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Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost island and largest Prefecture. It is famed for its majestic scenery, vast natural areas, and incredible food. With very high snowfall in winter and summers when the temperature only just breaks 30°C during its peak, Hokkaido’s climate and terrain are quite similar to Northern parts of Europe. Since it is cool, dry, and largely unaffected by the rainy season or typhoons, summers in Hokkaido are very pleasant compared to other regions of Japan, and it is a popular skiing destination in the winter.
While its image is one of a sort of rugged frontier, Hokkaido is still one of Japan’s main four islands and thus its inhabitants are accustomed to the same high level of lifestyle and convenience as the rest of the country. Airports such as New Chitose, Asahikawa, and Hakodate offer international flights, while smaller domestic terminals and an undersea Shinkansen (bullet train) tunnel link it to the rest of Japan. Once in Hokkaido, however, there are far fewer intercity trains than one gets accustomed to in Japan, and private cars are almost a necessity once outside the bigger cities.
Seafood is held to an incredibly high standard in Japan, so when most Japanese people agree that Hokkaido is one of the best places to enjoy fresh seafood it should say a lot! Due to its climate and vast open space, produce one might expect from Europe is also popular here; dairy products like cheese and butter, beef, corn, and potatoes are all considered regional highlights.
Culturally, Hokkaido is home to several of Japan’s top universities, the World Natural Heritage site of Shiretoko, winter sports, and many unique festivals — one example of such being the world-famous Sapporo Snow Festival held every February, where enormous, elaborate snow sculptures are displayed in parks throughout the city.
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As with the rest of Japan, living arrangements are expected to be either a family unit or a single adult/couple living in one residence. Roommates and the like are not common. Based on the assumption of a person renting alone, let’s take a look at the potential costs based on data like the Regional Price Index published by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2022.
Rent
Rent for a one-person apartment in Hokkaido varies greatly between urban and suburban areas. In central Sapporo City, rent for a studio or 1K apartment generally ranges from 40,000 to 60,000 yen per month. Compared to the national average, that’s very affordable. However, rent tends to be higher in central Sapporo and popular tourist areas. In other cities and suburbs, rents can be as low as 30,000 yen per month.
Food Costs
Food costs in Hokkaido tend to be slightly lower than the national average, according to the Regional Price Index. Locally sourced produce and seafood are fresh and relatively inexpensive. However, heating and food storage costs in winter can add to overall annual food expenses. By mainly cooking at home, monthly food costs can be kept to around 25,000 to 40,000 yen.
Utilities
Utilities in Hokkaido are slightly higher than the national average, especially during the winter when heating costs increase. With mean temperatures staying below zero between December and March, monthly utility bills can easily exceed 20,000 yen in the winter. Averaged out, you can expect to pay between 15,000 to 20,000 yen per month for utilities throughout the year.
Transportation
Due to Hokkaido's vast size, cars play an important role in transportation. Public transportation is available in urban areas, but a private car is often necessary in rural areas. Monthly public transportation costs generally range from 5,000 to 10,000 yen. If you own a car, additional costs for gasoline, parking, maintenance, and snow tires in winter can push the total transportation expenses over 20,000 yen per month.
Other Living Expenses
Other living expenses — including daily necessities, communication, and entertainment — is about the same as the national average, but communication fees vary depending on the contract. In winter, you may need to purchase heating appliances and winter clothing. Together, you should budget for around 20,000 to 30,000 yen per month for these expenses.
Overall, the monthly cost of living in Hokkaido, including rent, is around 120,000 to 180,000 yen. Winter brings additional costs like heating, so it's important to account for fluctuations throughout the year, but in general, Hokkaido is a region where living expenses are lower than the national average.
Source: https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/kz/sus/toppage_english.html
Before submitting a application, you have to fill out and submit an online form called Pre-Entry Online Form (please check on their website, as the url might be changed!) After confirmation, their personnel will contact you by e-mail.
After you have filled out the Pre-Entry Form and received an e-mail, it’s time to submit loads of documents. There are two types of documents you have to submit: New Applications and Renewals. And all documents can be completed in either Japanese or English.
Once all the paperwork is completed and approved, you will be able to obtain a "Designated Activities Visa," commonly known as a ‘Startup Visa.’ This visa typically allows you to stay for six months, with the possibility of extending it for another six months, for a maximum stay of one year. After that, you are expected to switch to a "Business Manager Visa."
The requirements for switching include securing an office space and either having 5 million yen of capital or investment or employing at least two full-time staff members.
If you plan to start a business in Hokkaido, your first stop should be the STARTUP HOKKAIDO website linked above. Their vision is to “build an ecosystem where startups are continuously created in Hokkaido and grow to global scale."
Their main activities include:
They offer support in English. The first step is to contact them by sending a message through the contact form on their website.
STARTUP HOKKAIDO regularly hosts startup-related activities like pitch events. Please note that their event page is currently only available in Japanese!
If you're interested in participating or learning more, it might be helpful to use translation tools or reach out directly via their contact form to inquire about English-language support for specific events. They often welcome international entrepreneurs, so even if the page is in Japanese, there's likely assistance available.
STARTUP HOKKAIDO recently opened a stylish location is their activity hub, called “Shakouba Young.” It serves as a consultation desk to address the needs of startups and aspiring entrepreneurs at all stages, from pre-foundation to growth, and function as a social hub that fosters networking between domestic and international startups, investors, corporate businesses, and local governments.
https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/kz/sus/toppage_english.html
METI／The Notice of Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project
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