Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

[drron]

On Hokkaido the train travels a lot of the way close to the sea.The main industries appear to be timber and fishing-

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Soon we see Hakodate-

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So we didn't have to worry.We were only 3 minutes late into Hakodate and our Hokuto express was waiting on the other side of our arrival platform.When we first booked for this day we were told trains were full most of the day from Hakodate and we had a 90 minute wait here and going via Niseko and Otaru getting us to Sapporo at 2015 and still having to get to Shin Sapporo.But using my FF experience you know if you don't get the answer you want go back and try again.We did and got this much earlier sevice tha goes along the southern coast of Hokkaido and stops at Shin-Sapporo before it gets to Sapporo so getting us there at 1715-a great improvement.

 

[drron]

The only problem we had on the run to Hakodate was that across the aisle we had Japan's 3 bogans.Talked loudly,used their mobiles incessantly even though there were regular announcements that if you used your mobile to go to either end of the carriage.Fortunately they weren't going on to Sapporo.This was the longest sector-210 minutes.The train was slower and stopped more often.They did serve meals.I had a donbuto box that was OK.Mrsdrron tried the mixed sandwhiches-but they included a pork cutlet,a bamboo and a potato salad sandwhich.Different.
So to some shots on the way-

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[tgh]

How do you find the english comprehension outside the main cities.. or do you speak japanese ?

 

[drron]

Again the majority of this sector is along the coastline until you get close to the New Chitose airport and the track turns inland.Mostly it is pretty scenic-

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But closer to Chitose there is a lot of industry-

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And several stations need a bit of a refurb-

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So this was a long day with 8 hours from leaving Sendai to arriving in Shin-Sapporo.It will get quicker as the Shinkansen is scheduled to start service to Hakodate by March 2015.It means you will be able to get the one train from Tokyo to Hakodate.It will shave a decent amount of time off the trip.It is proposed that it will continue to Sapporo via Niseko and Otaru but the completion date for that is 2035.

A short walk from the station to the Sheraton and good to see our bags are waiting for us.That was worth the 3056 Yen($34).
We were tired so had dinner in the Italian restaurant.Expensive for ordinary pasta dishes.After that it was straight to sleep.
Off to Otaru in the morning.

 

[drron]

How do you find the english comprehension outside the main cities.. or do you speak japanese ?

After our first visit to Japan in 1984 I went back to University and did 2 years of Japanese.I did consider going on to get a BA but the government quite correctly put an end to that with the HECS scheme.
However I was never proficient with spoken Japanese but passed because I could remember the Kanji.Impressed a few in Japan initially after that by excusing myself when in conversation and writing my requests or answers.Have progressively lost the Kanji but a lot written in Hiragana which I can still read.
However wherever you are in rural Japan you,if patient,will still be able to make yourself understood.I well remember our first trip when mrsdrron and her mother both came down with pneumonia in Hakone.One day I took my 8 year old son to the end of the railway line and walked around.I spoke nor understood 1 word of Japanese.We met an older woman who had no English.She took us to her home and met the family.Learnt so much without 1 common piece of language.

 

[drron]

So Tuesday and the last day of our JR pass.So we plan a day trip.The most recommended was to Otaru.This was good by us as we could check out what to do on Friday when we board our cruise here.First up to Shin-Sapporo station and a few different trains-first a rapid airport train,then a Super Hotuko and finally a local express-

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So our rapid airport train which on reaching Sapporo becomes a local train to Otaru.After Sapporo we moved ourselves to a "bulkhead"seat-

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Now a couple of shots on the journey-

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A station that has been shown a little love-

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Otaru comes into view-

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It had been pouring rain from Sapporo until close to Otaru.Fortunately when we got there the sky had cleared.

 

[drron]

The main street of Otaru looking from the train station to the cruise dock-

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Now what goes on here?

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They have a shopping street-

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There are the first signs of autumn in Otaru-

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Passing through town is the oldest rail line in Hokkaido-

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And some fine buildings-

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And the Otaru canal.it was known as the canal town but most have now been built over-

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[drron]

There are many of these near the cruise port powered by man or bicycle-

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Hope it's not happening today-

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But evidence of nature-

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And shots of the old port-

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Notice the canal cruise boat spends a fair bit of the time in the harbour.Then we walked along the canal with old warehouses-

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And the local brewery with a very nice beer garden.And note the roof with protection against snow build up-

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[drron]

At the present end of the canal there is an old lighthouse over the road now a fast food place-

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We went to a large sushi place on the main tourist street,Rinken street.We had some nice mixed sushi then decided to have some of the autumn specials-tempura mushrooms,grilled salmon and salmon and mushrooms cooked in foil with otaru butter(better than Lurpak!).The chef obviously appreciated Gaijin ordering the specials as he personally brought them to us-didn't see him doing it for others-

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The last was absolutely beautiful so mrsdrron promises me she will try it at home.Further along was a glass museum.Otaru is famous for it's glass and it has been an industry here for a very long time.Unfortunately mrsdrron's legs decided it would be too much so we returned to the station via the old commercial street.Very few tourists along here.First I do like a good bit of meat on my prawns-

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A refurbed hotel originally built in the late 1800s for foreigners only-

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And another fine commercial building-

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[drron]

Some more of the older buildings.A few of the more significant buildings have English signs.They are after the building in these pictures-

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An old store now a gift shop but mainly glass ware produced on the premises-

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[drron]

Another building then back to the train station and more signs of autumn-

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As soon as we got back on the train the rain started.Still a couple of pictures on the way back-

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After we got back to the hotel I went back to the supermarket and bought some sashimi,fruit and cakes for dinner.You go through the department store to get to the supermarket in the basement.It looks though they may have had a translator from Louisiania-

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Wednesday is going to be a rest day.

 

[OATEK]

Wednesday is going to be a rest day.

Looks like a pretty hectic start, no wonder you need a rest day. Enjoying the report.

 

[drron]

With the rain,dark clouds and intermittent breaks it made Tuesday's sunset quite spectacular looking over Sapporo and the mountains-

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[drron]

So Wednesday and a rest day.We walked over to Shin-Sapporo station and the shops there.We ended up only looking at 2 floors of the Sun Piazza mall.There was a hundred Yen shop where mrsdrron dropped $50.But most was on pencils/pens to give to schools when on our cruise.She also bought some more Japanese material for her craft.We then saw the Taiko drum game,thought we might give it a try but it wasn't very flattering so we passed-

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We found a ramen place on the 3rd floor.Mrsdrron had the daily special-a small donburi bowl of salmon and slalmon roe plus a chicken and egg noodle soup.I had my noodle soup with seaweed and veggies served in a very nice bowl.Total cost 1720 yen($19).

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Mrsdrron wanted to look around the pharmac_.Now which woman would want to use a face mask of horse oil?I did think of one.

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When we got back to the Sheraton they had taken down the large Sheraton sign.It leaves SPG on 1/10.

 

[drron]

Thursday and a latish start catching the train into Sapporo.We first looked around Daimaru and as always in a department store ended up in the basement.Once again their attention to display is amazing-

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Now I really must increase my fluit intake-

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After looking around the malls at the station including the underground mall we decided to have lunch inside the JR ticket gates.On the train from Hakodate was a brochure with restaurants around JR Sapporo station.We liked the look of the Hokkaido Soba Kito restaurant-though the English name does not appear on the restaurant.It is a little hole in the wall place but the noodles were good.Mrsdrron had the Autumn special-noodles with various mushrooms.I had mixed tempura with cold soba noodles washed down with a bottle of Sapporo's finest-

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Total cost 2200 Yen($24).

So then up to the platform and back to the Sheraton buying some cakes on the way.
Friday-cruise day!

 

[travelislife]

Great TR! I love Japan, am booked to go back again the end of this year. Just a quick one with luggage on the Shinkansen. I have always put bags/suitcases behind the seats in the last row of the carriage, usually lots of space. always fit a few large hard suit cases. It also doesn't matter if you are sitting elsewhere in the carriage, it is Japan, no one is going to steal it.

 

[boomy]

It also doesn't matter if you are sitting elsewhere in the carriage, it is Japan, no one is going to steal it.

Same thing used to be said about Australia once... At least Japan is still safe.

 

[drron]

Great TR! I love Japan, am booked to go back again the end of this year. Just a quick one with luggage on the Shinkansen. I have always put bags/suitcases behind the seats in the last row of the carriage, usually lots of space. always fit a few large hard suit cases. It also doesn't matter if you are sitting elsewhere in the carriage, it is Japan, no one is going to steal it.

On the shinkansen heading north there is very little room behind the end seats.Our cases certainly couldn't fit.Going south we always put our bags there.
On top of that we had 2 changes of train from Sendai to Shin-Sapporo so it was much easier without the bags.The amount to send them ahead was well worth it.

Japan certainly is safe.I leave my computer out in the hotel room with no worries.It is changing as it must but still much safer than most other places.

 

[tgh]

Ron is clearly having a very very v… et al …...good time on the explorer..
Others on board are managing to keep us Silversea Expeditions tragics up to date however…..
and….. the Internet on board is fast and available.. no excuses there….. hmmmmmmmm

 

[drron]

No internet for 4 days-Japan does not allow internet or satellite TV aboard vessels within the 12 nautical mile limit.Who knows why.
Have just left the last Japanese island with Japanese officials on it so transmission will resume soon.Just catching up with emails,banking etc now plus uploading photos.