Lonely New Years Eve In Otaru
[Music] This is the uh entrance to the hotel. Ko Prillia got a nice fireplace. Oo, can feel that today. Snow started coming down early in the morning or late last night. It is actually falling and John’s missing out sadly. Yeah, still doesn’t feel great. That’s okay. I am back to being solo rider. So, that’s cool. I’m still going to stick to the schedule, which is Otaru today cuz I don’t want to miss out on that. Um, and there’s a music box that last time I got like a Harry Potter one. And there was like a spinning cat one um that I really wanted last time. So, if I see it, I’m going to get it because that was one of my didn’t buy regrets. So, um, apparently I need to get on the Hakodate line. Um, should take about 30 to 40 minutes depending if it’s rapid. So, my plan is to head to Saporro station, which is should only be about 300 m, and uh, yeah, start heading to Ataru, get that done, and hopefully come back at a reasonable time cuz I’m hoping to get to the Nippon Ham Fighters shop. Um, the baseball team. I saw their stadium on the way here last night on the train. Really cool. Um, yeah. So, they’re like my northern team. So, I think their shop closes at 7:00. So, the plan is to try and get there and hopefully get myself some Ham Fighters merch. So, I’m going to head to Spor Station. Um, I look a bit gross, but you know, that’s okay. I make do. Um, I do have my beanie if I get really cold. I’ve got some fingerless gloves. Probably not the smartest choice. Probably should have worn my Chip and Dale ones that I brought at Disney. Uh, but I do have uh hand warmers. So, but I need to buy more. All right, let’s head to Saporo Station. So, one thing I didn’t do last time, and it was a big school boy error, a big mistake. I didn’t put my hood up. I left it hanging down the back of my jacket, and guess what happened? It filled with snow and then I went to put it over my head and snow went everywhere. So, not making that mistake again. All right, heading to track 4. I got my Eki stamp. Very happy. Uh, rapid train comes at 10:00 on track 4. So, just yeah, waiting for that bad boy. It’s not this one. Might head down a little bit. There were um some other foreigners getting some stamps. They were asking where I got my book from. Amazon, guys. Amazon also. They were very nice, but they left the uh ink pad open. Make sure you close the ink pad so you don’t let it dry out for other people. Just saying. Just saying. [Music] All right, change of plans. So, the limited express, obviously with the limited express, you need a reserve seat. Um, and the fair I that has actually just been delayed 45 minutes. So, I’m going to get the local train which is at 10:24 which is a little bit of a wait and that’s leaving from track 3, but it’s not that much of a wait because the other one’s delayed. So, that’s my new plan. Track three, local train track three. So, yeah, this one’s Bedum. So just double check up here. Local for Ataru 1024 3 to 5. Is 3 to 5 reserved? Not sure. Either three and to five are reserved or not reserved. I’ll have to figure it out. Going to head this way and try not get pushed onto the track. That would suck. That would suck. So yeah, we’re going to go local local train. It’ll take longer, but yeah, it’s fine. This isn’t us. We should be next, though. So, I think the uh the rapid I don’t know. I think it did have um non-reserved seating, but it was so full. They were like literally pushing people on. So, 10:24 Oh, 10:30. We started early. Oh, earlier. Yeah. Ah, [Music] 30 35 minutes. Okay. Oh, it’s quicker. 24 5 minutes. It’s quicker. Ah, okay. Thank you so much. Thank you. Bye-bye. Just met the nicest girl. Um, I decided to get the local train and I was chatting to her and she’d been to Melbourne and she just got off her train to tell me come back to platform 4 and it’s free. Well, not free, but um I don’t have to get the ticket, but it’s going to get there quicker. So, she’s telling me to go platform 4. So, I’m going to trust the local and hope for the best. I’m kind of a little confused cuz the other train comes at 10:24, but I think she’s saying this one is 5 minutes later, but it’s quicker, but I don’t have to worry about a ticket. We’ll see. It says special rapid. Oh, I think she’s trying to tell me get the rapid and go in the non-reserved seating. Okay, I think I get what she’s trying to say. Yeah. All right. Special Rapid 41 10:30 to Ataru. I’m just going to hop on, mate, and we’re going to just see what happens. And uh might stand over here. Okay. So, I think this is the seating for standing up. So, that’s what she was trying to tell me. She was saying, “Get the rapid, but don’t worry about you don’t have to have reserve seating.” Okay. She was very nice. Anyway, I’m just taking you guys along for the journey. It’s always an adventure, especially when you’re on your own. She was really nice. Yeah, she would been to Melbourne in autumn this year. She was showing me photos. Cool chick. Thank you. So cute. Train just left and she was waving me off and we did heart symbols to each other like you know the So cute. What a sweet girl. Very nice. Oh, those interactions like make my day really cool. So, I’m at a Taro station. There is a kambini. There’s a bakery. But I’m going to head out and start exploring. get to the uh glass museum and the music box stores and uh try to get it done before a decent time. Get a bite to eat and hopefully beat the mad rush heading back. But it is cold. It is cold. But it’s beautiful. So beautiful. I actually also met another really nice person, young kid. He was a really sweet kid. uh dabbling in photography. There’s people ringing a bell there. Yeah. Uh he had a really cool camera and we were started chatting. He saw me admiring the view and then he was saying, you know, it’s kid uh beautiful. And I said, yeah, it is uh really beautiful. And then he was Yeah. Telling me how he lived in Melbourne this year for a few months in autumn. So yeah, interesting. I’ve met a few people who’ve been to Melbourne this year. Nice kid. So, it’s been really nice meeting some locals and my Japanese is getting much better being able to converse. So, all right, I’m going to switch off here cuz this is where I’m liable to neck myself. Uh, Whoa, danger. Kawaii. It looks a little crowded up there, but I’m looking at the temperature sign. It just went from minus2 to minus1. So, we’ve gone up a degree, but yeah, cold. Along here is where they filmed one of the scenes for First Love where she was talking to Harumi about her dad. Pretty cool. Pretty cool. Oh, we have just gone back up or back down as it were to minus two. Uh Oh, back to minus one. It’s teetering. It’s teetering between the two. Get a couple of photos here. Didn’t bring my good camera, but And then uh I’m going to head to the the stores. It’s beautiful. Not going to film too much cuz yeah, I just want to kind of enjoy it while I can. Definitely worth the the trip. It’s uh so easy to get here and it’s only like 30 minutes on the rapid or something. So if you are in Saporro, take the time to come here even for half a day. Got Otaro Danuki Koji just across the road. It’s got some little alleyways and stuff. I think last time we had some fresh melon or something even in winter. [Music] [Music] [Music] found my favorite music box store. They didn’t have the Maniki Niko wrapped in the That’s kind of the one I was going to get, but the the cat they didn’t have it this time. They had rabbit, but instead I’ll show you what I got. I was tossing up between the sheet, you know, the maniki niko and the it was real toss up between this one, the rabbit, and I will show you over here. But I got this one. Dashima Inaugat the Hokkaido snowbird. I got that one. It’s a little bit uh smaller. Probably easier to take back home. But yeah, had my heart set on the other one, but almost maybe it was meant to be that I got this one. But beautiful, beautiful store. I’ll show you the outside when I leave. Last time I came, I got a Harry Potter one. These are cool, too. They’re gorgeous. But yeah, this is the style I got last time. So, you can actually see the mechanism. And I got the Yeah. Harry Potter tune. So, you can choose which tune you want in the music box. So, mine was about I think $23 or thereabouts. Between $23 and $26. But beautiful. I love the Shima Naga. So cute. Yeah. So, I did ask and she said it was perfectly fine to film. That is the store. So, look out for that sign. Wonder if I’ve zoomed in or something. I have zoomed in. There we go. I was going to say something wasn’t right. There we go. That’s better. Change that back to the joystick mode. There we go. Must have accidentally hit it earlier. I hope I wasn’t filming up close for everything else. I don’t think I was. But yeah, this is the store. She does really beautiful music boxes. Um the uh big giant crystal kind of Christmy stores right on the corner. I did pass that, but I’m going to do that on the way back. I just want to walk down this street. Maybe I can get some hot food or something. I’m actually tempted for the Kaisen don. I’ve never had one and I feel like this is a place to do it. It’s a fresh seafood bowl on rice. Maybe I’ll do that. Yeah, I might dip into a couple of these stores and check them out. Um, oh, we got Dauku over there. I do love a good dauku and I love a tanuki. All right, I’m going to go and enjoy this beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I’m going to do this. Wish me luck. Wish for the best luck. Oh, guys, I got Dai. I got the best luck. Yay. Yay. I’ll have a proper read of it when I get back, but yeah. I think I’m gonna get myself a hot drink and a dauku. Sounds good to me. This cute ass little shop. We have an mom. Little mom. Cute. I’m going to go in here and check this out. And then I might even consider heading off. uh beat the crowds, you know, go get some soup curry that Duku kind of filled me up, so I don’t think I can do Kaisen. But yeah, going to have a look in here. They have kindly allowed me to film. I have got a a few little glass ornaments, mostly for gifts, and of course a few Shima Inoga for myself. Couldn’t resist. Not as much Christmas stuff this time because obviously Christmas is finished. There is still some. Very pretty. Got some Snoopy. One thing I didn’t get myself was a crystal this time, but I think last time I got it from a little shop on the main road heading back to the station. So, I might have a look at that. They do have little gas lanterns, which would be so cool for our house back home cuz our house is uh sort of from the late 40s, 50s. So that would be really nice. But yeah, I ain’t getting that home without breaking it. So these are all the cool little so tiny some of them. That’s a shima inaga. Very cute. Quite a few of those. Believe that’s a chopstick holder. I got myself this one here and the sort of larger size even though it’s still tiny and a little phone charm or something. That’s cute. The hedgehogs look cute in my house, too. I only have so much room. This is the uh front of the store. This is the all the jewelry. beautiful jewelry. Very pretty. I like those. But I have brought enough earrings on this trip. So unless they come out with some shimmer and aaga birdie earrings, I think I’m good for earrings. But they are very pretty nonetheless. So this is the the big main store on the corner. So I’m going to head out now. Wow, look at all that ice. I’ve seen a few people slip over and fall. I have been extra careful, but I’m sure it will still happen to me. And it’s not a deal cuz I don’t have John here to break my fall. But yeah, so this is the uh the big one on the corner. He’s got all the crystal the glass ornaments rather. Got a Lson over the road. And that’s beautiful. Beautiful little canal thing over here. But I think I might call it. I don’t know if you can see. Let me see if I can zoom in. Let’s go. Oh, I’m pulling the camera down. We got some ski slopes up there. I can see the uh the lift. Uh lots of people with snowboards this morning getting on the train. But yeah, I think I might uh have one last look, take a couple more photos, and um I might think about uh heading back. That’s so nice. Someone, a foreigner, saw me trying to get a photo of myself in front of the canal. Um and she offered to take one for me. That was so nice. It has been a struggle. I was looking like an idiot taking selfies, but I mean, here I am talking to a camera, but you know what I mean. So that was really nice. Yeah. Just going to head back now. So blue sky. Nice day. Nice day. The snow held off other than what’s on the ground, but yeah, there was a few little flakes falling here and there, but it’s actually not been too cold. Um I think as long as you’re dressed appropriately, all good. Got some heat packs. Uh got my scarf. Got some gloves on. Beanie. Nice thick jacket. It’s fine. So, uh if you’re afraid of the snow and the cold, don’t be cuz Yeah, it’s fine. It really is fine. Oh, someone else just took a tumble. God, please don’t let that be me. All right, I’m going to go before that is me. There we go. Had it set to zoom. I am on my way to last mint pancakes. Pretty sure they’re closed. Well, meant to go yesterday, but obviously that didn’t pan out. So, I thought I’d just swing past and try my luck. And I just happened past the uh Saporro uh clockhouse uh clock tower. Never actually been in there. Um I think it’s more remarkable from the outside to be honest. That is the clock tower. There a little photo spot just over there too. Yeah, I’m going to keep walking. I hoped and I hoped cuz online it said open but obviously these things can change with New Year’s. It is closed. I walked all the way here. But that is another filming location for First Love and we have been there before. Uh but yeah, that’s okay. I uh will head back to the main street and get myself a coffee and something else to eat. Maybe soup super curry or something that appeals. Oh well, at least I tried. Such is the curse of coming this time of year. Ah, I probably should have given myself more days in Sorro. The fighter store is closed, too. Yeah, it is very, very closed. Bummer. All right. Well, it’s 3:30. All I’ve had is that dauku and hot chocolate. And my legs actually feel really cold cuz last time I came I wore leggings under my jeans, but I hadn’t this time. Haven’t this time. So, I’m going to head into the uh still a place at Sapora Station. We’ve got Daimaroo on the left, Stella Place on the right. There is bound to be somewhere nice and warm and toasty for me to get a a latte and something to eat. I saw Comeders Coffee across the road after last mint when I saw that was closed and I should have gone there. I was going to I’m like, “No, get to the get to the fighter store.” Deep down, I knew that would be closed, but I had to try. So, I can at least say I did look. I tried. Uh John reckons he’s gotten worse, so I don’t see him coming out tomorrow either. Uh so looks like it might be solo rider for a while. We’ll see. Uh look, he’s got a psycho or psycho mart right across the road. So he’ll be fine. He can go get himself food and a coffee. I I did left went and got him an egg sandwich. He’s got coffee pods and coffee and tea in the room. I got him sparkling water and a vitamin drink. Uh there’s not really much more I can do. So yeah, if he wants anything else, all he’s got to do is literally cross the road to get it. So he’s probably just got to sleep it off for a couple of days. But that’s pretty much our whole Hokkaido trip. So uh sadly, we only got four nights here. So it is what it is, Shai. All right, I’m going to go in and warm up and get something to eat and something nice and warm to drink. All right, real quick change of plans before I settle in for something to eat. I am going to check out the Saporro Pokémon Center. See if there’s anything limited here. Uh yeah, just while I’m literally right next door to it, I might as well. So, so I actually spoke to John and yeah, he’s not coming out at all tonight. I said, are you like better or worse? He’s like, I don’t know. I think worse. It is what it is. I will have New Year’s alone. I have decided to go to because that’s the case. I’ve decided I’m just I’m walking through uh kind of Pole Town. I’m going to head to Tanuki Koji and try to get a soup curry. Yeah. So, I feel a bit flat to be honest. Um didn’t get to spend Christmas with him cuz he had to be home. Um, and yeah, looks like um don’t get to spend New Year’s with him. I cuz I mean if I do I’ll get sick, too. So otherwise, you know, the argument could be I could go and spend New Year’s with him in the room, but I really don’t need to get sick. Uh, I will cop it a lot worse and I’ll cop it a lot longer. So yeah, I’m going to stay out as long as I can. That’s my plan. Uh, so yeah, sorry if I sound a bit flat, guys, but yeah, it’s not the New Year’s that I had planned. So, it is what it is. All right, I’ll uh let you guys know what I get up to on this New Year’s Eve. I came into Joyland. I got distracted. I got a mofu sand gasha. And I am very sad to admit I spent way too much getting a cheetah cuz you rarely see cheetah and stuff, but I had to have him. I reckon he cost me $50 just between you and me. But then I went for this little guy just for shits and giggles. And I think I got him in like two goes, no joke. And I had like coins left in the machine. Made the mistake of switching to a Hatsune Miku machine. I was never getting it. I should have just gone for another snowbird. Oh well, happy days. My night is looking up even though it cost more than it should have. Update. Tried to call John. He’s making no sense. Best just leave him alone. Told him where the neuropin is. Um I still haven’t eaten. Went into the game center. Then I went into Matio. We got a ferris wheel over there. Um, I was in the donkey hotel. And over here we have Susino Nickman. I probably should put my scarf and my gloves and my beanie and all that back on. Now I’m back outside. I think honestly I’m just going to find somewhere to eat and then um I’m probably going to jump in a taxi if there’s one about back to the hotel cuz I really don’t feel for walking all the way back. I’ve done so many steps today. I’m pretty exhausted and I’ll probably, to be honest, chill out in the hotel um lounge or something because I don’t want to be anywhere near John. I’m petrified of getting sick. So, yeah. Uh it’s a shame that he can’t be out and about New Year’s Eve, but you know, these things happen. Uh I’m not going to sugarcoat travels and it’s not all sunshine and lollipops all the time. Um, and this is the situation we’re in. But I’m making the most of it. I’m trying to have a good time. So, I’m going to cross now. Let’s hope I don’t slip over because I shouldn’t be holding this camera while I’m doing it. But anyway, yeah, I’m going to find somewhere to eat. So, I did try to find soup curry down to Nuki Koji. I admittedly didn’t go all the way. Yeah, I couldn’t see it. So, I think I need to actually look something up and find it if I want to have that. But, um, at this point, McDonald’s is even looking good, which is sad. All right. [Music] Pop. Definitely got a favorite. [Music] So, come back to the room. It is 10 to 8. I’ve been back for a while. Just uh kambini dinner. Got John some food. Uh, I got the free coffee down in the lobby. Uh, they’ve run out of milk, so I just got a green tea and a coffee with some milk things on the side. They’re also giving free noodles and wishing everyone a happy new year. The hotel is offering free noodles, so they’ve got two staff members there manning a desk, so that was a nice touch. Just watching some game shows and some quiz shows and that’s how we’re seeing in the new year. Uh yeah. Oh, not showing my face because I’ve taken all my makeup off and I look gross and I feel gross. But um yeah, uh found an awesome curry restaurant. Uh of course it was closing as I went to enter. All the restaurants in Stella Place were closing. But I’m going to head back tomorrow and see if they’re open. and they might not be cuz it’s New Year’s Day. And I saw Mr. Donuts. I’m going to try and head there, too, and see if they’re open. So, that’s the plan for tomorrow. I knocked almost everything out today. So, tomorrow is going to be a chill day for me. And I’m just going to go cruise and see what is open. So, I’ll call it here. I’m going to wish you guys a happy new year, and I will see you all in the morning. Bye-bye. [Music] [Applause]
It’s new years eve and sadly john is still sick so I’m solo rider again.
I try make the most of a lonely situation and end up having a really nice day in Otaru. I then head to Sapporo city centre, check out the Nikka man, play at a game centre and do a little shopping. Much was closed so it ends up being a conbini dinner kind of night back at the room with John to see in the new year while watching silly game shows.
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