Hokkaido is a region blessed with a rich and excellent nature: fresh air, clean water, vast areas of greenery and a wide variety of wild animals and plants.

Beginning with the Shiretoko Peninsula, which is registered as a World Heritage site, and Lake Toya, where the Hokkaido Toyako Summit will be held, Hokkaido boasts extremely varied and breathtaking natural scenery that includes majestic mountains such as the Daisetsu and the Hidaka Mountains, beautiful natural lakes such as Mashu and Akan, vast wetland areas such as Kushiro and Sarobetsu, and magnificent sea cliffs such as those around the Shikotan Peninsula.

Lake Toya
Lake Toya
A white-tailed sea eagle (designated as a natural monument)
A white-tailed sea eagle (designated
as a natural monument)

The Environment of Hokkaido: Environmental Efforts (Japanese only)

The Environment of Hokkaido: Environmental Efforts (Hokkaido Toyako Summit) (Japanese only)

Item In Hokkaido Nationwide comparison against other prefectures
(1) Area (including the Northern Territories) Approx. 83,455㎢ Approx. 22% (the largest among prefectures in Japan)
(2) Forest area Approx. 5,540,000 hectares Approx. 22% (the largest among prefectures in Japan)
(3) Natural park area Approx. 860,000 hectares
(6 national parks, 5 quasi-national parks, 12 Hokkaido natural parks)		 Approx. 16% (the largest among prefectures in Japan)
(4) Wetlands designated under the Ramsar Convention 12 places (approx. 35,000 hectares) 33 places nationwide (the largest among prefectures in Japan)
*(1) As of October 2006; (2), (3) as of March 2006; (4) as of June 2007.