OUTLINE OF INSTITUTE

• Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region
• Characteristics of Hokkaido
• History

Characteristics of Hokkaido

Hokkaido is a land of abundant greenery located at the northern end of Japan and surrounded by the sea. This island, with its diverse natural features, such as magnificent mountains, wetlands, which nurture numerous living things, and beautiful lakes and marshes, is characterized by the cold and low-humid climate, different from that of Honshu. It currently has a population of approximately 5.7 million. While the nature of the northern land gives blessings to the people, it also sometimes causes hindrance to our everyday lives. Especially, the cold is severe, with sub-zero temperatures continuing for more than 4 months in most areas during winter. In the coldest season, freezing and frost heaving of ground and formation of ice over rivers are commonplace, the Sea of Okhotsk is closed due to sea ice, and damage is caused to roads, rivers and port and harbor structures that support the economy and society. Since the amount of snow is also large compared with overseas regions, Hokkaido is among the regions with harshest weather conditions in the world.
Soft peaty ground with high water content, rarely found in Honshu, is also distributed widely over the plain field of Hokkaido. It was formed as decayed plants that were not fully decomposed due to the cold, wet climate, accumulated for about 10,000 years. It is a type of soil peculiar to a cold, snowy region. Ground settlement occurs so easily that unevenness in roads and farmlands are likely to happen.
In Hokkaido, which faces various challenges due to its peculiar natural environment, it is essential to take measures against cold regions using our original civil engineering technologies.

	Distribution of peat ground Peat ground concentrated in Hokkaido Unlike in Honshu, soft peaty ground is distributed extensively in Hokkaido.
	Drift ice Icebound Sea of Okhotsk in winter Many ports facing the Sea of Okhotsk are covered with sea ice/drift ice
	Daily mean minimum temperature in January The severe cold with subzero temperatures In midwinter, the severe cold with subzero temperetures continues.
	Days of snow coverage Long snow coverage period of more than 4 months Most areas are covered with snow for more than 4 months.
	Mean temperature in January and annual mean snowfall in cities of the world Cities in most snowy regions in the world Snowfalls in cities of Hokkaido is far heavier than other cities.