Ordered a take-out for breakfast at a local Lotteria near the station and bought some special Mochi only made in Sendai. We also bought our ekiben for lunch since we are travelling for some time.
Early train to Shin-Hakodate aboard the Hayabusa Shinakansen. Then a transfer to the Super Hokuto Ltd Express bound to Sapporo. Total travel time was shy of 7 hoiurs. We wished there was an overnight train but it was also an experience riding up all the way to Hokkaido and the experience was very comfortable and convenient.
It was snowing when we reached Shin-Hakodate and a lot of passengers were not willing to go the plaform. When the train arrived, some of the passengers made a mad rush to the train cars. This caused a lot of people entering the wrong carriage. Problem is most people have a lot of luggage and it was a problem to transfer from one car to another. Luckily, we entered the correct car and was seated around after 15 mins of chaos.
JR Sapporo I think is the busiest at this time of the year. The station was big but it was filled with people. We made a beeline to the tourist information center to get our bearings and got some discount coupons too.
After, the tourist information center, we went to the JR Travel Center and booked our ski package to Tomamu. The lady did not speak a lot of English but fortunately it went without a hitch with my broken Japanese.
We walked for about 20mins to our Hotel underground which I think is really cool. THis is one of the longest underground walks I have experienced in my travels.
NEar our hotel was the Suskino Ice Sculptures which is also part of the Sapporo Winter Festival.
After checking in, we ate Ramen at the Ramen alley and it was really good. Not really cheap but good value for money.
Visiting Otaru was really special for us. I think it’s one those places that you feel intimate and connected with the people around you.
The people here are genuinely hospitable and the most heart warming welcome I felt in most of my trips. They feel like family.
I highly recommend visiting this place during the Winter Lantern Festival. The lanterns were msotly created by the local community and it is not commercialized like in Sapporo. Usually it coincides with the Winter Festival in Sapporo so it won’t be a hassle visiting it at the same time.
And that KFC was simply extra delicious here. ๐
Lastly, went back and took some night pictures of the Ice Sculptures in Susukino.
End of Day 3
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