My Chronicles From Japan: hokkaido

Showing posts with label hokkaido. Show all posts

27 October 2007

2007 Hokkaido Trip - Part IV

While driving through Kitano city, we came across a unique place - a fox ranch! It was a fenced-in patch of land with foxes just roaming around. The place wasn't that impressive - the ranch was old, run-down, a bit stinky, and pricey. But there was something interesting about walking around foxes.

The foxes were shy and didn't want to be around people for the most part. However, I managed to sneak up on one that was sleeping and get a good picture.

2007 Hokkaido Trip - Part III

Oshinkoshin Falls in the Shiretoko area. Not that impressive, but the place was crowded with tourists.

A view of the north coast of Shiretoko peninsula.

It doesn't get any clearer than that. You would be glad to know that we didn't come across any bears, or vice versa.

A view of a tranquil lake in Shiretoko National Park.

2007 Hokkaido Trip - Part II

More food from Kushiro. There's a market near the train station where you buy a bowl of plain rice, then you go around to the various food stands and get a bit of seafood from each one put right on top of the rice! This bowl has crab, salmon, salmon eggs, and shrimp.

A view of the wetlands in Kushiro Shitsugen National Park.

A view of Lake Akan in the middle of northeast Hokkaido. I don't know what the big deal was about this lake, but apparently it is a popular resort area. This area is famous for little balls of algae called marimo.

While driving, we came across a rest stop with an old vintage train car. Upon closer inspection, we found that the inside of the car is now actually used as a hotel! I'd be afraid the thing would start rolling away in the middle of the night while sleeping in there.

2007 Hokkaido Trip Part I

In August 2007, my wife and I decided to take another trip to Hokkaido. We went to a part of the island we had never been before, the northeast. We first flew into the city of Kushiro, then drove up to the north coast and explored Shiretoko before returning home.

The sign on the right of this police station certainly reminds us about how close to Russia we were.

There wasn't much to see in Kushiro city itself, but the food was good. The fish on the left is called hokke, which is pretty good when barbecued. We also had a spare rib, chicken on a stick, and some clam.

Nothing like a rice bowl with salmon eggs and seaweed on top to finish off a good meal!

21 October 2006

But the reception is still bad...

The TV Tower, Sapporo, Hokkaido, July 2006.

Leave Me Alone

An agitated polar bear at the nationally-renown Asahiyama Zoo, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, July 2006.

Lone Tree

This picture relaxes me every time I see it.

All Aboard...

Believe it or not, this is a train station. There's not even a station master on the premises.

In Bloom

Flowers in Biei, Hokkaido, July 2006.

15 October 2006

Views of the beautiful hills in Biei, Hokkaido, July 2006.

More flower fields in Nakafurano.

Purple, Purple Everywhere!

Lavender fields in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, July 2006. This may be the most famous tourist attraction in Hokkaido, and it only lasts for about a month. Needless to say, the pathways were packed (although you can't tell from this picture - a testament to my great photo skills).

The view from the hot air balloon.

11 October 2006

Hot Air

Me in front of a hot-air balloon in Furano, Hokkaido, July 2006. Now, I went here thinking we were going to fly over the town and do a bit of sightseeing from the sky. But we just went up about 200 feet, stayed up there for 3 minutes and came back down. The balloon was tied to the ground the whole time. And we waited in line for that?