The Lounge of Hotel Hatago 2 !

by Kazu 

The lounge of Hotel "Hatago" in Jouzankei, Sapporo was so relaxing and gorgeous. I think the building of the hotel was refurbished and remodeled. 

It was so calm in the lounge. I hope the silence will be kept even after dinner. The design of the furniture looked so nice and sophisticated. I love the taste and silence. Needlss to say, the welcome drink was a shot of Japanese Sake. We had a crockett of potato sourced locally in Hokkaido with Sake.

 

The Lounge of Hotel Hatago in Jouzankei , Sapporo !

by Kazu

This is the shaved ice I chose on that day. Topped with Raspberry , blueberry and strawberry, it seemed so yummy under the bright sunshine. 

This is the lounge of Hotel "Hatago" in Jouzankei, Sapporo. It provides a variety of Japanese Sake so Sake lovers can savor and enjoy amply the top-quality Japanese Sake during their stay. 

The lounge has some cells where the guests can lie and stretch their legs. In a sense, the cells may be dangerous because a drunk persons may sleep in it.

 

Shaved Ice Shop on the hillside of Mt. Hakkenzan !

by Kazu 

I am not sure the name of this tree on the premises of a orchard and a shaved ice shop in the outskirt of Sapporo City but I think I saw this one for the first time.

It seems that the cafe provided pizza because a small salamander was outside of the cafe. This place may be filled up with heavy snow in winter but seems so comfortable under the blue sky in summer. 

Many citizens visited the shaved ice shop on that day. That selled like pancakes in front of us. It sells only in summer. Their busy days may continue a little bit more. 

 

Udon Noodle Soup Restaurant in Tobetsu Town again !

by Kazu

We had lunch in ”Kabato Seimen"　Udon Noodle soup restaurant in Tobetsu. I had oiled and spicy noodle soup, fried chicken tempura noodle soup, fried chicken, fried asparagus and fried mixed veggies tempura.

The noodle soup was a brand new menu of the eatery.

We had to wait for an hour on that day.  
 

Sapporo Lavender Park !

by Kazu

We visited the Lavender Garden near Horomi Pass in Sapporo City. The aroma and the violet color of the flowers covered the highland. Some foreigners were enjoying the scenery among the citizens.

You can take the photos of yourself in the flowers of lavender but you have to use the designated route in the garden.

Some souvenirs were sold in the small cottage in the garden but the main revenue of the garden is parking fee, 500 Japanese Yen. It was my first visit to the garden. There must be many other places in Sapporo that I have never been to.  

 

Fushimi Inari Shrine in Sapporo !

by Kazu

The hand-washing place of Fushimi Inari in the uptown of Sapporo City was decorated with the flowers of hydrangea and lacecap hydrangea so nicely. 

It is on the hillside of Mt. Maruyama in the center district of the city. We Japanese are so comfortable on the premises of such shrines near the residence. 

Such places tend to be designated as the place for evacuation in case of disasters including earthquake. 

We went up to Horomi pass from where the overview of the northern side of the city could be  seen.

 

Sweets Shop Shirousa in Niki Town !

by Kazu

Niki Town is known for its beautiful orchards and their delicious produces such as cherry, strawberry, blueberry, peach, grape apple plum, apricot and veggies.

The sweets shop "Shirousa" was newly opened on the premises of a orchard in Niki Town. Shaved frozen strawberry with ice cream was so nice to have but the sweetness of the strawberry seemed to be reduced by freezing, to be honest.

Sumiyoshi Shrine in the Port City Otaru is on the hillside of the uptown. So many red gate was contributed by the citizens of the city. Mainlythe driving forces of the industry of the city donated for the gates, praying for the success in their business.  

 

Hotel "Setsu" in Niseko to open !

 by Kazu

On the third day in Niseko on that weekend, the hillside was covered with fog early in the morning. Mt. Yotei could not be seen. Neither the hotels on the lower side of the hill. 

When we checked out the hotel, the fog had already disappeared and the sight was clear. Newly opened "Hotel Settsu" was still waiting for its debut on August 12(Fri.). 

The luxurious rooms can be seen on the Internet. Now that only group-tour foreigners can visit Japan, it may be  a good chance to stay in the hotel just after the open with reasonable price.
 

Hot spring spa for foreigners !

by Kazu

During our dinner on that day, the darkness of the night covered the hillside of Mt. Niseko Annupri.  The hot spring spa of Hotel Skye Niseko is on the second floor and comparatively small.

I think it is because the targeted hotel customers are foreigners and they tend to prefer to soak their bodies in the bath without other strangers.  

The guests can reserve a small hot spring spa like this for 50-minute bathing. They are available in the evening. No outside spa in the hotel.

 

The dinner in "Kumo" : Day 2 !

by Kazu

Remembering the beautiful garden of Myouhouji Temple in Toyoura Town, we raised glasses at the beginning of dinner in "Kumo" restaurant of Hotel Skye Niseko. 

I am not sure if the occidental people know "Iburigakko" , pickled and smoked radish or not but it's very popular for the lovers of alcohol. Amongst a variety of starters in Japanese bistro, the mixture of chopped Iburigakko and cream cheese is one of the most popular in Japan.   

I was so impressed by the sense of the chef, having this dish. Crisp sliced baguette and dried seaweed topped with the cheese spread the chopped Iburigakko were amazing. The chef knows a variety of the twists of the food materials.  

 

Myouhou Temple in Toyoura Town !

by Kazu

The flowers of the hydrangea and lacecap hydrangea in Myouhou Temple, Toyoura Town were not in full flourish and many buds of the flowers were waiting for their turns.

The main sacred house of the temple was not so big but the premises including the beautiful garden was so huge on the hillside with a treasure house. 

The flowers of lacecap hydrangea were colored with pale violet and white with the dark background of the woods.