Hokkaido, Japan June '09 - Part 1

Now, it is back to posts on previous trips. This will be on our trip to Hokkaido, Japan 2 years ago during the mid-year.

Again, it will be split up into more than 1 post.

Day 1 - We first touched down at Chitose Airport.

Lake Shikotsu.

Scenic spot on the way to the first ryokan we went, Noboribetsu Grand Hotel.

Noboribetsu Grand Hotel. As it is a ryokan, it is situated near/at an onsen, so when we reached there, we could smell sulfur, which we thought was the smell of rotten eggs.

Day 2 - Noboribetsu Jigokudani (hell valley).

 The sulfur smell was overpowering. >.<

As we walked, we reached this natural foot bath, which is a stream with black mud inside.

One of the "hell' we saw, which had water that could change colour. When we came there, it was green.

A rest stop with a Mt Showa backdrop, which we would be visiting shortly.

 

This is Mt Showa Shinzan. It was actually formed after an eruption of a volcano, Mt Usu.

 We took the Mt Usu ropeway, so we could go up to Mt Usu to get a closer took. On the way, we could see Lake Toya and Mt Showa as well.

Mt Usu.

Our next destination was Hakodate, a fishing town with a rich history.

We had our dinner here.

We took the Hakodate ropeway to see the nightview. It was pretty, but it was drizzling, so not very good photos were taken. :(

After that, we walked around the city, and saw various historical buildings, most of which are western-influenced.

Day 3 - we had our breakfast at the Hakodate Market. The seafood breakfast there was very fresh...

After breakfast, we walked around the picturesque town of Hakodate.

There were many slopes there too.

Some scenery while on the way to our next destination.

Cape Esan Lighthouse Park.

Our hotel for the night, Niseko Weiss Hotel. It is another ryokan.

Day 4 - stunning photos from our ryokan.

The mountain nearby the hotel. When it is winter, this place is ideal for skiing.

Fukidashi Park.

Spring water.

Our next destination - Otaru, the canal city.

We had lunch there too.

There were various shops selling little glass ornaments and music boxes.

The iconic Grandfather Clock.

This is the end of Part 1! Look forward to Part 2!

Kyushu, Japan December '10 - Fukuoka, Dazaifu

 Day 7 - Nagasaki  - Ureshino - Fukuoka

It rained the morning we left Nagasaki heading to Fukuoka. Along the way, we passed by another beautiful onsen town - Ureshino.  Here's some lovely pics...

We stopped by Okawachiyama - village of the Secret Kilins (pottery)

Akira Kurosawa Memorial Satellite Studio

For lunch, we went to Joyfull Restaurant.  Along our journey, we could see Joyfull Restaurants all over Kyushu. They serve both Japanese and western food such as steak.

We reached Fukuoka in the evening after a long day of driving. We stayed at Grand Hyatt which is within a  huge shopping mall called Canal City. It is so huge, you could get lost in it.

We had dinner in this restaurant called Ichiran, which sells ramen. However, this is not your ordinary restaurant. First, you have to go to the vending machine and buy a ticket. Then, you go to an individual "cubicle", where you have your meal. At the cubicle, there is an small opening in front of you, covered by the curtain. Behind the opening is where the staff takes your ticket. On the table is a slip of paper, where you make your choices on the texture of the noodles you want, the amount of spring onions you want, whether you want chilli or pork fillet, etc... You then hand the slip of paper to the "waiter" through the opening. When the ramen is ready, the waiter then passes you your bowl of ramen through the opening. The curtain is then drawn up so that you can enjoy your meal in private.  In the whole process, there is absolutely no eye contact with the waiter  (You can't even see the waiter's face). It is very private, and it is ideal for anti-social people, or fugitives :D

Here's the cubicles...

The broth is actually quite tasty

See the bamboo "curtain" for privacy

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This is the ticket vending machine.


When we were done with dinner, we went to see the beautiful Christmas display around Canal City.

Day 8 - Dazaifu
We bought the Nishitetsu train ticket package to tour Dazaifu.  Here's the train.

Dazaifu has many historical sites including temples, shrines and Kyushu National Museum.

We first went to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Museum.

Lunch at a restaurant outside the museum

Kyushu National Museum

We had snack at Kasa-no-ya.  The snack was included in the train ticket package.  The biscuit is a local delight, with sweet bean paste which goes well with green tea.

We took a 30 min walk to the Kanzeonji temple - en-route, we saw some beautiful Japanese houses and orange trees....

Kanzeonji Temple.

Tenjin Underground Shopping Street.  It is huge.

Back at Canal City, we went to the Ramen Stadium on the 5th floor.  The stadium has a few ramen restaurants.  Again, you have to choose the ramen from the vending machine and buy a ticket.

Oishii!

Some cute hippo plushies sitting outside a hippopotamus-themed restaurant and shop.

And that concludes our trip to Kyushu! It was truly an enjoyable trip!