Location

139°20’ – 148°53’ E. Long. 41°21’ – 45°33’ N. Lat.
Despite being at the northern tip of Japan, Hokkaido is located on similar latitudes to major American and European cities.

Area

83,456 km2 (including 5,036 km2 of the Northern Territories) Accounting for 22% of the total area of Japan (October 2007), it is the largest prefecture and is equivalent to the size of Austria or twice that of the Netherlands or Switzerland.

Climate

Hokkaido’s annual mean temperature is around 10.0ºC, which is similar to that of Chicago or Boston in North America.
Hokkaido enjoys four distinct seasons with no rainy season and a cool, refreshing summer with low humidity. In winter, there is considerable snowfall on the Sea of Japan side and there are many days with freezing temperatures even in the daytime.

Topography

Surrounded in all four directions by the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, Hokkaido is home to a variety of magnificent mountains, extensive wetlands, beautiful lakes, marshes, rivers, forests and more. With expansive farmland, also referred to as the breadbasket of Japan, the prefecture produces a variety of products, consisting mainly of rice, dry-field crops, and dairy and livestock products.
Hokkaido has two volcanic zones, along which many volcanoes and hot springs exist.

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