Hokkaido is off the tip of the main island, Honshu. It is the northernmost island and has a climate not as mild as the rest of Japan. In the winter, there is snow and temperatures reach freezing levels, while in the summer, it is hot.

As a result, Hokkaido is not as popular to inhabit than the other island of Japan, but is certainly a beautiful place to visit. Fish is a popular menu item in this region, and Hokkaido is famous freshness.

Many popular dishes, such as ramen, include seafood as toppings. Miso is also added, first developed in Sapporo. Bento boxes include crab or squid, boiled with the rice to make kani or ika meshi.

A dish particularly unique is ghengis khan nabe. Lamb, not found in other regions of Japan, is barbecued.