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Just returned from Japan's nothernmost island - Hokkaido. It was a bit chilly, but beautiful, with one of the most charming towns I've seen, Otaru. Host fam planned this one so as usual, we did lots of running around, hitting 3 different cities in a span of four days. Plans included a beer factory, a crazy resort, a zoo, lavender farm, and then Otaru. Before getting into the details, the event was Golden Week, a long weekend, and in Waseda's case, a week long vacation created by some random national holidays thrown together. Maybe, at some point, the holidays had meaning, but now I really think that the only reason they are around is so Japanese can travel and spend money on souvenirs, hence stimulating the economy. The travel weekends of the Japanese must do the same for retail that Christmas does in America. I know I've mentioned it many times, but the adorable, edible, and impractical souvenier stands are everywhere, from the time you walk into the airport (first thing you see and they go on forever) in every hotel, in every station, and lining hte roads of Otaru. For example, a family friend, Hide, bought 10 bags of white
My go to beer
IT's kirin, not amazing in any sense, but its black chocolate from the hotel to give to family, friends, and co-workers. Each came in at 2000 yen. Then in Otaru, both Host mother and Hide bought 15 boxes of "Nama Caramel" a delicious, soft, caramel that must be refrigerated and advertised all over Hokkaido as THE souvenir to get. 15 was the limit because there was a 20 minute line to get them. Something you got to see to believe.
So on to the trip. We took off from Tokyo and landed in Chitose Airport, which was located right next to one of Kirin's beer factories. Kirin is one of the big boys, but not delicious. Just kind of normal. It was fun to play along and listen to the beer story and process but at the end, you aren't tasting anything great. What was tasty was the restaurant we went to. This restaurant served a special type of lamb called Ghengis Khan...most likely named after the mongol ruler(?) Like the caramels, any many things in Japan, its one of those things that are advertised everywhere as the MUST buy/eat item. We ate it there and it was delicious and fun to cook, a Hokkaido specialty. I'm putting all
the
food stuff on my food blog because its been getting lonely with just ramen and soba stories. The factory was pretty random, also having a botanical gardens on the grounds.
Next stop was about 2 hours away by car, a resort complex with a bunch of restaurants, golf course, ski slopes, and the most amazing indoor pool I've seen. Views were amazing. Hokkaido's landscape is very flat farmland with snowcapped mountains surrounding the settled areas. Host mother said it was very much like Switzerland. I took plenty of pictures, driving too and from the hotel, as well as pics from the parking lot. The complex really was spectacular. No skiing or golfing, but if the season was right this place would be packed There were two pairs of 39 floor towers that made up the guest rooms and we are on the 32nd. Great view from the window. The pool was enormous, encolsed in a separate glass building. It had its own wave generator. Flanking the pool complex was a spa/jacuzzi/hot tub area that was the size of an olympic swimming pool and well as an onsen and outdoor hot spring area. We stayed 2 nights and did something
completely unexpected...rafting. Something where you get cold, wet, and dirty at the same time. But everyone was in. We strapped on our drysuits and did 6 kilometers of white water rafting - dodging branches and rocks, even pulling someone out of the water who fell out of one of the other boats.
Next leg, we set out for a zoo, a pretty popular one at that. I was less into the zoo than the drive there. On the way we stopped at a lavender farm (ate lavender ice cream)...ice cream is big in Hokkaido because of the farming and cows, as well as a small market/village made out of the forest to live with the forest. A pretty cool concept. All of the wooden materials were made from fallen branches, etc. Probably about 20 tiny log cabins with different crafts. I got some pictures of cute little wind instrument playing gentleman...like me and my buddies.
Stopped overnight at Sapporo, a rather gray, unimpressive city around the outside and although the station was bright and magnificent, not much happening on the inside. Koji got sick so host parents stayed in. I hit the town a little with Lauren
and Hide, eating out share of miso ramen (Hokkaido Specialty) some Sapporo beer, and more ice cream We took around the center of the city, which was pretty quiet, and caught a great view of the big light up TV tower.
Final day started with a 1 hour trip to Otaru, a small port town in Hokkaido, one I fell in love with in the short time we were there. Really wish we spend a night in there rather than Sapporo. When I get back to Japan, whether for work, life, or vacation, I'm stopping there and spending some more time. We had only around 3 hours there, spend pursuing the streets of beautiful shops. Glass works, wine, amazing natural milk (no added flavor) ice cream, sushi, seafood, and old buildings left over from the pre-war era. One street was named "Wall street" because it used to house the major Japanese banks.
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