2024-03-31

Bihoro Pass !


by Kazu

It has been a while since I stood on this lookout near Bihoro Pass near Lake Kussharo. It was still cold on that day but the view was mysterious.

The hilly area around the lake was partly covered with snow and the hillside was still beige of withered grass.
This is the sign of the pass. So many tourists take photos there and riders tend to hang out and chat in the parking lot so happily.

 

2024-03-30

"Sunayu" Lake Kussharo" !


by Kazu

Most of the visitors, particularly the kids, dig the beach of Lake Kussharo to make hot spring pool there. If you dig thirty centimeters in depth, hot water came out from the beach. 

Needless to say, typical boiled eggs are sold in the eateries and souvenir shops on this Sunayu Beach. Bottled hot milk are popular as well to savor on the spot.
Approximately thirty minute-drive takes you to the the peak of Bihoro Pass from where Lake Kussharo and the center island can be seen. The pass and road tend to be covered with fog. 

 

2024-03-29

Marukoma Onsen Suimeikaku !


by Kazu

Lake Shikotsu, approximately one hour-drive from Sapporo, has so nice a hotel and hot spring spa Shikotsuko Onsen Villa Suimeikaku. I've been to the hotel for hot spring bathing but never stayed so far.    

The lakeside view of the accommodations had been a terra incognita for me before. But we could go around the building of the villa on that day. It became so popular to stay that I am not sure if we can reserve a room for one-night stay or not even in winter. 

 

2024-03-28

Lake Shikotsu on a certain weekend !


by Kazu

It has been a while since I visited Lake Shikotsu and took these photos. Many tourists and the citizens of Sapporo and other cities in Hokkaido love to visit there on a weekend.

It took approximately an hour to reach the lake that has so nice hot spring spa and camping sites. I have dived into the lake some times before. I love the landscape of the under the water.
There is a forest of withered trees and rock cliff near the shore on the southern side of the lake. I took my wife in very hot summer several years ago to cool down our bodies. I would like to show my friends the beautiful and breathtaking landscape of underwater.   



 

2024-03-27

The Day of Departure from Honolulu!


by Kazu

The memorial visit of the first official delegation from Hokkaido to Hawaii was so successful. The last day of our visit had come. We had to leave Honolulu with a plenty of souvenirs and trust. 

Daniel K. INOUE International Airport was still in construction for expansion and renovation. The gate for the flights to Japan was a little bit farther than other destinations, I thought. 
I did not expect I would have to visit there again and again to establish a sister-state affiliation between the regions as well as the special business relations at that time. 


 

2024-03-26

After the party !


by Kazu

We finished the party thrown for Hokkaido by the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu and went to a Japanese-style bistro in Waikiki for "after party".   


All of them were so satisfied with the response from the guests invited to the reception by the Consulate General. We got to know some tourists from Hokkaido there and kept in touch for years, even after the regions established a sister-state affiliation. 
to be honest, JTB Hokkaido worked wonders to establish a stable, caring, beneficial and everlasting relationship between the regions. Do you know that The Honolulu Festival held in every March is run by mainly JTB Hawaii ?

 

2024-03-25

The arts of agriculture and culinary delights!


by Kazu

The Representative of the State of Hawaii Mr.Ken ITO was eager to realize the baseball exchange of the youths between Hokkaido and Hawaii. He contributed to establishing a sister-state affiliation between the regions so much. 

But he ran the election to become the Senator and lost. On the other hand, both of Mr. Noritoshi MURATA and Representative Scott SAIKI on this photo became the Speaker after this rendez voux.
The former Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Murata's riding is SHiribeshi Sub-prefectural Area of Hokkaido. He kindly donated a variety of souvenir from his riding to this reception. The chef of the official residence of the Consul General cooked them so nicely. 

 

2024-03-24

Rice Factory in Oahu !


by Kazu

We visited "The Rice Factory" in Honolulu. It was in the district mainly for warehouses of the trading industry. The shop had already got the clients such as "Wolfgang Steak House", Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Hale Kulani Hotel and other famous hotels and restaurants. 

The rice crops were polished in this shop after the purchase of each package of rice from Hokkaido and other regions that raised top-quality rice. 
The staff of the shop polished the rice crop in front of the clients after the purchase and advised them how to cook the rice nicely. 
After that, we headed to the official residence of the Consul General of Japan in Honolulu to prepare for the reception held by the Consulate General.   

 

2024-03-23

From Ala Moana Beach !


by Kazu

"Diamond Head" could be seen clearly from Ala Moana Beach in front of the huge shopping mall that allured several millions of tourists from other regions on this globe. 

Before visiting "The Rice Factory" headquartered in the eastern district of Sapporo, Hokkaido.The calm surface of Pacific Ocean reflected the shining sun to the beach. 








The reflection of the sunshine gave the photos we took a special effect so nicely. In spite of the very calm ocean, nobody was in the ocean. No surfer could be seen from the beach. It is very safe an comfy beach as well.


 

2024-03-22

BRUG Bakery in Honolulu !


by Kazu

BRUG Bakery is the first and only bakery that explored to Hawaii from Hokkaido. The headquarters of the bakery is in the western district of Sapporo City. 
It rented the space for its flagship branch at the corner of the northern side of Ala Moana Center. Such a variety of breads could not be seen in one bakery of Hawaii before the  exploration of BRUG.   
BRUG was founded in 1977 and explored to Hawaii before 2016 aaproximately 40 years after its establishment. Hokkaido Prefectural Government explored to Hawaii following the trailbrazer.