Hokkaido University: G30 Flagship, MJSP Cultural Studies, ISP Integrated Science, and a World-Class Research Campus in Snow Country

Published on May 14, 2026

If you Google “Hokkaido University,” the first image that appears is likely “Poplar Avenue”: a long tree-lined path bordered by silvery poplars, covered in snow in winter, lush green in summer, and golden in autumn. This grove, planted in 1903, is located inside Hokkaido University’s Sapporo campus. The campus is within walking distance of central Sapporo, and its 177 hectares are roughly comparable to the entire Meiji Jingu area. Hokkaido University is Japan’s most complete flagship example of “a forest inside the city, and a campus inside the forest.”

Hokkaido University is one of the original 13 G30 universities and an SGU Type A top-tier university, alongside the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Osaka University, Kyushu University, Nagoya University, University of Tsukuba, and Tokyo Institute of Science. It offers two G30 English-taught undergraduate programs: MJSP (Modern Japanese Studies Program) and ISP (Integrated Science Program), one in the humanities and one in science, creating a concise and focused portfolio. No Japanese is required for admission, all four years are taught in English, and annual tuition is JPY 535,800.

What truly attracts Taiwanese families to Hokkaido University, however, is that “the entire city of Sapporo becomes an extension of your campus”: the Sapporo Snow Festival, Lake Toya G7 summit venues, Niseko skiing, Furano lavender fields, and the Otaru Canal. Your four years of university life come with year-round access to one of Japan’s most beloved travel regions.

1. Basic Information