Hokkaido

Entry/Visa
In order to enter Japan a Visa is necessary. The rate of the Visa is relatively high and there should be some proof that you can pay the funds before applying to a visa.

Climate
climate: The northernmost island in Japan is Hokkaido and its capital city is Sapporo. Throughout most of the Island the humid continental climate zone is present. Therefore winters tend to be more icy and snowy with temperatures on average -8 degrees. The Summers are cooler with an average temperature of 19 degrees; however rainfall is possible to occur. The overall climate has frequent rainfalls therefore travellers should bring raingear.

Currency
Japanese Yen

Language
Japanese


Conversion socket / phone signal:
In order to use your electronic device you should bring an adapter suited for Japan.It will be hard to use your own phone in Japan however you can choose a rental phone which you can get at the airport, the price is also quite reasonable.

Events
Sapporo has a snow festival which is one of Japan’s largest winter events attracting many tourists. There are Ice sculptures as well as beautiful fireworks to watch during this time.From November to February there are unique decorated lights all the way from the Sapporo station to the Odori Park. The streets are filled with thousands of decorative lights, turning night into almost day in Sapporo due to the excessive decoration, in the snow it creates a very romantic and special atmosphere and during the summer this street is filled with countless flowers, trees and fountains.
The Sapporo Snow Festival occurs during the first week of February, being Sapporo’s largest event. This festival is known for its ice sculpture competition and attracts various artists from all around the world. This festival is focused on Odori Koen. Not only do various artists compete seriously, but there are also attractions for children and large-scale replicas to look at.

Culinary Specialities
Hokkaido is very rich in Seafood; if you go to Hokkaido there is no question that you should try the local cuisine. The most typical local cuisine is the “Ishikari pot”, which is a salmon dish. In Kushiro the food is different for each season; the most famous foods are slowly grilled seafood with a specific selection of seasonal ingredients called: robatayaki and robatayaki. The most popular foods tourist have come to favor is the cod fish soup, crab, Hokkaido Ramen, squid meal, barbecue, and many more.

Lifestyle
There are different things to do in Hokkaido depending on the season you are planning to travel in. During the winter season you can enjoy the snow in Furano, but also to experience the fun of skiing. During spring and summer you can hike in the mountains where there are lavender farms which can be very romantic. During hot springs you can choose to travel to Noboribetsu, this is in Hokkaido one of the most popular areas during this season. Other sites worth seeing are the Hell Valley, Noboribetsu’s Bear Park and other exotic scenery.If you want to experience the folk culture of Hokkaido, you can visit the old white village called Ezo. Shrimp Yizu is a small area in Japan, the family's tribe owned the Eskimo ancestry and visitors come to the village to see the unique hunting tools, and experience the dance music.