Lovely Hokkaido

Autumn has arrived on Hokkaido. The colours are gorgeous and cycling feels so incredibly good. The appreciation for the sun coming out on after the rainy days is endless.
Hokkaido is such a flourishing island with countless flowers, farmland and golden forests. It is by far not as mountainous as I had expected. That’s opportune timing!

Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, is the first city that I really enjoy. The vibes are good and it feels authentic. I stroll through the city, visit a few popular places and spend some time in a park. Here and there, I have chats with some locals.

I had left Sapporo and was now cycling on a more remote mountain road. Out of the sudden, I saw a police officer running at a nearby parking lot towards my direction. I knew that he would stop me for whatever reason, random passport controls are very unlikely here. Anyway, he just wanted to warn me that I was entering brown bear territory (The black bear lives on Honshu and the brown bear on Hokkaido). Awwwr, so kind! That’s typical Japanese caring which I appreciate so much. I thanked him, bowed and continued my way. I had a smile on my face and deep inside I was hoping to spot a brown bear. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly do not want to have a brown bear close to my tent but seeing one at day time from the distance would be a highlight for me as it is one of my most favourite animals. Chances are little and as I had anticipated, I did see nothing. Maybe another time, as my time in Hokkaido is by far not over.Read more