Rugged, beautiful, untamed and steeped in a unique culture, the island of Hokkaido in north Japan has emerged as an incredible destination for lovers of travel, adventure and the great outdoors.

HOKKAIDO – The first man slips on a bright green frog hat and, one by one, the rest of the five middle-aged singers follow suit. Then it begins: He croaks out a low baritone tune, the next man ...

01:24 Today's destination is Hakodote, on the southern tip of Japan's northernmost main island, Hokkaido. And from Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido, it's accessible by train, bus, and car.

Construction hurdles for the Hokkaido Shinkansen, especially when it comes to tunnel digging, have proven particularly challenging. For these reasons, the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and ...