Historical Village of Hokkaido
12/05/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Historical Village of Hokkaido and Sapporo Beer Museum 北海道開拓の村

Day 29, October 2016, Wake to a cloudy morning but we prepare and eat breakfast outside before the rain starts in earnest. My back is still bothering me so, to be on the safe side, I pass packing up the bedding duties to D.. I take over the mopping the condensation from the windscreen task from her. We are not sure why the windscreen is so prone to condensation. It has a silvered, quilted cover, in common with the other widows, which are essential for this kind of travel. Commercial products ,for most vehicles that you are liable to sleep in, are available, but they are pricey.  D., being practical, […]
06/05/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Yubari, life after coal　夕張

Day 28, October 2016, Michi no eki Shihoro Onsen As expected, it is a cold morning at michi-no-eki Shihoro onsen, though we have no problem as we sleep very cosily. Unfortunately, rolling up our sleeping mats in the cramped confines of the car I hurt my back. This is potentially a major problem as I have a history of back trouble. We are at a bit of a loss for the day as D. has no plan for this area. The typhoon damage has closed off our intended route. A middle aged gent and fellow, dubious, shachuhaku(sleep in a car) character, informs us that the radio is warning people to […]
rainbow Shihoro town
04/05/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mikuni Pass to Higashi-Daisetsu　三国峠から東大雪

Day 27, October 2016, Mikuni Pass We emerge into a windy but dry morning and decide to return to Sounkyo gorge to check the autumn colours. The day is fine but the closer we get to the mountains the more the weather deteriorates. It is very windy with frequent heavy showers. Numerous rainbows prop up the clouds for kilometer after kilometer as we skim along very straight roads boarded by mixed, but mainly birch, forests. It is all very pretty despite the muted autumn colours and the background threat of serious rain. That eventually envelopes us as we cross the Mikuni Pass, the highest road(R.273) in Hokkaido. The pass itself […]
02/05/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Lake Akan – Ainu art　阿寒湖

Day 26, October 2016, We return to Tsuruimura , there is no action at the bridge, but we can hear activity in the fields a bit further down the road. We drive a little and stop to take pictures of about 60 tsuru(Japanese crane) in a field just for the record. They are too far away for a real photo; just dots like sheep on a hillside. Tsuru viewed, we are off to Lake Akan having had enough wetlands. However, Lake Akan proves to be a big disappointment given its fame. Lake Akan & Ainu Kotan The dismay begins with eating a lunchtime sandwich, on a damp bench, looking out over […]
22/04/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Kushiro, Japanese Crane and Norokko train　釧路

Day 25, October 2016, Fox and Japanese Crane The damp of the previous evening lingers in a foggy morning with the sun trying valiantly to break through. I step outside but fail to locate one of my Crocs. This is indispensable footwear for this kind of trip where you are constantly stepping in and out of your vehicle. Thief in the night I had been warned, by various signs in the campsite, not to leave things outside as a couple of young foxes in the area were liable to make off with any item that took their fancy. Habits die hard however and, of course, I left my crocs outside […]
Takkobu campsite
21/04/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lake Takkobu-Kushiro Wetlands　逹古武湖

Day 24, October 2016, Kottaro viewing point　　コッタロ展望台 The hotel breakfast is a self-service buffet which, for the price, is not at all bad so we leave our first Super Hotel with a positive feeling. Our next destination is Lake Takkobu, where we planed to go canoeing but, on arrival, we discover that canoeing is over for the season. The campsite, at the same location, is very good so we decide to make this our place to spend the night. Thus decided, we drive to a viewing point to see the Kushiro wetlands. The final stretch of road, to the viewing spot (Kottaro viewing point), proves to be 5 kilometres or […]
15/04/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Kiritappu – Kombu – Kushiro City　霧多布

Day 23, September 2016, Cape Kiritappu Wake up to a bright, sunny morning in Cape Kiritappu with panoramic views of the beautiful, blue bay dotted with small boats harvesting Kombu (Kelp seaweed). After breakfast (coffee, toast and yogurt – what else would you want?) We walk to a nearby lighthouse where the view of the ocean from the cliffs is magnificent. Rakko sighting – sea otter There are lots of cormorants and gulls but we are amazed to see a Sea Otter (Rakko). At first, we thought it was a seal but on closer inspection, through binoculars, we could clearly see it clashing shells together on its chest in classic […]
12/04/2018 / Last updated : 19/05/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shunkunitai-Cape Nosappu-Cape Kiritappu　春国岱

Day 22, September 2016, Shunkunitai From Betsukai-cho we travel on to Shunkunitai. After parking in a nondescript car park, we find a nature centre hidden in the trees. It’s a tourist spot, but they don’t seem encourage casual visitors. At the nature centre, which has a view out over the salt marshland, we get directions on how to get to the place clearly visible below us. This clear, we retrace our steps, a little, and set out along the inevitable wooden walkway over the marsh. We have a large expanse of open water on our left and, across the sea of reeds and sandy scrub, to our right the sea itself. […]