SAPPORO

Since arriving in China we have been unable to access the blog, so lots of updating required.

Sapporo is the fourth-largest city in Japan by population, and the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The first evening we take a trip up Mount Moiwa via ropeway and "Morris Car", a drive-type mini cable car to the Summit

Sapporo hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, the first every held in Asia.  

Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium

Chair lift to the top

Sapporo Winter Sport Museum 

Instructions for the virtual ski jump

Perfect landing!

Great museum, lots of fun things to try.

Otaru is a small harbour city, about half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train.  

It has a beautifully preserved canal area with stone-built warehouses and gas lamps from the 1920s.

It also has rather nice cake shops,

 

and chocolate shops ... got a bit carried away here.

The area is also know for its many onsens (Japanese bathhouses).  Noboribetsu is an old crater created by volcanic eruption around 10,000 years ago.  Different kinds of spring water gushing out supply the natural baths of nearby hotels.  We chose this one.

The brochures advertise that bathing in an onsen or hot spring is healthful, rejuvinating, and leaves one refreshed, relaxed, and clean.  

Certainly unfamiliar territory, but very enjoyable. 

Our time in Japan has come to an end.  We've loved it.  The place is so clean (the toilets are amazing) the people so polite (the streetcar drivers thank everyone personally when they get off) and the queuing system second to none.   

Tomorrow we fly to South Korea.