Online dictionary of geography and travels in Japan: hokkaido

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Otaru city

小樽
alternative words: Otarushi, Otaru
keywords: harbor , hokkaido , tourist resort , town
related topics: Sapporo city
related web sites: http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~wagamatiotaru/
explanation: Located 30km west of Sapporo, Hokkaido's capital, Otaru had been a prosperous harbor for shipping of coals from Ishikari and trading with Sakhalin Island or Siberia. In 1880, Japanese government built a third Japanese railroad between Otaru and Sapporo, stressing its strategic importance. Since WWII, Otaru has declined with disappearance of coal industries and trade with Russia, but become an original tourist destination thanks to well preserved industrial monuments. Its population is about 138,000.

Rebun Island

礼文島
alternative words: Rebunto Island, Rebunto, Rebun-to
keywords: hokkaido , island
related topics: Hokkaido prefecture , Rishiri island , Wakkanai city
related web sites: http://www2p.biglobe.ne.jp/~konisi/hoku/index-h.html
explanation: Rebun island, located on the sea of Japan, is the most northern island of our country. The name comes from the Ainu language 'Rebun-shiri', that is 'Island of offing'. Being a plateau form island with Mt. Rebun of 490m high as the culminating point, everybody can easily admire, from near the coast, Alpine flowers which flourish in a harsh climatic condition. Its surface is about 82 km2.

Rishiri Island

利尻島
alternative words: Rishirito island, Rishirito, Rishiri-to, Rishiri to, Rishiri
keywords: hokkaido , island
related topics: Hokkaido prefecture , Rebun island , Wakkanai city
related web sites: http://www2p.biglobe.ne.jp/~konisi/hoku/index-h.html , http://www.town.rishirifuji.hokkaido.jp , http://www.tokeidai.co.jp/rishiri/ , http://www.hikyaku.com/gallery/english/rishiri.htm
explanation: The circular island located in the southwest of Wakkanai city, which owns cap Soya, the most northern part of Hokkaido, is called Rishiri island. About 63km round, Mt Rishiri of 1721m high, also called Rishiri-fuji, spreads its skirt from the center of the island to the beach. The name of the island comes from the Ainu language "Ri-shiri", that is "High island". Its surface is 182 km2.

Sapporo City

札幌市
alternative words: Sapporoshi city, Sapporo, Sapporoshi, Sapporo-shi, Sapporo shi
keywords: hokkaido , olympic games , ski resort , town
related topics: Hokkaido Prefecture , Chitose airport , Okurayama ski jump
related web sites: http://www.city.sapporo.jp
explanation: Town where the office of Hokkaido Prefecture is situated. The population is 1.5 million. Sapporo was built in 1871 as an administer center for colonization of Hokkaido, by following a daring urban plan: contrary to other Japanese cities, streets are straight and crossing vertically one against another. The main industries are dairy products and electronics. Having an international airport its access is very easy. Winter Olympics took place in 1972.

Seikan Tunnel

青函トンネル
alternative words: Sekan tunnel, Seikan railroad tunnel, Sekan tonneru, Seikan tonneru, Seikan, Sekan
keywords: hokkaido , tohoku , tunnel
related topics: Setoohashi Bridge , Tsugaru strait , Shinkansen
related web sites: http://www.pref.aomori.jp/newline/sin-08.html , http://www.hda.go.jp/contents/chou/kaihatsu/sinkan/sinkan.htm , http://www.hakodate.or.jp/JR/default.htm
explanation: The world longest tunnel, linking Honshu and Hokkaido via Tsugaru strait by a railroad. The total length is 53.8 km while the maritime part is 23.3 km long. Its construction began in November 1971 and finished in March 1988. In April of the same year, Setoohashi Bridge has been opened so all the 4 major Japanese islands have been directly connected by railways. Though the tunnel has been built to let pass high speed trains, Shinkansen, this possibility has not yet been exploited.

Shiretoko peninsula

知床半島
alternative words: Shire-toko Peninsula, Shretokohanto, Shiretoko-hanto, Shiretoko hanto, Shiretoko-hantou, Shiretoko hantou, Shiretoko
keywords: hokkaido , peninsula , world heritage
related topics: Hokkaido Prefecture , Nemuro city
related web sites: http://www.aurens.or.jp/hp/theRAUSU/default.html , http://www.rausu-town.jp
explanation: Peninsula of a volcanic origin, located in the east of Hokkaido near Nemuro with the total length of 65 km. The area is mountainous with Mt. Rausu (1661 m) as the highest peak. The cost is very steep and scattered fisher's villages are linked only by ships. The wild nature being well preserved, the area belongs to Shiretoko National Park. In March, you can admire a frozen sea, rare spectacle in Japan. Since 2005, Shiretoko peninsula has been enlisted in World Heritage of UNESCO for its exceptional ecosystem

Tsugaru strait

津軽海峡
alternative words: Tsugarukaikyo, Tsugaru kaikyo, Tsugarukaikyou, Tsugaru kaikyou, Tsugaru
keywords: hokkaido , strait , tohoku
related topics: Hokkaido prefecture , Hakodate city , Aomori city , Honshu island , Seikan tunnel , Tsugaru peninsula , Shimokita peninsula
explanation: Strait separating Hokkaido from Honshu and connecting Japan sea with Pacific ocean. The length from west to east is about 100km while from north to south between 20 and 50km. The deepest point is about 450m. Until 1988 there exited a railroad link by ferry between Aomori and Hakodate cities. Now you can traverse the strait through Seikan railroad tunnel. In order to let pass freely foreign ships, 3 nautical mile delimitation instead of 12 miles is used on this strait.

Wakkanai city

稚内市
alternative words: Wakkanaishi city, Wakkanaishi, Wakkanai-shi, Wakkani shi, Wakkanai
keywords: hokkaido , town
related topics: Hokkaido prefecture , Rebun island , Rishiri island
related web sites: http://www.city.wakkanai.hokkaido.jp
explanation: History of Wakkanai began when Matsumae domain settled a trading post with aborigines in 1685. During Meiji period the city was prosperous with fishing of herring then a departure point to Sakhalin when Japan recuperated it after a war of 1905. After the world war II, it lost the contact with Sakhalin but it has surfaced again after a fall of communist regime in Russia. Wakkanai owns canning and freezing factories of fishes and is a tourist base for Rebun Rishiri islands. The population is 45,000.

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