If, like me, you arrive at Hakodate by cruise ship, the largest dock is a 5 minute bus or taxi ride from the Hakodate city centre. The dock itself is fairly bare with a few administrative buildings close by. The more significant port in Hakodate centre was one of the first three ports in Japan opene..
Located in the heart of Hokkaido lies a magnificent paradise for flower lovers – Furano. If Netherlands is the garden of Europe, then undoubtedly, Furano will be the garden of Asia: a land of surprise, nature, and romance. The mesmerizing lavender fields of Furano are a familiar site to those..
The largest city in Hokkaido has a western flavor with streets running in square blocks that were initially designed by American Horace Capron back in the early 1870’s. A short walk from Sapporo Station is Odori Park where there is always something happening. During our summer visit we experi..
Yakiniku (Grilled Meat Dishes) Kou Restaurant which located in the suburban Sapporo is the First Yakiniku Halal Restaurant in Hokkaido! Following the increasing of halal restaurants in major cities in Japan such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the launchi..
Akkeshi, coming from the word “Akkekeshi” (an Ainu word), means a place with lots of oysters, and hence, Akkeshi town, in eastern Hokkaido is well known for its oysters. As it lies halfway between Kushiro and Nemuro, Akkeshi is a good res..
Opened in the 1990's, La Laiterie Nakashibetsu is a small cosy cafe serving fresh hand-made yogurt products in Nakashibetsu. A one minute drive from Nakashibetsu airport, this is a good place to chill and relax while waiting for flights or on the..
For travelers who prefer private bathrooms and clean rooms, B&B Furano offers accommodation at an affordable price. Many come to Furano to admire her flowers in summer, and to ski in winter. Furano also boasts a wide variety of fresh agricultural..
Nemuro is the eastern-most city of Japan. Only a five minute walk from the last train station on the Nemuro Main Line and the bus terminal, Hotel Nemuro Kaiyoutei is one of the city’s top hotels near the train station. From the moment I arrived..
Daisetsuzan Shirakabaso Youth Hostel is located at the foot of Mount Asahidake, Hokkaido’s highest mountain at 2291 meters. It is part of Asahidake Onsen, a small resort village consisting of a handful of hot spring hotels. Due to its location ..
Speaking of wild animals in Hokkaido, most would immediately think of the big brown bear. It is the largest land animal in the north of Japan, and is sometimes called “king of the land”. Here at Sahoro Resort, where wild brown bears inhab..
The Republic of Ezo was a short-lived government of Hokkaido established in Hakodate by a breakaway group of the Tokugawa shogunate between January and June of 1869. Formed to preserve the pre-Meiji traditions of Japan, the Republic’s final sta..
Walking through the uptown Motomachi district of Hakodate, it's hard to miss the wonderful Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward, which crowns the flower lined street of Motoizaka. The pastel blues and yellows of this striking Western-style mansion is..
