We booked a tour to Shikotsu Toya National Park. Our driver Kenny (Kawahara) and guide Sam (a young woman from California living in Sapporo) were awesome. Sapporo (perhaps you’re familiar with their beer) is on the north island of Hokkaido.
Sapporo hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, they can get lots of snow. Their latitude is the same as Eugene, OR. We did see some snow on our tour.
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Our agenda:
Pick up at 8 am. A 2-hour drive to panoramic overlook. The stop is also known for fried foods, hence the donut picture. There are several mountains including active volcanos Mt. Usu & Mt Showa-shinzan.
The red arrows on the streets are to show the snow plow driver the location of the side of the road. They can get up to 16 feet of snow!
Lake Toya is the 3rd largest caldera lake in Japan. I think it looks similar to Crater Lake, Oregon. It is surrounded by active volcanos. There is some recreation on the lake including a tour boat and giant swan boats.
Next was Mt Usu (active volcano) with a trip on the Mt Uzu Ropeway (cable car) and hike to the observation deck. Views of Lk Toya and a mini volcano that came out of a corn field about 50 years ago.
Cape Chikyu was south on the ocean. On a clear day the curvature of the earth can be viewed. It was very windy. It was a quick stop.
Norboribetsu Jigokudani was next. There was a line of traffic waiting to get in, remember it’s Golden Week. Jigokudani is also known as Hell Valley due to all the fumaroles and boiling water, steaming rocks and sulfur smell. It’s a popular get-away for hot spring baths (onsen). It was like a mini Yellowstone.
Returned to our hotel 6 pm, a full day. For dinner we had a traditional Japanese meal, omurice. Omurice is an omelet made with fried rice surrounded by a thin scrambled egg shell and special sauce 😉 ketchup.
Notes on the pictures: our friends Martha, Connie & Alan at our favorite hang out, Mister Donut.
1 comment:
Things Denise forgot to tell you...
Our hotel served champagne for breakast! We think it was because it was the end of Golden Week holidays.
We discovered all of Sapporo is actually underground! Quite extensive set of underground neighborhoods with stores & restaurant that connect with each other. It surpasses Montreal's underground by far!
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