Leopalace Asahikawa

... this elaborate multi course Japanese meal. But I did try some nigori sake I bought from Takayama during the festival. It was definitely interesting--the taste was great--sweet and smooth, but the texture of the rice was totally unexpected. Really thick and coated...I don't think nigori is for me.

Some TV, some more conversation with other tourists and it's an early night. Since I got in the snow shoeing my legs are tired, I'm back to Sapporo and Otaru tomorrow.

-mike

... hike near the hostel. We expected a cake-walk, but the trail climbed more than we thought and the with the fresh rain forest growth around us we got quite wet again. Once again, it was a delight to to get back for a good hot soak. Our destination today is an onsen resort located on the shore of Lake Toya in southern Hokkaido. Toya-ko is very popular, so we are expecting the full-on Japanese tourist experience.

... el mundo tiene) asi que todos llamandome Picasso todo el rato. Por suerte son medio reservados y si te ven que estas a tus cosas no te molestan, pero estaba claro que era una de las atracciones del campamento ese, que solo le faltaban pruebas tipo humor amarillo... os admito que este viaje esta resultando esclarecedor del todo... Y ahora en Asahiwara, una ciudad mas, con sus calles cuadriculadas, altos edificios modernos, centros comerciales, famosa por sus ...

We're in Sapporo now and it's absolutely amazing. However the hostel is charging ten yen per freaking minute to use the internet - which adds up to roughly $10 AUD an hour. So there won't be any further posts until we reach Tokyo again in another three days.

Missing you all,
Tom and Rachael

We're in Sapporo now and it's absolutely amazing. However the hostel is charging ten yen per freaking minute to use the internet - which adds up to roughly $10 AUD an hour. So there won't be any further posts until we reach Tokyo again in another three days.

Missing you all,
Tom and Rachael

... need to be naked. The only difference is that, you don't really need to mix up with guys actually. They are seperated into ladies and gents division but of course you got to be naked when you are in it. So, it's either you let people see what you have, or you pay the trip to stay in your hotel room.

... underneath the tram there are a few certifiable big mountain lines. Did I mention this place is only 1.5 hours from where I live? I'd like to remind all my Boulder friends that on a weekend they haven't even made it to Loveland pass after 1.5 hours... After a really fun day skiing hard we went to the Sounkyo Onsen, which is located at the base of the Ski-Jo (ski resort). Onsen are natural hot springs and the best way to do ...

... the first time and some disgusting fake (?) seafood (?) the second. I've also learned to smell any of the packets I get with my ramen before mixing them in. The "fishy" taste we all find so terrible seems to be quite popular here, especially with instant ramen... They gave me 3 without work in order to adjust to life a bit and also get over the jet lag. I had really bad jet lag considering I spent 10 days in Europe, then 6 in Minnesota before coming to Japan ...

... parks and even Tokyo Disneyland. It looked like an exact replica of the one in Orlando and it was a bit reassuring seeing Space Mountain and Cinderella's castle peeking out above a bunch of cranes and warehouses. Didn't seem like the best location for a Disney resort but I'm guessing they couldn't be too picky when buying that much land in a city of 30 million. Once I got to Haneda airport I found that I was the only gaijin (foreigner) around. Luckily the Japanese are very ...

... Park. In Sapporo, I paid a visit to not only the festival venue, but also Old Government Building, the Clock Tower and Sapporo Olympic Games venue. I also visited a glass-making factory in Otaru. I went there with my uncle and aunt and it was the first and last time to travel with them.