National Policy on Regional Distribution of DCs

• In 2023, the National Government announced Hokkaido and Kyushu as centers of digital infrastructure, considering the need for minimizing disaster risks in Tokyo and Osaka, as well as promoting renewable energy utilization.
• In 2025, the National Government started the selection process of GX Strategic Zones as part of their efforts to realize the GX 2040 Vision. GX Strategic Zones will be selected from areas which have decarbonized power sources, such as renewable energy power plants, which will be the heart of a data center cluster. Hokkaido is by far the most prominent candidate for a GX Strategic Zone.

Core base for digital infrastructure in Japan

• The Hokkaido Government is actively working with telecommunications carriers and others to tackle proactively promoting the development of an optical fiber backhaul network connecting Hokkaido with Tokyo and Osaka—where data centers are concentrated—and Minamiboso and Shima—where cable landing stations are located.
• Also, it is currently conducting surveys with relevant operators to investigate the feasibility of a submarine communication cable along the Sea of Japan coast connecting Hokkaido with Akita, Fukuoka, and South Korea.

Hokkaido’s Advantage: Renewable Energy

• Hokkaido has the greatest potential for renewable energy in Japan.
• Data centers in Hokkaido will achieve carbon neutrality by introducing renewable energy power supplies.
• A plan for constructing offshore wind power plants of approx. 3GW output across five sea areas after the mid-2030's is currently in development.

AI Data Centers

• The number of AI data centers in Hokkaido has increased in recent years, its cool climate and renewable energy supply making it an ideal location.
• SAKURA Internet plans to invest 100 Billion+ yen to equip their data center in Ishikari City with cloud infrastructure for generative AI development. SoftBank is also advancing the construction of one of the largest data centers in Japan, which will be run entirely on renewable energy.

Creating AI Services and More By Leveraging Our Diverse Testing Fields

• The Hokkaido Government actively encourages the creation of new industries, such as unique AI services which are tested in the diverse testing fields of Hokkaido, leveraging a solid foundation of AI data centers in Hokkaido.

Hokkaido’s Advantage: Asia’s Gateway

• Hokkaido can be Asia's gateway through submarine cables: it is the East Asian region closest to Europe and North America on the map.
• In July 2025, SoftBank announced plans to install submarine telecommunication cables in Hokkaido, which will connect the region to North America.
• The Hokkaido Government is working closely with stakeholders in Europe towards the completion of submarine cable projects which will connect Europe with Hokkaido through the Arctic Ocean.