The Magic Hour in Hakodate !

by Kazu

Mt. Hakodate-yama and the ocean around it could be seen clearly from the lounge of Hotel La Vista Hakodate in the bay area. Usually, we make a point of having dinner in the local Japanese bistro "Hakodate-yama" near the railway station but on that day, we reserved a table in the main restaurant of the hotel.  

The setting sun was hidden by the clouds shaped like sardine. No ship was moving in the bay any more. We soaked our bodies in the hot spring spa of the hotel before dinner.  

We found so many tourists from overseas on that day. it seemed that the tourism in the area had recovered completely after the pandemic of of covid-19. I think the ratio of the foreign tourists increased compared to before the pandemic.

 

Cafe " Kyuu Chayatei" !

by Kazu

The scenery through the window of the old cafe "Kyuu Chayatei" in Hakodate City was a little bit distorted because the sheet glasses of the window were made before Meiji Era and Meiji Restoration.

My wife chose traditional Japanese sweet "Kintsuba" made of sweet red beans paste and rice powder. I chose slightly baked pudding topped with caramel sauce and ice coffee. The atmosphere in the cafe was so relaxing and comfy. 

A small cup of peach sherbet followed the afternoon sweet set. It seemed that the owner of the cafe had a good taste of  tableware including china. The building must have been refurbished but the appearance seemed to have been maintained.

 

An Old Cafe in Hakodate!

by Kazu

As you may know that I make a point of jogging around the bay area of the Port City Hakodate early in the morning when I stay in the city but I had not entered the cafe with atmosphere named "Kyuu Chaya Tei" because I had not visited there in working hours. 

Every time I passed by the cafe, I wondered how the inside and the interior of the cafe was like. For the first time I visited the cafe with my wife after checking in La Vista Hakodate. 

So pretty miniature China welcomed us in the cafe. They were displayed near the window facing the street. The atmosphere of the cafe was like I imagined before. 

 

Just Arrived in Hakodate!

by Kazu

The Limited Special Express Train Niseko Go we took arrived in Hakodate railway Station. The local train coach of "Isaribi Railway" run by a special company founded to maintain the line that had connected Hakodate with Eshashi Town on the west coast of Hokkaido Island.  

Railway manias love this train and the railway but because not so many people use the train, the railway company, the municipalities and other stakeholders are struggling to maintain the railway.

The passengers including train manias who took the special limited train were taking memorial photos with the train colored pink and silver. They seemed to be savoring their memory during the journey by the train.

 

Mt. Komagatake from Special Express Train Niseko Go!

by Kazu

Soon after leaving Oshamanbe Station, Mt. Komagatake could be seen from the window of the train. The beautiful shape of the active volcano continued to allure many tourists form other regions on this globe.  

The mild hillside of the volcano fit the blue sky to a T on that day. The lakes and ocean reflected the blue color of the sky. The contrast of the green, blue and white was so beautiful. 

Taking photos from the window of the coach was a little bit tough after drinking alcohol even for me. I am not good at taking photos basically, to be honest.

 

What is "Manbe-kun" ?

by Kazu

"Manbe-kun" is the local mascot character of Oshamanbe Town. The motif is crab but it seemed like a lobster. The character was waiting for the arrival of the Special Limited Express Train "Niseko Go" and the train manias in the train. 

The crab meat lunch box "Kanimeshi" made by "Kanaya" in Oshamanbe Town had to be reserved by phone call by the day before the arrival. It costs 1,200 Japanese Yen. The buyers should prepare the cash. Please do not expect the change.  

The lounge coach was at the tail of the train where the frames for taking memorial photos were put on the counter table facing the window. I gained a table before our arrival in Oshamanbe Town where many train manias were expected to rush into after buying the lunch boxes.    

 

Special Express Train Niseko Go at Niseko Station! 4

by Kazu

The Special Limited Express Train Niseko Go filled up with train manias arrived at the railway station in Niseko Town. the train manias got out of the train and took photos of the train and the station.  

The souvenirs sold at the station platform were the yogurt made in Takahashi Ranch, cheese crackers, ice cream. I picked up some of them for my wife and ran into the coach before the deperture. 

My wife got the flag made by the staff of the station. Some passengers were taking memorial photos with the flags and frames for shooting. The vendors had been looking forward to the Special Limited Express Train filled up with train manias expected to buy plenty of souvenirs.   

 

Mt. Yotei from JR Niseko Train !

by Kazu

The land mark of Niseko and Kutchan Town Mt. Yotei could be seen even from the Special Limited Express Trai Niseko Go on the railway. The angle of the photos was totally different from that taken from the road. 

Some new buildings were under construction near the railway. Of course, in the hotel area such as Hirafu Slope, so many hotels and facilities were under construction but they could not be seen from the railway.

Soon the foliage of the trees in this area will turn to yellow, red, brown and gold. All the beautiful colors will be covered with white snow after that. The monochrome season is the high season in this area. 

 

"Senbero Package " sold at Yoichi Station!

by Kazu

At Yoichi Station, the vendors were waiting for the arrival of the Special Limited Express Train Niseko Go and sold "Yoichi Package" composed of the products in Yoichi Town.

 The package was composed of "High Ball" made of the whiskey  "Black Nikka" distilled in famous Nikka Distillery in Yoichi Town, apple taste spirit with soda, asparagus biscuit flavored with soup curry and apple pie.  

The alcohol percentage of the drinks were 9 % and 7 %. I did not expect to drink alcoholic drinks in the morning but that was what I could not do when I drove a car. I drank up the drinks and they were so tasteful after my routine jogging.

 

Niseko Train from Sapporo to Hakodate!

by Kazu

A variety of buckwheat noodle soup can be savored at some of the  platforms in Sapporo JR Station like other railway station. Early in the morning, only one buckwheat noodle soup stand is available in Sapporo Station.  

Before taking Special Limited Express Train Niseko Go, we had Kitsune Soba noodle soup topped with fried soy bean curd and Tanuki Soba noodle soup topped with tempura taste snacks. 

Soon the Special Limited Express Train Niseko Go entered Sapporo Station ans showed its pink and silver body of the coach to the train manias waiting for the photo chances.