Hakodate, Japan - MOUNTAINTOP - 2 of 2

Our next stop was to take “The Ropeway” 1100 feet up Mt Hakodate. It is quite a view … in our case, if you are fast. Karen got some great video and photos just as the fog rolled in … thick. Within minutes of arriving at the top, there was almost nothing to be seen. We still had a good time walking around, reading the monuments, hearing the stories of the mountain, the volcano and the people who lived here. Thomas Blakiston, who lived in Hakodate from 1861 to 1884 was the first person to notice that animals in Hokkaidō, Japan's northern island, were related to northern Asian species, and those on Honshū to the south were related to those from southern Asia. The Tsugaru Strait between the two islands was therefore established as a zoogeographical boundary, and became known as Blakiston's Line. His discoveries of animal migration are explained as places where there may have once been land bridges. A sculpture dedicated to him is on Mt Hakodate.

We arrived back at the base and got back on our bus for our last stop … which was right near the ship. Our tour ended with a walk around the Asa-ichi Morning Market open daily from 5am – noon and has over 250 stalls selling FISH. This 4 square block market was ALL seafood and fruits. This was the place for you if you wanted fresh squid (town specialty made many different ways including into ice cream), fermented carp, Jellyfish, barnacles, or any type of seafood. Of course you could also fish for your own breakfast (over a tank) to catch and put right in a pot and cook for you right there to eat. One of the more interesting things we saw was fruit. Fruit? Yes, normal apples, grapes and melons … all at outrageous prices. A perfect melon (the only type they will sell, which is why it’s so expensive) can range from $50-100. I hope it taste good … I wouldn’t know since I couldn’t get the Chef to but any when I saw him in the market. As for the fish market… Bruce was happy to see it quickly and leave for the ship.Lue lisää