Settled by almost exclusively by aborigine Ainu until a hundred years ago, the island of Hokkaido was rapidly colozined by the Japanese when it became apparant Russia was going to do the same.
Though it's only as far north as Montreal, Hokkaido is known for its harsh winters, which howl south from Siberia. The Celcius and Fahrenheit scales cross at about -40, which is the lowest temperature recorded on the island and close to my town.