The Mountain Lights in Niseko Hanazono Autumn 2026 !

by Kazu

It has been a while since we had stayed in Hotel Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono that  was glaring in the darkness beside the illumination of "the Mountain Lights" on that day. As it was on the long holidays in September called " Silver Weekend".

We heard that the event of "the Mountain Lights" would end up this year. I am not sure if it is because of the low cost performance or not but anyway, it's a pity we will not be able to see and enjoy the collaboration of the Fireworks and illumination.

We walked up to the station of the lift, imagining the people staying in Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono. We often have Chinese Dim Sum lunch in the Chinese Restaurant " China Kitchen" in the Hotel but our last stay in the Hotel is just after the pandemic of Covid-19. 

 

Hotel Nikko Style Niseko Hanazono !

by Kazu

We stayed in this room of Hotel Nikko Style Niseko Hanazono for three nights. The room was much smaller than the room we had stayed in Hotel Setsu Niseko in Hirafu Area but the compact and cozy room costed cheaper than Setsu. 

After the surgical operation for anal fistula a few weeks ago, the bus tub was so helpful for me because I could not use public bathroom including hot spring spa. I enjoyed bathing in the room several times in a day. The bed seemed to be made by "SIMMONS" and provided us with so nice and deep sleep.

 

Seafood Sushi Bar "Garden House" in Yoichi Town !

by Kazu

The fresh sushi-grade seafood rice bowl created by the sushi bar "Garden House" in Yoichi Town where the world quality whiskey distillery "Nikka" founded by Mr. Masataka Taketsuru.  

It was the second time for us to have lunch in the sushi bar. We had to wait for an hour to have the seafood gem rice bowl there on that day. The sushi bar is run by a family and only one chef created the gem bowl for many guests in cooperation with his wife and a few staff. It seemed to be so tough to complete his mandate every day.   

 

Ryuuguu Shrine in Otaru City 3 !

by Kazu

I was surprised at the sweet served with Japanese green tea Matcha in Ruuguu Shrine. It was Matcha- flavored roll cake with whip cream. The sweetness and bitterness of Matcha fit the cake to a T. 

I chose this cup with thick body of black color. It was much lighter than I expected and fit to my palm comfortably. The pale green color made so fascinating contrast wit the black cup. The shrine maiden seemed to have high degree of skills in the world. 

 

Ryuuguu Shrine in Otaru City 2 !

by Kazu

So many votive wooden tablet called "Ema" that carried the wishes of the people to God hung in the main sacred house of Ruuguu Shrine near Otaru Station. A wooden sculpture of Japanese dragon was beside the tablets and benches in front of the main alter of the shrine.  

Some charms, talismans, evil-breaking arrows were on sale beside the alter. The visitors to enjoy the Japanese traditional green tea and sweets should select a cup to have the green tea at the entrance of the sacred house.

"Ryuuguu" means the palace of dragon in Japanese. So many art works shaped like and expressed dragon itself were displayed in the sacred house. They must have been contributed by the citizens and visitors.I found a portrait of Mr. Takeaki Enomoto at the corner of the sacred house. He was one of the main founders of Hokkaido Prefecture. 
 

Ryuuguu Shrine in Otaru City !

by Kazu

Sumiyoshi Shrine in Otaru City has been watching the citizens and their lives for over 150 years. A monument of 150th Anniversary Events stood beside the approach stairs to the main sacred house of the shrine. 

The colors of the shrine and the exteriors seemed to fit the green colors of the trees to a T. Soon the colors of the foliage will turn to red, yellow, purple and brown. They will give an unbelievable beauty to the landscape.

After visiting Sumiyoshi Shrine, we visited Ryuuguu Shrine in the same city Otaru. It started Japanese traditional green tea service with sweets for some bucks. My wife found the new service somewhere and we visited the hidden shrine near the train station of Otaru.  

 

Sumiyoshi Shrine in Otaru City 3 !

by Kazu

The hand-washing area of Sumiyoshi Shrine in Otaru City was also decorated with flowers and branches of the plants gracefully. Japanese silver pampas grass was also set at the corner of the water pool.  

As it was the midst of September, Japanese silver pampas grass and the flowers of chrysanthemum were floating on the surface of the pool. The efforts of the priests and staff must be imagined by the visitors and ample donation should be made by the visitors.

Religions should be separated form the politics in Japan based on the Constitution but Shinto is based on the myth of establishing the nation of Japan. It should be maintained in the education in Japan.