Hokkaido University
Image: Pre-school children playing at university - Summer 1975
Hokkaido University, established as Sapporo Agricultural College in 1876, is a unique university, which has campuses in Sapporo and Hakodate. Although the Sapporo campus is located in the city centre, near the Sapporo Station, it has a vast land as a central educational centre in Hokkaido. The area is always open to everyone and the university students often see pre-school children play in the campus. Not only locals but also many tourists can be seen here through out the year.
Image: Many tourists at the entrance of the university on Sunday - February 2026
It is also well-known for its beautiful nature. With streams, forests, and ponds, each building on campus is surrounded by greenery. So the campus shows us different colours depending on the seasons. The university has two main entrances one of which, located Kita 12 jo, offers us breathtakingly beautiful ginkgo avenue (イチョウ並木) during the autumn. I really love walking beneath the ginkgo trees towards the engineering building.
Map: Hokkaido University
Universities in Japan can be classified into three groups, national, public, and private. Private universities account for approximately 77%, public universities 12%, and national universities 11% (2020, the Japan Association of National University). Hokkaido University is regarded as one of the 'Seven Traditional Imperial Universities' (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kyushu). There are more than 10,000 undergraduate students and 5,000 postgraduate students, studying at Hokkaido University.
In recent decades, the proportion of local students has been in decline. According to Hokkaido University (2019), only 31.8% of freshers were from secondary schools in Hokkaido. Although the university enrolment rate in Hokkaido has been increasing, the proportion of local students entering Hokkaido University continues to decrease. This figure stood at over 40% around 2000.
Map: Proportion of new Hokkaido University students by home region (2019)
Personally, I would like as many local students as possible to go to Hokkaido University, but we must first accept this harsh reality.
On the other hand, most students from other regions grow to love Hokkaido University during their academic years even though they would struggle with the harsh weather of the winter months.
Image: Main street - February 2007
Looking back my university days, all of my friends from outside Hokkaido really enjoyed their time there. The university's location was so convenient that they often went shopping in the city centre. They also appreciated the fact that the city centre felt less crowded, even though Sapporo has a population of over 1.9 million.
Image: Main street, Hokkaido University Festival - June 2003
They discovered how delicious the local food and beer were while experiencing the Hokkaido University Festival. In the summer, they went swimming in the sea and camping on the coast.
Image: Trip to Shimamaki - August 2006
Some would even go snowboarding in the Bankei area after their lectures, as it is only a 30-minute drive from the university. Ultimately, it offers a perfect environment that combines city life with nature.
The campus is embraced by greenery and it is an ideal environment for the students to concentrate on their studies.
Image: Studying statistics - August 2001
As I read engineering, I still remember that we tackled various experiments, fieldwork, and exams. In contrast to many European universities, most universities in Japan start with a liberal arts curriculum in the first year, while the remaining three years are dedicated to the students' chosen specialisation. As a result, students at universities in Japan spend at least four years on their undergraduate programmes.
Image: Lecture Hall - June 2002
We were assigned to our respective laboratories in our final year. From that point, it became common for students to stay in the lab overnight to focus on their research or assignments. I remember designing a footbridge for Takino Suzuran Park and constructing a scale model as part of a group project for one of my modules. It was so hard to meet the deadline and to get the presentation ready, but our hard work culminated in a great success: our group secured first prize in the competition.
Image: Pedestrian bridge plan for Takino Suzuran Park - January 2004
Moreover, the lab generally served not only as a place of study but also as a social hub. We would bring in beer, shochu, and sake, and enjoyed never-ending conversations.
Image: Lab - June 2006
After finishing their four-year undergraduate study, some left the university while others pursued further specialisation through postgraduate studies; I chose the latter. Seeing off some close friends was tough but further two years I spent at Hokkaido University is also unforgettable.
Image: Graduation Ceremony - March 2005
During the postgraduate studies, a professor from our department invited me to join his research trip to Indonesia, travelling via Korea, as a field assistant. Over the summer break, a classmate and I also travelled to India via Taiwan. These experiences provided a profound culture shock and inspired what would become one of my core purposes in life.
Image: In front of the engineering building - September 2007
Those six years of study at Hokkaido University forged a farm bond among my classmates. After graduating, very few remained in Sapporo, most of us, myself included, dispersed across Japan to start our new journey. As a result, I was invited to a lot of weddings held in many places, Kagoshima, Shimane, Hyogo, Aichi, Tokyo, Akita, and, of course, Hokkaido.
Image: Main street - February 2026
In the aftermath of the devastating 2011 earthquake, one of our classmates based in Sendai - an area severely affected by the tsunami - invited us to his home and guided us through the region to show us the reality of what had happened there.
I was unable to contact him when the earthquake happened, and I finally reached him two weeks later. Even though he was working at the harbour, he managed to flee from the tsunami with an immediate decision, fortunately.
Image: Okawa Elementary School Ruins, Ishinomaki, Miyagi - February 2017
My thoughts have been a bit scattered, but what I would like to mention here is that the strong relationships built in my university years provided me with loads of experiences, which affected my personality.
If I had the chance to be born again, I would choose this university without hesitation. Hokkaido is a perfect place to eat, travel, drive, and enjoy winter sports, and Hokkaido University is an ideal place to study, play, form unchangeable relationships, and make unforgettable memories.
Image: My university days are irreplaceable - August 2006
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