Hokkaido is promoting exchanges with northern regions overseas with which it shares similar climatic conditions and membership in the Northern Regions Forum, including the province of Alberta in Canada (sister affiliation since 1980), Heilongjiang Province in China (friendship affiliation since 1986), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the U.S.A. (sister affiliation since 1990), and Sakhalin in Russia (friendship and economic cooperation affiliation since 1998).

In addition, Hokkaido is promoting exchanges with regions centered on East Asia, such as South Korea (especially Pusan and Kyongsang-namdo), China, and the Russian Far East.

Students from Mackenzie Junior High School, Canada on a visit to Hokkaido
Students from Mackenzie Junior
High School, Canada on a visit to
Hokkaido
An exhibition introducing Hokkaido held in Heilongjiang, China
An exhibition introducing Hokkaido
held in Heilongjiang, China

Hokkaido's International Policy and International Information (Japanese only)