Maruyama Park （円山公園）| Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom | Sapporo

Maruyama Park （円山公園） in Sapporo is a famous place for cherry blossom viewing. They usually start to bloom at the end of April and last for about one week.

We Hokkaido people usually enjoy lamb BBQ under cherry blossoms. Interesting custom, isn't it? Hahaha!

When we went there, the weather is not perfect, but the blossoms are in full bloom!!!

Let's go to Hokkaido Shrine ground!

During the cherry season, food stalls are lined along the shrine alleys in the premise.

First, we visited Kaitaku (Development) Shrine （開拓神社）. 37 people who contributed to Hokkaido development are enshrined here.

I love the contrast of pink cherry blossoms and green cedar leaves! How beautiful it is!

Let's go to the area, where about 1,600 cherry trees are planted!

Although it was windy yesterday, we could enjoy the beautiful blossoms today!!

Not only local people but also tourists enjoyed cherry blossom viewing here!

In this park, mainly two kinds of cherry blossoms can be enjoyed like this↓

We were so impressed with this beauty!

The blossoms last for only one week! If you want to see them, please be in a hurry!!!

Actually this is my favorite spot! From torii (Shinto) gate, a long approach leads to the main hall.

Look at this!
Cherry trees are planted along the alley!

Shinto shrine and cherry blossoms look very Japanese, don't they???

Let's go to the main hall!
Well, well, well,  a wedding ceremony was held today!! We have to look for the bride and groom!!

They look very happy, don't they???

*If you want to know more information on Hokkaido Shrine, please refer to my other post→☆!

We were so impressed with cherry blossoms today!

■Where is "Maruyama Park （円山公園)" & "Hokkaido Shrine （北海道神宮）"?

View Larger Map

■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!

Urausu Shrine （浦臼神社）| Habitat of Corydalis Ambigua and Dogtooth Violet | Urausu

Spring has come in Hokkaido! Have you ever seen a habitat of Corydalis ambigua and dogtooth violets? You must be impressed with the beauty after reading this post!!!

Urausu Shrine is near Mitinoeki (Roadside Station) Tsurunuma　（道の駅つるぬま）. Please park your car there, and let's go!!!

I was so excited that I ran up the steps very quickly!!! I could't wait!!! Hahaha!

This is the main hall of Urausu Shrine （浦臼神社）, which was constructed in 1910.

Well, well, well, are you ready?

↓

↓

↓

↓

Voila!!!

This is like a flower carpet!!! 

The precinct is filled with Corydalis ambiguae!!! Beautiful, aren't they???

We were so impressed with the seasonable flowers in the spring time!!!

This flower usually blooms at the end of April to the early May!

If you want to see them, please be in a hurry!!!

How about the violet carpet??

This shrine is very famous for a habitat of Corydalis ambigua and dogtooth violets.

From the shrine, Urausu Park can be enjoyed like this↓

I love this town very much!!!

I'll be back to this town in a wine-making season. Actually there is a famous winery in this town!!

■Where is "Urausu Shrine （浦臼神社）"?

View Larger Map

■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!

Sumitomo Ponbetsu Coal Mine （住友奔別炭坑）| Largest Shaft in Asia | Mikasa

Ikusyunbetsu （幾春別） in Mikasa had once flourished in the coal mining industry. In 1880, this coal mine was found by the government, and developed by the private sector.

This shaft was constructed in 1960. It is 51m high and 750m deep, the largest shaft in Asia at that time. Actually we cannot tell Hokkaido history without coal mining. There were more than 100 coal mines in Hokkaido at its best!

It was said that this shaft could be used for 100 years, but closed in 1971 partly due to cheaper imported coal.

This is a coal dressing building. Please imagine how huge the coal industry was in the 19th to 20th century!

At the entrance of the "Sumitomo Ponbetsu Coal Mine （住友奔別炭坑）", we can learn their history with the board.

Houses for miners still remain near this site,

Near the coal mine, there is a small shinto shrine named "Ikusyunbetu Shrine （幾春別神社）". Let's go upstairs!

This is a main hall.

I can imagine a lot of people came here to pray for their prosperity at that time!

The area itself is like an outdoor museum for me!

I really enjoyed the history of Hokkaido today!

■Where is "Sumitomo Ponbetsu Coal Mine （住友奔別炭坑）"?

View Larger Map

■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!

Mashike （増毛） Half Day Walking Tour

As a tour guide, I made a model course for a half-day walking tour in Mashike.
Mashike is a small town, which had been flourished in the 18th to the mid-20th century, when a lot of herring were caught off this fishing town.

This is JR Mashike Station, a terminal station of Rumoi main line. Look at the station sign, which is vertically written, and very classical!

Although this is now a quiet station without a station master, it was packed with a lot of customers during the halcyon years.
This station was used for a famous scene in "Station", a Japanese movie, whose lead is Ken Takakura.

Just in front of the station, we will see "Inn Tomitaya （旅館富田屋）" constructed in 1919. This was chosen as a location for "The Catch （魚影の群れ）", a Japanese movie released in 1983.

Go straight the Mashike Port Street （道道増毛港線）, we will find "Sushi Matsukura （寿司のまつくら）", and enjoy

a northern shrimp bowl or

a seafood bowl! Yummy x 2!!! The seafood here is unbelievably delicious!
*Detailed information→Please click here!

After eating lunch, let's enjoy something historical, agian!
This is Itsukushima Shrine （厳島神社）, constructed about 250 years ago.

Shrine foo dogs and stone lanterns are original.

The wooden tablets, its ceiling, and drawings are very beautiful!

Go up to the same slope, and we will find "Mashike Elementally School （増毛小学校）", constructed in 1936.

This is the largest and oldest existing wooden elementally school in Hokkaido, and surprisingly it is still used!

The gym is also wooden! Wow!

Go down the same slop to the Mashike Port Street （道道増毛港線）, and we will find the residence of the Honma Family （旧商家丸本間家）.

Taizo Honma, from Niigata, established a kimono boutique in 1874, then expanded his business to a general store, the transportation industry, the herring fishery and a sake brewery. He was a super rich merchant!

The trade name was cave in each roof tile. Wonderful, isn't it?
Basically this is a Japanese-style building, but we will find Western room ornaments such as pendent lumps in a guest room.

The admission is 400 yen. Please enjoy this national important cultural asset.

How about "Restaurant Shimagwa （志満川食堂）" across from the residence?

It used to be a shipping agency, and now is a restaurant.
While the residence of the Honma Family is a Japanese-style architecture, this is half-Japanese and half-Western building structure.

When you come to Mashike, you must visit here!
"Kunimare Sake Brewery （国稀酒造株式会社）" is the northernmost sake brewery in Japan, founded in 1881by Taizo Honma.

You can join a sake brewery tour and

try all of the sake. Sounds perfect, doesn't it? Actually we drank a lot! Hahaha!

*Detailed information→Please click here!

The tour is almost finished.
How about drop by "Cafe Umizaruya （カフェ 海猿舎）"?

Their coffee, smoothie, and cakes are recommendable!
*Detailed information→Please click here!

Last but not least, it's shopping time at "Endo Suisan/ Minatomati Ichiba （遠藤水産　港町市場）"!

Northern shrimps caught around here are very delicious!

We can buy local fish here at reasonable prices!
*Detailed information→Please click here!

Please fully enjoy Mashike, a historical fishing town!

■Where is Mashike （増毛）?

View Larger Map

■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!