Hokkaido

[MM 426]

Hokkaido. Farms, Forests, Mountains and Volcanoes
For Saturday, October 14, 2023
Michael MacKuen

We visit Hokkaido, the northernmost and second largest island of the Japanese archipelago. This is remote rugged country. Until the seventeenth century it was inhabited by the hunter-gatherer Ainu people. And while the Japanese government began to establish military and feudal control over the island, it was not integrated into Japan until the mid-nineteenth century. Only in the twentieth century did Hokkaido’s current cities began to evolve from their small village roots. Even now, the region is (for Japan) relatively underdeveloped with a primary emphasis on agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Rather than an industrial powerhouse, this is a land of natural beauty.


The graceful symmetry of Mount Yōtei

We begin at Asahikawa [RJEC] in central Hokkaido. This is the island’s second-largest city and is known for its zoo, furniture, ramen, beer, and nearby ski resorts. We head for Asahi-dake [ASAD] (Hokkaido’s tallest peak 7,510 ft) and the associated Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group (a cluster of 18 peaks over 6,000 ft.) We proceed past the Nipesotsu-Maruyama Volcanic Group [NMVG] and turn to land at Memambetsu [RJCM]. The airport serves the towns of Ōzora and Abashiri as well as the remote Shiretoko National Park, the peninsula that protrudes north into the Sea of Okhotsk.

Then we head south over scenic Lake Kussharo [KUSRO], Japan’s largest caldera lake whose waters are acidic due to volcanic gases. It is also Japan’s “Loch Ness” after numerous reported sightings of a lake monster in 1973. And then we see Lake Akan with its volcanic peaks Mount Oakan [OAKAN] and active Mount Meakan [MEKAN] before landing at Kushiro [RJCK]. (This is a very good MS enhanced airport.) On our approach we fly near Tsurui Village where local farmers saved the Red-Crowned Crane – a symbol of loyalty and longevity that runs through Japanese art and culture. (We “dumb pilots” will remember that the crane graced the classic JAL logo). The species had become endangered when, in the 1950s, local schoolchildren began a campaign to feed and save the cranes. This community effort has been surprisingly successful. Nearby is the Kushiro word not allowedsugen National Park, Japan’s only remaining natural wetlands. Kushiro City itself is an ice-free port and an industrial city. After a moment, we press on to Obihiro [RJCB], a newish commercial airport 12nm south of the city. This is rich agricultural land with (for Japan) large holdings which is now experiencing prosperity.

We depart and head over the Hidaka Mountains [HIDAK], the long north-south range that runs from central Hokkaido south to Cape Erimo on the Pacific shoreline. With permission, we execute a low-pass (or touch-and-go) at the New Chitose Airport [RJCC], the modern (1988) international airport for Sapporo. (This is Japan’s fifth busiest airport. The Sapporo-Tokyo route is the second busiest in the world.) Adjacent is Chitose Air Base which headquarters Japan’s northern air defense system. We pass over Es Con Field Hokkaido [ESCON], the ballpark/entertainment district built by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. This is brand new (2023) – the team had played in the Sapporo Dome since it moved from Tokyo in 2004. We land at Sapporo Okadama Airport [RJCO]. Built in 1944 and now surrounded by the growing urban area, this is the city’s “downtown airport” with a modestly-long runway and restrictions on daily operations. It hosts limited intercity turboprop service as well as corporate and general aviation flights.

Sapporo is the economic and cultural center of Hokkaido, and the fifth largest city in Japan. It earned worldwide recognition when it became the first non-Western host to the Olympic Winter Games in 1972. (It is a leading bidder for the 2030 Winter Games.) The main central city is south of Okadama Airport. On arrival or departure, depending on the pattern, you might see several highlights that are marked on the “Details Not a Flightplan” map: the Sapporo Racecourse, Sapporo Station, Sapporo Tower, Kitara Concert Hall, and the Sapporo Dome.

We carry on to the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. We first see Lake Shikotsu [SHIKO], a caldera lake with a depth of 1,191 ft. It is famously dotted with hot springs and surrounded by five volcanoes. A quarter mile south of the lake is Mount Tarumae which has erupted 10 times in the last century, an ‘A’ rank volcano likely to erupt “soon.” Mount Eniwa (on our right wing) is the tallest and served as the site for the Downhill Race during the 1972 Winter Olympics. We then turn northwest to get a closer look at Mount Yōtei [YOTEI], sometimes “Ezo Fuji” (“Ezo” is the old Ainu term for Hokkaido, and “Fuji” for the Fuji-like shape.) We pass over Lake Tōya and Nakajima Island ... and then take a direct look at the deepest caldera of Mount Usu [USU], a currently active volcano with four eruptions since 1910. (The 2008 G8 Summit was held near Mount Usu at Lake Tōya. There was no volcanic disaster, but three months later the world financial system nearly collapsed.)

Next over Uchiura Bay and the Oshima Peninsula out to Okushiri Island [RJEO]. Okushiri is a designated Natural Park with beech tree forests and a rocky coastline. It lies in the Sea of Japan 12 miles west of mainland Hokkaido and is vulnerable to storms and earthquakes. Most recently, it was a victim of the 1993 Hokkaido earthquake. The earthquake, tsunami, and landslides inundated the island and caused the land to subside by from 2 to 31 inches. Perhaps not surprising, the population has slowly diminished during the last three decades.

We return over the Oshima Peninsula to our final destination Hakodate [RJCH]. In the nineteenth century, Hakodate was Japan’s first city open to foreign trade (after US Commodore Matthew Perry’s armed visit, 1853-1854) and northern Japan’s most important port. It was the largest city in Hokkaido until the Great Fire of 1934. After landing, we can gather on the east side of the tarmac, near the tower and the large “Hakodate Hangar” sign. Food? Hakodate is famous for a restaurant (Ikkatei Tabiji) that offers a dish called “dancing squid” – the recently deceased squid is served with soy sauce which, when poured on the squid, causes ... a wild dance. Maybe breakfast tomorrow morning.

Documentation
The flightplan can be found here. (In addition to the normal flightplans, you will find “Hokkaido_DETAILS NOT A PLAN” which identifies points of interest that may or may not be on the formal flightplan.)

Aircraft
This is a General Aviation flight in which we have six landings and need to cover about 470nm. This suggests something that will “fast cruise” at about 200kts. Among our favorites, the C414, TBM 850/930 and PC12 will be about right. The King Air will be more than you need but it will be suitable as well. I’ll take a TBM. Please fly whatever you like.

Additional Scenery
These are not necessary for the flight. They do add some color and some are just excellent quality freeware scenery. Thanks to these authors.

Memanbetsu RJCM. AloisJP
Tokachi Obihiro RJCB. ALoisJP
Sapporo New Chitose RJCC. KAPI
Sapporo Okadama RJCO. Toshichan310
Sapporo City POIs. FreakyD
Okushiri RJEO. Kui
Hakodate RJCH. KAZE

Temporarily, you can download a scenery package here. 201 MB.

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator at 12:00 noon local for October 14, 2023.
We prefer real weather.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Saturday, October 14, 2023. 1800 UTC
AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm  - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-SAT. COM3
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: United States East server.

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!