Japanaw-panaw in Hokkaido

I was not on official leave until July 24 but I got the cheapest fare with Jetstar so I went for July 20 night flight and planned to request for work from home the following day. But after having waited for almost 4  at NAIA Terminal 1, my Jetstar flight to Narita was cancelled. So I decided to take detour through Nagoya, and the Airline was kind enough to give me slot in morning flight to Sapporo. Even my connecting flight was rerouted. I was fortunate to obtain the last available seat.

It was harder that I thought getting past the immigration in Japan. The lady agent interrogated me for quite a while that I thought she would send me back home. But I kept my calm, praying that she would give me pass soon enough for me to check in to my connecting flight to Sapporo. She inquired for my full hotel accommodation while in Sapporo and Osaka. I only have 2 nights in Sapporo and another 2 nights in Osaka on my own. But I have 6 nights in Japan supposedly, because the 2 other nights would be shared with my hometown bestfriend, Ann, at the Holiday Inn, which booking I don't have and not registered in name. She still wasn't convinced when she stamped my passport.

This was my view when I settled in a window as soon as I past the immigration. My thought was interrupted when I realized that Japan is one hour ahead of Philippine time, meaning my flight was on final boarding call.

Two hours later, I landed in Chitose, Hokkaido and took the train straight to Sapporo. This time I bought a 7-day wifi to keep me connected the whole while I was roaming around Japan with my Facebook and Instagram feed very real time.

I went immediately to locate my accommodation at Ten to Ten Guesthouse and found this tranquil nook close to it.

I was in the area very early while my check in time will still be at 2pm, so I decided to walk and check on the nearby Hokkaido Botanical Garden

I was captivated by this hard to miss building because it's a stunning architecture, which I realized later was the old government office building in the city

A little farther, I traced the oldest Clock Tower, which also a noted landmark of Hokkaido island.

There was a tourism activity that very day that I visited the Clock Tower, a free ride for tourists in this horse-drawn wagon

The expansive Odori Park was filled with beer kiosks because Sapporo was celebrating the Beer Festival. Well, the city is known for the Sapporo beer but plenty of brands were participating.

It was summer but the sheds ushered by trees around the Hokkaido National University kept everything cool

The University's Museum

At one end of the Odori Park was this government office, while the other end was occupied by the Sapporo Radio Tower

A visit to Sapporo Beer Museum is a must

I was loving the canned coffee and chocolate drinks in this country

Otaru

I was no longer flying solo today. Ann, my hometown friend, arrived. I fetched her from the airport and we both headed straight to Otaru via the express train.

The grand canal is famous for the icy water during winter. Since our visit was summertime, this was how it looked and felt.

The remnants of the oldest train. It's wonderful that they kept the remains and post them as part of their tourism infrastructures and destinations

I waited for Ann to arrive before we experienced the authentic Ramen in Japan

We walked the oldest city in Otaru where souvenir and food shops are line up, up until the forked end of Sakaimachi Street where LeTAO cheesecake and Museum are located

Otaru is a mountainous area so we climbed the Suitengu and found this tranquil top with a small temple

And of course, another never to miss destination, which is also noted for winter olympics, Mt. Tengu. We took the Otaru Mt. Tengu Ropeway and enjoyed the view of the village from the mountaintop

Aboard the cable car to Mt. Tengu

The vantage point on top of Tenguyama

Furano

Our next destination was outside the Sapporo City. Riding a bus, we went to the place of Lavender flowers - Furano. Tomita Farm is well-known for the lavender fields but we settled for the nearer one which seemed to be newer as well.

Anneth and myself originally planned to take the local train to Lavender fields but upon our arrival at the Furano Train station, the next trip would take a while. And we only have a full day to complete this tour and cover both Furano and Biei. So we embarked on the next bus to Lavender Park. It was a short walk from the bus stop, so it wasn't bad except for the hot summer sun.

It could be reached by local train but due to long intervals, we opted to take the local bus

It was fun climbing up and down the Lavender Park through this cabled-one-person-leaf-designed-chairlike-car

This was how it looked from the cable ride. The planting of flowers are choreographed to appear like colored tiles and carpets of flowers

The different flowers of different colors planted and lined meticulously with delicate choreography gave wonder and beauty

Kids and Adults alike had enjoyed the cable ride up the hill

And of course, we smelled the sweetness of lavender by doing photo shoots lying almost on top of the plants. Moreover, we licked some scoops of lavender ice cream upon descent.

Biei

Our second and final destination of the day was to the place known for the Apple Phone screensaver and a place for more beautiful carpets of flowers.

We went back to the bus stop and took the next passing bus to Biei. We arrived at this quiet town in time for lunch. But before that, we dropped by the tourism office to book an afternoon tour.

Biei's Train Station

At first, I thought this isn't any town. It was so quite, remote, and felt isolated! Then we realized we have to cross the train track to get to the other side where town proper is located.

I cannot remember the name of this place, but I recalled there's a temple here. The lavender flowers are yet to bloom here.

This is one real reason tourists flocked to Biei - the carpet of flowers, a mountain of carefully planted colorful plants.

I really can say, I was there! Awed! Feeling blessed!

The Blue Pond is the other reason why we dreamt of coming to Biei. This is the screen photo of an Apple computer.

On our way back, Ann and I agreed to take the train from Biei to Asahikawa. And because the train back to Sapporo is expensive, we took the bus instead.

Sapporo

My final day in the city was purely dedicated to the city's public and private parks, as follows:

Glass Pyramid in Moerenuma Park

Man-made jungle in Moerenuma Park

Climbing a hill in Moerenuma Park

Shiroi Koibito Park

Gingerbread House in Shiroi Koibito Park

Beautiful bloom in Yurigahara Park

Yurigahara Park

But my Japan tour did not end here...