> "The surrounding areas are so hugely populated" I dont think it is? that area is largely unpopulated. hokkaido is t he biggest population center in the area

> "The surrounding areas are so hugely populated" I dont think it is? that area is largely unpopulated. hokkaido is t he biggest population center in the area that I can think of, with japan being pretty dense and that area being rather large, has about 5 million people. that area is very cold, though vladivostok has a 'large' population considering the area of 600k.