Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..
by admin • January 1, 2016 • - Japan, Travel + Places • 0 Comments
Took a short trip to cold, cold Hokkaido (finally!). Temperature was below zero throughout the few days we were there.
But that did not stop us from eating A LOT (as always). And having some winter fun.
Christmas market – Odori Park, Sapporo
Sapporo Classic beer – special brew available only in Hokkaido.
Another must-eat in Hokkaido – crab. Snow crab and king crab are in season only during winter. Whereas hairy crab is available for slightly longer, around May to September, depending on the area.
We had our fix at Nijo Market where a platter of hairy crab, snow crab and king crab cost a very reasonable 10,000 yen.
And it’ll save you some money as hotels in Susukino are generally cheaper than those centered around Sapporo station.
We took a day trip to Otaru, a quaint harbor town about half an hour by train from Sapporo.
On the way, I met this cute Korean. He smiled, I smiled, and we hit it off right away.
Nantaru Market, Otaru – a small market catering mainly to the locals.
No trip to Japan is complete without some sushi, even more so if you’re in Otaru – well-known for its fresh seafood. There’a a whole street here dedicated to sushi restaurants.
Shirako (cod sperm) sushi
Wickedly fresh hotate (scallop) sushi
Of all the places we visited, my favorite is Moerenuma Park, designed by Isamu Noguchi.
It’s a little out of the way from central Sapporo, and well worth the effort getting to.
Sadly, Noguchi passed away before the park was completed. The design was kept to the way he envisioned and the park was open to public in 2005.
All in, Hokkaido was quite a trip, though a short one.
Is it just me or does everything look more magical covered in snow ;)
My Hokkaido must-eats:
genghis khan (grilled mutton)
sushi & sashimi – especially the uni (sea urchin) and hotate (scallop)
crab
ramen
ice cream, ice cream, and did I mention ice cream?!
Useful links:
What to wear for winter trip to Sapporo