Hey lovelies, it’s me again! Sorry for the delayed of my second post of the trip. Watermark hundreds of photos one by one is not an easy job at all! Anyway, today I’m going to write about the second day of my Japan trip which is also the first day of landing in Hokkaido! Let’s take a tour with me to discover this beautiful land of nature!
P/S: Some photos resolution changed due to upload indirectly via Windows Live Writer.
# DAY 2 #
Morning everyone! It’s 7am in Osaka which in only 6am in Malaysia now. The weather here is sunny and the sky looks pretty bright today. Just hope that the weather will be this good throughout the day. We are now leaving this second biggest city of Japan, Osaka and heading to the local airport for the morning flight to Northern region, Hokkaido. According to the tour guide, SHIN-OSAKA STATION can be consider as a famous landmark in Osaka.
On the way to airport now, here are some photos at the highway taken through bus window. Osaka seems like a hectic city above the sea to me with the mushrooming of industrial area everywhere. The photo above is one of the electric generating station.
Finally arrival in airport after 1 hour of journey !
So, here are all my family members who travel with me throughout this family vacation.
While waiting for departure, just simply snapping some pics around in the airport.
Next destination – HOKKAIDO
Could you see that highest mountain? Yes, it’s Mount Fuji surrounded by sea of clouds!
We’re so close to this island of nature – a place which I longing to visit since young. Hokkaido is a spacious island located at Japan’s northern extremity with an abundance of natural beauty. It is the second largest and least developed main island of Japan surrounded by sea in all directions. With its unspoiled nature, this island is gaining popularity as a tourist destination that attracts many outdoors lover and traveller from all over the world to enjoy the magnificence of nature to their hearts’ content throughout the four seasons. And I wish I could discover the beauty of early autumn fall season in Hokkaido with this trip.
Green scenery along the highway which was so different compared to Osaka. Feeling great when first stepping on this island. I could feel the coldness especially when winds blow. So be make sure that you bring a jacket or wear thicker if you plan to visit Hokkaido around September although it is just early fall season. However, I‘m quite disappointed that the weather just looks cloudy throughout the day which the sky is not as blue as Osaka today. That’s why all my photos taken today just look a little ‘moody’.
This is our first destination in Hokkaido – Kotan, Ainu Village (爱奴部落村庄). The word Kotan means village or community in the Ainu language, and people with Ainu ancestry in Lake Akan Hot Springs Resort account for a total of nearly 130 people in 36 households, making the area Hokkaido's largest Ainu community. The main street of Ainu Kotan Village offers a wide array of folk art souvenir stores, restaurants where you can enjoy the tastes of Hokkaido or authentic Ainu cuisine. Ainu folk art mainly centers on wood carvings, with numerous items available such as traditional handicrafts and beautiful jewelry with animal and bird motifs.
I guess the representative symbol of this village is an owl? Seeing owl symbol everywhere.
Our footprints @ Akanko Ainu Kotan Village
Due to time constrain, I just took a photo outside this special house without entering it.
Just a little traditional antique wooden toilet
Hands Springs 手汤
Still wondering what plant is this, grapes or tomatoes ?
Heading to our next destination – Lake Akan. This place remind me of the Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) in Taiwan which I visited four years ago.
阿寒湖 - 一座孕育着特别天然纪念物绿球藻的神秘之湖，也是个著名的温泉名所
Many others said I just look exactly alike to my dad, is it ?
Another famous lake – Lake Mashu. A mystery lake to be said by the local of the beauty and unique scenery. The lake is just too peaceful until it looks so fake. I’m like walking into art more than reality. Absolutely loving this place!
雾之摩周湖 - 世上透明度最高的摩周湖，因多年被迷雾笼罩，而显得宁静又神秘
A snack shop nearby the lake, the milk soft cream and sweet corn must try! It’s superb!
See how this cutie eat this corn and you’ll know how sweet how delicious it is! YumYum!
Some view along the road …
Next, Ryuosan boiling volcano! Where sulfurous fumes raise from crevices in the rock sand it’s legendary. But one thing is that the sulfurous smell is so strong that I can’t stand when walk close it. So I just stand far away from there and zoom in for shooting. We just stop by here about 15mins and leave before getting poison.
硫磺山- 川汤温泉的源头，由于高温多酸的性质使得整座山充满自地底喷出的强烈硫磺臭味
Isn’t it look like an American disaster movie background scene? Haha !
Some said that whenever there’s a wooden sign in Japan just snap a pic and you’ll get the best view or best angle of the scenery, it seems so true …
Why I looks so short in this photo ? Oh, my dad is cheating !
Leaving for another destination
Lake Kusharo’s Sunayu, the birth place of the natures black sand and the Siberia birds and gooses arrived here every autumn and winter. But where is the gooses, why I didn’t see any ? Don’t tell me is just that gooses boat …
屈斜路湖砂汤 - 北海道第二大湖泊，让天鹅湖般甚蓝的湖水沉淀浮躁的心灵。这是一个不可思议的湖：湖水是冷的，但在湖岸上，只要挖一下砂，就会有热温泉涌出，因为这里位于活火山地带。看看这日本伯伯正不停地挖着黑砂呢！
Finally, this is our first night of stay in Hokkaido hot spring resort. However, I didn’t go for the hot spring bath because in Japan everyone must be EVERYTHING OFF before enter the spring, that’s means must be naked in front of others. Of course male and female is separate but still I haven’t get prepare for it. Erm, let me think for some time and well, maybe but definitely not today …
First time staying in traditional Tatami Japanese Style room, looks great and comfortable!
This is our first typical dinner in Hokkaido (北海道怀石料理) ! The Salmon sashimi is so fresh and the tempura taste totally different as in Malaysia, it is not oily at all. All the food taste good but the problem is how can we finish all the food ?! Will it be too much for one serving ?
Japan’s hotel/resort usually will provide few sets of Yukata wears with different sizes.
First group photos with other friendly tour mates !
Our night time activity after dinner, foot spring! Many of us just feel shy to go for hot spring bath so the rest of us just gathering here for some foot spring while chit-chatting. The water temperature is about 40ºC which is already consider quite hot for me. But feeling so relaxing and comfortable after soak my feet for about 20 mins. It really does helps our blood circulation especially when we walked for the whole day. A totally fresh experience for me! Maybe really should consider try once spring bath next time!
So that’s all for my day 2 trip today! I was so eyes-opening on this island. Will surely bring you to discovery further on the next adventure. Have a early good rest today for better drive tomorrow. Good night folks! ^^
To Be Continued 3.0 …
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