|Village
|[[File:Kamoenai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kenbuchi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kenbuchi, Hokkaido|Kenbuchi]]
|剣淵町
|131.2
|3,293
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Teshio) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kembuchi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kikonai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kikonai, Hokkaido|Kikonai]]
|木古内町
|221.88
|4,448
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamiiso District, Hokkaido|Kamiiso District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kikonai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kimobetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kimobetsu, Hokkaido|Kimobetsu]]
|喜茂別町
|189.51
|2,286
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Abuta District, Hokkaido|Abuta District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kimobetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kiyosato,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kiyosato, Hokkaido|Kiyosato]]
|清里町
|402.73
|4,222
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Shari District, Hokkaido|Shari District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kiyosato_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Koshimizu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Koshimizu, Hokkaido|Koshimizu]]
|小清水町
|287.04
|5,029
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Shari District, Hokkaido|Shari District]]
|Town
|[[File:Koshimizu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kunneppu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kunneppu, Hokkaido|Kunneppu]]
|訓子府町
|190.89
|5,227
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Tokoro District, Hokkaido|Tokoro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kunneppu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kuriyama,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kuriyama, Hokkaido|Kuriyama]]
|栗山町
|203.84
|12,365
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yūbari District, Hokkaido|Yūbari District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kuriyama_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kuromatsunai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kuromatsunai, Hokkaido|Kuromatsunai]]
|黒松内町
|345.65
|2,739
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Suttsu District, Hokkaido|Suttsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kuromatsunai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kushiro_Town,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kushiro (town)|Kushiro]]
|釧路町
|252.57
|19,941
|[[Kushiro Subprefecture]]
|[[Kushiro District, Hokkaido|Kushiro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kushiro_town_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kutchan,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kutchan, Hokkaido|Kutchan]]
|倶知安町
|261.24
|15,573
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Abuta District, Hokkaido|Abuta District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kutchan_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kyogoku,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kyōgoku, Hokkaido|Kyōgoku]]
|京極町
|231.61
|3,144
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Abuta District, Hokkaido|Abuta District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kyogoku_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Kyowa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kyōwa, Hokkaido|Kyōwa]]
|共和町
|304.96
|6,136
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Iwanai District, Hokkaido|Iwanai District]]
|Town
|[[File:Kyowa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Makkari,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Makkari, Hokkaido|Makkari]]
|真狩村
|114.43
|2,081
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Abuta District, Hokkaido|Abuta District]]
|Village
|[[File:Makkari_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Makubetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Makubetsu, Hokkaido|Makubetsu]]
|幕別町
|340.46
|26,610
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Nakagawa (Tokachi) District, Hokkaido|Nakagawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Makubetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Mashike,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mashike, Hokkaido|Mashike]]
|増毛町
|369.64
|4,634
|[[Rumoi Subprefecture]]
|[[Mashike District, Hokkaido|Mashike District]]
|Town
|[[File:Mashike_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Matsumae,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Matsumae, Hokkaido|Matsumae]]
|松前町
|293.11
|7,843
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Matsumae District, Hokkaido|Matsumae District]]
|Town
|[[File:Matsumae_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Memuro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Memuro, Hokkaido|Memuro]]
|芽室町
|513.91
|18,806
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Kasai District, Hokkaido|Kasai District]]
|Town
|[[File:Memuro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Minamifurano,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Minamifurano, Hokkaido|Minamifurano]]
|南富良野町
|665.52
|2,611
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Sorachi District, Hokkaido|Sorachi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Minamifurano_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Mori,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mori, Hokkaido|Mori]]
|森町
|378.27
|16,299
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Kayabe District, Hokkaido|Kayabe District]]
|Town
|[[File:Mori_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Moseushi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Moseushi, Hokkaido|Moseushi]]
|妹背牛町
|48.55
|3,134
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Uryū District, Hokkaido|Uryū District]]
|Town
|[[File:Moseushi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Mukawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Mukawa, Hokkaido|Mukawa]]
|むかわ町
|166.43
|8,527
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yūfutsu District, Hokkaido|Yūfutsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Mukawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Naganuma,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Naganuma, Hokkaido|Naganuma]]
|長沼町
|168.36
|11,262
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yūbari District, Hokkaido|Yūbari District]]
|Town
|[[File:Naganuma_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Naie,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Naie, Hokkaido|Naie]]
|奈井江町
|88.05
|5,664
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Sorachi District, Hokkaido|Sorachi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Naie_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nakafurano,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nakafurano, Hokkaido|Nakafurano]]
|中富良野町
|108.7
|5,086
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Sorachi District, Hokkaido|Sorachi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nakafurano_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nakagawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nakagawa, Hokkaido|Nakagawa]]
|中川町
|594.87
|1,585
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Nakagawa (Teshio) District, Hokkaido|Nakagawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nakagawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nakasatsunai,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nakasatsunai, Hokkaido|Nakasatsunai]]
|中札内村
|292.69
|3,980
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Kasai District, Hokkaido|Kasai District]]
|Village
|[[File:Nakasatsunai_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nakashibetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido|Nakashibetsu]]
|中標津町
|684.98
|24,014
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Shibetsu District, Hokkaido|Shibetsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nakashibetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nakatonbetsu_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nakatonbetsu, Hokkaido|Nakatonbetsu]]
|中頓別町
|398.55
|1,776
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Esashi District, Hokkaido|Esashi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nakatombetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nanae,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nanae, Hokkaido|Nanae]]
|七飯町
|216.61
|28,514
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Kameda District, Hokkaido|Kameda District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nanae_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nanporo,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nanporo, Hokkaido|Nanporo]]
|南幌町
|81.49
|7,816
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Sorachi District, Hokkaido|Sorachi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Nanporo_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Niikappu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Niikappu, Hokkaido|Niikappu]]
|新冠町
|585.88
|5,696
|[[Hidaka Subprefecture]]
|[[Niikappu District, Hokkaido|Niikappu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Niikappu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Niki,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Niki, Hokkaido|Niki]]
|仁木町
|167.93
|3,874
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yoichi District, Hokkaido|Yoichi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Niki_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Niseko,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Niseko, Hokkaido|Niseko]]
|ニセコ町
|197.13
|4,938
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Abuta District, Hokkaido|Abuta District]]
|Town
|[[File:Niseko_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Nishiokoppe,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido|Nishiokoppe]]
|西興部村
|308.12
|1,120
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Monbetsu District, Hokkaido|Monbetsu District]]
|Village
|[[File:Nishiokoppe_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Numata,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Numata, Hokkaido|Numata]]
|沼田町
|283.21
|3,207
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Uryū District, Hokkaido|Uryū District]]
|Town
|[[File:Numata_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Obira,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Obira, Hokkaido|Obira]]
|小平町
|627.29
|3,277
|[[Rumoi Subprefecture]]
|[[Rumoi District, Hokkaido|Rumoi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Obira_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Oketo,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Oketo, Hokkaido|Oketo]]
|置戸町
|527.54
|3,042
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Tokoro District, Hokkaido|Tokoro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Oketo_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Okoppe,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Okoppe, Hokkaido|Okoppe]]
|興部町
|362.41
|3,963
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Monbetsu District, Hokkaido|Monbetsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Okoppe_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Okushiri,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Okushiri, Hokkaido|Okushiri]]
|奥尻町
|142.98
|2,812
|[[Hiyama Subprefecture]]
|[[Okushiri District, Hokkaido|Okushiri District]]
|Town
|[[File:Okushiri_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Omu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōmu, Hokkaido|Ōmu]]
|雄武町
|637.03
|4,596
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Monbetsu District, Hokkaido|Monbetsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Omu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Oshamanbe,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Oshamambe, Hokkaido|Oshamambe]]
|長万部町
|310.75
|5,694
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Yamakoshi District, Hokkaido|Yamakoshi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Oshamambe_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Otobe,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Otobe, Hokkaido|Otobe]]
|乙部町
|162.55
|3,925
|[[Hiyama Subprefecture]]
|[[Nishi District, Hokkaido|Nishi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Otobe_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Otoineppu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Otoineppu, Hokkaido|Otoineppu]]
|音威子府村
|275.64
|831
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Nakagawa (Teshio) District, Hokkaido|Nakagawa District]]
|Village
|[[File:Otoineppu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Otofuke,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Otofuke, Hokkaido|Otofuke]]
|音更町
|466.09
|44,235
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Katō District, Hokkaido|Katō District]]
|Town
|[[File:Otofuke_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ozora Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōzora, Hokkaido|Ōzora]]
|大空町
|343.62
|7,430
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Abashiri District, Hokkaido|Abashiri District]]
|Town
|[[File:Ozora_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Pippu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Pippu, Hokkaido|Pippu]]
|比布町
|87.29
|3,845
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Pippu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rankoshi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rankoshi, Hokkaido|Rankoshi]]
|蘭越町
|449.68
|4,893
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Isoya District, Hokkaido|Isoya District]]
|Town
|[[File:Rankoshi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rausu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rausu, Hokkaido|Rausu]]
|羅臼町
|397.88
|5,395
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Menashi District, Hokkaido|Menashi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Rausu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rebun,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rebun, Hokkaido|Rebun]]
|礼文町
|81.33
|2,651
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Rebun District, Hokkaido|Rebun District]]
|Town
|[[File:Rebun_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rikubetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rikubetsu, Hokkaido|Rikubetsu]]
|陸別町
|608.81
|2,528
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Ashoro District, Hokkaido|Ashoro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Rikubetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rishiri,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rishiri, Hokkaido|Rishiri]]
|利尻町
|76.49
|2,169
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Rishiri District, Hokkaido|Rishiri District]]
|Town
|[[File:Rishiri_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rishirifuji,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rishirifuji, Hokkaido|Rishirifuji]]
|利尻富士町
|105.69
|2,665
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Rishiri District, Hokkaido|Rishiri District]]
|Town
|[[File:Rishirifuji_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[Rubetsu, Hokkaido|Rubetsu]]<ref name=":1">Disputed with Russia (see [[Kuril Islands dispute]]).</ref>
|留別村
|1,442.82
|2,814
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Etorofu District]]
|Village
|[[File:Rubetsu_in_Nemuro_Subprefecture.gif|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Rusutsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rusutsu, Hokkaido|Rusutsu]]
|留寿都村
|119.92
|1,940
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Abuta District, Hokkaido|Abuta District]]
|Village
|[[File:Rusutsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[Ruyobetsu, Hokkaido|Ruyobetsu]]<ref name=":1" />
|留夜別村
|960.27
|3,401
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Kunashiri District]]
|Village
|[[File:Ruyobetsu_in_Nemuro_Subprefecture.gif|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Samani,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Samani, Hokkaido|Samani]]
|様似町
|364.33
|4,482
|[[Hidaka Subprefecture]]
|[[Samani District, Hokkaido|Samani District]]
|Town
|[[File:Samani_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Sarabetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sarabetsu, Hokkaido|Sarabetsu]]
|更別村
|176.45
|3,275
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Kasai District, Hokkaido|Kasai District]]
|Village
|[[File:Sarabetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Saroma,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Saroma, Hokkaido|Saroma]]
|佐呂間町
|404.99
|5,617
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Tokoro District, Hokkaido|Tokoro District]]
|Town
|[[File:Saroma_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Sarufutsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sarufutsu, Hokkaido|Sarufutsu]]
|猿払村
|590
|2,884
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Sōya District, Hokkaido|Sōya District]]
|Village
|[[File:Sarufutsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Setana,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Setana, Hokkaido|Setana]]
|せたな町
|638.67
|8,501
|[[Hiyama Subprefecture]]
|[[Kudō District, Hokkaido|Kudō District]]
|Town
|[[File:Setana_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shakotan,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shakotan, Hokkaido|Shakotan]]
|積丹町
|238.2
|2,215
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Shakotan District, Hokkaido|Shakotan District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shakotan_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[Shana, Hokkaido|Shana]]<ref name=":1" />
|紗那村
|973.3
|1,426
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Shana District]]
|Village
|[[File:Shyna_in_Nemuro_Subprefecture.gif|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shari,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shari, Hokkaido|Shari]]
|斜里町
|736.97
|11,897
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Shari District, Hokkaido|Shari District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shari_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shibecha,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shibecha, Hokkaido|Shibecha]]
|標茶町
|1,099.41
|7,862
|[[Kushiro Subprefecture]]
|[[Kawakami District, Hokkaido|Kawakami District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shibecha_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[Shibetoro municipality|Shibetoro]]<ref name=":1" />
|蘂取村
|760.5
|881
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Shibetoro District, Hokkaido|Shibetoro District]]
|Village
|[[File:Shibetoro_in_Nemuro_Subprefecture.gif|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shibetsu_Town,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shibetsu, Hokkaido (Nemuro)|Shibetsu]]
|標津町
|624.49
|5,374
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Shibetsu District, Hokkaido|Shibetsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shibetsu_town_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shihoro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shihoro, Hokkaido|Shihoro]]
|士幌町
|259.13
|6,234
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Katō District, Hokkaido|Katō District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shihoro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shikabe,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shikabe, Hokkaido|Shikabe]]
|鹿部町
|110.61
|3,920
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Kayabe District, Hokkaido|Kayabe District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shikabe_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shikaoi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shikaoi, Hokkaido|Shikaoi]]
|鹿追町
|399.69
|5,570
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Katō District, Hokkaido|Katō District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shikaoi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[Shikotan, Hokkaido|Shikotan]]<ref name=":1" />
|色丹村
|253.33
|1,499
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Shikotan|Shikotan District]]
|Village
|[[File:Shikotan_in_Nemuro_Subprefecture.gif|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shimamaki,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shimamaki, Hokkaido|Shimamaki]]
|島牧村
|437.26
|1,560
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Shimamaki District, Hokkaido|Shimamaki District]]
|Village
|[[File:Shimamaki_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shimizu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shimizu, Hokkaido|Shimizu]]
|清水町
|402.18
|9,784
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Tokachi) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shimizu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shimokawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shimokawa, Hokkaido|Shimokawa]]
|下川町
|644.2
|3,836
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Teshio) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shimokawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shimukappu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shimukappu]]
|占冠村
|571.31
|1,251
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Yūfutsu District, Hokkaido|Yūfutsu District]]
|Village
|[[File:Shimukappu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shinhidaka,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shinhidaka, Hokkaido|Shinhidaka]]
|新ひだか町
|1,147.75
|23,516
|[[Hidaka Subprefecture]]
|[[Hidaka District, Hokkaido|Hidaka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shinhidaka_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shinshinotsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shinshinotsu, Hokkaido|Shinshinotsu]]
|新篠津村
|78.24
|3,235
|[[Ishikari Subprefecture]]
|[[Ishikari District, Hokkaido|Ishikari District]]
|Village
|[[File:Shinshinotsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shintoku,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shintoku, Hokkaido|Shintoku]]
|新得町
|1,063.79
|6,285
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Tokachi) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shintoku_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shintotsukawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shintotsukawa, Hokkaido|Shintotsukawa]]
|新十津川町
|495.62
|6,787
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Kabato District, Hokkaido|Kabato District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shintotsukawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shiranuka,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shiranuka, Hokkaido|Shiranuka]]
|白糠町
|773.74
|7,972
|[[Kushiro Subprefecture]]
|[[Shiranuka District, Hokkaido|Shiranuka District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shiranuka_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shiraoi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shiraoi, Hokkaido|Shiraoi]]
|白老町
|425.75
|17,759
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[Shiraoi District, Hokkaido|Shiraoi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shiraoi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shiriuchi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shiriuchi, Hokkaido|Shiriuchi]]
|知内町
|196.67
|4,620
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamiiso District, Hokkaido|Kamiiso District]]
|Town
|[[File:Shiriuchi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Shosanbetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Shosanbetsu, Hokkaido|Shosanbetsu]]
|初山別村
|280.04
|1,249
|[[Rumoi Subprefecture]]
|[[Tomamae District, Hokkaido|Tomamae District]]
|Village
|[[File:Shosanbetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Sobetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Sōbetsu, Hokkaido|Sōbetsu]]
|壮瞥町
|205.04
|2,665
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|<u>[[Usu District, Hokkaido|Usu District]]</u>
|Town
|[[File:Sobetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Suttsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Suttsu, Hokkaido|Suttsu]]
|寿都町
|95.36
|3,113
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Suttsu District, Hokkaido|Suttsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Suttsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Taiki,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Taiki, Hokkaido|Taiki]]
|大樹町
|816.38
|5,742
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Hiroo District, Hokkaido|Hiroo District]]
|Town
|[[File:Taiki_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Takasu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Takasu, Hokkaido|Takasu]]
|鷹栖町
|139.44
|6,780
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Takasu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Takinoue,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Takinoue, Hokkaido|Takinoue]]
|滝上町
|786.89
|2,757
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Monbetsu District, Hokkaido|Monbetsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Takinoue_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Teshikaga,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Teshikaga, Hokkaido|Teshikaga]]
|弟子屈町
|774.53
|7,631
|[[Kushiro Subprefecture]]
|[[Kawakami District, Hokkaido|Kawakami District]]
|Town
|[[File:Teshikaga_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Teshio,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Teshio, Hokkaido|Teshio]]
|天塩町
|353.31
|3,241
|[[Rumoi Subprefecture]]
|[[Teshio District, Hokkaido|Teshio District]]
|Town
|[[File:Teshio_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Tobetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tōbetsu, Hokkaido|Tōbetsu]]
|当別町
|422.71
|16,694
|[[Ishikari Subprefecture]]
|[[Ishikari District, Hokkaido|Ishikari District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tobetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Toma,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tōma, Hokkaido|Tōma]]
|当麻町
|204.95
|6,662
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Toma_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Tomamae,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tomamae, Hokkaido|Tomamae]]
|苫前町
|454.5
|3,261
|[[Rumoi Subprefecture]]
|[[Tomamae District, Hokkaido|Tomamae District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tomamae_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Tomari,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tomari, Hokkaido|Tomari]]
|泊村
|82.35
|1,750
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Furuu District, Hokkaido|Furuu District]]
|Village
|[[File:Tomari_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[Tomari, Hokkaido (Nemuro)|Tomari]]<ref name=":1" />
|泊村
|538.56
|5,595
|[[Nemuro Subprefecture]]
|[[Kunashiri District]]
|Village
|[[File:Tomari_in_Nemuro_Subprefecture.gif|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Toyako,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tōyako, Hokkaido|Tōyako]]
|洞爺湖町
|180.54
|9,231
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[Abuta District, Hokkaido|Abuta District]]
|Town
|[[File:Toyako_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Toyokoro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Toyokoro, Hokkaido|Toyokoro]]
|豊頃町
|536.52
|3,262
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Nakagawa (Tokachi) District, Hokkaido|Nakagawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Toyokoro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Toyotomi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Toyotomi, Hokkaido|Toyotomi]]
|豊富町
|520.69
|4,054
|[[Sōya Subprefecture]]
|[[Teshio District, Hokkaido|Teshio District]]
|Town
|[[File:Toyotomi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Toyoura,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Toyoura, Hokkaido|Toyoura]]
|豊浦町
|233.54
|4,205
|[[Iburi Subprefecture]]
|[[Abuta District, Hokkaido|Abuta District]]
|Town
|[[File:Toyoura_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Tsubetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tsubetsu, Hokkaido|Tsubetsu]]
|津別町
|716.6
|5,011
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Abashiri District, Hokkaido|Abashiri District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tsubetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Tsukigata,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tsukigata, Hokkaido|Tsukigata]]
|月形町
|151.05
|3,429
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Kabato District, Hokkaido|Kabato District]]
|Town
|[[File:Tsukigata_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Tsurui,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Tsurui]]
|鶴居村
|571.84
|2,516
|[[Kushiro Subprefecture]]
|[[Akan District, Hokkaido|Akan District]]
|Village
|[[File:Tsurui_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Urahoro,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Urahoro, Hokkaido|Urahoro]]
|浦幌町
|729.64
|5,023
|[[Tokachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Tokachi District, Hokkaido|Tokachi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Urahoro_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Urakawa,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Urakawa, Hokkaido|Urakawa]]
|浦河町
|694.24
|12,800
|[[Hidaka Subprefecture]]
|[[Urakawa District, Hokkaido|Urakawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Urakawa_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Urausu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Urausu, Hokkaido|Urausu]]
|浦臼町
|101.08
|1,983
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Kabato District, Hokkaido|Kabato District]]
|Town
|[[File:Urausu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Uryu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Uryū, Hokkaido|Uryū]]
|雨竜町
|190.91
|2,546
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Uryū District, Hokkaido|Uryū District]]
|Town
|[[File:Uryu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Wassamu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Wassamu, Hokkaido|Wassamu]]
|和寒町
|224.83
|3,553
|[[Kamikawa Subprefecture]]
|[[Kamikawa (Teshio) District, Hokkaido|Kamikawa District]]
|Town
|[[File:Wassamu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Yakumo,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yakumo, Hokkaido|Yakumo]]
|八雲町
|955.98
|17,299
|[[Oshima Subprefecture]]
|[[Futami District, Hokkaido|Futami District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yakumo_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Yoichi,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yoichi, Hokkaido|Yoichi]]
|余市町
|140.6
|19,698
|[[Shiribeshi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yoichi District, Hokkaido|Yoichi District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yoichi_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Yubetsu,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yūbetsu, Hokkaido|Yūbetsu]]
|湧別町
|505.74
|8,474
|[[Okhotsk Subprefecture]]
|[[Monbetsu District, Hokkaido|Monbetsu District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yubetsu_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag_of_Yuni,_Hokkaido.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yuni, Hokkaido|Yuni]]
|由仁町
|133.86
|5,426
|[[Sorachi Subprefecture]]
|[[Yūbari District, Hokkaido|Yūbari District]]
|Town
|[[File:Yuni_in_Hokkaido_Prefecture_Ja.svg|frameless|55x55px]]
|}

==Climate==
[[File:Satellite image of Hokkaido, Japan in January 2003.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of Hokkaido in winter, January 2003]]
[[File:Hokkaido Season Winter Summer 2008.png|thumb|400px|Hokkaido in winter and summer]]

As Japan's coldest region, Hokkaidō has relatively cool summers and icy/snowy winters. Most of the island falls in the [[humid continental climate]] zone with [[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfb'' ([[hemiboreal]]) in most areas but ''Dfa'' (hot summer humid continental) in some inland lowlands. The average August temperature ranges from {{convert|17|to|22|C|F|1}}, while the average January temperature ranges from {{convert|-12|to|-4|C|F|1}}, in both cases depending on elevation and distance from the ocean, though temperatures on the western side of the island tend to be a little warmer than on the eastern. The highest temperature ever recorded is {{convert|39.5|C|F|1}} on 26 May 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hokkaido-sizzling-in-temperatures-as-high-as-395-deg-c-as-unseasonal-heat-wave-grips|title = Hokkaidō sizzling in temperatures up to 39.5 deg C as unseasonal heat wave grips Japan|newspaper = The Straits Times|date = 26 May 2019|last1 = Sim|first1 = Walter|access-date = 27 May 2019|archive-date = 27 May 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190527001259/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hokkaido-sizzling-in-temperatures-as-high-as-395-deg-c-as-unseasonal-heat-wave-grips|url-status = live}}</ref>

The northern portion of Hokkaidō falls into the [[taiga|taiga biome]]<ref>C.Michael Hogan. 2011. [http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/171390/ ''Taiga''. eds. M.McGinley & C.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104122600/http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/171390/ |date=2013-11-04 }}</ref> with significant snowfall. Snowfall varies widely from as much as {{convert|11|m|in|-2}} on the mountains adjacent to the Sea of Japan down to around {{convert|1.8|m|in|0}} on the Pacific coast. The island tends to have isolated snowstorms that develop long-lasting snowbanks. Total precipitation varies from {{convert|1600|mm|in}} on the mountains of the Sea of Japan coast to around {{convert|800|mm|in}} (the lowest in Japan) on the Sea of Okhotsk coast and interior lowlands and up to around {{convert|1100|mm|in|0}} on the Pacific side. The generally high quality of [[powder snow]] and numerous mountains in Hokkaidō make it a popular region for snow sports. The snowfall usually commences in earnest in November and ski resorts (such as those at Niseko, Furano, Teine and Rusutsu) usually operate between December and April. Hokkaidō celebrates its winter weather at the [[Sapporo Snow Festival]].

During the winter, passage through the [[Sea of Okhotsk]] is often complicated by large floes of [[drift ice]]. Combined with high winds that occur during winter, this frequently brings air travel and maritime activity to a halt beyond the northern coast of Hokkaidō. Ports on the open Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan are generally ice-free year round, though most rivers freeze during the winter.

Unlike the other major islands of Japan, Hokkaidō is normally not affected by the June–July  [[Wet season|rainy season]] and the relative lack of humidity and typically warm, rather than hot, summer weather makes its climate an attraction for tourists from other parts of Japan.

===Temperature comparison===
{{sort under}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under" style="text-align: center; font-size: 85%;"
|+ Monthly average highs and lows for various cities and towns in Hokkaido in Celsius and Fahrenheit
|-
! City
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jan|January}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Feb|February}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Mar|March}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Apr|April}}
! data-sort-type="number" | May
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jun|June}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jul|July}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Aug|August}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Sep|September}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Oct|October}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Nov|November}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Dec|December}}
|-
| [[Sapporo]]<!-- forecast office -->
| {{convert|-0.4|/|-6.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|0.4|/|-6.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.5|/|-2.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.7|/|3.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.9|/|9.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|21.8|/|13.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|25.4|/|17.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|26.4|/|19.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|22.8|/|14.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|16.4|/|8.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|8.7|/|1.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|2.0|/|-4.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Hakodate]]
| {{convert|0.9|/|-6.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|1.8|/|-5.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|5.8|/|-2.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|12.0|/|2.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.0|/|8.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|20.4|/|12.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|24.1|/|17.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|25.9|/|18.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|23.2|/|14.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.1|/|7.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|10.0|/|1.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|3.2|/|-3.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Asahikawa]]
| {{convert|-3.3|/|-11.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-1.7|/|-11.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|3.0|/|-6.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.2|/|0.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|18.8|/|6.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|22.8|/|12.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|26.2|/|16.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|26.6|/|16.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|21.9|/|11.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|14.9|/|4.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|6.2|/|-1.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-0.8|/|-8.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Kushiro]]
| {{convert|-0.2|/|-9.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-0.1|/|-9.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|3.3|/|-4.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|8.0|/|0.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|12.6|/|5.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|15.8|/|9.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|19.6|/|13.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|21.5|/|15.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|20.1|/|12.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|15.1|/|6.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|8.9|/|-0.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|2.5|/|-7.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Wakkanai]]
| {{convert|-2.4|/|-6.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-2.0|/|-6.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|1.6|/|-3.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|7.4|/|1.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|12.4|/|6.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|16.1|/|10.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|20.1|/|14.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|22.3|/|17.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|20.1|/|14.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|14.1|/|8.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|6.3|/|1.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
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| [[Okushiri, Hokkaido|Okushiri]]
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|}

== Major cities and towns ==
[[File:Sapporo at Night (HOKKAIDO-JAPAN) (2374185648).jpg|thumb|Sapporo, Hokkaidō's largest city]]
Hokkaidō's largest city is the capital, [[Sapporo]], which is a designated city. The island has two core cities: [[Hakodate, Hokkaido|Hakodate]] in the south and [[Asahikawa, Hokkaido|Asahikawa]] in the central region. Other important population centers include [[Tomakomai, Hokkaido|Tomakomai]], [[Iwamizawa, Hokkaido|Iwamizawa]], [[Kushiro, Hokkaido|Kushiro]], [[Obihiro, Hokkaido|Obihiro]], [[Kitami, Hokkaido|Kitami]], [[Abashiri, Hokkaido|Abashiri]], [[Wakkanai, Hokkaido|Wakkanai]], and [[Nemuro, Hokkaido|Nemuro]].

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="130px">
File:4 Chome Sakaigawa, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaidō 064-0943, Japan - panoramio.jpg|[[Sapporo|Sapporo City]]
File:Asahibashi Bridge and Mt. Daisetsuzan Range.jpg|[[Asahikawa, Hokkaido|Asahikawa]]
File:Cityscapes of Hakodate Hokkaido pref Japan01n.jpg|[[Hakodate, Hokkaido|Hakodate]]
File:Nusamai-Bridge.jpg|[[Kushiro, Hokkaido|Kushiro]]
File:ObihiroMainSummer.jpg|[[Obihiro, Hokkaido|Obihiro]]
File:春光町から北見市中心部方向 - panoramio.jpg|[[Kitami, Hokkaido|Kitami]]
File:Hokkaido-prefectural-road R6 central-Iwamizawa.JPG|[[Iwamizawa, Hokkaido|Iwamizawa]]
File:Abashiri River09n.jpg|[[Abashiri, Hokkaido|Abashiri]]
File:Wakkanai station001.JPG|[[Wakkanai, Hokkaido|Wakkanai]]
File:Hokkaido pref road No35 Nosappu Cape.jpg|[[Nemuro, Hokkaido|Nemuro]]
File:Rumoi city nightview.JPG|[[Rumoi, Hokkaido|Rumoi]]
</gallery>

==Economy==
[[File:Tokachi Plain aerial view near Obihiro Hokkaido.jpg|thumb|Large farms on the Tokachi plain]]
Although there is some [[light industry]] (most notably paper milling and beer brewing) most of the population is employed by the service sector. In 2001, the service sector and other tertiary industries generated more than three-quarters of the gross domestic product.<ref name="business-env">{{cite web|url=http://www.pref.hokkaido.jp/keizai/kz-bkkry/env/env-e.html|title=Hokkaido's Business Environment|publisher=Trade and Economic Exchange Group, Commerce and Economic Exchange Division, Department of Economic Affairs, Hokkaido Government|access-date=2008-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721020826/http://www.pref.hokkaido.jp/keizai/kz-bkkry/env/env-e.html|archive-date=2010-07-21}}</ref>

Agriculture and other primary industries play a large role in Hokkaidō's economy. Hokkaidō has nearly one fourth of Japan's total arable land. It ranks first in the nation in the production of a host of agricultural products, including wheat, soybeans, potatoes, sugar beets, onions, pumpkins, corn, raw milk, and beef. Hokkaidō also accounts for 22% of Japan's forests with a sizable timber industry. The prefecture is first in the nation in production of marine products and aquaculture.<ref name="business-env" /> The average farm size in Hokkaidō is 26 hectares per farmer in 2013, which is almost 11 times bigger than the national average of 2.4 hectares.<ref name="Agriculture Hokkaido">{{Cite news |title=Trend toward stronger agriculture seen in Hokkaidō |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Biotechnology/Trend-toward-stronger-agriculture-seen-in-Hokkaido/ |work=[[The Nikkei]] |date=5 January 2015 |access-date=7 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407200056/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Biotechnology/Trend-toward-stronger-agriculture-seen-in-Hokkaido/ |archive-date=7 April 2019 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

[[File:Nakafurano 02.jpg|thumb|right|[[Farm Tomita]] in [[Nakafurano, Hokkaido|Nakafurano]]]]
Tourism is an important industry, especially during the cool summertime when visitors are attracted to Hokkaidō's open spaces from hotter and more humid parts of Japan and other Asian countries. During the winter, skiing and other winter sports bring other tourists, and increasingly international ones, to the island.<ref name="Japan Times">{{cite news|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/07/08/news/boom-time-for-hokkaido-ski-resort-area/#.UnYe43CVPeM|title=Boom time for Hokkaido ski resort area|last=Takahara|first=Kanako|date=July 8, 2008|work=The Japan Times|publisher=The Japan Times Ltd.|access-date=2008-09-27|archive-date=2013-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413123055/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/07/08/news/boom-time-for-hokkaido-ski-resort-area/#.UnYe43CVPeM|url-status=live}}</ref>

Coal mining played an important role in the industrial development of Hokkaidō, with the [[Ishikari coalfield]]. Cities such as Muroran were primarily developed to supply the rest of the archipelago with coal.<ref name=":0" />

In 2023, [[Rapidus Corporation]] announced Hokkaido's largest business investment with a 5 trillion yen plan to build a [[Semiconductor device fabrication|semiconductor manufacturing]] factory in [[Chitose, Hokkaido|Chitose]]. The site is expected to eventually host over 1,000 employees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Hokkaido chip plant will 'stun the world,' Rapidus says |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14851046 |first1=Kenji |last1=Izawa |first2=Satoshi |last2=Shinden  |first3=Takumi |last3=Wakai |date=2023-03-01 |website=The Asahi Shimbun |language=en}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:JRH H5 H2 JRE E5 U14 Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station north 20160406.jpg|thumb|right|[[Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station]] on the [[Hokkaido Shinkansen]]]]
Hokkaido's only land link to the rest of Japan is the [[Seikan Tunnel]]. Most travellers travel to the island by air: the main airport is [[New Chitose Airport]] at [[Chitose, Hokkaido|Chitose]], just south of Sapporo. Tokyo–Chitose is in the top 10 of the [[List of busiest passenger air routes|world's busiest air routes]], handling more than 40 widebody round trips on several airlines each day. One of the airlines, [[Air Do]] was named after Hokkaidō.

Hokkaidō can be reached by ferry from [[Sendai]], [[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata]] and some other cities, with the ferries from Tokyo dealing only in cargo. The [[Hokkaido Shinkansen]] takes passengers from Tokyo to near Hakodate in slightly over four hours.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bender |first1=Andrew |title=Japan Opens a Futuristic Bullet Train Line from Tokyo to Hokkaido |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbender/2016/03/28/japan-opens-a-futuristic-bullet-train-line-from-tokyo-to-hokkaido/#42c829643168 |work=[[Forbes]] |date=28 March 2016 |language=en |access-date=4 September 2017 |archive-date=8 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908191628/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbender/2016/03/28/japan-opens-a-futuristic-bullet-train-line-from-tokyo-to-hokkaido/#42c829643168 |url-status=live }}</ref> There is a fairly well-developed [[Hokkaido Railway Company|railway network]], but many cities can be accessed only by road. The coal railways were constructed around Sapporo and Horonai during the late 19th century, as advised by American engineer Joseph Crawford.<ref name=":0" />

Hokkaidō is home to one of Japan's [[Musical road#Melody Road|Melody Road]]{{Broken anchor|date=2025-05-09|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Musical road#Melody Road|reason= The anchor (Melody Road) [[Special:Diff/989373386|has been deleted]].|diff_id=989373386}}s, which is made from grooves cut into the ground, which when driven over causes a tactile vibration and audible rumbling transmitted through the wheels into the car body.<ref name="GuardianJP">{{cite news |first=Bobbie |last=Johnson |title=Japan's melody roads play music as you drive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/13/japan.gadgets |work=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group|GMG]] |location=[[Farringdon Road]], [[London]], England |page=19 (International section) |date=13 November 2007 |access-date=2008-10-20 |archive-date=2013-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901025639/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/13/japan.gadgets |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Noise">{{cite web |url=http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2008/09/car-musical-instrument-melody-roads-japan/ |title=Your car as a musical instrument – Melody Roads |access-date=20 October 2008 |date=29 September 2008 |publisher=Noise Addicts |archive-date=13 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913223414/http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2008/09/car-musical-instrument-melody-roads-japan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Education ==
{{multiple image
 | align             = right
 | direction         = vertical
 | caption_align     = left
 | width1            = 175
 | image1            = 131103 Hokkaido University Botanical Gardens Sapporo Hokkaido Japan18o.jpg
 | caption1          = [[Hokkaido University Botanical Gardens]]
 | width2            = 175
 | image2            = Hokkaido-Univ-Museum-01.jpg
 | caption2          = [[Hokkaido University Museum]]
}}
The [[Hokkaido Prefectural Board of Education]] oversees public schools (except colleges and universities) in Hokkaidō. Public elementary and junior high schools (except Hokkaido Noboribetsu Akebi Secondary School and schools attached to Hokkaidō University of Education) are operated by municipalities, and public high schools are operated by either the prefectural board or municipalities.

===Senior high schools===
{{Further|List of high schools in Japan|ja:北海道高等学校一覧}}
{{As of|2016}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dokyoi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/hk/ksk/chosa/settihai/gsu2016_2top.htm |title=H28道内の学校数 ｜ 教育庁総務政策局教育政策課 |access-date=2022-10-28 |archive-date=2016-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002202018/http://www.dokyoi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/hk/ksk/chosa/settihai/gsu2016_2top.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> there are 291 high schools in Hokkaido: 4 national schools, 55 private schools,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.doshigaku.jp/search/?taxonomy%5B%5D=privatehighschool | title=学校検索 &#124; 私学ナビHokkaido 北海道の私立学校協会 }}</ref> 233 public schools,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hokkaido-c.ed.jp/kouritsu/index.html | title=公立高等学校 - 北海道スクールネットポータルサイト }}</ref> and 2 integrated junior-senior schools.

===Colleges and universities===
{{Further|List of universities in Japan}}
Hokkaidō has 34 universities (7 national, 6 local public, and 21 private universities), 15 junior colleges, and 6 [[Colleges of technology in Japan|colleges of technology]] (3 national, 1 local public, and 2 private colleges).

== Culture ==
[[File:中空土偶.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Hollow Dogū]], the only [[National Treasure (Japan)|National Treasure]] on the island ([[Hakodate Jōmon Culture Center]])]]
* [[Historical Village of Hokkaido]]
* [[Hokkaido Archaeological Operations Center]]
* [[Hokkaidō Heritage]]
* [[Hokkaido Museum]]
* [[Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art]]
* [[Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples]]
* [[Pacific Music Festival]]
* [[Ramen#Regional variations|Sapporo ramen]], [[Jingisukan]]

== Sports ==
[[File:Sapporo Dome01.jpg|thumb|[[Sapporo Dome]] in Sapporo]]
The [[1972 Winter Olympics]] were held in Sapporo.

The sports teams listed below are based in Hokkaidō.
*[[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo|Consadole Sapporo]] (association football)
*[[Hokkaido American Football Association]]
*[[Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters]]
*[[Japan Basketball League]]
*[[Levanga Hokkaido]] (basketball)
*[[Loco Solare]] (curling)
*[[Nippon Paper Cranes]] (ice hockey)
*[[Oji Eagles]] (ice hockey)

==Winter festivals==
* Asahikawa Ice Festival
* Big Air – snowboarding freestyle competition
* [[Sapporo Snow Festival]]
* Shōwa-Shinzan International [[Yukigassen]] - competitive snowballing
* Sōunkyō Ice Festival

==International relations==
Hokkaidō has [[Twin towns and sister cities|relationships]] with several provinces, states, and other entities worldwide.<ref>[http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tsk/koryujyokyo.htm "Exchange Affiliates"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524080923/http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tsk/koryujyokyo.htm |date=2015-05-24 }}. Retrieved on 5 December 2008.</ref>
* {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Alberta]], Canada, since 1980<ref name="sister_AB1">{{cite web | title = Hokkaido – Alberta Relations | url = http://www.international.alberta.ca/documents/International/Hokkaido-AB.pdf | access-date = 2010-05-30 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101204174811/http://www.international.alberta.ca/documents/International/Hokkaido-AB.pdf | archive-date = 2010-12-04 }}</ref><ref name="sister_AB2">{{cite web | title = Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation | url = http://www.asrpwf.ca/sport/international-sport-exchange.aspx | access-date = 2010-05-30 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111028170719/http://www.asrpwf.ca/sport/international-sport-exchange.aspx | archive-date = 2011-10-28 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Heilongjiang]], China, since 1980<ref name="sister_AB1" />
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Massachusetts]], United States, since 1988<ref name="sister_AB1" /><ref name="sister_mass">{{cite web | title=Massachusetts Hokkaido Association | url=http://www.masshokkaido.org/Default.aspx?pageId=151052 | access-date=2010-05-30 | archive-date=2015-06-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630212650/http://www.masshokkaido.org/Default.aspx?pageId=151052 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Sakhalin Oblast]], Russia, since 1998<ref name="sister_AB1" />
* {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Busan]], South Korea, since 2005
* {{flagicon|KOR}} [[South Gyeongsang Province|Gyeongsangnam-do]], South Korea, since 2006
* {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Seoul]], South Korea, since 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tsk/teikei/gaiyou_seoulkouryu.htm|access-date=2013-11-03|title=ソウル特別市との交流|archive-date=2018-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809111552/http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tsk/teikei/gaiyou_seoulkouryu.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|THA}} [[Chiang Mai province|Chiang Mai]], Thailand, since 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northernsistercity.org/file/event/5bbed4b49f7eb_LOI_EnglishVersion.pdf |access-date=2018-12-29 |title=MOU of the Establishment of Friendship between Province of Chiang Mai and Prefecture of Hokkaido |archive-date=2018-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229171546/http://www.northernsistercity.org/file/event/5bbed4b49f7eb_LOI_EnglishVersion.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|BHU}} [[Thimphu]], Bhutan
* {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Hawaii]], United States of America<ref>{{cite web |title=Hawaii's Sister-States|publisher=[[State of Hawai'i]]|url=https://invest.hawaii.gov/international/sister-states/|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016200107/https://invest.hawaii.gov/international/sister-states/|archive-date=October 16, 2020}}</ref>

{{As of|2014|January}}, 74 individual municipalities in Hokkaidō have sister city agreements with 114 cities in 21 countries worldwide.<ref>[http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tsk/teikei/teikei_s.htm 市町村の姉妹友好提携 (Sister city partnerships)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112247/http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tsk/teikei/teikei_s.htm |date=2017-12-28 }}. Retrieved on 3 November 2013. {{in lang|ja}}</ref>

== Politics ==

=== Governor ===
The current [[List of governors of Hokkaido Prefecture|governor of Hokkaido]] is [[Naomichi Suzuki]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/08/30/national/politics-diplomacy/japans-youngest-governor-hokkaido/|title=In Hokkaido, Japan's youngest governor seen as 'safe driver,' but critics want him to go off script|date=30 August 2019|website=Hokkaido Shimbun|publisher=The Japan Times|quote=When 38-year-old Naomichi Suzuki was elected governor of Hokkaido in April, he simultaneously achieved another feat: becoming the youngest serving prefectural leader in the nation.|access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref> He won the governorship in the [[2019 Hokkaido gubernatorial election|gubernatorial election in 2019]] as an independent. In 1999, Hori was supported by all major non-Communist parties and Itō ran without party support. Before 1983, the governorship had been held by Liberal Democrats Naohiro Dōgakinai and Kingo Machimura for 24 years. In the 1971 election when Machimura retired, the Socialist candidate Shōhei Tsukada lost to Dōgakinai by only 13,000 votes;<ref>Hokkaido prefectural government: [http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/file.jsp?id=45912 Gubernatorial election results since 1947]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|ja}}</ref> Tsukada was also supported by the Communist Party – the leftist cooperation in opposition to the US-Japanese security treaty had brought joint Socialist-Communist candidates to victory in many other prefectural and local elections in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1959, Machimura had defeated Yokomichi's father Setsuo in the race to succeed Hokkaidō's first elected governor, Socialist Toshibumi Tanaka who retired after three terms. Tanaka had only won the governorship in 1947 in a run-off election against [[Democratic Party (Japan, 1947)|Democrat]] Eiji Arima because no candidate had received the necessary vote share to win in the first round as required by law at the time.

=== Assembly ===
The [[Hokkaido Legislative Assembly]] has 100 members from 47 electoral districts. {{As of|2015|April|30|df=US}}, the LDP caucus holds a majority with 51 seats, the [[Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)|DPJ]]-led group has 26 members. Other groups are the ''Hokkaidō Yūshikai'' of [[New Party Daichi]] and independents with twelve seats, [[Kōmeitō]] with eight, and the [[Japanese Communist Party]] with four members.<ref>Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly: [http://www.gikai.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/_/meibo/grp/senkyoku-kaiha.pdf Members by electoral district and parliamentary group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809214231/http://www.gikai.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/_/meibo/grp/senkyoku-kaiha.pdf |date=2014-08-09 }} {{in lang|ja}}</ref> General elections for the Hokkaido assembly are currently held together with gubernatorial elections in the unified local elections (last round: [[2015 Japanese unified local elections|April 2015]]).

=== National representation ===
{{Main|Hokkaido's Diet electoral districts}}
For the lower house of the National Diet, Hokkaidō is divided into twelve single-member electoral districts. In the [[2017 Japanese general election|2017 election]], candidates from the governing coalition of [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democrats]] and [[Kōmeitō]] won seven districts and the main opposition [[Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan|Constitutional Democrats]] five. For the proportional election segment, Hokkaidō and [[Tokyo]] are the only two prefectures that form a regional "block" district of their own. The [[Hokkaido proportional representation block]] elects eight Representatives. In 2017, the Liberal Democratic Party received 28.8% of the proportional vote and won three seats, the Constitutional Democratic Party won three (26.4% of the vote), one seat each went to [[Kibō no Tō]] (12.3%) and Kōmeitō (11.0%). The [[Japanese Communist Party]], who won a seat in [[2014 Japanese general election|2014]], lost their seat in 2017 while receiving 8.5% of the votes.

In the upper house of the National Diet, a major reapportionment in the 1990s halved the number of Councillors from Hokkaidō per election from four to two. After the elections of 2010 and 2013, the [[Hokkaido At-large district|Hokkaido electoral district]] – like most two-member districts for the upper house – is represented by two Liberal Democrats and two Democrats. In the [[2016 Japanese House of Councillors election|2016 upper house election]], the district magnitude will be raised to three, Hokkaidō will then temporarily be represented by five members and six after the [[2019 Japanese House of Councillors election|2019 election]].

==See also==
* [[Former Hokkaidō Government Office]]
* ''[[Golden Kamuy]]'', a manga and anime series set mainly in Hokkaido.
* [[Hokkaido dialects]]
* [[List of cities in Hokkaido by population]]
* [[:Category:People from Hokkaido|People from Hokkaido]]
* [[Sankebetsu brown bear incident]]
* [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|Sinnoh]], a fictional region in the ''[[Pokémon]]'' franchise which is based on Hokkaido.

==Notes==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Explanatory notes ===
{{note|Hokkaidō|[note 1]}} Source: English edition of Sightseeing in Hokkaido, Winter Festival and Events

== General references ==
* {{cite book
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_4bN3cJSx0gC
|title=An itinerary of Hokkaido, Japan, Volume 1
|year=1893
|first=John
|last=Batchelor
|author2=Japanese Central Association
|publisher=Hakodate Chamber of Commerce
|location= Tokyo
}}
* Bisignani, J. D. (1993). ''Japan Handbook''. Chico, California: Moon Publications. {{ISBN|9780960332229}}; {{ISBN|9780908054145}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/8954556 OCLC 8954556]
* McDougall, Walter A. (1993). ''Let the Sea Make a Noise: A History of the North Pacific from Magellan to MacArthur''. New York: Basic Books. {{ISBN|9780465051526}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28017793 OCLC 28017793]
* [[Louis-Frédéric|Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric]] and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC ''Japan encyclopedia'']. Cambridge: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128 OCLC 58053128]

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary|Hokkaido}}
* [http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ Hokkaido Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120504004215/http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/foreign/English.htm Hokkaido Official Website] {{in lang|en}}
* [https://www.thetopmatters.com/2021/08/Hokkaido-Japan.html Amazing Details on Hokkaido] (In English)
* [https://ninjapan.org/2020-best-10-ski-resort-in-hokkaido/ Hokkaido Ski Resort] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814100958/https://ninjapan.org/2020-best-10-ski-resort-in-hokkaido/ |date=2020-08-14 }}
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[[Category:Hokkaido| ]]
[[Category:Hokkaido region| ]]
[[Category:Ainu geography]]
[[Category:Japanese archipelago]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Japan]]