This blogpost covers the day of April 15th, 2023 while in Sapporo.
Felt overly fatigued waking up after yesterday’s trek into Mount Moiwa. That was a lot of walking. I was also notified two of my parcels made it to where they needed to go, hurray!~
Today was basically a day meant to visit other Sapporo related landmarks. Just visiting everything I could while I could. I would make my way out onto the market street to visit various touristic gift stores (ones which would catch my interests). I would try to visit anything calling out to me. I would also visit various historical landmarks, and eventually deciding to go to the other lookout nearby of Mount Moiwa.
Related Blog Posting (Japan Travel):
[Day 1] – [Day 2] – [Day 3] – [Day 4] – [Day 5] – [Day 6] – [Day 7] – [Day 8] – [Day 9] – [Day 10] – [Day 11] – [Day 12] – [Day 13] – [Day 14] – [Day 15] – [Day 16] – [Day 17] – [Day 18] – [Day 19] – [Day 20] – [Day 21] – [Day 22] – [Day 23] – [Day 24] – [Day 25]
I ended up strolling through that tourist gift store for a while checking things out. I even bought stuff for myself, for others, and even little charms and trinkets. I even purchased a Scathach F/GO Arcade card for myself (after having lost that button), and a Warspite New Year KanColle Arcade card for myself.
Taking tram pictures really brought the awkwardness out of me. I genuinely came to Sapporo mainly for the trams, I need all the tram pictures I can take! I also came for Hatsune Miku trams, something which comes out only in Winter, from the looks of things.
Before making my way to a nearby park I’ve also noted a lovely place, a ‘Ramen Alley’ area. I genuinely desired to go there, deciding against it after having bought Konbini food. Onigiri, and all that.
Nakajima Park:
Decided to visit Nakajima Park after having seen it on Google maps, and passing by it in a tram those days prior to this visit. Nice finally having the chance to visit this park.
No, seriously. What is the point of having a drone in Japan if you can’t fly it around?! Sure, you can fly it around after having it registered, applying the serial number, applying the RID, and then asking for permission via the authorities. Still, that takes the whole fun away, and nobody can do it.
That’s the point, isn’t it?! You’re not allowed to have ANY bit of fun, especially regarding drones. It’s why I instead went with a 360 camera, not a drone, for this trip.
Way to be a kill joy. Downer Debby.
Whatever, I’m fine. I’m finding other avenues, yet Japanese authorities (governmental authorities) are really trying to crush Japanese spirit to severe suicide.
As noted a few times:
I had to re-obtain a Scathach merch after having lost the Scathach pin. I also needed to obtain a Warspite New Year card after having failed to obtain her in the KanColle Arcade RNG run. Happy New Year!
Bismarck and Warspite are both my Waifu in that game, as is Scathach from F/GO.
I kept eating my onigiri, even waiting for someone to scold me for eating at the park bench. I was hungry, I needed to eat. This park was a good place to eat while taking in the scenery.
Like I said, I was waiting for someone to scold me while eating at this park. These elderly Japanese ladies appear a bit concerned either by the bird, or what’s happening over here.
Once I finished eating, I put the garbage in my bag and moved on.
Hohei Kan –
Paid for my ticket, made my way in, and was even handed a leaflet containing information of the place. I thanked them, went on my way.
Yeah, there’s no way I would desire to sleep in this sort of room with no windows. Everything is just too dark and enclosed. It was also noted to be the only bed during that time-period, something which is even more suspicious.
Being the way I am I would desire to sleep somewhere near a window, with proper curtains. I’m prone to nightmares, I need some “escapism” in regards to that. Peace of mind.
It’s however neat trying to picture how things were in the past.
Once I completed my tour, obtained my stamp (maybe a coin) I continued on my adventure by exploring various areas of the park.
Was amused by how a Japanese local (a young women) was walking her dog with her dog pulling her every which way. It was amusing, if embarrassing for her. If it wasn’t for the language barriers we would be conversing with one another. I just found the whole thing hilarious. Her dog was being unruly.
I respectfully didn’t take a picture of that moment.
Made my way to the nearby tram stop (doesn’t matter which direction) taking me on a loop to my desired location.
One of the locals tending to their garden greeted me, I greeted them in return. I hopefully waved back at them.
Hello!
According to my Google Translation:
It’s not a brown bear, but if there are droppings please leave the area.
That’s what I managed to get out of the translation. It’s either a black or brown bear, and if there are some droppings then vacate the area ASAP. Sapporo has been having severe struggles with the bear population, especially with residence telling authorities not to use guns, tools, nets, or anything. Handle the bears with their bare hands (or so I read).
After having been warned by the Tokyo girl native now living in Sapporo (having been in Vancouver also) she warned me heavily about this I then see two signs, this being the second one of that. You then see Japanese Twitter/X lit up with posts about how they’re having issues with bears. I should have taken it with more concern. I was however, once again, on a secondary mission to make my way up to the look-out point.
Worth it! Was genuinely worth coming here.
Similar to my Mount Moiwa exploration I was seeking views similar to this. Being unable to visit the observation point in Kure I made Sapporo my observation point instead as a traveling compromise. The things I was both feeling, sensing, and reminiscing about was dreamy. I was trying to make sense of where I was taking it all in. Beautiful.
I was also admiring the thought of how Sapporo is surrounding by mountains, and how Hokkaido is dotted with these beautiful landscapes.
At this point I was burning time while resting at various parts of this park. I could have gone somewhere and came back? True. I could have probably made my way back up to Mount Moiwa to obtain a cleaner view of the scenery, but I stayed put. I didn’t want to go too far, though I desired shelter at this place.
It was stupidly planned out in a way, but I’m not a local so I don’t know all the good areas to go to-and-from places.
I saw rotations of people coming and going, though none desired to speak to me. They were in their own bubble while I was waiting for other scenic landscape photography. Nobody bothered to greet me, as they had done while I was hiking on the trail the day previous. Maybe they’re tourists, maybe they were local. I was basically left alone to my own goals.
Would have been nice if people were more vocal, or held conversations.
I tried using a vending machine prior to ordering coffee from the area. It wouldn’t let me. At least I still get a nice neat point of view of Sapporo itself.
I stupidly forgot to take images of the scenic view with my Lumix GF-1. I should have! After waiting so long I genuinely should have. Shame. Feeling insanely cold, and feeling colder by every 10 minutes, I needed to leave. I needed to reach warmer air on actual ground level. It was colder up here than it was down there.
People who live in this general vicinity have it the best. You can basically sit out here and enjoy scenic beauty.
Made a pit stop at a nearby grocery store, something I assumed was a Konbini. I made my way to ‘Ralse Mart’ to obtain Sushi bentos, among other goodies. Needed food to eat on my way back. Sadly, they do not take PASMO, something to which I had to use my VISA for.
I eventually made it to my next tram spot, even making my way back to the hotel.
I went to my hotel to drop my stuff off to then venture back out to another Ramen place.
While heading back to my hotel in the Sapporo market street area I witnessed a guy throwing a beer can at another person. Just randomly tossed it at another guy while everybody in the area was wondering what was going on. Why?! Why would you throw a random beer can at another person.
I simply walked on, I desired to retire in my hotel, yet found it overly strange. Randomly tossed an empty drink can at another person.
Damn it! So, I basically timed it decently well for both Mount Moiwa and the walk to and from Asahiyama Memorial Park. If it wasn’t for those two days I went then everything would have been for naught. I would have had less to admire if I hadn’t gone up.
I claim – “Mission Accomplished!” – on both my trips up to Mount Moiwa and the Park.
Granted, I could have used my Lumix GF1 camera on both my hikes (I had it with me the whole time), I should have realized to use it sooner. Same with Busou Shinki! I was being stupid. I was being singular minded (tunnel vision).
And that’s that! After much walking, freezing, and capturing awesome moments, I basically retired to my hotel room for the rest of the night. A day majorly well spent!
Thanks for viewing and reading!