Another year in the Baka Inaka

Back in Sapporo for the second time

My trip to Sapporo wasn't bad, but not quit as good as the first time. Although I had more fun on the ferry up the first time- it was still good and I didn't get seasick this time. I also knew what I wanted to do differently this time and I already knew the city so when we arrived at the Mizutani Ryokan and dumped our luggage-
I rounded some people and persuaded them to go out to Susukino (the nightlife district of the city) with me. We wandered down the street, looked at the ice sculptures, and then hit a bar followed by an izakaya (bar/ pub- with cheap food and drinks). The next day, I got up and ready to hit Odori Park for the big snow sculputures. Last time I didn't get to Odori Park until my last day in Sapporo and I was upset I didn't see more of the park- so I was sure to do it first this time. I spent most of the morning in the park and covered the entire area- taking lots of pics. You could tell this winter has been mild and there wasn't much snow fall becuase some of the snow sculptures had dirty in the snow-- so it was no doubt scrapped off the roads. Last time I came there was no shortage of snow and all the sculptures were powder white. The warmer temperature this time also melted some of the sculptures a bit. Non-the-less it was still nice to be back in Sapporo and checking out the Snow Festival for the second time.
I was there with friends who had not been before so I went with them to some of the other sites in the city, like the Ishya chocolate factory. The factory was not as interesting as the first time and had it not been for the snow tubing outside it wouldn't even been worth the subway ticket and 600 yen admission fee to do it again. We got hungry and hit the Mexican place I had been to last time for a meal, rested up a bit at the ryokan before heading back out to Susukino for another night of partying. We went back to the same izakaya from the night before and payed for the nomihodai/tabehodai- all you can eat and drink option. After that we wandered the streets of the lively district before checking out Rad Brothers (a bar suggested to us by some Japanese guys who were maning the Bailey's ice bar on the street)- the bar was shit and a local hangout for westerners. We left as soon as we stepped in. I saw Booty bar on the opposite corner, so I lead everyone there. The music this time around wasn't so hot so rather than dancing all night- I stayed upstairs most of the night. We stayed out again til about 4;30 am- as with the night before.
My friends and I planned to snowboard the next day- but almost everyone overslept and I woke up feeling horribly sick. I had to cancel on snowboarding an find a doctor instead. Turns out my friend Kat woke up feeling just as crappy as me and was already at a clinic. I got the directions from her and met her there. After we got check out and recieved our meds for tonsilitus (sorry about the spelling), we went for lunch (back to the Mexican place- my 2nd time this trip). After lunch we went to a bookstore and spent a lot of time looking through their huge English selectiom. I ended out buying a bunch of books but it was worth it. I was feeling pretty weak and miserable so we headed back to the ryokan for some rest. I room hopped and hung out with a bunch of friends (47 of us went to Sapporo from Fukui).
Altough I could have just stayed in and slept I decided to go out for a bit. Hit up Odori Park for some nighttime shots of the snow sculptures, met up with other friends, walked to Susukino, got drinks at the Bailey's ice bar and hung out in the street. It was only 11:30 but I was feeling tired. My throat was so sore and I had developed other symptoms- so it was time to call it a day. I headed back to the ryokan with a friend. We caught the last subway back and got to bed early.
The next day was my last in Sapporo. I was still feeling crappy so snowboarding was out of the question- sucks too cause i lugged my board, boots, and snow clothes all the way to Sapporo and never used them. Instead I went out to an onsen (hot spring- public bath) with a bunch of friends. We took a hour long bus to the famous onsen area, ate some Indian food (I had some Nan and a banana lassie), got naked and sat in a hot tub outside while it snowed (which was pretty cool). The longer I stay in Japan the more I like onsens.
We headed back to the city and got dinner (Mexican one last time) then picked up some fruit and meds before rushing back to the ryokan to get my bags and board the bus- back to the port- back on the ferry- and back to Fukui. Would have been a better trip if I had gone snowboarding or at least not been sick- but hey, nothing I can do about that now.

Millions of sky and sea photos, on the way to Sapporo

The ferry from Tsuruga in Fukui prefecture to Hokkaido is about 19 or 20 hours. Most of the way the view is just miles and miles of water. Sometimes we could see land, but mainly it was just views of the Japan sea. At one point the sun was getting ready to set as we were reaching the strip of land between Honshu (the main island of Japan) and Hokkaido (the northern most island). The sky was amazing with various shades of grey, white, and some blues- as well as colors of gold, yellow, and pink. It was freezing out on the deck but the view was so breathtaking I just stayed and took picture after picture. I most have taken over 30 pictures. I deleted some of them, but kept most. Hope you like pictures of clouds, the sky, and sea cause you're in for alot of them.