View from Sendai castle
View from Sendai castle, originally uploaded by Helen K.
Japan
Lunch view
Lunch view, originally uploaded by Helen K.
Tower in Biel
Tower in Biel, originally uploaded by Helen K.
While driving round Hakkaido, we made a brief stop in a town called Biel.
While there isn’t a lot to see, there is a tower to go up and look at the view. The tower is attached to the local government office. There were no queues, signs, or tickets to purchase.
While the view was okay, I do not recommend local Council’s in SA use this method for attracting tourists.
Vegetarians stop reading now!
Sapporo Beer garden, originally uploaded by Helen K.
While in Sapporo, there are 4 top tourist places to visit. The Mt Moiwa ropeway, the Clock Tower, the TV Tower, and the Sapporo Beer museum.
Like any good museum it is well designed on the inside, and has good explanations about the origins of Sapporo beer. Then there is the tasting bar on the ground floor – which was full when we turned up (close to 4:45pm), yes we did try the beer. However, on the way out we began to smell lamb… and followed our noses and sampled the famous beer garden. Here you can have beer and cook your own lamb and vegetables in the jingus kan style. If you are really hungry you can go for the all you can eat and drink in one and a half hours option. Thankfully we went for the sensible option of a plate of lamb and vegetables, with a dish of potatoes on the side.
It was great fun… and the food in the picture was very tasty once cooked!
Challenge achieved!
Club / coffee, originally uploaded by Helen K.
Before we left on holiday a friend set us a challenge to locate and have a drink at a trendy bar, called Office, above the Gaienmae train station in Tokyo. What else would we do on our last night in Tokyo, but visit!
We got off the right station, located the building, and climbed the stairs to the 4th floor. However it was closed for the Obon festival. Thankfully, the owners also run the bar on the first and second floor called Sign. It is a very cool place, with lounge music, good food and drink. I enjoyed a fruit tart and two glasses of plum wine with a rock (ball of ice big enough for the glass) and a fruit tart, and Kym had a burger and a couple of beers. It was a great challenge, and we enjoyed the ambiance and view – Thanks!
Next time you’re in Tokyo, I suggest you try it… or the Office on the fourth floor, so you can let us know what it is like!
Nameless Knight on the Town.
Glimpsed in Hakodate at the Mt Hakodate observatory. He took a ride up the ropeway and was mobbed by an adoring crowd. Don’t forget to register your vote for his name.
Apparently the night lights of Hakodate from Mt Hakodate are one of the worlds great night views, alongside Hong Kong. It certainly was impressive.
At top of a lookout
At top of a lookout, originally uploaded by Helen K.
No posts tonight
No posts tonight, originally uploaded by Helen K.
No internet at ryokan.Plenty of yutaka wearing Japanese. Probably no fireworks is raining.Search for food begins.Gee mobile phone is slow. Kym
Update: Amazing the rain stopped long enough for the fireworks to go ahead. It then bucketed all night long.
mount
Roadworks waiting
Roadworks waiting, originally uploaded by Helen K.
