On Thursday I woke up and hopped on my first of 3 trains. I took a train from Kyoto to Tokyo, then Tokyo to Hachinohe, and finally Hachinohe to Hakodate – a total of about 10 hours (including a few minutes between trains). I spent the train rides writing postcards, reading, and listening to music. I even saw a few Sumo wrestlers on the first train!
My friend Chellie, from Goshen College, greeted me at the train station in Hakodate. She’s been there for a bit over a year now, teaching English in public schools. We hadn’t seen each other for about 5 years, so it was good to see each other again! I spent my last few days with her, exploring her area and being a bit lazier than the previous few days (which was nice-uh!).
We went to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant for dinner then rented a movie to watch before crashing for the night.
We went to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant for dinner then rented a movie to watch before crashing for the night.
Day 7: Hakodate
Friday was great as I got to sleep-in! We spent the afternoon and evening doing all of the touristy stuff around Hakodate (and, yes, we pretty much did ALL of the touristy stuff in one day ^^). We went to Goryokaku Park and then headed to a foot onsen. We did some shopping in an area down by the bay (but not where the watermelons grow…). They turned some old warehouses in neat little shops; I enjoyed walking through them and bought a few final gifts. We also hit up a small brewery so I could try some Sapporo beer!
Friday was great as I got to sleep-in! We spent the afternoon and evening doing all of the touristy stuff around Hakodate (and, yes, we pretty much did ALL of the touristy stuff in one day ^^). We went to Goryokaku Park and then headed to a foot onsen. We did some shopping in an area down by the bay (but not where the watermelons grow…). They turned some old warehouses in neat little shops; I enjoyed walking through them and bought a few final gifts. We also hit up a small brewery so I could try some Sapporo beer!
the foot onsen
these little cars were running along the streetcar tracks in preparation for their upcoming Squid Festival
the old warehouse shops
We walked around the Motomachi District, on Mt Hakodate’s lower slopes. There is the Russian Greek Orthodox Church, the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward, the Old British Consulate, along with a few others. After walking through there we caught the cable car to the top of Mt Hakodate. According to the Japanese, the view from the top of Mt Hakodate is the 3rd best in the world... I would disagree, though it was a nice view once the fog cleared up! While we were waiting for the fog to clear up we got some drinks; I enjoyed some warm sake, and we both had fun setting our glasses (and my sake cup) on the little light-up coasters at the restaurant. Yes, amused by small things! After the mountain we headed back to Chellie’s apartment, watched a movie, and crashed.
the old Britsh consulate
Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward
view of the bay
the Russian Greek Orthodox church
foggy view of the sunset from on top of Mt Hakodate
the clear view
Day 8: Hakodate
Saturday was my last full day in Japan. Chellie and I got up in time to grab some breakfast at Mister Donut (very popular in Japan) before meeting up with her Japanese teacher and others. We got to try on yukatas. Afterwards we enjoyed some Indian food (we’d gone there the day before, too!) and then met up with one of her friends for some karaoke. We sang some tunes for about an hour then headed down to the festival. It was day one of their big Squid Festival. That first night there were just a lot of booths with various street foods and random games. Chellie tried her hand at a couple games, and we all enjoyed some food (including delicious chocolate covered bananas!). When it started to get darker we met up with more of their friends to watch the big firework display. We got there a good hour or so before they were meant to start… and then the rain came. The fireworks were delayed a good hour or so; by the time they were started we were already a bit wet. Not long after the fireworks got going, the rain came down harder… after about an hour or so of some fantastic fireworks we were pretty soaked and cold. We made our way out slowly, walking during pauses and then stopping to watch a few more fireworks before walking during the next pause. In the end we got back to the train station and managed to get seats on the next train leaving. Back at Chellie’s we threw our wet clothes in the dryer and then headed to bed.
Saturday was my last full day in Japan. Chellie and I got up in time to grab some breakfast at Mister Donut (very popular in Japan) before meeting up with her Japanese teacher and others. We got to try on yukatas. Afterwards we enjoyed some Indian food (we’d gone there the day before, too!) and then met up with one of her friends for some karaoke. We sang some tunes for about an hour then headed down to the festival. It was day one of their big Squid Festival. That first night there were just a lot of booths with various street foods and random games. Chellie tried her hand at a couple games, and we all enjoyed some food (including delicious chocolate covered bananas!). When it started to get darker we met up with more of their friends to watch the big firework display. We got there a good hour or so before they were meant to start… and then the rain came. The fireworks were delayed a good hour or so; by the time they were started we were already a bit wet. Not long after the fireworks got going, the rain came down harder… after about an hour or so of some fantastic fireworks we were pretty soaked and cold. We made our way out slowly, walking during pauses and then stopping to watch a few more fireworks before walking during the next pause. In the end we got back to the train station and managed to get seats on the next train leaving. Back at Chellie’s we threw our wet clothes in the dryer and then headed to bed.
some signs on the train that I found to be funny
the group of us in our yukatas
chocolate-covered banana!
sittin' on the dock of the bay...
Mt Hakodate
Day 9: Hakodate… Tokyo… Incheon… Ansan!
Sunday was a long travel day for me… Her friend and I both had an early train to catch, so we had to leave Chellie’s apartment around 6:15am (it was about a half hour drive to the train station). I took 2 trains back to Tokyo, and then caught another train out to the airport to catch my flight. (Side note: I forgot to mention before. To get to Hakodate the train goes through the Seikan Tunnel, which is the world’s longest undersea tunnel.) Once back in Korea I met up with Allison, who was waiting for her mom to land (her mom flew in, from Tokyo, about a half hour after me). We took the bus back to Ansan, then grabbed a quick dinner. By the time I got back to my apartment it was about 11:15! It was a looong day of travel, but it was gooood week in Japan!
Sunday was a long travel day for me… Her friend and I both had an early train to catch, so we had to leave Chellie’s apartment around 6:15am (it was about a half hour drive to the train station). I took 2 trains back to Tokyo, and then caught another train out to the airport to catch my flight. (Side note: I forgot to mention before. To get to Hakodate the train goes through the Seikan Tunnel, which is the world’s longest undersea tunnel.) Once back in Korea I met up with Allison, who was waiting for her mom to land (her mom flew in, from Tokyo, about a half hour after me). We took the bus back to Ansan, then grabbed a quick dinner. By the time I got back to my apartment it was about 11:15! It was a looong day of travel, but it was gooood week in Japan!
a good book... reeces pieces... coffee... and my i-river... ahhh.... ^^
