Japan Day 8 | Hiking Through Hokkaido’s Winter Wonderland to the Lonely Christmas Tree

Japan Day 8 | Hiking Through Hokkaido’s Winter Wonderland to the Lonely Christmas Tree

we’re going wild today Countryside wild Today we’re heading deep into the countryside and hike through pristine snow to see a single Christmas tree Well this has been the daily routine we have for the past 3 days Come to the station go somewhere Platform 10 part three Yeah it is cold Somebody forgot the water [Music] First we had to catch a bullet train bound for Asaki Kawa From there we transferred to a local train that took us deeper into Hokkaido countryside heading towards Bibauushi And then we hike from there back to BA which will pass by the lonely Christmas tree along the way Then finally end our day in BA station [Music] Here we are After the other passengers cleared out the whole station felt quiet and it was impossible not to take some photos with the sign Woo okay and let’s start the hike Half an hour to the lonely Christmas tree Then another two hours to hike back to the previous station And that’s our day Then we spend the rest of the day in BA [Music] The trail stretches out endlessly into a serene and picturesque snowscape Every few minutes a car will pass by us A brief reminder that even out here we weren’t completely alone But most of the time it was just the crunch of our boots [Music] We finally made it to the lonely Christmas tree Though it wasn’t lonely after all Bus loads of tourists were already lined up along the road besides the field It is a really touristy spot but we don’t regret coming though The view definitely worth it Even though it’s in the middle of nowhere the tree actually stands on private property And there were traffic stops around to keep things in order And they flagged my drone down cuz I was flying too close to the tree Almost got in trouble flying drone there Luckily I was let go with just a warning And on we go with our merry little away With the Christmas tree checked off the list we wander back through the countryside with no real plans Just following the road and soaking in the views Rolling hills untouched snows and that peaceful kind of quiet that you only find out here It’s glistening It’s a welcome contrast to the fast-paced sightseeing we’ve been doing since the start of our Japan trips two weeks ago [Music] We were heading in the general direction of BA but there was no rush The road itself was full of quiet surprises such as this farmhouse standing in the middle of the field backed by the cotton candy clouds It looked less like a real life and more like a painting you could walk into [Music] The simplicity of the snow field reflected our own state of mind It’s rare these days to feel mentally weightless and we were quietly grateful for it [Music] The sun started to dip low as we reached the town We’re trying to get to the four season tower to see the sunset from there It’s the tallest structure in BA The town’s really quiet We barely ran into anyone on the street let alone locals It was just us and the sound of our footsteps And some of the houses feels like it’s straight out of the anime We made it to the Four Seasons Tower just before sundown Oh nice We finally get a glimpse of the whole town It’s easy to see why BA feels so quiet Most of the lands are forest and farmlands And the town itself is home to just a few thousand people many of them older It makes sense though This feels like a place built for slow living [Music] It’s getting real cold After soaking in the view we wander towards BA station Ah there it is BS station What do you got on your hand Hash just when we thought we wrapped the day up in peace a noisy kid on the train reminded us that serenity doesn’t always last [Music] Oh the light show The noisy kid on the train might shatter the piece but the accidental light show definitely makes up for it It started right after we came out of the building Say made for us [Music] That’s it All right let’s go find something to eat After last night’s disappointing meal we figured one dinner wouldn’t cut it Wait where is it so tonight we’re doing two First up the soup curry It’s a local comfort food you really can’t go wrong with [Music] Then we went to aaya dinner round two [Music] Here’s to round two M Jesus It’s been a slow day with a lot of space and time to breathe and reflect Oh I didn’t hit I didn’t hit record In a triple of movement this pause feels like something we didn’t know we needed And maybe that’s the beauty of it Japan gave us the rush and the stillness Tomorrow’s our last half day here before heading home Okay And somehow that quiet walk through the snow covered BA feels like a perfect way to begin to say goodbye [Music]

We took the early train out of Sapporo, transferred in Asahikawa, and hiked through the most pristine snowfields we’ve seen all trip. From the peaceful countryside of Bibaushi to the not-so-lonely Christmas Tree, and finally climbing the Four Seasons Tower for a sunset view over Biei

Day 8 gave us the quietest, most beautiful pause on our Japan journey. With nothing but snow, hills, and stillness around us, it was a refreshing shift from the pace we’ve been running. As our trip nears its end, this was the kind of day that gently stays with you