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Welcome to Hokkaido,

HOKKAIDO GOVERNMENT

International Tourism Group, Bureau of Tourism, Hokkaido Department of Economic Affairs Kita 3-jo, Nishi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, 060-8588 Japan Tel: +81-11-204-5305 Fax: +81-11-232-4120 Hokkaido Government Scheduled routes to/from flights per day to from international eight countries nine airports in Hokkaido Hokkaido – A World-class Location Access 19 and regions 107 flights on (as of October 1, 2015) From Hokkaido, there are many domestic flights to major in Japan. Approximately 107 flights to Tokyo are operated each day from New Chitose, Northern Hokkaido Okhotsk Area Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk● , , Memanbetsu, , , Nakashibetsu, Monbetsu and Home to Japan’s northernmost of The , where drift ice reaches the shores in winter, is a treasure-trove of marine life, and primitive nature can be Asahikawa airports, along with 17 flights to Kansai Airport () and 19 flights to Wakkanai, as well as Asahikawa and ● experienced Around the Shiretoko Peninsula. ● Chubu Airport () (as of September 1, 2015) the Asahiyama Zoo, the lavender fields ● Sapporo of Furano and the Taisetsu Mountains ● Hakodate New Chitose̶Haneda (Tokyo) 90 min. known as the rooftop of Hokkaido. ● New Chitose̶Chubu (Nagoya) 105 min. Wakkanai ● New Chitose̶Kansai (Osaka) 130 min. Rishiri ● Monbetsu Asahikawa̶Haneda (Tokyo) 95 min. Central Hokkaido Wakkanai Memanbetsu Shanghai● Asahikawa̶Chubu (Nagoya) 105 min. to Honolulu Nemuro This region, comprising Asahikawa̶Kansai (Osaka) 140 min. Asahikawa Nakashibetsu Sapporo and its neighboring Kushiro Kushiro & Nemuro Area Hakodate̶Haneda (Tokyo) Okadama cities, forms the base of Obihiro Home to Japan’s largest marshland, Kushiro Taipei● 80 min. Hokkaido’s economy and Okushiri New Chitose Wetland. The region’s Kushiro and Nemuro Kaohsiung● Hakodate̶Chubu (Nagoya) also includes the nostalgic Hong Kong● Hakodate ports are important hubs for the domestic 90 min. streetscapes of and Asahikawa fishing and distribution industries. ● Hakodate̶Kansai (Osaka) numerous ski resorts, such as Guam● 100 min. Niseko. Nemuro Furano Kushiro Memanbetsu̶Haneda (Tokyo) Otaru Sapporo 120 min. Southern Hokkaido Obihiro Niseko Memanbetsu̶Chubu (Nagoya) Enjoy the historical streetscapes of Hakodate and 130 min. Matsumae, as well as the beautiful natural scenery New Chitose̶Beijing 3 hrs. Kuala Lumpur● each of the four seasons has to offer. New Chitose̶Taipei hrs. min. Tokachi Area 3 50 New Chitose̶Hong Kong hrs. min. Hakodate An expansive dairy- and 4 50 crop-farming region known for New Chitose̶Bangkok 7 hrs. Wakkanai̶Haneda (Tokyo) its production of dairy produce, (All times are approximate.) Haneda 115 min. vegetables, wheat and such. Nemuro Nakashibetsu Tokachi’s main city, Obihiro is Kansai Chubu ̶Haneda (Tokyo) famous for its sweets. international charter flights International International 105 min. Kushiro̶Haneda (Tokyo) 504 to/from 20 cities 105 min. Figures for , 2013 Monbetsu̶Haneda (Tokyo) The number of international charter flights is increasing. In 2013, a total of 504 flights (All times are approximate.) 110 min. Let’s work together to make Hokkaido Operation of the Hokkaido were operated between New Chitose Airport and 20 cities, including Kuala Lumpur to connect hours and . A total of 103 flights were also operated from Asahikawa, Obihiro, a world-class international (services begin Memanbetsu and other local airports. Tokyo‒Hakodate in approx.4 in spring 2016) 24 flights within Hokkaido tourist destination Journey Times to Major Railway Stations from JR A total of 24 flights operate each day between the nine main Hokkaido airports, as well as Okadama (Sapporo) and Rishiri airports.

Wakkanai 4 hrs. 59 min. Harumi Takahashi Road Network and Journey Times Governor of Hokkaido between Major Cities Hokkaido boasts a magnificent natural environment, including the Wakkanai World Natural Heritage site of Shiretoko, as well as globally precious Abashiri 5 hrs. 25 min. wildlife, a diverse range of safe reliable food, Ainu culture that exists Operation of the will begin as a result of a line 244 km in harmony with nature, and various other world-class attractions. extension of approximately 360 km to Sapporo from Shin- 4 hrs. 18 min. Asahikawa 1 hr. 20 min. Particularly in recent years, Hokkaido has an excellent reputation Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line. Services to and from 54 km Otaru overseas; currently there are direct flights on 18 international routes Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station will begin on March 26, 2016, with the Nemuro 178 km 1 hr. 9 min. 32 min. Furano 1 hr. 55 min. 2 hrs. 55 min. and a sharp rise in the number of visitors from overseas ‒ especially extension to Sapporo Station due to be completed by the end of FY Sapporo 6 hrs. 14 min. Abashiri from Asia ‒ has resulted in a twofold increase in the past five years. 2030. Completion of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line will make journey New Chitose Asahikawa Kushiro 3 hrs. 46 min. 140 km 163 km 152 km times between Tokyo Station and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station Airport 58 km 2 hrs. 43 min. Hokkaido is currently attracting attention in terms of investment in Niseko Obihiro 1 hr. 49 min. 1 hr. 25 min. 2 hrs. 59 min. approximately four hours, more than an hour shorter than the current 2 hrs. 7 min. 37 min. 39 km Nemuro hotels, tourist facilities and other fields of tourism-related business. 2 hrs. 23 min. 47 min. Furano journey time, thus making Hokkaido even more accessible. Kushiro 124 km Hokkaido aims to attract three million overseas tourists per year Otaru Sapporo 117 km 2 hrs. 8 min. 2 hrs. 15 min. 47 min. 253 km 121 km by 2020, and that challenge has just begun. I believe that your 62 km 195 km 3 hrs.Obihiro 3 hrs. 28 min. 1 hr. 7 min. 2 hrs. 28 min. business, too, can expand and blossom here in Hokkaido to become Hokkaido’s Basic Data Hakodate 3 hrs. Tomakomai 192 km 2 hrs. 55 min. an important driving force in the region as it heads toward its goal Population: 5,412, 056 (as of June 30, 2015) Muroran74 km 1 hr. 7 min. as an international tourist destination. Area: 83,457 km2 (22% of Japan’s landmass) 203 km Hokkaido Shinkansen 3 hrs. 9 min. Hokkaido is brimming with the potential to open the way to the Average temperature: 6 ‒ 10℃ future. Let’s make it the place to open a new chapter in your Hokkaido has a microthermal climate with no rainy season and hardly any direct Hakodate Source: “Northern Road Navi” effects of typhoons. In terms of temperature and , the prefecture business. resembles Chicago, Boston and Montreal in North America.

● 2 3 ● Proportion of Visitors to Proportion of Visitors to Average number of Hokkaido from Asian Hokkaido from Europe, nights visitors stay: 5.4 Countries and Regions North America and Indonesia 0.81% Philippines 0.24% India 0.06% Average amount spent by Malaysia 2.79% Germany 2.98% 5.57% yen Vietnam 0.05% Hokkaido Brand Development Singapore France one visitor per night of stay: 22,616 5.31% 3.44% Thailand 6.91% UK 6.35% Overseas visitors yen while Republic of Korea Australia Taiwan 7.30% Hokkaido is one of the top spots in Japan for domestic tourists and the spend an average of122,128 in Hokkaido; 10.31% 40.30% 41.01% number of overseas tourists has also been rapidly increasing in recent years. Hong Kong Visitors from yen 11.64% on average. Australia spend 223,361 US 33.34% 21.58% (Source: Fifth Survey on the Economic Effects of the Tourism Industry in Hokkaido, March 2011) Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015) Shift in the Number of Visitors to Hokkaido from Asian Countries and Regions Shift in the Number of Visitors to Hokkaido from Europe, 1,352,500 North America and Australia 68,300 Unit: people Europe, North America Australia 993,600 Unit: People 57,300

63% increase over the past 5 years 100% increase over the past 5 years 41,800 44,200 661,700 38,700 624,100 35,400 30,300 51% increase over the past 5 years 478,300 29,400 25,600 20,500

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015) Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015)

By 2014, the number of Hokkaido has overtaken The Hokkaido brand ranks as overseas visitors has to become doubled in five years. the third most prolific Hokkaido aims to attract three million prefecture in terms of the number the most competitive overseas tourists a year by 2020. of guest nights. Japan’s total number of overseas tourists is 14.67million; Total Number of Guest The Total Number of visitors to Hokkaido account for 10.5 % of that figure. Nights in Hokkaido Guest Nights 1st place for six consecutive years 200% Food Self-Sufficiency Source: Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO), FY 2014 increased by % In rankings regarding the allure of Japan’s 47 prefectures, Hokkaido has Hokkaido, popular for its beautiful pastoral scenery, boasts the highest million 27.5 million 154 3.89 from the Previous Year exceeded Kyoto, Okinawa and Tokyo to take 1st place for six consecutive percentage of food self-sufficiency in Japan at 200% (in calorie base). The 150 1,320 years. What’s more, in national community surveys, four Hokkaido cities ‒ prefecture’s supply of safe, reliable foodstuffs supports the nation’s diet. Unit: million people Unit: guest nights Hakodate (1st), Sapporo (2nd), Otaru (4th) and Furano (6th) ‒ were placed Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2012 Prefectural Self-Sufficiency Rates 115 in the top 10. Doubled from 2010 4,701,023 Source: Brand Research Institute, Inc. Regional Brand Survey 2014 100 62.7 200% Doubled from 2010 2,501,105 50.1 177 79 3,688,458 Points 74 2,365,161 43.0 41.5 620 133 57 118 1,652,566 30.6 106 50 389 329 267 239 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Hokkaido 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Tokyo Osaka Hokkaido Kyoto Okinawa Hokkaido Kyoto Okinawa Tokyo Kanagawa Hokkaido Yamagata Aomori Iwate 0 Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015) Source: Hokkaido Tourism Visitor Survey Report (Aug. 2015) Source: Japan Tourism Agency Accommodation & Travel Statistical Survey. Figures from Jan. to Dec. 2014

● 4 5 ● Hokkaido is a treasure trove of gastronomic delights Hokkaido has the largest number of hot springs in from the land and sea. In recent years, the region’s Japan. Approximately 250 spas with a wide variety of wine-grape production has become the most spring quality, including one of the ver y few prolific in Japan. In addition to approximately 30 plant-derived “moor springs” in the world, ensure that individually styled wineries dotted around Hokkaido is regarded as a hot-spring paradise. Hokkaido, the region also boasts numerous whisky Hokkaido’s Tourism Potential distilleries and Japanese sake and beer breweries. 30 250 Investment-Friendly Environment and Local Tourism Resources wineries hot springs

There is a wide range of distinctive Hokkaido wines. Ikenoyu Onsen, Teshikaga Town

Japan has 50 wetlands recognized under the Hokkaido boasts a rich natural environment and is Ramsar Convention, 13 of which ‒ including home to six national parks and five quasi-national Kushiro Wetland, Lake Tofutsu, Lake Kutcharo and parks, where the nature and wildlife are protected. Lake Onuma ‒ can be found in Hokkaido. 13 11 Ramsar national and wetlands quasi-national parks The Taisetsu Mountains in Highland Marsh, Kyowa Town the Daisetsuzan National Park

Case Snowfall Amounts in Northern Cities throughout the World Tourism Resources that Make Shiretoko on the eastern tip of Hokkaido was The Niseko Area ‒ an example

registered as Japan’s third World Natural 500 478) the Most of Hokkaido’s cm Heritage site in July 2005, and marked its 10th International Tourism

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H level of customer satisfaction remains extremely high. am h N i S the world-famous Niseko area, Kiroro Resort, Tomamu Resort and 46 J The Ainu are the indigenous people of 24.1 18.14 Australian capital investment in local businesses (incorporation of businesses) 11.4 7.88 6.29 Hokkaido, the northern Tohoku region, Furano. These areas are well known for their variety of courses, their began around 1994. These businesses diversified into the real estate, tourism, 0 and the . They have an food & beverage and retail industries, among others. Particularly, the amount of quality snow and their wide choice of après-ski options. Source: City of Sapporo “World Winter Cities Association for Mayors” original culture and there are various facilities foreign capital investment in real estate (land and condominiums) has increased, throughout Hokkaido that preserve and hand along with massive foreign capital investment in tourism development. As a down such cultural heritage. The National Ainu result, Niseko is now attracting even more of the world’s attention as an Schools that Provide Opportunities to Study about Tourism Ainu culture Culture Museum (tentative name) is scheduled international resort. to open at Lake Poroto in Shiraoi Town in 2020. vocational high international students museum to universities open in 11 4 colleges 3schools 2,755 in the 2014 academic year Hokkaido has a number of higher education institutions ‒ including In the 2014 academic year, a total of 2,755 international students studied at national and private universities as well as vocational collages ‒ and even higher education institutes in Hokkaido. The number of such students, which 2020 high schools where students can learn about international tourism. These varies each year but is generally on the increase, helps to fortify Hokkaido’s Photo courtesy institutions turn out many promising young professionals every year. status as an international tourism destination that is open to the world. Traditional Ainu ritual Niseko’s ski slopes are world famous. of Niseko Village

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