Hokkaido - Wikipedia Hokkaido (Japanese: 北海道, Hepburn: Hokkaidō; pronounced [hok kaꜜi doː] ⓘ, lit ' Northern Sea Circuit '; Ainu: Ainu Mosir, lit ' Land of the Ainu ') [2] is the second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region [3]