Kon’nichiwa Nihon

JAPAN BY RAIL with Wendy Wu
This is the ultimate top-toe tour of Japan covering three islands in one trip – Kyushu, Honshu and Hokkaido whilst travelling on the bullet train! From rural villages to bustling cities, from coastlines to alpine. Read more

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Kon’nichiwa Nihon Janette and John
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Day 11
Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 10:05 AM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 141 m
Japan Inami 36.561543, 136.977636°33’42” N 136°58’39” E
Carving out a sake cup.
May 18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Travelled by coach today to Takayama. On the way we stopped in Inami.

Inami, in Toyama Prefecture, is well-known for its skilled wood carvers and sculptors.

There are 120 wood carving workshops spread throughout the town with 300 wood carvers. It is said to take ten years at least before someone can reach the craftsmanship and skills level required by the Inami Wood Carver’s Guild.

We went into the 'woodcarvers schoolroom' and sat four to a 'desk'. On the block in front of us was a sake cup blank. We were going to shape the outside of it with a hammer and chisel.

A short video showed us what to do and off we went. The noise of 28 people hammering was something else.

The blank was about 70x30mm with the centre honed out to about 50mm depth at one end. Our first task was to round off the outside to match the circumference of the hole leaving not too thick a drinking lip.

The base could then be shaped to your own preference.

On completion it was filled with sake for everyone to toast their achievement.

Another surprise cultural experience!

Lunch was in the same building with yet another style of traditional Japanese lunch…Read more
Candice ColeWhat a great memory & momento
5/29/24Reply
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Day 11
Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 832 m
Japan Kawaichō-jōgashima 36.292275, 137.04405436°17’32” N 137°2’39” E
No land unused.
May 18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
With only 30% of the land available for living and agriculture, none of it goes to waste.

It seems that all available space is very efficiently used for rice paddies or growing vegetables.
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Day 11
Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 2:04 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 474 m
Japan Shirakawa-go 36.25666, 136.9044836°15’24” N 136°54’16” E
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Shirakawa-go
May 18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa Village) is a Japanese mountain settlement in what was once considered a wild and unexplored region. Because of the area’s natural environment, with high mountains and heavy snowfall, interaction with neighboring regions was limited.

This created the conditions for the development of unique cultural practices and lifestyles. It is now registered as a World Cultural Heritage site.

The farmhouses have steeply sloped roofs. All the houses are aligned north south so the windows back and front make the most of the sunlight.

One of the biggest houses here is the five storey Nagase family house also called the doctor's house. The Nagases worked as house doctors for the Maedad (a samurai clan). This is one of three houses visitors can enter.

The 1st, ground, floor has tools for ceremonies and festivals that are still used, and medical tools etc.

On the 2nd floor are employees bedrooms.

The 3rd floor has working rooms with tools from the past.

Silk was processed on the 4th floor .

Silkworms (yosan) were raised on the 5th floor - it is closed for safety reasonsRead more
What are you eating?? [Sh]
5/19/24Reply
Candice ColeHugo would love that wagyu beef!!
5/29/24Reply
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Day 11
Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 3:16 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 495 m
Japan Shirakawa-go 36.257095, 136.90574636°15’26” N 136°54’21” E
More Shirakawa-go photos.
May 18, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
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Day 12
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 9:40 AM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 575 m
Japan Takayama 36.143101, 137.25791936°8’35” N 137°15’29” E
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Miyagawa mkt & Takayama Festival Floats.
May 19, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
The Miyagawa morning market happens every morning. There are many stalls along the riverside with shops on the other side of the narrow street.

The stalls sell fresh fruit and vegetables, local craft and local products.

The Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall houses floats from the Takayama Festival which dates back to the 16th century.

There are two festivals each year - the Spring festival (April 14th and 15th) in which 12 floats take part and the Autumn festival (October 9th and 10th) which features 11 floats. The floats are pulled through the town streets.

Many of the Yatai (floats) date from the 17th century and are decorated with complicated carvings, gilded wood and detailed metalwork. This detailed work is also found inside the floats.

Four floats are on display at a time with the display changed three times a year.

As we exited, a crane flew down and eyed off some carp. The larger fish appeared to 'herd' the smaller fish out of danger.Read more
Wow also loved the monkeys. [Sharyn]
5/27/24Reply
Candice ColeThe Yatai are beautiful, so intricate
5/29/24Reply
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Day 12
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 11:54 AM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 581 m
Japan Takayama 36.139637, 137.2576936°8’23” N 137°15’28” E
Takayama Jinya
May 19, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Takayama Jinya is a former government office dating back to the Edo period. It is the only one of its type still remaining.

The main work of the office was to handle legal cases and tax collection. Tax was paid in rice.

This is a good site to see more…
https://theurgetowander.com/2014/06/08/historic…

Once again lunch was traditional Japanese.

The afternoon was free time to browse the shops.

Dinner was in our hotel tonight - a buffet.Read more
Your trip looks great. Doing and seeing a lot of interesting things [Denise]
5/19/24Reply
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Day 13
Monday, May 20, 2024 at 11:20 AM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 517 m
Japan Takase Gawa 36.338787, 137.90988236°20’20” N 137°54’36” E
Daio wasabi farm, Matsumoto.
May 20, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
After a two hour drive from Takayama we arrived at Daio (King) wasabi farm. We walked around looking at the growing process.

An essential requirement is lots of fresh, clean flowing water.

The root of the plant is grated to be ready for the table.

Lunch was at the Oasis Restaurant at the farm. Yet again a traditional Japanese meal - we are becoming 'Japanised'.Read more
Candice ColeHow interesting to see how wasabi is grown
5/29/24Reply
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Day 13
Monday, May 20, 2024 at 12:24 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 869 m
Japan Jigokudani Monkey Park 36.732426, 138.461736°43’57” N 138°27’42” E
Monkey business at the Monkey Park.
May 20, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Jigokudani Yaen-Koen is home to the Japanese Macaques, also known as snow monkeys.

Jigokudani literally translates as 'hell's valley' because of the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of small crevices in the ground.

They are known as snow monkeys because they live in such a cold climate. In fact they are the northern-most dwelling primates.

There is a troop of snow monkeys in City Park, Launceston, Tasmania. Launceston’s sister city, Ikeda, Japan, gifted the city with 10 macaques. In turn, Launceston gifted Ikeda with 10 wallabies.

Primates are usually averse to entering water but the snow monkeys have learnt that soaking in the thermal springs is a good way to keep warm.

The distance from the car park to the ticket office is 1.6km. The first and last bits are very steep. The middle section, the majority, is a steady incline. Inage said it would take 30 to 45 minutes to get up there and the same to go back and that we had two hours altogether.

We returned with half an hour to spare so time for an ice cream. We had apple flavoured sorbet in a cone - it was delicious and refreshing!

Dinner tonight - buffet in our hotel in Matsumoto.Read more
Candice ColeCute little monkeys!!
5/29/24Reply
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Day 14
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 9:31 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 589 m
Japan Matsumoto Castle 36.238586, 137.96998636°14’19” N 137°58’12” E
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Matsumoto Castle.
May 21, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
First today, a visit to Matsumoto Castle - sometimes called Crow Castle due to its black exterior.

It dates back to the 16th century and is the oldest wooden castle in Japan.

As with all these castles, shoes must be removed before entering. They were all built for defence therefore they were designed to make it as difficult as possible for attackers.

This also makes it difficult for tourists, the main problem is the stairs are very high and very steep. Quite a few of our group elected not to go up.

Although the tower looks like it has five floors from the outside, it actually has six. The third floor (the dark room) is where warriors stayed during wartime.

It was by far the best so far because there were many showcases on each floor, many featuring firearms and ammunition.Read more
Bev Lee Nice photo!
5/21/24Reply
Bev Lee Ugh!
5/21/24Reply
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Day 14
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 1:53 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 960 m
Japan Narai 35.964241, 137.81008935°57’51” N 137°48’36” E
Miso and mail.
May 21, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
From Matsumoto Castle we were driven to a miso factory where we had the fermentation process explained.

It is a three year process and uses soya beans, salt and malted rice. The beans are mashed, and the salt, rice and water added. This is put into one of the huge barrels. It is transferred twice to other, empty, barrels over the three years.

The miso paste changes colour in this time, changing from a light to a quite dark colour.

During the talk, claims were made that drinking miso soup every day lowers the risk of gastric and breast cancer ??? I suspect the 'studies' have not been peer reviewed.

Lunch was miso soup.

Originally, mail went between Kyoto and Tokyo by road and was carried by runners. A runner would run along the road with a box on his back containing the mail. He ran to a post town where another runner would take the box and continue on to the next post town and so on.

These post towns were at regular intervals along the route. One such town is Narai-juka. It is one of the best preserved post towns.

It really is old Japan. The 800 metre main street is full of old buildings and tiny shops.

Then it was back on the coach for a one hour drive to our overnight stay, Suwa.Read more
Candice ColeWow, what an absolutely beautiful historic little town
5/29/24Reply
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Day 14
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 6:58 PM
🌙 15 °C
Altitude: 765 m
Japan Suwa 36.042709, 138.10568236°2’34” N 138°6’20” E
Oh, what a dinner!
May 21, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
On the drive to Suwa, Inage explained that we would all be supplied a casual kimono to wear to dinner tonight. He said he would demonstrate how to wear it in reception when we arrived at the hotel.

Just when we thought it couldn't get any better - it did!

Tonight was another Japanese banquet but with even more courses. We each had the little cooker on the table but this time it contained liquid as well as the meat and veg.

Inage explained all the dishes, including a raw egg which could be broken into a bowl and used as a dip or put into the 'stew' on the burner.

Wow! A great night!Read more
Bev LeeOh what a photograph! A memorable evening...
5/22/24Reply
Don't rush home, looks like lots of fun [Shaz & Kev]
5/23/24Reply
Candice ColeOh that looks like fun!!
5/29/24Reply
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Day 15
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 6:50 AM
☁️ 5 °C
Altitude: 2,302 m
Japan Maru Yama 35.394844, 138.73271235°23’41” N 138°43’58” E
Suwa - Mt Fuji - Tokyo.
May 22, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Below is an excerpt from our itinerary for today:-

“Travel approximately one and a half hours by road to Hakone. The region is spectacular with the calm waters of the five lakes, formed by past volcanic eruptions, reflecting Fuji’s picture-perfect cone.
Head up to Mt Fuji’s 5th Station for spectacular mountain vistas. Please note it is only possible to reach the 5th station if weather permits. If the 5th Station is closed, the Fuji San World Heritage Centre (formerly Fuji Visitor Centre) will be visited instead.
Continue to tranquil Lake Ashi. Take a cruise across the lake before
taking the Komagatake cable car for spectacular views of Mount Fuji and the lake below. Later, continue your journey by road for around 2 hours to Tokyo, Japan’s capital city”.

We set off at 8ish for the drive to Mt Fuji. Unfortunately the weather forecast was for cloudy conditions. We were wondering if we would get to see 'her'. Driving along we did get tantalising glimpses of her peak through the clouds.

Inage said “She is very shy”.

We were driven up to the fifth station but, alas, it was too cloudy. Most of our group bought a postcard and mailed it home.

Let's hope we get another chance to see her later…Read more
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Day 15
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 12:48 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 735 m
Japan Ashino Ko 35.212418, 139.00999535°12’45” N 139°0’36” E
Lake Ashi Ferry & Gondola ride.
May 22, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
On arrival at Lake Ashi, we de-coached at a ferry terminal at Motohakone.

The lake was formed after Mount Hakone's last eruption, 3,000 years ago.

We took the ferry a little way around the lake to where we were to have lunch and then ride the gondola (Komagatake Ropeway) to the top of the main central peak in Hakone.

We did get a look at Mt Fuji's peak from the ferry so we were optimistic that the views from the top of the gondola ride would be good…Read more
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Day 15
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 2:42 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,347 m
Japan Komaga Take 35.22398, 139.02401735°13’26” N 139°1’26” E
Mt Fuji and Tokyo.
May 22, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Yes, we did get good views from the top!

Then we had a two hour trip into Tokyo. After arriving at Hotel Grand Nikko at 6.00pm, we had to meet at 6.45 to go into Tokyo for dinner.

We caught the local commuter train into the city and walked a couple of blocks to our restaurant.

Our first 'feel' of Tokyo.Read more
Candice ColeWow, Mt Fuji, great view!
5/29/24Reply
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Day 16
Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 9:54 AM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Japan Hamarikyu Gardens 35.662418, 139.76388535°39’45” N 139°45’50” E
Hamarikyu gardens.
May 23, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
A drive around Tokyo pointing out notable buildings and areas took us to our first of today's visits, Hamarikyu gardens.

Hamarikyu gardens are a beautiful example of Japanese garden and it is right in the heart of Tokyo.

The traditional garden is in stark contrast to the adjacent high rise buildings.Read more
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Day 16
Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 11:31 AM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Japan Kinshichō Eki 35.695713, 139.81333935°41’45” N 139°48’48” E
Sushi making.
May 23, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
In order to have lunch today, we would have to make our own and we would be taught by a master sushi chef.

Chef presented a tuna for us to appreciate and then filleted it. Some was first sliced for sashimi and then some sliced for sushi (finer slices).

He then demonstrated making sushi at his normal speed - it was a blur! He can make 500 an hour.

Next we were shown step by step and we followed, making our first. Take some rice, make it into a ball about the size of a golf ball, put some wasabi on it and then a slice of fish. Squeeze it in the palm of one hand then shape with the first two fingers of the other hand.

We then continued to make our own using the slices provided.

During this process, our burners were lit to cook the soup which was on top. The extra fish we were given went into the soup to cook.

A photo of each of us was taken during lunch and was then used to produce our graduation certificate.Read more
Candice ColeWhat fun, the fresh sushi looks delicious!
5/29/24Reply
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Day 16
Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 1:30 PM
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Japan Sensō Ji 35.713676, 139.79687535°42’49” N 139°47’49” E
Asakusa and Sensoji Temple.
May 23, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Asakusa is the centre of Tokyo's Shitamachi (old town) district with traditional craft shops and street food stalls.

Walking through this district leads to Sensoji Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple and the oldest in Tokyo. It was originally founded in the 7th century. The temple has an image of the Buddhist goddess, Kannon who was said to have been rescued by two fishermen from Tokyo's Sumida River.

On the drive back to our hotel we drove past the Imperial Palace, the main residence of the Emperor of Japan.Read more
Candice ColeLove Tokyo!
5/29/24Reply
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Day 16
Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 6:57 PM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Japan Daiba Eki 35.626476, 139.77230835°37’35” N 139°46’20” E
Sunset over Tokyo.
May 23, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
For dinner, we walked to a nearby shopping centre for a buffet.

Tokyo turned on a beautiful sunset for us on the way to dinner and a light show on the way back.
Candice ColeStunning sunset!
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Day 17
Friday, May 24, 2024 at 9:53 AM
☁️ 25 °C
Altitude: 43 m
Japan Minami Ike 35.675674, 139.69943235°40’32” N 139°41’58” E
Around Tokyo.
May 24, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
First today was a visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The 243 metre tall building has two towers, each of which houses an observatory at 202 metres.

The views across Tokyo are spectacular. Very obvious is the large green space visible among the high-rise buildings. This will be our next port of call.

The Meji Jingu Shrine was built in 1920. It is a Shinto Shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meji and his wife, Empress Shoken. The Meji period in Japan brought modernisation and westernisation.

While we were there a couple arrived to be married.

We had a traditional lunch in a local restaurant before heading back to our hotel for a bit of shopping time before meeting for dinner at 6.00pm.

On the way we drove through the famous Shibuya Crossing, considered to be the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world. It is certainly the busiest in Japan. At times it has 30,000 people crossing at once.

Dinner tonight is a dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay.Read more
Candice ColeShibuya Crossing is crazy!
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Day 17
Friday, May 24, 2024 at 6:27 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Japan Dairoku Daiba 35.637371, 139.76438935°38’15” N 139°45’52” E
Dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay.
May 24, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Caught the local train to the bay cruise jetty. Boarded the Symphony Classica at 7.00pm. We had our own dining room and ate a four course western style dinner.

During dinner we cruised around Tokyo Bay enjoying the view of the Tokyo lights.

After dinner we were able to go up to the top deck.

Yet one more great experience.Read more
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Day 18
Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 8:29 AM
🌬 17 °C
Altitude: 55 m
Japan Sendai-eki 38.258881, 140.88136338°15’32” N 140°52’53” E
Bullet train northwards.
May 25, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
Today we travelled from Tokyo to Sendai by bullet train - 305kms in less than two hours.

We left the hotel at 8.00am and went by coach to the station. There was a train at the platform when we arrived and some of our group assumed it was ours and boarded.

It wasn't ours, but Janette managed to save the day by getting them off the train before it left. However it left her feeling very unsettled for the rest of the day thinking about what could have happened.

From Sendai Station we walked the short distance to our hotel, left our bags at reception and had a lovely lunch in their restaurant.

After lunch, we went by coach to visit the Miyagikyo Whisky Distillery.

During the one hour journey, Inage reminded us that the train station before Sendai is Fukoshima well known for a major nuclear accident at its nuclear power plant. The cause of the accident was the March 11th, 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

At this time, Inage was an office worker. On that day he was travelling north with his manager by bullet train. The train suddenly started to slow and then stopped. The train was between two stations and the passengers had to wait two hours to be rescued, all the time not really knowing what had happened.

At one point the train moved sideways, presumably from an aftershock. By now it was dark and there was no power. They were taken to a hotel and they were given space in the lobby to sleep.

They couldn't go eastwards because of the damage caused by the quake and the tsunami. They took a taxi westward and managed to get a flight back to Tokyo.

Listening to him, it seems that recounting the story brings back the fear and anxiety everyone must have felt.

I cannot help but see a parallel with this and a massive bomb being detonated above a city leaving the people not knowing what was happening…Read more
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Day 18
Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 12:50 PM
🌬 20 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Japan Niō Jima 38.327702, 141.08622738°19’40” N 141°5’10” E
Miyagikyo Distillery and Matsushima.
May 25, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 20 °C
After lunch we were coached to a whisky distillery. Masataka Taketsuru built this distillery in 1969 in the pursuit of the perfect whisky.

It was very interesting to look at the history and the warehouse, but, as we're not whisky drinkers, the tasting bar and gift shop didn't really hold much interest for us.

From the distillery we were driven to Matsushima Bay for a 45 minute cruise around the bay. It is dotted with over 200 small islands covered in pine trees.

When the 2011 tsunami hit, these islands acted like a sea wall and minimised damage to the town.Read more
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Day 18
Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 4:00 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Japan Matsushima Kaigan Eki 38.369339, 141.05995238°22’10” N 141°3’36” E
Zuigani Temple, Matsushima.
May 25, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Zuigani Temple is one of the most famous and prominent Zen temples in the Tohoku region. It was originally founded in 828.

It was restored in 1609 and is famous for its beautifully gilded and painted sliding doors.Read more
Candice ColeWhat a beautiful temple, the raked pebbles look so calming
5/29/24Reply
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Day 19
Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 3:35 PM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Japan Goryōkaku Tower 41.794533, 140.75450141°47’40” N 140°45’16” E
Sendai to Hakodate.
May 26, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
7.30am start today. Walked to the station and caught the 8.00am bullet train (our last) to Kikoni which is as far north as the bullet train goes. To get from Kikoni to Hakodate, we took a 15 minute ride in a local commuter train.

Sendai to Kikoni is about 382kms which we covered in about three hours. The line is to be extended to Sapporo by about 2030.

To get from Honshu to Hokkaido, the train travels through a tunnel 53kms long, 23 of which are undersea.

A coach was waiting for us at the station to take us to our hotel. We left our bags at reception, went into the restaurant and had lunch. Afterwards we visited Fort Goryokaku.

Goryokaku is a star fort. The fortress was completed in 1866. It was the main headquarters of the short-lived Republic of Ezo.

Goryokaku was designed in 1855 by Takeda Ayasaburō. His plan was based on the work of the French architect Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. The fortress was completed in 1866, two years before the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate.

It is shaped like a five-pointed star. This allowed for greater numbers of gun emplacements on its walls than a traditional Japanese fortress, and reduced the number of blind spots where a cannon could not fire.

The fort was built by the Tokugawa shogunate to protect Tsugaru Strait against a possible invasion by the Russian fleet. It became the capital of the Republic of Ezo, a state that existed only in 1869. It was the site of the last battle of the Boshin War between the Republic and the Empire of Japan. The fighting lasted for a week (June 20–27, 1869).

Today, Goryokaku is a park declared as a Special Historical Site, being a part of the Hakodate city museum and a citizens' favorite spot for cherry-blossom viewing in spring.

There is a tower next to the park with an observation deck at the top - this is the only way to see the star shape of the fort.Read more
Candice ColeLove that wisteria!
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Day 19
Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 5:53 PM
☁️ 15 °C
Altitude: 317 m
Japan Hakodate Yama 41.75938, 140.70471241°45’34” N 140°42’17” E
Gondola ride to Mt Hakodate.
May 26, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
A big attraction in Hakodate, for both locals and tourists, is to take the gondola (the Hakodate Ropeway) to the top of Mount Hakodate.

The view from the top is really spectacular but most people go there at sunset to look down on the town lights.

We travelled up but had to leave before it got dark in order to go to dinner.Read more
Candice ColeWhat a great view!
5/29/24Reply
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