Ramen Walker

Ramen or Japanese noodle is one of my favorite foods and almost every region in Japan has its own variety, from my favorite tonkotsu ramen of Kyushu to miso ramen from Hokkaido.

Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido is famous for its rich miso ramen which is ideal for Hokkaido's snowy winter. Should you visit Sapporo and want to try the local famous ramen, you just need to find one place called Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku (Sapporo Republic Ramen) in ESTA building level 10 just next to Sapporo JR station. You'd find more than a dozen ramen shops with its specialty and you can try different ramen each day just like what I did during my four days visit in this city.

During my trip in Japan last year-end, I could't resist to try every ramen I found in every city I dropped by, not only in Hokkaido but some other cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto as well. Here are some of my ramen's shots:

Starts from my favorite ramen in Sapporo, these two ramens are from Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku.

This one was the best one, unfortunately I couldn't remember the name

Sapporo miso ramen

Miso ramen in Asahikawa

Shoyu ramen in Hakodate

Shio (salty) ramen in Shinagawa (Tokyo)

Tonkotsu ramen in Kyoto

Shoyu ramen in Shinsekai, Osaka

Miso ramen in Namba, Osaka

One ramen shop in Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku

Free eggs from above shop in Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku

Yes the eggs are free! One of ramen shops in Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku offers free eggs with your ramen, you can eat as many as boiled egg with you ramen for free.

Itadakimasu!..

Asahiyama Zoo in Snow

I didn't include Asahikawa on my Hokkaido itinerary in the first place but once I landed in Osaka one of my best friends recommended this city, she said 'The zoo is really worth a visit!'

Asahikawa, one of four large big cities of Hokkaido (along with Sapporo, Otaru and Hakodate) and Asahiyama zoo is the Japan's northernmost zoo which host to various winter animals such as penguins, seals, and polar bear.

I rescheduled my last day in Hokkaido and decided to visit the Asahiyama zoo even I knew that I wouldn't have enough time to explore Asahikawa city. Riding the express train from Sapporo JR station, it took about one and half hours to Asahikawa Station and changed for Asahikawa Denki Kido bus to Asahiyama zoo at bus stop no 5 just across the station. The bus fare is 400 yen and takes 40 minutes to the zoo and the admission is 800 yen.

Indeed it is an amazing zoo with unique and beautiful animals and stunning scenery from the hilltop blanketed with pure white snow. Glad that I made my way to this beautiful city of Hokkaido. Should you visit Asahikawa this February, you can watch the Guinness-certified world's largest snow sculpture and drop in to make your your own during The 51st Asahikawa Winter Festival.

Here are some of my shots in Asahikawa:

Asahikawa city, the northernmost city on earth I've ever been

Bus stop no 5 across Asahikawa Station

Asahiyama zoo gate

Minus 3.2 Celsius in the zoo

Polar bear

Penguins parade at Asahiyama zoo

Not sure what the fish's name :)

Stunning view from the zoo's hilltop

Otaru - The Town of Hills

Otaru, a beautiful city of western Hokkaido also called 'The town of hills' for local people as there are some hills surrounding the city. It took me only 30 minutes by Kamuy express train from Sapporo and it was a quick visit to this port city famous for its canal. I didn't have enough time to visit the observation point on Mt. Tengu-yama to enjoy the wonderful panoramic view of Otaru and its port area though, still I enjoyed my half day scrolling down the famous Otaru canal and sushi-dori street. As I arrived at Otaru station, I just walked down the main street to Otaru Music box museum and enjoyed scrolling the streets with glassworks shops, coffee shops, restaurants lining up along the canal. The shops and buildings have distinctive and attractive architectures and when the night falls the lights and oil lamps are lit, creating even more charming sceneries. Walking down Otaru's streets, you will see some spots in Otaru used for filming some Japanese and Korean movies and serries.

Here are some photos from my half day visit in Otaru, a city of Hokkaido with lots of cafes full of irresistible sweets.

Main street of Otaru

Cafes along the street

Music box museum

The famous canal of Otaru

Night view from the canal

'The real drug store' in Otaru :)

Baikinman in Otaru

Almost forgot that it's New Year's day, Happy New Year to you all fellas!

Sapporo - Blessed by Snow

Saturday, December 26, 2009, New Chitose Airport in Sapporo scrubbed 40 departing and 32 arriving flights due to blizzards and poor weather caused by a low-pressured system that passed by that southern coast of Hokkaido island, dumping heavy snow that overwhelmed its snow-dozing capacity, said the official.

How lucky I was as I had left that island on Christmas day, just the day before! Otherwise I'd be camped out on the airport's seats and I'd need to reschedule my trip in Japan.

Visiting Sapporo in winter time really is an unforgettable experience full with fun and a joy of white Christmas! I spent 3 nights in that beautiful and dazzling city famous for its fresh seafood and ramen!

Here are some of my photos from strolling around Odori Park enjoying White Christmas Illumination and German Christmas Market, Clock Tower (only 2 minutes walk from Odori Park) and TV Tower.

The beautiful view of Odori Park from TV Tower, Sapporo

Sapporo White Illumination at Odori Park

German Christmas Market at Odori Park

Clock Tower

Sapporo city's night view

These are the authentic Sapporo ramen shops in Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku (Sapporo Republic Ramen) at level 10 of ESTA building next to Sapporo station east/north entrance.

Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku

If you need any info about Sapporo, some friendly staffs at Tourist Information desk always ready to help you, just find The Hokkaido Sapporo Information Center inside Sapporo JR station on 1F, West Concourse, North Exit (North6, West 4). They open from 8:30am – 8:00pm year round (JR Information window closes at 7 pm) phone: 011-213-5088

Go Hyaku Yen Kaisen Don

A restaurant named Ekini Shijo on upper level of Hakodate Morning Market has been on my list since I planned my visit to Hokkaido few months ago. This place was recommended by a blogger friend, Onsen Soaker on her blog. This place located just next to Hakodate JR station served Kaisen Don, a bowl of rice topped with fresh seafood for 500 yen while other places serve for the cost around 2,000 yen. Lucky that I managed to find this place at Hakodate morning market, thanks to you Onsen Soaker-san :)

(Hakodate Morning Market building, picture taken from my hotel room)

(The entrance to Ekini Shijo from outside)

(My go-hyaku Kaisen-don, a bowl of rice topped with bountiful fresh seafood)

(This grilled fish was for 1,000 but really worth it)

(The entrance of Ekini Shijo from inside the fresh seafood market building)

White Christmas in Hakodate

I have been to Japan couple times but it's my first trip in Hokkaido. I love most big cities of Japan but never thought that I would fall in love with Hakodate, I expected the minus 10 degree Celsius and thought that I'd be a frozen meat! But the chilling extreme winter and the heavy snow are nothing compared to the bliss.

I just arrived in Sapporo last night after three and half ours journey by super hokuto train from Hakodate but I just can't wait to share some of my photos, so here are some photos from Hakodate.

The stunning view of Hakodate at night from Mt. Hakodate, one of most beautiful night views in the world. Hakodate-yama Ropeway, the best way to enjoy Hakodate night view. From Hakodate JR Stn walk 2 minutes to Hakodate–mae station, take street car (tram) for 10 minutes to Jyuj i-mae stn (passing by Shiyakuso-mae stn and Uoichiba-mae stn), 10 minutes walk to Sanroku Ropeway Stn. Admission fee : 1,160 Yen for round trip.

(Bay Hakodate)

(Bay Hakodate Christmas Fantasy)

Here are some pictures from our stroll around Goryokaku Park:

(Goryokaku Tower)

(The beautiful view of star-shaped Goryokaku Park from the tower)

I've got a bunch of pictures from my Hokkaido trip but I gotta go now, heading to Otaru today!

Mata ne :)

Perinaise

Do you like mayonnaise? I do! Especially Japanese mayonnaise, I just love this creamy dipping sauce for most of grilled meat, seafood, omelette etc. I just tried a new kind of mayo sauce called Perinaise, a unique creamy blend of mayonnaise with Peri-Peri sauce from Nando's, my favorite grilled chicken. I got the Perinaise original which means one with medium heat level but if you are an extreme hot chili lover there is also Perinaise Hot ready to burn your tongue.

Today I just cooked my okonomiyaki with mixed topping of Japanese mayonnaise and Perinaise, yum..!

(My okonomiyaki with perinaise)