Hokkaido is located in the far north of Japan, and is the largest prefecture.
In terms of latitude, it is in a similar position to NY, Boston, London, and Paris.
Summer is the best time for sightseeing because the effects of typhoons and the rainy season are not as strongly felt as in other regions of Japan. The temperature is also relatively low.
The Sapporo snow festival is held in the beginning of February every year, and a lot of foreign tourists visit in winter.
The capital is Sapporo, and there are many other famous cities such as Hakodate, Otaru, Asahikawa, and Furano. Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan, and is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Japan.
There are a lot of popular tourist attractions such as the Odori Park and Sapporo clock towers in the center of town.

Sapporo

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, and the fifth largest city in Japan. It has a population of over 190,000 and is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Japan. The most famous landmark in Sapporo is Sapporo clock tower, which was constructed in 1878.
There are also a number of beautiful parks in the city center. Odori Park was originally laid out in order to prevent the spread of potential fires in the city, and it stretches for 1.5 kilometres through 5 separate districts. In every block there are monuments, artworks, playgrounds and fountains, and in the beginning of February it becomes one of the main sites for the Sapporo Snow Festival.
Other parks include Maruyama Park (which has the largest zoo in Hokkaido), and Moerenuma Park, which was designed by Isamu Noguchi and covers a massive area of 188.8ha.
There are also a variety of unique indoor and outdoor museums including the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art and the Ainu (indigenous people) Resource Center. Sapporo Beer Museum, which is run by the Sapporo Brewing Company, offers free guided tours that detail the brewing process and the history of beer in Japan. Sapporo is also famous for it's local food such as miso ramen, soup curry, "hairy crab" and sushi.
Susukino is the largest nightlife district north to Tokyo. There is said to be some 4,500 late-night bars and restaurants in this area. Another popular spot is Ramen Yokocho, an alley famous for it's assortment of noodle shops. And for those in search of something a little different, Ishiya Chocolate Factory offers an enjoyable tour of it's facilities. Ishiya's popular brand of white chocolate is only available in Hokkaido.