Hokkaido has the worst fatality rate for traffic accidents in Japan. Hokkaido is one of Japan's most spread-out areas, well-known for its wide-open roads. Locals drive at least 20 km/h over the posted limits in many areas. It's not unusual to see cars traveling at over 100 km/h on regular highways the posted limit is 60 km/h. Head-on collisions at these speeds, especially with minicars, are catastrophic.
Hokkaido has many country farm roads which are narrow, poorly marked, and arrow-straight. These often run parallel to highways and tend to be much less crowded. It's not unusual for locals to exceed 100 km/h on these roads. Missing a stop sign can be fatal, and signs may be hard to spot. Be careful of farm vehicles backing out of sheds with no warning, and especially careful of bicycles in the summer, as there are no shoulders.
Winter driving in Hokkaido is not for the faint of heart. Very little sand or salt is used on the roads, and the heavy snow in many areas means that the roadways turn into packed snow, then solid ice. This also means that the road markings will be totally invisible. Look for overhanging center line ä¸å¤®ç· chÅ«osen signs above the roads at intersections. Highways have arrow signs pointing downward at the shoulders of the road, which will also be invisible. Winter tires are mandatory. Chains are recommended for mountain driving. Because speeds are lower, there are less fatalities, but there are more accidents in the winter. If you have never driven in the winter, do not attempt to learn here.
The Hokkaido fox carries the echinococcus parasite, which can be fatal in humans. Because this parasite can be spread through water, do not drink any unboiled river or lake water in Hokkaido. Approaching or feeding foxes is also not recommended. Feeding wildlife is also illegal.
national parks
Akan National Park - known for its mysterious lakes, including Lake Akan
Onuma Quasi-National Park - peaceful lake near Hakodate in southern Hokkaido
Shiretoko National Park - this eastern penninsula park, where bears roam in the wilderness and bathe in hot waterfalls, was recently designated as a World Heritage Site
Daisetsuzan National Park - Japan's largest national park, located right in the middle of Hokkaido, and the Holy Grail of extreme hikers
Kushiro Wetlands National Park
Shikotsu-Toya National Park - a number of volcanic hot springs, two beautiful caldera lakes with rumbling volcanoes and mossy canyons make scenic Lake Toya one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park - covering the small islands off Wakkanai at the northern tip