Blogs from Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, Asia

2023_Blog 33_Japan April 22 Port of Call: Hakodate, Japan – Weather: 50°F/10°C – Scattered clouds – Winds: 50+ mph. Overnight we had expected the heavy winds to continue but thankfully they didn’t materialize. However today they found us and churned up whitecaps in the harbor. At one point the captain expressed some concern about how the wind could possibly impede our departure. As Hakodate is situated in the northern region of Japan spring has just started and the cherry blossoms were at their glory. Luck was with us as today was the second day of viewing the blossoms at their fullest. Most of Hakodate population seemed to be out enjoying the spectacle as well. Our excursion today took us to the Kanazawa Castle Park & Kenrokuen Garden. The first castle was built on this site in ... read more

Oshamanbe - Hakodate 87 miles When I slept, I dreamed of Pokémon, most notably an unofficial Pokémon that goes by the name of ‘Anusmouthmon,’ and the less said about his party trick the better! His ethereal-realm antics however wouldn’t put me off my breakfast of chocolate croissants from the ever trusting Seicomart; a supermarket that once away from Hokkaidō I would come to miss dearly. Of the roughly 6.7 billion different convenience stores spanning across the Japanese archipelago, Seicomart will always be held in high regard, its prices are inviting and its food delectable. Now if that free plug doesn’t get me free croissants I don’t know what will! Being a Monday, the sloppy Sunday drivers were now back in the office dreaming up a world of clerical miseries. My weekday competition was again the omnipresent ... read more

Today is a bit of a late start. I didn't get up until 0850. I left my room at 0950. Plan for today was to spend the day at Goryokaku. I went to the tourist information to get a day pass for the tram. Goryokaku is also full of historical importance. Hakodate is the first city that opened up to foreign imports. There was also civil war that was round here and Goryokaku is one of the places where the signing of treaty took place. The site is massive and I had a great time wandering round. It was picturesque and since the weather had been so nice, I spent a nearly 3 hours outside. Then I went and have Japanese curry. Yum yum. Then I ate sh*tloads of ice-cream. AND my One Direction Babies comes ... read more

rst and foremost, happy 22nd birthday to Lou Bear Louis Tomlinson. You'll always be Peter Pan. Back onto the train again today from Sapporo to Hakodate. The western part of the island. And Christmas fantasy at Hakodate. The journey from Sapporo on train about just over 3 hours. The fast trains, that is. I left Sapporo at 12:22 and got to Hakodate at 15:55. The hotel is literally 3 minutes walk from the station. It's a cute little place. I picked a random seafood restaurant round the corner from the hotel and the food was so beautiful. It was slightly on the pricy side but so so worth it. Admittedly it wasn't too expensive. It's just over 20 pounds. But for a Japanese meal, it is a bit on the dear side. Then I walked over ... read more

YAYYYYY! I got to skip school (and thusly Sports Days) on Friday and Thursday. The occasion you ask? Mioka's mother planned a trip to take Mioka and I sightseeing in Hakodate. Hakodate is a small port town about 4 hours away from Sapporo. While we were in Hakodate, otoosan would stay at home because of work, and Mihiro would spend the next three days at his grandmother's. As I mentioned before, Hakodate is about a four hour drive from Sapporo. However, this time frame seems to have been calculated "as the crow flies" rather than taking into acount the actual road to Hakodate. Driving there definately took us about seven hours, rather than four (with pit stops for food and washroom breaks, as well as dropping Mihiro off), and I don't think we managed to spend ... read more