The huge Museum of Hokkaido is organised chronologically, and gives an overview of the island's morpho-geographical beginnings 2 million years ago, before moving onto its colonisation and most recent economic developments. For example, you can learn how in the 7C the Satsumon culture laid the foundations for what would become the Ainu culture. The Meiji period, the high point of the island's colonisation, is brought to life especially vividly with archive materials and documents. In 1869, Ezochi took the name of Hokkaido.