One of the most elaborate and relatable interactive museums on Japanese culture and history I’ve been to is Historical Village, Hokkaido. It is an expansive open-air museum that contains sixty typical buildings from the Meiji and Taisho periods from different parts of Hokkaido. Flowers from the trees had been falling to the train tracks which…
Month: November 2018
Sweet Secrets at Shiroi Koibito Park, Hokkaido
Behind this wall, Cookie Disneyland! Langue de Chat [Lengua de Gato] sandwich with white chocolate filling. Maybe you’re familiar with the famous cookie! In the unlikely event that you are not, Langue de Chat means “cat’s tongue” to connote the oval shape and thinness of the delicate French cookie that “melts” easily in your mouth. Ishiya’s…
Otaru 2: Canal Cruise
Otaru’s iconic symbol, the Otaru Canal, was completed in 1923 when Western influence penetrated Japan and ships coming in to Hokkaido came through Otaru’s port. Large shipping vessels used to unload their goods to smaller ships which in turn brought the supplies to the warehouses that lined the canal. In the 1980’s, a private citizen…
Otaru 1: Market & Sakaimachi
Otaru is a charming little harbor city less than a half hour by train from Sapporo; in light of this, it has become a “bedroom community” or commuter town wherein people live here while working in the now more-crowded ( and more pricey) urban center of Sapporo. Preserved historical buildings throughout this city has given…
Sapporo City Trek
After watching the Filipino film Kita Kita, I got so excited to see Hokkaido which was filmed in this region! [Kita Kita Filming Locations] Hokkaido’s capital, Sapporo, is a convenient base for the region. Getting around (except for the Furano lavender area) is easy with trains, even from the New Chitose Airport. With a little…
Rest Area Hokkaido
You spend two hours on a highway. All you need is to stretch your legs or go to the Jane (or John). Then you come to a surprise! That’s what happened on this day… After our Hokkaido Tour, our guide, Rie-san (right) and driver, Seki-san (left) ended our Furano/ Biei tour to get back to…
Hinode (Sunrise) Park, Kamifurano Hokkaido
Hinode (Sunrise) Park has rolling hills of lavender and other flowers. In the fullness of its time, rows of bright colors will look like a glorious rainbow field. Though not quite at this time. More sunshine, water, and tending need to work the process in. A view of the Tokachi Volcanic Group is clear from here….
Hokkaido Dairy, Corn, and Other Produce
Hokkaido is famous for its premium dairy products… cheese, yogurt, butter, ice cream, and milk. Its undulating picturesque hills are perfect nurturing pastures for its cows and sheep. It is also famous for its exceptionally sweet corn, potato, and melon. We stopped by a rest area with a little market selling Hokkaido’s specialties. “Be patient,…
BUTTERFLY IN THE SPRING 