This blogpost covers the day of April 18th, 2023 while in Sapporo, heading back to Tokyo via Narita.
It’s about that time I leave Sapporo to head back to Tokyo for my final days in Japan. It’s one of those bittersweet moments, even knowing this shall be my final day in Sapporo.
Woke up at 8:40 AM, had poor sleep, and rushed to pack up my final things prior to checking out. I basically ate, packed up, even assuming I misplaced a certain “egg”. I checked out, I hurriedly left knowing I may have damaged what I assumed was a “dryer” and just left for Tokyo. I had no time to be scolded. I was also already feeling down as it was, I didn’t need any more negativity weighing me down. I had to go back to Tokyo with some heavy heart.
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] – [Day 26] – [Day 27 & 28]
The night prior (transit research):
Checking up on some transit options on how to reach Sapporo Airport, how to get to Narita, how to get to Tokyo, etc. I was briefly checking my destinations the night before.
Even how to get from from Asakusa to Yokosuka for my military boat cruise.
The Actual Day – The Flight Back to Tokyo:
The actual day had me checking out of the hotel, walking my way to Sapporo Station, and taking the train back to New Chitose Airport. It was an awkward trip, yet a decent one. I made due with taking images of the scenery, and even videos. I even personally noticed scenery I decided to visit prior to my trip, even seeing them updated enroute back to the airport.
Made my way in, and to my platform. I eventually made it onto my train, if forgetting how I ventured into it. I was tunnel-visioned on making it to the train.
Good bye, Sapporo! I shall be back. It was nice while I was here, yet wish I had this weather on this day for my whole stay in Sapporo. I was being trolled by the Sapporo weather Gods. All the seats were also taken causing me to stand at the very back of the train to obtain the view you see above. It allowed me to take pictures and videos freely.
I always dreamed about Ottawa having mountains, maybe this is what I actually dreamed about. I probably had various dreams relating to Sapporo and its scenic mountains. Maybe I was stabbed in a past life as a Japanese person allowing me to be reborn as a Canadian in Ottawa, or maybe that’s also purely my imagination. Maybe I’m just being delusional, though I had horrible dreams of being stabbed in the back (or in the gut) when I was a kid. Those dreams were almost re-occurring. Never had them since, only when as a kid. It is said you can recall your alleged “past-life” when you’re a kid. I also had a dream where I was shot in the torso while laying in a back seat of a car next to a road. Maybe it was a gun, or a knife. Those dreams stuck out harshly with the amount of pain I’ve felt in my dreams, and again, when I was a kid. When I was young.
I’m entertaining the thought, yet won’t jump onto it fully.
Or to those who desire to be logical, I’m simply dreaming of Ottawa having proper transit networks and mountains because of Gatineau’s mountains, the French side of Ottawa. I feel my more “imaginative” Japanese take hits more of the pieces. Sapporo seems to fit what I’ve seen in my dreams.
Life is a mystery.
Prior to my trip to Japan I had assumed this was a shopping mall. I genuinely desired to cycle from Sapporo to this location via the bikepaths shown on Google Maps. I had a whole different section I desired to visit, failing to do that. I failed to visit half the things on my Sapporo list. I however saw it while leaving Sapporo.
(I also saw a horrible Cafe, of the LGBTQ variety, listed on Google maps prior to my trip. Don’t pollute Hokkaido like that. Don’t destroy Japan with your fake political garbage. Let Japan be clean, at least in the Japanese way. I’ll show the REAL Japan, not the fake kind.)
I genuinely desired to take my time going from Sapporo to Kitahiroshima, visit a Cafe, and head back to Sapporo the way I came. Also, I desired to take train pictures and videos along the route. Shame that never happened. I had to “play it safe”.
I genuinely was curious in knowing what they were building, and now I know!
Looking back at these train-related images is new to me. I never looked back until making this blog posting. It’s like seeing a whole new perspective of Japan, yet it’s of my own capturing. Awesome new experiences!
The mountains of Hokkaido are awesome. I love how they compliment the scenery, as it would for British Columbia.
Finally arrived at New Chitose airport for the return trip. Navigated my way from the train to the Peach Airline terminal area.
I waited at the seat (as loosely seen off-image in the leftern-most side) just sitting, waiting for the time to come around. I was considering what I could have done while waiting at the airport while in Sapporo, this wasn’t like Osaka though. I simply had to wait, and wait from 12 PM till whenever my flight was ready at 15:30 (3:20 PM).
I also kept hearing military planes taking off and flying around, yet had no proper vantage points to see them.
While waiting, I was also playing Kairosoft’s ‘Tropical Resort Story’ on my Steam Deck. A nice minimalistic game allowing for long-term gameplay.
When the time came we proceeded to the Peach check-in machine to check in. We then proceeded to have our luggage checked over, guided to the proper area to have the luggage scanned and directed towards the plane. There was a decent line-up of us trying to have our luggages accepted through their scanning machine. Once accepted, I asked if things were fine, they were. I went to the inner waiting area.
While waiting I checked up on Pokemon GO, even hearing a funny announcement relating to Kushiro.
Kushiro – Gate 0
Is there such a thing? Kushiro? Gate 0? I genuinely desired to visit Kushiro, it however is way out of the way. Why do I desire to visit Kushiro? Microsoft Flight Simulator, and for two landmarks. One is an old steam train, another is a clock in Kushiro. Who knows what I would find over in Kushiro. It’s sadly not on my plans during my trip this time.
As I said, I took every angle and POV I was allowed to do. I wasn’t being excessive, I however tried to still respectfully follow the rules. I lined up, was allowed to board, and eventually was on my way back to Narita, also while taking pictures of the overly lovely Vulpix Air DO plane. Kon!~ Kon!~
The guy next to me instructed me to place my luggage properly under the seat, even asking if it’s fine. I tried, it’s however becoming bulkier with Japanese goodies. I tried my best to shove it under the seat. He may have been slightly annoyed with me.
Everything was fine, except for me trying to speed-walk up a flight of stairs. I hogged the leftern-most railing trying to make my way up. A guy overtook me, especially with how heavy my bag was. I was trying to reach the baggage area. I agree, I should have slowed down. I’m took quick and early relating to flights and baggage.
I was waiting a lengthy amount of time making me desire to use the washroom you see in the background (back right of the image). As soon as I motioned to enter I noticed my luggage plopping onto the belt. I retrieved it, ran to the washroom, and took my time going to where I needed.
I was basically the only one left at this point. Having used the washroom allowed people to vacate the area. I even attempted to take a picture of an TV monitor sign noting how one shouldn’t use Drones in Japan. I waited, and waited. I gave up, proceeding to my next area.
I basically stood in this area for what felt like 30 minutes. Trying to make sense of where to go, how to go, and what train to catch. Something about this area confused the heck out of me. I was like a lost child in this area. I studied my Google Maps suggestions a LOT, eventually deciding to obtain a ticket at the nearby ticket booth. Showed them my Japan Rail Pass.
Skyliner 58:
All I know is I was cutting it highly short. I proceeded to my train car, sought out my seat, even seeing who sat near me. I tried making sense of everything. This may be creepy, though seen some overly cute Japanese girls (in pairs) sitting nearby, we however didn’t say anything. We briefly stared at one another prior to simply ignoring one another for the rest of the trip. It be nice if Japanese girls could learn to talk to people. Granted, you have to talk to them first. It’s just weird. Everything is always awkward.
Not talkative, eh? Ah well. I was catching up on Twitter, Azur Lane, etc.
While traveling from Ueno Station to my hotel I may have appeared a bit angry, or even frustrated. I had that angry appearance on me, something which I may have accidentally caught the attention of the locals in Japan (both males and female Japanese) folks having a quick glance at me then moving on. I know for a fact I appeared angry, I recall it. I was somewhat frustrated I had to walk a fair distance just to reach my hotel, and with my luggage in tow. I was annoyed. The constant clacking of the luggage wheels.
My hotel room was weird, though had a slight view of the Tokyo Skytree. Could only see the tip of it. The room gave me anxiety with the unauthorized side door, and even the bell in the washroom. I’m avoiding FL-Hotel Asakusa next time. I don’t like showering with a stupid bell behind me.
Feeling hungry, I decided to go to the nearby FamilyMart for some food.
For the rest of the night I would simply unwind for the day, semi-baffled as to why it was a short day. Yes, I traveled by train, plane, and train again, yet it felt too short of a day. I simply relaxed to the Kairosoft game on Steam Deck and Azur Lane on the phone.
I would also spend time researching how to get from one place to the next.
The final real adventure begins tomorrow.