Oirase Gorge to Hakodate

Up early to heavy rain so decided not to go to the outdoor onsen. We went down for the buffet breakfast and tried another range of different foods but I didn’t pluck up the courage to try the salted squid guts.

After breakfast we packed up and headed back in the direction of shin-Aomori. As we headed up the mountain pass we noticed cars coming the other way covered in snow ❄️- a hint of what was ahead.

As we continued to climb we noticed that the road had been freshly ploughed and conditions started to deteriorate. It got foggy and windy and icy under the wheels. We continued on and made it through the summit and started to slowly descend.

We continued to take things steadily and gradually conditions started to improve. Once we were down the mountain we dropped the car at shin Aomori and caught the Hayabusa to Hakodate.

The Shinkansen runs through the world’s longest under sea tunnel and the whole journey took about an hour. Once in Hakodate we found our hotel and checked in.

We immediately set out to the ropeway up mount Hakodate which has views across the city. After we came back down we walked along the old streets and looked at the Russian churches and visited the old town hall.

We then walked back along the water front and picked up some dinner and breakfast from 7-11.

Back at the hotel we had a relaxing evening watching some YouTube about the morning market and eating dinner.Read more