Kakunodate, Akita Japan
Spring has arrived in Akita. The rice fields have been flooded and are ready for planting, sakura have blossomed, and sansai (mountain vegetables) are in season. The warm weather has been wonderful and over the Golden Week (A week of holidays that most people get off in Japan) I headed to the northern most island of Japan, Hokkaido. I went by ferry with several friends to the city of Sapporo. Hokkaido is known for its history and culture of the Ainu people (the indigenous people of Hokkaido, History of the Ainu), wealth of nature, national parks, mountains, bears, and delicious seafood. Sapporo is home to several different beer breweries including of course the Sapporo Beer Brewery and Asahi Brewery.
Our journey started on the ferry that goes from Akita to Tomakomai. After arriving in Tomakomai, a city on the east side of the island, we went by bus to Sapporo. Sapporo is famous for its seafood and sashimi. Below I have included some pictures of the trip with descriptions of each one.
On our first night we went out to eat some of the acclaimed seafood. My personal favorite was the raw ウニ or sea urchin, which was quite delicious! In fact the place we found had a very cool sumo theme and the food was so good we decided to eat there twice!
Outside of Sapporo is a town by the name of Otaru where there is an old canal and historic district as well as various seafood stands and restaurants. We walked the historic district which included an old steam clock! Afterwards of we had lunch at an old warehouse on the canal. We also met a local traveler and received some great advice on places to go in the area!
At one of the seafood shops I bought some squid for about a two dollars and enjoyed a fresh sashimi lunch!
After visiting a historic steam clock in the city. Our next stop in Otaru was another local warehouse which has since its original use as a storage building been converted to a building with restaurants and local shops. It was here that I had an encounter with a long-time friend of mine.
After a day trip to Otaru, we returned to Sapporo to eat some of the famous Genghis Khan grilled lamb. It is cooked over coals with vegetables, which is then dipped in a light sauce before savoring the flavor! We ordered a couple plates of lamb and started cooking and eating, though, Genghis Khan did not make an appearance. We ate at a little place that had room for only a handful of customers at a time, but as is often the case, little shops are often the best places to start one's night and talk with the local people.
The following day we headed to Maruyama park. The weather was beautiful and our timing was perfect as the sakura were in full bloom. Sakura blossoms only last for a few days and depending on where the trees are, elevation, weather, and the like they bloom at different times. During that period parks and river ways are filled with picnics, barbeque, and sake as everyone has come to hanami 花見 (watch the flowers). The flowers were vividly colorful and when we returned to the hotel that evening the local news was broadcasting a segment on the park.
Before leaving Maruyama park we headed up the trail on Maruyama to gain a breathtaking view of the surrounding area as well as enjoy the sunny weather and fresh air.
Each night in Sapporo we often headed to Susukino station to enjoy the nightlife of the city. We stopped in at a local 居酒屋 and had a good time laughing and sharing our adventures of the day. Afterwards we headed out to walk the town and enjoy the night.
Hokkaido's volcanoes, mountains, green pastures, seafood, people, and seaside cities make for trip that that could last weeks, while only there for a few days, it was a great time and I am looking forward to returning sometime soon.
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