Motomachi Area of Hakodate early in the morning !

by Kazu

The popular spot of the port city Hakodate was well-adorned and maintained. The central reservation and the roadside were colored erd and white with beautiful flowers. The statues were well-polished. 

Motomachi Area is one of the best course for walk and jogging as well as sight seeing in the city. The atmosphere is one of a kind. The citizens and tourists love to visit there.   

Commodore Matthew C. Perry also visited Hakodate City and the monument is near the former public hall of the city in Motomachi. He was the scout to conquer and colonize Japan. 　

 

The First Step in Hokkaido !

by Kazu

Kanamoti Warehouses are refurbished and used as souvenir shops, restaurant, beer halls and event places. In Edo Era, the first branch of the central government of Edo Administration was established in Matsumae Town on the west coast of Oshima Peninsula of Hokkaido.   

But the first step in Hokkaido was made in this place and the monument was established in Hakodate. Chinese tourists had not swamp this area yet but soon the direct flights from China would resume.  

This is the monument of the first step in Hokkaido. I think the motif is a polar bear or a brown bear. The history of the development of Hokkaido had started here. 

 

Hakodate Bay Area early in the morning !

by Kazu

I jogged around the bay area of the port city Hakodate. early in the morning as I had done many times. The museum ship "Mashuumaru" was not in service as a transportation method anymore 

It was very calm in the bay. Yacht harbor was almost empty. I imagined the era the harbor had been full of fleets and tag boats. The place seemed to be good place for some exercise and jogging. Breathing deeply in the area early in the morning is so energizing and inspiring.

But I saw very few joggers and walkers in the area. The citizens of the city may be far from jogging because their ancestors had to get up just after midnight for fishery and raised glasses after the hard work on the ocean.

 

Dive into the night in Hakodate !

by Kazu

Instead of the freedom to stroll around the adjacent area by car, we could drink beer and enjoy special crab meat lunch box on the train. We could not explore to the Mt. Esan which is slightly active volcano on that day and the next.  

I am not sure how many times I have been to the port city but every time we visited the city, we could refresh and inspire ourselves with the hot spring spa and culinary delights mainly in the Japanese bistro "Hakodateyama".  

 

Back to the Port City !

by Kazu

We arrived at the peak of Mt. Hakodate from where the whole city could be seen. Some radio towers for broadcasting were beside the lookout. It had been a special important place to protect the area and find the battleships from overseas.  　

Mt. Hakodate was made by the eruption of the volcano hundreds thousands years ago and was connected with the main island of Hokkaido with the sand and soil carried by the current. 

The port city developed on the sandbank and the lands connected by it. The bus went down the hillside and back to the bus station near the train station. We got a little bit hungry and ready for the special dinner.

 

From the peak of Mt. Hakodate !

by Kazu

The port city Hakodate was covered with the low clouds on that day. The streetlights started to shine in the darkness.  The base of the old artillery in the bay could be seen from the hillside of the mountain. 

The base of the artillery had some shelters underneath and used for the warehouse of the bullets and gunpowder. Sunset could not be seen on that day, unfortunately but a special dinner was waiting for us after this tour.

It was the first time even for me to see such a scenery of the collaboration of the landscape and white clouds. I hope the clouds will not cover my way I to the future. I was worried about the way I step forward in my fifties.  

 

Everybody said "Wow"!

by Kazu

We arrived in Hakodate Citywhere my father had lived before. The train manias got off the train and took the photos of the locomotive. Different from the normal express train, each seat had a table to be pulled out from the sideboard, on top of the one attached on the front seat.

I love to see my wife watching outside of the train through the window. She looks so happy and enjoying her journey by train. She also watched around the special limited express train and took some photos. 

Just after we arrived in Hakodate and checked in the hotel, we took the bus to go to the peak of Mt. Hakodate. Some lookouts were beside the road to the peak and everybody said "Wow!" when they saw the landscape of the land and ocean.

 

"Eruption Gulf" !

by Kazu

The scenery changing through the window of the Special Limited Express Train "Niseko Go" really entertained us so much. The white waves coming from the horizontal line caught my eyes.  

Without controlling the steering of a car, we sat back and stretched our legs in the train. I remembered my only chance to swim in the ocean. I dived into the ocean when I visited Honolulu last January.  

We passed by Ohnuma Park near Hakodate. Not so many tourists were in the railway station in Ohnuma Park. I thought train manias were waiting for the express train at least. Soon we reached the New Hakodate Station in Hokuto City and the port city Hakodate after that. 

 

Crab Meat Lunch Box !

by Kazu

On the platform of Niseko Railway Station, many tourists on the Special Limited Express Train "Niseko Go" rushed to the vendor of the souvenir package of cheese cake and yogurt drink made in Takahashi Ranch.

At Oshamanbe Railway Station, the tourists who had reserved beforehand rushed to the vendor of lunch boxes famous and popular " Kanimeshi"　Bento. The promotion character "Manbe-kun" which motif was a haired crab enter the train and gave a photo chance to the tourists. 

This is the package of the crab meat lunch box "Kanimeshi" made by "Kanaya" restaurant in Oshamanbe Town. The crab meat seemed to be flavored with soy sauceand something special derived from haired crab.

 

Special Limited Express Train "Niseko Go" !

by Kazu

The Special Limited Express Train "Niseko Go" is so popular for the train manias in Japan that it is very difficult to purchase the train ticket and my wife bought the tickets to go to Hakodate and for return. The station officer was a little bit surprised.

This is the locomotive of "Niseko Go". The driving force is colored with pale purple and the cockpit is at the top of the locomotive. Many train manias were taking photos until just before the departure.

Different from driving a car, we can drink on the train. To be honest, I had already drunk before heading to the station and after the morning routine jogging. We had already ordered the special lunch box to pick up at Oshamanbe Station.