Another long mini trip report-Sapporo.

[drron]

Once again as my initial TR has got so long i have excised a part that we absolutely enjoyed.We have not travelled to Sapporo on previous trips to Japan.We are not into winter sports hence our late summer visit.Unbeknown to us the locals had obviously got wind of our trip and planned a big celebration for us-the Sapporo Summer festival.Definitely not as well known as their Winter festival but it really got us in.
Now this first post is an experiment.I did take a few movie sequences and have finally uploaded them to YouTube and hopefully I can now embed them.time will tell.

On our first full day we caught the JR train from Shin Sapporo(staying at the Sheraton) to Sapporo proper.Got the express but still took ~ 20 minutes to get there-but only Y280 each($3.50).And the ttrain is on time,frequent services and clean.Of course at Sapporo station there are lots of shops including Daimaru where mrsdrron picked up a few trinkets.Walked straight down the street from there where we came to performances by local groups.first was dancing.So here goes my attempt at embedding the first video.If successful be prepared for the avalanche!

[video=youtube_share;tlP3bDfZVNU]http://youtu.be/tlP3bDfZVNU[/video]

Well that didn't come out as I expected so back to the drawing board.I will return.At least there is a link to the video.

 

[drron]

Cant see where I went wrong but then the way I post my photos is unique according to the experts on FT that I sought advice from.
So at least there is a link to the videos-
[video]http://www.youtube.com/embed/JC5Ml3cowpE[/video]
Now in this you will notice the women in the red skirts.If you have a good eye you will see the woman second from the left at the beginning has flat shoes.She must have been well into her eighties when you saw her close up.fantastic to still be so active.


[video=youtube_share;yfscoRndcYk]http://youtu.be/yfscoRndcYk[/video]

Now it is not all my poor video skills-unfortunately there were people who just didn't look so walked in front of the camera.Also on this video you can see the traditional footwear-I guess this would m,ake the dance pretty difficult.Also note the ages of the supporting band.

 

[drron]

We then went to Sapporo's old covered shopping street and witnessed an old custom-

[video=youtube_share;I4zWyAWCXK4]http://youtu.be/I4zWyAWCXK4[/video]

The fellow on top would be carried for 1 or 2 blocks and then be put down.The fellows underneath would refresh themselves with sake,beer or even water then another fellow would be hoisted high.

 

[drron]

So after walking around for a while we came back to the spot where we had watched the dancers.There now was a Taiko group playing-or more precisely kumi daiko.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="sapporo drums 1 - YouTube" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The young woman second from the left was the leader of the group and called the shots.I swear she was looking straight at me at times with a look that said "I am imagining this drum is your head".:shock:

Now the whole group-
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="sapporo drums 2 - YouTube" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

thats it for the videos but I will be back to flesh out this thread in my typical style.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

We then went to Sapporo's old covered shopping street and witnessed an old custom-

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="sapporo summer festival - YouTube" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The fellow on top would be carried for 1 or 2 blocks and then be put down.The fellows underneath would refresh themselves with sake,beer or even water then another fellow would be hoisted high.

We saw several of these ornate wooden altars being carried around, all by men of various ages - but all dressed similarly - nice long sleeved patterned jackets, but underneath this jacket the modest wore bike shorts, the traditionally dressed wore what sumo wrestlers wear - a type of G string !!!!!!! So when they bend over to put the altar thingy down, you get a flash of bare bum !!!

That cheers a girl up with sore feet !

Now I tried everywhere to get Ron that outfit

 

[TonyHancock]

Now I tried everywhere to get Ron that outfit

Presumably it was just the colour they didn't have?

Another drron trip report. Time to head home, open a bottle of red, and enjoy.

 

[drron]

Now to finish this TR.We were truly impressed with Sapporo.Easy to get around.Fantastic experiences with the Sapporo summer festival.And really friendly people.
first just a little bit more on the Sheraton sapporo.As usual weddings often play a big part in a hotel's business in Japan.However here their chapel is in the Breakfast restaurant.

Good views out of our room and every night we were there we had a box seat to fireworks shows.

Also here I finally got to try a Mosburger.Dont think it will become part of my diet.

As usual there were some unusual foods but these must be an acquired taste-

 

[scaredeycat]

How was the weather? I'm considering Japan for next year's escape from Tassie's winter, but none of us are keen on humidity (or typhoons for that matter). I'd expect Hokkaido to be cooler thanTokyo, but is it still sticky?

 

[drron]

How was the weather? I'm considering Japan for next year's escape from Tassie's winter, but none of us are keen on humidity (or typhoons for that matter). I'd expect Hokkaido to be cooler thanTokyo, but is it still sticky?

We were there on the first weekend of August.temps 25-28C and not sticky at all.Did rain a little one day.
Definitely reccomend this time-the festival seemed to provide something for everyone.

 

[etops1]

Nice TR, drron.

Just spent the weekend up in Sapporo. They had an Autumn festival running this time in Odori Koen. They do like their festivals!

Nice weather, at times overcast, 22-25 degrees and not humid like Tokyo (is) has been.

 

[drron]

One of the things to do is the Sapporo tower.being good tourists we naturally went there-

For the Summer festival they had made the space under the Tower into a Beer Garden.I do love Japanese culture.

Naturally we went up the tower.You certainly get a good view.As a boy i loved watching trains.Probably have not grown up-

Then down the central park to the old local government building-

And then the view to the surrounding mountains-

Next-some of the other sights of downtown Sapporo.

 

[RB]

I love reading your reports Ron. I seem to recall you saying you are using a Sony camera?

 

[drron]

Another sight is the Old Clock tower-

Then there is the incredible underground shopping complex,one section of which they named after our granddaughter-

The main sapporo station is at another end of the underground complex,the clock shows what is important in tourism-

Close to the station is Daimaru where mrsdrron found a few things to help stimulate the local economy.The main street runs from the station-

and crosses Odori park-

That will be next.

 

[jastel]

So thats what it looks like, was all white and buried in snow when I went to the winter snow festival a few years back.
Brilliant snow sculptures even if you dont like snowsports.

 

[drron]

Thanks RB.I do use a Sony HX100V.Chosen because it has a 30x zoom.I am just starting to use the movie function-the first ones are in this thread.
Some of the photos are by mrsdrron who uses a Sony nex 5-better for close ups.

Odori Park caters for everyone.Two of the sections are the childrens area.It contains the most practical sculpture I have seen-

At the other end of Odori park from the TV tower is a city Museum,previously a court house-

As I have posted before a lot of the park had become a beer garden with decoration-

So i just had to join in-

Next local culture.

 

[drron]

So back to the start of this report.As we walked down the main street towards the old shopping street we came across the Japanese dancers.Once again was impressed with the Japanese.Even friendlier in sapporo than we have seen before.I was constantly asked if i wanted my photo taken with the performers but I didn't want to interrupt the show.So here are some of the still pictures.

It was a story of young and old.First the young-this young fellow came up and stood beside me and really got into the spirit of the performance

But this young lady got my vote.

Next-the old.

 

[drron]

The Japanese are usually the nation with the longest life expectancy when the annual list is released-so forget all those fad diets,go Japanese.However not only do the Japanese live longer they age well and here are a few examples-

And this lady I was told is in her late 80s-

But it really is about just getting out and doing something-

So after mrsdrron dragged me away and having our late Mos Burger lunch we kept seeing things in the street.We later found out what it was all about but that will come later-

But then we found the shopping street-

More of that next.

 

[drron]

When we entered the shopping street there was a mass of people in front of us with a lot of noise and chanting.At first we were unaware of what was going on.It was only the magic of zoom on the camera that I could see what was happening.

Though it wasn't until we got up to them that it was really obvious.A large group carries the shrine with 1 or 2 fellows balancing on top.They would go a block or 2 and then rest the whole apparatus on trestles and change the carriers and carried.

And at every stop those involved got their refreshments at the mobile drinks station.A choice of sakes,beer or water-

Now mrsdrron always tells me I should acknowledge her photos.Well this next one is hers-

Now what was she thinking?
Eventually the end of the road was reached-

And off they went into the sunset.

Next-even more on our afternoon walk round sapporo.

 

[Hvr]

Dr and Mrs Ron I am loving your TR seeing the sights of Sapporo. I have been there several times but always in February when there is snow everywhere.

Seeing Sapporo sans snow is definitely worth it.

Thanks.

 

[drron]

Walking back to the Odori subway station we came upon this-

Yes moved by just manpower and several of them were at least my age!
So walking back past the intersection where we saw the dancing it was now a Taiko drum group.I really enjoyed their performance.

Of course there were also examples of Japanese English.I doubt that a children's store would be called this at home-

And the lengths the Japanese will go to for presentation-

And the amazing prices they are willing to pay for traditional dress.This was the cheapest kimono I saw in this shop-

A steal at $2400.
Next-the Hokkaido Historical village.