05 November 2017
It was Autumn
I born and raised in Tokyo, so I feel mid-October to beginning of November is still Autumn. But since I moved to Sapporo which is far north from Tokyo, I realise it's not.
It is Winter already, especially this year. There's snow already and temperature is in one digit in C even in day time.
Last year, I was in China in October and November, so I couldn't feel seasonal change in Japan and couldn't see beautiful autumn in Japan.
Fortunately, I'm in Sapporo and I could make some time to see beautiful scenery this year.
Last weekend, I went to Noboribetsu (登別:のぼりべつ) with my family to enjoy spa there.
During the drive way to Noboribetsu and back to Sapporo, I could see beautiful scenery. I had dash cam and I shoot video, unfortunately my car's windscreen was not clean but I think you can feel how beautiful it was.
After we came back, we went to walk near my flats.
Recently, I moved to current flats which is close to beautiful parks, museums and university. Which is really great place to take a walk or run around.
And weekend before that, I went to Kyogoku (京極:きょうごく) which is famous for clean spring water and famous for many tourists.
You can see many tourists are taking photos and chatting on bridge of Kyogoku. This spring water is drinkable so these people cross the bridge and get water to drink.
Some locals bring large bottles to collect water there. We also did collect water there and took some photos.
Local convenience stores are selling this water which bottled in near by factory.
Kyogoku is close to famous skiing spot Niseko (ニセコ), and this area is very good location to see autumn scenery.
We climbed the nearby hill and took some photos there.
It is Winter already, especially this year. There's snow already and temperature is in one digit in C even in day time.
Last year, I was in China in October and November, so I couldn't feel seasonal change in Japan and couldn't see beautiful autumn in Japan.
Fortunately, I'm in Sapporo and I could make some time to see beautiful scenery this year.
Last weekend, I went to Noboribetsu (登別:のぼりべつ) with my family to enjoy spa there.
During the drive way to Noboribetsu and back to Sapporo, I could see beautiful scenery. I had dash cam and I shoot video, unfortunately my car's windscreen was not clean but I think you can feel how beautiful it was.
I took this video when I was driving lake side of lake Shikotsu (支笏湖:しこつこ).
After we came back, we went to walk near my flats.
Recently, I moved to current flats which is close to beautiful parks, museums and university. Which is really great place to take a walk or run around.
You can see many tourists are taking photos and chatting on bridge of Kyogoku. This spring water is drinkable so these people cross the bridge and get water to drink.
Some locals bring large bottles to collect water there. We also did collect water there and took some photos.
Local convenience stores are selling this water which bottled in near by factory.
Kyogoku is close to famous skiing spot Niseko (ニセコ), and this area is very good location to see autumn scenery.
We climbed the nearby hill and took some photos there.
Thanks.
07 October 2017
The great fireworks
Today I would like to write about last month's my great experience. On 9th September, I went to Moerenuma art fireworks(モエレ沼芸術花火)in Sapporo. The fireworks held in the park in north of Sapporo city.
I've been to Sapporo for 6+ years, but it's my first time to see this fireworks, but it's very famous in Hokkaido.
This fireworks had started as Moere Summer Festival(モエレサマーフェスティバル) in 2012 and changed its name to Moerenuma art fireworks in 2014. We need to buy ticket to enter the park during the weekend as support for fireworks. There's two type of tickets and it's differ in seat positions, the premium seats in front of main stage were ¥7,000 (about 63 USD) and grass seats which around premium seats were ¥3,500 (about 32 USD).
Since it's my first time to join this event, then I chose cheaper one.
I wrote "grass seats", but to tell the truth there's no seats on grasses just sit on grasses. So we need to bring some kind of sheet to put onto grasses. Also I though it's better to bring something to cover to get warm, because temperatures in Sapporo in September is low enough to catch cold at night.
This year start was delayed 40 minutes because of final flight delay on nearby airfield. Also we waited some gap during the event due to wind, but the event was fantastic and worth to see them live. The combination of songs and fireworks, the sound and impact of fireworks and so on. I wish I could join this event next year as well.
Thanks.
I've been to Sapporo for 6+ years, but it's my first time to see this fireworks, but it's very famous in Hokkaido.
This fireworks had started as Moere Summer Festival(モエレサマーフェスティバル) in 2012 and changed its name to Moerenuma art fireworks in 2014. We need to buy ticket to enter the park during the weekend as support for fireworks. There's two type of tickets and it's differ in seat positions, the premium seats in front of main stage were ¥7,000 (about 63 USD) and grass seats which around premium seats were ¥3,500 (about 32 USD).Since it's my first time to join this event, then I chose cheaper one.
I wrote "grass seats", but to tell the truth there's no seats on grasses just sit on grasses. So we need to bring some kind of sheet to put onto grasses. Also I though it's better to bring something to cover to get warm, because temperatures in Sapporo in September is low enough to catch cold at night.
This year start was delayed 40 minutes because of final flight delay on nearby airfield. Also we waited some gap during the event due to wind, but the event was fantastic and worth to see them live. The combination of songs and fireworks, the sound and impact of fireworks and so on. I wish I could join this event next year as well.Thanks.
10 August 2016
Mountain day
Tomorrow is 11th August, and it's a new public holiday starting this year called "Mountain Day(山の日:Yama-no-hi)". There is already sea day in Japan, but there's no mountain day until this year.
Until this year, there's no public holidays in August. Also there's no public holidays in June, but due to this new public holiday June is the only month without public holiday in Japan.
I don't usually climb mountains, but I climbed hill by bicycle this evening to celebrate this new public holiday.
Thanks.
Until this year, there's no public holidays in August. Also there's no public holidays in June, but due to this new public holiday June is the only month without public holiday in Japan.
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| Okurayama jump stadium with my bicycle |
I don't usually climb mountains, but I climbed hill by bicycle this evening to celebrate this new public holiday.
Thanks.
30 July 2016
Eel day
It's a middle of summer and these days are really hot today was about 30 degrees in centigrade even in cool Sapporo. I smelled grilled eel (うなぎの蒲焼"Unagi no Kabayaki) when I went around my flat this evening. Then I remembered that today is midsummer day of the ox (土用の丑の日"Doyo-no-Ushi-no-hi"), which is as known as the day to eat grilled eel in Japan.
This tradition allegedly started in 1800s. There's many stories about the origin of this tradition, but the most popular one is restaurant owner who was in slump selling eel in midsummer asked Gennai Hiraga(平賀源内). Then he proposed to set midsummer day of the ox as the day to eat grilled eel.
Now we can buy grilled eel almost everywhere in Japan on midsummer day of the ox, we can even buy it at convenience stores. But the price of eels are getting expensive due to lack of elver (glass eel). Most of eels which we eat in Japan are artificially raised in ponds and lakes in Japan, China and Taiwan. These elver are came from many places including Europe. Because there's massive demand of eating eel in Japan, the amount of Japanese eel got shortage, then they started to import elver from Europe.
According to the statistics, about 70% of eels are consumed in Japan. So, now both Japanese eels and Europe eels have been added to "endangered" category of Japanese government's Red List of animals. I went to nearby supermarket and checked the price of grilled eel and that was about 2,000 JPY (about 20 USD). Maybe we cannot buy eel in near future... I hope that won't happen.
Anyway, I didn't eat eel today same as 54% of Japanese people. According to NHK 46% of Japanese people answered that they ate grilled eel today.
Thanks.
This tradition allegedly started in 1800s. There's many stories about the origin of this tradition, but the most popular one is restaurant owner who was in slump selling eel in midsummer asked Gennai Hiraga(平賀源内). Then he proposed to set midsummer day of the ox as the day to eat grilled eel.
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| Hitsumabushi (櫃まぶし) One of eel foods of Japan |
According to the statistics, about 70% of eels are consumed in Japan. So, now both Japanese eels and Europe eels have been added to "endangered" category of Japanese government's Red List of animals. I went to nearby supermarket and checked the price of grilled eel and that was about 2,000 JPY (about 20 USD). Maybe we cannot buy eel in near future... I hope that won't happen.
Anyway, I didn't eat eel today same as 54% of Japanese people. According to NHK 46% of Japanese people answered that they ate grilled eel today.
Thanks.
31 December 2015
A week in Hakodate
It’s new year’s eve. This year I’ve been lots of places this year I think, but most of them are business trip… Anyway, this month I went to Hakodate which located in southwest of mainland Hokkaido.
I’ve been here in Sapporo for about 5 years, but I’d never been there yet.
Hakodate is the third largest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo and Asahikawa, and one of the most important port town in northern Japan. Hakodate also will be the first station which stop Shinkansen (bullet train) in Hokkaido next March.
I’ve been here in Sapporo for about 5 years, but I’d never been there yet.
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| Map of Hakodate |
As usual, I’ve been there for business trip then I didn’t have much time to enjoy sightseeing there… But I could enjoy local gourmet during my stay.
Hakodate is more than 300 km away from Sapporo, and it take about 5 hours to get there by car.
Well, honestly it’s not good for me to drive 5 hours with not comfortable car…
I had another job which I need to do until go to Hakodate, so I arrived hotel at 11 PM.
And of course, I couldn’t enjoy scenery during my drive. Yes, I cannot see anything, everything were in darkness...
From the hotel, I could see Goryokaku tower which is in Goryokaku Park.
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| Night view from my hotel room |
And here's morning view from my hotel room.
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| Morning view from my hotel room |
I wanted to delete the building on left to see perfect view, but of course I cannot use magic.
Hakodate is famous for beautiful night view from Mt. Hakodate, but it was a little away from my hotel and I couldn't go there during my stay. I hope I can see that next time!
You can check the review on trip advisor from the link below.
Hakodate is famous for squid. Look at the video above, it's still moving!!
Unfortunately, it's not the best season to eat squid, but it was really nice. I hope I can come back at the best season of squid!
Thanks.
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