Day 27

Time to go back to Tokyo. Hokkaido was nice, but next time I'll try to go to more "unpopular" spots. Huge amounts of tourists, especially those old ones who come with bus, can be really annoying. Train back to Tokyo from Hakodate took 6 hours with one change at Hachinohe. Watched a few episodes of AKB48+10.

Katsudon as breakfast at Hakodate before getting on the train. Don is a bowl of rice with something on top of it. In this case, roasted pork meat with egg.

This is the train that went from Hakodato to Hachinohe. There is only one train going from Tokyo all the way straigth to Sapporo now, which is the sleeper train Hokutosei (and the luxury version of it - Cassiopeia). There are no Shinkansens operating on Hokkaido yet. The first one will be introduced in December this year.



This is the view from the train when getting close to Tokyo.

I also found this on the train! It's a power outlet which is perfect for computers. First time I see it, so I guess only some of the newer trains got it.

Day 26

Morning train to Hakodate for more regular sightseeing. It was foggy and occasionally raining heavily the whole day. First, I went up the Goryokaku Tower to see the star fort island, built by the Tokugawa shogunate 1857-1866. It is most famous for being the last battle site of the Boshin civil war. Today, it's a park filled with cherry blossoms in the spring.



Then check in at the hotel, and walk around Motomachi while waiting for it to get dark. Motomachi is similiar to "old town", and you're guaranteed to spot many old buildings. This building is of western style and precisely symmetrical.



Had dinner at some weird but famous hamburger resturant which has been on TV with some comedians. When their resaurant have been on TV, they love to print out screencaps of the show and put up outside as promoting.





Finally, I took the ropeway up to Hakodateyama for night shots. Was still foggy and cloudy but it let up close to 9pm. Huge amount of Chinese tourists, and also Japanese ones. Had someone beside me when I took shots who said "kirei~" like a hundred times within a few minutes.