Onward to Sapporo, Japan, and the first few days

Departed Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 12:54 (Vancouver time)
Onboard JAL 747-400.
Just took off from YVR.
UBC in the background.


Arrived Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 14:29 (Japan time) at Narita airport, Japan.


Finally arrived at Sapporo, Japan, after 18hrs of travelling on 2 flights and 3 trains.
The hotel where I'm staying is a Toyoko-Inn hotel, a chain hotel which one can find in most cities in Japan.
It's relatively cheap and clean.
This hotel is conveniently located near a subway station or 20mins walk to the city center, Sapporo.


Network port, safety deposit box, trousers presser and coffee maker are some of a number of free amenities available in all rooms and in all their hotels. Check it out at www.toyoko-inn.com.


The toilet has automated butt washer.
No, I haven't tried it yet.
The tub is deep which Japanese like to soak in.


My late supper and checking my emails.
Supper is takoyaki and OJ.


Breakfast is free for all guests and starts at 07:00 sharp and ends at 09:30.
They only provide onigiri (rice balls - available in 4 types), miso soup, pickles, tea and coffee.


I fuel up with 2 sets of this every morning.
They're so filling that I won't feel hungry even at late in the afternoon.


View from my hotel room with Sapporo TV tower in the background.


Also, I can see the big snowy crab restaurant.
The crab is related to Alaskan crab.


Look at the huge Anjou pears in the middle trey.
I bought one of the big pears for almost CAD3.
I ate it and it was sweet but I couldn't finish it all.


Yoshinoya is a Japanese fast food restaurant serving a wide variety of rice bowls.
It's just across from my hotel.


Another Japanese fast food restaurant which opens 24hrs.
I've been to this one a few times for dinner.
There's a machine in there which has dozens of buttons that has a picture of the meal above each button.
You pay the machine and press the button for the meal y0u wish to buy.
Next it prints a receipt and give you the change if any.
You bring the receipt to the waiter/waitress.
In less than 1 minute, the meal is brought out.
That's fast and convenient.
And most of all, the food is hot and delicious.


A restaurant serving really fresh squid for sashimi.


Gindaco is a chain snack restaurant serving takoyaki.
For about CAD6, I get 8 balls.
If you haven't eaten takoyaki, they're made of batter with a small piece of octopus in each ball.
They are fried in a pan with round molds.
They are served with Japanese mayonnaise, yakitori sauce, fish shavings, seaweed laver and pickled gingers.
It's a favourite snack amongst most Japanese especially kids.




Japanese hamburger restaurant.
Why the name Lotteria?
Sounds like lottery but they don't sell lotteries.



This giant snowy crab which I see every morning from my hotel room window.
I believe the restaurant is a chain restaurant.
I've seen it in Tokyo and Osaka.


This crab actually wiggles its two front claws.


The same restaurant offers crabs (snowy crabs and hairy crab) dishes prepared and served in a number of ways.


This dish which is raw green crab costs around CAD48.


This one costs around CAD42.


This one costs around CAD42.


This one is around CAD36.


One can ride around the city on this eco friendly taxi on 3 wheels.


Or ride on a horse carriage.


Sapporo Clock Tower which was built in 1878.
This is the oldest building in the city.


Former government office building with its Western style architecture.
Actually, many old government buildings in Hokkaido have Western style architecture.
Back in the 1880s, American government helped the Hokkaido government design their buildings.


Cute city vehicle.
Why the stripes on the bumpers?


My dinner, beef bowl with miso soup for around CAD5.




Looks like a torch but has no flame or fountain.
Maybe under maintenance.
Found in Odori Park.


Two frogs in Odori Park.


One of a few statues from the Museum of Modern Art in Odori Park.


Sapporo TV Tower is also located in Odori Park.
Each February, the park hosts the Sapporo Snow Festival with mega ice carvings along the park.
The park spans over 1km.


Doesn't it look like Eiffel Tower?
It also has an observation deck and a restaurant.


Cute pink tramcar.


A green color tramcar.

Sapporo Beer Museum. Entry is free.
20mins walk from the city center.


Entrance to Sapporo Beer Museum.
The site is so clean and the building architecture is so Western with its red bricks.


Original Sapporo beer bottles.


Is this beer heaven?


Some old beer ads dated back to the 1880s.


More recent beer ads.


According to the museum, Sapporo Classic beer is sold only in Japan.
It costs around CAD2 for this large glass of beer.
A small glass costs around CAD1.