Hakkaido Trip!

Last weekend we had the opportunity of traveling to the northern island of Hokkaido. It was a quick trip and wish we could have stayed longer, but we know now that we defiantly want to go back. Hokkaido is considered Japan’s backyard. With only two major cities on the Island it is virtually unspoiled territory. It was such a beautiful place. We only made it to the southern end of the island to the small town of Hakodate. It was here in Hakodate that the first international trading took place some 150 years ago so the city was full of old western history. It was refreshing for us to see western culture because no where else in Japan does it exist.

At the last minute we decided to take the train instead of driving and taking a ferry. We took the Shinkansen (the Bullet train) to Aomori and then a train that goes under the ocean all the way to Hakodate. The whole trip took five hours from Sendai.
Lane with the girls on the Shinkansen. The girls really loved the train becasue they could get up and walk around.


Here was a cool house that was coverd in Ivy. I love homes like this. Here is us making our serious Japanese face inside the old Hakodate ward office hall. With a fake picture of the actual building in the background.


We were with our friends on the trip and when we got to Hakodate we could not find our hotel. So we wandered the city till about 8pm until we found a hotel with room for six of us. The next morning we picked up our rental car and toured all the old churches and Embassies. The Japanese call Hakodate the San Francisco of Japan because it sits next to the bay and sits on a hill. It was one of the most beautiful cities I have seen in Japan.




Before heading to our next point of interest we drove out to cape Hakodate. It was a really pretty view. On our drive out there Coco Chan feel asleep in the car so we looked around the park while she slept in the car.



After touring all of Hakodate we head out to Onuma National Park. Again we could not find out hotel and this time we didn’t have the option of finding a different hotel. It was so funny because we went were the travel book told us to go, but all that we could find was a really run down place that looked awful. To our surprise we read the book wrong and it was really located at the previous station and we found a nice hostel type hotel.


Here the girls getting Jiggy with it at the Hostel we stayed in. I was a cool Hostel cause it was just run by this old man and we were the only ones staying there that night so it was like we had this giant house all to ourselves. The Old man also made a us a really good breakfest in the morning. It was well worth the 40$.




The next morning we went hiking around the lake. This picture with Coco chan reminded us of the Monet painting. It was really pretty with the lilly pads and the bridge in the background. After hiking for a couple of hours we decided that there wasn't much more to do at the national park so we headed back to Hakodate to catch our train home. Before heading back home we ate some sea food and drove up Hakodate Mountain to look at the view of the ocean and the city. It was a brilliant view.


I only wish we could have stayed longer, but at least we got to go at all. I can only wait for our next adventure. But for now we have to go back to our normal routine. Grace stated school today and our house really needs a good cleaning. Sayonara!