Hi! I plan to move to Hokkaido in the coming year. I’ve lived in Osaka for a few months to study Japanese so Osaka is only my solid point of comparison. I’ve been to Tokyo and other parts of Kansai region but only for vacation so I wouldn’t really count it as “living” there.
Has anyone here moved from Osaka to Hokkaido? How’s it different and what were the main changes you had to adjust to?
by Excellent-Smile-2392
4 comments
don’t have to worry about climate change, typhoons, the nankai trough earthquake up here so thats great.
Downside is no shinkansen to tokyo and you can’t bike in the winter.
I like the snow so very happy with my choice up here
Depends very much on where in Hokkaido you live, imo. That said, any part from roughly Sapporo on south is fine. I like how rural it is out further from there, but some people might find it super isolating.
Living in Sapporo is just like living in a mini-Tokyo, I feel. I really like Hakodate, though. The vibe there is quite different and it’s one of the few Japanese cities that’s truly unique.
You’ll just need to get used to heavy (HEAVY) snow if you’re not already used to it.
Sapporo is awesome (albeit fucking cold). I lived in Osaka for a while and frankly hated it In comparison to other Japanese cities. Yes Osaka had great food and the people are unique but I found it to be a grey concrete jungle, not many green spaces or parks..it just did my head in.
It depends, of course. Hokkaido is huuuuuuuuuge. Sapporo is your typical urbanized Japanese city, albeit more spacious and usually covered in snow. However, the surrounding cities quickly feel sparse and desolate in things to do.
I think you could comfortably transition from Osaka to Sapporo, and maybe even Hakodate. However, if you’re more interested in quiet, motionless towns, literally anywhere else on the island will do.