| Hokkaido |
The Northern Island of Hokkaido has the least population density of the main islands, only becoming significant during the Meiji period (1860s). Although all of Japan has much volcanic activity, Hokkaido has it in abundance. Sulphur blowholes, hot springs and warm volcanic lakes abound. It is also one of the main food baskets of Japan, offering high quality seafood, vast (for Japan) grain fields, potatoes and dairy products. Because the cities were established and expanded during the Meiji period, you can see international influence in the early architecture. One of the great pleasures in Hokkaido is to spend the night in Onsen (hot spring) hotels, soaking in various steaming hot natural mineral spring baths, sometimes located outside in the forest under the stars, before tucking into a delicious Kaiseki dinner of crab and other local specialities.
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