Historical Sapporo

I  am a history buff.
Even if I don't know much about the history of where I'm going, I like to see anything historical they may have preserved--and learn a little more about their said history in the process.
I should admit, it is challenging when the texts in historical museums are in the local language only.
But that doesn't bother me too much, seeing I don't spend a lot of time reading all the texts. Maybe I should change that.

Anyway, let's take a tiny glimpse at Sapporo's (and Hokkaido's) historical buildings.

Central Sapporo

Former Hokkaido Government Office

I did not know this.

Interesting

What's this old Western building in central Sapporo?

Sapporo Clock Tower

Sapporo City Archives Museum

Historical Village of Hokkaido

Entrance to the Historical Village of Hokkaido (Sapporo Station)

Hokkaido Development Commision Main Sapporo Office

This place really is an open-air museum.

My feet were killing me, so I took this ride.

There's the trolley, with proof that a horse was there.

Driver freshening up the horse.

In the trolley, meeting another trolley coming back.

Getting off. Quaint little ride.

Man, these flowers in front of the Sokeshoumabetsu Relay Station

What's better than going through the woods?
Getting to and crossing a bridge in the woods!

Oh, that's interesting.

A couple doing their own photo-shoot.

This was summer (August), but doesn't it look like early autumn?

Tsuchiya's Storehouse

Some more of the "town."

Inside a dorm room of Sapporo Agricultural College Hostel

I wanted to try this, but it was sold out.

I got this instead.

It was good! I really liked it!

Waiting for the bus to go back to the subway.

Below is a video of my photos and videos from the Historical Village of Hokkaido--plus other places I went that day (like a cat cafe, a karaoke, and a Ferris Wheel).

Furano via Bus Tour

If you have a few days in Hokkaido and you're staying in Sapporo, you need to go visit Furano and Biei.
Being on my own and without renting a car, I needed to go on a bus tour. I took the bus tour titled "Biei, Farm Tomita, Shikisai No Oka Tour." You can find many more bus tour information at the tourist information center on the ground (1st) floor of Sapporo TV Tower.

I ended up not really seeing the blue pond when in Biei, but I got to explore some nonetheless.

Vending machines selling hot food

An entire wall of vending machines selling drinks

Hokuseino-Oka

Observatory point at Hokuseino-Oka

Looking down to the bus and parking, as well as beyond

In a bathroom stall. Very informative.

Shikisai No Oka

You can pay to ride around the flower fields if you wish.

Trying lavender ice cream again.

Took a bite of a lavender pastry.

Behold, the rows and rows of flowers.

Shikisai No Oka

Kamifurano Herb Garden Restaurant and Souvenir Shop

Juiciest melon I've ever had.

All-you-can-eat buffet restaurant: before...

... and after. The melons were all-you-can-eat too.

Farm Tomita

Map of this famous lavender (and other flowers) farm

Lavender and melon edible products

Lavender lemonade, anyone? It's only 230 Yen per bottle.

Final observatory point, overlooking the flowers

In case you were wondering where you were

Ningle Terrace

Oh, shops in the woods! How quaint. Ningle Terrace, everyone.

Closing

Lavender soda? I gotta try this.

Not bad. Pretty good, actually.

Here's a video slideshow of pictures and 1 video I took on this bus tour.

A Day in Otaru

If you take a 30 - 40-minute train ride west from Sapporo, you can come to Otaru, a small touristy city I'm sure anyone can enjoy.

If you like to try different kinds of food, you'll like Otaru.
If you like to shop, oh the plethora of shops you can support in Otaru.
If you like walking around for the sake of walking around, Otaru is pleasing.
If you're more interested in cruise tours, Otaru has a few options for you.

Basically, just come to Otaru. You can see for yourself why and how this quaint, homey city can attract so many tourists every year, all year long.

Welcome to Otaru

There were a ton of rickshaws here.

Otaru Canal

Yours truly at Otaru Canal

In the canal, on a cruise tour.

Let's Eat!

(pumpkin) Gelato pancake sandwich

I'm serious. It was good, though a bit expensive (surprise, surprise).

"Peanuts" gelato isn't pictured here, but the pumpkin is.

Steamed lamb (top) and chicken (bottom) buns.

Where I got the previously-pictured buns.

Beef and potato croquette. Seriously delicious, but they need to make it bigger.

Try the croquettes for yourself here.

A Snoopy Cafe. Why not?

Peanuts/Snoopy/Charlie Brown/etc. cafe/restaurant menu. 

Lavender ice cream?

Let's try it.

Better than I expected!

Blue Cave Cruise

Ready to go on a tour cruise to the Blue Cave.

Our guide. Everything was in Japanese, but I knew that going into this.

Good thing there were water-proof ponchos. We needed them.

I guess the seagulls know him.

"Elephant"

Feeding the gulls

Highly recommend

Below are two night shots from the canal.

A video with more pictures and videos of my day in Otaru.