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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Mt. Hakodate (函館山)| Michelin Three-Star View

Mt. Hakodate (函館山) is a 334m high, wooded mountain at the southern end of the peninsula on which much of central Hakodate is located!

Going up Nijikken Slope Street (二十間坂通), you will reach a cable car station!

Let's go to the summit!

The facility on the summit has a souvenir corner, and

I recommend goods made by prisoners in Hakodate Prison (函館刑務所). The bags they made are very fashionable, aren't they? Because of the shortage of the labors (prisons) , the stock of the goods are sometimes thinly distributed! Hahaha!

Voila!
This is the observatory!

The second edition of Michelin Green Guide Japan introduces the view from Mt. Hakodate as three stars!

It is also selected as one of the three beautiful views in the world, along with views in Hong Kong and Milan.

We can enjoy Mt. Komagatake (駒ケ岳)(1,132m) from the summit!

I love the view at night very much!

 Do you know Thomas Wright Blakiston from England?

He was the first person to notice that animals in Hokkaido were related to northern Asian species, while those on Honshu (main island of Japan) were related to those from southern Asia. The Tsugaru Strait between the two islands are therefore established as a zoogeographical boundary, and became known as "Blakiston's Line"!

The summit has another monumnet!
Tadataka Inou (伊能忠敬) is a great person to complete a map of Japan in the 19 century. In 1800, after five years of study, the Shogunate permitted Ino to perform a survey of the country. He completed a perfect map of Japan! He reportedly spent 3,736 days making measurements!! Wow! Mt. Hakodate is the first place he stared measurement in Hokkaido!! 

I love Mt. Hakodate!

Just for reference, Motomachi (元町), the foot of Mt. Hakodate, has several historical buildings, and the second edition of Michelin Green Guide Japan introduces this area as two stars. Do you want more information on this area? Please refer to my other post→ ! 

■Where is Mt. Hakodate (函館山)?

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!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Monthly Ice Cream (Made by MISSU HOUSE) on the Limited Express Trains of JR Hokkaido | May, 2012

When I use a limited express train here in Hokkaido, I always eat monthly ice cream sold on the train.

This time, I went to Hakodate from Sapporo. This is JR Sapporo Station↓ Here we go♪

We took a Super Hokuto Limited Express Train!

Voila!
This is my favorite ice cream!!! The monthly ice cream in May is.....................

banana!!
when I use a limited train in Hokkaido, I always buy a monthly ice cream made by MISSU HOUSE, which is one of my favorite ice cram makers in Sapporo!
Hokkaido is famous for dairy products, and we can eat delicious ice cream here!

Do you wanna try it? Hahaha!
It is very creamy and fruity!!! I love it!

We've arrived in Hakodate!! 


■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!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Machino Sushi (町の寿司本店)| Sushi-Making Experience | Otaru

Would you like to make sushi by yourself? How about "Machino Sushi (町の寿司本店)" in Otaru?

I like this Japanese atmosphere!! 

"Welcome to our sushi bar!"

First, cool our hands with cold water! And let's get started!

Hold rice, and shape it with your hands!

What you have to do is just to copy what the sushi chef does! Don't be creative! Hahaha!

Voila!
This is my sushi! How do you like it?

We really enjoyed this shrimp soup, too!

In Otaru, there are other sushi bars which offer sushi-making menu like this. My favorite is Tatsumi Zush (巽鮨). You can see enjoy the sushi-making attraction through YouTube on my other post! If you're interested in it, please click here→.

■Where is "Machino Sushi (町の寿司本店)"?

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!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Velotaxi (ベロタクシー)| Sapporo

Slow, but extraordinary way to travel in Sapporo! By velotaxi, a bicycle taxi, we can go everywhere in and around downtown Sapporo. It operates from April to October.

Would you like to ride this eco-friendly taxi?
One of the taxi stands is in front of the Former Hokkaido Government Building!

■Velotaxi Fare■
Base Fare (500km)
300 yen
Per 100km
50 yen


■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!

Former Hokkaido Government Building (北海道庁旧本庁舎〈赤れんが庁舎〉)| Double Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom | Sapporo

The Former Hokkaido Government Building (北海道庁旧本庁舎), nicked Akarenga or "redbrick", was constructed in the Neo-Baroque style in 1880, and designated as National Inportant Cultural Asset in 1969. It  is one of the great examples of Meiji architecture! The Hokkaido Archives inside are open to public now.

Look at this↓ The leafy forecourt is an oasis for visitors including me.

Double cherry blossoms (八重桜) are now in full bloom! Beautiful, aren't they?

It blooms one week later , and the petal color is deeper pink than Yoshino cherry blossoms (ソメイヨシノ), a typical Japanese cherry blossoms.

Usually some artists are painting pictures along these ponds here! I love this soothing atmosphere!!

It is near JR/Subway Sapporo Station and Subway Odori Station. 

Please fully enjoy the historical building and beautiful flowers together!!

■Where is the "Former Hokkaido Government Building (北海道庁旧本庁舎〈赤れんが庁舎〉)"?

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!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Welcome Dance for Freshmen (新歓の踊り) | Keiteki Dormitory of Hokkaido University (北海道大学恵迪寮)| Sapporo

Hokkaido University has several dormitories, among which Keiteki Dormitory (恵迪寮) is famous for its dance performance
We went to Former Hokkaido government building yesterday, and accidentally could enjoy their welcome dance for freshmen(新歓の踊り)!

Voila!
Look at their costume!!! Red loincloth only! Wow! I love their long-lasting tradition!

Their attire is very traditional, too↓ During this season, students living in the university dormitory perform welcome dance for freshman.
*School year starts in April in Japan.

They sing the dormitory song while dancing in a circle.

Their dance performance and cherry blossoms remind me of the spring season!

Spring has come to Sapporo!


■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!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Koushi Hanten (孔子餐店)| Chinese Restaurant | Sapporo

If you want to eat delicious Sichuan style tofu dish(四川麻婆豆腐) in Sapporo, I recommend "Koushi Hanten (孔子餐店)", located in front of Hokkaido University.

The cook and his wife are very friendly, and we can fully relax here! When you come here, please enjoy not only their dishes but also conversation with them!

They serve a lot of dishes, but the most recommendable one is "Sichuan style tofu dish(四川麻婆豆腐)"!  Yummy x 2!!!

Voila!!
It has a looooooooooooot of Sichuan pepper!!!

Please order rice so that you can enjoy it with this delicious and hot sauce!!!

It contains pieces of pepper shells and pepper itself!!! Hot! Hot! Hot! & Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!

I really enjoyed it on rice like! Perfect!

Broad bean chili paste (豆辣辛醤) is one of the keys to make the sauce very delicious!! 

They kindly served home-made jujubes (ナツメ) dessert for free! Thank you!
I really enjoyed conversation with them while eating this dessert and drinking jasmine tea!

If you like something hot to eat, I really recommend this Chinese restaurant!

■Where is "Koushi Hanten (孔子餐店)"?

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!