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Morning activity entailed a walk along the Akan Lake, which sounds nice and relaxing but little did I realise that the day’s temperature was -2 degrees!

My warmest winter down jacket wasn’t enough, so the hotel was kind enough to lend me some of theirs.

Once all rugged up the crisp air was quite refreshing, your body feels so pure with all that oxygen going into your lungs.

I’m sure the walk is lovely when it’s a little warmer. I would love to come back around August to do some longer trekking.

Water around this part of the lake was warm. Apparently, it’s the hot spring coming through from underground. 

Here’s the view of our hotel from distance. A real prime location as you can see.

We were treated to a room with a view, a panorama of Akan Lake.

We were given 10 minutes to check in and get changed into more respectable attire for a business dinner.  

And, here is the banquet, yes this was for one person and yes that is only the entrée. I couldn’t keep up with the food that came in so this is the only pic sorry!

My favourite dish of the night was the stewed flounder, so tender you can eat everything, and of course, individually steamed rice is my weakness too.

We stayed in New Akan Hotel Shangri-la.

No, it is no way related to the internationally famous hotel chain.

A keen observer in our group pointed out that the hotel must have been around longer, for it to be still operating under this name.

It was a really nice accommodation though, rooms traditionally Japanese style and spacious.

The thing that I was most looking forward to was the hot spring bath located on the rooftop, heaven. (photo courtesy of New Akan Shangri-la Hotel)

More exciting part of the day was approaching, cruise on Akan Lake.

The only thing was that it was so cold for May! Luckily, seats on the boat were heated so we were able to enjoy the cruise comfortably.

During the cruise, we made a short stop at an island in the middle of the Akan Lake to see some Marimo Exhibits.

Before coming to this part of Hokkaido, all I knew about Marimos were that they were just large moss balls that fascinated many Japanese people and are made into lots of merchandise for some unknown reason.  

Apparently, there is more to it than that but I won’t bore you with the details. You’ll just have to go there to learn for yourself!

Or go to the good old trusted Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marimo

After lunch and 5 min free time (you will need to make time for any airports in Hokkaido, great place for shopping!!!), we were off to do some sightseeing.

We went in the midst of the swine flu scare but we were not scared as you can see: No buildings, no people, no civilisation.

We briefly stopped at Tokachi Wine factory.

I knew Hokkaido was famous for wine but I’m not much of a winery person, so I am not sure this is recommendable place to visit. I do remember seeing lots and lots of wine as you can see.

Hi there, Ume again with another gastronomic trip.

This time, I went to the Eastern part of Hokkaido, famous for ice breaking cruise at Abashiri and Lake Akan National Park.

This part of Hokkaido is for nature lovers but no skiing on this trip.

If you do NOT like civilization this part of Japan is for you!

In the morning, we flew to Obihiro Airport (am not sure why, I can only assume that flights to Kushiro was full).

By the time we arrived, it was already time for lunch!

Lunch was Tokachi Wagyu beef sirloin steak set (phew! That was a mouthful).

I wasn’t aware that Tokachi Wagyu was famous but it must be as Tokachi area is so famous for dairy products!

Steak was done all medium rare, tender and moist.

There were a couple of pieces that stayed in my mouth for longer than I would have liked but I’m not complaining!

Traveling on Sleeper/Night trains with a JR Pass

`Hokutosei and Cassiopeia’

Most travelers buy a JR pass for traveling in Japan as it is very economical and convenient. One thing to be careful with though is if you are wanting to do long trips using a sleep car train, booking your seats can not be done until you have activated your pass in JAPAN! Popular trains to head up to Sapporo are `Hokutosei’ and the `Cassiopeia’. Both of these trains depart in the afternoon from Ueno in Tokyo and arrive in Sapporo around 16.5 hours later.  Some travelers have trouble as these trains are also very popular with Japanese people so they with seats selling up quickly. There is no way to get around this than to buy the tickets for this trip outright with Travel Japan, with the tickets being sent to your hotel in Japan.

Just wanted to let this be known as I don’t want you to plan your trip and not be able to make it happen!!

(*Please note that the Snow Festival is the busiest season for this problem to occur*)

*Conditions apply

And of course Museum is not complete without souvenir shops!

Wood carvings are definitely a big thing here.

I couldn’t resist buying those little Ainu dolls and key rings. (I later found out that you can get your name carved on them.)

This impressive masterpiece costs approx AUD5,000!

This was our last day on the trip so we left the museum and we were off to the airport! We were greeted again like the arrival day with fabulous snow storm.

We had lunch at the airport. Since it was our last day in Hokkaido, it seemed appropriate to have ramen for the one last time.

Salmon and salmon caviar rice set with tempura and sashimi

Sapporo Miso Ramen with crab rice

Shoyu (soy sauce base) Ramen with crab rice

My choice was Sapporo Miso Ramen with tuna rice

We were not expecting much from airport cuisine but were pleasantly surprised. I later heard from our guide that this is the best place to get the last dose ofHokkaido cuisine.

I was not expecting domestic air to be strict on fluids but we had to put our bottles on this machine that scans your drink. The technology here seems futuristic compared to what we have at home.

Well this concludes my long long ski and gastronomic journey to Hokkaido. For those of you who thought it dragged on and that it would never end, I do apolgize. I do have a habit of rambling on and on and on……

Anyway, till next time, sayonara!

Ume

The first sightseeing for the day is Porotokotan, the Ainu museum.

I didn’t know there were such things as Ainu dogs, but there are apparently. The noticeable difference is that they have really thick legs. I guess they had to be strong in the mountainous area.

You can also see bears and feed them.

The whole village is like this, I would imagine that was how village looked like.

Smoked Salmon Ainu style. They weren’t ready when I got there, apparently they are the best smoked salmon you’ll ever taste.

Inside the huts, you can see Ainu performances.

We were then taken around to the museum.

Ainu tribes have symbols and those are embroided on their jackets. Their fashion differs with which tribe you’re from.

Pots and pans used for special occasions.

Who would have thought you can make fashionable yet durable boots from salmon? Genius!