School life is full of childhood memories. But looking back, many people from Hokkaido realize, "Wait, was that a Hokkaido-only thing?" Here are some of these unique "Hokkaido school moments" for you.

1. No Gym Uniforms

Children in Hokkaido don't change for PE class; they just head to the field or gym in their regular clothes. While changing into a gym uniform is standard practice on Honshu (Japan's main island), the concept doesn't really exist in Hokkaido. So, if you get your clothes dirty, you're out of luck. Of course, students don't bring a change of clothes, so if they get dirty, they have to manage by borrowing clothes from the nurse's office or somewhere similar.

2. Summer and Winter Breaks Are Nearly the Same Length

Compared to Honshu, where summer break is long and winter break is short, schools in Hokkaido have summer and winter breaks of almost equal length. There are various theories as to why, but the most prominent one seems to be a special directive from the former Ministry of Education, because heavy snow could block roads, making it difficult to commute to school.

Even today, roads can occasionally get buried in snow, so while the summer break is a bit shorter, the long winter break is a welcome treat for the children.

3. Freedom to Choose Your Indoor Shoes

In Hokkaido schools, students are generally free to choose their own indoor shoes. This means children can pick cool or cute shoes they like. Also, many children wear regular sneakers instead of the ballet-style indoor shoes common elsewhere. Compared to Honshu, where designated shoes are the norm, being able to enjoy a bit of fashion with your footwear might seem quite enviable.

4. Students Stop Using Randoseru Before 6th Grade

On Honshu, it's common for students to use their randoseru (a firm-sided backpack) all the way through 6th grade. I've often seen 6th graders with their large bodies and small randoseru. However, elementary school students in Hokkaido almost never use their randoseru until 6th grade.

Around the 4th grade, students start switching to regular backpacks, one by one. By the time they reach 6th grade, there's a general feeling that "carrying a randoseru is uncool." As a result, almost no one is still using one.

5. Swimming Lessons Only in Elementary School

Swimming lessons are a part of PE classes. It's been about 60 years since Japanese schools started incorporating swimming lessons. On Honshu, students from elementary through junior high and high school have swimming classes, but in Hokkaido, it's only up to elementary school!

The reasons for this seem to be that Hokkaido is a cold region, making it difficult to maintain water temperature, and pools tend to deteriorate faster due to freezing in winter. Furthermore, while many schools on Honshu require school-designated swimsuits, in Hokkaido, students are free to wear what they want! So, when summer comes, the classes are visually vibrant with students wearing their own unique swimsuits.

6. School Trips Are Sometimes Within Hokkaido

In Hokkaido's case, you have to cross the sea to get to another prefecture. By high school, almost all schools organize trips outside of Hokkaido or even abroad, but for elementary and junior high schools, the school trip is sometimes held within Hokkaido.

Those living in the southern part of Hokkaido, like Hakodate, might go to the Tohoku region. However, due to travel distances, many schools opt for trips within Hokkaido. As someone from the eastern part of Hokkaido, just getting to Hakodate can easily take about 8 hours by car. Considering the travel time, it's perhaps understandable that school trips stay within the prefecture.

In Short, Hokkaido Schools Are All About Freedom!

From swimsuits to indoor shoes and gym clothes, it's safe to say there's a lack of visual uniformity in Hokkaido schools. By the way, the ski wear that children wear in winter is, of course, also their own choice. Aside from the fact that getting your clothes dirty during PE can ruin your whole day, the freedom in Hokkaido schools might just make them a lot of fun.

*Images are for illustrative purposes only.