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Oshima Peninsula

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Oshima Peninsula is a special piece of land in Japan. It sits at the very bottom of Hokkaido. Hokkaido is the northernmost island in the whole country. People sometimes disagree on where the peninsula starts. Some say it begins near Ishikari Bay. Others say it starts at Suttsu and Oshamambe.

This land reaches out toward the sea. At its southern end, it splits into two parts. These are the Matsumae Peninsula and the Kameda Peninsula. They face the Tsugaru and Shimokita Peninsulas across the water.

This place has many different types of land. Most of the peninsula is very mountainous. Because of the hills, people live in flat areas. These flat parts are called lowlands. You can find active volcanoes here too. Mount E is one of these volcanoes. Hokkaido Koma-ga-take is another active one.

The area also has many onsen. Onsen are natural hot springs. The weather can be humid and continental. Near the Matsumae coast, it feels more like an ocean climate.

History and towns make the peninsula very interesting. There are two main cities here. One is Hakodate. The other is a smaller city called Hokuto. You will also find many small towns. Some people fish in the sea there. Other people work in farming.

One very famous place is Matsumae Castle. It is the only castle on Hokkaido. It is also the northernmost castle in all of Japan. This castle is a special part of the local history.

Nature is very active on the Oshima Peninsula. A large area called Ōnuma Quasi-National Park is located here. The peninsula is separated from the rest of Hokkaido by a low area. This is the Kuromatsunai Depression. It is a place where people do a lot of farming.

Large brown bears live in this area. These are called Ussuri brown bears. They are very active in the wild. For over 120 years, people have hunted them. This is because the bears sometimes damage crops and farm animals.

Learning about this place helps us understand Japan. It shows how mountains and volcanoes shape where people live. It also shows how people and animals live together. The peninsula connects the island of Hokkaido to the rest of the country. It sits near the Tsugaru Strait. This water path is very important for the region.

From the high mountains to the small fishing towns, there is much to see. The land is a mix of wild nature and busy towns.

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