Jul 10, 2018 - Kyoto, The City of Temples & Shrines

Walked from our hotel to the train station, bought tickets, and an hour later we were exiting a metro station 100 meters from our hotel in Kyoto. The Train line from Nara actually used the Kyoto Metro line tracks as it passed thru the city. It sure made our journey very convenient. The Share Hotel was at the southwest corner of the Imperial Park and so we could easily walk to & thru the park. One might be wondering why pictures of a toilet has made its way into this trip journal. Well, when was the last time you used a toilet with an...

Jul 8, 2018 - Nara a day goes by

Today the rain was on & off in the morning, and then the clouds 'burned off', and the sun came blazing thru. I prefer the rain. We are in the monsoon season so rain, humidity & heat are the daily standard; guess I'll get used to it. Visited a small museum that focused on crafts that in the days of old were Nara's specialties; woodworking, pottery, washi paper, ink, calligraphy brushes, & hemp cloth. These crafts are still ongoing businesses here. Women, & men, in the traditional kimono are seen in Nara far more often than we have seen them...

Jul 7, 2018 - Nara

Arrived at Hakodate airport and we're offered a departure on an earlier flight ?! We asked whether we would arrive to Osaka earlier, and told no, we'd have a longer layover at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Figured there would be more options at Haneda so left the tranquility of Hokkaido for the urban bustle of Honshu. Typhoon / Cyclone had ravaged southern Japan the previous couple days, but fortunately (for us) the storm had now moved north through Honshu. Train from airport (on a man-made island outside of Osaka) to Osaka, and then another...

Jul 5, 2018 - Hakodate Redux / Sayonara Hokkaido

Well our journey with Thel & John traversing much of Hokkaido has come to an end. We drove 2,000 km, and saw many beautiful sights on this tranquil & picturesque island. Except for the small towns in the river valleys & on the lake/ocean coasts, and a few cities, Hokkaido is a land of forested mountains, agricultural fields, rivers, lakes, and ocean coastline. It is a nature lovers wonderland. Spent our last couple nights in Hakodate at a small family operated traditional Pensionne. Our gracious hosts even provided us transport to dinner,...

Jul 3, 2018 - Lake Toya

Instead of driving from Sapporo directly to Hakodate we decided to break the route in two and so spent part of a day, and a night in Toyako on Lake Toya. The lake is in a caldera formed by volcanic eruption about 110,000 years ago. It is almost circular, as length is 10km & width is 9km. Nakajima Island sits right in the middle of the lake. The caldera lake is so deep, ~400ft, that it never freezes during the frigid winters (90 consecutive days below freezing). It is also considered one of the most, if not the most, transparent lake in...

Jul 2, 2018 - Sapporo

Drive to Sapporo was uneventful, and we arrived well before check-in time which is strictly enforced no earlier than 15:00. AND, our vehicle was about 4 inches too tall to be parked in the hotel parking facility (done via elevators). So we drove over to the sister hotel and attempted to park there. No luck; sister hotel relationship accrues NO parking privileges ! So we decided to use the vehicle & go visit the Sapporo Brewery Museum. Sapporo Beer is Japan's oldest brand, and #1 Asian brand sold in the United States since it was introduced...

Jun 29, 2018 - Lavender Land

We are making our way back towards Hakodate in order to return the rental car. So far have driven about three quarters around Hokkaido in a kind of counter-clockwise direction. The drive to Furano was thru winding mountain valleys and passes, often over high bridges or thru long tunnels. Except for the tunnels the scenery was beautiful, and there was very little road traffic which makes for a relaxing drive. On our way into town we stopped and visited the Tomita Farm Gardens. There they grow many different types of flowers planted in large...

Jun 27, 2018 - Abashiri Prisons & Blue Beer

Abashiri was a leisurely 1-1.5 hour drive along the coast from Utoro. Unfortunately the day was drizzly grey, and so the seaside views blended dull into the sky. The weather did support our plan to visit a couple museums that day. The Northern Peoples Museum was well curated and explained the many similarities of the various peoples who have/do inhabited/inhabit the northern pacific region of the world, and into northern North America. Their clothing also had so many similarities to those of the Native Indian cultures of North & South...

Jun 25, 2018 - Tsutsujigahara, say that three times fast, and the Shiretoko Peninsula

Have changed the default map to that of only the island of Hokkaido; changes in location during our Hokkaido Tour are more easily viewed. Our drive continues towards the northeast peninsula, Shiretoko. We drove out of Teshikaga and proceeded between Lakes Kussharo & Mashu (the site of the 'soggy shoes' hike). Driving along we see large plumes of smoke/steam billowing from the roadside mountainside. Driver asks fellow passengers whether a stop & visit is in order - instantaneous/unanimous/vociferous affirmation ! Tsutsujigahara here we come...

Jun 23, 2018 - Lake Akan & Mount Mashu

Our drive into Hokkaido takes us through beautiful mountainous countryside. And along the way we have seen a few foxes. They evidently have seen so many people in cars that they don't run away, even if a car stops next to them. Maybe they are ill or old, and have learned food handouts happen at roadside ? We did not provide any handouts, but did take a few pictures. Visited Lake Akan on our way to Teshikaga, where we have a couple nights lodging. The town is pretty touristy, but the trails near the lake, and to the volcanic mud pools, were...

Jun 21, 2018 - Kutchan/Niseko, Off the Beaten Track

With the assistance of Hiroko (who lives near Tokyo), with whom I used to work at AMAT in California, we rented a car and set off to explore Hokkaido - Thank you Hiroko. First destination was driving around Uchiura Bay towards Sapporo to the small towns of Kutchan/Niseko. We stayed at a hotel, MY Ecolodge, that was kind of half way between the two towns. The area itself is between two large mountains - Mt. Niseko-Annupuri and Mt. Yotei. The drive there from Hakodate was thru mountains & valleys replete with green trees, rivers, streams,...

Jun 19, 2018 - Happy in Hakodate, Hokkaido

The ferry trip from Oma on the northern tip of Honshu to Hakodate on the southern end of Hokkaido took about one & a half hours; we cross the Tsugaru Straits. The ride was smooth with clear skies. Seating on the ferry is extremely limited. There are a dozen or so in the First Class Lounge and another dozen in 'Business'. We had standard boarding passes. That translates to padded flooring where you either lean against a wall, or, as most did, lie prone on the matting asleep. Oh, there were 10 seats at tables in the dining area, but the...