Hokkaido Government

Welcome to HOKKAIDO

International Tourism Group, Bureau of Tourism, Hokkaido Department of Economic AffairsKita 3-jo, Nishi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8588 Japan Tel: +81-11-204-5305 Fax: +81-11-232-4120

Hokkaido, JAPAN

HOKKAIDO GOVERNMENT

●

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk●

to Honolulu

Guam●

●

Shanghai●

Kaohsiung●Hong Kong●

Kuala Lumpur●

●Bangkok

　　●Seoul

●

Tianjin●

Taipei●

Beijing●

●Busan

HakodateSapporoAsahikawa

OkadamaOkadamaOkadama

RishiriRishiriRishiri

OkushiriOkushiriOkushiri New ChitoseNew ChitoseNew Chitose

AsahikawaAsahikawaAsahikawa

HakodateHakodateHakodate

KushiroKushiroKushiroObihiroObihiroObihiro

WakkanaiWakkanaiWakkanaiMonbetsuMonbetsuMonbetsu

Nemuro NakashibetsuNemuro NakashibetsuNemuro NakashibetsuMemanbetsuMemanbetsuMemanbetsuWakkanai

Furano

Niseko

Nemuro

Abashiri

Sapporo

Asahikawa

Hakodate

KushiroOtaruObihiro

Haneda

Chubu International

Kansai International

192 km 2 hrs. 55 min.

195 km 3 hrs.62 km 1 hr. 7 min.

117 km 2 hrs. 8 min.

58 km 1 hr. 25 min.

163 km2 hrs. 59 min.

152 km2 hrs. 43 min.

54 km1 hr. 9 min.

124 km2 hrs. 15 min.121 km

2 hrs. 28 min.

74 km 1 hr. 7 min.203 km

3 hrs. 9 min.

253 km3 hrs. 28 min.

39 km47 min.

140 km1 hr. 49 min.

244 km4 hrs. 18 min.

178 km2 hrs. 55 min.

MuroranTomakomai

Furano

Kitami

Wakkanai

NemuroSapporo

Asahikawa

Hakodate

KushiroOtaruObihiro

Abashiri

Road Network and Journey Times between Major Cities

Journey Times to Major Railway Stations from JR Sapporo Station

Sapporo

Wakkanai 4 hrs. 59 min.

Asahikawa 1 hr. 20 min.Furano 1 hr. 55 min.

Abashiri 5 hrs. 25 min.

Kushiro 3 hrs. 46 min.

Tomakomai47 min.

Otaru32 min. 　　Nemuro

6 hrs. 14 min.

Obihiro2 hrs. 23 min.

Niseko 2 hrs. 7 min.

Hakodate 3 hrs.

Hokkaido Shinkansen

New Chitose Airport 37 min.

Figures for New Chitose Airport, 2013

(All times are approximate.)

(All times are approximate.)

Hokkaido – A World-class Location

Enjoy the historical streetscapes of Hakodate and Matsumae, as well as the beautiful natural scenery each of the four seasons has to offer.

This region, comprising Sapporo and its neighboring cities, forms the base of Hokkaido’s economy and also includes the nostalgic streetscapes of Otaru and numerous ski resorts, such as Niseko.

Home to Japan’s northernmost city of Wakkanai, as well as Asahikawa and the Asahiyama Zoo, the lavender fields of Furano and the Taisetsu Mountains known as the rooftop of Hokkaido.

An expans ive da i r y - and crop-farming region known for its production of dairy produce, vegetables, wheat and such. Tokachi’s main city, Obihiro is famous for its sweets.

Home to Japan’s largest marshland, Kushiro Wetland. The region’s Kushiro and Nemuro ports are important hubs for the domestic fishing and distribution industries.

The Sea of Okhotsk, where drift ice reaches the shores in winter, is a treasure-trove of marine life, and primitive nature can be experienced Around the Shiretoko Peninsula.

Let’s work together to make Hokkaidoa world-class international

tourist destination

Hokkaido boasts a magnificent natural environment, including the World Natural Heritage site of Shiretoko, as well as globally precious wildlife, a diverse range of safe reliable food, Ainu culture that exists in harmony with nature, and various other world-class attractions. Particularly in recent years, Hokkaido has an excellent reputation overseas; currently there are direct flights on 18 international routes and a sharp rise in the number of visitors from overseas ‒ especially from Asia ‒ has resulted in a twofold increase in the past five years. Hokkaido is currently attracting attention in terms of investment in hotels, tourist facilities and other fields of tourism-related business. Hokkaido aims to attract three million overseas tourists per year by 2020, and that challenge has just begun. I believe that your business, too, can expand and blossom here in Hokkaido to become an important driving force in the region as it heads toward its goal as an international tourist destination. Hokkaido is brimming with the potential to open the way to the future. Let’s make it the place to open a new chapter in your business.

Harumi TakahashiGovernor of Hokkaido

From Hokkaido, there are many domestic flights to major cities in Japan. Approximately 107 flights to Tokyo are operated each day from New Chitose, Asahikawa, Hakodate, Memanbetsu, Kushiro, Obihiro, Nakashibetsu, Monbetsu and Wakkanai airports, along with 17 flights to Kansai Airport (Osaka) and 19 flights to Chubu Airport (Nagoya) (as of September 1, 2015)

The number of international charter flights is increasing. In 2013, a total of 504 flights were operated between New Chitose Airport and 20 cities, including Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. A total of 103 flights were also operated from Asahikawa, Obihiro, Memanbetsu and other local airports.

19

504

244

107

Operation of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to connect Tokyo‒Hakodate in approx.

Population: 5,412, 056 (as of June 30, 2015) Area: 83,457 km2 (22% of Japan’s landmass) Average temperature: 6 ‒ 10℃Hokkaido has a microthermal climate with no rainy season and hardly any direct effects of typhoons. In terms of temperature and precipitation, the prefecture resembles Chicago, Boston and Montreal in North America.

Hokkaido’s Basic Data

Source: “Northern Road Navi”

Access

A total of 24 flights operate each day between the nine main Hokkaido airports, as well as Okadama (Sapporo) and Rishiri airports.

Scheduled international flights on

flights per day to Tokyo from nine airports in Hokkaido

international charter flights to/from 20 cities

flights within Hokkaido

New Chitose̶Haneda (Tokyo) 90 min.New Chitose̶Chubu (Nagoya) 105 min.New Chitose̶Kansai (Osaka) 130 min.Asahikawa̶Haneda (Tokyo) 95 min.Asahikawa̶Chubu (Nagoya) 105 min.Asahikawa̶Kansai (Osaka) 140 min.Hakodate̶Haneda (Tokyo)　　 80 min.Hakodate̶Chubu (Nagoya)　　 90 min.Hakodate̶Kansai (Osaka)　　100 min.Memanbetsu̶Haneda (Tokyo)　　120 min.Memanbetsu̶Chubu (Nagoya)　　130 min.New Chitose̶Beijing 3 hrs.

New Chitose̶Taipei 3 hrs. 50 min.New Chitose̶Hong Kong 4 hrs. 50 min.New Chitose̶Bangkok 7 hrs.

New Chitose̶Beijing 3 hrs.New Chitose̶Taipei 3 hrs. 50 min.New Chitose̶Hong Kong 4 hrs. 50 min.New Chitose̶Bangkok 7 hrs.

hours

Wakkanai̶Haneda (Tokyo)　　115 min.Nemuro Nakashibetsu　̶Haneda (Tokyo) 　　105 min.Kushiro̶Haneda (Tokyo)　　105 min. Monbetsu̶Haneda (Tokyo)　　110 min.

routes to/from eight countries and regions

Southern Hokkaido

Tokachi Area

Central Hokkaido

Northern Hokkaido Okhotsk Area

Kushiro & Nemuro Area

(as of October 1, 2015)

Operation of the Hokkaido Shinkansen will begin as a result of a line extension of approximately 360 km to Sapporo from Shin-Aomori Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line. Services to and from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station will begin on March 26, 2016, with the extension to Sapporo Station due to be completed by the end of FY 2030. Completion of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line will make journey times between Tokyo Station and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station approximately four hours, more than an hour shorter than the current journey time, thus making Hokkaido even more accessible.

● 2 3 ●

(services begin in spring 2016)

50

0

100

150million

2010　　2011　　2012　　 2013　　2014

Japan’s total number of overseas tourists is 14.67million;visitors to Hokkaido account for 10.5% of that figure.

7457

79

115

154

Tokyo

Osaka

Hokkaido

Kyoto

Chiba

Okinawa

1,320

620

389 329 267 239

Hokkaido

Shift in the Number of Visitors to Hokkaido from Asian Countries and Regions

Proportion of Visitors to Hokkaido from Asian Countries and Regions

Proportion of Visitors to Hokkaido from Europe, North America and Australia

Shift in the Number of Visitors to Hokkaido from Europe, North America and Australia

Source: Japan Tourism Agency Accommodation & Travel Statistical Survey. Figures from Jan. to Dec. 2014

Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015)

4,701,023

3,688,458

2,501,105

2,365,161

1,652,566

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Doubled from 2010

Doubled from

2010

100% increa

se over the p

ast 5 years

63% increase over the

past 5 years

51% increase over the past 5 years

51% increase over the past 5 years

51% increase over the past 5 years

China

Republic of Korea

Hong Kong

SingaporeMalaysia 2.79%

Thailand

Russia

US

Canada 5.57%

Australia

AustraliaEurope, North America

Hokkaido　　 Akita　　　Yamagata　　Aomori　　　 IwateHokkaido　　 Kyoto　　　Okinawa　　 Tokyo　　 Kanagawa

2010　 2011　 2012　 2013　 2014 2010　　　 2011　　　 2012　　　 2013　　　 2014

1,352,500

624,100478,300

661,700

993,600

Taiwan

Philippines 0.24%India 0.06%Vietnam 0.05%

Indonesia 0.81%

UK

FranceGermany 2.98%

Unit: People

Unit: million people

Unit: people68,300

57,300

44,200

30,30041,800 38,70035,400

29,40020,50025,600

Unit: guest nights

33.34%

40.30%

21.58%

11.64%

10.31%

6.91%

5.31%

41.01%7.30%

6.35%

3.44%Hokkaido Brand Development

Hokkaido is one of the top spots in Japan for domestic tourists and the number of overseas tourists has also been rapidly increasing in recent years.

3.891 ％200

5.422,616

122,128223,361

％27.5In rankings regarding the allure of Japan’s 47 prefectures, Hokkaido has exceeded Kyoto, Okinawa and Tokyo to take 1st place for six consecutive years. What’s more, in national community surveys, four Hokkaido cities ‒ Hakodate (1st), Sapporo (2nd), Otaru (4th) and Furano (6th) ‒ were placed in the top 10.

Hokkaido, popular for its beautiful pastoral scenery, boasts the highest percentage of food self-sufficiency in Japan at 200% (in calorie base). The prefecture’s supply of safe, reliable foodstuffs supports the nation’s diet.

The Hokkaido brand ranks as By 2014, the number of overseas visitors has doubled in five years.Hokkaido aims to attract three million overseas tourists a year by 2020.

Hokkaido has overtaken Kyoto to become the third most prolific prefecture in terms of the number of guest nights.

200%177

133118 10６

Source: Brand Research Institute, Inc. Regional Brand Survey 201462.7Points 50.1

43.0 41.5

30.6

Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015)

Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015)

Source: Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO), FY 2014

Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015)

Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015)(Source: Fifth Survey on the Economic Effects of the Tourism Industry in Hokkaido, March 2011)

the most competitiveFood Self-Sufficiencyst place for six consecutive years

Average number of nights visitors stay:

Average amount spent by one visitor per night of stay:

Overseas visitors spend an average of

Total Number of Guest Nights in Hokkaido

The Total Number of Guest Nights

million increased byfrom the Previous Year

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2012 Prefectural Self-Sufficiency Rates

yen

yen while in Hokkaido;

Visitors from Australia spend

yenon average.

● 4 5 ●

0

100

200

300

400

500cm

Source: City of Sapporo “World Winter Cities Association for Mayors”

Matsumoto

（JAPAN

）

Shenyang

（CHINA

）

Jixi（CHINA

）

Jiamusi（CHINA

）

Changchun

（CHINA

）

Sapporo

（Hokkaido, JAPAN

）

Viimsi（ESTONIA

）

Taebaek（

KOREA

）

Inje

（KOREA

）

Hwacheon

（KOREA

）

Magadan

（RUSSIA

）

Novosibirsk（

RUSSIA

）

24.1

134.6

46

478

77

430

11.4

102

6.29

86.1

7.8818.14

Investment-Friendly Environment and Local Tourism Resources

Hokkaido is a treasure trove of gastronomic delights from the land and sea. In recent years, the region’s wine-grape production has become the most prolific in Japan. In addition to approximately 30 individually styled wineries dotted around Hokkaido, the region also boasts numerous whisky distilleries and Japanese sake and beer breweries.

Hokkaido has the largest number of hot springs in Japan. Approximately 250 spas with a wide variety of spring qualit y, including one of the very few plant-derived “moor springs” in the world, ensure that Hokkaido is regarded as a hot-spring paradise.

Japan has 50 wetlands recognized under the Ramsar Convention, 13 of which ‒ including Kushiro Wetland, Lake Tofutsu, Lake Kutcharo and Lake Onuma ‒ can be found in Hokkaido.

Hokkaido boasts a rich natural environment and is home to six national parks and five quasi-national parks, where the nature and wildlife are protected.

Shiretoko on the eastern tip of Hokkaido was registered as Japan’s third World Natural Heritage site in July 2005, and marked its 10th anniversary in 2015. Ecotourism is proactively promoted in Shiretoko.

The Ainu are the indigenous people of Hokkaido, the nor thern Tohoku region, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. They have an original culture and there are various facilities throughout Hokkaido that preserve and hand down such cultural heritage. The National Ainu Culture Museum (tentative name) is scheduled to open at Lake Poroto in Shiraoi Town in 2020.

Schools that Provide Opportunities to Study about Tourism

Hokkaido has a number of higher education institutions ‒ including national and private universities as well as vocational collages ‒ and even high schools where students can learn about international tourism. These institutions turn out many promising young professionals every year.

11 2,7554 3In the 2014 academic year, a total of 2,755 international students studied at higher education institutes in Hokkaido. The number of such students, which varies each year but is generally on the increase, helps to fortify Hokkaido’s status as an international tourism destination that is open to the world.

30hot springs

Ramsar wetlands

Ainu culturemuseum toopen in

wineries

national and quasi-national

parks

anniversary of the registration asa World Natural Heritage site

250

Snowfall Amounts in Northern Cities throughout the World

13 11

2020

10The pure white dream ‒ a beautiful world of snow and ice Unlike other regions in Asia, Hokkaido is blessed with masses of some of the world's finest powder snow, attracting winter sports enthusiasts from near and far. A variety of snow- and ice-related events are also held in many parts of Hokkaido for those who prefer just to look. International ski resorts are dotted around the regions, including the world-famous Niseko area, Kiroro Resort, Tomamu Resort and Furano. These areas are well known for their variety of courses, their quality snow and their wide choice of après-ski options.

Hokkaido’s Tourism Potential

Tourism Resources that Make the Most of Hokkaido’s Regional Characteristics

The Niseko Area ‒ an International Tourism Destination That’s One Step Ahead The Niseko area (Niseko Town, Kutchan Town and surrounding areas), famed for its world-class powder snow, has grown in popularity thanks to the word of mouth of skiers and boarders from Australia, and has developed into a truly international ski resort. Since about 2005, Niseko’s appeal has been conveyed worldwide by the overseas media that were invited there, and Niseko Town itself has hired four international employees to promote the area abroad. Efforts have been made to actively establish a structure with which to welcome overseas visitors, including the use of multilingual menus and the development of an appropriate communications environment. As a result, the number of overseas visitors staying in Niseko Town is now 10 times greater than that of 10 years ago, and the level of customer satisfaction remains extremely high. Australian capital investment in local businesses (incorporation of businesses) began around 1994. These businesses diversified into the real estate, tourism, food & beverage and retail industries, among others. Particularly, the amount of foreign capital investment in real estate (land and condominiums) has increased, along with massive foreign capital investment in tourism development. As a result, Niseko is now attracting even more of the world’s attention as an international resort.

Caseexample

international studentsin the 2014 academic year

vocational colleges

high schoolsuniversities

The Taisetsu Mountains in the Daisetsuzan National Park

Ikenoyu Onsen, Teshikaga Town

Traditional Ainu ritual Niseko’s ski slopes are world famous. Photo courtesy of Niseko Village

World Natural Heritage site, Shiretoko Goko (five lakes)

Highland Marsh, Kyowa Town

There is a wide range of distinctive Hokkaido wines.

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th