9th May 2009 – After a good night sleep from yesterday’s exhaustion, we woke up early and ate the free breakfast at hotel. Then, proceed to Susukino Subway Station (3mins away from my hotel) – still empty as it’s still early. 7.40am on a Saturday morning 🙂
Tickets counter – English available at both the table of fares as well as the machines. We didn’t buy any tickets as we were using the one-day card (for Sapporo City Subway only) that comes with the Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass. The Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass (All JR Hokkaido trains between any stations in Sapporo and Otaru Station and all subway lines in Sapporo) can be purchased from JR Information Desk (JR Sapporo Station West Exit) at ¥1,500 per passenger.
Subway platform – also empty. Took from Susukino Station to Odori Station. It’s only a station away but since we have the 1 day Subway pass, so decided to make full use of it.
From Odori Station, we took a 5min short stroll to Nijo Fish Market – a cluster of stalls selling fresh and dried seafood as well as vegetables.
Prawns, scallops, sea urchins awaits you to devour them. And It’s all live! LOL.
Crabs too! The stall that I patronize also provides the cooking of the seafood that you purchase from them so that you can eat them fresh.
The stall owner on noticing that I was snapping away on my camera, immediately hauled up a King Crab for me to shoot. Such a nice gesture! We bought a 500g packet of premium grade large size Dried Scallops at ¥5,000 from him too.
Proceeded on with the journey to Maruyama Park (link in Japanese) from Odori. The whole platform to ourselves again.
The underpass towards Maruyama Koen. Maruyama Koen is the most popular “Cherry Blossom Viewing Spot” in Sapporo and it houses over 1500 cherry trees. It is bustling with people during the “Hanami” period. Prior to reaching and to my dissapoinment, I have already knew that I have missed the full cherry blossoming by 1 day and it’s already withering (updates from Tenki – Japanese only). Nevertheless, the planned trip still went on.
Notice the animals emblems on the floor – believe suppose to build anticipation to the nearby Sapporo Maruyama Zoo which houses more then 200 speices of living things. Other nearby attractions inlcude Okurayama Ski Jump, Sapporo Winter Sports Museum, Asahiyama Memorial Park, Rose Garden Chizaki, etc.
A very beautiful and grand building just right in front of Maruyama Koen (5 mins walk from Maruyama Koen Subway Station). Also a lot of cars are unloading their wares here.
Upon closure inspection, it’s actually hosting a wedding reception. 🙂
The location signboard that shows your whereabouts and the nearby facilities. From it, I can see that there is a baseball stadium, track and field, theme park, etc.
The sun shining on the flowers makes it look so vibrant.
Tall trees that seems to reach out for the sky!
Walk in deeper to Maruyama Park and saw this sight everywhere. Folks lay out their floor mats and wares (table, chairs, food, charcoal, drinks, beer, etc). What amaze me is that it’s 9.00am in the morning and many people are already there to choose the best location and mark their terriorty. Maybe it’s a planned weekend hanami (still continue even the hanami period is over) and boozing session with family and friends.
After strolling down the park, the feeling that I got is both tranquil and relaxing (with cool and fresh breezes intermittently blowing). Ah, there is a lingering smell of barbecue food in the air as well. That makes my stomach rumble. :=D
A row of stalls selling various drinks, food, toys and souvenirs.
A close up view on one of the drink and food stall.
Another stall selling blown-up toys for children. It’s hung on to a stick at one end and held by children on the other end, much like Chinese Lantern style. I wonder whether they can be lighted up?
The walkway towards Hokkaido Shrine.
Another view of the walkway towards Hokkaido Shrine. It’s a cooling pleasant walk despite that the sun is shining bright.
Near the entrance of Hokkaido Shrine, there is a Chōzuya (stone wash basin) whereby worshipers and visitors performed cleansing (purification) by washing their hands and mouths prior to praying. Using the dipper, first rinse the left hand then the right, after which rinse the mouth with water from the cupped left hand. The washing of hands with water is called Temizu.
The grand entrance of Hokkaido Shrine.
Here’s the procedure on how to pray at a Shinto Shrine. Facing the enshrined god, deposit some money into the offering box and then bow twice. Clap your hand twice and after that bow one more time.
Amazing and delicate architecture. Simply love the use of the gold (not sure whether it’s real gold).
A showcase of the famous and popular sake from Hokkaido. During ancient times, sake used to be produced in the Shrine’s wine hall.
Another view.
Spotted a wedding ceremony on-going at Hokkaido. This draws a lot of attention and causes many tourists to snap away (including me).
Terrific scenery – with all the beautiful colors standing out.
A macro shot of the flowers.
Another macro shots of flowers.
Lunch time – Teriyaki Chicken Burger Set Meal at McDonald’s ¥590.
Ebi Filet-O Set Meal at McDonald’s ¥630.
Ishiya Chocolate Factory – A short walk from Miyanosawa Subway Station. Production tour is at ¥600 per adult and it comes with one piece of their well-known Shiroi Koibito chocolate. Before reaching the production viewing gallery, there is a short walk that takes you through the history and culture of chocolate.
The production plant for their famous flagship product Shiroi Koibito – a soft flavoured layer of white chocolate sandwiched in between two thin layers of crisp cookies. Absolutely delicious!
Spotted Astro Boy statue after the end of the tour. The stairs takes you down to the shop where it has the whole selection of products Ishiya is offering. Bought Ishiya Shiroi Koibito (24 Qty) at ¥1480 and Ishiya Shiroi Koibito (27 Qty) at ¥1785. Yeah!
Beautilful park with disneyland styled buildings. At the end of it, there is a store selling Ishiya Ice-Cream (same flavouring as their chocolate) at ¥250. More views of the park follows.
Bought our dinner from local supermarket on our way back to hotel as discounts are given usually after 7pm. Omurice Bento ¥400 (was ¥450 before discount), Rice and Noodle Chicken Katsu Bento ¥380 (was ¥480 before discount) and Fried Dumpling ¥380.
Kirin Afternoon Tea ¥150 for dessert.
五月九日-休息了一整晚(昨日行程)，我们一早就起床吃早餐-酒店提供免费早餐!之后,我们到薄野地下铁(三分钟路程)，时间算早，人不多应为是星期六早上。:)
售票处-票价表和售票机都有英文字母.我们没买票应为较早前已经买了(一天)札幌市营地铁专用车票,适用于札幌-小樽。札幌市营地铁专用车票(可适用于所有JR北海道列车和地铁-通往札幌和小樽)，车票可在JR信息台购买(JR札幌站西口)，(1,500 日元/一人)。
地铁平台-也是空的!从薄野达到大通。只是距离一站，应为有一天同行票，我们决定好好利用。
从大通站，走了一小段路到二条市场-一整排店售卖新鲜蔬菜和海鲜。
有新鲜的虾，干贝，海胆等着你品尝! LOL
螃蟹!我们光顾的点也为客人烹调所卖的海鲜，你可现买现吃!
店主看到我猛拍照，便抓起一只帝王蟹让我拍。 🙂 好友善!我们在这家店买了一包500克的上等干贝价格5,000日元。
继续前往円山公園的路程，地铁站还是冷冷清清。:)
前往円山公園的地下道。円山公園是札幌樱花季节最流行的“赏花景点”有多达1,500棵樱花树。这是“赏花”时期最多人的地方.在抵达之前，我已经知道做过”赏花”季节,虽然失望但还是决定依照行程进行。地上的动物图案代表着住在札幌市円山动物园的两百多种动物。其他周边景点有大仓山滑雪跳台，札幌冬季运动博物馆，旭山纪念公园，玫瑰花园等等。
一座非常漂亮和雄伟的建筑就在円山公園前(距离円山公園地铁-5分钟路程)。许多车在这卸下物品。
仔细看，原来在举行婚礼招待会。 🙂
地图显示目前的位置和附近的设施。明确的显示有棒球场，田径，主题公园等等。
太阳出来了，花也灿烂多了。
高大的树木，似乎到了天空！
深入到円山公园，这个情景到处都是。居民把草席和用具(座子，椅子，食品，木炭，饮料，啤酒等)。让我最惊讶的是，目前只是早上9.00就那么多人选好位置。可能是”赏花”周某(虽然樱花已结束)但还是和庆朋好友继续烧烤活动。
走完公园，突然感到宁静和放松。问道香喷喷的烧烤味，这时肚子咕噜咕噜得叫! :=D
一排店售卖饮料，食物，玩具和精品。
其中一家卖饮料和食物的店。
另一个出售巨型玩具的摊位。挺像中国的灯笼。
北海道神宮的行人道。
在明朗的天气下步行，感觉挺不错。
北海道神宫的入口处有手水舍 (石洗手盆)让参拜者洗手和漱口。在水盘里会放置杓子并注满清水，参拜者首先用杓子取一瓢水，洗完左手，右手之后，再将水倒在手里漱口，再洗一次左手之后，以杓子中剩下的水来清洗杓子。
北海道神宫的大门。
在神社参拜的步骤。面对神明，钱币丢进钱箱，鞠躬两次。拍手两次再鞠躬一次。
惊人和微妙的建筑。喜欢金色 (不知道是不是真金)。
展示北海道著名和最受欢迎的日本清酒。在古时代，日本清酒是在神馆大殿酿制的。
另一个角度。
刚巧碰见正在举行婚礼的新人。吸引了很多游客拍照(包括我在内)。
非常漂亮和鲜艳的花草树木。
花草的近攝。
更多花草的近攝。
午餐時間-麥當勞紅燒雞肉漢堡套餐(价格590日元)。
Ebi Fillet-O Set Meal at McDonald’s (可能是-麦香虾肉漢堡套餐 价格630日元)。
白之恋人-从宮之澤地鐵站走一小段路。生产游览每人600日元，附加一片著名的Shiroi Koibito 巧克力。前往生产观景台有一小段制作巧克力的历史。
生产厂的著名旗舰产品Shiroi Koibito – 软层的白巧克力夹心饼干。绝对美味！
游览结束后看到了铁臂阿童木。往路梯口走就会走到商店，那儿有全部的巧克力商品。买了白巧克力夹心饼干(24片 价格 1480日元 , 27片 价格 1785日元)。
有迪士尼乐园风格建筑的公园。最后，有一个商店卖白巧克力味道冰淇淋。接着，更多公园的照片。
晚餐-是当地超市的折扣蛋包飯盒400日元(折扣前450日元)，鸡排饭盒[饭和面](折扣前480日元)和锅贴380日元。
麒麟下午茶150日元。
