Trip to Japan – Round 2 – Day 7 (2024)

20240202_131750 — – A Snowy pair of Hakodate trams. Happily admiring Hakodate’s trams, especially of the Coca-Cola variety. A bus can be seen in background.

This blogpost covers the day of February 2nd, while in Hakodate, Japan.

Woke up at 8 AM, even eating with the food I obtained from the 7/11 trip the night prior. I awkwardly watched YouTube till 12:40 PM, probably because the weather was just that bad outside. I wasn’t feeling down, nor depressed, just more in the mood for social media and YouTube. Even caught up on Azur Lane and Blue Archive. I started exploring Hakodate at 1:10 PM. Went to a nearby Konbini 7/11 for some spicy chicken, Hololive cards, and accidentally goofed up on Hololive rewards. I was supposed to raffle them, not snatch them. I left them there to instead get Hololive cards on a freezer bunker.

This Hakodate exploration would be one of my better days, and I still fondly look back at this day, even after the trip. The hotel “staying late” may also fuel my uneasy dreams when relating to Japan. Travel anxiety, uncertainty, and worried hotel room cleaners may interrupt me, as they had done a few times while washing up, or reading social media, etc all prior and after this day.

Japan Trip 2024:

[Day 1] – [Day 2] – [Day 3] – [Day 4] – [Day 5] – [Day 6] –

20240202_131949 — – The Mount Hakodate Ropeway can be seen near my Hakodate APA hotel.

20240202_132009 — – Mmmmm!~ Spicy chicken! Far better than KFC.

20240202_132506 — – Hakodate City Seikan Train Ferry Memorial Museum Mash?-maru. I’ll come back here later.

20240202_132511 — – Snowy~. Dark clouds in the background.

20240202_132514 — – Mount Hakodate, Ropeway, and my eventual target.

20240202_132521 — – Happily eating my spicy chicken.

20240202_132524 — – Spicy chicken! So juicy! So tender! Weather may be cold, yet I love the warmth and juiciness of this spicy chicken!

20240202_132538 — – Past few days really snowed up the place. Even now, it was still windy.

20240202_132728 — – Interesting hotels, buildings, and structures. Has that rural vibe to it with the open field.

20240202_132730 — – People documenting a building demolition.

Made my way to another Konbini to pick up on a toque. It was insanely windy making my normal hat useless in this weather. The wind was horrible, yet somewhat tolerable. I dropped by a local FamilyMart for my toque, more spicy chicken, and general supplies.

20240202_133816 — – Famichiki! (FamilyMart).

20240202_133823 — – Now making my awkward way to ‘Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse’.

20240202_134102 — – The weather keeps coming and going. Constantly shifting, and now seen with a toque.

20240202_134315 — – Various lantern sponsors for a TV station.

20240202_134636 — – Red Brick Warehouse with restaurants, food stalls, and stores within.

20240202_134712 — – For your various Hakodate related food goods and supplies.

20240202_134831 — – A very wintery scenery of Red Brick Warehouse area. Some modern meets a historical area.

20240202_135037 — – Another map of the area.

I curiously ventured into the “modern” appearing retail store acquiring some ready-made bentos. I mean, Konbini food isn’t enough, and we both know that for a fact. Even this bento for 680 ($6 Canadian) provides me much more food to enjoy.

I basically strolled, skimming through one row to another seeing what they had to offer. I happily picked up a bento calling out my name, (as seen below), to which I then purchased, and then asked where to eat. I went to the other side to take my time eating.

20240202_141439 — – Hokkaido Cantaloupe drink. Nice! Would drink again.

After some quick social media catch up I cleaned up, ventured to a nearby booth asking for a ink stamp. There was none, though played an game with a gator tooth toy to win a few prizes. Won a white gummy. Exited the retail store to loop around, and ventured to other nearby warehouse stores.

20240202_142121 — – Hmm…. This fence has been through its fair share of snowy abuse.

20240202_142226 — – A restaurant in the area. Even a pharmacy. Not interesting. Restaurant seems tempting, though may not be my thing.

I also explored a music box store seeing its various varieties. I’ve went up to the second floor, down back to the first, and skimmed the musical selection of what musical themes they had to provide. Nothing really caught my attention. They had Anime related themes, movie themes, among numerous other Japanese themes. Even still, nothing really stood out. I considered alternative tunes from other vendors, not to be rude to them. Just a silent thought. If they had KanColle or Azur Lane then I would be more interested.

20240202_143653 — – Appears I stumbled upon a rare festive shrine.

20240202_143724 — – Rare festive shrine.

20240202_143752 — – I love historical buildings like these. It has far more character and more appeal than other buildings, or so I find.

20240202_143808 — – Mount Hakodate Ropeway seen from my location.

20240202_143950 — – Not sure what this collaboration was, it was however neat. I obtained the stamp for this.

Screenshot_20240202_144119_Chrome — – AR Mode attempt.

20240202_144939 — – This area is genuinely awesome. I’m sure it’s far more visually pleasing in warmer climate, yet was still neat even in this state.

20240202_145014 — – Poi!~ Yuudachi getting blown off by the wind. Caught her just as she was being blown off the cat.

20240202_145234 — – What a beautiful area.

20240202_145237 — – It’s neat how it has a bridge connecting one area to the next.

20240202_145339 — – Another sightseeing map of the area.

In hindsight, I could have probably went here sooner, or even made my way to a mall further east on that map. I could have taken a tram to an AEON Mall, if I so desired. I was ignorant of that fact at the time, yet what I’ve seen on this day was still precious, and highly memorable.

20240202_145741 — – Floor plan map of the various red brick warehouse buildings.

Obtained a few gifts for my friend and myself. Some shops were insanely tight making it hard for me to navigate through it with my bulky backpack.

I was also highly amused they played ‘Oshi no Ko’s opening theme in the store. I stood in an open area as possible while hyping up the Oshi no Ko’s opening theme.

20240202_150636 — – This area is beautiful.

20240202_150743 — – What a beautiful resting area! Makes sense as to why you can’t have food here. I’m sure some stupid tourist ruined everything for everybody. Overtourism, and all that nonsense.

20240202_151038 — – A secondary rest area, same anti-food warning. Welcome to Hakodate!

20240202_151454 — – Time to make my way further to see what else is in the area.

20240202_151515 — – Another one of those Pierotte Restaurants. Neat.

20240202_151601 — – Made my way into the final red brick warehouse to obtain even more ink stamps. I gained roughly 5 stamps, or maybe even more. I even briefly rested in an area drinking my drink, if that was allowed or not in the area.

download (19) — – I, of course, had to add a lovely AR Miku to hype up my ink stamp collecting. 😉

There were a few restaurant type areas and various local foods, I however decided against it. I wanted to venture around further.

I ventured into one final store, not really buying anything. The wood flooring was neat, just nothing of real interest for me.

20240202_153417 — – That Lucky Pierrot is close to the other one?….. ??

20240202_153752 — – Let’s finally try out the gumball prize I won from that first mini-game I played. I enjoyed it. (Hakodate Hishi-Hatoba).

20240202_153835 — – Statue with a red bandana on it.

20240202_153959 — – Oh? A Pikachi vending machine?! This is why Japan is better than Canada.

20240202_154011 — – What a beautiful area.

20240202_154147 — – Trying to make note of anything naval related, such as this anchor.

Now, if I played Pokemon GO at this point I could have probably gained a few rewards here. I somewhat gave up on Pokemon GO because of how dishonest and unfun it has become, even to the point of what they’ve done after my Japan trip. They made everything ugly, collaborated with a now-defunct morally corrupted studio, and simply made things so horribly bad to the point PalWorld is filling in the voids Nintendo, GameFreak, and those behind Pokemon GO have created.

20240202_154437 — – More naval stuff, woooo!~ I’m happy. Didn’t go in, just window shopped.

20240202_154636 — – Now to make my way up that surprisingly fatiguing hill.

20240202_154658 — – This button initially stumped me in 2023, not anymore. I know how to use these damn things now, and what their actual purpose is.

20240202_154856 — – Making my way up the fancy hill, accidentally sharing the pathway with school children making their way from school. I was highly winded because of the hill and the snow. I alternated between the snowy sidewalk and the fancy sidewalk. I was huffing and puffing, to my frustration.

20240202_155319 — – !!!! T his view reminds me of Slovakia. Any part, especially of Modra, Pezinok, and Bratislava.

20240202_155430 — – This street strongly reminds me of Europe. I’m in both Japan and Europe at the very same time, for obvious reasons. European explorer settlement and religious reasonings.

20240202_155451 — – The view is awesome looking down the pathway. It gets better.

20240202_155513 — – Finally at the ropeway making note of what’s up ahead.

20240202_155529 — – Viewing below to see Hakodate Station’s various railway networks.

20240202_155627 — – Nyaa!~ The cat was a shy cat.

20240202_155659 — – Open, yet beautiful.

20240202_155824 — – Hey!~ I’ve seen that brown and yellow bus somewhere….

Finally made my way to the ropeway to where I finally managed to purchase a ticket. I obtained half of my ticket, accidentally forgetting another. A service guy had to help me out pointing out my obliviousness. Thanks!

20240202_160250 — – Captured through a window prior to entering a ropeway car.

20240202_160535 — – Made my way to the front to capture the ascending moment.

– Video – Happily ascending to Mount Hakodate.

– Video –

20240202_160953 — – Oh? A neat Hakodate bird in the area. A nice view of the water can be seen. I rushed, and waited to capture this bird as the last person exiting the car.

20240202_161038 — – Highly beautiful! This is very beautiful! I love this! This is what I came here for!

20240202_161424 — – What a lovely cityscape!

20240202_161439 — – Oh? I would later find out this vessel is JS Shiranui. Neat!

20240202_161511 — – HA! Nice. Various tourist token coins, and even more vending machines. The are also has a Konbini for your essentials.

I also had to wait 10-15 minutes prior to being able to take a stamp of my own. The people ahead of me took absolutely forever, especially doing it highly slowly. I was annoyed, yet tried to be as polite as possible while waiting. They eventually saw my stamp book, even looking through it. They were happy about my stamp collection.

20240202_162008 — – This almost appears like something you’d see in the North and South Pole. Fuji TV, or some other broadcasting station in the area, or so was noted. Insanely cold, insanely windy. Wasn’t healthy for my gadgets.

20240202_162052 — – A brief line-up for the various monuments and decorations in the area.

20240202_162215 — – It may be cold, yet it’s highly peaceful up here. Very windy, very cold, yet disconnected from the toxic side of the world.

20240202_162229 — – A blurry JS Shiranui.

– Video – A quick pan of Hakodate. Very soothing. A lovely gradual sunset.

20240202_162524 — – This scene in Hakodate reminds me of Vancouver’s harbour. All the ships anchored in specific places.

20240202_163452 — – Proof I was in Hakodate, and away from any Western toxicities.

20240202_163550 — – Shame that’s off limits. Granted, if people were allowed to make use of this they would hog it for themselves. It would be a horrible fight, as it already was with the gradually increasing ‘Over-tourism’ nonsense.

20240202_163637 — – A lovely faint sunset.

20240202_163914 — – Nice little snowman. Nearly got stuck in the snow, yet managed.

20240202_163944 — – Cold, yet peaceful. I admired the escapism.

20240202_163946 — – Other people happily making note of the area.

20240202_164032 — – This is it’s own kind of beauty, and it’s awesome.

Screenshot_20240202_164147_Chrome — – Hearing various planes taking off with a unique sound to them thanks to the elevation on Mount Hakodate. Even if I can’t see the plane, I can hear it.

20240202_165118 — – Making note of Gyorokaku Tower. I would eventually notice flashing red lights in the area. Something must have happened.

20240202_165155 — – That is a lot of buses, and an annoying amount at that. Explains why it’s hard to get proper positions up here to view Mount Hakodate. I gradually became more angry.

20240202_170659 — – Fount it neat how this harbour patrol vessel slid into place next to JS Shiranui.

I was becoming more and more frustrated with how more and more people were making their way to the top. Everything became highly impossible to admire. I would have to wait for various breaks in the crowd. So many people for such a tiny place.

20240202_171017 — – Once again admiring the scenery. Again, reminded of the more beautiful side of Vancouver, and equally in its own right as Hakodate.

20240202_171126 — – Things were now becoming highly more silly with more and more people hogging the area. Things were becoming impossible, and people were accessing every open space they could to see Hakodate. Far too crowded than it should have been.

20240202_171432 — – A vital area was also being cut off from viewing with professional photography. I kept bouncing from one side to the other in hopes of capturing “something”.

20240202_171633 — – Waiting for full on night obtaining these neat images. Nicely lit areas.

20240202_172151 — – Trying to capture any sort of image being highly impossible.

20240202_173806 — – I was at the point I started using my tripod stick on my Lumix GF1 and my 360 camera. I tried capturing whatever I could, when I could, while I could. Anything. I had to do a few redo attempts thanks to highly blurry images. The wind would also hinder my attempts at images.

There was also an older guy in the area attempting to take images and videos, he however was being blocked off just as much as I was. He was more passive, I was more aggressive with my attempts. When I saw openings, I took them. Tripod, normally, etc. I’m even glad we had a brief conversation of how we were taking nice images. We didn’t say much, I however showed what I had, and he approved. I love people who are awesome like this old guy. Happily complimenting for the whole normal conversation side of things.

– Video – Panorama of the nightly Hakodate.

20240202_174503 — – V! People getting in my way, hence the weird expression. Rushed selfies.

Screenshot_20240202_174626_One UI Home — – Nice… Similar to what I experienced at Goryokaku Tower & Fort area, also experiencing it at Mount Hakodate Ropeway as well. Too cold. Thankfully, I was right next to an entrance way allowing me to warm up my phone with my wireless external battery pack.

20240202_175615 — – Various people coming and going.

20240202_175817 — – Snow Miku! Now choosing to leave the area with how late and cold it was becoming. I had to make my way back to the hotel, even if it may or may not be “early” to do so. At this point I was genuinely starting to freeze at every cold breeze I would feel. The line up extended outside. The line-up even snaking in and around various areas.

20240202_180501 — – Many minutes later, we reach the auditorium area.

20240202_181232 — – Attempting to admire both the window decorations and the cityscape.

20240202_181238 — – Accidental image taken.

20240202_181240 — – Beautiful! Better in person, yet one has to do with images to recall positive memories.

20240202_181316 — – Many minutes later, and a few line fighting later, we’re finally halfway to the ropeway cars.

20240202_181333 — – Making note of 2 lines, or more, with people jumping between them. It was becoming a bit frustrating trying to figure out which line-up to be on. I kept to where I was initially.

– Video – Ropeway down. I actually fought for this front-row standing position to view the descent down.

– Video – Part 2 of the above.

20240202_183609 — – Others, including myself, slipping and sliding in this area. People falling on their bottoms. Three people slipped here, and 1 at the tram at the exit. Possibly even an older lady, a person everybody desired to assist all at once.

20240202_184004 — – Always nice seeing historical, or near historical buildings.

20240202_184019 — – Admiring the beauty of Hakodate, trams, and other people curious about my own behaviour.

20240202_184038 — – Tram, Tsunami warning sign, and tsunami tower.

20240202_184445 — – Waiting for my tram to head back to the hotel. It is indeed in walking distance, yet taking a tram is nicer.

20240202_184732 — – A group of tourists were wondering where to stand, how to stand, and even trying to jump the queue. They were told to stand properly, and get in line.

One old lady falling off at the front of the tram while exiting. Everybody jumped up in an attempt to assist her from her fall. She however got up, even laughing it off. She would continue to laugh about it with her friends. I was puzzled as to what to do being a tourist. She was instantly aided by someone else.

20240202_185624 — – Back at Hakodate Station to see the ‘Hakodate Show’ lit up. Neat!

20240202_185631 — – Makes up for a lacking Winter Festival (Winterlude) back in Ottawa.

20240202_190303 — – Happily obtaining my nightly image of a touristic torii gate.

>Konbini intermission<

Was interesting experiencing a more unique touch to this rougher-appearing Konbini store. People were kind, respectful, and it was neat. We made way for each other, and I even finally found my scam Kitsune instant noodle. I desired a card from it, something I wasn’t allowed to have. I would eventually discover I would need to mail in to obtain my Kitsune card, something I would eventually be furious about in Sapporo during my one day depressive episode. For now, I was happy, and I even admired the lovely food I bought for the night. I was happy with my loot. I even picked up a pair of Blue Archive folders.

I eventually made my way out, pleased with my new spoils. I was also greeted by more snow. More snow gales, or so I assume them to be. I also love how the gate is lit up. Everything is beautiful and scenic. Morale boosting.

20240202_191434 — – I was happy seeing all this snow. I timed my expedition well. I came back right on time, and I timed everything perfectly. Nice! I’m happy! Snowy Hakodate Station!

I may have also briefly entered Hakodate Station to see what was happening. May have seen various areas close, ticket gates dinging, and just calmness. May have had a few stragglers in the station waiting for transportation.

I was in a happy mood. Happy about the snow, the nice artistic white-out, something the camera on my phone can’t quite pick up. I was like a happy kid in Christmas.

20240202_191807 — – This atmosphere is awesome.

– Video – Snow squall in the area.

Safely made it back to my hotel room with my spoils of the day. Various touristic Hakodate shirts, Hokkaido toque, Bang Dream cards for my friend, among other stuff. Yes, even Blue Archive, as previously noted.

20240202_193351 — – Blue Archive folders of Hoshino & Serika. Even Kitsune udon instant noodles, something I would eventually feel scammed over. Yes, I also obtained Karage, or something close to it.

20240202_193400 — – Betrayed by the Kitsune udon package. Give me an kitsune card! I feel betrayed by my own Kitsune!

To recap:

I had my fun in Hakodate. Just simply walking from my hotel room to various Konbini stores was awesome. Maybe excessive, yet I was able to make sense of their layout. They’re true to their name, and they actually help you out when you most need them, something Canadian Convenience stores fail on. With how windy, cold, and neat Hakodate was today I genuinely enjoyed admiring the historical ‘Red Brick Warehouse” store front. I even happily checked out the music box store, and was treated nicely by some grocery clerks. Had fun games after having asked about an ink stamp location. I even managed to encounter a seemingly rare shrine while enroute to more awesome historical red brick museum locations.

A nice batch of ink stamps were acquired, and same with local wearable local souvenir’s. Nice scenic areas, and viewpoints. Lovely European + Japanese mixed scenery areas. Nicely decorated. Japan being honest by displaying a Pikachu vending machine, and my eventual visit to Hakodate’s ropeway area. Nice at first, if gradually more frustrating with what I view as “over-tourism”. Far more tourists than that area can handle, especially with blocked off areas for some professional pictures. I admired the peacefulness of the area, the Vancouver harbor vibe type areas of ships anchored off shore, and how neatly peaceful the are was. The surreal sunset. The howling wind, and the coldness simply getting colder. I would eventually freeze just as much as my gadgets complaining about ‘slow charging’.

Bonus:

Warming up, resting, and catching up on both social media and Azur Lane/Blue Archive. Happily obtaining the outfits from the event which took place at the time I was in Japan.

Screenshot_20240203_003100_Azur Lane — – Azur Lane – Miyuki! Love how gorgeous she is. It’s a shame she was abused in an event she was introduced in, yet happy I can have more of her cuteness. Cute! I genuinely should have also tried Japanese Crepes while I had the chance. Maybe on a potential third trip to Japan.

Screenshot_20240203_003740_Azur Lane — – Attempting to catch up on some time-sensitive memory events before they became unobtainable. Waiting on the next batch. Admiring New Jersey’s memorable moment.

Screenshot_20240203_003807_Azur Lane — – (Sidenote: To think people consider such scenes as “slutty”. Something normal as this allegedly “slutty”, or “bitch” related to Western political activists. Something as normal as this is “somehow” “slutty”. This is why I’m bias towards Japan & Asian influences; I admire Asian mediums over Western ones.)

Screenshot_20240203_003904_Azur Lane — – New Jersey sharing her Ice Cream.

Screenshot_20240203_004436_Azur Lane — – Azur Lane – Helena – Sharing earphones/earbuds with us in an intimate moment. Cute.

(On a curious side note: I burst out laughing at how pathetic political activists are in the Western world assuming normal girls/women/females are allegedly “slutty”, especially in reference to the above scenes in reality, and anything else portrayed in Anime. Even the Japanese locals who carefully, and moderately conceal themselves are allegedly “slutty”, as noted by various ill-mannered Westerners hell-bent on discrediting my various experiences. Allegedly easy to push over Asian women, something which isn’t the case, etc. Somehow, for some weird logical reason, going on a date is “slutty”, or even sharing an earphone with someone is “slutty”. Wearing non-revealing clothing is “slutty”, or even simply conversing with someone is somehow “slutty”. Azur Lane’s special Miyuki outfit (in New York) is also apparently “slutty” to corrupted Western political activists. It’s silly how they think. I just can’t understand the stupidity of Western political activists. It simply doesn’t make sense, nor dollars (pun). Everything your everyday female/women/girl does is somehow “slutty”, yet a Western women threatening to kill a guy is somehow perfectly normal and legit. Or a girl wearing actually revealing clothing on Western transportation is somehow normal. Trying to stab a guy to death, steal his money, etc is somehow normal. Encouraging a guy to suffer in life, encourage their death, and constantly berate them is encouraged in Western societies. I admire Japan’s common sense. I’ll keep hyping it up for as long as I can interact with Japan.)

THIS is why I traveled to Japan, for a much needed morale boost, reality check, and to escape from fake political activists. To admire the beautiful Japanese scenery, and to take in historical settings, or at least interesting ones. Having fun with playing ‘board games’ with the Japanese locals. I needed my two Japan trips, and my one Vancouver trip.

– Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable – Focus is on the right side of the image. Also another excerpt was noted

I also had to visit Hakodate thanks to my Microsoft Flight Sim flight. Mainly for the Mount Hakodate lookout, also for the trams, and for the various scenery. Also with special mentions from the manga, ‘Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable’. They visited the area, the lookout, something I desired to finally visit thanks to their mention in the manga. I sadly missed out on KanColle, yet everything else was checked off from my checklist. I’m thankful to the Japanese for treating me like a human, and respectfully. One of my happier, better days in Hakodate, though they eventually all would round up to be genuinely awesome as a whole. I timed the snow gale well, and I’m happy with my various experiences. Nothing overly negative, except for my over-staying in a hotel room and over-tourism on Mount Hakodate’s Ropeway.

Thanks for viewing, and can’t wait to share my next fun adventure on a nearby museum ship. Hakodate is awesome to explore!

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Trip to Japan – Round 2 – Day 7 (2024)