Life in Sapporo is all about studying for some. “I came to Sapporo to study tourism at Hokkaido University,” said an Indonesian woman. “Indonesia has popular tourist destinations like Bali, and since Hokkaido is one of Japan's leading destinations for overseas tourists, I thought I could learn useful things to apply to Indonesian tourism by studying here. Hokkaido University has many international students and a good support system is in place, so I can devote myself to studying with confidence.”

Hokkaido University actively accepts international students, with individuals from over 80 countries attending classes. In 1982 the number of international students was 362, but increased to 1,570 by 2015, providing them with the knowledge to put to use in their home countries.

While many students plan to return home after studying in Japan, others become accustomed to life in Hokkaido, like one Australian man who said, “I was studying at Hokkaido University, but I settled here because I love Sapporo. Even though it’s a big city, nature isn’t far away and I can enjoy snowboarding in winter. I don’t think I could find a more ideal city anywhere else in the world.”

It is rare to find other cities as large as Sapporo that are so close to nature, and Maruyama Park and the forests of Mt. Moiwa are mere tens of minutes from the city center. There are numerous ski areas nearby, and it’s not uncommon for brown bears to wander into town.

In recent years, Australia has suffered from extreme weather, often with temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius and persistent drought, so each time our interviewee has returned, he’s keenly aware of the comforts of life in Sapporo.

“I came to Niseko from Hong Kong for work,” one man explained. “I work for a hotel, and the staff and customers are mostly foreigners. Over the past few years, the number of accommodations in Niseko has increased, and with it the number of foreign workers, which will probably continue to increase in the future. I have elementary school children, and there are a few other children in the class whose parents are foreigners, and international schools have also been opened.”

So many non-Japanese live in Niseko and Kutchan that they are almost like “foreign countries in Hokkaido.” The man from Hong Kong says he was initially puzzled by life in Niseko, but now he likes the environment, where he can raise his children in the great outdoors.

“I don't feel any inconvenience, with shop information written in foreign languages and staff who can speak English,” but he does mention that “the number of foreigners is increasing and there is a shortage of general housing” as a problem for life in Sapporo and elsewhere.

A Russian man said, “I got married to my Japanese wife and moved to her hometown of Sapporo 15 years ago. I worked as a fisherman in Russia and visited Hokkaido many times. Currently, I operate a company that imports Russian products. Life in Hokkaido has a wonderful harmony between nature and the city, and it’s convenient to have convenience stores wherever you go.”

The man had been to Hokkaido many times for work, and says he liked the beautiful cityscape, rich nature, and safety. He met his future wife by chance, but believes he was “guided to live in Hokkaido.”

“At first my wife and I lived in in Illinois, USA,” said an American man. “But half a year later she got homesick, so we decided to live in Sapporo with her parents. There are many Americans living here and plenty of American culture, including fast food, so I don't feel lonely. I’m thankful to my wife for living half a year in an area where there were no Japanese.”

When living in a foreign country, language and culture can be major obstacles. If there’s no one else from the same country, it can be especially difficult to make one’s feelings understood and stress builds up. The American man is an English conversation instructor and added thankfully that, “It was helpful to have friends who could communicate in English.”

Despite having different reasons for deciding on life in Sapporo and elsewhere in Hokkaido, whether for studying, simply settling in, for work, or because of marriage, the response “I like Hokkaido” was common to all.

Many interviewees mentioned that “the city and nature are in harmony,” and the convenience and year-round beauty of Sapporo was highly praised.

What might surprise international residents might be taken for granted by those born and raised here, but over the course of our interviews, we, too, gained a renewed appreciation for just how great Hokkaido really is!

Text by: Masakazu