A Longer Trip to Hokkaido

[drron]

Because the hotel restaurant had a 4.30pm Happy hour start we decided to have an early dinner. Outside the restaurant a piano that plays by itself. inside the place is obviously still in covid mode.



The menu.








We didn't go for the all you can drink offers just the half price Happy hour specials. Mrsdrron had a couple of glasses of a Japanese white wine which again she enjoyed. I had a 300ml bottle of sake and ended with a glass of shochu.




We decided to go with the chef's recommendation and had the lobster pizza and a ham and mushroom one. The Japanese are quite good with pizzas.

 

[drron]

Kushiro is known for it's sunsets thoiugh not spectacular during our short stay.






I went out for a sunset walk.






They were setting up for a festival to celebrate the fishermen.

 

[drron]

Each place has it's own manhole designs.


And at a lot of the ports Red brick warehouses.


These were remodelled into their Art gallery.




Then back to the Crowne Plaza.

 

[drron]

That night the fishing fleet set off to the sea.
















Just as many joined them from other places around the port.

 

[drron]

The next morning there was fog again.




But it cleared fairly quickly.




Some of my breakfast.


People were arriving for the festivities.

 

[drron]

We couldn't hang around as today we were driving to Rasau to go on a whale watching trip the next day. All along the coast there are solar installations. You would think tht a month of fog per year and 4 months of snow cover there would be better sites.




We stopped at Akkeshi and the Micho-no-Eki there as it is said Lake akkeshi oysters are the best in Japan. The roadside stop had 4 eating places with oysters on the menu. First the view over the town and lake.

 

[drron]

The best restaurant would be the Robata restaurant that had a modern decor,good views and the food looks good.






However it was a little past 1100 so we just had an oyster snack at the cafe. A cup of fried oysters for Mrsdrron and my first oyster dog.


Beautiful.
We then drove up the coast. lots of little fisherman's places. a couple of huts with boats pulled up onshore.

 

[drron]

More views on the road.




Just after we saw the eagle a red fox was walking down towards us but it quickly darted into the bushes.
Looks like an old hotel that didn't do any good.


We arrived at Rausu a bit after the virtually ubiquitous 3pm check in time but took a drive around the town before checking in. Our place for the night was the Shiretoko Serai Guest house.




The room.








And a small room at the top of the stairs with a table and microwave.

 

[drron]

Our rate included dinner and breakfast. The dinner menu with both Japanese and western dishes







The food.










Mrsdrron had a glass of white wine and I the local sake which was very pleasant.

 

[drron]

The last of dinner finishing off with a really nice hot chocolate.






There were a few of these displayed. That is what I wanted to see but I was 10 out of 10 cruises unsuccessful in seeing orcas. They do stay here into July but I knew it was hit and miss. Sperm whales though were more common in July.


But when we woke in the morning I actually hoped the cruise would be cancelled and we would get our money back. the fog was here.

 

[drron]

Bad news. the cruise was going out today. In fact 7 boats went out. we were the first.


Some of the other boats.




A gull on her nest.


They didn't want gulls on the boat.

 

[drron]

Lots of gulls on the breakwater along with 2 eagles. they flew off rather quickly.






There were lots of chicks.






Then we motored of at a rate of knots.

 

[drron]

This was our view most of the way.


But after an hour we caught up with a pod of dolphins.









There are obviously not the same regulations on behaviour of the boats as the captain had the boat at full throttle often cutting across the dolphins path. there were changing directions constantly and obviously not enjoying the experience.

 

[drron]

We spent a short tme with a second pod of dolphins who were much quicker at changing direction. then it was top speed back to the harbour scattering seabirds as we sped by.






A very disappointing experience.

 

[RooFlyer]

That’s so disappointing, drron. you’ll just have to go back in mid-season.

 

[drron]

We then hopped into our car and set off up the Shireko pass. There were lots of motorbikes and bicycles. The cyclists were a bit of a problem when they were going downhill. Often on the wrong side of the road and at high speed.


The towns at either end of the pass are signed.

 

[drron]

We stopped again when we reached the coast. looking back to where we had come.


and watching fishermen launching their boat to pull the nets in.


Some great scenery as you approach the little town of Shiretoko.

 

[drron]

There were a few little seafood restaurants. This one had a very long line and only about 10 seats. light rain was falling.


A hotel on the hill looking over the town.


We went through this tunnel to the dock for the sight seeing trip but did a quick U turn as there was a toll cllected on the other side.








A little further on was a 100 yen shop with things we didn't know we neede like a gyoza maker, cherry tomato pickling kit and a butter cutter.

 

[drron]

We overnighted in the Dormy Inn at Abashiri. The room.








The website is a bit misleading when stating the size of the room. There would be 2-3 sqm in the long hallway that can't be used for anything else.


And the views.

 

[drron]

Abashiri was quite dead. Not much activity except at the Craft Brewery restaurant. It was one of the 4 recommended. but a 5.5 hour wait didn't appeal to us. Of the other 3 2 hadn't been open for dinner since Covid and the other was just closing it's door at 6pm. Here is their pedestrian mall.






So it was Lawsons across the street with some sushi and salad. I added a curry bun.


We also had a bottle of white wine and a small bottle of sake.


We slept well. Drove down to the waterfront before we filled up and started out for Nayoro.






And watched some fisherman pulling in their net.


The beach.