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Hokkaido, Japan; Hokkaido may be known as "Japans` last fronteer". It contains vast scenery, super-grade powder snow, pristine nature, wide variety of seafood and agricultural products, and so on. It is the largest island in Japan, located at the northern end. It has a population of 5.4 million, of those 1.8 million inhabiting in Sapporo vicinity. It has 6 national parks within its area (total of 27 national parks in Japan). You could go to one national park to another by drinving 3 hours or so. |
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Climate; Climate in Hokkaido is classified as temperate-subalpine region that dominates the largest area, to subalpine-alpine region in northern areas and high altitudes. Some areas down south(near Hakodate) show climate patterns almost as similar as northern Honshu(Tohoku region). It is rather cooler during the summer, and much, much colder during winter. Mean high temp. in August is about 25 degrees celsius, and mean low temp. in February is about -8 degrees celsius in this Toya area. In general, it snows as much as 5m (about 15feet) or even 10m (30feet)! in some places in Hokkaido. Here at Toya,snow accumulation is about 0 to 100cm each year. Many regions of Hokkaido are covered by snow for as long as 6 months each year. This means Spring, Summer, and Fall are happening within the other 6 months. This is mainly why many wildflowers bloom in such a short period that attracts many tourists. |
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Lake Toya; It is a part of "Shikotsu-Toya national park", one of 6 national parks in Hokkaido. This is a typical caldera lake, formed somewhere between 100,000 and 120,000 years ago by the influence of volcanic activity. Lake Toya is located about 100km southwest of Sapporo city, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the 3rd largest (about 70 square kirometers) lake in Hokkaido, 6th deepest(172.9m at the deepest) in Japan. Clear water of lake Toya has about 14m(42 feet) visibility from the surface. Hot Springs and surrounding volcanoes; This area is largely known as "hot springs". Toyako-onsen, Noboribetsu-onsen, Jozankei-onsen are the three most largest hot springs in central Hokkaido area.More than 2 mil. tourists visit Toyako for sight-seeing, bathing, volcano-watching, and so on. Hot springs and Volcanoes are closely related in this region.Volcanic magma which is located beneath Mt. Usu and Showa-shinzan ara so hot and active, that are providing heat and mineral to sub-surface water that is supplied to/from lakeToyako. |