Hokkaido Guide
Hokkaido is the second largest island in Japan and is located right at the end in the North. Hokkaido is covered with snow for nearly half a year and when we went at the end of August it was already quite chilly.
Today we look at the Biei and Furano area which would have looked gorgeous on a sunny day but we was treated to some lovely overcast rain instead ToT.
At Sapporo station in the morning during the rush hour.
Out first train is animal themed which heads for Asahiyama Zoo.
Inside there are animals such as this giant furry two headed ant.
A rare species of Siamese twin penguins with bananas growing out of their heads.
Lovely cloudy skies.
When taking time off I leave all the black clothing at home and take a few pair of trousers which have a load of pockets.
Stopping of at Asahikawa station to change trains.
Leave the station to walk about town for a bit - in the rain ToT.
One of these meals is called "Yuka's Unique and Rare Set."
For those who don't know, Yuka is a cute celeb who used to be a gravure model. Who would love to have a bite of her unique set?
But these days Yuka gets to play with other gravure models sets. Can anybody name the bikini girl? Cant remember names of idols these days.
Many of the trains in Hokkaido stop at unmanned stations so you need to get on a train, take a ticket and pay when you get off.
Today our train is filled with a school outing. When ever you see a bunch of kids taken out like this, they are all usually wearing a brightly colored hat and I think thats because it makes them easy to herd and count?
At Biei station. If you are thinking that the name "Biei" (or Furano) doesn't sound Japanese then thats because many place names originate from the Ainu language.
Many moons ago, a race called the Ainu used to live in Hokkaido until the Japanese government came and took their land.
The Ainu have historically been the target of racial discrimination and many have had to hide their true background. More about the Ainu can be read at Wikipedia.
Arrival at Biei station and the kids get in line to be counted.
Most of the kids I see over here are generally well mannered - unlike the kids that I experienced back in the UK - specifically the ones that threw stones and bits of chicken.
Kids in your neck of the woods generally well behaved?
Love reading out loud romanized Japanese in a British accent. In this case I was saying "MOTCHI BUTA" all afternoon ^^;
Traditional sign at Biei station.
JR Hokkaido paid for the whole trip - all travel, hotel and expenses. Also got to do some business with other clients at the same time ^^;
Here we are in the Biei station office waiting while they are arrange a rental car for us.
A load of paper everywhere. A few clients have been to our office and was surprised at the lack of paperwork lying around. For a start, we refuse to have a fax machine. Many Japanese businesses use still rely on faxes a lot but I really don't see the point of printing something out only to have somebody at the other end of the fax type it in again - a general waste of time and resources for everybody.
I try to keep as much of my stuff in electronic form where possible. For example if I get some gadget, I nab the PDF version of the manual which is usually available at a makers website. I keep the PDF version and recycle the paper manual.
I also take photos of any documents and keep them as JPEGs instead which I can search for rather than have it stacked up somewhere.
This is the car we are given - a Honda something or other.
Driving around the cloudy fields of Biei.
Rin gets out n about from time to time too.
Very peaceful indeed. Biei is famous for its fields and is regularly used as backdrops for many Japanese movies.
Apart from the occasional tour bus passing through, there is hardly anybody about.
Blue skies peek through for a moment of hope before being consumed by the clouds. Can only imagine what it would be like to see the area with blue skies like the video below.
Time to grab some grub. Bangers n curry.
Long winding roads in Biei. A lot runs through your mind when out in a place like this - the usual life stuff and goals.
Wifey at the controls with the DSLR.
Rin runs off for a pee in the bushes.
Along with the car, we are given a map which contains highlights of the area. If you are visiting Biei, grab a rental car from the station and give yourself about 3 hours to explore the area. There are also waterfalls and wot not but we didn't get enough time to get through everything.
Depending on the time of year, the fields are filled with many different colors.
The local mascot.
Many Chinese and Koreans visiting in the area too.
Late afternoon and its time to recharge at a ramen place before the next train.
Our next train is the scenic Norokko.
The train has seats facing outwards which would have been ideal on a sunny day...orz.
Dont expect any phone coverage out here. "Kengai" is the term meaning that there is no reception.
Sticking ones head out the window - mind the occasional posts or you will be leaving you head in Hokkaido.
The conductor comes around to make sure that people are sitting in the right seats for what they paid.
Arrival at Furano station. About 30 mins before the next train.
This is what Hokkaido looks like on a sunny day. Would like to go back again during the Winter season.
Walking about the small town. This character is actually a belly and its nose is a belly button.
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters - the name of a baseball team.
Many baseball teams over here get bought by companies so their name ends up being called a product which I found quite odd. Does this happen where you live too?
On the train back to Sapporo - about a 2 hour journey.
The skies start to clear up to promise nice weather the next day - and indeed it was at Edo Wonderland.
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University Student, otaku
http://chenzen.org
It's too bad that it was cloudy the entire time. It seems like Hokkaido would be really gorgeous if there was sun and blue skies out. Although, even with the clouds and everything, the scenery is still pretty nice.
Also, love all the different kinds of trains you took around - so many varities.
writer/blogger/gamer/otaku
http://popgoespj.blogspot.com
"Many baseball teams over here get bought by companies so their name ends up being called a product which I found quite odd. Does this happen where you live too?"
Yep, the pro basketball teams are all owned and subsidized by local companies, for example the San Miguel group. They own a team named for their world-famous beer, one for a gin brand (Ginebra San Miguel), and one for their processed foods (Purefoods).
I like the custom of kids wearing brightly-colored hats when they're not at school, but then I like the whole idea of tots in cute and practical smocks for school uniforms and think the hats are a great finishing touch. Kids' behavior in public here varies widely - sometimes they are well-behaved and a joy to be on, say, public transport with - and sometimes they are just a bunch of screaming throats. I guess it's that way in a lot of places.
Hokkaido seems like a great place to visit. Someday when I go to Japan I'll be sure to make the trip up north.
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
Wah want to go! The seats cracked me and husband up :P Husband says want to meet you guys again lol!
Graphic Designer - youtube- http://www.youtube.com/user/Travelersgear
http://travelersgear.blogspot.com/
Very beautiful. The scenery reminds me of Indiana where I'm from. :)
Engineer by weekdays, Hikki by weekends
http://ejump.wordpress.com/
Thank you for this pics guides.
This post shall be my guide if i ever set foot in Hokkaido (planning next yr)
NEET/Super hero
Everything was very beautiful. Too bad is was cloudy.
Tech Support Officer - Network Security Engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
I love those themed carriages - Too bad they'd be vandalised instantly if deployed here
Driving the Honda Fit i see. Awesome small car - Three more seats than my car ^^;
I'd definitely take a bite into Yuka's unique set, if you know what i mean~~
Wastrel
I so wish to be able to go there someday. If anything just to try Bangs and Curry (?)
University Student; BA Japanese, BCA Marketing
きれいなしゃしんですよ！Great pics Danny, even with the clouds its still beautiful! Looks similar to some of the countryside around here in New Zealand! lol @ Nippon-ham fighters, good thing you explained that one!
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
I like Yuka's Big Macs.
System Integrator, IT/ITC Expert
http://www.digitalanime.com.br
Beautiful place.
studying comp studies, dreamer but not really diligent ('~`)
http://bruneian-otaku.blogspot.com
Hookaido suteki~
studying comp studies, dreamer but not really diligent ('~`)
http://bruneian-otaku.blogspot.com
btw the ca r is called Honda Jazz (Fit in Europe/USA)
Car Washer
Looks like fun.
Especially driving on those roads. so flat and no other cars to hold you back!
Student
http://vancouverrandomness.wordpress.com/
The cloudy skies remind me of how depressing the weather here will be in Vancouver for the next two months >_>"
Oh and there was this Chinese comedy movie that was quite a big hit where the characters went all around Hokkaido with lots of hi-jinks, the English name for it was "If you are the one", in Chinese it's "非诚勿扰." When I mentioned I was going to Hokkaido last year to my Chinese relatives they all thought of the movie.
???Confused???
Very wide and calming place...though you say it's chilly yet you're still wearing only a t-shirt...Ham-Fighters is the most...unique team name I've heard of thus far...
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
more chilly at night.
Student/Amateur Artist
http://poisondusk.wordpress.com/
Hokkaido looks lovely. I really want to take a trip there while I'm in Japan because we have a lecturer at Sheffield who's quite an expert on the Ainu, and I heard a lot about them when taking one of his modules on ethnic minorities in Japan, and ended up rather interested.
Hmmm, sidetrack a little...
I do want to hunt for more boxes of 白い恋人 (Shiroi Koibito) white chocolate/cookies or better still... get a trip back to Magical Toyland Ishiya White Chocolate Museum.
Otaku Graphic Designer
http://neoprolacus.spaces.live.com
That's one huge pool of pee Rin has release unto the wild... 0_0
Student
That was an enjoyable read, and about sports teams mascots being named... well over here they're named after an animal or some other random thing. You wouldn't see teams with names like 'ham-fighters.'
student
http://listlessink.wordpress.com/
I don't think I went to Hokkaido the last time I was in Japan.
Anyway, those train seats are super cute. I hope they stay clean.
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
I really like the pictures in this guide, Hokkaido looks like a very nice place to visit as a tourist. I'm not sure about living though, personally I like more of a urban life (but not much).
Otaku, US Army, Student (Political Science)
http://figure.tsuki-board.net/profile/Syaoran
Biei reminds me of parts of Oregon. Very green and lovely ^^
Thanks for the pictures Danny!
semi-student
wow! Hokkaido is one beautiful place. Even with that cloud coverage it looks very majestic o.o
Student
http://yellowguy89.blogspot.com/
I would really love to visit Hokkaido once I visit Japan.
The photos are really nice.
security/3d graphic artist
http://www.kennethleishman.com/
read about the Ainu awhile back... something like the American Indians over here... tragic in away...
really is beautiful up there, rolling hills, mountains in the background.. silent relaxing.. sucks being under snow half the time!!
Danny has all the fun! work hard play hard!!!
IT specialist for application development, Business Process Manager
http://www.lukisblog.de
Cool ... I plan to go and visit Hokkaido for about 5 days in March/April next Year. The other 16 days of time in Japan I plan to spend in and around Tokyo and Osaka/Hiroshima again. Can't wait.
Dance Trooper: DCX-001 O.D.E. (Order of the Dancing Empire)
http://dannychoo.com.my
Wow! Very nice view, great for landscape photography, will definitely visit there.
Cute animal themed train ^^
大学生
http://naitonojikan.blogspot.com/
Hokkaido looks like such a lovely place, the scenery looks nice and relaxing.
I'll have to take a trip up there one of these years. ^^
Student
omg... the scenery is so nice!!
its like coming out from anime scene.
last picture remind me of byousoku 5cm
so nostalgic!
Time Traveller/High School Student
http://thetsundere.wordpress.com/
Animal seats FTW! they look so soft ^^
NEET
http://my.opera.com/iktikn/blog/
Hokkaido sure looks like a beautiful place to visit(live).
College Student | Novice Figure Collector ★彡
http://neo-valkyrie.livejournal.com/
Its no wonder movies are shot there. The scenery is so beautiful.
http://otakuposts.blogspot.com/
awesome place. i wish i was living in a beautiful place like that.
IT, system administrator
I love photo stories.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29475845N08
I like how Biei really looks like Kent.
Student, part-time worker
I want to sit in the penguin seat!
Yuka will also be in an upcoming drama called, "My Girl"! It starts on Friday. :)
Mad scientist
I think those penguins are supposed to look this this though adding banannas to the head makes the zoo sound more interesting to see ^^
People expect coverage everywhere today and it's just not the case. Coverage is quite good here but there is a railroad which passes though a hilly forest where the signal is eaten by terrain. Some people gets surprised that the signal drops for minutes :P
People should live without talking on the phone all the time. I think it's more of an issue that the train radio can reach points of no reception, though I think that was fixed with improved antennas and an extra transmitter... or something.
I thought it was a joke when I was told that there is/was a station where the handheld radios could only make contact if they are high above ground, forcing crew to stand on the roof if they want to make contact. Not sure if the joke became more or less fun when I saw one guy actually standing on the roof to use the antenna and afterwards cursing at the reception XD
The Hokkaido DMUs (the train with all the kids) looks kind of dated. I don't see a problem there. We used to have 40+ year old DMUs and since they had been refitted with new engines and stuff they still got the job done. The politicians here claimed that new trains would provide more passengers so we got all of them replaced with some new ones, which aren't faster (the tracks sets the speed limit, not the trains) and the new ones actually have better reliability. The railroad used the old ones for a while even after they got new ones because the new ones broke too often. Typical political decision to spend millions on something which turns out to be worse. Not surprisingly the old ones were sold to a non-state railroad, which plans to use them for years.
We have plenty of those here. I think they are sort of common in areas with lots of farmland. I have seen "figures" with heads of that size+bodies and they can even be clothed. Best one was holding a sign saying "happy birthday (some name)". They are usually placed on fields next to roads for all drivers to enjoy.
UWorker
http://anime4touch.blogspot.com/
Whoaaa...
Amazing... (err i mean that train stuff and scenery)
Medical student
http://www.protocolsnow.com
I went to Hokkaido once in the summer. Luckily the weather was great, everything was beautiful.
graphic designer/ illustrator
http://www.zerodegreedesigns.deviantart.com
Lol @ the guy wearing a mask in the train carriage with the kids in. This really reminds me of the countryside in the Uk.
The Boy Who Cried Bear
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
The conductor has that red haruhi band on his arm lol..
Hehe, Occupation, really?
Seems like a really nice place to kick back, relax and think about stuff.
Would be kind of cool just laying on one of those fields on a sunny day
and listen to the light breeze and smell the grass and fresh air. -Sigh-
Student
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dramacd/
Biei reminds me of the "rolling English hills" I've always heard about. Great stuff.
As for scenery, I personally prefer cities and nuclear wastelands.
student
http://zephi-san.deviantart.com/
Everything is so green and lush.
I would totally love to ride that old looking scenic tour train.
Very scenic
I have to ask though; is Germany trendy in Japan? I just thought I saw a lot of t-shirts with german slogans on them, and more than a few places that had pale german sausages on the menu when I visited..
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Germany trendy? - very!
High School Student
http://scorchnroses.wordpress.com
Beautiful place...Have been there once, and I still want to go there again!
http://personal.babelred.com
Weird trains.... :)
Student
http://the-home-planet.blogspot.com
wh... why a belly... ?
And kids here, at least in my part of the US, are a FAR cry from well-mannered... ugh.
http://moemoekyun.wordpress.com
nice do want go to hokaido sometimes !!
Student
Very nice photos as usual, the scenery is beautiful an damn that chick has big boobs.
Student, Otaku, She-Geek(Sheek lol)
http://meimi132.wordpress.com/
Damn trains in Japan are cool... we dont get no fuzzy emporor penguin seats.... no seals either.... and no sausage burgers in fast food joints. Though that was technically just a hotdog haha.
Hokkaido is beautiful... I'd have to go when I finally visit Japan. Tis a must.
Student
http://yongetsu.wordpress.com/
Hokkaido looks so pretty! Would love to go there during the Lavender season, though I guess it won't happen anytime soon because we don't have school holidays then. ;____;
student
Nice pictures,japan love really love their cute stuff!
oddly enough[even though ive only sen it on telly] the scenery reminded me more of southern france than the UK
still wouldnt mind going there though - maybe go on a hiking trip up there in the summer.
Ninja / Engineer / Sensei / 魔法少女 (What!?! I can't be, I'm a guy...)
I wonder if my part of Japan will look like that during the winter. @_@
Passerby
http://jitokun.wordpress.com/
Makes me want to go Hokkaido. Oh no, there are too many places to go in Japan.
IT Manager
http://thumbnail-of-life.blogspot.com/
Lovely shots ! I do want to go to Hokaido but I found it hard to find time to go there. T_T
http://xcomprandomness.co.uk/
Hokkaido's quite a popular tourist destination since I see it in shows about travelling to Japan all the time but it definitely looks like a nice place to relax.
And Biei! I remember that from Someday's Dreamer: Natsu no Sora. Sweet show.
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
image ID#79674: Clear blue skies or dark grey clouds, as long as the scene below it is beautiful then it doesn't matter! XD
I will not lie: THOSE BIG MELONS MADE ME DROOL! Anybody know her name? I MUST KNOW!!! XD
image ID#79685: Someday in the near future, it would be a rare sight to see a group kids in Japan O_o
image ID#79688: I have mixed feeling concerning kids here. On one side, you have the nice bunch who follow everything their parents say and are very courteous. Then you have the other side where kids talk, act and even look like teenagers. You could include my little sister in the latter -_-
image ID#79716: Ham fighters LOL XD That would make a great name for a sentai group.
Laptop Tech
I agree with you on the Bikini babe. Goddess, I *wish* I could hook up with someone even half that hot! :p~
Re: Ham Fighters. My first impression was a team of professional greased pig wrestlers. :p
Student, ACG Fans
http://modvisc.blogspot.com
nice scenery.
Web Designer
http://insennity.com/
Lovely scenery. And cute trains. *prays and works hard so she can make it next year*
http://www.nvn.kr
Hokkaido a lovely
Mad scientist
http://yazor-san.daportfolio.com/
Unfortunately we only have annoying little brats over here! Would love to switch them with those cute little Japanese kiddies! ^^
Student
http://hugodeathy.deviantart.com/
Loved the scenery but I've to admit that the animal themed train scared me a lot!
Student
http://mizuwhirl.com
If I am not mistaken, one of my friends told me that he would love to live in Hokkaido. Now i understand why.
Mad scientist
I wouldn't mind living there either, the countryside, that is, not Sapporo. You will have to remember that you risk getting 2 meters of snow in the winter, but I can live with that ^^
NEET
http://austrianotaku.com/
Hokkaido looks nice, great for taking pictures, but on the other hand not much different than where I am living. Do they have 100Mbit lines there too? If so living there is considerable otherwise, not so much.
Eh, "hamburg burger"?^^ Are those imported from Hamburg?^^ Btw: Seems like you still love your Berlin-bag.
Those themed trains look funny. Another thing a haven't seen before.
I can't watch the second youtube clip: Way too much eyes!
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Am sure they have 100Mbit lines up there too but probably mostly in urban areas.
Mad scientist
100 Mbit lines are available in way more locations than you imagine. The reason is that optic fiber is getting so cheap that normal people can pay for it and unlike connections like ADSL it's not really affected by distance. You can live 30 km away from the central and then your choices would be 56k modem, satellite or optic fiber. The latter is a bit expensive to get if you pay somebody to dig it down for 30 km, but it's technically very easy to get.
If I live in a countryside in Hokkaido and want a 30 km optic fiber connection, then I would start to get creative to reduce costs. Place it in terrain at "safe" locations rather than digging and I would be able to pay for it. I know for a fact that to reduce costs an optic fiber were placed on a bridge across the freeway (which were unofficially). Later the bridge needed repairs and the repair guys spotted the cable, which said "telecommunication" and even though it wasn't on any of their charts they didn't dare to disturb the data flow and today it's still there.
Poet (not)
What a lovely place!
Graphic Design student | Receptionist | Otaku
http://sukidesho.blogspot.com/
I love the Berlin bag ^-^ The photos are really beautiful~ Hokkaido is on my list of places to visit in Japan but, even more so after this post~
Student, Uncle & hopfully a good husband..
Lovely place it is...would definitely love to go there once...
providing temporary relief to nymphomaniacs since 1986
http://www.nihonterebi.com/blog
It seems a very nice trip you've had ^__^
The photos are awesonme as usual, and seeing how it's in winter i can understand why you want to come back...it really seems a peaceful place.
/me takes note
^__^
Nihongo Kyoushi
Lol. Hello, Mrs. Columbo.
High school student
http://www.animeraku.com
Kids around here are often doing some pranks and are hard to deal with. I would say that boys between 8-12 are hardest to get along with. They are so much stubborn, and mischievous and constantly talk back.
That scenery is really fascinating. I guess that Hokkaidou is the least exploited part of Japan and there is still a lot of nature.
The train interior in the picture before last looks so amazing. You wouldn't find a single train in my country that would be a match for this one.
IT
well, in fact those are yellow eyed penguins (http://www.arkive.org/media/D8/D8372CE5-1062-4827-96AC-2BD1D70A761C/Presentation.Large/photo.jpg) and you can see them in New Zealand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-eyed_Penguin). They're pretty amazing and not so friendly.
Cheers
Diego
University student
I like the first photo. The Landscape in Hokkaido must be very nice!
Student
Hokkaido actually looks like the main highway to bundaberg from Brisbane Australia on a rainy day.
broke college student
http://www.shoutlife.com/bloodboughtsamurai
Beautiful pics Danny. If I ever get to go to Japan I'll see if I can work my way up there.
Young Grasshopper
http://miragestrike.blogspot.com
The scenery looks amazing! Would love to lay down and take a snooze there.
Go Nippon-Ham Fightas!
University slacker on HOLIDAYS!! WOO!
http://chocopan.wordpress.com
Hokkaido looks really nice! It's so...green. It's lovely. Hehe, love Rin in the photos! 8D
LOL @ Siamese twin penguins with bananas growing out of their heads.
Minor
That scenery is beautfiul, I'd love to see that up close, and Rin is cute as ever XD
and those Animal seats on the train look soft..
Professional Web Surfer
beautiful scenery and really cool trains! i would love to visit there someday.
High School Student
Beautiful Country side. Best we ever get is snow and rain to cover the desert over here in Idaho.
Full-time geek/Part-time student/Part-time musician
http://randomgeekness.livejournal.com/
Hokkaido seems like the place I want to spend the last bits of my life in! ^^.
http://brutalturtle.blogspot.com
Hokkaido was always the place I wanted to visit when I go to Japan. You have proven me right. Wonderful pictures man.
why Danny, is that a child stroller I see at image ID#79692?
re: stacks of paper in the office, I used to try to keep everything in electronic form as well, but later on I realize I need the paper trail to make auditing easier. though I have to admit keeping a stock room for documents, forms and wot-nots can be bothersome.
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
http://funkyblueame.tumblr.com/
You should go in the winter Danny. I'm sure you and your wife will enjoy. Hokkaido is so wonderful during that time of the year.
College Student
http://www.projectsaber.com
Unmanned train stations, pretty neat. Hokkaido looks like a great place to visit; love the green scenery. I'll have to try to go sometime!
A lot of nice pictures. Unfortunately they are low-res .... impossible to use as wallpapers .... as all Danny's pic (except for a few) ....
Danny is a cheapskate.... stingy.... stingy cheapskate....
student
http://listlessink.wordpress.com/
Forgot to mention this, but those aren't ants. They're seals!
Student
http://www.crunchyroll.com/group/Learn_Japanese_Language
MOTCHI BUTA~BANZAI! Gorgeous scenery...like america, but its asian~tastic...wish i was in that tram with teh animal seating...
So anyone have any idea who that gorgeous gravure model is in the second youtube video with yuka(nurse)?
Student
http://irregularbloggers.wordpress.com/
Hokkaido! What a beautiful place!! I've been wanting to go there so badly, wouldn't matter to me if it were winter or spring (preferably winter). I think I'd try out all the famous Hokkaido seafood till I was stuffed :).
Online Shop
http://wildarms.egloos.com
Hokkaido seems nice! But I will most likely stay in Tokyo area whenever I visit Japan though T_T I always travel by myself and it is not so much fun traveling to this kind of place by myself :P
neet/single parasite
wow a XXL pair of headlight looks very soft XD
i think the bright colored hats are way for the motorist to see the kids clearly
but love the scenes nobody around you could push the car to top speed
IT/System Admin
that is a Honda Fit/Jazz!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/kazushi9889#play/uploads/2/wXtcuwrTLYQ
You'd be my best friend if you told me what the name of this gravure model is. =)
Dental Technician, i make teeth!
http://antsizedman.blogspot.com/
Looks nice and much more rugid than Tokyo, liking all the different quality of trains.
Multimedia Designer/Developer
http://www.mcmonagle-interphase.com/
They say overcast is good for bringing out the most vibrant colours in photography.
You should be thankful for the cloudy skies!
Programmer
http://knime.wordpress.com
Aww, these pics make me feel sad, so far away from Japan, I must go there again!
http://yuuwaku.wordpress.com
despite being cloudy, i still find the scenery to be quite beautiful!
Would love to go visit there someday... I work in an annoyingly noisy environment and tend to find myself preferring quiet solitude most of the time, and this seems like the perfect place to get away... Too bad this place is halfway across the world from me :(
Student
Absolutely beautiful area!
http://twitter.com/phossil
http://www.animoe.net
Really tranquil and peaceful area. I really liked the train animal setup. I think its great and funny for kids in their school trips. First time I think I saw your wifey in pics I believe. ^^
Student in Internet-based Systems
Nice shots, Danny! The fields remind me to the German state of Bavaria. Home Sweet Home. :)
System Design Engineering (UWaterloo)
http://robostrike.wordpress.com
Good to see some countryside once in a while ^_^
MI Manager, Blogger and Newswriter
http://cutkillavince.com/
Great shots Danny, the place looks very peaceful indeed ^^
Self-employed (Gakusyu-juku「学習塾」)
Wow!
I lived around there(Asibetu City & Fukagawa City)!
In Bibaushi,I stayed a small inn for motorcyclists.
Any way,how about Hakodate City,Danny?
webmaster
http://www.animerated.com
My wife saw the cute interior of that train and we are already talking about a possible trip to Japan in the future. I already showed her a bunch of Japanese food photos on dannychoo and now we are mot sure why we would go there for. Food?(we are eating a ramen-wanabbe dish almost every morning). Otaku stuff? Cicadas? But now I see that Japan has also an amazing country side. I would love to work in a rice plantation for some days o.O
PS: I think a cow will eat the local mascot pretty soon.
Researcher, translator, demonic blogger
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Whats with the clouds? The scenery is gorgeous with or without them. Don't get to see many green fields near home, although there're some woods around the Alhambra to ease your soul. I didnt know Hokkaido was so beautiful.
Those trains look like fun! my little cousins would try to take those seats home, if they could ^w^.
Alchemist
I read up the wiki on the Ainu people. That's some interesting history! It's unfortunate that their culture has been hampered with so much...anyways, the green fields I get to see a lot of from where I'm from, but I feel compelled to give city life a try. I wonder if it's true vice versa!
Student
looks like the same weather as over here. Actually it was sunny yesterday but the report says no more. Hokkaido looks like a great place, and the springs!!! (^_^)
college student
http://pinku-diamond.blogspot.com/
simply beautiful~
Modern Languages Student
http://www.nickwords.com
Really nice place. I shall consider visiting it!
Retailerz
Children over here will smash your fence with hammer, put bricks on your car and throw giant stones at your windows. All while mom and dad are at home!!
Student (Games Design)
Great pics. It looks like a really nice place. I'll have to visit that part of Japan one day. Maybe whenever I make an extended visit. I'll be in Japan this January, but only for a week, so it wouldn't be practical.
As for sport teams being named after their sponsors, I can think of two footy examples; Vauxhall Motors (based in Ellesmere Port near Liverpool) and Red Bull New York. There's probably a lot more teams out there (mostly in the 'States, I'd imagine).
CEO - Ichiro Inc.
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Great this is just great, I wanna go there now!
Student
I have visited Hokkaido a couple of times. I also have been to Biei and Furano, awesome places. Around Bieie there is a place with large fields of all kinds of flowers. A beautiful place. A lot of tourist Chinese, Korean and others. I recommend the place. I also believe that there is an Ampaman shop in the middle of nowhere around there. We visited it. It was not too bad. Still, why is it in the middle of nowhere. Why not Sapporo city. Any who, one of the things I always look forward to is the RAMEN. God is good. Every time I go there, I have to eat it at least two time, spice one. Good times. Good times.
is the stripped T-Shirt like a uniform? or is it all the rage amongst school teachers :p