Knowledge needed for the trip to Hokkaido
Climate in Hokkaido
The biggest feature of Hokkaido climate is cool and low-humidity throughout the year. So you will spend comfortably whenever you come to Hokkaido. Especially there is no rainy season in June to August.

Toya from Silo Lookout (June)

Therefore Hokkaido is ideal as a refreshing summer resort. In September, signs of autumn already begins to drift, foliage season is coming. Then, in late November snow descends, the long winter follows until about March. For many years, it has generally been said that the best travel season of Hokkaido is from early summer to midsummer. However, even in winter, the events named after snow and ice is increasing such as Sapporo Snow festival, Christmas Illuminations, drift ice tour, and a variety of activities including ski and snowboard. Therefore many tourists visit Hokkaido now. Nature with the rigors of winter in Hokkaido is the breathtaking beauty. It is also recommended to enjoy the unique winter to Hokkaido.
Clothes in Hokkaido
Due to the large area of Hokkaido, the weather varies greatly by region. While traveling you may go away from the city for waterside and mountains. So it's a good idea to carry something to wear even in the warm summer season. In spring of May to March, it's still chilly in the air, a light coat is necessary. Care for the winter clothes should be taken. When going outside, you need full protection wearing a muffler, a court, a hat, and gloves. But wearing clothes inside should not be too much. Because of too much heating in buildings and vehicles, you may sweat much and catch a cold on the contrary. It is nice to carry something to take off easily like a cardigan. By the way, it is hard to fall down, if you walk in a short stride and as putting your feet firmly to the ground.

Traffic in Hokkaido

The distance between each destinations of Hokkaido is far away, such as Shiretoko, Noboribetsu, Asahikawa, Hakodate, Sapporo, etc. To move from Hakodate to Sapporo, It takes three hours by the express train, five hours by car, and 45 minutes by air. So it's a little hard to enjoy the two trips without using the air transportation. On the one-time trip, we recommend you thoroughly enjoy one of the city. In winter, please note that studless tires are necessary for the car, if you are coming by the ferry. If you'll pass through the hilly road, you need to bring the chain. The snowy road contains so many dangers, so You shall make plan with more margin than summer schedule.
Hokkaido Map
Hokkido road map ▲Click to enlarge！

Culture of Hokkaido

Hokkaido has a traditional cultures that has been brought up from the era known as Ezo. Ainu culture, especially, has been reported as a valuable culture to have their own traditional arts, customs, and faith. Many place names in Hokkaido have a mysterious pronunciation. About eighty percent of the city name are to be derived from the Ainu.
Ainu culture
The indigenous people who have been living in Hokkaido, Tohoku, southern Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands, are called the Ainu, before the Japanese and the Russian pioneered.
Ainu people have their own language and culture. Nowadays, ten thousands of Ainu people are living mainly in Hokkaido, and there are facilities throughout Hokkaido aimed to save the cultural heritage of their own tradition. Respecting and harmonized to nature, the Ainu have been living thousands of years. The Ainu call the earth as 'ainu moshiri' and call all of nature as Kamui (the gods), and they has been praying.
The women is sewing at Cise (home), and farming and picking wild plants around Kotan (village), The men is hunting and fishing. They are following the natural law and living with the Gods. The people engage in such a life. 		Dialect in Hokkaido
After the Meiji Restoration, the settlers came to Hokkaido from all over Japan. The fusion of dialect words used by settlers of their native country has changed and taken over to the current dialect of Hokkaido. Therefore Hokkaido dialects are said to be the culmination of dialects all over Japan. Also, there are regional differences in Hokkaido dialects.
Since ancient times, Southern Hokkaido around the Matsumae clan (Hakodate, Matsumae, and Esashi) was flourishing with fishery. the dialects were influenced by the Tsugaru dialect for deep relationship with fishermen in the Tohoku region. In Central, eastern, and Northern Hokkaido, people began living in pioneer days, and dialects have become close to the standard language.　

 


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