Japanese hornets aren't that common, though they definitely exist. I lived in rural Hokkaido and never came across them, but I had a friend near Kitami (north/eastern city about 2hrs away) that had a nest outside her place so... they're around!
hokkaido sounds nice, i plan on moving to japan next May so i'll get to see the whole country and not just a part of tokyo
i was supposed to go to Japan in September but i waited too long to buy the tickets and now they are too expensive but im still going to Taiwan in late october
