The New Friends from Indonesia !

by Kazu

On the day when the experimental field on the premises of Hokkaido University was covered with mist early in the morning, we received new friends from Indonesia in the program of Jenesys conducted by JICE in Hokkaido. 

They were Muslima and we had to chose the ramen noodle soup restaurant for Muslim/Muslima in Susukino Area, Sapporo. This spicy and hot dan dan mien is genuin halal and doesn't contain pork essence. 
 

We were struck by the taste of the noodle soup and understood why so many Malaysian, Indonesian tourists were savoring the halal ramen noodle soup after waiting for over thirty minutes in front of the restaurant surrounded by white snow. 

Breakfast in Otaru Triangle Market !

by Kazu

After savoring amply the top-quality seafood breakfast in the Triangle Market adjacent to the railway station in Otaru City, we strolled around the canal and downtown surrounding it. 

Compared to our lunch we took in a well-founded "hole-in-the-wall" buckwheat noodle bar in the downtown of the city, our breakfast was so simple but so gorgeous and high in protein from the ocean.

As my wife had to pick up the souvenir near the hotel we stayed, she had to leave the market before she amply savored all the dishes.

 

Otaru Triangle Market !

by Kazu

The name of the trail lit up with the candle lights inside the snow lanterns was " Yukiakari no michi" which means the trail with the light of snow. We really enjoyed strolling aroud the canal in Otaru City in the evening on that day. 

The next morning, I jogged around t canal. The atmosphere in the evening disappeared completely and the temperature got down so much. That struck my brain and inspired.

 

Tourists from overseas came back !

by Kazu 

It seemed that the number of the tourists to Otaru City recovered and outstripped the former volume. So many tourists from overseas were speaking foreign languages. 

The atmosphere around the canal lit up with candle lights might give the couples unforgettable and irresistible romantic memories.

Canal cruise boat was empty at that time but I saw  some tourists enjoying the cruise in daytime the otter day. The word of "Over tourism" coul be seen in Kyoto and other area of Japan but the direction of Japan can not be found by the politicians so far.

 

Otaru Canal in the evening !

by Kazu

We took a walk to the Otaru Canal indowntown of Otaru City after having BBQ Dinner in "Gyuukaku" without savoring special fresh seafood on that day. 

We felt like having grilled beef to beef up ourselves preparing for another

mission

to make this would a better place. 

As we stayed in our favorite "Dormy Inn" on that day, we had to save the space in our stomach to eat compliment Ramen Noodle soup supper after 21:30 in the hotel.

 

"Jounetsu" was titled on the snow !

by Kazu 

The efforts of the staff exerted to create and keep this scenery gave us such gift that made us so happy and warm.

I really appreciate their efforts and enthusiasm to make it happen. So many tourists and citizens seemed to be so satisfied and happy.  

I was not sure how long did it take to prepare for the event but considering the snow sculptures not covered with snow, all the sculptures must have been made in a short period.

 

How many candles were needed?

byKazu 

I was so curious about the position of the candles inside the snow objects on the snow-lantern-trail in Otaru City.

I found some well-designed snow-lantern on the trail. It had so complicated figure and the candle light from the inside was so beautiful.

Keeping the candle lights must have been so tough but the flame-keepers strolled along the trail to change the candles and keep this beautiful scenery. Kudos to all the people pertinent to this event.