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This trip has been booked since early April this year, right after we paid for our Europe trip with EU Holidays. All thanks to my colleague for recommending EU Holidays to me. I certainly had a memorable holiday and experience with them. I was too lazy to plan a Free and Easy trip since we didn't get to travel for 3 years because of the pandemic. So let the travel agency do the job and I handle others like registering with MFA and buying travel insurance. And even an influenza jab before the trip. Don't wanna fall sick like the last time after coming back from Europe.
Since the Husband always mentioned traveling to Hokkaido for a holiday, I made his wish come true in his birthday month, December. A winter holiday for us and especially anticipate the snow and seafood. Didn't let the release of radioactive water bother us too much to dampen the holiday mood. Also videos for my YouTube Channel. Have you subscribed already? Let's go!
HAKODATE TROPICAL BOTANICAL GARDEN
First stop upon arrival in Hakodate, we visited the hot-tubbing monkeys soaking in the hot spring water under the super cold, sunny weather. These monkeys are so cute with red faces and Husband said they looked like baboons. They don't snatch things from visitors (we all know how naughty some monkeys are and so I'm surprised). Also, I didn't find the small botanical garden interesting, so I just went in and came out in minutes.
TONKATSU SET LUNCH
Our first lunch in Hakodate was a Tonkatsu set. The overall taste was normal. Ebi fry was so thin. Anyway, it was a decent Japanese meal included in our tour package so no complaints. So nice to be back in Japan once again!
While waiting for the rest outside the shop to immerse myself in the surroundings, happened to see the tram track right in front. Tram spot two of them driving through the quiet town of Hakodate. So nice.
GORYOKAKU TOWER
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| View of Goryokaku Tower from the fort |
This fort was built as a center for defense, foreign diplomacy, and politics in the north of Japan. From what I heard, the star-shaped fort is beautiful during cherry blossoms so probably you might want to plan a trip here as one of the options than the usual Tokyo or Osaka. No snowfall when we visited so the view was in its original state of greenery.
HAKODATE WATERFRONT + KANEMORI RED BRICK WAREHOUSES
Chilly afternoon walks along the streets with Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses to turn to for some shopping and food or drink. And also to seek some warmth. After walking around enjoying the Christmas vibes and crowd, we settled for Starbucks for a mug of hot chocolate and latte to warm the body. Also to look at their merchandise.
Waited for the light-up before we headed off to our last destination. If I'm right, the light-up was at 4.30pm local time. And yes, this is how dark the sky was at that time. But that gigantic tree that lights up the street at the waterfront is just so beautiful. I love Christmas!
Looking sturdy from this angle, the red-brick building was previously Hakodate Post Office, and it survived through the war and fire. Now it has turned into a shopping mall, which I didn't have enough time to visit. Too much time spent at the waterfront for the Christmas Tree light up.
HAKODATE ROPEWAY
The view from Hakodate Ropeway, overlooking Hakodate. You can give this place a miss if you are not very interested. There is not much to do up here except for the view (of course) and dine-with-a-view kind of experience at the restaurants.
DINNER AT HAKODATE BEER HALL
Our dinner was at Hakodate Beer Hall, which was just near Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses. And that was also the start of us having big and fresh scallops in the shell at almost every meal. Based on our knowledge about Hokkaido, they are famous for their seafood, especially crabs of all kinds. Seafood feasting time. Also tried their craft beers that were freshly brewed from their brewery in the restaurant.
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| Big and Fresh Scallop |
HAKODATE MORNING MARKET SQUARE
Life is about experiencing the different stuff that you encounter daily and here we are, living a short local life through their morning indoor market. The moment you open that door, the smell of the ocean comes straight to you. Seafood, ready-food, fruits, vegetable stalls, you name it, they have it. Husband said if we didn't have breakfast in the hotel, we could have seafood early in the morning. Haha... ended up having their strawberry instead and it was all sweet. Different from those we get in Singapore.
ONUMA QUASI-NATIONAL PARK
The most attractive part of this national park is located between the two lakes, Onuma (large lake) and Konuma (small lake), and you can explore entirely on foot. You will find a sense of peace and tranquility in the nature. The crackling sound of tree branches and dry leaves as you walked around the park. And not forgetting some photos of its picturesque, island dotted with lakes and the majestic volcano, Mount Komagatake for your memory's sake.
After a walk, we had a cone of Squid Ink Ice Cream before our lunch near the entrance to the park. Creamy, fulfilling and it didn't melt easily. Nothing can stop Stella for a taste of different flavors of ice cream even in the cold.
On top of the lunch included in the tour package, we splurged ¥9000 for sea urchin a.k.a uni. It was good and fresh. It's so different from what we get in Singapore, again. Oh, by the way, their vegetables were umami too. Cooked with pork belly and salmon made it even better. Don't you find it keto for me? Haha... thinking of diet even on travel.
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| A million-dollar view from the restaurant of the national park |
Now from Hakodate, we are heading to Niseko for some ski and sledding fun. Stay tuned!
Places covered at Hakodate:
- Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden 👌
- Goryokaku Tower 👌
- Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse + Meijikan 👍
- Hakodate Ropeway 👌
- Hakodate Morning Market Square 👍
- Onuma Quasi-National Park 👌
Legend: 👌 - Okay only 👍 - Worth a visit
Disclaimer: All the above were paid by the writer. Not a sponsored post. All reviews are based on the writer's preference and taste buds and do not represent anyone other than herself.