Blogs from Hokkaido, Japan, Asia - page 13

I am actually partway though writing a proper, chronological blog entry, but I felt the need to interrupt my regular (if sporadic) musings to share one of my New Favourite Things. If you have lived with me, or known me in certain contexts, you will probably know that I like baths. Imagine my joy at learning that there was a traditional Japanese bath in the hostel I was staying! Imagine my disappointment and disgust when I learned that it was for MEN ONLY. I could shower if I wanted, but would have to pay. That was my third worst accomodation experience since leaving New Zealand, fourth if you count the plane trip over. Osaka redeemed itself by providing me with a bath at my next hostel. It was a bit scary the first time; there are ... read more

In Tokushima, warmer days are signalling spring's return. But in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, walls of snow coat the rural landscapes as well as the skyscrapers of its capital city. Two weeks ago, a group of JETs plus Francesca, my sorority sister-turned-fellow-Asia-explorer, braved this frigid frontier to see Sapporo's annual snow festival: Yuki Matsuri. Alight with ice and snow sculptures, festival food and activities like ice skating, tubing and a giant ski-jump slope, the wintery city seemed to smile. In between festival exploits, I'd like to think I also experienced some of the distinct culture of Hokkaido and its native Ainu people. Before it became part of Japan, the island was a separate country with a history reminiscent of that of Native Americans in North America. In one Ainu shop, I learned to say ... read more

We took the 8:34 Hakodate bound train. The express train, Super Hokuto was running southwards for Higashi-Muroran, then it turned westwards and ran along the Uchiura Bay, known as Funka Wan. I explained to Mark that the coast line of Uchiura Bay was formed by the volcanic activities and Funka translates as eruption and Wan means bay. We got off at Toya and got on the Donan bus for Lake Toya. The bus drove through the zig-zag road along the mountain and went past the diorama site, which was made on the actual place where buildings and roads were destroyed by the Usu mountain's eruption in 2000, and it has been deliberately kept and displayed as a part of the exhibition of the Science Museum. As the bus approached the lake, we could see a fabulous ... read more

We bought one day sightseeing bus pass which would allow us to travel to sightseeing places, as well as viewing them from the bus. We had missed the No 3 bus departing at 12:05, and needed to wait for another 20 minutes. However, I realised that the canal plaza was a walking distance from the station and we decided to walk. Whilst heading for the Canal Plaza, we found the remains of the Temiya Railway, which was Hokkaido’s first steam railway. We didn’t only see the monument and rails but also saw platforms, signal boxes, and signposts and the rails were laid towards the Otaru Museum, former Railway Museum, which we had planned visiting in the afternoon. Having arranged to meet up with my parents at 12:30, we decided to walk along the canal. As anticipated, ... read more

Trip to Hakodate Having known that it would take over three hours by train between Sapporo and Hakodate, we had planned taking the 7:00 train for 23 May. We had a little snack with coffee at the hotel and took a couple of packets of bread and rice balls for us to eat on the way to Hakodate. The express train, Super Hokuto was running past the Uchiura Bay and Onuma Koen National Park, and brought us to the destination at 10:11. My parents had decided to join the bus tour departing from Hakodate station. We planned doing sightseeing independently using the tram and on foot. We bought one day tram passes at the tourist information centre and took the tram near the station. Goryokaku Koen We firstly headed for Goryokaku Koen. In contrast to the ... read more