Sapporo Heading South - Can't keep the Idiot Out

[Noel Mugavin]

Off the rope way and went to the outside observation area on the first level. Not too many people, so thinking might not be so bad


Sun going down, lights coming on, up to the main deck, and it was chockahs. Took me a while to get out of my nice/full of manners mode, but once I did I really enjoyed being a rude cough. Can't beat them, join them.


Flurries of snow came and went intermittently, but did my best to get a decent photo or 2










Then the hard part, walking down the streets to the tram stop. Must have been painful for people watching. Eventually got the job done though.
Then back to the station and a search for something to eat

 

[rbjhan]

When I went to the Mt Hakodate thingy, it was back in 2016 and the crowds were not so bad.
Still a lot of people but certainly not to the point you need to be pushing and shoving...otherwise not sure how I would cope!
Oh, also I took the bus not the ropeway. Probably one of the reasons....

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Bibimbap at a little place by the railway station



Wasn't too flash to be honest


That was me for the night

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Nice crisp morning



Out for an early morning wander




Wind was up and it was bitterly cold, and still the threat of ending up on my backside with every step








I wanted to get closer to the water, but there was no break in the ice sheet that would give me a path toward it

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Too cold, too slippery, gave up and went back to the station. Tully;s on the second floor and a very, par for the course, average coffee in Japan.
Then back to the hotel and the room
Hotel foyer


The room




Train that would get me to Shin-Hakodate pulling in

To the station


My ride


This carriage seemed a bit isolated and neglected

20 minute or so ride to Shin-Hakodate

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Pretty barren to the north of the station

Quick and easy transfer to the Shinkansen tracks. Not much at the station, couple of small stores


Waiting for the 10.53


In it comes




About a 45 minute ride to Shin-Aomori, with 25 minutes of that being in the Seikan Tunnel running under the Tsugaru Straight.
Nebutas abound in Aomori City




As do apples




It's only 1 stop between Shin Aomori and Aomori Station, however it was about a 45 minute wait for the local train
Snow abounds in Aomori

 

[Noel Mugavin]

About a 7 minute ride to Aomori


The bus


From the station overpass


I was staying at an APA a few blocks from the station, google maps showed me 2 roads off set from the station that would lead me there.
I could choose left or right
I went right, turned out to be wrong.Tough going dragging a bag through this


Streets looked in not great shape

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Eventually got to the hotel and dropped the bags off. Not without an old man v technology battle though. Had to get a Q code to drop and be able to pick up the bag. Worked it out eventually.
Didn't need to be challenged mentally after being absolutely stuffed physically dragging my bag around through the snow.
Unencumbered by the bag, back from whence I came to the Nebuta Museum




A ridiculously cheap entry fee of around 400 yen, and fortunate enough to catch the end of a thrice daily Haneto performance

 

[Noel Mugavin]

 

[jastel]

Was going to ask are you going to the Snow Festival in Sapporo but you have moved on.
Are you going to see the snow monkeys?

When I was there I had big chunky waterproof boots but it was still slippery...I noticed locals had metal spiky grip things you attached to your boots...sort of like light weight ice crampons. I bought a pair of them for $10 or something. Much better. Just had to remember to take off inside.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Was going to ask are you going to the Snow Festival in Sapporo but you have moved on.
Are you going to see the snow monkeys?

When I was there I had big chunky waterproof boots but it was still slippery...I noticed locals had metal spiky grip things you attached to your boots...sort of like light weight ice crampons. I bought a pair of them for $10 or something. Much better. Just had to remember to take off inside.

No snow monkeys
I had a decent pair of waterproof shoes, it was really just in Hakodate that was a real issue

 

[Noel Mugavin]

The museum isn't big, but it's well worth a visit.
A short stroll away is the A Factory, so over I went hoping to grab something for lunch
No luck in the A Factory, so more of a wander
Aomori Ekimae Beach






Wind and snow had suddenly blown in and was a bit of a struggle to walk through the snow


Thought it best to head back toward the station

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Snow builds up pretty quickly here
Bike parking




Went into the station, still searching for something to eat
There was a Saizeriya inside so gave that a go
Not bad, not great, but only about 600 yen for this and a salad, 100 yen wine in the menu as well. I'm not a drinker, but even if I was, don't think I'd be touching that


Aomori Station from the outside


Time to check in properly at the hotel. Took the alternate street. Would have been a much easier proposition dragging the bag.







They haven't got the message


Checked in, bit of a rest then out again. This time to the Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information building
They really like pushing the A theme here



Still fascinated by the build up of snow

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Theatre screening regarding the Nebuta festival


Not for me though, I'm a sucker for an observation deck




Not the greatest viewing day






Back to the hotel


Stock standard APA room. Bit larger than you'd find in the bigger cities though


The view

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back out and looking for something for dinner
Passed a care residence




Found myself at Saizeriya again. A rather uninspiring, albeit cheap, chicken salad


Out to the little tourist information centre by the station, and confirmed what number bus, and where the stop was, to get to Mt Hakkoda and the snow monsters tomorrow
Then the walk back to the hotel to get some washing done


Children's medical centre






Back at the hotel and bag of washing and heap of 100 yen coins I had been collecting over the last few days for this exact purpose.
Laundry room, bank of washing machines and dryers. Labelled, self dispensing detergent washers; no dramas threw the clothes in, closed the door. Looked to where to put the coins in - problem no coin slots anywhere
Bit of an examination of the room, found what I was after. Pay via a Q code, must register and pay online. Except the log in and payment page was in Japanese.
Out I trudge to the front desk, they help me, I have to choose on the payment page washer 1, 2 or 3 to activate. I was still at the front desk didn't really want to go back to the laundry room to check the number. I had thrown my clothes in the top right washer, number 3. Payment processed, back to the laundry room, washer next to the one I had put my clothes in was washing an empty barrel.
Sign on my washer said 2. Bugger me, back to the desk, go through the process again, check the laundry, clothes getting washed now.
Repeated the process, twice more to dry my clothes, sans the wrong numbered dryer being activated.
Early night after my confusing bout with technology