– A Konbini start to the day. A slow one, if a rested one. Happily enjoying a quick egg-sandwhich meal from the nearby Konbini. Poi!~
(Warning: This blog post contains well over 500+ images. You’ve been warned.)
This blogpost covers the day of February 4th, while in Hakodate, Japan. Traveling to Sapporo via train passing through various towns and villages enroute.
Woke up at 8 AM to eventually notice Precure Anime playing on TV. After a restful sleep of having played Rising World, attempted to play Dead or Alive: Venus Vacation, among other games it was time to slowly start packing up to head to Sapporo. I had to start packing my luggage, clean up, eat, catch up on social media, and even tend Azur Lane & Blue Archive. I left the hotel at 9:45 AM to head to Hakodate Station to belatedly purchase my ticket(s) to Sapporo. I was confused, yet eventually managed. I managed to secure a decent seat, even with the rush of people prior, during, and after. I also, sadly, briefly forgot my new luggage containing my Steam Deck, among other loot. The nearby JR staff attended in a yellow thankfully gave it back to me. I would have been both devastated and livid.
This time, because I thankfully departed early enough in the day, I was able to enjoy Hakodate, the trip, and a proper evening in Sapporo, unlike other days where I had to hide in the hotel room to wait for another day. Sapporo itself amazed me with the snowfall, how they tend to their streets, and how I was finally able to see the Snow Miku tram go by. I ate tons of food at Sapporo’s winter festival, something I actually highly enjoyed. Was great! I even happily obtained a lovely mini-figure of Hololive’s Suisei at a Book-Off in Sapporo. One of my good days!
(Side note: I played video games the night prior to easy my way into this day. I forgot I had done this in my previous blog post, hence why I updated it with further Rising World images. I played games, I relaxed, and I had my fun. Granted, I could have done more, yet what is done is done, and I’m proud of what I had both accomplished and seen in Hakodate. Thanks for having me!)
Funny thing is I even saw Japanese locals Tweet posting about this live on Twitter/X. I felt more in tune with the locals, if briefly, and slightly. It was amusing to see things they would see, and I was even able to document Precure on that day. It’s funny. Immersive.
Time to leave my awesome hotel room at 9:45 AM. Time to head to Hakodate Station.
– Last view from my hotel room at APA Hotel in Hakodate. A decent day out in Hakodate.
– Tram spotting on my way to Hakodate Station.
– Many pictures because I had to obtain that Anime touch. I needed to properly document this tram. 😉
Made my way to Hakodate Station to where I would confusingly attempt to purchase my train ticket to Sapporo. Gave up, went back, and tried again. First trains were full, had to wait for another upcoming train. I barely managed to obtain a proper seat for myself finding out it would be a full train. Unreserved seating. Train ticket for Hakuto 9 to Sapporo leaving at 10:45 AM, Car 5.
Once done, I accidentally left my carry hand luggage at the resting part of the ticket machine, something I thankfully had returned to me by an overly friendly JR Staff lady. I thanked her, or I hope I did. My Steam Deck, among other goodies, could have been lost there forever. I’m thankful I was able to properly receive my hand luggage with my normal luggage. I wish I also remembered to purchase food and water for the trip. My mind was still sleepy, hence why I forgot my hand luggage on the mini ticket counter.
– I eventually passed the gate, proceeding to venture to my waiting area.
– A lovely touristic decorated wall with Hakodate historical picturing on them. I admire designs like this. I should have taken more.
– Track 9 – 10:45 AM for Hakuto 9.
– Admiring the trains.
– Making note of the Japanese train on the other side. The train in white.
– Hokuto!
– Hokuto – For Sapporo. Car 5 – Non-Reserved.
– Car 5 – Hokuto for Sapporo. Packed with tourists.
Side-note: I probably had a mother ask me if a kid could sit next to me, something I may have not initially caught on. It later clicked once the kid sat next to me. I wasn’t sure what she said, though she eventually gave up, sitting her kid next to me. Sorry. I was still dazed from fatigue of some kind. Yes, I was being stupid with Twitter/X by updating my status of where I was going. If I knew I would have told her it was fine.
– Video – In-train announcement at the same time as another passing train arrived at Hakodate Station.
– Waiting. Tired, and lost in thought. I also forgot to obtain water making things more miserable.
People may find the following batch of images (leading up into Sapporo) boring, I however admire them, and find actual value on them. It shows what Japan is actually like. I’m here to see the actual, real Japan, not the fake one on Twitter done for clout, or political clout chasing. I want to see the actual Japan, and I’ve seen it.
– Trains in depot.
– Both admiring and documenting various Japanese trains. Loving the liveries.
– Japan has awesome trains.
– Trying to pin my destination for easier tracking.
– This is the route we shall be taking via Hokuto. Hakodate > Sapporo.
– Japan has some interesting architecture, this time in a form of a lengthy bridge. The mountains are also an awesome sight.
– Admiring the Japanese homes at this point. Make note of the red, and then the blue home in the right-most frame of the photo.
– Video – Casually making note of the scenery going by. In hindsight I captured a facility to handle Shinkansen type trains. Work and maintenance on them. Loving the sound of the train chugging along, announcement playing.
– Gradual progress.
– Lake.
– Video – Admiring the lake and the mountain scape. Like with Canada, I can fully admire scenic scenes like this.
– I missed another neat scene, yet captured this amusing snow curling from the train. The snow from the roof falling off the building in a gradual manner.
– Constantly making note of what was where, and where is what.
– I may be on a train, I however want to admire everything natural about Japan, even if it’s the “mundane”, and the things we see on the daily.
– Hokkaido is so damn gorgeous, I LOVE IT! I love Hokkaido.
– A nearby trail running parallel to the tracks caught my attention. Cleared out pathways.
– Video – Making note of a pathway running parallel to the tracks.
– Closing in on Mori.
– Stunning view, yet ruined by solar panels. Probably the only good place for solar panels to be.
– Solar Panels – Part 2. I’m finding out Japan is having a growing hatred of solar panels destroying forests, mountains, and everything environmental in the false image of ‘Global Warming’ & ‘Climate Change’ scams.
– This “may” be the only place where solar panels may be practical, they are however being noted, in growing frequency, in being mostly useless and redundant. They catch fire too often and undo any proper good will to the environment.
– Is that an ‘Ainu’ house? A traditional Hokkaido house in the center of the image?
– Yakumo Station.
– This caught my attention. Some guards on the side of a hill to capture, prevent, or to allow farming to be done.
– I’ve also noticed a military base in the area, something I wasn’t able to capture in time. A Japanese Air Force base.
– Following the coastline was awesome, I however wasn’t able to document the water-side view.
– Almost halfway there.
– A neat scenic Hokkaido experience. Snowy, rural, and neat. Peaceful.
– Seeing various neat sides of Japan is neat.
– Documenting each and every possible train I come across. Even how the tracks are covered in snow.
– Interesting how these stations are set up. Nice barriers, signage, etc.
– Admiring the small details.
– Makes sense that Japanese trains are strong enough to handle snowy weather conditions, those even noted to be far more brutal than Canadian weather.
– A neat building with blue roofing, and even neat mountain scenery. Japan is gorgeous. Hokkaido is beautiful.
– School.
– The location in the above pictures. Was also neat seeing the river passing by, the construction being done on the bridges over next river on the other side, and even train spotters before or after this location.
– Construction vehicles.
– Pure, pristine untouched snow.
– Spotted something, trees however blocked the view.
– Trees blocking the field and farm house in the area. Neat mountains.
– A more raw experience of a winter Hokkaido. A nice snowy stream, an open snowy field, various trees, mountains. It’s awesome.
– Parallel tracks, green structure, neat scenery.
– The green home seen from a distance, now up close.
– Level crossing, torii gate, a shrine area, and a neat view.
– Welcome to Jomon Prehistoric Site in Northern Japan.
– More blue structures.
– More solar panel farms. Who knows if these are in a correct area or not. Japan however has major issues with these, especially with the locals finding themselves being scammed with these by corrupt politicians and regional candidates.
– Level crossing, wide street, and a kid’s play structure. Hard to see people in these images.
– Video – A lengthy perspective of various blue, red, green houses; Colourful play areas for kids. Japan is attempting to make their structures visually appealing in the overly grim winter scenery. A few colorful landmarks in the scenery.– Date – Datemombetsu Station – Making note of the Date helmet on display at the station, something I’ve frustratingly missed on my pass through Datemombetsu Station. It’s now noted on any future potential visits to Japan.
– Gradually, bit-by-bit, making our way closer to Sapporo. “Our”, because of myself and passengers on the train. I’m making my way to Sapporo.
– Interesting areas, even if I can’t set foot on them. Blue building, neat road, mountain view in the distance. 69 on the pole.
– Something caught my interest here, forgot what it was.
– Neat red castle! Now that’s a surprise. 🙂
– Attempting to capture many perspectives in hopes of not losing its worth and value, as had been done with Date helmet.
– Torii gate! A nice big one, at that. Beautiful.
– Amused by the symbolism with the A-Q lettering and symbols. R,S,T is however in another direction. 😉
– Hokkaido has tons of neat mountains.
– One mountain hiding another.
– Hokkaido has a lot of hidden gems in the area. Also making note of the various locations I keep passing for future reference, even if it may annoy those viewing and skimming my blog post.
– Now THAT (that) is beautiful! Hokkaido dinosaur themed trains. Classic, yet modern. I love it!
– Blurry train photo capture.
– Japanese trains are neat.
– MEGA Don Quijote Tomakomai Store
– MEGA Don Store mall area with a large connection to trains.
– Seems like a very busy, popular area.
– Saw a weird building with a strange wording on the side of the building. I spent a good 5-10 minutes using Google Maps to search where and what it was. It’s an ‘Access Otowa’. I assumed it was Canada, Ontario, Ottawa, not Otowa. Otowa caught my attention for a Canadian reason.
– I also admire the numerous colourful homes in Hokkaido. The numerous orange, red, blue, and other coloured homes.
– Nearing Sapporo one could spot a plane flying over. We really are getting close.
– Being a very snowy area it should come to no surprise how slanted the house roofs are. It’s quite neat. A culture shock to Canada’s built homes.
– The plane I saw? An SJX850 Starlux – Taipei to Sapporo.
– Beautiful scenery. I love scenery like this with the dark blue tone, the neat mountains.
– Going past various urban, housing, and commercial areas making me appreciate Hokkaido’s area (the areas surrounding Sapporo) in a new perspective. The housing, the snow, the cars, and how people live in this area.
– Interesting development. The way things are structured, how they’re spread out, and where the snow is pushed off to.
– Attempting to make note of a nearby bridge, something which is hard to see in the photo’s left side.
– It’s images like this which tends to fuel my curious imagination in how people live in Hokkaido’s more urban areas. Outskirts, yet closer to the heart of Sapporo. How snow is treated, how people move around, where the cars park, etc. I find this all interesting.
– Video – A quick passing glimpse of residential areas, train crossing areas, a shunter train, and other neat points of interests.
– Coming up to a familiar area, one I had known prior to my Japan 2023 trip. The lovely baseball stadium outside of Sapporo.
– On my Japan 2023 plan I had initially desired to bike from Sapporo to this area, and back. This was in Spring, a Spring in Sapporo I had assumed to be warmer.
– It’s nice obtaining a better, more proper view of the area.
– One of my favourite pictures, a perspective which could be compared to my 2023 image and now (2024). A natural river formation, raw winter touches, and a neat appearing Japan.
– Es Con Field Hokkaido.
– Es Con Field Hokkaido.
– Es Con Field Hokkaido.
– Of course I’m going to take multiple images of this place! It was one of my landmarks for 2023, and holds a nostalgic 2024 touch as well. 🙂
– Ah! Beautiful! The nostalgia is coming back to me.
– Once again, this is the pathway I had initially planned to take in 2023’s bike trip (back and forth), yet decided against it. Would have been nice, it however wasn’t meant to be.
– The pathway is neat though.
– Internet slang dictates I touch grass. The best I can do is touch snow, and that’s what I have done, and shall continue doing so.
– Now entering Sapporo proper. I was genuinely glad we were reaching Sapporo. I was becoming highly thirsty, something I had noted at the start of my journey. I forgot to purchase water from the Konbini, and same with food. I had no food or water for my trip. I was thirsty. Water! I need water! Let this 2-4 hour train ride end, as beautiful and comfortable as it was.
– I know I shouldn’t laugh at this, I however had a nice internal laughing at this sign. People taking selfies with a selfie stick to get zapped by the power line above. Or getting near the train, and other stupidity. I’ve seen my fair share of stupid Korean and Chinese tourists doing dumb things, this is mostly for them. Yes, and the few ill-mannered Japanese. Japan isn’t perfect. My main issues were always with Asian tourists doing idiotic things.
– Lovely rivers, canals, and lock areas.
– Lovely empty freight cars.
– There is a train in a background, a train I have in functional N Scale set. It’s in my luggage as we travel. The train that’s in red/orange, black, and grey colour.
– Let’s go! We’re finally at, and nearing my Sapporo station. I need to hit up either a konbini or a hotel for water! I severely need water! Water!
– A lovely passing train.
– Poi! I should have pulled out Yuudachi sooner for these images.
– Poi!
– Poi!
– Yes, the sun was highly bright. Poi!
– Blinding poi!~
– It was after this image the Korean women, a tourist I now hate, pulled down not only her blinds, but also my own. I was angry. I get it, the sun is bright, I however had pictures to take, and Japan to document. We were also nearing the station by only a handful of minutes. Why now, of all times?! What about those next to me? They can ask. Ask, and I’ll of course obliged. (POI!)
– That’s one neatly designed apartment building. I want to see more of these neatly painted apartment buildings, especially in more urban areas of both Japan and Canada. These are the type of buildings everybody could benefit. Look at the neat contrasting stripes! Sapporo does have neat urban structures, these being one of the many.
– I’m back! Sapporo, I’m back! I missed you! 2023 still fresh on my mind. Same with how a Japanese guy waved a kitchen knife in Sapporo Station those many months prior to my 2024 visit.
Sapporo Arrival!:
I’m here! I’m here mainly for the Sapporo Winter Festival, a festival I had knowingly missed out on in 2023. My trip in 2023 was aimed more for Kantai Collection and the general visit of the area. My 2023 visit was far more planned out, not my 2024 visit. It was far more hasty, glued on, and rushed. I was winging (improvising) in the moment. I knew roughly where I desired to go, and I winged it in such a manner.
Also, with special thanks to – Hokkaido Gals are Super Adorable – Anime and Manga I had to visit both Hakodate and Sapporo. I had to come back, and I’m glad I had, as rushed and improvised as it was. In hindsight, I also should have booked a proper hotel prior to my 2024 visit, not a few days prior. I could have stayed a luxurious spa-hotel again, even if I wouldn’t use their baths and spas. You’ll see why at the end of this blog posting and in the following ones.
It was also noted, prior to my visit to Sapporo, the area was hit by a major snowstorm. It was seen on Hakodate’s news a day (or few days) prior to my arrival, and I could see how much had actually fallen upon arrival into the area.
– We’ve finally arrived in Sapporo.
– Arrived! I now had to search for my train, seek out stamps, and where to go to my hotel.
– Taking the long way to my train. Taking the Namboku Line to Susukino Station.
– Blurry, and thankfully so. The girl’s faces are blurry. I was however making note of the statue nearby, and the construction which wasn’t there in 2023.
– Exit Station to my hotel. In hindsight this would be the worst decision I’ve made.
– My mind is stressed.
– A cleaner view of the train map, stop map, and which way to get off. I admire Japanese trains for this. It’s why I hype up JR Trains the way I do.
– I rarely take pictures of train station signage, might as well start now. Exit 3, in memory of ‘Exit 8’ game on Steam, an anomaly game.
– Wow! It’s still daylight! Every time I travel between Japanese cities it’s always evening, dark, or night time. I have a nice prime area for a sunny downtown Sapporo at Susukino. (It was a pain in the rear dragging my luggage up the stairway. It would be worse many days later.)
– Sapporo Clock Tower manhole cover. If you see a manhole cover like this you can also expect to find a nearby ink stamp station somewhere in the vicinity. This is what their stamp shall contain.
Confusingly, yet finally reached my hotel. I went to APA Hotel on Susukino [APA Hotel Sapporo Susukino Ekimae]. I checked in, was asked if I desired a hotel room with a broken heater. I stupidly agreed, and went in. I should have refused, I however was travel fatigued, thirsty, and desired to simply visit the beautiful sights of Sapporo. The Sapporo Winter Festival.
– I was assigned to room 210, regretting it as soon as I saw it on the floor plan. I know I agreed to this, why did you let me have this stupid closet room. WHY?! Why did you let me have a room with a broken heater room. I hate both myself and the request of being given an option like this. The only good thing going for this hotel is how it has a Lawson nestled into the hotel building.
I would hate my stay in this hotel, and it began as soon as I saw this stupid floor plan. I missed my time at my previous hotel in 2023, ‘Tenza Hotel & Sky Spa Sapporo Central’ which was further down, even if I wouldn’t use the spa in the hotel. It was nicer, fancier, and easier on the mental health. I preferred the Ueno & Hakodate APA Hotel, not this one on Susukino. It made me feel highly uneasy. I felt unsafe.
– *Groaning noises and heavy regret.*
I hate myself. I hate myself for agreeing to go into room 210 and my naïve Canadian kindness. I hate myself! I was expecting what I saw in the images, those numerous hotel rooms I had visited prior, and all my past experiences both 2023 & current 2024 experiences. This APA Hotel frustrated the hell out of me. Fine! No choice. I have no choice but to enter my broom closet of a hotel-room with no heating. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was also haunted. The drawers opening on their own at the desk, and other stupidity.
I swiped my card, chucked my luggage in, greeted by cold air. The room was chilly. It was also spooky, run down, and just not my kind of hotel room. It set my nerves into defensive mode. It gave me a horrible vibe, as if it was haunted, or something.
Once settled, I ventured back out to do my Sapporo Winter Festival thing.
– It started snowing in Sapporo, the same snow I had witnessed on the outskirts of Sapporo having finally caught up with me in Sapporo itself.
I didn’t need Google Maps to navigate my way back to Odori Park. Thank you, 2023 visit! 😉
– Snowy Sapporo while heading towards the walkable promenade mall. Going down my 2023 memory lane.
– This surprised me. They don’t really clean the sidewalks in Sapporo leaving it to grow, compact, and become a slippery mess. This makes me respect Ottawa’s crude efforts to keep sidewalks clean all the more, even if they do a rough job of it. Ottawa wins on this one!
As much as I trash Ottawa it’s all done out of respect and love. I desire the best out of the city I live in, and it should strive for being the best, not a Liberal cesspool of drug-addict filth. Sapporo seems to get away with their sidewalk tardiness by making up for it in other areas. Both Sapporo & Ottawa win some and lose some in equal regards.
– Now that I’m aware of where I am, what I’m doing, I can document this far better.
– Cute! Neat mascot. Welcome in various regional dialects, and maybe 1 or 2 foreign ones.
– A rushed selfie. One for the nostalgic memory books.
– Sapporo’s Ferris wheel.
– Numerous stores, restaurants, and konbini located on this stretch.
– Making note of the ramen place I ate at on my previous 2023 visit. I hate at the building in the center with the red sign and trim. I even startled the guy on the opposite side. I’m documenting my previous visit in a 2024 perspective. People walking on the street, something which caught me off guard. Street allowed pedestrians, something I found weird.
– Documenting corner ramen restaurant, Part 2.
This is also the street (and block) where I stayed at my previous hotel. This is the ‘Tenza Hotel & Sky Spa Sapporo Central’, a place with high levels of nostalgia and positive memories. I wish I rebooked my room in that hotel, not the rusty and run-down APA hotel.
– This tram surprised me. Hastily captured image.
– Tram and Seico Mart, latter seen in Anime. 😉
– WHOA!~ My luck! Snow Miku tram! Already?! I am lucky, and on this snowy day. Nice!
– Snow Miku Tram, 2024 Edition. The people look exhausted in the tram, and probably aware of why I’m taking an image of the tram.
– Struggled to keep the tram in frame.
– Snow Miku 2024 Tram, and in the snow, while snowing, and next to a Seico Mart.
– One lone patch, a Seico Mart (as seen in Anime), and a snowy Sapporo. I intentionally also traveled parallel with the tram tracks in hopes of capturing Miku, and I had.
– The way they clear the sidewalks in Sapporo is a hit or miss. It appears to be arranged by the property on the block, or so I assume it to be.
Sapporo Winter Snow Festival (2024):
At last! At last I can experience Sapporo’s Winter Festival, an event I had known about and been aware of for years, all thanks to Anime and Youtube Vloggers. And because Ottawa had an overly mild Winter (artificially caused or real) preventing Ottawa’s Winterlude from existing, I could finally experience a proper winter in Japan instead of a stereotypical experienced winter in Ottawa, Canada. Let’s finally experience those Anime sculptures as well. The big non-Anime snow and ice sculptures, the food, among other neat creations.
– Made it! Especially at the very edge of the festival. Intentionally chose the furthest point to walk back towards Sapporo’s Fuji Tower. They were still sculpting the far more elaborate sculptures in the contest.
– Video – Making note of the snow sculpture competition still in progress.
– Sculpting away, especially next to a special German Twin-City decoration provided by Munich, Germany.
– Portland (USA).
– Snow Miku 2024 Snow sculpture performance. Hello Kitty sculpture next to Miku.
– Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary.
– Munich Twin-City Maibaum, Olympic logo, and the competitive snow sculptures in action. Former Sapporo Court in view in right-most part of image.
– There was a pattern to this area, and I accidentally (unknowingly) ventured in the opposite direction. I should have been on the right side, not this leftern crossing side. Also some sections were better connected than the others.
– First Anniversary of Hokkaido’s Baseball. Nippon Ham? Let’s Play!
– TV gathering, and possible recording of area.
– I ate 2 things from here, and both were delicious. First try was sausages, the second attempt (next visit) was the soup.
– Demon Slayer posters seen on the building.
– Eating festive sausages. Neat. It was awesome.
– Closer look at Demon Slayer posters.
– Nissin Noodle attraction, and slide.
– They actually make good instant noodles.
– Hokkaido Sake shot & Bottle sales store. (The only one I haven’t tried).
– Panorama – Nissin, and various food stalls.
– Other sculptures seen from the other side of a street crossing.
– Psyduck.
The snowy pathways were slippery, even if sprinkled with sand, dirt, or of similar substance. other areas were compacted to the point they were smooth, rough, uneven, and even slippery to the point people would frequently fall down. I even ran the risk of falling, especially with my type of slip-on shoes. It handles snow well, it also sadly had issues as well in this area.
– Re: Zero Pachinko Banner.
– Free promotional tissues, something which was of actual value to me. I actually had to use these a few times. Stuffy nose.
– Muscle Head.
– Ku-ku-KUMA!~
– Pokemon display.
– Ultraman.
– Golden Kamui on the left, something which makes sense of the region I’m in.
– Golden Kamui.
– Mario! (It’s a me, Mario!~)
– USN – A Warship of Peace.
– USN – A Warship of Peace.
– Highly slippery conditions for foot traffic.
– JR Transit related advertisement. (Side view)
– This giant station sculpture’s event was missed, it however noted the pride held with Japanese Rail (JR Rail).
– Light display shining onto the snow.
– Similar to how Canada prides itself on hockey, so does Japan with baseball.
– ‘Swan Castle’, Bavaria, Germany.
– Attempted Selfie.
– Recording booth, or similar. A staff booth, Golden Kamuy poster hanging proudly for movie.
– Never knew at the time, this however would be a popular airing sculpture of an Anime airing in Summer 2024. (Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san | Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian)
– Overlord Anime is another great Anime, something I sadly fell behind on. Need a lot of catching up to do.
– I haven’t watched these Anime, I’m however well aware of their popularity.
– Video – Cat sculpture changing colours. A Gundam SEED FREEDOM movie booth c an be seen in the background to the left.
– Gundam SEED FREEDOM movie booth.
– I’m genuinely happy I saw this movie in Japan, and in Japanese. Best memories.
– With how certain Japanese authors write and portray enemy and villains in their stories it makes it hard for me to fully respect the ‘Knight’ mobile suits in this movie. They’re neat, they’re however “too evil” for me to purchase a gunpla kit of. Has to be on a more neutral level (view Gundam Epyon & Tallgeese) for me to obtain.
– Freedom snow sculpture lit up.
– Video – Gundam SEED FREEDOM Movie snow sculpture’s light dance.
– Commercial for Gundam’s snow festival booth and New Chitose Airport pop-up Gundam booth store.
– Godzilla Minus One. I planned on seeing this movie, I however missed out on watching it both in Ottawa and Japan.
– K-On! Celebrating their 20th Anniversary.
– Delicious in Dungeon. Started watching this, forgot to continue watching more. Re: Zero Anime sculpture on the left.
I fell down and spun in this area. It was a falling spin fall, something to which a pair of girls (forgot what nationality) came up to me asking if I was fine. I said – “Daijoubu” – in habit, and in response to their asking me of my condition. Stood there in slight confusion. They gradually walked off. I regret not talking with them, or properly realize what language they actually spoke. Japanese language & English language slowly meshing into one language.
My phone also died at this point, too cold for my phone again, as was the case in Hakodate. I had to wirelessly charge my phone again, forced to use both my Lumix GF1 camera and my 360 camera at this point.
Many minutes later… My phone was decently charged to be of use again, if awkwardly held with the wireless power bank in hand. I also ate boiled corn from a food stall, something I made note of via my 360 camera, something you’ll see at a later date. My 360 camera’s coverage of this day shall be “interesting”, to put it in a few words. Neatly scuffed. Same with my Lumix GF1 camera’s POV captures.
– Phone was decently charged at this point, just not at full. Snow was coming down harder, and other areas becoming far more populated. If you’re curious about the “time-skip”, it’s because my phone died. I had to use other cameras, as noted previously.
– Certain roadways were blocked off, others not so much. This one being one of those blocked off roadways.
– Hello! Adventure.
– Horse performance in play. Stationary horse statue. Also, as noted, we had to keep moving to prevent congestion in the area.
– Video – Snow horse showcase. Security didn’t stop me, nor nudge me away, and I stood to the far side as possible to be out of the way allowing me to share this teaser snippet of the race horse performance.
– Sapporo sculpture, and a nicely lit Sapporo Tower in the distance.
– Video – Queen + Adam Lambert – Sapporo 2024 snow festival. (You are the loser and we are the champions.)
– Video – Re-recording of the above.
– Enjoying a nice double meal. Forgot what it was, though it may be chicken and milk soup.
– The various food and beverages in the area.
– I finally get to see them! Lovely miniature snowman in large numbers! They’re highly popular, famous in Japan. You always see them a lot in Anime, manga, and other similar Japanese forms of media.
– Video – Various performers playing in this sheltered area.
– Video – I had to stand next to some obnoxiously vocal British folks while a new Queen song played. They talked about colours, shades, etc. Throw-away clip, yet still sharing it for the atmosphere.
– Attempted selfie with Queen snow sculpture in Sapporo 2024. 😉
– Golden Kamuy! Nice! Makes sense, especially for the area it’s in (home territory). I also need to watch both the Anime and the movie.
– Video – Golden Kamuy music playing.
– Kon! Every time there are people I always sport a more serious expression.
– Peace! (Still have social anxiety in this picture. *shrug*.)
– Tamagochi! Oh, how I miss these. I grew up on these; Jurassic Park themed Tamagochi.
– I’m surprised these Tamagochi’s are still alive and kicking. I’m surprised they’re still around.
– Snow Miku!
– Blue Archive! I knew I heard Blue Archive in the distance! It’s far more emotional hearing it in person than it is blasting from a phone. The ambiance in the location making it hit a more special tone.
– Video – The Gaming club, and the special ‘Shiroko Terror’ theme for the menu music. The tears.
Video – Part 2 BGM of the above video.
Video – Arona & Plana doing their speech routine. Proudly advertising the Blue Archive game.
– I have my own selfie with the Blue Archive gang! WOOOO!~
– That food line-up is intense.
– I waited, actually ordering my own food. A few things. Girl also told me my number, maybe in a stress-angry manner. I failed to make note, yet tried to understand. I eventually obtained my order.
– Chicken? Sausages. They were both delicious. I ate both outside and inside a shelter-tent area.
– Gradually making my way closer to Sapporo Tower.
– Blue Archive advertisement! Nice!
– Even if Blue Archive hates me via RNG student recruitments I still play the games by tending to dailies.
– The best part of Japan are these lights.
– It was -2*C in Sapporo, and 7:35 PM at the time.
– Another lovely Golden Kamuy sculpture.
– The various illuminated trees in the distance/background.
– I stumbled upon a neat area. A neat lit-up area and candles in a neat snowy pot. I admire this style.
– This is beautiful!
– I genuinely admire this pattern. This design of putting candles in snow-created pots to light up the area.
– An ‘Peace’ Selfie. 😉
– I’m focusing more on the fabric entities than that girl. She had to give me this weird look during the time I was tunnel-visioned on these creatures. Their eyes are digitally animated in their pixeled manner. You’re in a public place, what do you expect.
– It’s hard getting an isolated picture with how popular this attraction is.
Video – Attempting to show off the neat attractiveness of this attraction. The peaceful music, the lights, and how neat it’s to go from one side to the next. Sadly, people were most likely just as peeved off with me as I was with them.
– You could probably see the annoyance displayed on my face of having to deal with people ruining everything for other people. I simply desired a simple selfie, and a simple video tour of the area. I’ve attempted a quick ‘Peace’ gesture.
– Also, I’m too focused on making sure my selfies aren’t blurry. I know, I should smile more, and I desired to.
– More scuffed selfies because people are pushy.
– Peace! It’s 8:00 PM!
– Now venturing my way towards Sapporo Tower.
– Video – Making note of the elevator going up and down in the Sapporo Tower.
– Kappa bus! I both love and admire buses with creative themes.
– IdolMaster collaboration.
– The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls in Sapporo collaboration.
– Angelic Tree capture.
I’m happy for each and every couple able to partake in these romantic pairing stuff. Awesome for you folks, and I applaud you’re allowed to do such. Western Liberals & political activists have shunned, banned, and cheapened love to the point people don’t know what friendship, loyalty, love, and respect are. Maybe a few normal sane ones, they however would be falsely labeled as ‘Alt-Right Nazi’ by Far-Far-Left lunatics in the Western political sphere. It would be nice, I however may have to wait more years before something natural and proper comes along.
(My point being, Western political Liberal Activists prefer body counts over actual romance. They consider proper romance to be “slutty”, as they’ve noted numerous times on r/inceltears Reddit subreddit. They view Japanese as racist white people. There are many people, myself included, still without a proper partner Then there are those who have Asian partners as white people because of how stupid Western society has corrupted itself.)
– Maybe one day, just not this year, nor even back in 2023. Maybe one day, or never. Who knows. A young couple jumping through a heart while I tunnel-visioned to everything past the stairway. Scenery over the couple doing their thing.
– Curling! Neat sport, especially for the kids.
– Video – A quick note on Sapporo Fuji Tower and the nearby Christmas tree and Curling rink.
Feeling satisfied, and having explored everything on this end, it was time to make my slow walk back towards the hotel. Took a more direct route back to the hotel this this, if with a few detours along the way.
– Imon, and the nicely illuminated trees in the area. This looks fancy, I love it!
– Stopping by a Book-Off in hopes of acquiring an Suisei Hololive mini-figure, something Hakodate refused me because of a raffle. I desired something more direct.
– The Eminence in Shadow Anime cards, I however wasn’t interested in that. Only the awesome Anime and the music.
– Blurry view of the nearby mall (haste image) of a nearby McDonalds, nice illuminations, etc.
– Slightly better view, yet slightly worse.
– An Anime café, or something.
– This part baffled me. What the heck is this?! Why is there snow on one part, yet melted and removed from the other parts?! Sapporo, are you drunk, or something? Is this why the guy waved his knife in the Sapporo Station? Are you guys doing tasks in a half-assed mannerism?
Returned back to my hotel roughly around 9 PM. I’ve also openly noted I refused to return to my hotel, even if my belonging were there. I took as long as I possibly could, yet had to return to charge my phone, catch up on Azur Lane, Blue Archive, and note down my happenings on my travel log. I was stressed, and highly unnerved, to the point I didn’t feel safe in that hotel room. I was even spooked by the stupid drawer slowly sliding open. The heating also cut off halfway into the night, and TV Channels would do strange things at night. Maybe the TV thing is normal because stations cut off at night, it however still spooked me. This would be a re-occurring sentiment throughout my stay in that 210 room.
I’m aware the gurgling in the washroom is the piping doing it’s pressure suction thing, that also however highly unnerved me both there, and in my eventual new room I would eventually move to. I hated this APA Hotel so much. On my first day, even if the staff were overly kind, I still rate it a 3/10. I hate it!
I reap what I sow for not booking an hotel months in advance. Granted, I also had to put Hakodate into my timeline, something I never solidified until I was in Ueno, I believe. I should have solidified my plans sooner, and months sooner, as I had with my 2023 trip. Again, I reap what I sow, yet I didn’t deserve that amount of stress, even in my carelessness. Even so, I greatly admired my Hakodate-Sapporo experiences. They were awesome, and well worth the trip.
– Blue Archive fun! Sunshine Lemon Tree get from the fun event.
Thanks for viewing, and hope to catch you in the next blog posting about Japan!
