For new students starting at Hokkaido University this spring, choosing a place to live is a major decision. Amidst this, a "First-Period Map" created by the Hokkaido University Geography Study Group has been gaining attention on social media. The map's theme: "From where in Hokkaido can you make it to Hokudai's first-period class (8:45 AM)?" It's amazing that you can make it from such distant places in the vast expanse of Hokkaido...

Hokudai's first class starts at 8:45 AM. The map marks points from which you can make it in time, including not only the distant towns of Kutchan, Muroran, and Asahikawa, but even Obihiro, the farthest of them all. Asahikawa and Muroran are about 140km from Sapporo, and Obihiro is a staggering 200km away. The fact that you can still make it is just incredible.

When this was posted, it drew numerous comments from social media users about its chaotic nature, such as "This is an extreme commute map," "Their sense of geography is off," and "It's hilarious how some ridiculously far places are mixed in."

Of course, this isn't a recommendation for a daily commute, but rather a form of "geography entertainment" to help people enjoyably learn about the vastness of Hokkaido and the complexity and fun of its transportation network. The more you look at it, the more you realize the sheer scale of Hokkaido.

The Passion of Geography Lovers Unleashed! The "First-Period Map" Was Created by the Hokkaido University Geography Study Group

The members of the Hokkaido University Geography Study Group who created the "Hokudai First-Period Map."

The creators of this map are the members of the "Hokudai Chiriken," or the Hokkaido University Geography Study Group. It's a club where geography and travel enthusiasts connect casually, and they post on social media about their fieldwork visiting various regions. The "First-Period Map" they created this time has inspired volunteer-made versions for universities all across Japan.

Making It from Obihiro?! The "Surprising Route" Researched by the Geography Club

Even if you take an intercity bus directly from Obihiro to Sapporo, you won't make it for the first class... Is there a route that works?

Looking closely at the First-Period Map, while most routes rely on JR trains to Sapporo Station, the entry for Obihiro, the most distant point, notes "via Tokachi Milky Liner." We asked the Hokkaido University Geography Study Group to explain the route from Obihiro to Hokudai's first class.

Amazingly, the route from Obihiro involves taking an intercity bus from the Obihiro Station Bus Terminal to Minami-Chitose Station, and then transferring to a limited express train to Sapporo! With only seven minutes to get to class after arriving in Sapporo, a mad dash is necessary, but it seems just barely possible. "There are many cases like this where you can make it to Sapporo by connecting from the first bus to places like New Chitose Airport or Fukagawa Station to a train. Researching all these cases was extremely challenging," the members of the Hokudai Geography Study Group told us.

It's a bit (or rather, a lot) too far to be considered for a regular commute. But it's fun to gaze at a map like this and ponder the scale of Hokkaido and its transportation options. The Hokudai Geography Study Group's "First-Period Map" might just be a unique gateway to casually explore the world of geography and transportation.