Page 315 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Cross-country skiers traversing one of Hokkaido’s mountains

HOKKAIDO

First settled 20,000 years ago, this remote
northern island became the homeland of the
indigenous Ainu people after the 12th century. The
Japanese made early forays to Yezo, as the island
was called, in ancient times, but it was perceived
as remote, inhospitable, and cold. For centuries
only the persecuted Ainu, refugee warriors, and
banished criminals lived there. In the late 1860s,
however, the new Meiji government decided
officially to develop the island. Thereafter it
became known as Hokkaido, or “north sea road.”
Since then, the population has risen to just under
6 million. The few Ainu left number somewhere
between 24,000 and 60,000. Fishing, farming,
forestry, and mining are the main industries, but
tourism draws several million people north each
year. The lively capital of Sapporo attracts people
with its spectacular festivals, while the island’s
many national parks offer boundless opportunities
for outdoor enthusiasts, including camping, hiking,
and hot-spring bathing.
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