Sapporo - Japan's fifth largest city Map of the Hokkaido region Sapporo is Japan's fifth largest city. With a population of 1.85 million it is Hokkaido's political, economic, cultural and transportation center. During the Meiji period, the Japanese government, eager to fortify its northern defenses, established the Kaitakushi (Development Commission) to aid in developing the region. The result was a beautiful town with streets crossing at 90 degrees that less than 130 years later finds itself a major Japanese metropolis. Today, Sapporo is the jewel of Northern Japan with tourists particularly interested in landmark buildings from the pioneering age; the Clock Tower, the old red brick buildings as well as the charm of nature found lining the streets in the shape of famous poplar, elm and acacia trees. Combined with the region's pure air, abundant greenery and culinary treasures, Sapporo is a truly unique city.

• To page top

Steam Locomotive Hakodate-Onuma Service - From Hakodate Station to Mori Station on the JR Hakodate Line, Hokkaido - August 9th (Sat)-17th (Sun) / Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays from July 19th (Sat) to August 3rd (Sun), 2008 SL (steam locomotive) Hakodate-Onuma runs through the beautiful area of Donan linking Hakodate and Mori Stations, taking about 80 minutes to complete the trip. Besides the scenery, passengers can enjoy "stamp rally" (commemoration stamp collecting), they can enter Tanka (Japanese poems limited to thirty-one syllables) contests and can even rent and wear a conductor's uniform from long ago. Themed panels with an "exotic" atmosphere and romantic mood based on images from the end of Japan's samurai period are displayed as are images of the flowers of Hokkaido. http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/

Pacific Music Festival - Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara / Sapporo Geijutsu no Mori Art Hall Arena / Tokeidai Hall and other venues in Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya - July 5th (Sat)-31st (Thurs), 2008 Pacific Music Festival is an international educational music festival aiming to promote and foster younger musicians from around the world. The festival started in 1990 after a proposal for such by the almost legendary Leonard Bernstein; a true musical genius of the 20th century. Many events are held in Sapporo each summer but besides Hokkaido, concerts can also now be found as far away as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya during the period of the festival. http://www.pmf.or.jp/index_en.html

Hana Festa 2008 - Asahikawa: Tokiwa Park (Asahikawa City, Hokkaido), June 11th (Wed)-15th (Sun), 2008 - Sapporo: Odori Park (Chuo-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido), June 21st (Sat)-29th (Sun), 2008 Hana Festa (or Flower Festival) is held in both Asahikawa and Sapporo and centers on the subject of "From living with flowers to a town of dreams." Facilities and events related to flowers, such as flower markets, floral squares and flower pavilions attract visitors from all over Japan. As Hokkaido suffers no rainy season, it is the perfect time to escape the mainland for flower lovers. http://www.hanafesta.jp/ (Japanese version only)

• To page top