tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78666080403744601062024-03-05T23:15:59.859-08:00blobbes' hokkaido hike11 days in Hokkaido and Tokyo (June 2009)blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-72766196856519142582009-06-16T07:38:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:01:01.416-07:00Day 1: Hello Hokkaido2330 h, June 5 2009: We boarded an SQ flight bound for Tokyo and thereafter to Hokkaido on a Japan Airpass.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6VS-DCUU1bFkjxk610zhSU3q2r9dHTYq1UEZmZrhg3BgFbOnuNODEXK8Gsx9YbmFtWpmdU3QV0wheYth1NV1ShwchbHRi-kvlb4G2LinGoI6ZRBKNiHqDDIifKiJVLx1WinNshF-byl8/s1600-h/6+June+09+002.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6VS-DCUU1bFkjxk610zhSU3q2r9dHTYq1UEZmZrhg3BgFbOnuNODEXK8Gsx9YbmFtWpmdU3QV0wheYth1NV1ShwchbHRi-kvlb4G2LinGoI6ZRBKNiHqDDIifKiJVLx1WinNshF-byl8/s320/6+June+09+002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421840341424297842" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the good thing about flying to Japan: the Japanese breakfasts on board</div><br />Most Singaporeans go to Hokkaido in winter, for the novelty of snow-boarding injuries and the enchanting delights of the Sapporo Snow Festival, or at the height of summer in August and September, for the sight of rolling fields lush with lavender. And it is conventional wisdom that Hokkaido, with its sights spread far and wide, can only be experienced by way of tour or car. Needless to say, we refuse to tour, and we don't drive and can by no means afford to hire a local driver (not in Japan, no sirree). So why Hokkaido, in June* no less?<br /><br />* for the uninitiated, June and December are about the only times I get to travel.<br /><br />To start with, we had been bitten by the Japan bug, having thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Tokyo the previous June. A return visit was in order, especially since HM had picked up some basic Japanese since then; some practice and immersion would be good, no? Then, the December past, a trip to Taiwan had proved to us that, in our advancing years, we prefer to holiday in cooler climes, give or take quick getaways to nearby holiday spots like Bali. That was not all. HM was convinced that most of Japan would be hot and muggy and prone to typhoons. We had heard that typhoons occurred less often in Hokkaido and certainly, of all places in Japan, Hokkaido would be the coolest.<br /><br />A check with the resident expatriates on Tripadvisor's Hokkaido forum revealed that getting around in Hokkaido by public transport would not be a problem, if not as flexible or as convenient as having one's own transport. This was especially so if one wasn't expecting to pack in all the sights; that was not our style anyway, we who prefer to potter. Last but not least, there was plenty to see and do, they assured me, and travelling during off-peak season had its advantages - no need to jostle with the crowds and so on. So there we were, on our way to Hokkaido.<br /><br />Back to our flight: our friendly Japanese stewardess, Sachiyo, gave HM two boxes of playing cards. We suspect she thought HM was a child!<br /><br />Once we landed at Narita Airport, we headed to the transfer counters, a little nervous about the whole business of a connecting flight. The transaction went smoothly and we were checked in for our flight to Hokkaido.<br /><br />There was plenty of time for a second breakfast. We headed to Royal, where we had supped previously, and had:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLZDCSVZDPbDxp_LJ1x7ys1LalV9TIA0v74t7KpgaUXRm-0hX56F7ddrrr5h49w5uBShbsTpHpFIK30SwhBZPAirASm5IFOotv9TX-44XF78y6L2NdLI8tHLTy13kka0EzkJeIaG6jUSn/s1600-h/6+June+09+006.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLZDCSVZDPbDxp_LJ1x7ys1LalV9TIA0v74t7KpgaUXRm-0hX56F7ddrrr5h49w5uBShbsTpHpFIK30SwhBZPAirASm5IFOotv9TX-44XF78y6L2NdLI8tHLTy13kka0EzkJeIaG6jUSn/s320/6+June+09+006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421840335025483842" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i>kitsune udon</i></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu9pHuzO-uLt8p4dU1ggIbBDzIZGGC70NRkvvGKXKuyMKiI8MSLVc3qjiizCqMqaRKw3oPuUV8FO9cAGHalBFX5oDUx6WfIFXdGsEfOu4une-YoJ7trGlrd4Ex2yXcJwtX_64ZBlW_3pG/s1600-h/6+June+09+008.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu9pHuzO-uLt8p4dU1ggIbBDzIZGGC70NRkvvGKXKuyMKiI8MSLVc3qjiizCqMqaRKw3oPuUV8FO9cAGHalBFX5oDUx6WfIFXdGsEfOu4une-YoJ7trGlrd4Ex2yXcJwtX_64ZBlW_3pG/s320/6+June+09+008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421839631014503314" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i>tai</i> (sea bream) chasuke set</div><br />We even had time to try our luck at the ticketing counter, for tickets to the Takarazuka Revue, but, as usual, to no avail.<br /><br />Then it was time to proceed to the domestic terminal and the gate for our flight to Hokkaido.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYi3TCxiP1f_Z-MUNM_dtpl0AGq3pLsJbhUHpHOMaVHY4iMazZEVNDgMm7U_kj4nEHB-AttfZ8cgh3EDGUVrZGMYpUW0HXw-UXdTJsf1HZZH1TlPI0H6CgKONKOILuTcTPQKyLMsuCytJ0/s1600-h/6+June+09+013.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYi3TCxiP1f_Z-MUNM_dtpl0AGq3pLsJbhUHpHOMaVHY4iMazZEVNDgMm7U_kj4nEHB-AttfZ8cgh3EDGUVrZGMYpUW0HXw-UXdTJsf1HZZH1TlPI0H6CgKONKOILuTcTPQKyLMsuCytJ0/s320/6+June+09+013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421838496053818626" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a novel experience to be bussed out to the waiting plane</div><br />The plane was yea big, no more than a 50-seater. For a moment, HM was worried that I'd be airsick but the 90 min flight was a cinch. (Now, propeller planes might be another story altogether..)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9OFCOB7sd_7M4Hsvg2WE349C6FfT8agXOTIX0XvZocPSKqYtK8lxIyK_KO3cWT3XvfrcUhrQ7c0y1S0F-Vfnnardm6WIm6KFxFK97YJZRcDZlNk4baOX9jacGWjHFcOtfB1Z9V1V_zff/s1600-h/6+June+09+019.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9OFCOB7sd_7M4Hsvg2WE349C6FfT8agXOTIX0XvZocPSKqYtK8lxIyK_KO3cWT3XvfrcUhrQ7c0y1S0F-Vfnnardm6WIm6KFxFK97YJZRcDZlNk4baOX9jacGWjHFcOtfB1Z9V1V_zff/s320/6+June+09+019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421838479995822370" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our first look at Hokkaido - look at all that farmland</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgULcXoPFQjXhnuXhwD7g8kcQXG_FYFZAEv3E8D8BGBBiCHyn1xvoncgSpODI0XuRp9zkP4PCDoV_mocs0JyjXYNearPWKtphX_DrhHXTLkDLAmEoYJM667vp3IF_o2bceRTusTcCRqmF/s1600-h/6+June+09+020.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgULcXoPFQjXhnuXhwD7g8kcQXG_FYFZAEv3E8D8BGBBiCHyn1xvoncgSpODI0XuRp9zkP4PCDoV_mocs0JyjXYNearPWKtphX_DrhHXTLkDLAmEoYJM667vp3IF_o2bceRTusTcCRqmF/s320/6+June+09+020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421837790809937762" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">at Chitose Airport - not a big plane at all</div><br />We took the train to Sapporo. We looked out the window - this was Japan? We could have been in Scandinavia - the houses were all solid colours, the landscape bigger in scale.<br /><br />Sapporo was of course all city. We headed straight for our hotel, the Sapporo Aspen, a little tired from having spent the whole night and half the day just getting there. Fortunately the hotel was five minutes' walk from the train station, the reason why we picked it in the first place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxXG6Av1kB5ZSrR2n3EFfF1NecVERZzwVIOzskuqbQE3Rnia9pdEGlbT33T_yTccEHizHljSOnQEgmGDAJZaVX5pK8iJ5MKfqYS27TU20Db0fsYOFU6FcBFLmmhX7xMqdhyTeDGP-7NvJ/s1600-h/6+June+09+026.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxXG6Av1kB5ZSrR2n3EFfF1NecVERZzwVIOzskuqbQE3Rnia9pdEGlbT33T_yTccEHizHljSOnQEgmGDAJZaVX5pK8iJ5MKfqYS27TU20Db0fsYOFU6FcBFLmmhX7xMqdhyTeDGP-7NvJ/s320/6+June+09+026.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421837781479058674" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our room</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_hsSAtdrctd12BzJDNt68DHrFWvHoR7hMTIJOsBNPJUMSKe7EEDqmt1QEe7A4uOrJrJPyYdOpdt26-8B66pD5gv3LqjkfFYJvfIhzXHptSwWMPbXYaAGLPTBz72yNHP8KWozxyUOy8u4/s1600-h/6+June+09+029.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_hsSAtdrctd12BzJDNt68DHrFWvHoR7hMTIJOsBNPJUMSKe7EEDqmt1QEe7A4uOrJrJPyYdOpdt26-8B66pD5gv3LqjkfFYJvfIhzXHptSwWMPbXYaAGLPTBz72yNHP8KWozxyUOy8u4/s320/6+June+09+029.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421836588721952882" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the <i>kawaii</i> touches</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2SwFMsvRu8NI8bs2pD7nxpa7X6pZTgLg9_ZFkZVwlouHACINNAqog97N8HmA7R5RQS2AZwJkKox8Oj0p9p4aRkf2zs04llydnXUYjPa5kDR14aPPcYrb8aVBVABPs11o4F0ic8Xkr0Ke/s1600-h/6+June+09+032.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2SwFMsvRu8NI8bs2pD7nxpa7X6pZTgLg9_ZFkZVwlouHACINNAqog97N8HmA7R5RQS2AZwJkKox8Oj0p9p4aRkf2zs04llydnXUYjPa5kDR14aPPcYrb8aVBVABPs11o4F0ic8Xkr0Ke/s320/6+June+09+032.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421836577020598514" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ooh, a heated mirror</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2mzypMMkoodzDfMx3bq8soNtSQsyMgMs5ANPrK9QxnUqvLaDxeslWX5U1lv5QNcVcNT2NVN5jTeG2ZZfRm8-XTLHHShbIM6PrJ_U36NDYGWVXdS8RWn9bXyVn512AcqLVLtzPqNy_uOF/s1600-h/6+June+09+035.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2mzypMMkoodzDfMx3bq8soNtSQsyMgMs5ANPrK9QxnUqvLaDxeslWX5U1lv5QNcVcNT2NVN5jTeG2ZZfRm8-XTLHHShbIM6PrJ_U36NDYGWVXdS8RWn9bXyVn512AcqLVLtzPqNy_uOF/s320/6+June+09+035.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421835599130607042" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the standard shower/toilet cubicle</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfn5_SeR9-86DGyCcVm2yzesM8fW0P3LBrBtgqezbYHCQG5APfGKwwc7GN-j9lhWZLXC27MkEvMdqUORQSzE7O8PdzS9K1X7fpq0knmoGOaVai2Bqq2aHtLVc6ItquAcPKk5Ij0N1qgXr/s1600-h/6+June+09+037.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfn5_SeR9-86DGyCcVm2yzesM8fW0P3LBrBtgqezbYHCQG5APfGKwwc7GN-j9lhWZLXC27MkEvMdqUORQSzE7O8PdzS9K1X7fpq0knmoGOaVai2Bqq2aHtLVc6ItquAcPKk5Ij0N1qgXr/s320/6+June+09+037.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421835585478009122" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">standard issue</div><br />The hotel was your typical business-style hotel, but as clean and comfortable as we had come to expect of Japanese standards. We would later discover that the service was excellent, the staff helping us to locate various places on our map, making reservations on our behalf and even pointing out discounts available (that's how we got a 10% discount on our dinner that first night).<br /><br />After a shower and a nap, we headed out for our first walk around Sapporo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafFN38Khp7rwAA63mJcth198QTQ8d0MvfeuS692Evspgd3AgF5Nr8iz7BRshSbWC67muODDOdxc2SmN8bKiLY7VNYmZmlL0QuRzxHIFiMJAR8y0quAsKxo52YWNp_wmhiBOsSQ-v1GyHN/s1600-h/6+June+09+045.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafFN38Khp7rwAA63mJcth198QTQ8d0MvfeuS692Evspgd3AgF5Nr8iz7BRshSbWC67muODDOdxc2SmN8bKiLY7VNYmZmlL0QuRzxHIFiMJAR8y0quAsKxo52YWNp_wmhiBOsSQ-v1GyHN/s320/6+June+09+045.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421832682197519234" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">oh look, Seibu and Loft</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim17iB0CVuMjpGOEnAIuWVjIgarU9e-0hcJ_QdCD2b9cc6gHvThIYvxuMcC8XHJ2nDJeyhYZkfQca6gM7zdWefwpC4kdSKMLI7khe62D9w76LfZjAn6y_cUlVftgNoXipO-MicGoH78hlA/s1600-h/6+June+09+047.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim17iB0CVuMjpGOEnAIuWVjIgarU9e-0hcJ_QdCD2b9cc6gHvThIYvxuMcC8XHJ2nDJeyhYZkfQca6gM7zdWefwpC4kdSKMLI7khe62D9w76LfZjAn6y_cUlVftgNoXipO-MicGoH78hlA/s320/6+June+09+047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421831734507557666" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Kani Honke, restaurant specialising in crab (more on this later)</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifENh5ojDLuiKTA_v0woiNyRejWhPBhD7mt1oCBI18nLQX_9aa7JUZXNqcDDOjwBjFhz8LWQHOyVTwShNowtYCW80riLxeQa73SGAojnQ5VnJiLwhoVhhp0j3J0KUDPx2HBbXUitNd1TOM/s1600-h/6+June+09+051.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifENh5ojDLuiKTA_v0woiNyRejWhPBhD7mt1oCBI18nLQX_9aa7JUZXNqcDDOjwBjFhz8LWQHOyVTwShNowtYCW80riLxeQa73SGAojnQ5VnJiLwhoVhhp0j3J0KUDPx2HBbXUitNd1TOM/s320/6+June+09+051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421829567134217106" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Sapporo Clock Tower</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBVbYhxgAtOsOtkrwa1dCCJMoANhQtIie0qLYv4Kuh43_hgb1PvqAozrdedcMweuV24aJpxBFRQqbWiN96ipH_NY-QIC7V1soeC0jb2cUgf6Ryk-UBpZyEohQTA_KYfS59nqskrqrtK2X/s1600-h/6+June+09+056.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBVbYhxgAtOsOtkrwa1dCCJMoANhQtIie0qLYv4Kuh43_hgb1PvqAozrdedcMweuV24aJpxBFRQqbWiN96ipH_NY-QIC7V1soeC0jb2cUgf6Ryk-UBpZyEohQTA_KYfS59nqskrqrtK2X/s320/6+June+09+056.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421829558927272386" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Sapporo TV Tower</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wMLM3SLPQhoeO8MNIbsbtJ9aJOG37IIuEqyd0lVlP549wwkWMGGPA-fwBCRe-5Rwlnl-N2Vk8V7FpCGpSmNQtbg8UBqVL-RpCj4a-LHFNrze1ZPEKwCGjQA485BNNCRn6cJCaKLj5r2y/s1600-h/6+June+09+063.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wMLM3SLPQhoeO8MNIbsbtJ9aJOG37IIuEqyd0lVlP549wwkWMGGPA-fwBCRe-5Rwlnl-N2Vk8V7FpCGpSmNQtbg8UBqVL-RpCj4a-LHFNrze1ZPEKwCGjQA485BNNCRn6cJCaKLj5r2y/s320/6+June+09+063.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421824946837253698" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">below the Sapporo TV Tower</div><br />This cemented our initial impression of Hokkaido - there was something decidedly Western in feel about the place, in terms of architecture and layout. (I would find out later that much of Hokkaido's and Sapporo's development was influenced by American advisors.) The city had a pleasant relaxed vibe, so different from the crazy madness of Tokyo.<br /><br />Of course there was no forgetting that this was Japan in all its quirkiness. Only in Japan would we see...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60doRZsJd3UhQacb6k_xUT8GDE3NVZrYzeYCVTGtc2Jm9kBd-prgg6oTEG0GnukCrpEOQXg3dMGC_RBX5HHfjNczP3UIWKpiqxtrHPcQzHUui-X8PbunyZSG2znX3PZQ7zcnvtYfBX2Z4/s1600-h/6+June+09+040.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60doRZsJd3UhQacb6k_xUT8GDE3NVZrYzeYCVTGtc2Jm9kBd-prgg6oTEG0GnukCrpEOQXg3dMGC_RBX5HHfjNczP3UIWKpiqxtrHPcQzHUui-X8PbunyZSG2znX3PZQ7zcnvtYfBX2Z4/s320/6+June+09+040.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421834613348563890" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a man in a white suit, walking his bunny (see white blob on floor)</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Vi96IkmEVoD_e_w1JMwreyCITH0MC8jR4lm_Bo0pp9NPnHGQL3r5cGNRyb2anK6wAYqkFTmrnKPznnbt3HUeRnW-XSbxmavG6YGQg7hmAZ4wXiFO4X3tIEOu6h2o6rzoJGsfPCKexaKN/s1600-h/6+June+09+039.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Vi96IkmEVoD_e_w1JMwreyCITH0MC8jR4lm_Bo0pp9NPnHGQL3r5cGNRyb2anK6wAYqkFTmrnKPznnbt3HUeRnW-XSbxmavG6YGQg7hmAZ4wXiFO4X3tIEOu6h2o6rzoJGsfPCKexaKN/s320/6+June+09+039.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421834621891537410" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">awww... such a pretty ribbon</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X1ZgfJnNtnNCnR9rTPV3lws7UUuIuv4twW9PThmxWErESfjnw7RRaXEeW68U1w_1Mlz4oslfjhOEv8ugxX1dxaBgTVO5wyJLBxr8UCXDWm-52yRCqoTR3QCTeXJNIrG8YkpxwokloN20/s1600-h/6+June+09+043.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X1ZgfJnNtnNCnR9rTPV3lws7UUuIuv4twW9PThmxWErESfjnw7RRaXEeW68U1w_1Mlz4oslfjhOEv8ugxX1dxaBgTVO5wyJLBxr8UCXDWm-52yRCqoTR3QCTeXJNIrG8YkpxwokloN20/s320/6+June+09+043.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421832690036246770" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">anime characters on promotional gig at train station - <i>kyaah</i>!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3IVK2MrrYzGBp3NhCOMBL_wmnElEmY7o4xMmsKfYuwcbNWV9Z61aBy4oUlbDML9U65zZtw9TC3EcuWZQ8_NVjNSXUJxqwbiMqmqftNoRUPiGL1X5yrQRsTwd8oROZccrIlnydRqmHvUe/s1600-h/6+June+09+049.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3IVK2MrrYzGBp3NhCOMBL_wmnElEmY7o4xMmsKfYuwcbNWV9Z61aBy4oUlbDML9U65zZtw9TC3EcuWZQ8_NVjNSXUJxqwbiMqmqftNoRUPiGL1X5yrQRsTwd8oROZccrIlnydRqmHvUe/s320/6+June+09+049.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421831726682864866" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i>kawaii</i> advertising on car</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UmJNGOgvP1UFxZehHYi9L_mPdg7UVz8uo50bG_xI5v-TySHLRjffkU2zl9gp-fnr75k6Aceo_TGWgWn7CnSwFl3_o6X1e8oknPORKkZsZVwf2t_zyN55EG1HGneY3HTlKHZ4Rb0pEbMN/s1600-h/6+June+09+075.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UmJNGOgvP1UFxZehHYi9L_mPdg7UVz8uo50bG_xI5v-TySHLRjffkU2zl9gp-fnr75k6Aceo_TGWgWn7CnSwFl3_o6X1e8oknPORKkZsZVwf2t_zyN55EG1HGneY3HTlKHZ4Rb0pEbMN/s320/6+June+09+075.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421822811309801746" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i>ume</i> (plum) wine, <i>yuzu</i> (citron) wine and more, all prettily bottled</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQT5Zn0Ptz4JpW7uWGg_KeUF2QWw8PodUsU-ZQE5tyqto9RyYKUffhF4fBrE7EGu_7O6q2epKC0ZbnlIFJ9oj2JOaik1IFoO8qjcSl0UJ0YeCNC_yb6F6Wg4W-GSAJ7JllIj6ylsT7XH0/s1600-h/6+June+09+077.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQT5Zn0Ptz4JpW7uWGg_KeUF2QWw8PodUsU-ZQE5tyqto9RyYKUffhF4fBrE7EGu_7O6q2epKC0ZbnlIFJ9oj2JOaik1IFoO8qjcSl0UJ0YeCNC_yb6F6Wg4W-GSAJ7JllIj6ylsT7XH0/s320/6+June+09+077.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421821547555169890" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">a frog chorus??</div><br />We even saw a crowd lining up outside to get in to a performance of...<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhwmQLMkWMw8ubFlnUWitw0AkxclifOHIiHJYuvB5imhyuHx4WPFUvOzlFWlxOb9uqyLibOMkKYZjhrXNvHay6a2BK4GdriFdwaoGFUunPOwrQTt0u7noIAv2xMVdqiessHXmKvrx4AhU/s1600-h/6+June+09+060.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhwmQLMkWMw8ubFlnUWitw0AkxclifOHIiHJYuvB5imhyuHx4WPFUvOzlFWlxOb9uqyLibOMkKYZjhrXNvHay6a2BK4GdriFdwaoGFUunPOwrQTt0u7noIAv2xMVdqiessHXmKvrx4AhU/s320/6+June+09+060.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421824958206226466" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">crowd waiting for a performance</div><br />... Hawaiian dance!<br /><br />A little before dinner time, we got peckish. We stopped at this stall to get a quick bite.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7B0TXF3Mkb86fCzfoe8wy2tI7yG7_Uia-8EKC_TdSPZr1A2MPEdcHbqcnPENt2_dZ2TqxnNZ_LxYKZEvtFw-idnhW3Anr8qHDZWhV7VYN5tR0WkL90dMUlSqtwha_qhEWbtedlbQI9oG/s1600-h/6+June+09+079.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7B0TXF3Mkb86fCzfoe8wy2tI7yG7_Uia-8EKC_TdSPZr1A2MPEdcHbqcnPENt2_dZ2TqxnNZ_LxYKZEvtFw-idnhW3Anr8qHDZWhV7VYN5tR0WkL90dMUlSqtwha_qhEWbtedlbQI9oG/s320/6+June+09+079.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421821540149663794" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the girl serving us was Chinese - the first time we encountered migrant workers</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zy0PJR3J3qhghTRrg8N7K8zmd9Ue6uMVsxJeSx9c6JtdMZaQ0nCmEC8Wf4HmuNN_pz6GGlH80ex44x_aJqaJ2FPkOgwkVZZtQxvmh8p3dJNctqoBIfixfILZEuXhC4xRQJtUjW7ydOpX/s1600-h/6+June+09+080.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zy0PJR3J3qhghTRrg8N7K8zmd9Ue6uMVsxJeSx9c6JtdMZaQ0nCmEC8Wf4HmuNN_pz6GGlH80ex44x_aJqaJ2FPkOgwkVZZtQxvmh8p3dJNctqoBIfixfILZEuXhC4xRQJtUjW7ydOpX/s320/6+June+09+080.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421820257787288162" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">these were like donuts, battered and deepfried or filled with bean paste</div><br />These tided us over till our crab dinner at Kani Honke.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthUPn-FFJ8rLI-J9_oZ1sKdhQczSe1I2bxG7qqGlNKO5vNHrNcZ_82iK5U9x_TXIFrhiXMHA14TEyTelRCZ2oBI_uDfaJKFhq2-M9YGBuBsTZkXRlbhaMSSUygMEG-QoKr7NFjyCT5ASW/s1600-h/6+June+09+068.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthUPn-FFJ8rLI-J9_oZ1sKdhQczSe1I2bxG7qqGlNKO5vNHrNcZ_82iK5U9x_TXIFrhiXMHA14TEyTelRCZ2oBI_uDfaJKFhq2-M9YGBuBsTZkXRlbhaMSSUygMEG-QoKr7NFjyCT5ASW/s320/6+June+09+068.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421823884724298322" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">our choice of dinner venue</div><br />There are crab buffet places in Sapporo, like elsewhere in Japan, but we didn't think we had the capacity to do justice to unlimited amounts of crab. Instead we opted for a set meal instead.<br /><br />At Kani Honke, we were greeted at the door, invited to take off our shoes and coats, and then ushered into a lift. Upstairs we went and were seated in a small private room. There, a <i>obaasan</i> took over, patiently explaining everything to us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnweMBpEqAetULmfJPl2t94lq_vhZio8FSqgkhYU9p2wY-2cYsTtvnVo12SQD9lRybMQbGvGF3iwvDd9JTtgoDaXTeiCvsaJJBctebXn7-qE4a57XEDg_yIvB0J7QUJFmOGqDWRlFoMXh/s1600-h/6+June+09+082.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnweMBpEqAetULmfJPl2t94lq_vhZio8FSqgkhYU9p2wY-2cYsTtvnVo12SQD9lRybMQbGvGF3iwvDd9JTtgoDaXTeiCvsaJJBctebXn7-qE4a57XEDg_yIvB0J7QUJFmOGqDWRlFoMXh/s320/6+June+09+082.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421820250492296690" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">green tea, of course</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimR_nDhq38EXtZjj-iXdyFduE4kdQqCKY2KX48890-G6YwVjQzFM4QGvugVPGY9xqnBebtolBWywcvL6SoJoZNrrSSKWF5xke9N5530BB8unvL6Ifiv-zjf8bf1iiEGkeW2ZmA-x32c-ng/s1600-h/6+June+09+084.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimR_nDhq38EXtZjj-iXdyFduE4kdQqCKY2KX48890-G6YwVjQzFM4QGvugVPGY9xqnBebtolBWywcvL6SoJoZNrrSSKWF5xke9N5530BB8unvL6Ifiv-zjf8bf1iiEGkeW2ZmA-x32c-ng/s320/6+June+09+084.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421818497231059810" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">HM had some <i>ume</i> wine</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm0CprwhJdBr522zh1DHFVP7rB8yNLo44JTE8XZGkaXozVS95jEvdmarR6wzk9kZhQmvN_Dcss7WnVVgQjSJlQB_542YHPfJrtaA-d7gBEWG9cRbusyn2oXEsif_RYvziv0UdzPCaMtcM/s1600-h/6+June+09+087.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm0CprwhJdBr522zh1DHFVP7rB8yNLo44JTE8XZGkaXozVS95jEvdmarR6wzk9kZhQmvN_Dcss7WnVVgQjSJlQB_542YHPfJrtaA-d7gBEWG9cRbusyn2oXEsif_RYvziv0UdzPCaMtcM/s320/6+June+09+087.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421814300098279634" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">haha crab everything, from chopstick rest to ashtray</div><div><br /></div>While we sat back and relaxed, we could hear the low murmur from other rooms around us. The setting reminded us of the bath-house scenes in Spirited Away!</div><div><br /></div><div>And then the dishes started arriving...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRc2pa10yW1fcwcF1i7u3125OrQqUAfjmrZA-qCjKH9hvL-XI0c46EUhkbzZOKgLxLDSbHCPa18G1yAVz1mN9mzqA3_CkJJeXFxiESv9Uue66ZEYrwI3wQOrURufkkE4yxaXlmvxPl3ZVM/s1600-h/6+June+09+090.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRc2pa10yW1fcwcF1i7u3125OrQqUAfjmrZA-qCjKH9hvL-XI0c46EUhkbzZOKgLxLDSbHCPa18G1yAVz1mN9mzqA3_CkJJeXFxiESv9Uue66ZEYrwI3wQOrURufkkE4yxaXlmvxPl3ZVM/s320/6+June+09+090.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421814288812581762" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">starters</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygrxi6Y7ZhDgPGNeSYej1nbwSaC2ldNiiRYKIhhLtqzXC5-ZjGVUhlHu5-S_hyphenhypheneI_N-pOY7eKPxk8bqRxaS3OOLxojqhs_mcD2_0q4fX1Z9etY58knlxxVMecA7Q-GofmGjgf2v8iVQvT/s1600-h/6+June+09+094.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygrxi6Y7ZhDgPGNeSYej1nbwSaC2ldNiiRYKIhhLtqzXC5-ZjGVUhlHu5-S_hyphenhypheneI_N-pOY7eKPxk8bqRxaS3OOLxojqhs_mcD2_0q4fX1Z9etY58knlxxVMecA7Q-GofmGjgf2v8iVQvT/s320/6+June+09+094.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421813227393949282" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">cold steamed crab legs</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW2_T-yocyd9a7r-8TeTrv6vUKjL7jbEy4cEQVX43hxMzTEYq4AdR5MIz8Jb2IKcyWICr4ay6h2NON726td5iRzdvhz06TAL3HodNnU8tswtP-W89IBcw4l0ZZxb9UacErnRQpL172MrG/s1600-h/6+June+09+096.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW2_T-yocyd9a7r-8TeTrv6vUKjL7jbEy4cEQVX43hxMzTEYq4AdR5MIz8Jb2IKcyWICr4ay6h2NON726td5iRzdvhz06TAL3HodNnU8tswtP-W89IBcw4l0ZZxb9UacErnRQpL172MrG/s320/6+June+09+096.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421813224984503042" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">tofu topped with crab</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX6pHb7GBFelWynQJHxMhmh5Sx-e_5koI7Y-Eny31vM5mgSgZzm5i7Tm6O2LHb22xzXj98efp6yATPxW9SCI7jC7znTDen-JCXmc_4wf-zUxUnO4BFLNPG9Ofnv6uAC9YPL8mqCy2vgpQ/s1600-h/6+June+09+097.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYX6pHb7GBFelWynQJHxMhmh5Sx-e_5koI7Y-Eny31vM5mgSgZzm5i7Tm6O2LHb22xzXj98efp6yATPxW9SCI7jC7znTDen-JCXmc_4wf-zUxUnO4BFLNPG9Ofnv6uAC9YPL8mqCy2vgpQ/s320/6+June+09+097.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421812201443780866" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">crab "butter" - rich and unctuous</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2U5ynw-MZfYhvDI_R4wfKNbuwszhejiIFYNl0PP_KBmyqNBCabGSpAdvTSuePLCF6OdehSrLRAuVHawg7Zn26orrskW6WgQ1mHiuwMJQ_SpXxxrncY4MYddcmyqmUHSb0doL6w1I7rC1g/s1600-h/6+June+09+101.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2U5ynw-MZfYhvDI_R4wfKNbuwszhejiIFYNl0PP_KBmyqNBCabGSpAdvTSuePLCF6OdehSrLRAuVHawg7Zn26orrskW6WgQ1mHiuwMJQ_SpXxxrncY4MYddcmyqmUHSb0doL6w1I7rC1g/s320/6+June+09+101.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421812198054196098" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">crab hotpot</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgbbvfMfmWIVMHNPxj11kUnU_PjyAQXt9NMtH8Yl6l6ANsz8SX-Tj8mGlprLASIsl5Ttp8eYk16Sfzkr1ZG7RMFt4IIpbHdaWruQwDV_Zup1lpGy7LTcZE2TBugsLFxwAGYha0QxFGJ9S/s1600-h/6+June+09+103.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgbbvfMfmWIVMHNPxj11kUnU_PjyAQXt9NMtH8Yl6l6ANsz8SX-Tj8mGlprLASIsl5Ttp8eYk16Sfzkr1ZG7RMFt4IIpbHdaWruQwDV_Zup1lpGy7LTcZE2TBugsLFxwAGYha0QxFGJ9S/s320/6+June+09+103.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421810658519167474" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">crab sashimi - unbelievably good, and not slimy at all!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mdwt6l1kLb_0w9O9xvuVFXDy5LinddAC7XMSB7Z17pQGTalxgGrHKNfTp-JtCcGEDM0_BzmoZC-_is84PGlCzOsdSGBKlE1ppH9y3flAjT1ffJRGP5fOeUV2bEMwsD-FdqUQkmmojkDy/s1600-h/6+June+09+104.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mdwt6l1kLb_0w9O9xvuVFXDy5LinddAC7XMSB7Z17pQGTalxgGrHKNfTp-JtCcGEDM0_BzmoZC-_is84PGlCzOsdSGBKlE1ppH9y3flAjT1ffJRGP5fOeUV2bEMwsD-FdqUQkmmojkDy/s320/6+June+09+104.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421810652403115938" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">grilled crab claws</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKa6gTtlberp4cNCELwV0WR4cIfO_YkotNypHq1UdsauhrYAzWGkpOn-h8Tt368FahkxM0OtIj5loFigd8i93W6PFKQgE5ThIklnw217HlmypYXxQs_RvmbqAZwRwHn14uz9_FRALYOA9/s1600-h/6+June+09+109.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKa6gTtlberp4cNCELwV0WR4cIfO_YkotNypHq1UdsauhrYAzWGkpOn-h8Tt368FahkxM0OtIj5loFigd8i93W6PFKQgE5ThIklnw217HlmypYXxQs_RvmbqAZwRwHn14uz9_FRALYOA9/s320/6+June+09+109.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421809426188986114" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">crab and vegetable tempura</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTQIyWvi_narL8LZL1WTaZo6vzpZ2Cfwld05YOfCk2N_rZPRkFvV9KuyJysjTHQeg-YZngDE-BqX1vhZRgSr5Cx0lovoKwSnUo1NjgUZsMFuyVgHmWPvL0XqSFLID5BMnXYcbaMZFI89j/s1600-h/6+June+09+111.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTQIyWvi_narL8LZL1WTaZo6vzpZ2Cfwld05YOfCk2N_rZPRkFvV9KuyJysjTHQeg-YZngDE-BqX1vhZRgSr5Cx0lovoKwSnUo1NjgUZsMFuyVgHmWPvL0XqSFLID5BMnXYcbaMZFI89j/s320/6+June+09+111.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421809420068259954" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">crab porridge, made with the soup from the hotpot</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dtQAAFdR17O1SkA3vbcKSs753XZjt1IAhf4GPsUjt-en74MQWWlAYQxsl2ATxKMkiGtJ6R7w6kR2PXOWc-4nMN4DndvKaP_RXlzMjtSZxQCR9YncYfQKtYFdWJ_teRUKX7eyecpXDMwg/s1600-h/6+June+09+115.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dtQAAFdR17O1SkA3vbcKSs753XZjt1IAhf4GPsUjt-en74MQWWlAYQxsl2ATxKMkiGtJ6R7w6kR2PXOWc-4nMN4DndvKaP_RXlzMjtSZxQCR9YncYfQKtYFdWJ_teRUKX7eyecpXDMwg/s320/6+June+09+115.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421808087580597170" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">melon - exquisite stuff</div><br />It didn't look like that much food on that menu but the dishes kept coming. We hoped we didn't let our <i>obasaan</i> down. Thank god we didn't opt for a buffet!<br /><br />Before trundling off into the night, we stopped and admired the restaurant's various ponds.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMe6WiRVz2TGJNEbHW9Amv5trdi-9bBfO0nPFGzdI0yMJSubn3Ztcx_TXxTl1FeD-W8Uehiaj89pdYIwcxGs3-I1rGllpWsfggTdizteqJGFrbMEeyf6uVjBsdlvoA5ZZPPJPu6T4gOjK/s1600-h/6+June+09+116.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMe6WiRVz2TGJNEbHW9Amv5trdi-9bBfO0nPFGzdI0yMJSubn3Ztcx_TXxTl1FeD-W8Uehiaj89pdYIwcxGs3-I1rGllpWsfggTdizteqJGFrbMEeyf6uVjBsdlvoA5ZZPPJPu6T4gOjK/s320/6+June+09+116.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421808071473744338" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">the staff's pet fish</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQQjHMtbjK8T7sUQfRk3pfqkIcvWaOFFK9TrmqSbX_gcRSP5K-ZyM7-eEpnCEn0_vEJv64KGAJeATd4nH3UPPB1LkzTTnO52EZsmKCg7Q3jBwqo4GaSjz-rPzvDnF41FwpvLkmqneExXt/s1600-h/6+June+09+119.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQQjHMtbjK8T7sUQfRk3pfqkIcvWaOFFK9TrmqSbX_gcRSP5K-ZyM7-eEpnCEn0_vEJv64KGAJeATd4nH3UPPB1LkzTTnO52EZsmKCg7Q3jBwqo4GaSjz-rPzvDnF41FwpvLkmqneExXt/s320/6+June+09+119.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421806062354402082" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i>cheeze</i>!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRMfR3jsnC3XsNFDynJoaqzjJIiLSzs9wihEFS6AwcRU8EvxTgoRHaC5A4wZ4gUzXiYKDTSmwyxYddk-qUMlfI3wav4iefedyc2Q3HNVqZFWqtz_TN-Q9cFfpcCW-qTMG2-UrTilEuT-d/s1600-h/6+June+09+124.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRMfR3jsnC3XsNFDynJoaqzjJIiLSzs9wihEFS6AwcRU8EvxTgoRHaC5A4wZ4gUzXiYKDTSmwyxYddk-qUMlfI3wav4iefedyc2Q3HNVqZFWqtz_TN-Q9cFfpcCW-qTMG2-UrTilEuT-d/s320/6+June+09+124.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421806055072418418" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: left">ahhh, there they were - live!</div><br />And thus ended our first day in Sapporo. That night, we slept the sleep of the dead.</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-48290422736668163572009-06-15T18:19:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:01:01.416-07:00Day 2: Stepping Out in SapporoAnother overcast day. Still, the weather was cool, so we couldn't complain.<br />
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We had a late start. After fifteen hours of travelling and transit the day before, a sleep-in was fully justified.<br />
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The first item on our agenda was of course breakfast. The plan was to go to Niju Market and have a bowl of fresh seafood on rice aka a seafood <i>don</i>. This led to our first ride on Sapporo's subway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZ06NjhI4uDVC0klXXu6DvHV6PujYs0vQn_sDr6HS6Ek2rihLs-UZcQ7nbFgWdr2eX_8_dT-eFvk_FS0bIMlxALmvc5WukFX1Bej-p9zlbXFX6g2YXDb8Pk5XFZA8jqXzv9TFDLzu7AZ2/s1600-h/7+June+09+003.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422548315891237058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZ06NjhI4uDVC0klXXu6DvHV6PujYs0vQn_sDr6HS6Ek2rihLs-UZcQ7nbFgWdr2eX_8_dT-eFvk_FS0bIMlxALmvc5WukFX1Bej-p9zlbXFX6g2YXDb8Pk5XFZA8jqXzv9TFDLzu7AZ2/s320/7+June+09+003.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sapporo Station, as seen on our walk from our hotel, the Sapporo Aspen</div><br />
The trip to Odori Station cost 200¥ (SGD $3.60) per person. Like Tokyo's subway system, it was easy enough to navigate (easier in fact, because there were far fewer lines!), clean and efficient.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9ec6rhRdfkGE1GZruzcMRGN5EYNpzt47Enebp4tt1q7Bhnr4bFMRTCF_FoSjnmsxd_0EbJRdvn_kkyQDHiyLj6hCFQ41o4nesc332V9n12s5Qx_305udOdy8HxdFDouaPa_aph8gCw1C/s1600-h/7+June+09+008.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422543148789457394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9ec6rhRdfkGE1GZruzcMRGN5EYNpzt47Enebp4tt1q7Bhnr4bFMRTCF_FoSjnmsxd_0EbJRdvn_kkyQDHiyLj6hCFQ41o4nesc332V9n12s5Qx_305udOdy8HxdFDouaPa_aph8gCw1C/s320/7+June+09+008.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and people queued up!</div><br />
Niju Fish Market was Sapporo's version of Tsukiji, but much smaller. We weren't there for sightseeing though, so it was straight to the food stalls for a little action.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-whm7oYV2q9omtNtsTvw7o_sY2_fifQG6N0nAxGzmNx6vGyN4eYDT0zvlghfxlcsukBEHywRmCRXfFz6AQgIe2DUrnL_BtSTEOMWxRhUTgwrkuhWAAWkR5bCQBpJ3_cajqLo68X_JOrvg/s1600-h/7+June+09+009.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422543139975654658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-whm7oYV2q9omtNtsTvw7o_sY2_fifQG6N0nAxGzmNx6vGyN4eYDT0zvlghfxlcsukBEHywRmCRXfFz6AQgIe2DUrnL_BtSTEOMWxRhUTgwrkuhWAAWkR5bCQBpJ3_cajqLo68X_JOrvg/s320/7+June+09+009.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this looked promising</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3V1M2BQwFfJzNuMTjN_3ABcQuETZZfKYA81g-LmoHFsHAc5j25ZwXMzy93-b4QNRawqzjRWd2l7Fjf0pTZOdbXBiTx181qB7c5xiHZhjUxWmaeb4jDOLeKXP9mFeX8OsrcEyTV5xZyB1/s1600-h/7+June+09+010.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422541306602722066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3V1M2BQwFfJzNuMTjN_3ABcQuETZZfKYA81g-LmoHFsHAc5j25ZwXMzy93-b4QNRawqzjRWd2l7Fjf0pTZOdbXBiTx181qB7c5xiHZhjUxWmaeb4jDOLeKXP9mFeX8OsrcEyTV5xZyB1/s320/7+June+09+010.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">there were hairy crabs on sale</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GAY6nbwfGD9rlKswaklPnzRmxnG4yGj24E5Hhvhr1Ikd_ACoA4NP8JQ2J8QIvJB938uLxpEFMHerdJvPMClsp6ecWxtmqN7yOSnVKL4s0FwKP6i_D94dcnpEPhveDjqhVtom9O6rfj84/s1600-h/7+June+09+012.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422541296578271394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GAY6nbwfGD9rlKswaklPnzRmxnG4yGj24E5Hhvhr1Ikd_ACoA4NP8JQ2J8QIvJB938uLxpEFMHerdJvPMClsp6ecWxtmqN7yOSnVKL4s0FwKP6i_D94dcnpEPhveDjqhVtom9O6rfj84/s320/7+June+09+012.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">snow crabs</div><br />
and, best of all, one could sup on the spot!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84OvjJ2Bh_EdegsUQQ8PA2IW2s7AJYXkaiKEOB1DbdSaHq7FvLKTsWWKYtH-A93M4zW4c4XQDmOzOpcf_zFMsrFDtOYKLnQzVZhSHR1F_a_zBPMa6i3uuoBJo-koagX-wSQjzyzuzUces/s1600-h/7+June+09+014.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422536724755444834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84OvjJ2Bh_EdegsUQQ8PA2IW2s7AJYXkaiKEOB1DbdSaHq7FvLKTsWWKYtH-A93M4zW4c4XQDmOzOpcf_zFMsrFDtOYKLnQzVZhSHR1F_a_zBPMa6i3uuoBJo-koagX-wSQjzyzuzUces/s320/7+June+09+014.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Donburi Chaya</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjBLzcxw-VgYk5nG-9oruyVU4eQmpJP_bB2lGog1n7ZGHGTbzCyXD1xnOi86JyTrYsEGdzVg0QZsA2EJpmhr73iIQLG4QGPfCyK22a8HbNULrS2tp7EvECzOwGyuCmmz-MIjWUPCE3XOU/s1600-h/7+June+09+015.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422536710962315410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjBLzcxw-VgYk5nG-9oruyVU4eQmpJP_bB2lGog1n7ZGHGTbzCyXD1xnOi86JyTrYsEGdzVg0QZsA2EJpmhr73iIQLG4QGPfCyK22a8HbNULrS2tp7EvECzOwGyuCmmz-MIjWUPCE3XOU/s320/7+June+09+015.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the menu</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5MkhaQ2luZCUo3ycZQK3e7jDjZCUHCxRVqkIHFy2vkhVMl3BpZBqCsoiVMf2oSbNuZhC9SQLOdO5b7B0Na89W-fPySW75i-1KnsBjOql6t0HqqXOBjaUlyikuq6LOQPSQ604F9_J6r3E/s1600-h/7+June+09+017.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422535336023853458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5MkhaQ2luZCUo3ycZQK3e7jDjZCUHCxRVqkIHFy2vkhVMl3BpZBqCsoiVMf2oSbNuZhC9SQLOdO5b7B0Na89W-fPySW75i-1KnsBjOql6t0HqqXOBjaUlyikuq6LOQPSQ604F9_J6r3E/s320/7+June+09+017.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>uni ikura</i> bowl - sea urchin "eggs", salmon eggs and chicken egg</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd627K5NeXX8pZ4VUmQeGuEMM3Ias989JhpvIm3Kxy9am4mOHjcCiVUd_RpiQ7Tf_ys__b2-qEZ1Xpuwc-0hoxcHiDjCSMpQRNQLW8Qrm8EyM560NfhHg9OXK2p3sOkyXsxzfJMxYWFC1/s1600-h/7+June+09+018.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422535327984651442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd627K5NeXX8pZ4VUmQeGuEMM3Ias989JhpvIm3Kxy9am4mOHjcCiVUd_RpiQ7Tf_ys__b2-qEZ1Xpuwc-0hoxcHiDjCSMpQRNQLW8Qrm8EyM560NfhHg9OXK2p3sOkyXsxzfJMxYWFC1/s320/7+June+09+018.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>chiyo</i> (crab, salmon, hotate) bowl</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ65inAKMPzpEFeCPieEwVXuhK6w0sYVC9C6KJDFXQluGSlqKreSxLczAkw2bH7staOyibTH5jA9SXqY3BVDOBao3yk-Lo3GHXK3TdKlpM2zIAdugQdnJHawspeBUSO2bvNSUgEMrIdVD/s1600-h/7+June+09+021.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422534435373549282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ65inAKMPzpEFeCPieEwVXuhK6w0sYVC9C6KJDFXQluGSlqKreSxLczAkw2bH7staOyibTH5jA9SXqY3BVDOBao3yk-Lo3GHXK3TdKlpM2zIAdugQdnJHawspeBUSO2bvNSUgEMrIdVD/s320/7+June+09+021.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fish paste soup</div><br />
Having eaten, we felt more ready to face the world. We headed back to Sapporo Station where we dithered about what to do next. The weather was annoyingly indecisive, drizzling on and off, and we hadn't come to Hokkaido for its shopping centres, so a decision had to made at some point.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, HM took advantage of the pause in proceedings to check out, what else, a drugstore....<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt0K9KEZumIMHyagdFbwKxT9kezZowjfA4CNFb_uDm7d5mUuuX1FhgcjaJ6P4mNBOIq7cgKBYrF1qgasTLZ__D730_TCoDT8HxJEHQwXJH_v0eYFivs414Ap89m6co6qhqbHj3T0K6ZAH/s1600-h/7+June+09+024.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422534425709532866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt0K9KEZumIMHyagdFbwKxT9kezZowjfA4CNFb_uDm7d5mUuuX1FhgcjaJ6P4mNBOIq7cgKBYrF1qgasTLZ__D730_TCoDT8HxJEHQwXJH_v0eYFivs414Ap89m6co6qhqbHj3T0K6ZAH/s320/7+June+09+024.jpg" style="float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">make-up paradise</div><br />
... while I amused myself with the usual people-watching/signboard gazing...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiycfNXMTfM1r_uad6R6EkoImzTZFjsYG5ucnm6f301DRqXlKegIPcI3Yy1_nyNVIVwmjnbcBqfkidgwYQhtyjUNStIRMiD6nDq2SC2Xtj8mtkvDAHGYuxHMSiAwI5neLqud39DWuQfq1/s1600-h/7+June+09+005.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422547013181666930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiycfNXMTfM1r_uad6R6EkoImzTZFjsYG5ucnm6f301DRqXlKegIPcI3Yy1_nyNVIVwmjnbcBqfkidgwYQhtyjUNStIRMiD6nDq2SC2Xtj8mtkvDAHGYuxHMSiAwI5neLqud39DWuQfq1/s320/7+June+09+005.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">what do those cute bats sell?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCETyeltlJEGC00V5t0szQFLD-7nG443ROoN9NkFX7uJsXnDZPrZIt-6cUCkLb5M8K_BrhDaNIT70TMvGnmXVQAkpgz7G2Rqg4rbzSofuzD_xOPF038VrCVaVZVNPHGn3xdr1zHCkCCRFP/s1600-h/7+June+09+007.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422547002184816114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCETyeltlJEGC00V5t0szQFLD-7nG443ROoN9NkFX7uJsXnDZPrZIt-6cUCkLb5M8K_BrhDaNIT70TMvGnmXVQAkpgz7G2Rqg4rbzSofuzD_xOPF038VrCVaVZVNPHGn3xdr1zHCkCCRFP/s320/7+June+09+007.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">man reading newspaper with big-booby girl on page 3</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1OyehLR5d4DQu52-zee3f6KhmDRLbEgGdDytqpKU9-axowxpuU2nqnWEx504qUKvQgPO3mfMZE-6kdO03KaRqWqZpNTyOa7dH3h7wdXWm0QzWt2jOXeF96r5IXG0IG1KNYosJWurilZN/s1600-h/7+June+09+026.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422533500707201762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1OyehLR5d4DQu52-zee3f6KhmDRLbEgGdDytqpKU9-axowxpuU2nqnWEx504qUKvQgPO3mfMZE-6kdO03KaRqWqZpNTyOa7dH3h7wdXWm0QzWt2jOXeF96r5IXG0IG1KNYosJWurilZN/s320/7+June+09+026.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">more cute animals, this time selling banking services?!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxi6dkVSQUzTuIyhFRoRdVEo0p_AbQVVEtI3gtIUmkEZL-ES3qtCNWcXLqN2HGgozEXBSkKM9JL-ZfbGI_WDnlU38YbQS5eEsPWbudrg3xJukmdUGXSSAsg1x14_YL0Nz7Iduadi8zCxO/s1600-h/7+June+09+029.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422533492857908034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxi6dkVSQUzTuIyhFRoRdVEo0p_AbQVVEtI3gtIUmkEZL-ES3qtCNWcXLqN2HGgozEXBSkKM9JL-ZfbGI_WDnlU38YbQS5eEsPWbudrg3xJukmdUGXSSAsg1x14_YL0Nz7Iduadi8zCxO/s320/7+June+09+029.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">they do so like frou-frou</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh3oAdEQiy40GjoX8cP-YzgvFIfkI9a4ni_xJvflafUuLt4AStnj7rTeRDSR0nFEgPYv__Df-t4nmAoQRGvZJqbfiQjtCd_r-3pjt6kTzLM-rHmNbkTzn1O-d3dxxktrlUJIfgqNJZfzn/s1600-h/7+June+09+030.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422531921191740930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuh3oAdEQiy40GjoX8cP-YzgvFIfkI9a4ni_xJvflafUuLt4AStnj7rTeRDSR0nFEgPYv__Df-t4nmAoQRGvZJqbfiQjtCd_r-3pjt6kTzLM-rHmNbkTzn1O-d3dxxktrlUJIfgqNJZfzn/s320/7+June+09+030.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I liked these marmot-like creatures playing sports</div><br />
Finally, drizzle or not, we made the decision to go to the Hokkaido Historical Village Museum, an open-air museum, a couple of train stops away in the suburbs of Sapporo. Of course we had to fortify ourselves first. We bought some snacks and had ourselves some...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2JyyPKFepbE4Ts0r9hwMeg1vC1OAr88ku4-3k7ouqgockrFMUMF6FEuqAYrQW_psTR4C-zwIQuncaM-2KMPGndZ6Oo4998yD3Ga7oEve-Uhn5o8dY2TgyK63QnWi7sagOv6g-Z8lNF45/s1600-h/7+June+09+032.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422531914597557218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2JyyPKFepbE4Ts0r9hwMeg1vC1OAr88ku4-3k7ouqgockrFMUMF6FEuqAYrQW_psTR4C-zwIQuncaM-2KMPGndZ6Oo4998yD3Ga7oEve-Uhn5o8dY2TgyK63QnWi7sagOv6g-Z8lNF45/s320/7+June+09+032.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">much-needed coffee at a coffee house</div><br />
A check of the train schedule showed that we still had a little time before the train was due, so we took a walk around the immediate vicinity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3sbwkGcQ6OyvL3N0CheRwWePPKFQsZmFMm9j0fE7nNvkQoD4yKcQN1jt_HHWBCaSoIgKyyRr8SXjfeB9JLYLT7YuMqNEfdjjxU11lv2CWIvKCJ2m6G2dPpnerFVIi1X4KbKgpz6vx9e/s1600-h/7+June+09+034.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422531198752519474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3sbwkGcQ6OyvL3N0CheRwWePPKFQsZmFMm9j0fE7nNvkQoD4yKcQN1jt_HHWBCaSoIgKyyRr8SXjfeB9JLYLT7YuMqNEfdjjxU11lv2CWIvKCJ2m6G2dPpnerFVIi1X4KbKgpz6vx9e/s320/7+June+09+034.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkaido Prefectural Office - eh so European</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNOuMaQkILpKrM1OUOoKf2iwZS4YoS9-7r-z5vlrJh_JrPOxM4qt41MG6DaKl8zAidHJl3g1G7TjjeGkpcl_Q2gzWZJz9jBE_2By7eY8w_Y2OgM-tqKotmwI985SkukdiFPVSiY9wAEKS/s1600-h/7+June+09+041.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422531190468974754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNOuMaQkILpKrM1OUOoKf2iwZS4YoS9-7r-z5vlrJh_JrPOxM4qt41MG6DaKl8zAidHJl3g1G7TjjeGkpcl_Q2gzWZJz9jBE_2By7eY8w_Y2OgM-tqKotmwI985SkukdiFPVSiY9wAEKS/s320/7+June+09+041.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a feathered resident of the grounds - a mallard</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uKLaX1tzGL23G7LWSCKApvL7_V26Ldt29-z21daCOk3CbVZwLllzEbLeUi61a4a3PcSiYo73b7pD9x-I2SHjwoubhaOJjuIzc4lw0_S4kpgZNWGFDKcCT66DMiQZMcqLhtWZc4H3CYT6/s1600-h/7+June+09+044.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422530163360226866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uKLaX1tzGL23G7LWSCKApvL7_V26Ldt29-z21daCOk3CbVZwLllzEbLeUi61a4a3PcSiYo73b7pD9x-I2SHjwoubhaOJjuIzc4lw0_S4kpgZNWGFDKcCT66DMiQZMcqLhtWZc4H3CYT6/s320/7+June+09+044.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a feathered visitor most probably - a black-tailed gull</div><br />
Then it was time to head back to the station.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmR4pGbwPLSNlN4YkiQ9Roj78m_SB4CSUjpmpGa9bYHYxsg_AB6fHGfPuB2kWqiF51B2ruFO2cP3xB0YkhTLFrPo94V8P-PGLspZIdCcdiLhfcMJ4iGYNcKIn6JIT-RO0wBmYY3JDz1Rx/s1600-h/7+June+09+047.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422530156076232914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmR4pGbwPLSNlN4YkiQ9Roj78m_SB4CSUjpmpGa9bYHYxsg_AB6fHGfPuB2kWqiF51B2ruFO2cP3xB0YkhTLFrPo94V8P-PGLspZIdCcdiLhfcMJ4iGYNcKIn6JIT-RO0wBmYY3JDz1Rx/s320/7+June+09+047.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">on the way back, look who we spotted - there, in the side pocket!</div><br />
We took the Chitose Line back in the direction of Chitose Airport and alighted at Shin Sapporo Station.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkf7wZ4Xil_crenWAXmJKvhI6cgRm8BjKGF7QkpVIsUokLDGtZ9aqql8SWJWv_2S7OJMKCZ2U4muYVjFQPXUBWxItaacFkBfOsseOOdI00rfxz9GEjSTSGAhuE8BJltdhaJS2GWLL9set/s1600-h/7+June+09+052.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422529278960041698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkf7wZ4Xil_crenWAXmJKvhI6cgRm8BjKGF7QkpVIsUokLDGtZ9aqql8SWJWv_2S7OJMKCZ2U4muYVjFQPXUBWxItaacFkBfOsseOOdI00rfxz9GEjSTSGAhuE8BJltdhaJS2GWLL9set/s320/7+June+09+052.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the bus stop for No. 22</div><br />
From there, we took a bus (our very first in Japan!) to the Nopporo Forest Park where the museum was located.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaf49_dXLVBfzuEyIPnHXbgfqVZ9FWg_BG9477fFu_g9ydtMIIpyJVQeFpVZ8yh10Uq7_B_IjTseeswrqMjSFaplPnesynLMkkxjUOgBwB1EO2wMQDzgYzG2kXa_52b9j5Col7xHfofON9/s1600-h/7+June+09+054.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422529273297268690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaf49_dXLVBfzuEyIPnHXbgfqVZ9FWg_BG9477fFu_g9ydtMIIpyJVQeFpVZ8yh10Uq7_B_IjTseeswrqMjSFaplPnesynLMkkxjUOgBwB1EO2wMQDzgYzG2kXa_52b9j5Col7xHfofON9/s320/7+June+09+054.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our first view of the museum - the visitors' centre and formerly the Sapporo Railway Station</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NdWWJ6FO6Y8OZjWGXMoGkl7I79JK_yK2WswHFlWBieeyniYK9XpcK67VK4oeiHKDktm8O0Vj0KQxzo0dt-GleIniQ3i02An2OZ4R24wvyTGg4FoKUsC6e2i3q-ARRhXy-nji5ka362oX/s1600-h/7+June+09+056.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422527693663520386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NdWWJ6FO6Y8OZjWGXMoGkl7I79JK_yK2WswHFlWBieeyniYK9XpcK67VK4oeiHKDktm8O0Vj0KQxzo0dt-GleIniQ3i02An2OZ4R24wvyTGg4FoKUsC6e2i3q-ARRhXy-nji5ka362oX/s320/7+June+09+056.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">an unexpected sight</div><br />
The museum was a collection of buildings, all moved from their original locations elsewhere in Hokkaido, dating back to the Meiji and Taisho Periods when Hokkaido was extensively developed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7vbiu66FiENppnC5cnQt7G4GKDz_k7iRsr7sFvf-RV9eFhkVj92SZUjEcOxq9Xv4k_TZwefhra7lJG8K4f_JyPXsTpT3CdxP4yH1Mw_rYNgS-bEFYmB8SaAmLpgKAJb1opLjA5WhoGXc/s1600-h/7+June+09+060.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422527688435230434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7vbiu66FiENppnC5cnQt7G4GKDz_k7iRsr7sFvf-RV9eFhkVj92SZUjEcOxq9Xv4k_TZwefhra7lJG8K4f_JyPXsTpT3CdxP4yH1Mw_rYNgS-bEFYmB8SaAmLpgKAJb1opLjA5WhoGXc/s320/7+June+09+060.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one could opt to travel in style...</div><br />
or make one's way around on foot.<br />
<br />
The buildings were organised into four zones: Town, Fishing Village, Farming Village and Mountain Village. (Those not interested in architecture or arcane historical details should scroll down to the bottom of this entry.)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lI_l_5tY9REdarM61y7Cwc9pGtrecw9mWzuGhU5EbrMz4RlvEi1TWe9N9MBUEH-BQ9BuRFaMG0KOyKFr-_CFUjcDIY_qA8LSTLXgbpIaRiyB12TvsqIUmlsjRyYvglxJNGHNGzVO2bPB/s1600-h/7+June+09+061.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422525738162781442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lI_l_5tY9REdarM61y7Cwc9pGtrecw9mWzuGhU5EbrMz4RlvEi1TWe9N9MBUEH-BQ9BuRFaMG0KOyKFr-_CFUjcDIY_qA8LSTLXgbpIaRiyB12TvsqIUmlsjRyYvglxJNGHNGzVO2bPB/s320/7+June+09+061.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kaitakushi Sapporo Headquarters of the Colonization</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJavkgfGGNZ-_dLtlZsVJMQGiMFaBicmMoqRAtpQxe1M-ntSTHGqGQ5oIgPIayhAopJjOJsT5ngICPIVP26U9uRvPvYzhyphenhyphenYLrgxQyhZ9VoYsrw22NQZAjAJ1mVhuCaJM2pSXKUiD-P7rg/s1600-h/7+June+09+062.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422525729411408130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJavkgfGGNZ-_dLtlZsVJMQGiMFaBicmMoqRAtpQxe1M-ntSTHGqGQ5oIgPIayhAopJjOJsT5ngICPIVP26U9uRvPvYzhyphenhyphenYLrgxQyhZ9VoYsrw22NQZAjAJ1mVhuCaJM2pSXKUiD-P7rg/s320/7+June+09+062.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Urakawa Subprefectural Government Building</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre_NWuUfG70dYp415r3Ojm7TYH657jIhABQESwFlRzUGkNTXwfg8OkVWSU7cLCUsHbed0jPecn6tdcq3zIKPtJ3WYu0g7A92kwWMwsbklsvUqXCqQgzMLDU98Y_XeZCLNQK7uRKR9bhDW/s1600-h/7+June+09+063.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422524690241532594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgre_NWuUfG70dYp415r3Ojm7TYH657jIhABQESwFlRzUGkNTXwfg8OkVWSU7cLCUsHbed0jPecn6tdcq3zIKPtJ3WYu0g7A92kwWMwsbklsvUqXCqQgzMLDU98Y_XeZCLNQK7uRKR9bhDW/s320/7+June+09+063.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">horsey taking a well-deserved break</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIOCLmttRaJQkG38EIHODjjmFMfv_zEQxv0Xl-TtXoPAb80njtyRnbVXvJO7hBCup-0ClDzFM3D0xolITgpgEjtqLY_nwUGtp7AkKZNAmeTrXd2ZBEn3u_yJ-dSTENYIguZJUbMhvyaPY/s1600-h/7+June+09+066.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422524672767099682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIOCLmttRaJQkG38EIHODjjmFMfv_zEQxv0Xl-TtXoPAb80njtyRnbVXvJO7hBCup-0ClDzFM3D0xolITgpgEjtqLY_nwUGtp7AkKZNAmeTrXd2ZBEn3u_yJ-dSTENYIguZJUbMhvyaPY/s320/7+June+09+066.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Residence of Temiya Stationmaster</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkVHhUH9kBZkpENPCQJxR-9BfsD0TUahKPCGOdwHoX2l-KL4z-zqiNycJKMlJQsjX0v_fiHkrdmivV8V62W51Z3kViw7pr4KOjxpPtub7MLh3LBrLbDzM49zPR5bbIGeYLF5R2-4aVXE5/s1600-h/7+June+09+068.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422523122968027330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkVHhUH9kBZkpENPCQJxR-9BfsD0TUahKPCGOdwHoX2l-KL4z-zqiNycJKMlJQsjX0v_fiHkrdmivV8V62W51Z3kViw7pr4KOjxpPtub7MLh3LBrLbDzM49zPR5bbIGeYLF5R2-4aVXE5/s320/7+June+09+068.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shirokansha - residence of Kaitakushi officials</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN6uJBJyzhsdg3rxRQz3C-m_pW79VZfqZAbetWXxXB6x-YFdM8diIphwfAbLu3LZI7bOpk7G0TQCDC21osrEj9QzXPljFWIUpq1A6Aygu9i5mpr6a32aKyvlH7phnjFsUhgxO-8sFydCM/s1600-h/7+June+09+069.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422523109298025298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN6uJBJyzhsdg3rxRQz3C-m_pW79VZfqZAbetWXxXB6x-YFdM8diIphwfAbLu3LZI7bOpk7G0TQCDC21osrEj9QzXPljFWIUpq1A6Aygu9i5mpr6a32aKyvlH7phnjFsUhgxO-8sFydCM/s320/7+June+09+069.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Residence of Fukushi Naritoyo, pioneering surveyor</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUFvKHqSUpe9QRfY_18tbT3iUw_IJ1sPifNAfX7VWm96cWqERM92jP1ULzRgpmTsPsV-MhC7QcEQOnvKmlU08BRBVnv2XdgWke5f5o2HOk9AhIq9Wto5g3wZnmsWI5CKItBJHVVWGjKDW/s1600-h/7+June+09+071.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422521561730750514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUFvKHqSUpe9QRfY_18tbT3iUw_IJ1sPifNAfX7VWm96cWqERM92jP1ULzRgpmTsPsV-MhC7QcEQOnvKmlU08BRBVnv2XdgWke5f5o2HOk9AhIq9Wto5g3wZnmsWI5CKItBJHVVWGjKDW/s320/7+June+09+071.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Residence of Matsuhashi Family, real estate agents</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLY1IpElXMt48Gs56tgOg58GUhekaCqoSYw60riTCvbkQT68Kl310GaN9IZZkBoFDX3gVkE1olSC6-T5aGXyrQcLqPK8a1AXyVzKZuPwBX0pH5-mqPP80i68QOFQVIQE8wAh7J8IyOIGS/s1600-h/7+June+09+073.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422521552446803378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLY1IpElXMt48Gs56tgOg58GUhekaCqoSYw60riTCvbkQT68Kl310GaN9IZZkBoFDX3gVkE1olSC6-T5aGXyrQcLqPK8a1AXyVzKZuPwBX0pH5-mqPP80i68QOFQVIQE8wAh7J8IyOIGS/s320/7+June+09+073.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matsuhashi Family Residence</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSWljZHsFIf4DR5OsAbheaL-Iiew9MpI-HwykmPg3fKsyj559mucx_ZtsbNmS_JivBfV8qPKPuzTNhSSxvR2qhjEhI7vVU0I76aFSgJUipWsJBHbGHF0hmcbFHr15b2xqlqXzDZPT2fpv/s1600-h/7+June+09+074.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422520564618093858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSWljZHsFIf4DR5OsAbheaL-Iiew9MpI-HwykmPg3fKsyj559mucx_ZtsbNmS_JivBfV8qPKPuzTNhSSxvR2qhjEhI7vVU0I76aFSgJUipWsJBHbGHF0hmcbFHr15b2xqlqXzDZPT2fpv/s320/7+June+09+074.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matsuhashi Family Residence</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2q9BbPHgFAEkuFiyZw6TUplcvIaI-nm3n0uJGWuejX6wO3fYg0uijEm4T4eigr6gkGYsasCXD8yfyYUikxUPSCrMw0XqAOeyxe-nZFbD6ECg2BBh_w7zVhgIbbHTxVk3es70UTqPIHbt/s1600-h/7+June+09+075.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422520557010676658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2q9BbPHgFAEkuFiyZw6TUplcvIaI-nm3n0uJGWuejX6wO3fYg0uijEm4T4eigr6gkGYsasCXD8yfyYUikxUPSCrMw0XqAOeyxe-nZFbD6ECg2BBh_w7zVhgIbbHTxVk3es70UTqPIHbt/s320/7+June+09+075.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matsuhashi Family Residence</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeWuZitl36OAjknAHB19mQYcLyCJ_JfbkKjL75T7V6EUrisMm5ZrQ7RmX7fDVV54nxUqx8zzp2PDBMMFZzYJOMtIAJg8L2n6ptBxy6WgPFj-xaAuU82gxV1o9KQfccNveAzmNWwV3eUfm/s1600-h/7+June+09+076.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422519348465055538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeWuZitl36OAjknAHB19mQYcLyCJ_JfbkKjL75T7V6EUrisMm5ZrQ7RmX7fDVV54nxUqx8zzp2PDBMMFZzYJOMtIAJg8L2n6ptBxy6WgPFj-xaAuU82gxV1o9KQfccNveAzmNWwV3eUfm/s320/7+June+09+076.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matsuhashi Family Residence</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEthn8MbPhn_1Uwv9_B8tE2sC2jh3hoO7n_zakqNrRHZRSZzQMrg5qayzYByEeRswWXKYRZWDA2VvTta4MWgQg68rzUuwYA8U6B2dP84xGqfnoffUYY6WJ_vFNtcYdXsZvRpOI2mZWznQ-/s1600-h/7+June+09+079.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422516764324679058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEthn8MbPhn_1Uwv9_B8tE2sC2jh3hoO7n_zakqNrRHZRSZzQMrg5qayzYByEeRswWXKYRZWDA2VvTta4MWgQg68rzUuwYA8U6B2dP84xGqfnoffUYY6WJ_vFNtcYdXsZvRpOI2mZWznQ-/s320/7+June+09+079.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matsuhashi Family Residence</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzhrd23Z4rm8wRvW1_NBzCzIPLpn_YwiLiK1fOe4xpnJ2rXEFpN0s3TD7ycwcfCCOLS8tqO7cGzZtBOfjf2YhUtHWgg5JTZdMu_sgWf4aT1tHJm37pin1WiZSxO9x_zvqJYIXFIH1m2Mq/s1600-h/7+June+09+081.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422516756706394114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzhrd23Z4rm8wRvW1_NBzCzIPLpn_YwiLiK1fOe4xpnJ2rXEFpN0s3TD7ycwcfCCOLS8tqO7cGzZtBOfjf2YhUtHWgg5JTZdMu_sgWf4aT1tHJm37pin1WiZSxO9x_zvqJYIXFIH1m2Mq/s320/7+June+09+081.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Residence of Takeo Arishima, famous author</div><br />
This was turning out to be quite fun. It was nice to be walking about, breathing fresh air and admiring the little details, all lovingly recreated or preserved. And, whether it was because of the uncertain weather, it was remarkably empty. We practically had the whole place to ourselves, a fact which HM very much appreciated!<br />
<br />
We didn't forget about our snacks, purchased from a department store downtown.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z7FLzHWHXSCzl6m13yQccpylispk43IL2ffunKFtoJcp5PZ-pW-fyLg5zhqsuVR9OcqBSLdsFeav4YcdwywGkv6GMHHONykrDSGZKSCDGkKsh_WmzPZkSUSwCVyGvonwHtOyvB5NO1Hx/s1600-h/7+June+09+086.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422508524398869634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z7FLzHWHXSCzl6m13yQccpylispk43IL2ffunKFtoJcp5PZ-pW-fyLg5zhqsuVR9OcqBSLdsFeav4YcdwywGkv6GMHHONykrDSGZKSCDGkKsh_WmzPZkSUSwCVyGvonwHtOyvB5NO1Hx/s320/7+June+09+086.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">prawn crackers</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr9sQYY3f1KlfDsWGBcWlT0DbMJ2eEMOjm-KPYB1er3AvGiNnXZAiVpCHa0TWgw7XV088nGOmymU0Jf1bQhaOSxaxwW6qB6O-erotK8B7YXo0AY94dRv4wTnmcMruEUe1xHPINjjSrrBk/s1600-h/7+June+09+088.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422508514484866082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr9sQYY3f1KlfDsWGBcWlT0DbMJ2eEMOjm-KPYB1er3AvGiNnXZAiVpCHa0TWgw7XV088nGOmymU0Jf1bQhaOSxaxwW6qB6O-erotK8B7YXo0AY94dRv4wTnmcMruEUe1xHPINjjSrrBk/s320/7+June+09+088.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">red bean mochi</div><br />
Resuming our walk about "town"...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6yc5d2fCpTlZK028nHASm95K6jjXc7-HJ3yG1IHVIB_z2lPQf977-tijbpE8M8vJPeDLwyRS6C2y5USV-FHncXeSF7GjK4kekmKo_485Ifd-8F0noOpMRslxPLZRvgjlh__ooFllUyKp/s1600-h/7+June+09+090.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422506610032500610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6yc5d2fCpTlZK028nHASm95K6jjXc7-HJ3yG1IHVIB_z2lPQf977-tijbpE8M8vJPeDLwyRS6C2y5USV-FHncXeSF7GjK4kekmKo_485Ifd-8F0noOpMRslxPLZRvgjlh__ooFllUyKp/s320/7+June+09+090.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkai Junior High School</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomsl-smk2k1LqAZWLIylkGFb9pc4_OdKra0-4DZaBFxmCsM1fmDseyEJ_CQXOyHce8JzCPxONWLShYB6T6Kf98W71BwGjNn_iBmszsjbXDud9SSJBnc5Ul7WtF6F4j4fVN3qtyg1GLG8P/s1600-h/7+June+09+092.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422506600649064722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomsl-smk2k1LqAZWLIylkGFb9pc4_OdKra0-4DZaBFxmCsM1fmDseyEJ_CQXOyHce8JzCPxONWLShYB6T6Kf98W71BwGjNn_iBmszsjbXDud9SSJBnc5Ul7WtF6F4j4fVN3qtyg1GLG8P/s320/7+June+09+092.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkai Junior High School</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheucgGRcpm2sVIiJfuRNpO9ss_PDWuwYzFXOIhs_9A2shCVla8psTHPurJ1LTP8kTudC-8PecCnI_tgj3fDMTCQJFQ3FLKVHG8WDYp9fOhowddu2pUq77pf_kghwRcMqEkCoulCkTeItJ8/s1600-h/7+June+09+093.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422505489720072370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheucgGRcpm2sVIiJfuRNpO9ss_PDWuwYzFXOIhs_9A2shCVla8psTHPurJ1LTP8kTudC-8PecCnI_tgj3fDMTCQJFQ3FLKVHG8WDYp9fOhowddu2pUq77pf_kghwRcMqEkCoulCkTeItJ8/s320/7+June+09+093.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkai Junior High School</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz_OWKYDGTs2aYYkGMjUhtpcli61rMV83RoCts27cQQia9rU1yBlWy3J1AGIO54LLvjEu-JNQnYjtoaic8eOs3cN5xp_dJcMKEIWbLoEd72X-GAd0KA1aAUx4sws1RIaj99gozFDBPAiN/s1600-h/7+June+09+096.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422505480573423554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz_OWKYDGTs2aYYkGMjUhtpcli61rMV83RoCts27cQQia9rU1yBlWy3J1AGIO54LLvjEu-JNQnYjtoaic8eOs3cN5xp_dJcMKEIWbLoEd72X-GAd0KA1aAUx4sws1RIaj99gozFDBPAiN/s320/7+June+09+096.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkai Junior High School</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkLFeUzyUpCXaHtw0PTVBZFbOoyd8K6pihCnCiNysIC2Hu_1ECrOFayZRGc3CBT6jgv0j5JVM_ZXURVF2Idjc7UJVxXJu0qyt7tTpA-MUbzusSGmUMIZdomeD9shUPuL7McEs3ljx_wo5/s1600-h/7+June+09+099.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422504463113983634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkLFeUzyUpCXaHtw0PTVBZFbOoyd8K6pihCnCiNysIC2Hu_1ECrOFayZRGc3CBT6jgv0j5JVM_ZXURVF2Idjc7UJVxXJu0qyt7tTpA-MUbzusSGmUMIZdomeD9shUPuL7McEs3ljx_wo5/s320/7+June+09+099.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkai Junior High School</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEhwmKlH1AmT5S8l3SqXcdhKAwLWsrSXG9uILylnLdjiImMnAvNck5UicaTbqimR141s22n4Uf71gf6O1964ibybOjsyWT_Rv7o2qZu8fBY2iaENpWx2R-sQ_3N83lPw-7G61nmIpxvBs/s1600-h/7+June+09+101.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422504454860608114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEhwmKlH1AmT5S8l3SqXcdhKAwLWsrSXG9uILylnLdjiImMnAvNck5UicaTbqimR141s22n4Uf71gf6O1964ibybOjsyWT_Rv7o2qZu8fBY2iaENpWx2R-sQ_3N83lPw-7G61nmIpxvBs/s320/7+June+09+101.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkai Junior High School</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67RvRRYR0xBt7Uuyp595MuwkNqXggbqHYP70RLjH8jnUNYkXItz7PbYfgZxVE9zKydGiiBGTJxBhIwDbQnt9e_qB4gFyICN2vINpleV_EPGo0NasXyVil2PrMyzbamUttubolf3JcEeKt/s1600-h/7+June+09+103.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422500477756721698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67RvRRYR0xBt7Uuyp595MuwkNqXggbqHYP70RLjH8jnUNYkXItz7PbYfgZxVE9zKydGiiBGTJxBhIwDbQnt9e_qB4gFyICN2vINpleV_EPGo0NasXyVil2PrMyzbamUttubolf3JcEeKt/s320/7+June+09+103.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkai Junior High School</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kA2-yK-aWfrqewCjjBNrBQ07BbeLXCWGyYRwK5V9xj9Ep-tGi8Dj4z7CMuY3JSHpGo9Zh9KhK1ui8KXt2HM4T7s8pouEoMvbRf_R9ziKPzJWsHcuOCXsMQu4HJWFUrs2MCnGE7uKjHWp/s1600-h/7+June+09+104.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422500468208652834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kA2-yK-aWfrqewCjjBNrBQ07BbeLXCWGyYRwK5V9xj9Ep-tGi8Dj4z7CMuY3JSHpGo9Zh9KhK1ui8KXt2HM4T7s8pouEoMvbRf_R9ziKPzJWsHcuOCXsMQu4HJWFUrs2MCnGE7uKjHWp/s320/7+June+09+104.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hokkai Junior High School</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj_mY39jQR0TV3HX0x356JGFS8QgVUdu26rfERyjXlrOXlQHsamRvD6FDGGmtR0eBcy8DUBOfUmvRfIo0tUr6FRuZwoC2FT-_5FMbMVH8XkiSdeosEJS_GNbg0Qz90IUode_16MlouK07/s1600-h/7+June+09+105.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422498377374030306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj_mY39jQR0TV3HX0x356JGFS8QgVUdu26rfERyjXlrOXlQHsamRvD6FDGGmtR0eBcy8DUBOfUmvRfIo0tUr6FRuZwoC2FT-_5FMbMVH8XkiSdeosEJS_GNbg0Qz90IUode_16MlouK07/s320/7+June+09+105.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ryuunji Temple</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQl5CH8tsh4DUD_nSCK91BgOwogJgrjW_fwx4Tw56dq4Dw4-o-7pZZ_jbsIaxRu7chCk30jA-8aba6faai5TxcXZvIgNh-qNXwN2LyhQ19wAWvRUTTdnUSlQQDTta721vYiQMBdvhEE8c/s1600-h/7+June+09+110.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422498364256189346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQl5CH8tsh4DUD_nSCK91BgOwogJgrjW_fwx4Tw56dq4Dw4-o-7pZZ_jbsIaxRu7chCk30jA-8aba6faai5TxcXZvIgNh-qNXwN2LyhQ19wAWvRUTTdnUSlQQDTta721vYiQMBdvhEE8c/s320/7+June+09+110.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ryuunji Temple</div><br />
Then there was the fishing village...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9mVnpWgToIBnRG3UHl8s9ZyP5ZRPOYH_nrdNytzx7BU1YMJ4sj2fqnCRiLnemb3doWkNKKJirE1NfgZH1jUoWcUfUJgz6J0nV6Z2is6Z8_mbBJtNIAexC2cOZLFLnWloNUO6FXtlqSdv/s1600-h/7+June+09+111.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422495396827584706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9mVnpWgToIBnRG3UHl8s9ZyP5ZRPOYH_nrdNytzx7BU1YMJ4sj2fqnCRiLnemb3doWkNKKJirE1NfgZH1jUoWcUfUJgz6J0nV6Z2is6Z8_mbBJtNIAexC2cOZLFLnWloNUO6FXtlqSdv/s320/7+June+09+111.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tsuchiya's Storehouse</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhwZ8apZ4XTUSdTnIbGQdZbniln8tQNbeddilb38YCUK_w0-OpgGRw-dHNjcqdO_n7qsfsyLI_0Cvl3-srt1hL0l60ge_bwHFTzBVEiAN2SLw0C0gDTS6kqSuZIFuNJtBJ_5tbWZ9i5gb/s1600-h/7+June+09+112.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422495389319045090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhwZ8apZ4XTUSdTnIbGQdZbniln8tQNbeddilb38YCUK_w0-OpgGRw-dHNjcqdO_n7qsfsyLI_0Cvl3-srt1hL0l60ge_bwHFTzBVEiAN2SLw0C0gDTS6kqSuZIFuNJtBJ_5tbWZ9i5gb/s320/7+June+09+112.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Rc9RgvXbIjA4z8bh_-UKz3V48k99d-D7n7BNkeqLN5xZ5th6dbj1vOj2I1TW-kpHJrQ-l8lX31EFyioibXRz4XKUCXTZwk2gGK0htGp5yX-af7oNYOG5P-YpHFEADg9c65goDmbSjovP/s1600-h/7+June+09+114.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422493793844188690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Rc9RgvXbIjA4z8bh_-UKz3V48k99d-D7n7BNkeqLN5xZ5th6dbj1vOj2I1TW-kpHJrQ-l8lX31EFyioibXRz4XKUCXTZwk2gGK0htGp5yX-af7oNYOG5P-YpHFEADg9c65goDmbSjovP/s320/7+June+09+114.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery</div><br />
We were very pleased to be greeted by a volunteer guide, an "uncle", at the main building of Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery. He took us round, explaining most earnestly, in Japanese, the features of the building, while HM translated bits and pieces for me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEQYB3apGyqh2OfONmaspyMLj23kUCPIPgnyposKdFrHazraSMQwm-HObqieEccX5FzSZJDUW4Y1H-oX87BaY-0hq19mlVncCGIDAV9gU0tt8A_hptLDhBlvqqrG2ToueDwmlmdvwfYPs/s1600-h/7+June+09+116.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422493784035693218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEQYB3apGyqh2OfONmaspyMLj23kUCPIPgnyposKdFrHazraSMQwm-HObqieEccX5FzSZJDUW4Y1H-oX87BaY-0hq19mlVncCGIDAV9gU0tt8A_hptLDhBlvqqrG2ToueDwmlmdvwfYPs/s320/7+June+09+116.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoxraKAf-AnLOABjItFvdty329pgebYgxBBbIOJIfZkSb7WW4slD02XqNvk80xD-nBUEJK_6ral_xgePZNqwj8kFOQbT9xw7G9fEv6czVtJ7a94MLJqXw20iy6lRCXSP-T-tcO9bpwb6d/s1600-h/7+June+09+119.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422487726732206002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoxraKAf-AnLOABjItFvdty329pgebYgxBBbIOJIfZkSb7WW4slD02XqNvk80xD-nBUEJK_6ral_xgePZNqwj8kFOQbT9xw7G9fEv6czVtJ7a94MLJqXw20iy6lRCXSP-T-tcO9bpwb6d/s320/7+June+09+119.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSwQc54duKneVRkEeHsAw6PVWVPbRTYCxMLW_9EtrfS2xDBOTwXb8SgeEgS_UkFDI7P4PpcziTbAJQNAshPUIoIA0x9J3R48RAH1RDzB9JO6P2KK8U4C-lT1fmlWmI-VtRIpRz5i1Zrqr/s1600-h/7+June+09+122.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422487715506719570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSwQc54duKneVRkEeHsAw6PVWVPbRTYCxMLW_9EtrfS2xDBOTwXb8SgeEgS_UkFDI7P4PpcziTbAJQNAshPUIoIA0x9J3R48RAH1RDzB9JO6P2KK8U4C-lT1fmlWmI-VtRIpRz5i1Zrqr/s320/7+June+09+122.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjolOtlCA-CYtrfIC01ForOndjutnzCgxjLeyUW1qSRumbWTCVG9a6dIN-4ZlXbfXI75NHc_gDBS1dxswgi3n_VjOr5M9xrwfuDJqzir5I2GWfL-LsaSJy8CrRfDeZHW2TjUiDeZK6qrrP/s1600-h/7+June+09+125.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422482529469590226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjolOtlCA-CYtrfIC01ForOndjutnzCgxjLeyUW1qSRumbWTCVG9a6dIN-4ZlXbfXI75NHc_gDBS1dxswgi3n_VjOr5M9xrwfuDJqzir5I2GWfL-LsaSJy8CrRfDeZHW2TjUiDeZK6qrrP/s320/7+June+09+125.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nxSJwoDzM5qTMmpoADMC3KkOICDjWF17yzNy-CVvQ9k7a8PvOzQp_9vz3LXqYs-vIWbzJzO_mrkrEtbBkbqrq5PSTXpsBHOGmXQTEguo9h-vBzozK4t5kTsQINDiFJaxF4gH-TuoH9FQ/s1600-h/7+June+09+128.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422482518408622706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nxSJwoDzM5qTMmpoADMC3KkOICDjWF17yzNy-CVvQ9k7a8PvOzQp_9vz3LXqYs-vIWbzJzO_mrkrEtbBkbqrq5PSTXpsBHOGmXQTEguo9h-vBzozK4t5kTsQINDiFJaxF4gH-TuoH9FQ/s320/7+June+09+128.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Db17iHbPbHBReiI6Wi1g_C1BvOwpW6vtvbBUdkXyMRgUQsAPVHCt54-JGC5NoAFqfu0Irl3Hq_6XRCa0w9AwWNjtXMCbYw-K4komHRdafGXVe8Hze8caEA-NzhESSALgBYuis4rrIXK2/s1600-h/7+June+09+139.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422480654502527250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Db17iHbPbHBReiI6Wi1g_C1BvOwpW6vtvbBUdkXyMRgUQsAPVHCt54-JGC5NoAFqfu0Irl3Hq_6XRCa0w9AwWNjtXMCbYw-K4komHRdafGXVe8Hze8caEA-NzhESSALgBYuis4rrIXK2/s320/7+June+09+139.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Fishery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_RQng_owf3Mll4d_8A5yMmV8ezLJC7ufcRaIuxV8_qfsHf0dFXdLbgoFnhl4dXopRpWMi0bnvWAW8_aCdEfD8F5QZ7PoA1xKCoU9FUyxSC7KncWAKlNl12iV7yvS92bbVwq_O1e0wME1/s1600-h/7+June+09+140.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422480639923168002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_RQng_owf3Mll4d_8A5yMmV8ezLJC7ufcRaIuxV8_qfsHf0dFXdLbgoFnhl4dXopRpWMi0bnvWAW8_aCdEfD8F5QZ7PoA1xKCoU9FUyxSC7KncWAKlNl12iV7yvS92bbVwq_O1e0wME1/s320/7+June+09+140.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsLgsz7fBuf6rC9E7mMITKgxfzVN4qvMclnw1yZjHqfGpYiGj1njOEPNnRCm1cH9cAvPh7g5hSTxkh4tJ6SDTOIRz5qH_rRwNOzh2EtcxZYnLcJkaRj3PVCrm-1q0Iv97EnqguaMWRv7q/s1600-h/7+June+09+143.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422470259982890546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsLgsz7fBuf6rC9E7mMITKgxfzVN4qvMclnw1yZjHqfGpYiGj1njOEPNnRCm1cH9cAvPh7g5hSTxkh4tJ6SDTOIRz5qH_rRwNOzh2EtcxZYnLcJkaRj3PVCrm-1q0Iv97EnqguaMWRv7q/s320/7+June+09+143.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hEBNlT62KW_BepOwc6MauvHoRZg-dJW-zKtyLCxpXEXQOwJc5msZIlrtvuh0t869EiuqTXjfqi93vlWykc-zddzYtbpydcsEmMCp4IluXf1pt88x7AzZfD6aAQv8jJrYFTIDsv5rLRsH/s1600-h/7+June+09+145.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422470244578832242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hEBNlT62KW_BepOwc6MauvHoRZg-dJW-zKtyLCxpXEXQOwJc5msZIlrtvuh0t869EiuqTXjfqi93vlWykc-zddzYtbpydcsEmMCp4IluXf1pt88x7AzZfD6aAQv8jJrYFTIDsv5rLRsH/s320/7+June+09+145.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamqxPsX7HkebZ4bYrDVsUXrWUaZEbGpELTYlNgUHl9BzcE1TIOxjDPKnaxwIq1uWgZeu-8JXFzVGE5E2i8N2PgmtrSsF-hLJgRXEP1xKh_JMvnyn-MSIhgbPHgD2rx4bIRWq4T4Fyp12B/s1600-h/7+June+09+147.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422459052506089634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamqxPsX7HkebZ4bYrDVsUXrWUaZEbGpELTYlNgUHl9BzcE1TIOxjDPKnaxwIq1uWgZeu-8JXFzVGE5E2i8N2PgmtrSsF-hLJgRXEP1xKh_JMvnyn-MSIhgbPHgD2rx4bIRWq4T4Fyp12B/s320/7+June+09+147.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDHYTYm3F-GXCydSBNQ5mr1vxbdZ2WjsNuKnpI9Hdyj7ZZ7ZK5IBYLg8BG61Q_416gBhqnHgIF5y5kxA9joYC-oF9p4OJjEeXPQLskVCEwUUp8ZEr-ndWH-Hs2DMJPENB9OKr8xP4dwuD/s1600-h/7+June+09+148.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422459042530433266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDHYTYm3F-GXCydSBNQ5mr1vxbdZ2WjsNuKnpI9Hdyj7ZZ7ZK5IBYLg8BG61Q_416gBhqnHgIF5y5kxA9joYC-oF9p4OJjEeXPQLskVCEwUUp8ZEr-ndWH-Hs2DMJPENB9OKr8xP4dwuD/s320/7+June+09+148.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf7NGrBJlcB6_ojhw70B0BVMHf5xW53JGSegRd7SVtKPKsoi0pcZ8gztXENU-74E-lFOIy14qn_S3PbhAA6s-sv8Ic5yR2oXpI-51Uf4Jlt0idjzL8JVRA5hzQnz91ooYv-XC4Mus9BqL/s1600-h/7+June+09+149.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422457449993908114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf7NGrBJlcB6_ojhw70B0BVMHf5xW53JGSegRd7SVtKPKsoi0pcZ8gztXENU-74E-lFOIy14qn_S3PbhAA6s-sv8Ic5yR2oXpI-51Uf4Jlt0idjzL8JVRA5hzQnz91ooYv-XC4Mus9BqL/s320/7+June+09+149.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMse5qAt4BNOByYA3ZXlj99y2YMTlxKu1OY7BSXqQ_0CEkzs4wBbvIYWVZcKhPCu7v_X82hzHFDcbhP_kuMdZpWuiKgG_QNlpPa3U7wgKB5OcE3KAdc1UrWPOb9cpIs1-fr5IcqkyXdwpb/s1600-h/7+June+09+153.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422457439480191074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMse5qAt4BNOByYA3ZXlj99y2YMTlxKu1OY7BSXqQ_0CEkzs4wBbvIYWVZcKhPCu7v_X82hzHFDcbhP_kuMdZpWuiKgG_QNlpPa3U7wgKB5OcE3KAdc1UrWPOb9cpIs1-fr5IcqkyXdwpb/s320/7+June+09+153.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUN0jsZ7wHHfPBqM_D4E-wFDnVAQJKpcA_m7e42EcVm60LAuRcZrReSec92WOF4d1JPdfCEKgNEBBhI1aVFnpFOoQqDN6fO_1SKQGAePpmfbx38OGbSjLjqBdEoL-_LDn7IiOpisPLhQg/s1600-h/7+June+09+159.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422454848471318242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUN0jsZ7wHHfPBqM_D4E-wFDnVAQJKpcA_m7e42EcVm60LAuRcZrReSec92WOF4d1JPdfCEKgNEBBhI1aVFnpFOoQqDN6fO_1SKQGAePpmfbx38OGbSjLjqBdEoL-_LDn7IiOpisPLhQg/s320/7+June+09+159.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Aoyama Family's Herring Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON27s4hmPoAReUilu4MAmcyA_6VRxn4S9eYkKeGmegBD9ZAtnmvZeVnkA80q9H7U8517RHz6G8TD44unSzoKyRdNwn4Noj48QSWmbpuZFvAtZ2j5Zu1gXJNpUFMDhQ0e9gb4awVEwt4oZ/s1600-h/7+June+09+163.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422454841426052562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiON27s4hmPoAReUilu4MAmcyA_6VRxn4S9eYkKeGmegBD9ZAtnmvZeVnkA80q9H7U8517RHz6G8TD44unSzoKyRdNwn4Noj48QSWmbpuZFvAtZ2j5Zu1gXJNpUFMDhQ0e9gb4awVEwt4oZ/s320/7+June+09+163.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Akiyama Family House</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZKLzCCn5idFBmkpJX5T3kY_YUwSMVJPcabyIKtMnSc94HPL07av4t0_7hG7AEbr5_mKm8JqFy6hhEyCeWjMFCdtN-YpX-O-wiPufOtsCSKjqUHm05xD11vNPj2nxqzEeWHiYN4Y-4m4f/s1600-h/7+June+09+165.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422447492544858898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZKLzCCn5idFBmkpJX5T3kY_YUwSMVJPcabyIKtMnSc94HPL07av4t0_7hG7AEbr5_mKm8JqFy6hhEyCeWjMFCdtN-YpX-O-wiPufOtsCSKjqUHm05xD11vNPj2nxqzEeWHiYN4Y-4m4f/s320/7+June+09+165.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Akiyama Family House</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQESx_KTWzOLmxLfhvdgY8q0ziHXQLaGbAgqrzWOqsABMpyuUX_rrQe5DsFb7zDHbthB2ZXsb8o0DzhFBoCZcoCotvYl7tdOmRK03w6fB0p10Q9_cpoRaJjukz7etC1SqJdFBcro5R2v2/s1600-h/7+June+09+168.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422447483938628354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQESx_KTWzOLmxLfhvdgY8q0ziHXQLaGbAgqrzWOqsABMpyuUX_rrQe5DsFb7zDHbthB2ZXsb8o0DzhFBoCZcoCotvYl7tdOmRK03w6fB0p10Q9_cpoRaJjukz7etC1SqJdFBcro5R2v2/s320/7+June+09+168.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Akiyama Family House</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsOZnyp5LhUJLrJ2J8NUmON6TKZZow0Yv0cNsA2nzL3pztLd1nv3LSgBJ-mxEjEhV0eNDNbnG4VShJajAavhA6DqF_kOa-OgjUKv4bOgT93-VJY4PTDpj_CeNxNkDdXDWAqz81Es9rsSe/s1600-h/7+June+09+169.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422444114518418658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsOZnyp5LhUJLrJ2J8NUmON6TKZZow0Yv0cNsA2nzL3pztLd1nv3LSgBJ-mxEjEhV0eNDNbnG4VShJajAavhA6DqF_kOa-OgjUKv4bOgT93-VJY4PTDpj_CeNxNkDdXDWAqz81Es9rsSe/s320/7+June+09+169.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Akiyama Family House</div><br />
After that little detour, we found ourselves back in "town".<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LLORCP3-1rAl7wF1FJqIyw5Bglg-u8uRSK8Ud52wI-0hcEcN2f72jzpdwPcSx86_7F-rU-98Stmj-0EVRFHQ9DEWvRK19Kb-rLSTKwf233Yxdycq1DVCUkP6BSBItwrVZO7k9Lxam-4e/s1600-h/7+June+09+170.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422444107973074802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LLORCP3-1rAl7wF1FJqIyw5Bglg-u8uRSK8Ud52wI-0hcEcN2f72jzpdwPcSx86_7F-rU-98Stmj-0EVRFHQ9DEWvRK19Kb-rLSTKwf233Yxdycq1DVCUkP6BSBItwrVZO7k9Lxam-4e/s320/7+June+09+170.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Urakawa Church</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJz61oItYdwQVTRcbgOeKgm8izkYyrbpv-ohU6AlIrr05Bp_i-3cq-rSSYIddSb43hZTeFF0SJTZ2wJS7Q5uFXu46TF2dwGLR6Y302nvrpiEEy6Df5TAyNIl7HhoszkEAARpuRJsaNGRU/s1600-h/7+June+09+174.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422442144105998994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJz61oItYdwQVTRcbgOeKgm8izkYyrbpv-ohU6AlIrr05Bp_i-3cq-rSSYIddSb43hZTeFF0SJTZ2wJS7Q5uFXu46TF2dwGLR6Y302nvrpiEEy6Df5TAyNIl7HhoszkEAARpuRJsaNGRU/s320/7+June+09+174.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Urakawa Church</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUYPTodamS-jKRks609enytCVG2lNqJW_WQ7fPlniCZ7YDlPkjv9BFxdzo0xrfBCrTfpVBwcFQRmY1FDV_bmoOLIe_Rl7gPDAQiYjdf2W0_HjR3oufds1OdPZEdaCbL9zVkSxfmv1zW6L/s1600-h/7+June+09+176.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422442131565896850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUYPTodamS-jKRks609enytCVG2lNqJW_WQ7fPlniCZ7YDlPkjv9BFxdzo0xrfBCrTfpVBwcFQRmY1FDV_bmoOLIe_Rl7gPDAQiYjdf2W0_HjR3oufds1OdPZEdaCbL9zVkSxfmv1zW6L/s320/7+June+09+176.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watanabe's Grocery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPqq2PMExgTN_0Ib76jUwCduVs3jDn1_hpkC1S4CSBjwRwPyXWN-RIHwA7-DqcEgR_LRl2dOUZ5nQ1OjqH7HQNOlF7A8dVJjrRCop4Y_8UUMwG3txMXZbHDFflgkOePSd02JqzMS88Pmu/s1600-h/7+June+09+177.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422438014781373266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPqq2PMExgTN_0Ib76jUwCduVs3jDn1_hpkC1S4CSBjwRwPyXWN-RIHwA7-DqcEgR_LRl2dOUZ5nQ1OjqH7HQNOlF7A8dVJjrRCop4Y_8UUMwG3txMXZbHDFflgkOePSd02JqzMS88Pmu/s320/7+June+09+177.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watanabe's Grocery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KdSKgfczRxw8Rz8eIeC87B9mpsNSOH6FaMOrliYUmSA3FvpMssONQayAHjLjwyuOFcFL288KB-hVF12kr1U-kNtLE_NTOIrAz8Slm8W6Kg1qC857MDRDWmWWSMdb3zoNCKl4qne-S85b/s1600-h/7+June+09+182.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422438006669967730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KdSKgfczRxw8Rz8eIeC87B9mpsNSOH6FaMOrliYUmSA3FvpMssONQayAHjLjwyuOFcFL288KB-hVF12kr1U-kNtLE_NTOIrAz8Slm8W6Kg1qC857MDRDWmWWSMdb3zoNCKl4qne-S85b/s320/7+June+09+182.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yamamoto's Barber Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7i_N44HWLRiTxVDfFEe9R95UpNoTtGLaTHAMPFUX2w4r0kpaXPEQyf5eo320cNYnEFXfqYDWmAL_emx47ULicmcGx3E5YcucOLL35BFbYs4E1RBnlTKtBHLCDQ-pIrTNYr2FgFXRiSTK/s1600-h/7+June+09+186.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422433977887550514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7i_N44HWLRiTxVDfFEe9R95UpNoTtGLaTHAMPFUX2w4r0kpaXPEQyf5eo320cNYnEFXfqYDWmAL_emx47ULicmcGx3E5YcucOLL35BFbYs4E1RBnlTKtBHLCDQ-pIrTNYr2FgFXRiSTK/s320/7+June+09+186.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yamamoto's Barber Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52RhTYWMOzS6C1-j-M1gOOV_EH51zgRy3ddTxFtqelmJohmHK4QdJqEHnMknW-uAxESk-dWLk0UGWfKhlOsgHZLuXrIw120hj0-wQN40HNI3HMdukjKKHigzg2NrX5XjHB0RYxqvEXnKc/s1600-h/7+June+09+187.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422433969833447042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52RhTYWMOzS6C1-j-M1gOOV_EH51zgRy3ddTxFtqelmJohmHK4QdJqEHnMknW-uAxESk-dWLk0UGWfKhlOsgHZLuXrIw120hj0-wQN40HNI3HMdukjKKHigzg2NrX5XjHB0RYxqvEXnKc/s320/7+June+09+187.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yamamoto's Barber Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfF0BNyP0e2hBJBzBIE5wcwR7QVWY6VG0CWTuO8_bOh-ifxtJp_yBw3eIFenGDr7jXJzxU-FsK59keS1gSPvSvvh4U5Vyd8ygqHR0EaN2KGPuLfPkz-96ltcfclsoBiNQIWpF0ASsA01s/s1600-h/7+June+09+189.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422429793884103298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfF0BNyP0e2hBJBzBIE5wcwR7QVWY6VG0CWTuO8_bOh-ifxtJp_yBw3eIFenGDr7jXJzxU-FsK59keS1gSPvSvvh4U5Vyd8ygqHR0EaN2KGPuLfPkz-96ltcfclsoBiNQIWpF0ASsA01s/s320/7+June+09+189.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shimauta Post Office</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFnXKD7mdjuk8vAZSHylcGQ3bMfIHLhcC8_nt5ZefLq9JB4rJpCdR8zSXDjV4kBcDgmcCETqw95aqNVwqIV-i0_NWggMxu5Ac0fQejCycj8UEJ0yRRYc0Hs7kf0ghVBUoXzvIJvwcKwmB/s1600-h/7+June+09+191.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422429786478641858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFnXKD7mdjuk8vAZSHylcGQ3bMfIHLhcC8_nt5ZefLq9JB4rJpCdR8zSXDjV4kBcDgmcCETqw95aqNVwqIV-i0_NWggMxu5Ac0fQejCycj8UEJ0yRRYc0Hs7kf0ghVBUoXzvIJvwcKwmB/s320/7+June+09+191.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Police Box at Minami 1-jo</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDDuJLtYSSP6dv7_yfQUD1-vAi9vRQDVlgpVTMmI6S2GVhLisxtMGFVyHDtGsUegvXgSE1B48UoQmb9XHok0vhBFpbqAICoxgfQAZBBIuRUta6wQbvmnc-C25G4pklVhuEa5XVDfl8faN/s1600-h/7+June+09+194.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422424410843485794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDDuJLtYSSP6dv7_yfQUD1-vAi9vRQDVlgpVTMmI6S2GVhLisxtMGFVyHDtGsUegvXgSE1B48UoQmb9XHok0vhBFpbqAICoxgfQAZBBIuRUta6wQbvmnc-C25G4pklVhuEa5XVDfl8faN/s320/7+June+09+194.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kaitakushi Industrial Office</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMzy0yctmuwNFAyXpXVqVpbCAt4p7DQlw07vIhABM7Lqemw4wGGnSz2bo53A6GAx2UEdFuQFD2VwwHgzPwq-3RBXQ-7X9vBvp1at5AQ60vYXvy1c8tKVqHiDN2cuHAYVtfmDfhLTjVJ3K/s1600-h/7+June+09+196.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422424399160815250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMzy0yctmuwNFAyXpXVqVpbCAt4p7DQlw07vIhABM7Lqemw4wGGnSz2bo53A6GAx2UEdFuQFD2VwwHgzPwq-3RBXQ-7X9vBvp1at5AQ60vYXvy1c8tKVqHiDN2cuHAYVtfmDfhLTjVJ3K/s320/7+June+09+196.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">exhibit at Kaitakushi Industrial Office</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiPBA-yNyUkFnQszSiCMm701X_QW3oA6XIPacANj0VQk7kuAeV5TnFn8nuNoSB0iI6_lSzsNI7Akek9wgP0w6_hPEBN8KHAyYUkqG8PboE88GZgkuflCykfdj1pYiiAN1XylJ8Ryphbv2/s1600-h/7+June+09+197.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422421715378172194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiPBA-yNyUkFnQszSiCMm701X_QW3oA6XIPacANj0VQk7kuAeV5TnFn8nuNoSB0iI6_lSzsNI7Akek9wgP0w6_hPEBN8KHAyYUkqG8PboE88GZgkuflCykfdj1pYiiAN1XylJ8Ryphbv2/s320/7+June+09+197.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">exhibit at Kaitakushi Industrial Office</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZzqBIju7pDXB9F95ouGn9u_S7-AWoZHMLjsQTQNscYehbH06CZvNyON4Gxewvx1eYIA-n05Pyce1NJhOj_0TNRpe1ExaMxycC00pP4Dsc3dsl9h4TgvaNXqm46cQTYpkEkCKvhF1QxD7/s1600-h/7+June+09+199.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422421707700174834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZzqBIju7pDXB9F95ouGn9u_S7-AWoZHMLjsQTQNscYehbH06CZvNyON4Gxewvx1eYIA-n05Pyce1NJhOj_0TNRpe1ExaMxycC00pP4Dsc3dsl9h4TgvaNXqm46cQTYpkEkCKvhF1QxD7/s320/7+June+09+199.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">exhibit at Kaitakushi Industrial Office</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aGzcLLwgQhzatj-deuJhnD4-X8nebmAgyfIPpmz5t37bhpr-9Yzq0weYTa9G56PLcYlcu7KjcepCgoiZV0oVdL1bbIlNyFqLds5PYNMmyTVIdEo73ZqLp1aF9dfwTp8arZ0Dz3YkYYbv/s1600-h/7+June+09+200.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422420600884368738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aGzcLLwgQhzatj-deuJhnD4-X8nebmAgyfIPpmz5t37bhpr-9Yzq0weYTa9G56PLcYlcu7KjcepCgoiZV0oVdL1bbIlNyFqLds5PYNMmyTVIdEo73ZqLp1aF9dfwTp8arZ0Dz3YkYYbv/s320/7+June+09+200.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">exhibit at Kaitakushi Industrial Office</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x5AmdhMEAKEYAKQc5zh7w8ki9WYBkTvS3oJ3mf5dDL_ndRJaC9JYc6vRYDPMpc6ZRpJ83l0PJJfY0RzoGJtoGVY7M3DXE67oP7NU3t4WU5wQGtBYJW0zRyndZhwIyOksVZceMozON5aS/s1600-h/7+June+09+201.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422420595716319122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x5AmdhMEAKEYAKQc5zh7w8ki9WYBkTvS3oJ3mf5dDL_ndRJaC9JYc6vRYDPMpc6ZRpJ83l0PJJfY0RzoGJtoGVY7M3DXE67oP7NU3t4WU5wQGtBYJW0zRyndZhwIyOksVZceMozON5aS/s320/7+June+09+201.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">exhibit at Kaitakushi Industrial Office</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ0WUt-Qrj1-9CulGU3NkSkLclQYIXLBGq7_O2RmfeGLnRQawgqni9zz1vMvQf4OivBGjr-_vYsVyUfXE-VnWSQg8DRFeUW9HmhbyuQTJ6iuJi_r8mclsaLoEr5S804bPVMIeGnS1W-9z/s1600-h/7+June+09+204.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422417571709682770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ0WUt-Qrj1-9CulGU3NkSkLclQYIXLBGq7_O2RmfeGLnRQawgqni9zz1vMvQf4OivBGjr-_vYsVyUfXE-VnWSQg8DRFeUW9HmhbyuQTJ6iuJi_r8mclsaLoEr5S804bPVMIeGnS1W-9z/s320/7+June+09+204.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Otaru Shimbun Building</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-64hc7IqXjJt9EmsW_tJKYO-klYcz59Vq6W-7Y_E23qrtCZyiO-EMEuYhhAsBahG16mf_MVNA15jsZkRxEfqr6fTapk0pJHbOQZzXtcQ3CGKnipBCjKH_-HyIgnglO87-GUq1l_duMK4d/s1600-h/7+June+09+206.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422417565443850098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-64hc7IqXjJt9EmsW_tJKYO-klYcz59Vq6W-7Y_E23qrtCZyiO-EMEuYhhAsBahG16mf_MVNA15jsZkRxEfqr6fTapk0pJHbOQZzXtcQ3CGKnipBCjKH_-HyIgnglO87-GUq1l_duMK4d/s320/7+June+09+206.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Otaru Shimbun Building</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF8qOmQeCVQlOppyguC40PO4PScAGWWXDnbHDLIH43IbihDSDKDAgVJRar0lS4KzNLiAZ-cba5XWlFPtUauBOI6QxRxrbBoSnDVIPWsvx9rjIG0PCME9JXoYqP1LbzDxeErQZgk2ifMw6/s1600-h/7+June+09+208.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422414435863531250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF8qOmQeCVQlOppyguC40PO4PScAGWWXDnbHDLIH43IbihDSDKDAgVJRar0lS4KzNLiAZ-cba5XWlFPtUauBOI6QxRxrbBoSnDVIPWsvx9rjIG0PCME9JXoYqP1LbzDxeErQZgk2ifMw6/s320/7+June+09+208.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Otaru Shimbun Building</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32nMBPKrJl4CBADgnOcp1aprwKTq41kH3RTJEdxoTsZiGweMkFMIQa0a2drLdLwoFW5eBxZ0qvUtdxoTxyFDSjpOf8qdYTRurZCP5xdM5W1fXqzQRUhyYwU9slTI-74vo59hLXGenXGXB/s1600-h/7+June+09+210.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422414423705924514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32nMBPKrJl4CBADgnOcp1aprwKTq41kH3RTJEdxoTsZiGweMkFMIQa0a2drLdLwoFW5eBxZ0qvUtdxoTxyFDSjpOf8qdYTRurZCP5xdM5W1fXqzQRUhyYwU9slTI-74vo59hLXGenXGXB/s320/7+June+09+210.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Otaru Shimbun Building</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIsmMSZSHCRLKuArv0r9byL3pUnX0x6vl9KeNbQccbZYhSAp1k-Gbg-J2NZHwweE_p7hiUE40WNvamFSMccvgoQwOmQJJnLW_ChNXM7zMrFwdGXwIf_dEhEMC6_U1-EjfS-iRO_GCxK3t/s1600-h/7+June+09+214.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422413191295914946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIsmMSZSHCRLKuArv0r9byL3pUnX0x6vl9KeNbQccbZYhSAp1k-Gbg-J2NZHwweE_p7hiUE40WNvamFSMccvgoQwOmQJJnLW_ChNXM7zMrFwdGXwIf_dEhEMC6_U1-EjfS-iRO_GCxK3t/s320/7+June+09+214.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Urakawa Government Building</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaT2yRIoz1v_ZHfF0TWEot3ZO89OnFyX7rlRV6tvL4kuwNkXbWB0uxDP1WcwHUxj83tWVEJrGtKRH1g-0SWoXA17-0bVvFRGka0ujd2Lm-wSM9H2qi3p1rUrvA0IfcKBVTwC4cQRajxIy/s1600-h/7+June+09+216.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422413184610737986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaT2yRIoz1v_ZHfF0TWEot3ZO89OnFyX7rlRV6tvL4kuwNkXbWB0uxDP1WcwHUxj83tWVEJrGtKRH1g-0SWoXA17-0bVvFRGka0ujd2Lm-wSM9H2qi3p1rUrvA0IfcKBVTwC4cQRajxIy/s320/7+June+09+216.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqd1wtPLe98ul6yQBv-2pPWE2l4Ensj1znr3izINfS0TT3vXm0HewycHu0_mxyMs1rtn16d_q8PGFkO7-aduMtroJXJNKCejaQwVesIiiJZHkxx9TGBjB63prrJFbuT2AgO_YTAGEUrwO/s1600-h/7+June+09+217.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422411051179385922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqd1wtPLe98ul6yQBv-2pPWE2l4Ensj1znr3izINfS0TT3vXm0HewycHu0_mxyMs1rtn16d_q8PGFkO7-aduMtroJXJNKCejaQwVesIiiJZHkxx9TGBjB63prrJFbuT2AgO_YTAGEUrwO/s320/7+June+09+217.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEIo8kVEJhvgSKGipJMG8trDPBDrj7Nn5CwlVZ_liYZO7C3nL2k0INPWF5sKp0LtvCAWDedWxTP26jPL9FgIBsBGcO41TKyMdyqhxQwSCkbHBOBaPQpQ0HjykNOxtVgz4OvZyTnB59DGt/s1600-h/7+June+09+218.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422411044232523122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEIo8kVEJhvgSKGipJMG8trDPBDrj7Nn5CwlVZ_liYZO7C3nL2k0INPWF5sKp0LtvCAWDedWxTP26jPL9FgIBsBGcO41TKyMdyqhxQwSCkbHBOBaPQpQ0HjykNOxtVgz4OvZyTnB59DGt/s320/7+June+09+218.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaurB8GUqw4jLbvQh7diuTXwDxRNGuRtDJjUDj2GbU11HZUSKzQwgX8g8wkJG1r9gydkbVA0EIi67o4juZSGEvO-lJ_UG1TUSQ_C1oMh59NKaaeK5YmUOlpzl3XtE3-j1v7KJbpLumel3/s1600-h/7+June+09+220.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422405093511827186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaurB8GUqw4jLbvQh7diuTXwDxRNGuRtDJjUDj2GbU11HZUSKzQwgX8g8wkJG1r9gydkbVA0EIi67o4juZSGEvO-lJ_UG1TUSQ_C1oMh59NKaaeK5YmUOlpzl3XtE3-j1v7KJbpLumel3/s320/7+June+09+220.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7juIYNCOGwULap3G1O3HGuCdSycbwf8nT-ZJoxfO-eh1dMxPvA8Y2wPwmPIlJvtzRqnsZoIXBaAq6R1IVR0WFGipcHgI5ZIjN5bndFZOyIvrIABRwxsBJzGlszekGXjf9CMek7PZcAwEZ/s1600-h/7+June+09+221.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422402039075340306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7juIYNCOGwULap3G1O3HGuCdSycbwf8nT-ZJoxfO-eh1dMxPvA8Y2wPwmPIlJvtzRqnsZoIXBaAq6R1IVR0WFGipcHgI5ZIjN5bndFZOyIvrIABRwxsBJzGlszekGXjf9CMek7PZcAwEZ/s320/7+June+09+221.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsBCemZ05PO6sSAOvAtErgN0tCR4d4san4-yaTQPp5afsdVHTnSpUIRGMsC2uWIKs2xLxtFQkDSEY17uxuNlYqYSappVMB3BnW7uELRqRPkEQy0TM4sHR68d_p3DkDr5okKiupjCKtudM/s1600-h/7+June+09+222.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422402025450504178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsBCemZ05PO6sSAOvAtErgN0tCR4d4san4-yaTQPp5afsdVHTnSpUIRGMsC2uWIKs2xLxtFQkDSEY17uxuNlYqYSappVMB3BnW7uELRqRPkEQy0TM4sHR68d_p3DkDr5okKiupjCKtudM/s320/7+June+09+222.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
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<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQ27UQffLEF5-fpqoCxnou8sS_yuToOTL6LeMKuLsuoeIKxHh-z-zszo0RpRDuS7pHbbdn-yHuMlQZwkgz6QU8RR0zkVVG3Gj94lIVufddQLfslhsfdLDx6ddR4RNnxbUuKdl6HcL1YNM/s1600-h/7+June+09+224.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422399805519189522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQ27UQffLEF5-fpqoCxnou8sS_yuToOTL6LeMKuLsuoeIKxHh-z-zszo0RpRDuS7pHbbdn-yHuMlQZwkgz6QU8RR0zkVVG3Gj94lIVufddQLfslhsfdLDx6ddR4RNnxbUuKdl6HcL1YNM/s320/7+June+09+224.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMj1sJ_R0LywF4OHnczUn1YqK-pIk2tjIutXKuz0QUnROl87R72yeriFLVAK2W66DAJrYwtUvEICwTOKgKN5kREvMhKaxQMLGOiMTSFqKcLGykNOiANo9UAxA2KgkX44N-1ks5DXLblff/s1600-h/7+June+09+228.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422398188941909650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMj1sJ_R0LywF4OHnczUn1YqK-pIk2tjIutXKuz0QUnROl87R72yeriFLVAK2W66DAJrYwtUvEICwTOKgKN5kREvMhKaxQMLGOiMTSFqKcLGykNOiANo9UAxA2KgkX44N-1ks5DXLblff/s320/7+June+09+228.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier5qK20ak9s-lZcsGNO6B043T0rYHdNoZWhBnOBigPX2DgrhX7kpOfUn947tBTwrMlesNHC8Xk1ZnazVvlxf2Hznt7qi2gizV7FmdRkQSlt6SCX3nWmEG7YIa9VhJn4LV8yTBamNTbLHR/s1600-h/7+June+09+230.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422398179553649026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier5qK20ak9s-lZcsGNO6B043T0rYHdNoZWhBnOBigPX2DgrhX7kpOfUn947tBTwrMlesNHC8Xk1ZnazVvlxf2Hznt7qi2gizV7FmdRkQSlt6SCX3nWmEG7YIa9VhJn4LV8yTBamNTbLHR/s320/7+June+09+230.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kurumasa's Inn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fGCj5H-KrrejMb1FTj2pfq4AfwWpa50UQ9mUy3jNHD8uCi5Ard-e0iYP1qkHpxzTVL_YM59YNFgG51HfAeBdfxJNAIOHU2z3pazSQeK9ddULnhBzZ16EgmXxJL51cclab7rfS63ULr5j/s1600-h/7+June+09+231.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422395435607322530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fGCj5H-KrrejMb1FTj2pfq4AfwWpa50UQ9mUy3jNHD8uCi5Ard-e0iYP1qkHpxzTVL_YM59YNFgG51HfAeBdfxJNAIOHU2z3pazSQeK9ddULnhBzZ16EgmXxJL51cclab7rfS63ULr5j/s320/7+June+09+231.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sanmasu Soba Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSWXH0VNPK9sDZSZ1-vMcdPxsxvVgQgm_LayfQX6yY7oaf8ZDdqjWtOmddZVl7CWiN-s86kS_9HeDBe86MeoKOjlE0_IYRgrM9JLXv97qbvIyGjQ2Ewz1jxXZu3znbaz7Uu8ihoVV9DvK/s1600-h/7+June+09+233.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422395429137972450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSWXH0VNPK9sDZSZ1-vMcdPxsxvVgQgm_LayfQX6yY7oaf8ZDdqjWtOmddZVl7CWiN-s86kS_9HeDBe86MeoKOjlE0_IYRgrM9JLXv97qbvIyGjQ2Ewz1jxXZu3znbaz7Uu8ihoVV9DvK/s320/7+June+09+233.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sanmasu Soba Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTaZjAhyphenhyphenZKA0lfV1owRBDQezFiUA92ZHG5MmIy4rj_NBIVw5Sv94ZRMAS_ABD0mx_0x14GKOtGXV3B_u0e2PUVljlagqM_uzP5li08blZbiKd4KEHyNRJms5qD-vnz5qJPFOSGIZR_EdD/s1600-h/7+June+09+236.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422393309738166834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTaZjAhyphenhyphenZKA0lfV1owRBDQezFiUA92ZHG5MmIy4rj_NBIVw5Sv94ZRMAS_ABD0mx_0x14GKOtGXV3B_u0e2PUVljlagqM_uzP5li08blZbiKd4KEHyNRJms5qD-vnz5qJPFOSGIZR_EdD/s320/7+June+09+236.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sanmasu Soba Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNja6cJMdRlZFDbqKteZ85H7kz_Yk03t8ppeLiahl3AM4DUOVrTgEIPbSXExarJd4NcTX4YiMW7u_xuYdlR2iW5RcSawpPIBu48ue4_laSqx4P7LGz6khA_W09Wd3Nxu4lrjnyJBTbu6c/s1600-h/7+June+09+242.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422393300029929746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNja6cJMdRlZFDbqKteZ85H7kz_Yk03t8ppeLiahl3AM4DUOVrTgEIPbSXExarJd4NcTX4YiMW7u_xuYdlR2iW5RcSawpPIBu48ue4_laSqx4P7LGz6khA_W09Wd3Nxu4lrjnyJBTbu6c/s320/7+June+09+242.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Takei Sake Brewery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_ONMOdCRmD5TmggQlCRkQjHCfs6ApOOIB71pTJcE6NVa0VHyYvw2GzX0T4RcMK2MQPuLNghSCi1SBsstLMHLzOVzlhiPkgNpGoKcILNPn0zZZEJmrpfa_Fr1-1C-44wW-wAq_Inu3XOg/s1600-h/7+June+09+243.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422390560309077538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_ONMOdCRmD5TmggQlCRkQjHCfs6ApOOIB71pTJcE6NVa0VHyYvw2GzX0T4RcMK2MQPuLNghSCi1SBsstLMHLzOVzlhiPkgNpGoKcILNPn0zZZEJmrpfa_Fr1-1C-44wW-wAq_Inu3XOg/s320/7+June+09+243.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Takei Sake Brewery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGpaXZ3FpTbtfqWsKNCXheV3FgLboaANKCNm8TfSkgKUI8I_8DNifkFA5PMsaKomrFDXutFA66p2ULvCLj62vjwZV36ybXG65k0a_cwHv_Aw0E0F-O8lB_atcIKQXX3Kfph1FvVmOHRAv/s1600-h/7+June+09+246.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422390550890386114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGpaXZ3FpTbtfqWsKNCXheV3FgLboaANKCNm8TfSkgKUI8I_8DNifkFA5PMsaKomrFDXutFA66p2ULvCLj62vjwZV36ybXG65k0a_cwHv_Aw0E0F-O8lB_atcIKQXX3Kfph1FvVmOHRAv/s320/7+June+09+246.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Takei Sake Brewery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWHqXjbpGRPeKZpiqZ3jyPR6RQr28ZUYUxZAEvsZLGQYEBaZdKcByEKLHXxVK0ew_1LoN6YrrGdoUodDt6neJNTLQSKEpEz-RmUgnt9lS-DtKsxFjYZGHKPcF5gn6tenf4auRksZGzx2y/s1600-h/7+June+09+248.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422387173258920434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWHqXjbpGRPeKZpiqZ3jyPR6RQr28ZUYUxZAEvsZLGQYEBaZdKcByEKLHXxVK0ew_1LoN6YrrGdoUodDt6neJNTLQSKEpEz-RmUgnt9lS-DtKsxFjYZGHKPcF5gn6tenf4auRksZGzx2y/s320/7+June+09+248.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Takei Sake Brewery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYaiuSOcbt6zsr8xtM-8sXZ5sJs8_cMjr_KR07iBnnOgIOXJxkacQymiQWkhFLIpA8iGLtZ7Hro6ujjBF1ViGbI7udpxSH7ll07bd8M2d0EwuU9mxlqDB-m9Ofs26PdMlfRuSlGA8Chi1/s1600-h/7+June+09+250.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422387163979943026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYaiuSOcbt6zsr8xtM-8sXZ5sJs8_cMjr_KR07iBnnOgIOXJxkacQymiQWkhFLIpA8iGLtZ7Hro6ujjBF1ViGbI7udpxSH7ll07bd8M2d0EwuU9mxlqDB-m9Ofs26PdMlfRuSlGA8Chi1/s320/7+June+09+250.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Takei Sake Brewery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW1B3JJr1YIopT1O21iu5hTfU7qfKyLeb7__wqNbRzpU7S9qJw-shuyPzWDd3ZUh8qzFNVsCLIOgc_iZ10pp1xNRO7LYW7uOD_0KOFO9cXkKNAjjz36L-MFB6WPPExvJho0pUt-4lpuH7/s1600-h/7+June+09+254.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422386019387286258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW1B3JJr1YIopT1O21iu5hTfU7qfKyLeb7__wqNbRzpU7S9qJw-shuyPzWDd3ZUh8qzFNVsCLIOgc_iZ10pp1xNRO7LYW7uOD_0KOFO9cXkKNAjjz36L-MFB6WPPExvJho0pUt-4lpuH7/s320/7+June+09+254.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dr Kondo's Clinic</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhFDWT2PGG25oRZxC6K1b2KsCFNMD_3JM3VzW56DpKXxeE29YxtE5ieQjUES6JLqOUkKLXlNg8jwanplzsPE8Fopo_sGD4S0zeFHzWz8kiGinfkltfUciC5jaO60v1-1cmuUSeiiEZFKO/s1600-h/7+June+09+256.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422386007814618290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhFDWT2PGG25oRZxC6K1b2KsCFNMD_3JM3VzW56DpKXxeE29YxtE5ieQjUES6JLqOUkKLXlNg8jwanplzsPE8Fopo_sGD4S0zeFHzWz8kiGinfkltfUciC5jaO60v1-1cmuUSeiiEZFKO/s320/7+June+09+256.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dr Kondo's Clinic</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2ZhFHq0_9e9p8J_iikJLNXJvcAe2BXx1m8zRvQGbrgFaA9KEATrjI6HciaS7nZS_tRrBBUCVmOuYhXVS3NePmtYx4FU0DFRZi9wymfBO4_V8jwjeNxb41SSlAU6t3Vm83TkEpBIqCq9C/s1600-h/7+June+09+259.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422380793143342690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2ZhFHq0_9e9p8J_iikJLNXJvcAe2BXx1m8zRvQGbrgFaA9KEATrjI6HciaS7nZS_tRrBBUCVmOuYhXVS3NePmtYx4FU0DFRZi9wymfBO4_V8jwjeNxb41SSlAU6t3Vm83TkEpBIqCq9C/s320/7+June+09+259.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Takeoka's Grocery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_PT2ZCgo2Q6bgScu7m5QhqtAov-TvuXWJc8r10FIJTj5l941o4QZT41qINNGgGyg58QrlNRJ8v7DbM0__F-WOd8fqE2vtNaQ9oU1X6d3bOJ21-0Yn9as5VI5QcLQWpxB0f6gVv79sqfJ/s1600-h/7+June+09+260.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422380786499688322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_PT2ZCgo2Q6bgScu7m5QhqtAov-TvuXWJc8r10FIJTj5l941o4QZT41qINNGgGyg58QrlNRJ8v7DbM0__F-WOd8fqE2vtNaQ9oU1X6d3bOJ21-0Yn9as5VI5QcLQWpxB0f6gVv79sqfJ/s320/7+June+09+260.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oishi Sweet Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PL_BK1b6hjcq7Mb0CIIGg70pRldCHYWaYuAQOXfD8F0nsuupeg1S6gcJli-gbv838PItRbEYGlwdafJWK7pfI8ZyBJ1dM_jDJkwW-ju9pFHnYilAyUpEhTW09TJP5FtGiloyd-eQwodn/s1600-h/7+June+09+262.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422379119719495938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PL_BK1b6hjcq7Mb0CIIGg70pRldCHYWaYuAQOXfD8F0nsuupeg1S6gcJli-gbv838PItRbEYGlwdafJWK7pfI8ZyBJ1dM_jDJkwW-ju9pFHnYilAyUpEhTW09TJP5FtGiloyd-eQwodn/s320/7+June+09+262.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oishi Sweet Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hCF8CLRiEgTBcXF1vzzr1ZR4swXgqseUT5ENm3RU4vXGpHVX7v8VgDLUeeYQEVh_MTibZUBXZQlaC9wiRV7lkUR_PrG8oXXzQhDk-wuT11iVT9mazN5bPMHDp6OFa2gNqlupz7Cd4TWY/s1600-h/7+June+09+263.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422379110300195682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hCF8CLRiEgTBcXF1vzzr1ZR4swXgqseUT5ENm3RU4vXGpHVX7v8VgDLUeeYQEVh_MTibZUBXZQlaC9wiRV7lkUR_PrG8oXXzQhDk-wuT11iVT9mazN5bPMHDp6OFa2gNqlupz7Cd4TWY/s320/7+June+09+263.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oishi Sweet Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjIE4vwgHaNWkLwQ1KiLtLyiuE_jxn0Dvp4LZ5ouBmDDl2QkqYwatr9aKLSjZM7GuMyj00kqrrS5HXQva-N1jdJIAboAJKFQdXXhbdQFOBl9gRyM_EuzLPJzBGDBNoe-YHsYaZkD2hh81/s1600-h/7+June+09+266.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422374559614843618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjIE4vwgHaNWkLwQ1KiLtLyiuE_jxn0Dvp4LZ5ouBmDDl2QkqYwatr9aKLSjZM7GuMyj00kqrrS5HXQva-N1jdJIAboAJKFQdXXhbdQFOBl9gRyM_EuzLPJzBGDBNoe-YHsYaZkD2hh81/s320/7+June+09+266.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oishi Sweet Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegwGIZ407ZjI_Xej1lXJ0gaSPTsLiggoPPLb0TB26kt6hKV4tNAgXKNAl7J0eHquVK-orlGsvJis07SFiW4e1YluDKSThhv4Z3SeIgmLnwbPU57nf8MVTOTIhDh0NNT0BOH4WON4y4ciL/s1600-h/7+June+09+268.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422374544407981090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegwGIZ407ZjI_Xej1lXJ0gaSPTsLiggoPPLb0TB26kt6hKV4tNAgXKNAl7J0eHquVK-orlGsvJis07SFiW4e1YluDKSThhv4Z3SeIgmLnwbPU57nf8MVTOTIhDh0NNT0BOH4WON4y4ciL/s320/7+June+09+268.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oishi Sweet Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKfwpollYgr7TONQFEBRz1CDZVXx_ODvvcN27P1oidDb_2xRfOYIy63aYQIPj3gu9UC1Z-EzJG5ZiDXpnRciqEkL4PsxU19QrYwQ6g7_V5A1zInUedlGMNoJDs-DmpRXC8TQDaKrtzHNE/s1600-h/7+June+09+269.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422373311276162274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKfwpollYgr7TONQFEBRz1CDZVXx_ODvvcN27P1oidDb_2xRfOYIy63aYQIPj3gu9UC1Z-EzJG5ZiDXpnRciqEkL4PsxU19QrYwQ6g7_V5A1zInUedlGMNoJDs-DmpRXC8TQDaKrtzHNE/s320/7+June+09+269.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oishi Sweet Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NRJ5GjcpzY1JftUs_MmShxgLbaAZEhsrpyLltblo6ynvY3mNeNIByd4UyBU5DqSL-JRGFr8vCcBb58Yyb4o95eDv0vUsJbf9owONhVhvL3qKnYj-Z9v9BSYqq23H05Kh26c7G_msmjN5/s1600-h/7+June+09+270.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422373298376503090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NRJ5GjcpzY1JftUs_MmShxgLbaAZEhsrpyLltblo6ynvY3mNeNIByd4UyBU5DqSL-JRGFr8vCcBb58Yyb4o95eDv0vUsJbf9owONhVhvL3qKnYj-Z9v9BSYqq23H05Kh26c7G_msmjN5/s320/7+June+09+270.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oishi Sweet Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPbTBognPMq83qHV9YIb4QdRv6QDMuaoBVV3kA5shSj5RMiE86HelZGjfKmMHZUy4XaNkH-QIUQQlWg8nfO_K5RVIxikWVYVX5SagwSsLiSBQenaO2bSEWkktx2PQbwFe8sQeB7kFXHkc/s1600-h/7+June+09+275.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422371376177548594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPbTBognPMq83qHV9YIb4QdRv6QDMuaoBVV3kA5shSj5RMiE86HelZGjfKmMHZUy4XaNkH-QIUQQlWg8nfO_K5RVIxikWVYVX5SagwSsLiSBQenaO2bSEWkktx2PQbwFe8sQeB7kFXHkc/s320/7+June+09+275.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ota Farrier</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyaqo1cNxR1vnnnlP9OLo53hm6KmiYmL756YyyjXH7oikO90OLVyjy6MGEYp7YexW9L9OU1Fo2XFz4Uq7DJRQZ_p_Cnv7qxpw5qBL18ijxqPRlNJpVckN-SmQ1c4yCj6uJuha8gIDPMAU/s1600-h/7+June+09+276.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422371364196804866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyaqo1cNxR1vnnnlP9OLo53hm6KmiYmL756YyyjXH7oikO90OLVyjy6MGEYp7YexW9L9OU1Fo2XFz4Uq7DJRQZ_p_Cnv7qxpw5qBL18ijxqPRlNJpVckN-SmQ1c4yCj6uJuha8gIDPMAU/s320/7+June+09+276.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ota Farrier</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHuTQvszOwpRPXiDmaUJ9Zj5MhOgDqw7bWJXORYR6PctxJIy_EUKJzE2DXb2nd1zT7O2LUq2D6gFFskHJaY3_Cmyh5m_-ghyphenhyphen9n5S0ReTjyVzByWSWoQZ6tb7XSHK-btOcfOmfmeqUDPF0/s1600-h/7+June+09+277.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422368070285476450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHuTQvszOwpRPXiDmaUJ9Zj5MhOgDqw7bWJXORYR6PctxJIy_EUKJzE2DXb2nd1zT7O2LUq2D6gFFskHJaY3_Cmyh5m_-ghyphenhyphen9n5S0ReTjyVzByWSWoQZ6tb7XSHK-btOcfOmfmeqUDPF0/s320/7+June+09+277.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ota Farrier</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN5mak-hWTpWjVbhSRYYt70GnzwgRmv79uVQTF-SR_ebTkLs299QAjh3k7sV2qJKP-7BIXwHmly4xznsKBytS9g3qlt05mllAPr9nhToKOKt-WoEcly97EPkNphjBIjWLNtD4NNHW2xHn/s1600-h/7+June+09+278.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422368060591357794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN5mak-hWTpWjVbhSRYYt70GnzwgRmv79uVQTF-SR_ebTkLs299QAjh3k7sV2qJKP-7BIXwHmly4xznsKBytS9g3qlt05mllAPr9nhToKOKt-WoEcly97EPkNphjBIjWLNtD4NNHW2xHn/s320/7+June+09+278.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ota Farrier</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OhOgMzcjKwNtIJSDEQ57Mn8WQiBdpQ4MBKhYLEeFxmtEH_yPuNOpjjVrsOvZM8NuWyY6077N3iFC8BbYJjW1Y_WmNYcOTkq10QwflR-FT71k2iH8CnnlDPIcDsSVZsHooMitpdjcz6kG/s1600-h/7+June+09+282.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422361419883022242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OhOgMzcjKwNtIJSDEQ57Mn8WQiBdpQ4MBKhYLEeFxmtEH_yPuNOpjjVrsOvZM8NuWyY6077N3iFC8BbYJjW1Y_WmNYcOTkq10QwflR-FT71k2iH8CnnlDPIcDsSVZsHooMitpdjcz6kG/s320/7+June+09+282.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fujiwara Cart and Sleigh Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmOtRegxikFBVihDd6KgxP3UG_ZleLMz_5TTT0p0P4DbSQyjhTF7HOrcA5XjAHwpBv9BbnBkD5VeeHHmRzDMZTpiOodgX0efeGJCVMP4kwxaN3bdVLQMaMFnG9KWw2NiAz2_n-rejza7K/s1600-h/7+June+09+283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422361410620997490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmOtRegxikFBVihDd6KgxP3UG_ZleLMz_5TTT0p0P4DbSQyjhTF7HOrcA5XjAHwpBv9BbnBkD5VeeHHmRzDMZTpiOodgX0efeGJCVMP4kwxaN3bdVLQMaMFnG9KWw2NiAz2_n-rejza7K/s320/7+June+09+283.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fujiwara Cart and Sleigh Factory</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGjwETvLnAldNUAhH9znwEQpAhqPZYhM3QZzaV1olEKYhyphenhyphen0Th5m8i2kM6MsCEEhqgPyKeWMtotoKI_B6qG1ZLY_gfklgAH3rG0rDHV_-ih3feJy-fCtv2qo9Ujs-5oioJ88GqBbM_0Qp4/s1600-h/7+June+09+284.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422354098682271746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGjwETvLnAldNUAhH9znwEQpAhqPZYhM3QZzaV1olEKYhyphenhyphen0Th5m8i2kM6MsCEEhqgPyKeWMtotoKI_B6qG1ZLY_gfklgAH3rG0rDHV_-ih3feJy-fCtv2qo9Ujs-5oioJ88GqBbM_0Qp4/s320/7+June+09+284.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">well</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwq-M5KecQSEgch-NgNhBQMVDF5HHHukbRGYxlOnfSArjhZmGfleakrqLwCbjecFX5y4olVoZcnQhk_XoaF0SXcnyFsjccpH-NzVD4OpOcOj61yvCoyY_0h_61UQTQbdGp3OjMfXFegrO/s1600-h/7+June+09+286.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422354084431186690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwq-M5KecQSEgch-NgNhBQMVDF5HHHukbRGYxlOnfSArjhZmGfleakrqLwCbjecFX5y4olVoZcnQhk_XoaF0SXcnyFsjccpH-NzVD4OpOcOj61yvCoyY_0h_61UQTQbdGp3OjMfXFegrO/s320/7+June+09+286.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Honjo Blacksmith</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_ATF71BWGLL8Y2uJhPsgDSPMGfHLpxfOZHOE-OlEyYeOBppnXTQvHvX46Z4Al2LPuqAzZi_-51CXq0ruCjRszwpCVyLiiXQ_zQJK-mo6V7MiqJL0Dk-xtkbjP19ilM6MEFRw-lC7kI-B/s1600-h/7+June+09+287.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422205095470287986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_ATF71BWGLL8Y2uJhPsgDSPMGfHLpxfOZHOE-OlEyYeOBppnXTQvHvX46Z4Al2LPuqAzZi_-51CXq0ruCjRszwpCVyLiiXQ_zQJK-mo6V7MiqJL0Dk-xtkbjP19ilM6MEFRw-lC7kI-B/s320/7+June+09+287.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Honjo Blacksmith</div><br />
And then it was off to the Farming Village.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHlx9mWlKdvaUQBdZcDj-xvyCI44-Zy31IOm5oWjKFa-X_n5JIxbbE1vZZHj4O2xUnku2CmNypr8fvv1mTx4ChFCI8cLt1F2InzrKL4BuzbemQ6oKWJz1hsB3Z92hhKFEPPBYXGbKPDQB/s1600-h/7+June+09+291.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422203740951289634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHlx9mWlKdvaUQBdZcDj-xvyCI44-Zy31IOm5oWjKFa-X_n5JIxbbE1vZZHj4O2xUnku2CmNypr8fvv1mTx4ChFCI8cLt1F2InzrKL4BuzbemQ6oKWJz1hsB3Z92hhKFEPPBYXGbKPDQB/s320/7+June+09+291.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">vegetable plot</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G0wl381ONEZnraHnrQAklN0T4GCxLuhJzg4nMsiCeb9gJpmFfbEk2bXiOcG4RTwKJeoSsYpvlpkg6_D6cbddf0wtP-wB9MZtULUcooGVW4WeRI00MNbDMhKVgF7OCwafy1r-zu9WcCuG/s1600-h/7+June+09+292.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422202614090705058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G0wl381ONEZnraHnrQAklN0T4GCxLuhJzg4nMsiCeb9gJpmFfbEk2bXiOcG4RTwKJeoSsYpvlpkg6_D6cbddf0wtP-wB9MZtULUcooGVW4WeRI00MNbDMhKVgF7OCwafy1r-zu9WcCuG/s320/7+June+09+292.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with a visitor!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpLjHN1T0w7X6hT_G0viLz6RYvMhtmcaaqYj8MJ4lJtTl8L-THhBx6v5BEfkzlHXwYEz1OlsuMvIa-aSbXs4VwszMigNLJhD0g2V4vNA3gmRxq7O4dhOEnYqcJGEGT-UmCCZEC9EpxgSN/s1600-h/7+June+09+293.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422201738185757362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpLjHN1T0w7X6hT_G0viLz6RYvMhtmcaaqYj8MJ4lJtTl8L-THhBx6v5BEfkzlHXwYEz1OlsuMvIa-aSbXs4VwszMigNLJhD0g2V4vNA3gmRxq7O4dhOEnYqcJGEGT-UmCCZEC9EpxgSN/s320/7+June+09+293.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ogawa Family Dairy Barn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHMlkuZc9gWR3XTz70UOl8WglfKsipd3NG7tOfEXoI-mml-TuxOnC8vmCKGTzi6gTBrwOFDG37I28QzUMFXNtVMFhmt77Vv3OFAJQDaF7iC0-4UVbzPxiCtR4cftVdo4TFmRGLJUK84jT/s1600-h/7+June+09+294.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422194975364159634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHMlkuZc9gWR3XTz70UOl8WglfKsipd3NG7tOfEXoI-mml-TuxOnC8vmCKGTzi6gTBrwOFDG37I28QzUMFXNtVMFhmt77Vv3OFAJQDaF7iC0-4UVbzPxiCtR4cftVdo4TFmRGLJUK84jT/s320/7+June+09+294.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Higuchi Family Farmhouse</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0HbXmzbBANHvw9_8PQw1J-I6yaUKz0Stq2RrZlB2o7BVgP-pu9iAQ-0hVOeOcwnmyD_uPSaZfIiyXsASegE3xENLR8QJBBhyphenhyphenR3i83Is3lqch7zXqgg0xvoBvnuKM0My4gCo5Qjx1oRsZ/s1600-h/7+June+09+297.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422194966244660626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0HbXmzbBANHvw9_8PQw1J-I6yaUKz0Stq2RrZlB2o7BVgP-pu9iAQ-0hVOeOcwnmyD_uPSaZfIiyXsASegE3xENLR8QJBBhyphenhyphenR3i83Is3lqch7zXqgg0xvoBvnuKM0My4gCo5Qjx1oRsZ/s320/7+June+09+297.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">another view of the Ogawa Family Dairy Barn</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6ulNmltMD1kjHH2M8QWGe36qGXCpfCzBT55yjdCN18OD10WdL7WaRKBMjMx_kraXnXuA4-MwuFzkumQ2wrDkmBzskbrvtVT6ZkeekL-sXFWfGpvvI9yeucJtyzMIYtdapyKaN_IXVNlf/s1600-h/7+June+09+305.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422193496387003618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6ulNmltMD1kjHH2M8QWGe36qGXCpfCzBT55yjdCN18OD10WdL7WaRKBMjMx_kraXnXuA4-MwuFzkumQ2wrDkmBzskbrvtVT6ZkeekL-sXFWfGpvvI9yeucJtyzMIYtdapyKaN_IXVNlf/s320/7+June+09+305.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and it popped up again!</div><br />
Time passed quickly. As the light faded (and we worried about being locked "inside" the museum!), we quickened our pace and headed back into "town".<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOR337Y4QlLl-gg8deiVoBYI4k_liP5N0Z5ivmg7N2-CIDQJhf_ZcHMhaELeR0RgUTnyzTc3wuMK1bA2xxNJE8Gsr-RH0LQ3ECXypDPLdUlZHHrZMKQoTwxskentIYgofeOcfGRFeDZDA/s1600-h/7+June+09+308.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422193487764401394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOR337Y4QlLl-gg8deiVoBYI4k_liP5N0Z5ivmg7N2-CIDQJhf_ZcHMhaELeR0RgUTnyzTc3wuMK1bA2xxNJE8Gsr-RH0LQ3ECXypDPLdUlZHHrZMKQoTwxskentIYgofeOcfGRFeDZDA/s320/7+June+09+308.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hirose Photo Studio</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmv6EFcC6G8BZHmkewUfmH7dvOz47TYkWUvOAZfbuRbX_rJAB8iA6LUC-PApHyhXk4fepWk6lO4Hb9VAzeauGvopyUbUbu1WmhIvrOagRTrme3iir8t9BBLjT4mZLsEvUAedpAYi8EUrJ/s1600-h/7+June+09+309.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422192403242904898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmv6EFcC6G8BZHmkewUfmH7dvOz47TYkWUvOAZfbuRbX_rJAB8iA6LUC-PApHyhXk4fepWk6lO4Hb9VAzeauGvopyUbUbu1WmhIvrOagRTrme3iir8t9BBLjT4mZLsEvUAedpAYi8EUrJ/s320/7+June+09+309.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hirose Photo Studio</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcRKnvMm40DC_3yJ7Kfzrl7xNssk778zlai8FlY-2aCQmvWUnmeb80nhqhEEYk3v7pL3g96818ZCXfrJWQePMvo2LlLFwSqFr-a4q6C3yYGkXwe1GoR1zsZJUT170uyFy68XOyEjXSwDj/s1600-h/7+June+09+311.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422192395926861090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcRKnvMm40DC_3yJ7Kfzrl7xNssk778zlai8FlY-2aCQmvWUnmeb80nhqhEEYk3v7pL3g96818ZCXfrJWQePMvo2LlLFwSqFr-a4q6C3yYGkXwe1GoR1zsZJUT170uyFy68XOyEjXSwDj/s320/7+June+09+311.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kondo's Dye Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYwGBe7zcLLxcc4AciEndtuspcZHuR74o8u8E0vs1CDZKxzh1Mll99aml3m2eLPANDv7b0KV5730LVduW5mpHqHZNZFnWjUHFu3STH3oq-n9xiZ4Vmy0RKQFVBAbFCPp_sFb8SsjOkHKz/s1600-h/7+June+09+313.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422188650666975250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYwGBe7zcLLxcc4AciEndtuspcZHuR74o8u8E0vs1CDZKxzh1Mll99aml3m2eLPANDv7b0KV5730LVduW5mpHqHZNZFnWjUHFu3STH3oq-n9xiZ4Vmy0RKQFVBAbFCPp_sFb8SsjOkHKz/s320/7+June+09+313.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kondo's Dye Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8DG7HyBRvDN4twZBbcbWihtRVuzaY21LPiTfczHPWY6hxyS1sgmI8lvHzd7GZG4qlccm9dYcSRGON9Qo4v9LqTaUj0OT7aOnL2bNMmAO2U81uPRMV7UluMgwKV7PRJcb6akKCw-6KVhf/s1600-h/7+June+09+316.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422188638509530786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8DG7HyBRvDN4twZBbcbWihtRVuzaY21LPiTfczHPWY6hxyS1sgmI8lvHzd7GZG4qlccm9dYcSRGON9Qo4v9LqTaUj0OT7aOnL2bNMmAO2U81uPRMV7UluMgwKV7PRJcb6akKCw-6KVhf/s320/7+June+09+316.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kondo's Dye Shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1l2ATTLuntO3GP0u3sbvUdGiGGVcP7ygduGowqJTq3LDtOmYxViqu9WE1H5srls4PzGne1fZLYNVyuJgNOQnQjl_cPP0EvWht6AM-RNN0vFGGoHRuKgtX20rnFkI-iFOdHbKp7hbNsXJ/s1600-h/7+June+09+318.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422187250084886082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1l2ATTLuntO3GP0u3sbvUdGiGGVcP7ygduGowqJTq3LDtOmYxViqu9WE1H5srls4PzGne1fZLYNVyuJgNOQnQjl_cPP0EvWht6AM-RNN0vFGGoHRuKgtX20rnFkI-iFOdHbKp7hbNsXJ/s320/7+June+09+318.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">back at the Kaitakushi Sapporo HQ</div><br />
It had been a satisfying afternoon. We had learnt something about Hokkaido's pioneering past - I love social history - and had a good walk at the same time. It was something different, for us.<br />
<br />
Back at the hotel, we put our feet up for a while as we did a little research on our dinner venue of choice. In Sapporo, there are several things one must eat. Crab dinner - check! Next up - Genghis Khan aka Mongolian style lamb barbecue. Why lamb barbecue would be popular in Sapporo, to the point it is apparently a must-eat, we had no idea, especially when Hokkaido does not itself rear lamb.<br />
<br />
Anyway, people usually do the all-you-can-eat buffets but we had a recommendation (and precise instructions on how to find the place) by the Tripadvisor experts for a more restrained place that had something special to offer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uDf5xkiXRQFZwkXT5r98VVsVCx5SSFtOjkxe-R0Uv5OOqoQyxNO68tpurYpMFmUWnNrgUxnZ6VVAQWTkPrS088Vez2AlUtQsq6mH4FdEK1dnGZW6wfddL94ZfogF6HjYQCTJDejhJHP2/s1600-h/7+June+09+002.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422548328442805746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uDf5xkiXRQFZwkXT5r98VVsVCx5SSFtOjkxe-R0Uv5OOqoQyxNO68tpurYpMFmUWnNrgUxnZ6VVAQWTkPrS088Vez2AlUtQsq6mH4FdEK1dnGZW6wfddL94ZfogF6HjYQCTJDejhJHP2/s320/7+June+09+002.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a quick check on the Internet to confirm location</div><br />
Before we left the hotel, we asked the friendly hotel staff to call ahead, to make a reservation on our behalf. They looked quizzically at the name and address of the place...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy3gq443hqKUaaFRs5J71WNfoTjwfBD9hReM6YtG2r2klyOIz3GLJQsp6SpqMuYo_6PyhO9olFHQZcryexrcRM8-YKeCa8iRwnrxgDdn-I8FIvkVPzkD9MF8z5psScfwVCk_txG7Onpgd/s1600-h/7+June+09+345.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422057942708528498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy3gq443hqKUaaFRs5J71WNfoTjwfBD9hReM6YtG2r2klyOIz3GLJQsp6SpqMuYo_6PyhO9olFHQZcryexrcRM8-YKeCa8iRwnrxgDdn-I8FIvkVPzkD9MF8z5psScfwVCk_txG7Onpgd/s320/7+June+09+345.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we found the place!</div><br />
Yozogin aka Merry Round, the lamb barbecue place, was located on the 9th and 10th floor of a nondescript office building. We took the lift up and asked to be seated on the 10th floor, as instructed, for the view of the cityscape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZNqWKHQmP_uyzO3nswLd6HTEqgZEM_LwMGFJQ3AY3exr2lDDQSHE6CZsIo6IX1tPlaNPciWIfQr2Psb5AeFPqnTiphksPPUPnKa5zuRoho-N8nGWdwsykE4bO7e44YKTRVwUpvmZhvop/s1600-h/7+June+09+341.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422059154936131906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZNqWKHQmP_uyzO3nswLd6HTEqgZEM_LwMGFJQ3AY3exr2lDDQSHE6CZsIo6IX1tPlaNPciWIfQr2Psb5AeFPqnTiphksPPUPnKa5zuRoho-N8nGWdwsykE4bO7e44YKTRVwUpvmZhvop/s320/7+June+09+341.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the restaurant</div><br />
The first thing we realised was that there was no need for a reservation. The place was half filled at best, perhaps because it was not a value for money buffet. No matter - the lack of a crowd made it that much more pleasant a dining experience. Anyway we were there for the...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldsjLmojUNY5FI4lTkCUXs3g3nej-SRhMSAo-gQsDkadQL2F0_tkikGgfSol-3fgza9uy2FtRaEGkkCInT3lka4O6jjRsPnNhskhhq5vz-KG6TxRt_Z3QyPP-ktx0NO3J-UoYZGn-fkIB/s1600-h/7+June+09+336.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422183828725487074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldsjLmojUNY5FI4lTkCUXs3g3nej-SRhMSAo-gQsDkadQL2F0_tkikGgfSol-3fgza9uy2FtRaEGkkCInT3lka4O6jjRsPnNhskhhq5vz-KG6TxRt_Z3QyPP-ktx0NO3J-UoYZGn-fkIB/s320/7+June+09+336.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">venison!</div><br />
The venison was to die for, like beef but even better. Other than that, we ordered lamb (from Iceland apparently and Australia), vegetables like beansprouts, pumpkin and egg plant, mushrooms.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cbVOfFUFjo8qbjZ7E2sDCpG7eScbp9bt3QfVA8jLZ9UIqtOP3L4CK5GQVPCiPE0IJojaXauOJJIDJhWkHHG1O8HsHqrUD2UFLP0MxVwhQGn8mCWz46kcrhB8ey6EKhFZz4C3eFeW62D4/s1600-h/7+June+09+332.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422187235293186674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cbVOfFUFjo8qbjZ7E2sDCpG7eScbp9bt3QfVA8jLZ9UIqtOP3L4CK5GQVPCiPE0IJojaXauOJJIDJhWkHHG1O8HsHqrUD2UFLP0MxVwhQGn8mCWz46kcrhB8ey6EKhFZz4C3eFeW62D4/s320/7+June+09+332.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we put everything onto the grill - see that little piece of fat in the middle?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD7OpJDnmidxL3vANB8h-7z2gtzWy7btpQeeJD42ShusROaTnkNp5tKAY5hdoMrkUGn1xdTPoEr1ZhOu0b_NSZqKkLYSM_TdmqHX69Cq0R_XLL-Kb11NeiU2Hh_bjkpwsle_mGtaIBzuy/s1600-h/7+June+09+339.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422059156294639698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD7OpJDnmidxL3vANB8h-7z2gtzWy7btpQeeJD42ShusROaTnkNp5tKAY5hdoMrkUGn1xdTPoEr1ZhOu0b_NSZqKkLYSM_TdmqHX69Cq0R_XLL-Kb11NeiU2Hh_bjkpwsle_mGtaIBzuy/s320/7+June+09+339.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and replenished with more food</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0jYQTg1G0oLr0nfc1wbFfr5P8F3fOtPUbvONUSHxGeG5Rm8YmBmG10RNi0P1jYE91t-t5JChv8SqGpKGvcWiClWtZTq0MtMn1tLyp80OlY8VyG9ezpDLDudshg56fzryD5KEYLUuCfxb/s1600-h/7+June+09+335.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422183832957664546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0jYQTg1G0oLr0nfc1wbFfr5P8F3fOtPUbvONUSHxGeG5Rm8YmBmG10RNi0P1jYE91t-t5JChv8SqGpKGvcWiClWtZTq0MtMn1tLyp80OlY8VyG9ezpDLDudshg56fzryD5KEYLUuCfxb/s320/7+June+09+335.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">had some rice to fill in the rest of the stomach</div><br />
And we washed it all down with ginger ale and plum soda. Good meal, we agreed, loving in particular the venison.<br />
<br />
After dinner, we had more food on our mind, but we needed to walk off this round first. We headed to Susikino, Sapporo's bustling nightlife district.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1daIPfbRHcfDut-fa_N0aw6SPCdR7I8TP7qpWXwg0hsQb-jVJSHZyuuncL7FDNo6GVaB3ghTXU3rv78cZKPOO0-velMCFifnjuScmkg_r61MouozAkHWu7E2dcJqiglTyd14CT5ktmQkU/s1600-h/7+June+09+354.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422055747675046658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1daIPfbRHcfDut-fa_N0aw6SPCdR7I8TP7qpWXwg0hsQb-jVJSHZyuuncL7FDNo6GVaB3ghTXU3rv78cZKPOO0-velMCFifnjuScmkg_r61MouozAkHWu7E2dcJqiglTyd14CT5ktmQkU/s320/7+June+09+354.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">big city lights</div><br />
In a frontier state, a big city like Sapporo must provide entertainment for all those pioneering men, lonely, bored and away from home, and Susikino is apparently where it's all at. It was loud, brash and bright. We craned our necks to admire the bristling neon signage and, below that, the colourful personalities. A male voice blasted out from some unseen speakers, yodelling country-music style, some Japanese song with the catchy chorus of "I'm a Hokkaido man", in English. Nice!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1Zz59oGYjuccczEBJ0VDMQqpDn-iI2-IyFIhXU-R7DWGEa9NPITfRePDJ-7iXQ8_9n-DRno7-mXHkWNo1aN-wNgUV3okxVu9iFAEYZ9pl9_h5TrQ908a8YG-jcY5gpvHF_S4PHvpuSWG/s1600-h/7+June+09+357.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422055736376096290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1Zz59oGYjuccczEBJ0VDMQqpDn-iI2-IyFIhXU-R7DWGEa9NPITfRePDJ-7iXQ8_9n-DRno7-mXHkWNo1aN-wNgUV3okxVu9iFAEYZ9pl9_h5TrQ908a8YG-jcY5gpvHF_S4PHvpuSWG/s320/7+June+09+357.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">oshiare (?) aka trendy hosts, straight out of Ouran Host Club, haha</div><br />
It didn't take us long to find room for an ice-cream. Hokkaido - land of dairy, so that was a must-try.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bE4CIXMp0tSBDRr43ttAkd09WtYE57tl71uDDhohI3rvYM8I9wErdXGwfVLoYHM2oBXNQ75_coZvJ86NuACThGkfTPXgxnBJVlP8PMoQ5L4AME14jZDvzHQXF55B9BSFrVCTuaEgHxHs/s1600-h/7+June+09+362.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422054283706241698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bE4CIXMp0tSBDRr43ttAkd09WtYE57tl71uDDhohI3rvYM8I9wErdXGwfVLoYHM2oBXNQ75_coZvJ86NuACThGkfTPXgxnBJVlP8PMoQ5L4AME14jZDvzHQXF55B9BSFrVCTuaEgHxHs/s320/7+June+09+362.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">milk flavour (320¥/SGD $5.12)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMnc9k8NwOD_LvNVQhy8NB1IIvYiJJUdZX7clYbnKHP-0TPqkUgBRKGIDGBtgcHkGH1e_8gfMxES3EMyiBP2zdfIvDD3R2sshjhpK26VHC34gOxJdORglx7N_GsTpnloQ4i6E1Tq1ickU/s1600-h/7+June+09+364.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422054272357361906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMnc9k8NwOD_LvNVQhy8NB1IIvYiJJUdZX7clYbnKHP-0TPqkUgBRKGIDGBtgcHkGH1e_8gfMxES3EMyiBP2zdfIvDD3R2sshjhpK26VHC34gOxJdORglx7N_GsTpnloQ4i6E1Tq1ickU/s320/7+June+09+364.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from this shop</div><br />
We eventually found Ramen Alley. How could we visit Sapporo without trying Hokkaido-style ramen?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXpKesF0NHOp812SdjqZZT3Px73U9aTBFJshiR1BCciuMng_eLqUB59AUHa-UfmNhG9bCCe-RnRGtEtxo6LYY-icaurOISzOcOysUeaO8T0ItqSZT3xVmdDZRtcRGtIFQ51wZ0bbAo_lR/s1600-h/7+June+09+382.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422049413128575570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXpKesF0NHOp812SdjqZZT3Px73U9aTBFJshiR1BCciuMng_eLqUB59AUHa-UfmNhG9bCCe-RnRGtEtxo6LYY-icaurOISzOcOysUeaO8T0ItqSZT3xVmdDZRtcRGtIFQ51wZ0bbAo_lR/s320/7+June+09+382.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A narrow alley flanked by ramen shops on both sides</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nyBx9EtAf7ZwgpX2dLDqfcTFfQ6Yh7fbBuVa7GMijIeXs4hYOJqndWY_O0JNBiG27c-Esp_ZArcPCFsBqx2STZcbhbCTysUhUKAsyJQi8fuAonKm9CQ2DbBgEATG4zctWJprqy8wb9tQ/s1600-h/7+June+09+378.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422049422798065746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nyBx9EtAf7ZwgpX2dLDqfcTFfQ6Yh7fbBuVa7GMijIeXs4hYOJqndWY_O0JNBiG27c-Esp_ZArcPCFsBqx2STZcbhbCTysUhUKAsyJQi8fuAonKm9CQ2DbBgEATG4zctWJprqy8wb9tQ/s320/7+June+09+378.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a noticeboard with adverts from all the shops and some kind of rating system</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BjajlrDDtBsdB_n03sVCHZeQRIWcV-smjfu0dOFst6vrQ7oOH0ihpTMHFmfTy1cO2VVS1mA2O_gJVhD9Bp_U4ALPijppECh7nab3cZ1KnEhDufsliIezD9ieX8_yE14_EDnlfxoAnGmN/s1600-h/7+June+09+375.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422052235070039682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BjajlrDDtBsdB_n03sVCHZeQRIWcV-smjfu0dOFst6vrQ7oOH0ihpTMHFmfTy1cO2VVS1mA2O_gJVhD9Bp_U4ALPijppECh7nab3cZ1KnEhDufsliIezD9ieX8_yE14_EDnlfxoAnGmN/s320/7+June+09+375.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we chose this one, because it had good ratings and was still open at that late hour</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThUKuwkMu6rjQhww0cFR3-8CoIjyjI8Y6ZWEs-PyeKJxfOGUt6fp5xZYZqEbwBOTDPOQrYD1DoulC1iiJDO5T-eXvJbdb48VrWYqPg3Rt3hxnvjlO9Uw2_RU2Dvur7LefrHS4PUkjsA1Y/s1600-h/7+June+09+369.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422053423274007826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThUKuwkMu6rjQhww0cFR3-8CoIjyjI8Y6ZWEs-PyeKJxfOGUt6fp5xZYZqEbwBOTDPOQrYD1DoulC1iiJDO5T-eXvJbdb48VrWYqPg3Rt3hxnvjlO9Uw2_RU2Dvur7LefrHS4PUkjsA1Y/s320/7+June+09+369.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our noodles being cooked</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP8bTHs7lxItu1_lUxW3aHQbY-uVtxp1UI9laWHKBL9IH3PXU8vLY_6g3TMJObxg-ivDL1u4rpbbrodECff2Vg1vIcGR_iu_2b7EOjyOgO7zq7t7r0xkS_5owVEPpYz8rsn7Y6c3cjFjv/s1600-h/7+June+09+371.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422053415993788930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP8bTHs7lxItu1_lUxW3aHQbY-uVtxp1UI9laWHKBL9IH3PXU8vLY_6g3TMJObxg-ivDL1u4rpbbrodECff2Vg1vIcGR_iu_2b7EOjyOgO7zq7t7r0xkS_5owVEPpYz8rsn7Y6c3cjFjv/s320/7+June+09+371.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ebi hotate shio (prawns and scallops in a salt-based soup)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXgLtcYVkxocIIgpXl0DJz5i1goXap2c1VucScxluu4eNY8M2U0zEAjdx7sg7kkvfGJnAqxtTyGUMbuQDgHHvw-uRLNPG63OCFJyuzWTS2IjbySeg_jBF758CGU0noTuQvvRFVKV51oJd/s1600-h/7+June+09+374.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422052244338616642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXgLtcYVkxocIIgpXl0DJz5i1goXap2c1VucScxluu4eNY8M2U0zEAjdx7sg7kkvfGJnAqxtTyGUMbuQDgHHvw-uRLNPG63OCFJyuzWTS2IjbySeg_jBF758CGU0noTuQvvRFVKV51oJd/s320/7+June+09+374.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cha siu miso</div><br />
Of the two, I preferred the miso-based one. The miso was tasty and the soup was slightly spicy. The shio soup was surprisingly light and unsalty, not what I had expected and perhaps a little too subtle for me. One nice touch - there was lots of <i>tau geh</i> aka beansprouts.<br />
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After all that food, we decided to walk all the back to our hotel. We were moving out the next day, so we had our bags to pack. It had been a flying visit to Sapporo but we agreed we would be back some day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIMp9ZKDQwVGnD_VIMiB0nUUf3F_6KlJW8Hq68eWCuxcdXjJx7LNqYo5RhPeak9IJMhUxpU2ZC-gzvMtkMRW1XiqHMNgXAO_6Q5bZ6zwDX_ojZsoGr0REiqb1Rp-dilO8PsdRozAEI0CR/s1600-h/7+June+09+392.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422047791366306530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIMp9ZKDQwVGnD_VIMiB0nUUf3F_6KlJW8Hq68eWCuxcdXjJx7LNqYo5RhPeak9IJMhUxpU2ZC-gzvMtkMRW1XiqHMNgXAO_6Q5bZ6zwDX_ojZsoGr0REiqb1Rp-dilO8PsdRozAEI0CR/s320/7+June+09+392.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sapporo by night</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-58461145526120560502009-06-14T03:41:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:01:01.417-07:00Day 3: Beautiful BieiThe gloomy weather did nothing to help us wake up early. My plan for an early morning walk fell by the wayside. Hopefully, the doom and gloom would not follow us, as we left Sapporo for the countryside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnS5bAOWiDSdwa4dfuBDh0GJuML4dptjBcFcqnK6hp5uHpEg3P8ZISr0sBmC04WsGzvZJ64pKQY0y2hSE5yUt23d0nNJamJhFLBTqaVHBO-hBi2TgzqY7-cu2Xg_nkW-nqxab4yVBtyqC/s1600-h/8+June+09+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnS5bAOWiDSdwa4dfuBDh0GJuML4dptjBcFcqnK6hp5uHpEg3P8ZISr0sBmC04WsGzvZJ64pKQY0y2hSE5yUt23d0nNJamJhFLBTqaVHBO-hBi2TgzqY7-cu2Xg_nkW-nqxab4yVBtyqC/s320/8+June+09+004.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we said goodbye to Sapporo Aspen</div><br />
At Sapporo Train Station, we had just enough time to grab a quick breakfast at Doutor Cafe...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC826USclLH0XHi7zEz595nPjBQlz-d8846zIT3j7navA8HOWygIu5cpchJYbT9iThbwtekzdh6X6u3hPVZqI206GLQc9tvxFrSWKz9DRd6Aj3bSgB_o_OIUyKqWmfny1JYOPMSKrc6T1G/s1600-h/8+June+09+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC826USclLH0XHi7zEz595nPjBQlz-d8846zIT3j7navA8HOWygIu5cpchJYbT9iThbwtekzdh6X6u3hPVZqI206GLQc9tvxFrSWKz9DRd6Aj3bSgB_o_OIUyKqWmfny1JYOPMSKrc6T1G/s320/8+June+09+005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a cappucino</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ-Mu7J3SRkJYDookPt7aY1yeg6TRvD2asfNAiqiUhH1EhDg5kkFAlkYw-lihMKN-9XGZPmXKr7mUgso0qYn9TZG2lJEFAdU7hhtHCf6J6JwhPmMm40CUrcoaaTet83Aikk3FgvDCNm7N/s1600-h/8+June+09+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ-Mu7J3SRkJYDookPt7aY1yeg6TRvD2asfNAiqiUhH1EhDg5kkFAlkYw-lihMKN-9XGZPmXKr7mUgso0qYn9TZG2lJEFAdU7hhtHCf6J6JwhPmMm40CUrcoaaTet83Aikk3FgvDCNm7N/s320/8+June+09+009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a salsa hotdog - good sausage with a nice snap</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz2wdYSPLqeVkfgcGuxkzCLaosTiPI08YObqkblyDzvWb2Xk0Jj3_AtsIrA_PtGJ3qIjDWvsQ0iWytA67QqEV4uHyuqAhZE_-n1if-oKbvc_tduhk6zqvgQewcfEzUBYu0CB535Zq76IT/s1600-h/8+June+09+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz2wdYSPLqeVkfgcGuxkzCLaosTiPI08YObqkblyDzvWb2Xk0Jj3_AtsIrA_PtGJ3qIjDWvsQ0iWytA67QqEV4uHyuqAhZE_-n1if-oKbvc_tduhk6zqvgQewcfEzUBYu0CB535Zq76IT/s320/8+June+09+007.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">egg and ham sandwich</div><br />
... purchase two onigiri for the ride and board our train with luggage in tow.<br />
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We were headed first to Asahikawa, Hokkaido's second largest city, and from there, to Biei. This was such an adventure - the first time we were travelling around Japan, by train.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzRw95ac7gFeAHMP-_Y893OrJ6BN5lxJPtfg8HG-HlRwPqpWHUZt1l2ZWG1pTRrndyw6vFnqpHBlD32DODz2f-ENpqnH6Os7S2bVSJGiFXG8c2Ly4Q9v37zQxKWXalOQ9r7a4ngII5nO9/s1600-h/8+June+09+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzRw95ac7gFeAHMP-_Y893OrJ6BN5lxJPtfg8HG-HlRwPqpWHUZt1l2ZWG1pTRrndyw6vFnqpHBlD32DODz2f-ENpqnH6Os7S2bVSJGiFXG8c2Ly4Q9v37zQxKWXalOQ9r7a4ngII5nO9/s320/8+June+09+012.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the train was comfortable and clean</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8dPSkIJRFG2yCJeDu7YRmwRcpcMhrFL45OJkhejhI-rcROr7KLXbNNPWhQUo-tkXYgEoDSpIDLPm5ql6dT8Ww8KKnZzf8bJimEkmJ0__snbXQS70OQFFrJXQqExA29Ur93d5fRgigYHl/s1600-h/8+June+09+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8dPSkIJRFG2yCJeDu7YRmwRcpcMhrFL45OJkhejhI-rcROr7KLXbNNPWhQUo-tkXYgEoDSpIDLPm5ql6dT8Ww8KKnZzf8bJimEkmJ0__snbXQS70OQFFrJXQqExA29Ur93d5fRgigYHl/s320/8+June+09+016.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we passed by a number of towns, big and small</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2v_TXOXG0AN2rvdFNhS1Fc9qUYynNCzgsJjatGoE2nrEytkjJsoLtyG1TUKoV3thiZH3jNfe4axZ08Vj3KarcHoYyFpFHEJvbJRfyac0NEvHaMTMhh8t7qigDtRwQ4IVU0OoDtaYQODjB/s1600-h/8+June+09+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2v_TXOXG0AN2rvdFNhS1Fc9qUYynNCzgsJjatGoE2nrEytkjJsoLtyG1TUKoV3thiZH3jNfe4axZ08Vj3KarcHoYyFpFHEJvbJRfyac0NEvHaMTMhh8t7qigDtRwQ4IVU0OoDtaYQODjB/s320/8+June+09+018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the landscape became more and more rural (sadly, the dark clouds did look like they were tailing us)</div><br />
The transfer was easy, if a little tight; we had all of ten minutes to change trains. We left Sapporo at 10 a.m and arrived at Biei at 12.03 p.m., not too bad at all.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuA1Cb15nM9EaAAfHZPQJhn2m1NVi0gnipx4lT_DJiek8qkLPrKLXtIkp0Qn-_SJYgb4xGvhpLZRny2TLw4HAbO7nOstq5-4DVAkbGkiv-HvWPpMRaXa5g6gVo0jRHKvhBwFAxRVnWVEHY/s1600-h/8+June+09+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuA1Cb15nM9EaAAfHZPQJhn2m1NVi0gnipx4lT_DJiek8qkLPrKLXtIkp0Qn-_SJYgb4xGvhpLZRny2TLw4HAbO7nOstq5-4DVAkbGkiv-HvWPpMRaXa5g6gVo0jRHKvhBwFAxRVnWVEHY/s320/8+June+09+019.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our train at Biei Station</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5QVNHiw9GQK-xVYQ02FEM4g00R9G1ajXoQzJGN97pSYS57fywjEIpvr-BiehsQgnPE-v-On-rNqbqEaeC3ym6M9qli8XELVnx43u2DGtNxtGfd-4yClxsU4dXWuFTQCApfyBC6AOcM0s/s1600-h/8+June+09+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5QVNHiw9GQK-xVYQ02FEM4g00R9G1ajXoQzJGN97pSYS57fywjEIpvr-BiehsQgnPE-v-On-rNqbqEaeC3ym6M9qli8XELVnx43u2DGtNxtGfd-4yClxsU4dXWuFTQCApfyBC6AOcM0s/s320/8+June+09+020.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the welcome wagon</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP4Il7u4whEWShXF9Qd17zLxfenLEL_mPt4AyPGuNMcTzDvBoW1ShckTJF7dedpZTO1cG4FYojkq1er5b_7JDsGG-5kOSWEvlDmSywAiLc786JC1YOSZI_TYLUD1PjYj3Q4_ZWhAcw_YP/s1600-h/8+June+09+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP4Il7u4whEWShXF9Qd17zLxfenLEL_mPt4AyPGuNMcTzDvBoW1ShckTJF7dedpZTO1cG4FYojkq1er5b_7JDsGG-5kOSWEvlDmSywAiLc786JC1YOSZI_TYLUD1PjYj3Q4_ZWhAcw_YP/s320/8+June+09+021.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">inside Biei Station</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wNGzK4NcsNg0ELSjU6yi-3JBQMD86P5Z2_7T_GlnKv8CQrHOfQiILXYSZ78FE9XyVdWLjtereSXURiWesah54bHRLMr9BbXwWKoB7kyhRq0TD9Xv_j8e6_U8zt4Zef5a0kMgMGRtPNWv/s1600-h/8+June+09+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wNGzK4NcsNg0ELSjU6yi-3JBQMD86P5Z2_7T_GlnKv8CQrHOfQiILXYSZ78FE9XyVdWLjtereSXURiWesah54bHRLMr9BbXwWKoB7kyhRq0TD9Xv_j8e6_U8zt4Zef5a0kMgMGRtPNWv/s320/8+June+09+025.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">outside Biei Station - kawaii ne!</div><br />
We dropped by the Biei Tourist Information Centre, just across from the train station. There, we found the most helpful staff, "aunties" who, speaking just a smattering of English, were able to answer all our questions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmfipFLe5KyweyWyUmL_ZagVBj5znu1-4GzI5yn_3nb1NFg52VPRj4fL8q5Rb99GsApuj8GwDyDhLkezS6wScSLiCBuouk6tYlkeLFSIA6tGWZl16MMBVEB3RoyBE3HtFHPxvZQcNr8cW/s1600-h/8+June+09+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmfipFLe5KyweyWyUmL_ZagVBj5znu1-4GzI5yn_3nb1NFg52VPRj4fL8q5Rb99GsApuj8GwDyDhLkezS6wScSLiCBuouk6tYlkeLFSIA6tGWZl16MMBVEB3RoyBE3HtFHPxvZQcNr8cW/s320/8+June+09+023.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Biei Town, as depicted in the Biei Tourist Information Centre</div><br />
We left our bags there (500¥ per day) and headed out to explore the little town.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQS8Tn738eyv-s8lvHYVx1RRd1HVHrzwA2Ah94gq9D3AZKCHtUdkrn-lWQl49t4QmLmGcTu8sl7oMIPFP-FYWlq2HQGx39rMXBaiI8ubBN91TMS3eSbl8w4hQGYMiXGaUcNVbR4OhvLWd/s1600-h/8+June+09+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQS8Tn738eyv-s8lvHYVx1RRd1HVHrzwA2Ah94gq9D3AZKCHtUdkrn-lWQl49t4QmLmGcTu8sl7oMIPFP-FYWlq2HQGx39rMXBaiI8ubBN91TMS3eSbl8w4hQGYMiXGaUcNVbR4OhvLWd/s320/8+June+09+027.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">it was indeed a small town</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQ0JI_OEbmjZ81OlFnCKzzbSN4WZrX7SHcMleJmTB1K5UCZz9D9rl8EkyeL2hagqjADWHF74R2T1hIp9ZhbxsQ5XN5KTgVWXYKmHgZDySecoKHbszpTTEuJOl6zDhIuaIBSAT8bCHMyxx/s1600-h/8+June+09+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQ0JI_OEbmjZ81OlFnCKzzbSN4WZrX7SHcMleJmTB1K5UCZz9D9rl8EkyeL2hagqjADWHF74R2T1hIp9ZhbxsQ5XN5KTgVWXYKmHgZDySecoKHbszpTTEuJOl6zDhIuaIBSAT8bCHMyxx/s320/8+June+09+028.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">but picturesque</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4TRKWjGFzKuPJETRKb4G5m25PCEe_4lPf-U-Y4wEMMF8HMPgXXXsnYjpr6pXKrm3Py_e-H4pNb-7SPvt60iYsrFMtbYlSPlDx30r2RBfG3-UTQc3cHfIAa36naG-QvNIRwK9GrJ5z-Nq/s1600-h/8+June+09+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4TRKWjGFzKuPJETRKb4G5m25PCEe_4lPf-U-Y4wEMMF8HMPgXXXsnYjpr6pXKrm3Py_e-H4pNb-7SPvt60iYsrFMtbYlSPlDx30r2RBfG3-UTQc3cHfIAa36naG-QvNIRwK9GrJ5z-Nq/s320/8+June+09+030.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">in a very planned way</div><br />
It was about this time that we got peckish. A little lunch seemed like a good idea, before the next item on our agenda.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7aRxH2yO1rJvnp_aIuB2-DRELUJn-pb_0TV6iCnlHrxIPpHO21T0OC6yuT3j-dmQIO6BHT6WKANxUDF_4GcWqfALnS_-KIuuPDxCs3RvViiFVxFHjo1J4acsBStKuZxtVUfr9hwP3Rtp/s1600-h/8+June+09+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7aRxH2yO1rJvnp_aIuB2-DRELUJn-pb_0TV6iCnlHrxIPpHO21T0OC6yuT3j-dmQIO6BHT6WKANxUDF_4GcWqfALnS_-KIuuPDxCs3RvViiFVxFHjo1J4acsBStKuZxtVUfr9hwP3Rtp/s320/8+June+09+031.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Biei Okanokura - this looked promising</div><br />
Shaped like a big barn, the building housed a cafe and a souvenir shop selling Hokkaido products.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgACsh4qTE9PhKuChjTGUtR3SMykvBbh-9QwONTBV5eq14WCz-0s6nkFSP_8Y6dTnNKjAby7CJuZFm6N0yjr1LEKq8JN3xQip8burVrM3l9k2FU_c6iirWPDLI0exW4ji_dHfDMIGHt9Ga/s1600-h/8+June+09+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgACsh4qTE9PhKuChjTGUtR3SMykvBbh-9QwONTBV5eq14WCz-0s6nkFSP_8Y6dTnNKjAby7CJuZFm6N0yjr1LEKq8JN3xQip8burVrM3l9k2FU_c6iirWPDLI0exW4ji_dHfDMIGHt9Ga/s320/8+June+09+032.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the cafe</div><br />
This seemed like a good time to try out another of Hokkaido's trademark dishes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIYATSOaMheWDoJ3ER0scR-eIOy1Fm6-H0qIG-D0z0ZsZ2YKlZfWPpSiBx5YJdhYyC_LF-LN6cswkU1T4c2ufHWQjYQHqeqhzrTq9LLQQ3Ulild7qBUeerPrPy-Z3RyypZxFap8l8iUXg/s1600-h/8+June+09+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIYATSOaMheWDoJ3ER0scR-eIOy1Fm6-H0qIG-D0z0ZsZ2YKlZfWPpSiBx5YJdhYyC_LF-LN6cswkU1T4c2ufHWQjYQHqeqhzrTq9LLQQ3Ulild7qBUeerPrPy-Z3RyypZxFap8l8iUXg/s320/8+June+09+033.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">curry rice made with minced meat and vegetables</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkh6vzkUJU0DJrpz9RBD9bWfzAiow56MxpU1ef8zRoNzvW54SgW659ydAaRsOv4tnxpOz9snGtdilpJCmvNk8xeNuDbkS4e4TH3rrf4i_bZn6DlkBFd7lkRpY8zTmmhcxsCoaG2AdLliwf/s1600-h/8+June+09+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkh6vzkUJU0DJrpz9RBD9bWfzAiow56MxpU1ef8zRoNzvW54SgW659ydAaRsOv4tnxpOz9snGtdilpJCmvNk8xeNuDbkS4e4TH3rrf4i_bZn6DlkBFd7lkRpY8zTmmhcxsCoaG2AdLliwf/s320/8+June+09+036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">accompanying salad</div><br />
Neither HM nor I were big fans of Japanese-style curry rice back home. Made with, believe it or not, pulped fruit rather than coconut milk, the mild curry was usually disconcertingly sweet rather than savoury. Interestingly enough, this version was spicier than the norm, and the freshness of the ingredients, everything from the vegetables to the rice, was evident. And so, we learnt that there was curry rice and curry rice.<br />
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After lunch, we made our way back to the train station, to join our first Twinkle Bus Tour. Run by JR Hokkaido, the train company, the tours were meant to complement the train services. You rode the train to whichever town, you joined a bus tour that would take you to sightseeing spots in the vicinity (for an additional fee of course), and then to you caught the next train back or onwards.<br />
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Biei was a town renowned for the beauty of its surrounding landscape - rolling hills, patchwork fields and luscious flowers. Without the benefit of a car, the Twinkle Bus Tour was the next most efficient alternative.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTtVJNVRquy6JFBD-UnADGK1qpDQumn3TKGLsKkR6PhC7gDle4Bt4QkqODZRwOLc6FMTpq5UbYXa-MFK2Czq4bAvP4pA_wi_GEY56YmX_4cq0EldTShc3LHNPw8NM5Jo5VJrXAT2Cwvir/s1600-h/8+June+09+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTtVJNVRquy6JFBD-UnADGK1qpDQumn3TKGLsKkR6PhC7gDle4Bt4QkqODZRwOLc6FMTpq5UbYXa-MFK2Czq4bAvP4pA_wi_GEY56YmX_4cq0EldTShc3LHNPw8NM5Jo5VJrXAT2Cwvir/s320/8+June+09+043.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">our tour guide</div></div><br />
The tour was in Japanese, but there were printed explanations in English and other languages on board.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTUOpogRQo1U7v-e3veFFIP74FGdEa5wnVOQLJnCsERxPEWvWng71Q-N22MFaDQ9CBDCI7zobFTm1TzD_7nxiyUNAyjXfD-HqQURA-fV5tLxTd5bO0o4WSLnVFa45Bm9SfFX9jGEMbfYh/s1600-h/8+June+09+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTUOpogRQo1U7v-e3veFFIP74FGdEa5wnVOQLJnCsERxPEWvWng71Q-N22MFaDQ9CBDCI7zobFTm1TzD_7nxiyUNAyjXfD-HqQURA-fV5tLxTd5bO0o4WSLnVFa45Bm9SfFX9jGEMbfYh/s320/8+June+09+088.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">English guide</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5Obv_wCDsSmQHeXce5MDEZ4fgHrdTwdzpRGpEOI6OmL3xUTitqTdpuZ2M6czdHcw0nTiRp6U_vMhQSDlY8cr39-IVmYtOFz-_hzrwgdUgEFk-cbQBiqj6aKgQZc3r_wvs5S6gNF46_6F/s1600-h/8+June+09+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5Obv_wCDsSmQHeXce5MDEZ4fgHrdTwdzpRGpEOI6OmL3xUTitqTdpuZ2M6czdHcw0nTiRp6U_vMhQSDlY8cr39-IVmYtOFz-_hzrwgdUgEFk-cbQBiqj6aKgQZc3r_wvs5S6gNF46_6F/s320/8+June+09+045.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Takushinkan Gallery</div><br />
The highlight of the Takushin-kan Course tour was of course the Takushinkan Gallery where the works of renowned landscape photographer, Shinzo Maeda, were on display, specifically his photographs of Biei. To say that the photographs captured Biei's sublime beauty in the various seasons was an understatement.<br />
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Outside the gallery, we had a moment or two to admire the pretty setting of the gallery itself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijv411bUyDYQfu8f4kEm15iRKQWLHYKElgCdc_ATNcrJ_HGDiTaAtzzaux3m4EwjdRCP0IWwMxDPrzonEy_mb500CSiK9pJClXiv4Igr0BpbK6OTBq5Do3pMU18uGywlVF5vea5FZfOSRz/s1600-h/8+June+09+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijv411bUyDYQfu8f4kEm15iRKQWLHYKElgCdc_ATNcrJ_HGDiTaAtzzaux3m4EwjdRCP0IWwMxDPrzonEy_mb500CSiK9pJClXiv4Igr0BpbK6OTBq5Do3pMU18uGywlVF5vea5FZfOSRz/s320/8+June+09+051.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a trail</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrojv6Zf7G591ykce9H_ymJXdCid-E6zdFU3PdOFylUVNyXuIkiKfNweOT4bl7HCJHKz3e8CjyKjYldNjOHxVq52aCeOupD8IFMe1zFRDD_2wAvIwznPerlt6jfwToH0JisDhoKT5LEH8S/s1600-h/8+June+09+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrojv6Zf7G591ykce9H_ymJXdCid-E6zdFU3PdOFylUVNyXuIkiKfNweOT4bl7HCJHKz3e8CjyKjYldNjOHxVq52aCeOupD8IFMe1zFRDD_2wAvIwznPerlt6jfwToH0JisDhoKT5LEH8S/s320/8+June+09+055.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dandelions</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiNz1KNlufhMrJ-06jrQ9b82IhPtiLEC6etUUCrxASuTuALlvEN8RaALCFoC-zYNyu_b99h3qxkgG4-tEJM-4UzoUMqDzjy1ViGOe250qMzKj8GWUaq8wWmndF75IxtLWhe0hnbMzbUi-/s1600-h/8+June+09+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiNz1KNlufhMrJ-06jrQ9b82IhPtiLEC6etUUCrxASuTuALlvEN8RaALCFoC-zYNyu_b99h3qxkgG4-tEJM-4UzoUMqDzjy1ViGOe250qMzKj8GWUaq8wWmndF75IxtLWhe0hnbMzbUi-/s320/8+June+09+056.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the bus and our guide waiting for us</div><br />
Much of the tour involved staring out of the bus windows and attempting (or not) to snap photographs through less than pristine window panes while the bus swayed and the tour guide chirped on cheerfully. We did get to stop at another location though - the Hill of Seasonal Colours (sic).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu69pHwEun7FStcczoDhyGoOgzVGROp2fIwPdqBNrB0yAxJuSV5OfHPn0M2UWuqmdLaa9c7N-yUMZJRc_a4nFx9aQphfRhUIm5eM4Jlpwnk29EDylsFzjttbG5jId5y5t35jsrx4ZF9k68/s1600-h/8+June+09+057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu69pHwEun7FStcczoDhyGoOgzVGROp2fIwPdqBNrB0yAxJuSV5OfHPn0M2UWuqmdLaa9c7N-yUMZJRc_a4nFx9aQphfRhUIm5eM4Jlpwnk29EDylsFzjttbG5jId5y5t35jsrx4ZF9k68/s320/8+June+09+057.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">here, there were stalls selling local produce</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-Y7s4niOwMHtChbItxRW73xCfzimIAZD71il3l67AOfvlvHofDRFR9GxZSu-yhJMCbLelgk-wsAkS09PpeXQcnxRhmsvn4xpbxbP85j7HqihwNGAnBTGvlkOU0pAYAfRm9x7L-lUskVJ/s1600-h/8+June+09+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-Y7s4niOwMHtChbItxRW73xCfzimIAZD71il3l67AOfvlvHofDRFR9GxZSu-yhJMCbLelgk-wsAkS09PpeXQcnxRhmsvn4xpbxbP85j7HqihwNGAnBTGvlkOU0pAYAfRm9x7L-lUskVJ/s320/8+June+09+058.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">like these fresh as fresh tomatoes</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFuoa74bJsg64rJxpQM-UPp2oUTZPxXn4MKyaCUSDtYTYn16CriQQvDwXj7_f1c1B8a2519U820qxuPA6vHSscwbz2Z930oDhWx8TcB3xPQx7QiAABDIntY7tF1ACtwxkfraKW0hwr0R4/s1600-h/8+June+09+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFuoa74bJsg64rJxpQM-UPp2oUTZPxXn4MKyaCUSDtYTYn16CriQQvDwXj7_f1c1B8a2519U820qxuPA6vHSscwbz2Z930oDhWx8TcB3xPQx7QiAABDIntY7tF1ACtwxkfraKW0hwr0R4/s320/8+June+09+060.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and pet food made from organic products, we guess</div><br />
There were also snack shops where we had...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM46fPCB5J9wld6mPaKthm7TBHX_lAfzfEjLEnfe4f7A5ERVfWm470IlrLMzPF6MXOIDNZliW_qHIK7Z-zp-4XgcjBz8PKphyphenhyphenamXbpd6kxPz8H0dg09zHIiU6eEfodYrIs2zTlZhwnoghU/s1600-h/8+June+09+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM46fPCB5J9wld6mPaKthm7TBHX_lAfzfEjLEnfe4f7A5ERVfWm470IlrLMzPF6MXOIDNZliW_qHIK7Z-zp-4XgcjBz8PKphyphenhyphenamXbpd6kxPz8H0dg09zHIiU6eEfodYrIs2zTlZhwnoghU/s320/8+June+09+062.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a pumpkin ice cream and a korroke (yes that is a potato croquet)</div><br />
The guide gave us ten minutes to walk around.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0njTY8gO7hPRAAJAYjqcSw-7D1GHFad3fYmGcWCblCGf6U8SfjpFvhqyBlrZsAJFuy-H85ts9fSF_7FfQbeXB3NTEsd7KhfqIL2cH2uuO06P0zD9UT_hJRsPqEF4J1cdMjHAZJPBtpSJ/s1600-h/8+June+09+070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0njTY8gO7hPRAAJAYjqcSw-7D1GHFad3fYmGcWCblCGf6U8SfjpFvhqyBlrZsAJFuy-H85ts9fSF_7FfQbeXB3NTEsd7KhfqIL2cH2uuO06P0zD9UT_hJRsPqEF4J1cdMjHAZJPBtpSJ/s320/8+June+09+070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the view of the hills and fields</div><br />
From here, it was apparent that it was a little early in the season, too early for the flowers that Biei was well-known for. Still, there was much to see.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyo6LSlHwZpxANLoR0cIxx2BjIX7isASpxCI639XpRUeWa9tYFuwV4DTTv_038yUYDV2rvJwXs9cUUnqjq09RnzPJ9PcFcOD3E3liyk3ALJyPvy9q1ssSTw2RjO1CGixbcGK4XzZRwG0Z/s1600-h/8+June+09+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyo6LSlHwZpxANLoR0cIxx2BjIX7isASpxCI639XpRUeWa9tYFuwV4DTTv_038yUYDV2rvJwXs9cUUnqjq09RnzPJ9PcFcOD3E3liyk3ALJyPvy9q1ssSTw2RjO1CGixbcGK4XzZRwG0Z/s320/8+June+09+063.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">boy</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-brO3gEghjNHVG9KS609tlgy1nmdU_da2n9gcpqDi_kcLlhZwS5kKZk5tdR4WqKMNOAhj0XD3oSqaddykyoVBpSvSteXm0e4e5n15XQ9EY3Nev5C7JmKBwAT0uk5ABx4AgEIQYhQaujbJ/s1600-h/8+June+09+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-brO3gEghjNHVG9KS609tlgy1nmdU_da2n9gcpqDi_kcLlhZwS5kKZk5tdR4WqKMNOAhj0XD3oSqaddykyoVBpSvSteXm0e4e5n15XQ9EY3Nev5C7JmKBwAT0uk5ABx4AgEIQYhQaujbJ/s320/8+June+09+065.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">girl</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCwnfIPK6QmhQU3flX0WExnCPtUI5eXdDX2pqhYtLgzpP_SZ_RlUX_QJvQ2vVKSM90Bj7Edq7ZpHbTNUQKiCEoNbk-qwxCcqE4P2OSbzGHamhIBOQvjJLaCoqjjyybjvhJ8glyp_DfT23/s1600-h/8+June+09+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCwnfIPK6QmhQU3flX0WExnCPtUI5eXdDX2pqhYtLgzpP_SZ_RlUX_QJvQ2vVKSM90Bj7Edq7ZpHbTNUQKiCEoNbk-qwxCcqE4P2OSbzGHamhIBOQvjJLaCoqjjyybjvhJ8glyp_DfT23/s320/8+June+09+066.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">early bloomers</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxhY8vDOWZ-2eeaWR67tmoaZ8NPILdPtSicd5pQO2vTamjRCxiMViUZVPYVn91QOoJJfUeQgXIcB-zgPohf5L0xxci_-AsV1xQ7VTcIvMAqqocDDPSDatccjbJ8dxXLs_czLNMZ5CiFBY/s1600-h/8+June+09+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxhY8vDOWZ-2eeaWR67tmoaZ8NPILdPtSicd5pQO2vTamjRCxiMViUZVPYVn91QOoJJfUeQgXIcB-zgPohf5L0xxci_-AsV1xQ7VTcIvMAqqocDDPSDatccjbJ8dxXLs_czLNMZ5CiFBY/s320/8+June+09+077.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fields coaxed to produce some flowers, so as not to disappoint the tourists entirely</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QUgOjRBwmI7fZu-3TzeNf7RHWjcI_FRShatuGSiPxzLZVQyYZ7IeHqOGxNdpmi8yBeyob6keQMpy7hpLVdpFFnnaxu3iRNhl5AA14wF8E4L37rgsVjSrBcE7cWMHSuSsLC14_gjx6Jp2/s1600-h/8+June+09+079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QUgOjRBwmI7fZu-3TzeNf7RHWjcI_FRShatuGSiPxzLZVQyYZ7IeHqOGxNdpmi8yBeyob6keQMpy7hpLVdpFFnnaxu3iRNhl5AA14wF8E4L37rgsVjSrBcE7cWMHSuSsLC14_gjx6Jp2/s320/8+June+09+079.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we bought another ice-cream, in Biei's signature flavour - lavender</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZatLrAIsKILUBXX_bDDI9o-uIVx_hzXFUT0DMvR_QyLjWlgEdOlPKHndv_h_QS73wRSqiBgs-_GM-j3iExJNeOMmUjEavFvX2qjuXcE8-UxgCzFfc_7VUyarLM8wbicBeq-afo48RjT6Y/s1600-h/8+June+09+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZatLrAIsKILUBXX_bDDI9o-uIVx_hzXFUT0DMvR_QyLjWlgEdOlPKHndv_h_QS73wRSqiBgs-_GM-j3iExJNeOMmUjEavFvX2qjuXcE8-UxgCzFfc_7VUyarLM8wbicBeq-afo48RjT6Y/s320/8+June+09+081.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ah, no flowers yet but there the plants were</div><br />
What we did like were the picturesque buildings interspersed amongst the fields.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsetJ9gvlUqoX6vjdyGkyhWYvyXBADDcvIgPjZWOjts3f_G9N856AXHyEGpbrg7OpVfTimEXnHCNnoCIIUM1Z98izxCflGauEVr0XuEtGRzAK2Bzoz8xQMMzIcYyRuPuWsZYd2dqBNv3Gj/s1600-h/8+June+09+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsetJ9gvlUqoX6vjdyGkyhWYvyXBADDcvIgPjZWOjts3f_G9N856AXHyEGpbrg7OpVfTimEXnHCNnoCIIUM1Z98izxCflGauEVr0XuEtGRzAK2Bzoz8xQMMzIcYyRuPuWsZYd2dqBNv3Gj/s320/8+June+09+082.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">like the Ozawa Family Dairy Barn!</div><br />
Many of them had been turned into boutique accommodation or hostels for tourists.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSb5RdHO27s3Uy6r0wjHQQlaV6-FbMZPm3cbksk8n2jwFXLgTgB6Wuz_C9E8rQ_6cTHeOTgDj1AETm-WApiR7SZTTA0Un7xlFaoXWZ0Up48sYdCcX0-RgClgLCrMObpYV1CrE80Ig3DD5/s1600-h/8+June+09+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSb5RdHO27s3Uy6r0wjHQQlaV6-FbMZPm3cbksk8n2jwFXLgTgB6Wuz_C9E8rQ_6cTHeOTgDj1AETm-WApiR7SZTTA0Un7xlFaoXWZ0Up48sYdCcX0-RgClgLCrMObpYV1CrE80Ig3DD5/s320/8+June+09+087.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">an example </div><br />
And why not? Biei's landscape was certainly its selling point.<br />
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The tour was over in 90 minutes and we were each given a Shinzo Maeda postcard as a souvenir.<br />
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By this time, a cup of tea sounded like a good idea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvvjY-0k9tBZ3_lz0FgoFvQ2LhvJsvvdN0F3UWu-BTWrl-afgkBZR52XCAy3H3M3fbOjtckFuKsT6bCsO3iZDoAl5lJeScJAXm8DA4z1KkjwKvO2FfsCbGGm7xEokNcfjqftDyPyxPyyp/s1600-h/8+June+09+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvvjY-0k9tBZ3_lz0FgoFvQ2LhvJsvvdN0F3UWu-BTWrl-afgkBZR52XCAy3H3M3fbOjtckFuKsT6bCsO3iZDoAl5lJeScJAXm8DA4z1KkjwKvO2FfsCbGGm7xEokNcfjqftDyPyxPyyp/s320/8+June+09+089.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okirakutei Cafe Restaurant - this place on Biei's main drag looked promising</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIisms2igB2EwszdCMS1IWOv0FtcWpsdt7qiPcTNojGA8sHEa9RcQzt7e_29KbuiHZvTbbgmiTsGNJPghQpNpScnsbFlgD31WxnVNce8TAgPYS2n4buZsRD0vhPOzbhXYuAnhRMMShA8X/s1600-h/8+June+09+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIisms2igB2EwszdCMS1IWOv0FtcWpsdt7qiPcTNojGA8sHEa9RcQzt7e_29KbuiHZvTbbgmiTsGNJPghQpNpScnsbFlgD31WxnVNce8TAgPYS2n4buZsRD0vhPOzbhXYuAnhRMMShA8X/s320/8+June+09+093.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cosy and intimate</div><br />
We had a cup of tea each and shared a...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGdRFGUFv71ORmlvGgfsRIv6gGB5h0KIuyJ695NY6YRJ6tSRGJgEmMg0m7tPs6R-VY5XhbLO4zmr6CbnEzHxUEL4KbmtQrmKJ9uIrQnV01h1p_b_BDV2RzMtQVPfSpxA0FEg8nxJAigfX/s1600-h/8+June+09+094.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422925487678894130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGdRFGUFv71ORmlvGgfsRIv6gGB5h0KIuyJ695NY6YRJ6tSRGJgEmMg0m7tPs6R-VY5XhbLO4zmr6CbnEzHxUEL4KbmtQrmKJ9uIrQnV01h1p_b_BDV2RzMtQVPfSpxA0FEg8nxJAigfX/s320/8+June+09+094.jpg" style="float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">slice of pear tart</div><br />
Then it was off to the bus-stop to wait for the bus to Shirogane Onsen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlT9uRg_5V67edXS7VXo3z-XDPVkLEixZg0V5jVRtqGCc-auOdxyDzOP8H09uDx27is0pVrHRTbyTdBbqs4NmuVGCi6ZXG3pGZbrCLkvfy9auoHOUqggmNlkWsF9mH2qusrE2SMWrrmwC/s1600-h/8+June+09+096.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422924325117316050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlT9uRg_5V67edXS7VXo3z-XDPVkLEixZg0V5jVRtqGCc-auOdxyDzOP8H09uDx27is0pVrHRTbyTdBbqs4NmuVGCi6ZXG3pGZbrCLkvfy9auoHOUqggmNlkWsF9mH2qusrE2SMWrrmwC/s320/8+June+09+096.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">passers-by</div><br />
The plan was to stay one night at the nearby onsen (hot spring) town. It would in fact be our very first visit to an onsen proper and we were excited, to say the least.<br />
<br />
The journey there was easy enough, punctuated only by some interaction with several young PRC women. Having with them nothing more than handbags, they appeared to be resident in Japan, perhaps as migrant workers. (Then again, we didn't have our luggage with us either...) If so, it was odd that they did not seem to be able to communicate in Japanese. This appeared to be an impromptu trip - they were unsure of the bus route and had not made any prior bookings for accommodation. They seemed relieved to find someone who could speak Mandarin (we do speak it, in a fashion) and wanted to know where we were planning on staying.<br />
<br />
Anyway, when the bus arrived at Shirogane Onsen, they, like everyone else, disappeared into the rain.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36ffZGZPd2Ya3M1Bi-vt53_Mm_qa9an6xFT1a7PJEzpvvOWuD9JRdj-nCqU9XtCn6PiELnnGswxQsw7RWLc3qjmRhUM6IhGZcnQtY4cLR_R8wrowmVujj32WnGXLUTPP-RntH35BGoFaa/s1600-h/8+June+09+099.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422924317772839138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36ffZGZPd2Ya3M1Bi-vt53_Mm_qa9an6xFT1a7PJEzpvvOWuD9JRdj-nCqU9XtCn6PiELnnGswxQsw7RWLc3qjmRhUM6IhGZcnQtY4cLR_R8wrowmVujj32WnGXLUTPP-RntH35BGoFaa/s320/8+June+09+099.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a warm welcome (we are guessing) from Ponyo</div><br />
From the bus-stop, we sloshed to our hotel across the road.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM1rlAlyuhm9C1oHZTyqLnZnwvVuZHzSYTJ_ZZkUNcRaWd8zsvx5anjfXJmfp35xebvoGNk2E2gvhdZJADsXx5fVhaBONVA_C7_QcSr_PNJYXmdoEafoUiFeOB_cqTevtQ_lKMCrlceKO/s1600-h/8+June+09+103.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422919479473125890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM1rlAlyuhm9C1oHZTyqLnZnwvVuZHzSYTJ_ZZkUNcRaWd8zsvx5anjfXJmfp35xebvoGNk2E2gvhdZJADsXx5fVhaBONVA_C7_QcSr_PNJYXmdoEafoUiFeOB_cqTevtQ_lKMCrlceKO/s320/8+June+09+103.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Shirogane Kankou</div><div><br />
</div><div>Hokkaido, being a relatively recently developed part of Japan, could not boast of centuries-old ryokan. What it did have, courtesy of the active volcanoes in the Daisetsuzan National Park, was plenty of hot water and ryokan hotels (regular hotels with tatami rooms)</div><div><br />
</div><div>The Shirogane Kankou was one of them. It wasn't too expensive and it didn't take us long to figure out why. The decor was rather dated, and the furnishings showed some signs of wear and tear. It felt like a state-run hotel, circa 1970s, meant for lower ranking government officials and official guests. At some point, it must have had lots of Russian guests, judging from the number of signs in Russian.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Having said that, the service was warm and professional. Not much English was spoken but this did not mar ease of communication, and our room warm and cosy.</div></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbwwzU66UFxb4Axva7dACuaYAr8IicL2juk2i56FvtACDU_ZDS02CUuP0zzbxgPQQy1j1h0lOt0GmRZg6qIhaUGhrcUAYOdOY2TZRu6rZdNd_lEGMoNJrPla2qbI9gldrU79CVNnCAGI6/s1600-h/8+June+09+100.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422920829959066322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbwwzU66UFxb4Axva7dACuaYAr8IicL2juk2i56FvtACDU_ZDS02CUuP0zzbxgPQQy1j1h0lOt0GmRZg6qIhaUGhrcUAYOdOY2TZRu6rZdNd_lEGMoNJrPla2qbI9gldrU79CVNnCAGI6/s320/8+June+09+100.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our room with a view</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_evJzL7WRUFxmFHZFJk9-zlyUA4x37VjYVBGYOJXm4kAlYJaEJEM5VmgqtkS9oFg7H6Ot5_TEVSH66W3Aa1tNsy672a-xKdG_S8fb9dL-nT9swnQVJ5L6TJLbdFI-twMXRoSbk5fQCyP/s1600-h/8+June+09+101.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422920812347508178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_evJzL7WRUFxmFHZFJk9-zlyUA4x37VjYVBGYOJXm4kAlYJaEJEM5VmgqtkS9oFg7H6Ot5_TEVSH66W3Aa1tNsy672a-xKdG_S8fb9dL-nT9swnQVJ5L6TJLbdFI-twMXRoSbk5fQCyP/s320/8+June+09+101.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">no complaints</div><br />
The rain had let up a bit, so we grabbed two umbrellas and went across the road to check out the view.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRuNGswoJk63ZVo746eNI_DgFDsw4F7amaRaa6Erdcykp-FrnhxxjQ72Z_56TnQ3r8bm_RaDIV9WhoYpOp_owO046UhflF9_pAqduk_RQm_PlhQUK_Q4Nnp0b1CTNXWF8SZe5T3phLgFu/s1600-h/8+June+09+106.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422912907135662546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRuNGswoJk63ZVo746eNI_DgFDsw4F7amaRaa6Erdcykp-FrnhxxjQ72Z_56TnQ3r8bm_RaDIV9WhoYpOp_owO046UhflF9_pAqduk_RQm_PlhQUK_Q4Nnp0b1CTNXWF8SZe5T3phLgFu/s320/8+June+09+106.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shirohige Waterfall</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibraE7UyVcXwp6T05JG0xhUsLBzDwDTmMzMmwXNeBl_BXsyLXhcUUvnwIj9Zi83sNeq8iHIihImph6D_2waxhQGunsiwaOpdlDFESqQKDPiqCxKzoDF16idd1OI_gmtxuW3EhL_aePXX2g/s1600-h/8+June+09+109.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422910245773089778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibraE7UyVcXwp6T05JG0xhUsLBzDwDTmMzMmwXNeBl_BXsyLXhcUUvnwIj9Zi83sNeq8iHIihImph6D_2waxhQGunsiwaOpdlDFESqQKDPiqCxKzoDF16idd1OI_gmtxuW3EhL_aePXX2g/s320/8+June+09+109.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fast-moving stream in the mist</div><br />
Across from the bridge, we could see another hotel, with a path leading down to the stream.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-glbeahNqonUKvMpuE93nlQgyNX3ny3Juj5rLjIUtzzbefCeoCQo60cH_IZhGdu4EitqNBTALj-CV2ZM8C9cwccWOR8b8PEerXEBcJybUguP5eU30c-KGpVE0LHiHENb-yQpTNefynAdN/s1600-h/8+June+09+111.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422905564582897186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-glbeahNqonUKvMpuE93nlQgyNX3ny3Juj5rLjIUtzzbefCeoCQo60cH_IZhGdu4EitqNBTALj-CV2ZM8C9cwccWOR8b8PEerXEBcJybUguP5eU30c-KGpVE0LHiHENb-yQpTNefynAdN/s320/8+June+09+111.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a hotel guest making his way down</div><br />
He was wearing a yukata (Japanese light robe) so we surmised that there must be a rotemburo (outdoor hot spring) at the bottom of the stairs. This must be the famed Yumoto Ryokan which I had tried making an enquiry at. The reply that came in response to my email was three words long: sorry no room. I wondered if it really was a case of no room or no writee Engrish.<br />
<br />
Up a long flight of stairs, there was the Mount Tokachi Volcanic Information Centre which was closed to visitors. We hung around in the carpark catching our breath.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySfka6s24zdFc1jysyyRO9a3519FhdX2GUVmLa3G6klxo-RO9N_7cET0g48UfxcwK-BDkNlXV9nvoB4st4U_WKfHD2cFS8ZGxC_asz87afMCVxjWY13euxTwb-9f9KF3FHeii5fSl74yJ/s1600-h/8+June+09+116.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422904618318590098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySfka6s24zdFc1jysyyRO9a3519FhdX2GUVmLa3G6klxo-RO9N_7cET0g48UfxcwK-BDkNlXV9nvoB4st4U_WKfHD2cFS8ZGxC_asz87afMCVxjWY13euxTwb-9f9KF3FHeii5fSl74yJ/s320/8+June+09+116.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">always a good attraction - fake birds on carpark fixtures</div><br />
Then we headed back to the hotel. It was almost dinner time!<br />
<br />
The ryokan experience is a double feature - a sumptuous dinner and a hot (make that very hot) bath. We were a little disappointed to find out that dinner would be served in the dining hall, not in our room; Japan Hour is so misleading! That disappointment was ameliorated by the sight of the dining hall.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP6b7Kx9j_RnkZlTNOwyy2LoJ3xAqq6sGMG_jlomBSRqInAhnGPuClX4cLhgHLDQaAATQZcKSBQMYqFr5qz_Z2ECVYVl20tlBAFpRGdvoVZ8hRk_kAcRphcVGrOLGh038evk93MJfEHq_/s1600-h/8+June+09+144.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422886593162368866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP6b7Kx9j_RnkZlTNOwyy2LoJ3xAqq6sGMG_jlomBSRqInAhnGPuClX4cLhgHLDQaAATQZcKSBQMYqFr5qz_Z2ECVYVl20tlBAFpRGdvoVZ8hRk_kAcRphcVGrOLGh038evk93MJfEHq_/s320/8+June+09+144.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 240px;" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">how quaint - like a hunting lodge, complete with chandeliers</div><div><br />
</div><div>There were several dinner menus, but this is what we had:</div><div><br />
</div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDjYr-IjxgqI44pLFrOwWDo6eEAiF5c-X6-9k9Hhf5Cejg_EA5G0xiBkCUtOF6t1JPbrAV6p0TgMEL_DWzn-76wYJ8RoCeV3S1kiD3hPPa80loxwiIQXqfeKas2VAlL8i3cPJs3LtcRzK/s1600-h/8+June+09+127.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422892631385853858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDjYr-IjxgqI44pLFrOwWDo6eEAiF5c-X6-9k9Hhf5Cejg_EA5G0xiBkCUtOF6t1JPbrAV6p0TgMEL_DWzn-76wYJ8RoCeV3S1kiD3hPPa80loxwiIQXqfeKas2VAlL8i3cPJs3LtcRzK/s320/8+June+09+127.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 320px;" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">the spread</div><div><br />
</div></div></div><div>A closer look at the dishes:</div><div><br />
</div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoJsXQORKl-SezeaCl1gzBnl_PcZGE-yRLqVTmxkK4eGk_WWVBB3P7urZg9d-KP5K4nkuR2lMMUSdnAzpWUq256CfFYZ5A6D05bznG5yL7GwIlUSyzQ8qvZ4l76rRADg-lXKIefg-6-i-/s1600-h/8+June+09+118.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422896160253183906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoJsXQORKl-SezeaCl1gzBnl_PcZGE-yRLqVTmxkK4eGk_WWVBB3P7urZg9d-KP5K4nkuR2lMMUSdnAzpWUq256CfFYZ5A6D05bznG5yL7GwIlUSyzQ8qvZ4l76rRADg-lXKIefg-6-i-/s320/8+June+09+118.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">grilled scallop with mushrooms</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp29RhazhOBWKxqw69QdZyw9zS-0zctJEn1A0nc5xiui5OaFGBYWPVBmznNXSjXJ9mOL_2s3oovKS85LNJFu9FBs4WjR9IbMyplrYBiXDEEDArfMjK930jS2BwpAiFKZnzlX-ytvl1CkK/s1600-h/8+June+09+121.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422896158246525730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp29RhazhOBWKxqw69QdZyw9zS-0zctJEn1A0nc5xiui5OaFGBYWPVBmznNXSjXJ9mOL_2s3oovKS85LNJFu9FBs4WjR9IbMyplrYBiXDEEDArfMjK930jS2BwpAiFKZnzlX-ytvl1CkK/s320/8+June+09+121.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">seasonal sashimi</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hDSifCv0vohirmb-4iDBwNu1jos9_p3-nw28PfucKUizkwDdQbXF115I4G346_zA2Yhkr8X4bMpUFuXSz5mNfTSbHsMrMgGT6uyR19N85MtU8EDhGsycroXkn8JmklJOkAWL_B4c__pG/s1600-h/8+June+09+122.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422894672205551218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hDSifCv0vohirmb-4iDBwNu1jos9_p3-nw28PfucKUizkwDdQbXF115I4G346_zA2Yhkr8X4bMpUFuXSz5mNfTSbHsMrMgGT6uyR19N85MtU8EDhGsycroXkn8JmklJOkAWL_B4c__pG/s320/8+June+09+122.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">apppetisers including goma tofu and pickled vegetables</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThoKy829fEs52Jr6f_Wjvb9SPrG4VMdVI5hGE8eLCYh2gJpEAoAw6YvODg8UKEDjH1jlrWnSdIBtLv6EpjchMfolSTkdygJvfAlkTPBN9BVBUX7t-FzFPczP7XFMqO_p5Fw2RYUULnJ74/s1600-h/8+June+09+124.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422894659922928754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThoKy829fEs52Jr6f_Wjvb9SPrG4VMdVI5hGE8eLCYh2gJpEAoAw6YvODg8UKEDjH1jlrWnSdIBtLv6EpjchMfolSTkdygJvfAlkTPBN9BVBUX7t-FzFPczP7XFMqO_p5Fw2RYUULnJ74/s320/8+June+09+124.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">more seasonal ingredients</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxzVwJVJRU6MFNFYFltdDRptDET9S7Mxtvei-qeQNpkjkSaHT3gg87W_CLua4t7Y2GRFAWcmiFZy6iM2qaGAgC_YDH7G92yrnDKp6jECZ8ojTCc_Ly5jShLfobhwc46wLShIS7JVUqQV3/s1600-h/8+June+09+125.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422892638530581618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxzVwJVJRU6MFNFYFltdDRptDET9S7Mxtvei-qeQNpkjkSaHT3gg87W_CLua4t7Y2GRFAWcmiFZy6iM2qaGAgC_YDH7G92yrnDKp6jECZ8ojTCc_Ly5jShLfobhwc46wLShIS7JVUqQV3/s320/8+June+09+125.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>tempura</i></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2epnoUHoKk2EsCNhKEFr9hZRDI4NBMNQLcQsbwil2_EKIXtZSGXqIDI5WZWYrRh6_GwE86SLONJ_FAPgElPjs3T4iOFOxF5pgpF9m-QiXi5BiaohswtrAXTeFgq1S0VIVCpEH1JWIqjZc/s1600-h/8+June+09+131.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422890976816959730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2epnoUHoKk2EsCNhKEFr9hZRDI4NBMNQLcQsbwil2_EKIXtZSGXqIDI5WZWYrRh6_GwE86SLONJ_FAPgElPjs3T4iOFOxF5pgpF9m-QiXi5BiaohswtrAXTeFgq1S0VIVCpEH1JWIqjZc/s320/8+June+09+131.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">simmered or stewed vegetables</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJkTzvmZG17Qszwcb37pKNMsrvnyCJO5sPKoU_cNaournZ_tNg1i6xuF_HWOD75ESEKvrPF-yOv8C_-K_b2BhVkYgE_TNxG7rgclglBiEpvqTeUD0xiSiR9HqtBeBJ8bz2BM8yYsBAnb8/s1600-h/8+June+09+133.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422889873390602578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJkTzvmZG17Qszwcb37pKNMsrvnyCJO5sPKoU_cNaournZ_tNg1i6xuF_HWOD75ESEKvrPF-yOv8C_-K_b2BhVkYgE_TNxG7rgclglBiEpvqTeUD0xiSiR9HqtBeBJ8bz2BM8yYsBAnb8/s320/8+June+09+133.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">beef on a hot plate</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoPJC9tneUUihSktbDqM6-vMTEcKcrNzAucGd3S_YcvJu2uYS0thZRDmP9bYsN85s74EhDeSkNiBNqPuoC647yowjoFG0nbf3Zn2tXpPms3MWPNx02W6uLcnRa_xnecs75r26gSl5u5sa/s1600-h/8+June+09+137.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422889867400466322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoPJC9tneUUihSktbDqM6-vMTEcKcrNzAucGd3S_YcvJu2uYS0thZRDmP9bYsN85s74EhDeSkNiBNqPuoC647yowjoFG0nbf3Zn2tXpPms3MWPNx02W6uLcnRa_xnecs75r26gSl5u5sa/s320/8+June+09+137.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">soba with grated yam on top</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc8ZIWbvlzIhazejZzwtfV_WUpzteFvjogbxclxx8eItkC9RuOC_PYvhP6X08X7xc_YliWL3l1mVWvYsFi-1pggzNUHIV-QwFPttc71gt55_h20H0tsmGTpDFjbntdiqNVccIrlAFcL43/s1600-h/8+June+09+138.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422887654217523378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc8ZIWbvlzIhazejZzwtfV_WUpzteFvjogbxclxx8eItkC9RuOC_PYvhP6X08X7xc_YliWL3l1mVWvYsFi-1pggzNUHIV-QwFPttc71gt55_h20H0tsmGTpDFjbntdiqNVccIrlAFcL43/s320/8+June+09+138.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">flavoured rice</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5aDX9LQUj8A71Ndu-Cr9bDlMcq-V1Z6o7HpBex0zCNJdmfPmFcnxGLITiW7L34oo4L8jPyI3tyfTmXbVz7SyEBres-bExDg0-ug9uqQXVXqsQB0dwJVM3vGurvW14fqEK3URDCPVSYOr/s1600-h/8+June+09+140.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422887647910930674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5aDX9LQUj8A71Ndu-Cr9bDlMcq-V1Z6o7HpBex0zCNJdmfPmFcnxGLITiW7L34oo4L8jPyI3tyfTmXbVz7SyEBres-bExDg0-ug9uqQXVXqsQB0dwJVM3vGurvW14fqEK3URDCPVSYOr/s320/8+June+09+140.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dessert</div><br />
There was even a chawanmushi made with corn, another Hokkaido specialty.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zFoSP4jY5Exibn1sFe_3tRoS0atBzxQJ8GViK0X4uoiKKqkDDghvUpqnm1GpBO462fG0nmY7GuN7bH_QM6WjEGyJt8FnPdDOUCEopfHA8rn3jbchcHg0StPflZS0ILS6nn5oF1JdUyLo/s1600-h/8+June+09+129.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422890986737015954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zFoSP4jY5Exibn1sFe_3tRoS0atBzxQJ8GViK0X4uoiKKqkDDghvUpqnm1GpBO462fG0nmY7GuN7bH_QM6WjEGyJt8FnPdDOUCEopfHA8rn3jbchcHg0StPflZS0ILS6nn5oF1JdUyLo/s320/8+June+09+129.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 240px;" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">ice oolong tea</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now that was a good meal, just like the kind we saw on Japan Hour!</div><div><br />
</div><div>We returned to our room to find that it had been made over. </div></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0wXtv8zJ9TrFnyI7bSW42f6aJp6OcaQMlgkYOD_yeir9vVsBl6Uhmohu2hWqZSEzSxic8IlaoL6wbpimI6SB4Ld-ZvRlp4-RDQxirLKKo4kiZ_k5QdJ7jaaa9RX9IlFLk0XtF7zqO5N1/s1600-h/8+June+09+149.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422886576806593682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0wXtv8zJ9TrFnyI7bSW42f6aJp6OcaQMlgkYOD_yeir9vVsBl6Uhmohu2hWqZSEzSxic8IlaoL6wbpimI6SB4Ld-ZvRlp4-RDQxirLKKo4kiZ_k5QdJ7jaaa9RX9IlFLk0XtF7zqO5N1/s320/8+June+09+149.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">how lovely</div><br />
Those futons and quilts looked most comfortable, but first, bathtime!<br />
<br />
This was our first visit to an onsen. We had done a little pre-reading on onsen etiquette but were a little nervous still, not wanting to embarrass ourselves or make the locals uncomfortable. As it turned out, there was nothing to worry about. Either the Japanese were far too discreet to make a fuss or we did reasonably well.<br />
<br />
First we stripped off in the dressing area. Then we entered the steamy bathing area and showered at the low taps. Having washed off thoroughly, we immersed ourselves in the 38 to 40 degree pool. It took a little getting used to, but after that, the heat was immensely soothing. HM tried the 40 to 42 degree pool but that was too hot for me. There was a "freezing" pool which we could have cooled off in, but opting for a gentler contrast, we headed out to the rotemburo. This was very pleasant indeed. The quick trot from the enclosed bath area to the outdoor pool, through cold air, was just the thing for clearing one's head. Then the soak in the hot water, a little less hot than the pool inside, with the slight drizzle on our faces, was divine. We decided that we would henceforth be onsen junkies.<br />
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That night we slept well.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-57466050747110093452009-06-13T03:48:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:01:01.418-07:00Day 4: Beautiful BieiThe morning dawned, all dreary and pissy. We stayed in bed, snugly sandwiched between our quilts and our futons.<br />
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We eventually dragged ourselves out of bed and went downstairs for a Japanese-style breakfast: rice porridge with grilled salmon, fermented bean cheese, stewed daikon and the works, plus Hokkaido favourites, potato salad and pasta salad.<br />
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After breakfast, we dashed downstairs for another bath. By the time we emerged, all scrubbed and soaked, the rain had let up. We took advantage of that to take some last photos of the scenery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIiqYm9x9iuO5d3kpFcWSmWHDTGBoimDsxVXmMlm_UXFMzuBE8yG0vpY263L6SzhaYIK52sW-K1427Sz-lXRfO61dUnDZs-IARa05I_j1H65px3MH2dhAYzD3sWoUO8laA8uvMmKYGKq8/s1600-h/9+June+09+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIiqYm9x9iuO5d3kpFcWSmWHDTGBoimDsxVXmMlm_UXFMzuBE8yG0vpY263L6SzhaYIK52sW-K1427Sz-lXRfO61dUnDZs-IARa05I_j1H65px3MH2dhAYzD3sWoUO8laA8uvMmKYGKq8/s320/9+June+09+003.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shirohire Waterfall again</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZQ403EwCa8v5AHSIsYXdos7HOE30Bmk3JNbFLPN2YpLIlwXvxnpm0yrVLrpeOxgaeLHPJX_byrD3kxOyZ7pfFM5T2ArJU8XcRvHHHj2A1HW4cYiaa2DwRrkKMtIOWzipobCT7tWH00-n/s1600-h/9+June+09+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZQ403EwCa8v5AHSIsYXdos7HOE30Bmk3JNbFLPN2YpLIlwXvxnpm0yrVLrpeOxgaeLHPJX_byrD3kxOyZ7pfFM5T2ArJU8XcRvHHHj2A1HW4cYiaa2DwRrkKMtIOWzipobCT7tWH00-n/s320/9+June+09+007.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that stream sans mist</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t4ZqlA9Yhqe4XzdZav-mgXkVH82WeQTRhrrYRKIGEuHicMJf11SSk8OxROTY5Tyf0kEpRkNmeYy-Gv51gDcMRqC-7Pt-vclVgeaNHvkBeJ_TWTQtJ0_sFuRJ6bpL0cUU5v6ckcyPJ1Gs/s1600-h/9+June+09+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t4ZqlA9Yhqe4XzdZav-mgXkVH82WeQTRhrrYRKIGEuHicMJf11SSk8OxROTY5Tyf0kEpRkNmeYy-Gv51gDcMRqC-7Pt-vclVgeaNHvkBeJ_TWTQtJ0_sFuRJ6bpL0cUU5v6ckcyPJ1Gs/s320/9+June+09+008.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a closer look</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfy6NrUqVFUCqj02aB18JJ9pd5xKL_PM4TL4o7R15iuTn71yBBpkcOlcLGza_goR7AbMpmjS1AxkUQfYpmtREtUmv7bK5_sL5wKms6vFUoGdxNLQlFtCLW7SM1mhJjuBdPCW5DH4gBqEbh/s1600-h/9+June+09+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfy6NrUqVFUCqj02aB18JJ9pd5xKL_PM4TL4o7R15iuTn71yBBpkcOlcLGza_goR7AbMpmjS1AxkUQfYpmtREtUmv7bK5_sL5wKms6vFUoGdxNLQlFtCLW7SM1mhJjuBdPCW5DH4gBqEbh/s320/9+June+09+014.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pine cones</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2nra_C7nUNmc2xgpGjxyYdoSBItLGa_euc3AR7XEi8oKRTziyOAEE-ljHhtfsEZOo89LpV2JWmQQiwGD5itdXTE8AnZscTkgCSZA3WquPu2gOKw9tKDQSoXmF85Yzug-VkNlfa2x3P0T/s1600-h/9+June+09+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2nra_C7nUNmc2xgpGjxyYdoSBItLGa_euc3AR7XEi8oKRTziyOAEE-ljHhtfsEZOo89LpV2JWmQQiwGD5itdXTE8AnZscTkgCSZA3WquPu2gOKw9tKDQSoXmF85Yzug-VkNlfa2x3P0T/s320/9+June+09+017.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Big Snow Mountain National Park, literally</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUcybPaIl2yz3NjWIseEmVDC_97fkqrkTVnw5GXh71955FsVM7i8vmdOnpgjlG2r8sB0E0AkiPRAxKoE_pzt4Vzs4Fa28PoxybCo7lW11aIPTOwZ4aGgZlCBLDP0uHI-3X0LUaZrGnqjR/s1600-h/9+June+09+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUcybPaIl2yz3NjWIseEmVDC_97fkqrkTVnw5GXh71955FsVM7i8vmdOnpgjlG2r8sB0E0AkiPRAxKoE_pzt4Vzs4Fa28PoxybCo7lW11aIPTOwZ4aGgZlCBLDP0uHI-3X0LUaZrGnqjR/s320/9+June+09+019.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">white wagtail</div><br />
It was time to leave. The hotel provided a free ride to Biei Station, so it was that we found ourselves back in Biei town, with enough time before our second Twinkle Bus Tour, to check our email at the Tourist Information Centre.<br />
<br />
The Hill Country Course Tour would take us to the other side of Biei, arguably the more famous side. This was where many an advertisement had been shot, and the "landmarks" had names like "Tree of Ken and Mary" and...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw4eOQFQ7FIA80gC6NMpsjwKNsCj5fBrXjBJ6cp_dTp3PlIZsUX2nlTVfU44ujMA5InS5iJew-o52bIPfOlEyhamy5NBL__4M9GndAO5hyphenhyphenTERbOGeHIX3RfspFWeRUE4D_ia3s5L0w9__/s1600-h/9+June+09+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw4eOQFQ7FIA80gC6NMpsjwKNsCj5fBrXjBJ6cp_dTp3PlIZsUX2nlTVfU44ujMA5InS5iJew-o52bIPfOlEyhamy5NBL__4M9GndAO5hyphenhyphenTERbOGeHIX3RfspFWeRUE4D_ia3s5L0w9__/s320/9+June+09+053.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tree of Family</div><br />
Not being familiar with Japanese advertisements, we were happy just to appreciate the beauty of the landscape, not to mention the ubiquitous quirky bits and the lovely architecture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoL4L15OC-7Nk3HOzkgF-a8FZaqN3PE5dJuTLZSK5XOahHEPZU1FlAvn0S8s-oFtKeAol_V7mPxu0GAX-EiWGpM2XG4SsKoAq8OqatVhyphenhyphenKAtX-P76DXVWzNxkd-LunR_jUAR9s6gj8QKU/s1600-h/9+June+09+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGoL4L15OC-7Nk3HOzkgF-a8FZaqN3PE5dJuTLZSK5XOahHEPZU1FlAvn0S8s-oFtKeAol_V7mPxu0GAX-EiWGpM2XG4SsKoAq8OqatVhyphenhyphenKAtX-P76DXVWzNxkd-LunR_jUAR9s6gj8QKU/s320/9+June+09+037.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rolling fields, mountains - we could certainly see why the Japanese, living in less spacious conditions, would fall in love with this place</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzVDKARpg9C3oMz60fZPST0xCNAPn9lO9i3Nt4gXfjScUFcZPmHgifk96qnUegQ5QzVBKUxQSzl_RqEJ8ch-n3bEadKpPuoHei9JIHXFtI48OtkrgyBbXInlw2zAyw-4HkNPYCaESxkJ6/s1600-h/9+June+09+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzVDKARpg9C3oMz60fZPST0xCNAPn9lO9i3Nt4gXfjScUFcZPmHgifk96qnUegQ5QzVBKUxQSzl_RqEJ8ch-n3bEadKpPuoHei9JIHXFtI48OtkrgyBbXInlw2zAyw-4HkNPYCaESxkJ6/s320/9+June+09+044.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">beautiful buildings</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho86BqYFdeZr461KuOQO205r-YcVXSQTskl0zovaq6hAPGU1HuM6hfHX2Dri4k_abLmjVGtZRv9yXAvkBJDGbKwcHldVftVRnhKLkEX9Z1_JKlJBs1XIfF99U5to6eT_HL5tXt0f0vXFHY/s1600-h/9+June+09+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho86BqYFdeZr461KuOQO205r-YcVXSQTskl0zovaq6hAPGU1HuM6hfHX2Dri4k_abLmjVGtZRv9yXAvkBJDGbKwcHldVftVRnhKLkEX9Z1_JKlJBs1XIfF99U5to6eT_HL5tXt0f0vXFHY/s320/9+June+09+046.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">you know you are in Japan when there are vending machines everywhere</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYlqA_seB_oi3RZwuBMlKuzzVUJLUOHpzWtuCMRA8thxB5QcNelkgK5lzU6ZEYvIZeYRnyAlDPqNfQEWJUkj7dWid1G4ElEnNQoECCGl2IgI4IFWdHAf73P1XDoDoEDbX8KPezWhHm745/s1600-h/9+June+09+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYlqA_seB_oi3RZwuBMlKuzzVUJLUOHpzWtuCMRA8thxB5QcNelkgK5lzU6ZEYvIZeYRnyAlDPqNfQEWJUkj7dWid1G4ElEnNQoECCGl2IgI4IFWdHAf73P1XDoDoEDbX8KPezWhHm745/s320/9+June+09+050.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">why do people have to be told these things?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbt5CJ1Fff2G0tHBKoAIbware1KYeMqxpTuf5LnINnU1V636-nGydWZJV2buvK5urShyphenhyphenjY1bb26DarAn4kW1-p3kmuh0ftIxKMCEEF1wcwPFv1j99FBoPyX639QY0uhLlr7Q6VbL5EZCGY/s1600-h/9+June+09+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbt5CJ1Fff2G0tHBKoAIbware1KYeMqxpTuf5LnINnU1V636-nGydWZJV2buvK5urShyphenhyphenjY1bb26DarAn4kW1-p3kmuh0ftIxKMCEEF1wcwPFv1j99FBoPyX639QY0uhLlr7Q6VbL5EZCGY/s320/9+June+09+060.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">woot, the Calbee Potato Chip factory!</div><br />
The main pitstop was at the rather grandiosely named Northwest Observatory Park<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3c73Icm10coRvHs1PzUBs7sAurpHcTPUMMcyOvyoc9gmje6fOqpSSKmQTq5RV4jzuYQA1xwlA_a0mNU5d3pDmcGWeRcRlB9BCusjxkWyZYyiILTcHqFesN9qn7pzUMib4YKuwAU255BWl/s1600-h/9+June+09+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3c73Icm10coRvHs1PzUBs7sAurpHcTPUMMcyOvyoc9gmje6fOqpSSKmQTq5RV4jzuYQA1xwlA_a0mNU5d3pDmcGWeRcRlB9BCusjxkWyZYyiILTcHqFesN9qn7pzUMib4YKuwAU255BWl/s320/9+June+09+062.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">that white structure is the Northwest Observatory...</div><br />
We walked around, taking in the view from ground level and from the top of the observatory.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkcTx95mkniTFJEMLWqh9-1KnWzfdfm5e7dQsTVghsRSJzlzkglWC_kKs6is34skbrWCMfJPxPF1fI4IoyteAO-k8hcdsE65gtSgy3GoMaiZT4tSalWzQNaspDMYWH32KniCjy-0sakHv/s1600-h/9+June+09+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkcTx95mkniTFJEMLWqh9-1KnWzfdfm5e7dQsTVghsRSJzlzkglWC_kKs6is34skbrWCMfJPxPF1fI4IoyteAO-k8hcdsE65gtSgy3GoMaiZT4tSalWzQNaspDMYWH32KniCjy-0sakHv/s320/9+June+09+064.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">landscaped, rather than landscape</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4J4oc4I4O6iac5VGfLeMxL1GATyMZg2S5EtcR-HY3B3iKbC3oGwuZlsG-8vXKkH638KMWbHnnafWVua-vwskkCY9UJrv6-WN8dm_QohOnzDzEIiXbVRkbLwQc0BvU2f7T7j67pNeLsyM/s1600-h/9+June+09+069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4J4oc4I4O6iac5VGfLeMxL1GATyMZg2S5EtcR-HY3B3iKbC3oGwuZlsG-8vXKkH638KMWbHnnafWVua-vwskkCY9UJrv6-WN8dm_QohOnzDzEIiXbVRkbLwQc0BvU2f7T7j67pNeLsyM/s320/9+June+09+069.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">bird's eye view of the stalls (of course) and the parking lot</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJBJhcveUxFP2yCJUQvV3_NEKMzwCW-p-bkLFizHFv6lWimN3AGMwuMJkk1fWrJmy7_n-UVLBeBc8kSRh_L6gitTuX-TvgUovbIA7lK11bDo766zAM-zA45we00FsFvHdgvBXpqyBQLXH/s1600-h/9+June+09+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJBJhcveUxFP2yCJUQvV3_NEKMzwCW-p-bkLFizHFv6lWimN3AGMwuMJkk1fWrJmy7_n-UVLBeBc8kSRh_L6gitTuX-TvgUovbIA7lK11bDo766zAM-zA45we00FsFvHdgvBXpqyBQLXH/s320/9+June+09+065.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">more beautiful buildings</div><br />
The weather had indeed cleared up, for the moment anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q1XGDSNNIXRZtJmogWMhdt4Mpi76vWhTEBdQcbCQm0AON93U0SPGYN_pgBQ9iX5abMdvmA5M0M-dszsM-mH6QOYzQw5x4qJVhzZ05WOpYIwLDXLCs4N_1rqN8KxjuBnp-L0GrwvXQfdi/s1600-h/9+June+09+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Q1XGDSNNIXRZtJmogWMhdt4Mpi76vWhTEBdQcbCQm0AON93U0SPGYN_pgBQ9iX5abMdvmA5M0M-dszsM-mH6QOYzQw5x4qJVhzZ05WOpYIwLDXLCs4N_1rqN8KxjuBnp-L0GrwvXQfdi/s320/9+June+09+073.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">on a clear day, you can see forever</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjn0Zql2VR_xTaE3Ye2cCeBEUDc5m6d3OnQcDMKCdhYkEgFSA6B9cHUYlVa0ESFO1yi5Mugf-sbo6rLIai1Y5b05myNOiasZMvTo8GYoELGSV7V3Uuac-ZJm4Jd-rFLOS7NJV48V1RfU3M/s1600-h/9+June+09+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjn0Zql2VR_xTaE3Ye2cCeBEUDc5m6d3OnQcDMKCdhYkEgFSA6B9cHUYlVa0ESFO1yi5Mugf-sbo6rLIai1Y5b05myNOiasZMvTo8GYoELGSV7V3Uuac-ZJm4Jd-rFLOS7NJV48V1RfU3M/s320/9+June+09+077.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ah, finally, patchwork fields</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpwtXG_Xn5F0Fd83szHdsg44WyOIXWCeRU8il3y3WB2yBwksUjfJmySpo0b5w9-LUElxM1c2XmBd1QHZ_E54jtDwfrnfZ-OmjdxOJFK6nIye9Nc91yWabJJaNBrUXR-TarUKK2SHrq1d2/s1600-h/9+June+09+075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpwtXG_Xn5F0Fd83szHdsg44WyOIXWCeRU8il3y3WB2yBwksUjfJmySpo0b5w9-LUElxM1c2XmBd1QHZ_E54jtDwfrnfZ-OmjdxOJFK6nIye9Nc91yWabJJaNBrUXR-TarUKK2SHrq1d2/s320/9+June+09+075.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we couldn't resist a snack</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKEqsDr1sytJnTP2phgLiskJ1DlcMBMmb6jyaoXkdd70DKvJooQ_yNWRKBZI53oLG-1DxYsWlN75P1ZlhIF7dMowy3bcXZtHG-G4k2B3cUoYAW5CZlH2c_GJ63o1hA6b_xsiwsx1LBXzY/s1600-h/9+June+09+084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKEqsDr1sytJnTP2phgLiskJ1DlcMBMmb6jyaoXkdd70DKvJooQ_yNWRKBZI53oLG-1DxYsWlN75P1ZlhIF7dMowy3bcXZtHG-G4k2B3cUoYAW5CZlH2c_GJ63o1hA6b_xsiwsx1LBXzY/s320/9+June+09+084.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">steamed corn and asparagus</div><br />
I know that looks like bunny food for health nuts, but, believe me, the corn and asparagus were so flavourful, they felt sinful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgPS9c1Sp0achDSYT-88BO3NkfwCqYioj7gLK2n0DDAzLN8MoQDGtR1Hrft9cMRyavu4J3Al-JEQadcXx7zua8b1SuLEStR7KPSa9yjZXnNPmy7Vaxsift-2_7rROpBu2XkKq7lQRKpJD/s1600-h/9+June+09+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgPS9c1Sp0achDSYT-88BO3NkfwCqYioj7gLK2n0DDAzLN8MoQDGtR1Hrft9cMRyavu4J3Al-JEQadcXx7zua8b1SuLEStR7KPSa9yjZXnNPmy7Vaxsift-2_7rROpBu2XkKq7lQRKpJD/s320/9+June+09+086.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a last look</div><br />
We weren't too distraught at having to leave - our choice of accommodation for the night would put us right smack in the same neighbourhood, but more on that later...<br />
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In the meantime, we found ourselves back at...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYINEPz8zhLLd3W-YtD-bOQWPAbdHbcoIvLwHripMW8mJ6xjwXbIEz1pO79xqIbxlFzQOPjpxBneKE_U110nEh8qN-lX83Q3mNgOgi3mLHqeQEhl8CSqMPj68siHfy1bSl820fo6i9Ct7L/s1600-h/9+June+09+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYINEPz8zhLLd3W-YtD-bOQWPAbdHbcoIvLwHripMW8mJ6xjwXbIEz1pO79xqIbxlFzQOPjpxBneKE_U110nEh8qN-lX83Q3mNgOgi3mLHqeQEhl8CSqMPj68siHfy1bSl820fo6i9Ct7L/s320/9+June+09+093.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... the Biei Station</div><br />
With a couple of hours to kill before our ride to our accommodation picked us up, we had ourselves a nice lunch. We went back to Okirakutei Cafe Restaurant.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyHr8YWLgpmNnbVv3WLyXagnu15AOiiao5dg88Dx11PSEm2ntqVANLgtCCaca7mPChaVURUYp_yuTZ5D3yNb0OFdO4JXgqWiPoYcVWT0TjhuozYEseI0hqwRalnM4kcVLzJawCu5eEMK_/s1600-h/9+June+09+153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyHr8YWLgpmNnbVv3WLyXagnu15AOiiao5dg88Dx11PSEm2ntqVANLgtCCaca7mPChaVURUYp_yuTZ5D3yNb0OFdO4JXgqWiPoYcVWT0TjhuozYEseI0hqwRalnM4kcVLzJawCu5eEMK_/s320/9+June+09+153.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">country cafe vibe</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgalNpopGHWlUUN5SwEgtqUL-HHmn8hzyqRDB9GTEewtmnKhZboO5H1-55G1aU3ovFPatovIycabi74OtnbeZDTYCa7YZ8a8O0BQReA2CocEhs9c5kbvX6a_-T2c75q-EB4RyAMP6v_FK/s1600-h/9+June+09+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgalNpopGHWlUUN5SwEgtqUL-HHmn8hzyqRDB9GTEewtmnKhZboO5H1-55G1aU3ovFPatovIycabi74OtnbeZDTYCa7YZ8a8O0BQReA2CocEhs9c5kbvX6a_-T2c75q-EB4RyAMP6v_FK/s320/9+June+09+154.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with little "authentic" touches</div><br />
The chef himself was in attendance, and explained to us that it was a one-option prix fixe menu i.e. there was no menu, just a set meal. And the main course?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhAUFoAt8gPP4M45w0iZ3AnWp8j3ehbg1GJV-XIYtS66v4Pnt8VAPpc1Auv12v46m7OuB4lqziY1q5P7dcyoqeRmktYqNWMzYOreSzqnTCk2wr5IwXQcdXEOAaikaRo2hcRcvci4__O-h/s1600-h/9+June+09+161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhAUFoAt8gPP4M45w0iZ3AnWp8j3ehbg1GJV-XIYtS66v4Pnt8VAPpc1Auv12v46m7OuB4lqziY1q5P7dcyoqeRmktYqNWMzYOreSzqnTCk2wr5IwXQcdXEOAaikaRo2hcRcvci4__O-h/s320/9+June+09+161.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pot au feu</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDWXo1fCK-PYSEkaxEWuidoYAyYiyj5qF2aVlFLvgQQ_noj2MJ_LYcQDyDfihi0_FDpED8U_JqyvU8gBySCJXFj1u_2LPMHKtSLwkhYn_4Ut6RqOId2MaZApOGwWpsOnV8Hfp_Yr7KHiZ/s1600-h/9+June+09+160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDWXo1fCK-PYSEkaxEWuidoYAyYiyj5qF2aVlFLvgQQ_noj2MJ_LYcQDyDfihi0_FDpED8U_JqyvU8gBySCJXFj1u_2LPMHKtSLwkhYn_4Ut6RqOId2MaZApOGwWpsOnV8Hfp_Yr7KHiZ/s320/9+June+09+160.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fresh garden salad</div><br />
We were not surprised that the cooking was more than competent, and made good use of the freshest of local produce. To us, that was so Japanese - that in the middle of nowhere, it would be possible to find classic French food.<br />
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The sun was finally out in full force - the town, and in particular its gardens, were in full technicolour.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrLTGCEZGSmfE1olaasLt7CJjx7jlVm_w3XnjO5zS_n0KkgWJJ-0I0LApbs2OTp3EQ_nGJq36frd3O84GNyheQ5pduL3yrPCX9W6U_QALhXsm6XFkHxbd2aPYzAspDyGAzy0qA0ZFobIK/s1600-h/9+June+09+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrLTGCEZGSmfE1olaasLt7CJjx7jlVm_w3XnjO5zS_n0KkgWJJ-0I0LApbs2OTp3EQ_nGJq36frd3O84GNyheQ5pduL3yrPCX9W6U_QALhXsm6XFkHxbd2aPYzAspDyGAzy0qA0ZFobIK/s320/9+June+09+098.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8HBjU27cazZp75glNW3eOyezqwagpnESG5rMMD0t-wtoVJtGn5y3H4NeH0iyLSu1GtzB-S54SyTN12KPKx52v8PF-wxc8MRr5PGz9xp-d_GFXbHup5iH06vjAggt79l8x1YESMJWGV-u/s1600-h/9+June+09+112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8HBjU27cazZp75glNW3eOyezqwagpnESG5rMMD0t-wtoVJtGn5y3H4NeH0iyLSu1GtzB-S54SyTN12KPKx52v8PF-wxc8MRr5PGz9xp-d_GFXbHup5iH06vjAggt79l8x1YESMJWGV-u/s320/9+June+09+112.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPYlEKNC0Cccmq7D34Sb0GJD0Sfy9uecz10jZ6S-_gl6v6hVIqGdn3Ui-w-IRbSg-i4gUFPR38pONRZymtw088LiMMoSt6s9FlDRy4mBgBPJUxQUJWri4GPP878XqBnfqmsukARAl_Jor/s1600-h/9+June+09+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPYlEKNC0Cccmq7D34Sb0GJD0Sfy9uecz10jZ6S-_gl6v6hVIqGdn3Ui-w-IRbSg-i4gUFPR38pONRZymtw088LiMMoSt6s9FlDRy4mBgBPJUxQUJWri4GPP878XqBnfqmsukARAl_Jor/s320/9+June+09+116.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HKrRJnmHwvSWb06eBzDKqCiuTjqpNK0zyj9BJZxB0i29Nd5MnmST-0aAXRtzeDFdWqUnVUbxMcl6dkoQJfcj1yZiAwarn-byDjg9pxNadVO_woJnirU_EQAV7z7Ts7zENvx-LpRKWHNf/s1600-h/9+June+09+175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HKrRJnmHwvSWb06eBzDKqCiuTjqpNK0zyj9BJZxB0i29Nd5MnmST-0aAXRtzeDFdWqUnVUbxMcl6dkoQJfcj1yZiAwarn-byDjg9pxNadVO_woJnirU_EQAV7z7Ts7zENvx-LpRKWHNf/s320/9+June+09+175.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZzLAm28phbizwz0iD86bmGpvFqQucwr-o84bcHQRCINa22L0mruad8a6kwPM4d2hdUrFZsab10ubQPgOJzSR0P5R2xKganjdxANLdcfdnwuc21WEUYp3TBGodo5ZHzPYI-lDWx6oPShb/s1600-h/9+June+09+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZzLAm28phbizwz0iD86bmGpvFqQucwr-o84bcHQRCINa22L0mruad8a6kwPM4d2hdUrFZsab10ubQPgOJzSR0P5R2xKganjdxANLdcfdnwuc21WEUYp3TBGodo5ZHzPYI-lDWx6oPShb/s320/9+June+09+121.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>In the bright sunlight, the town looked like a movie set for "The Truman Show".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UKZpYoxXzU6nIsZ6YyAYorOFDkeIodWE89VEXaNvmEtyCcuJgXXFJ1k5o5Fhdv1CwqnAccFpdd1ePXAPBKnTe7lkt0ngwZw8Hs99QoVnN73JRl2d8bM0RNKnTO8FFB7zwactlp-tUH3d/s1600-h/9+June+09+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UKZpYoxXzU6nIsZ6YyAYorOFDkeIodWE89VEXaNvmEtyCcuJgXXFJ1k5o5Fhdv1CwqnAccFpdd1ePXAPBKnTe7lkt0ngwZw8Hs99QoVnN73JRl2d8bM0RNKnTO8FFB7zwactlp-tUH3d/s320/9+June+09+125.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2QwRRUmxA9IU4zSU0OBfWEKKDC2eFjOcbFpR4URudZWCpI00ezjAiwYJBmbN-2sSXaQPQtzGPgJB0hWjQCptj6656JmHezsgRoOxgMle6qHBAsqNEu720HMXTyAsE2zQDAqNIK7o5u8O/s1600-h/9+June+09+188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2QwRRUmxA9IU4zSU0OBfWEKKDC2eFjOcbFpR4URudZWCpI00ezjAiwYJBmbN-2sSXaQPQtzGPgJB0hWjQCptj6656JmHezsgRoOxgMle6qHBAsqNEu720HMXTyAsE2zQDAqNIK7o5u8O/s320/9+June+09+188.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhyphenhyphenBqs5F9iuy5-iZ5xMZTSwykn5KGjeBEWAZJTh3RBFuX_czZnDKMc1KNTUjMPn82RD5UICz4Oiu9njAJGg0w_MwqzpsSkKQypfF6q6OBdjSnAVALQTYhAs_n5aZLzSQc92GFIFsnPIrg/s1600-h/9+June+09+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhyphenhyphenBqs5F9iuy5-iZ5xMZTSwykn5KGjeBEWAZJTh3RBFuX_czZnDKMc1KNTUjMPn82RD5UICz4Oiu9njAJGg0w_MwqzpsSkKQypfF6q6OBdjSnAVALQTYhAs_n5aZLzSQc92GFIFsnPIrg/s320/9+June+09+148.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Apparently town legislation mandated that all buildings on the main streets had to have triangular roofs and the year they were built emblazoned on their facades.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglL5kWoV5TgnviP3bPMBU0o9JUcOty9uz7Ke8Zh53TMQnzWKpaiyR7Ku2Wp7rH1plfcid7MWZ3ZDaBB654-5x0QO3wl68-IaPSzesvlrfjGlvWNPiev0UmKuRXMjX71snqnR17ijz-g9IB/s1600-h/9+June+09+171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglL5kWoV5TgnviP3bPMBU0o9JUcOty9uz7Ke8Zh53TMQnzWKpaiyR7Ku2Wp7rH1plfcid7MWZ3ZDaBB654-5x0QO3wl68-IaPSzesvlrfjGlvWNPiev0UmKuRXMjX71snqnR17ijz-g9IB/s320/9+June+09+171.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuIxM5VnvfPLfenqOxTK9tHccoqgQHp6uso9Ne1QrQqJA-sfC72GYp9XnmXFwpfAsLsQVZpuj79q6ejHmpS10krOw4ov91GYMCHURXrQbR8NBF0dblWOfQL_QLBSRNQL5DzJeRDZGZBWx/s1600-h/9+June+09+172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuIxM5VnvfPLfenqOxTK9tHccoqgQHp6uso9Ne1QrQqJA-sfC72GYp9XnmXFwpfAsLsQVZpuj79q6ejHmpS10krOw4ov91GYMCHURXrQbR8NBF0dblWOfQL_QLBSRNQL5DzJeRDZGZBWx/s320/9+June+09+172.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1wj4SQztfcLtnkCbt5aM4qezZOgvXWHgQvsWDj9TAgo6YmKLkqpD3W70oNTi8yHfUKHLdpu168kEBfNrAEhFlD5CIT9NVUq96nFcgHUfMoD9PCC_lAL9BrbanASlhEDj7GjekrGN7XT4/s1600-h/9+June+09+173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1wj4SQztfcLtnkCbt5aM4qezZOgvXWHgQvsWDj9TAgo6YmKLkqpD3W70oNTi8yHfUKHLdpu168kEBfNrAEhFlD5CIT9NVUq96nFcgHUfMoD9PCC_lAL9BrbanASlhEDj7GjekrGN7XT4/s320/9+June+09+173.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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And then there were the whimsical signs . We wondered if those were mandatory too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8401xl4MgSWOGQWET8NgXj5WlQOUWzCXDlPnhYcH-y3NWiZWdPNkIPnSkh3oTscBVH9z8Hbn998u0Vi_geSV-BS0ot1BzXO2XbcULDYZ4pKDSkaleSqFD0ZeUPjbOii0sHAAtOGONrQU7/s1600-h/9+June+09+164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8401xl4MgSWOGQWET8NgXj5WlQOUWzCXDlPnhYcH-y3NWiZWdPNkIPnSkh3oTscBVH9z8Hbn998u0Vi_geSV-BS0ot1BzXO2XbcULDYZ4pKDSkaleSqFD0ZeUPjbOii0sHAAtOGONrQU7/s320/9+June+09+164.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirh7t8beK4al4Y1HPxZ7xt1EhvkPv1lkNVXVScTG92A6XzqXOYD10879vmenZjaTFGKhl40I7rdSrYwg7Px62NhE8-Lv2hfle0xMjJdtSrPe_uZ5o-NdaN-gwDFwntsiikkitQALS7Mfx-/s1600-h/9+June+09+168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirh7t8beK4al4Y1HPxZ7xt1EhvkPv1lkNVXVScTG92A6XzqXOYD10879vmenZjaTFGKhl40I7rdSrYwg7Px62NhE8-Lv2hfle0xMjJdtSrPe_uZ5o-NdaN-gwDFwntsiikkitQALS7Mfx-/s320/9+June+09+168.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLxKaJceLL0NCV8okOC96Tl_ikUG46i886zzylmriqk0wRbxNoLxwG9P6O5KkmcPOpnwX2tJxXXqmEI0AGeSi_Q6s04X6qn-m6wonq13U7RE80kU6yU_TRhPkFdVwH6JPgyFk9yfsaEMs/s1600-h/9+June+09+186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLxKaJceLL0NCV8okOC96Tl_ikUG46i886zzylmriqk0wRbxNoLxwG9P6O5KkmcPOpnwX2tJxXXqmEI0AGeSi_Q6s04X6qn-m6wonq13U7RE80kU6yU_TRhPkFdVwH6JPgyFk9yfsaEMs/s320/9+June+09+186.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz5al2g1MN6fs_1Qi1wqx0_bzuQUasZEwnVUVsUoackR3Dz0EoMNQ9hclVe34oFu_iP1PmvKaemT9TSR7okiFBWioBf1Tc_hx7v7HDjdNXgrSHGemRfm7TUnG0KABZNHb8FjuS9sqoLo7/s1600-h/9+June+09+191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz5al2g1MN6fs_1Qi1wqx0_bzuQUasZEwnVUVsUoackR3Dz0EoMNQ9hclVe34oFu_iP1PmvKaemT9TSR7okiFBWioBf1Tc_hx7v7HDjdNXgrSHGemRfm7TUnG0KABZNHb8FjuS9sqoLo7/s320/9+June+09+191.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEl2l6GoRe8J6DEX9VZePWJ-6rZ7p1KIF_fN5kT2v-6nLD8BNNRRUcUTBXBFC2P5QVDKEqVMzEhTojFSUjpB0qMEXLWj5egYKWVeLQqJf5TwaPtLIwVtstW800XhfbcflmvMDCECiPSnWV/s1600-h/9+June+09+192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEl2l6GoRe8J6DEX9VZePWJ-6rZ7p1KIF_fN5kT2v-6nLD8BNNRRUcUTBXBFC2P5QVDKEqVMzEhTojFSUjpB0qMEXLWj5egYKWVeLQqJf5TwaPtLIwVtstW800XhfbcflmvMDCECiPSnWV/s320/9+June+09+192.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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In some ways though, I preferred the more organic, less planned side of town.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxYdYufI3qauyX9y-QvC1m48eNlR7-glf5UleMoR_tQZ4_nGnsYnPVl_lDA_lCd1oVlL8HqtLdRwJaK7Ck16T2ajfkCB_QwY_ES1O3jsDioM-yz13tiTgoawVz0_jjWj_zNACw3HZMPI9/s1600-h/9+June+09+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxYdYufI3qauyX9y-QvC1m48eNlR7-glf5UleMoR_tQZ4_nGnsYnPVl_lDA_lCd1oVlL8HqtLdRwJaK7Ck16T2ajfkCB_QwY_ES1O3jsDioM-yz13tiTgoawVz0_jjWj_zNACw3HZMPI9/s320/9+June+09+103.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkmjdC8fGMy9hCtmmMp46N12LPe-mwZG8STOVW72Z8kmlaYipz4ox6I7_KyOdC1MjJNOv38lCtjuP9ujaeGwm3xWbDdWQH35OgkvtihHwBe87LeVIDmmILDlvRdnROGUbvtIqrvMpMdON/s1600-h/9+June+09+169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkmjdC8fGMy9hCtmmMp46N12LPe-mwZG8STOVW72Z8kmlaYipz4ox6I7_KyOdC1MjJNOv38lCtjuP9ujaeGwm3xWbDdWQH35OgkvtihHwBe87LeVIDmmILDlvRdnROGUbvtIqrvMpMdON/s320/9+June+09+169.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PaEF_Ej49IKT20LNB1XhM1bW_pzgUn6zdCUWj8UOOivTDlG5JZTknqMdKnr3JqJSeTcT9ZH3yN50hNe6jHMeUVNne3GbUib0-7Ookuj8jHASYbfvUfiAOMbQkT0v1WD2EVAFrNlEUyMC/s1600-h/9+June+09+181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PaEF_Ej49IKT20LNB1XhM1bW_pzgUn6zdCUWj8UOOivTDlG5JZTknqMdKnr3JqJSeTcT9ZH3yN50hNe6jHMeUVNne3GbUib0-7Ookuj8jHASYbfvUfiAOMbQkT0v1WD2EVAFrNlEUyMC/s320/9+June+09+181.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the town bath-house!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_2hnTatMSXtDgSMXwiJuSn5hx_C7hpmkS1h-mw2KGZELU1rxKpYbGoOzRQNhf83QVUlUxqbH1vUoYqdv9Vpao0jJquf2A_HO3IpUz-xgfibUzWGuC9Vs3DwLKW65YxES5OGCmreZoEwh/s1600-h/9+June+09+183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_2hnTatMSXtDgSMXwiJuSn5hx_C7hpmkS1h-mw2KGZELU1rxKpYbGoOzRQNhf83QVUlUxqbH1vUoYqdv9Vpao0jJquf2A_HO3IpUz-xgfibUzWGuC9Vs3DwLKW65YxES5OGCmreZoEwh/s320/9+June+09+183.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__NuvIOaDHdNeeLPYadZODTS4PTKzK7yJTCwnllgT_m-HZp93GJRgedB2YHO_UZB9UqjZ10U1Hjgtdqao9CfhT3CIoGaL2K1KVicl71vM2TTq-Ja7iZ2Y8kU7RxMVu3mWqGLY6wrEXphU/s1600-h/9+June+09+187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__NuvIOaDHdNeeLPYadZODTS4PTKzK7yJTCwnllgT_m-HZp93GJRgedB2YHO_UZB9UqjZ10U1Hjgtdqao9CfhT3CIoGaL2K1KVicl71vM2TTq-Ja7iZ2Y8kU7RxMVu3mWqGLY6wrEXphU/s320/9+June+09+187.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJnhMEzs2nIYjyrrFoM5WRKfdGOqyMIOJFWxzUao5ojZBZ7VCQQPwY1wYwrv-_tHiq8kTx6yjuRJgos9mEOGRCux69L1v28pZ7coRruVrbbllIF8GCTQJEPp2YsR7D0h8k7rUhALa2MJ7/s1600-h/9+June+09+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJnhMEzs2nIYjyrrFoM5WRKfdGOqyMIOJFWxzUao5ojZBZ7VCQQPwY1wYwrv-_tHiq8kTx6yjuRJgos9mEOGRCux69L1v28pZ7coRruVrbbllIF8GCTQJEPp2YsR7D0h8k7rUhALa2MJ7/s320/9+June+09+132.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A3QsiKUBT22792o2CWhtwShe9jRRFLq6BydaL0qVd3WUMqNHYdAPLwX2re-sMZ0GOwvJn9iJ2JO2zOAQc8jFpUTikoOLPDc3oat3nKWca7aIJDsnYKsWEyBlH0nNYh8xXkuwj5-ocCK9/s1600-h/9+June+09+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A3QsiKUBT22792o2CWhtwShe9jRRFLq6BydaL0qVd3WUMqNHYdAPLwX2re-sMZ0GOwvJn9iJ2JO2zOAQc8jFpUTikoOLPDc3oat3nKWca7aIJDsnYKsWEyBlH0nNYh8xXkuwj5-ocCK9/s320/9+June+09+185.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RdlHzk2Lr2wuG0_hUXuPiHIhgdf_Bjsx7-pSCualvRrYsMD2impHWClHEyomwPCNtLSd9gQwPMMsOu8sBL6TDYAueGYlBbxRM5TSqlsm-kxhaAsTDpAmUV88gSZdVYc3kOFoQjYOIjMC/s1600-h/9+June+09+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RdlHzk2Lr2wuG0_hUXuPiHIhgdf_Bjsx7-pSCualvRrYsMD2impHWClHEyomwPCNtLSd9gQwPMMsOu8sBL6TDYAueGYlBbxRM5TSqlsm-kxhaAsTDpAmUV88gSZdVYc3kOFoQjYOIjMC/s320/9+June+09+139.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU16b5GZRtYYUu-qpGSf5Ag8f-TgBOyiH73JUFnzwmTNPxU__16Lyt4hhQOIzKlJgU__yOTWv8LNjcOfZkfD1WjzXl3qe2VqbFB39AnXa1D1uDt0F22SjwX3t2vCW1oLjmzuilweO_DOIE/s1600-h/9+June+09+180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU16b5GZRtYYUu-qpGSf5Ag8f-TgBOyiH73JUFnzwmTNPxU__16Lyt4hhQOIzKlJgU__yOTWv8LNjcOfZkfD1WjzXl3qe2VqbFB39AnXa1D1uDt0F22SjwX3t2vCW1oLjmzuilweO_DOIE/s320/9+June+09+180.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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We finally collected our luggage from the Tourist Information Centre and waited outside the Biei Station for our ride to Potato No Oka. Mr Marushima who had corresponded with me duly arrived at 3.10 p.m.<br />
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Potato No Oka was a youth hostel in the fields of Biei. We had long considered ourselves too old for the enforced sociability of youth hostels - young backpackers, shudder - but we made an exception for this one. Every single review we had read had mentioned the excellent food, that plus its excellent location. Hopefully, this being a Japanese youth hostel, it would all be very civilised.<br />
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We were given the Pumpkin Room. Small and simple, the room was clean and functional. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfCInSKmv1FqdVeKDatXdfaM0PMyZQ9tIc-5wgi3v9M39NTHn6aVjC4YO7lG1gHMJOU28Zh0GW029yfr_ExORLM4bT58nG0xMN5CUrPrMlvNKINUsXhS921BV2rjYkomX3fzLEAe_N0Rv/s1600-h/9+June+09+195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfCInSKmv1FqdVeKDatXdfaM0PMyZQ9tIc-5wgi3v9M39NTHn6aVjC4YO7lG1gHMJOU28Zh0GW029yfr_ExORLM4bT58nG0xMN5CUrPrMlvNKINUsXhS921BV2rjYkomX3fzLEAe_N0Rv/s320/9+June+09+195.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ooh we would have to make our beds ourselves</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85v_TG7G5_r92Disqo2XOzy3p3_9rMJAG1w7K793kg1qx3LKruBla_Ukb4JsvD1-sClGm9uHkTScSOCZ-f9GL2MmvCVxnz2_lr3aLaFoMBr0RjWuJ7IDWv5PjA2ulq-qJyNEuvelU4XeW/s1600-h/9+June+09+197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85v_TG7G5_r92Disqo2XOzy3p3_9rMJAG1w7K793kg1qx3LKruBla_Ukb4JsvD1-sClGm9uHkTScSOCZ-f9GL2MmvCVxnz2_lr3aLaFoMBr0RjWuJ7IDWv5PjA2ulq-qJyNEuvelU4XeW/s320/9+June+09+197.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the view from our window</div><br />
The building was all polished timber floors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGu9ixFJegQ3WosjKE10_ranj3ynEjnWXRaFLN8qeLzvj_QANRJl6_r0KgJQxZCXrZNg0XawJ3iaXHu2szV-IAqSt4U8nsx5IZCB_-xuwv0HOx3k39dzVn4QhGhzvckOZ5gk2uzImHKzX/s1600-h/9+June+09+204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGu9ixFJegQ3WosjKE10_ranj3ynEjnWXRaFLN8qeLzvj_QANRJl6_r0KgJQxZCXrZNg0XawJ3iaXHu2szV-IAqSt4U8nsx5IZCB_-xuwv0HOx3k39dzVn4QhGhzvckOZ5gk2uzImHKzX/s320/9+June+09+204.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the building had a number of these stained glass sunlights</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_cU73pakQrUGOhXM1M5l_VoLJrAwbziPQwRpyn6HiaEylCHGq_DlD_6dr6ZGVJQnz3rFhcyr9_rhhjfCd2EE72vvFG02Yg-uLl9Zsp1Trsuf6yRsPqj5aD2C1zbsVlmOEC9WxmCdOf76/s1600-h/9+June+09+205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_cU73pakQrUGOhXM1M5l_VoLJrAwbziPQwRpyn6HiaEylCHGq_DlD_6dr6ZGVJQnz3rFhcyr9_rhhjfCd2EE72vvFG02Yg-uLl9Zsp1Trsuf6yRsPqj5aD2C1zbsVlmOEC9WxmCdOf76/s320/9+June+09+205.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cosy sitting area upstairs</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQa4ai-MCh3gxn-hyjCypx8w1xmvA-oXjnFNTrNUlWbeM8Z9bNf78qOwFeCeHFH2ClY8KGw792QaX6sJXYyjoKEaya-6Sg2DSaB0F2euX2vJ1hNqdZNK4Ki4KfJnas3b7FDfQ3-zJX4NdV/s1600-h/9+June+09+206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQa4ai-MCh3gxn-hyjCypx8w1xmvA-oXjnFNTrNUlWbeM8Z9bNf78qOwFeCeHFH2ClY8KGw792QaX6sJXYyjoKEaya-6Sg2DSaB0F2euX2vJ1hNqdZNK4Ki4KfJnas3b7FDfQ3-zJX4NdV/s320/9+June+09+206.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the view from the upstairs sitting area</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a8S_D6avqQ4_PWtENMsuu4qaiq6GK30xCV7fhG2rt9CgqRC-Zb37jJgFMxfR4Rl2FPSYQX19KCVtDwmqPwzQ20-dsNblUXE4FhOsfJXGCWmeJpbH3sahEu8FLpRr9xNoE2MHD3Qw6hJj/s1600-h/9+June+09+207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a8S_D6avqQ4_PWtENMsuu4qaiq6GK30xCV7fhG2rt9CgqRC-Zb37jJgFMxfR4Rl2FPSYQX19KCVtDwmqPwzQ20-dsNblUXE4FhOsfJXGCWmeJpbH3sahEu8FLpRr9xNoE2MHD3Qw6hJj/s320/9+June+09+207.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the rec room</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E_dqVh17N3LiSMglJmhUb2S0nr14fzk3K7RHarjgrr4oq25aQRbEv122PLcp8t9LfHSXEiPQuiXzmUwS9amUQpOVPkME-5umvHcmLRzdn9JpslpcsC7MTfaXP9YKBVsOgRz6Xwn63BMx/s1600-h/9+June+09+208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E_dqVh17N3LiSMglJmhUb2S0nr14fzk3K7RHarjgrr4oq25aQRbEv122PLcp8t9LfHSXEiPQuiXzmUwS9amUQpOVPkME-5umvHcmLRzdn9JpslpcsC7MTfaXP9YKBVsOgRz6Xwn63BMx/s320/9+June+09+208.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">look who's hiding out in the rec room</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzeHm07NtFxvClnfHz83hvQGIsxJEjPEtbhWyfYd3URHz2uT0gvO5P6N4x8mdMBGWkhT-s2sW1hotxWJGEOEYgzKeFrBG23eDXryMyLHS7zqnyp6y1AfyYdMnldDijsMZD8yp8k5bUDNd/s1600-h/9+June+09+209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzeHm07NtFxvClnfHz83hvQGIsxJEjPEtbhWyfYd3URHz2uT0gvO5P6N4x8mdMBGWkhT-s2sW1hotxWJGEOEYgzKeFrBG23eDXryMyLHS7zqnyp6y1AfyYdMnldDijsMZD8yp8k5bUDNd/s320/9+June+09+209.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the dining area</div><br />
So far so good - the hostel was quiet, clean and not unpretty. It wasn't time for dinner yet, so we decided to go check out the great outdoors. We were reminded to be on time for dinner - at Potato No Oka, everyone ate together.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeuQ4JM6jAo8PnO2EGFPL5YrMhOFJwEhX-x2QlJ9ErA2L4XliuECaQ01tyTI-YOMJjQmDKbcBmOhzULo1-v3Dy-CoQvzkURl477JgAQddciLb0OPLmTX-wjlJXwF2MZ7WgtR_xwVoxt1R/s1600-h/9+June+09+218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeuQ4JM6jAo8PnO2EGFPL5YrMhOFJwEhX-x2QlJ9ErA2L4XliuECaQ01tyTI-YOMJjQmDKbcBmOhzULo1-v3Dy-CoQvzkURl477JgAQddciLb0OPLmTX-wjlJXwF2MZ7WgtR_xwVoxt1R/s320/9+June+09+218.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the main building</div><br />
Just behind the main building were some cute cottages...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRZQKIQdbkymVleV2fEig3vihfITncNx8q4vHgUvle11FYOMEEHfnI0IyWPx2wo8fgtDG2Jw0dm3oMId4M1eEHVm5nd1mRU04qSLWfprOIq7C4kqPVTTASJtL4JfpcPIDBZFGscPJL8Nj/s1600-h/9+June+09+210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRZQKIQdbkymVleV2fEig3vihfITncNx8q4vHgUvle11FYOMEEHfnI0IyWPx2wo8fgtDG2Jw0dm3oMId4M1eEHVm5nd1mRU04qSLWfprOIq7C4kqPVTTASJtL4JfpcPIDBZFGscPJL8Nj/s320/9+June+09+210.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfvZgkW4_CC01Q8v3fjpHstKn2dq6DUMYYtna1QRdWyVB76W_piNqvhzuL30KUNZlQPyZIlbE8lhCc7pEU0pGwt-CoKtm14it1b9mZIk2QSmtaXRJZP9CiPd6j8QfqcrdRrbYLqvQXaTb/s1600-h/9+June+09+213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfvZgkW4_CC01Q8v3fjpHstKn2dq6DUMYYtna1QRdWyVB76W_piNqvhzuL30KUNZlQPyZIlbE8lhCc7pEU0pGwt-CoKtm14it1b9mZIk2QSmtaXRJZP9CiPd6j8QfqcrdRrbYLqvQXaTb/s320/9+June+09+213.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and a restaurant which may or may not have been open</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoK4ujGERWKN0EDRTG3y2DgtNnjvkwNMRn8RonV9WWc4I36kxgQ-YCBqjiGWJd_ErFRc977hyuTxgc8xRnnXiJ_gXv9gI6qpsv7v-Qy8TRzMRaHY_5baPTqCVR7OxMvu6X92w1OC3Yq2K/s1600-h/9+June+09+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoK4ujGERWKN0EDRTG3y2DgtNnjvkwNMRn8RonV9WWc4I36kxgQ-YCBqjiGWJd_ErFRc977hyuTxgc8xRnnXiJ_gXv9gI6qpsv7v-Qy8TRzMRaHY_5baPTqCVR7OxMvu6X92w1OC3Yq2K/s320/9+June+09+215.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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We went a little further afield, to take in all that Mother Nature had to offer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlmJk69EhH38bDzpeASqYqDzoNcthFS52amUjoBffqneDKEtn-8MSoGwBv2pax1e0obHpJua_oSAlouS14lmCEuRFQHyyKP5sGmERT4zBAUFL2DkOXfdJOKrhr4cL_d9uHQax4Qe8CvWw/s1600-h/9+June+09+226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlmJk69EhH38bDzpeASqYqDzoNcthFS52amUjoBffqneDKEtn-8MSoGwBv2pax1e0obHpJua_oSAlouS14lmCEuRFQHyyKP5sGmERT4zBAUFL2DkOXfdJOKrhr4cL_d9uHQax4Qe8CvWw/s320/9+June+09+226.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we weren't the only ones out walking</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeMhhORisDuj34jQM7S8v350JPNb1ZyuaHz6jAyB1gfmJs6vh_rdwjiYOAY-ph724L6Kwp_gj5xc-iProbO5usJWpyqFymaBjpcXifhHYlnyj2gyVIlPC4JBa4LwjSEj5qb5l1CAQH-9C/s1600-h/9+June+09+219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeMhhORisDuj34jQM7S8v350JPNb1ZyuaHz6jAyB1gfmJs6vh_rdwjiYOAY-ph724L6Kwp_gj5xc-iProbO5usJWpyqFymaBjpcXifhHYlnyj2gyVIlPC4JBa4LwjSEj5qb5l1CAQH-9C/s320/9+June+09+219.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWIPc3VBREbjaIScFsXAjwi_CQ7f_Zd3JK7WmPH2cQ0iiSMcemjXkTiuLfNfVUb0-n8cQBjjooCmGbQ3AESthin07F4QXAVdw5pUolpQ9SnfbkqohCAhGDCNyvCZFDsr2Mk7sTV2rghtd/s1600-h/9+June+09+229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWIPc3VBREbjaIScFsXAjwi_CQ7f_Zd3JK7WmPH2cQ0iiSMcemjXkTiuLfNfVUb0-n8cQBjjooCmGbQ3AESthin07F4QXAVdw5pUolpQ9SnfbkqohCAhGDCNyvCZFDsr2Mk7sTV2rghtd/s320/9+June+09+229.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0sV081MHelJRVxTxOVI1RSZRgr7_yPkmJjmDqLXIyRQgZ2vx3uQ4uE5zpAtkfSHR1nbuQPFCo_MWtcTvL-rVd0OCCqVQAzwzSpaiPf1Z9uFAaTCf5Jk6ug4M0DV7KfsO4-xtUFpDs-Ti/s1600-h/9+June+09+252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0sV081MHelJRVxTxOVI1RSZRgr7_yPkmJjmDqLXIyRQgZ2vx3uQ4uE5zpAtkfSHR1nbuQPFCo_MWtcTvL-rVd0OCCqVQAzwzSpaiPf1Z9uFAaTCf5Jk6ug4M0DV7KfsO4-xtUFpDs-Ti/s320/9+June+09+252.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdscbLTsKXqtZEHWKRuWtZBXI9wa-orQ1q4kd0-rPriQs_muV1z7DkG0jsTwANilB7XNY31eMpn9PTMVpptzMBGBhahGmT0BYAFHYa6-30evi78RA6sa_3NZSV_lzrA9LjDw4kRKA7Odz/s1600-h/9+June+09+259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdscbLTsKXqtZEHWKRuWtZBXI9wa-orQ1q4kd0-rPriQs_muV1z7DkG0jsTwANilB7XNY31eMpn9PTMVpptzMBGBhahGmT0BYAFHYa6-30evi78RA6sa_3NZSV_lzrA9LjDw4kRKA7Odz/s320/9+June+09+259.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjWifyBtQcUn3xEE61_qgctyvUIM7kdBku2Ewwz4n49dLzHNbFTPiU2ToXvCn0zC6oFg60QvKturPsUblH8pUOgN1rUG77O5idiKW1QzVm7xrYZGOguK0yrBDSQwUgda1fRoxZV7Msb0V/s1600-h/9+June+09+263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjWifyBtQcUn3xEE61_qgctyvUIM7kdBku2Ewwz4n49dLzHNbFTPiU2ToXvCn0zC6oFg60QvKturPsUblH8pUOgN1rUG77O5idiKW1QzVm7xrYZGOguK0yrBDSQwUgda1fRoxZV7Msb0V/s320/9+June+09+263.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikc2BtQvdbVvyljvU0amXLxcL_HUfhEuviN0xXY4GNKnmJkKK-Jhw2Ir6wnOCG58dmDZrQqWwRoIqrLLd0tSjEKpLV2_uXutxssQB9ewcmUgr7zH04N8gqtkGW9eMu-4HrsHHhhL60WDai/s1600-h/9+June+09+268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikc2BtQvdbVvyljvU0amXLxcL_HUfhEuviN0xXY4GNKnmJkKK-Jhw2Ir6wnOCG58dmDZrQqWwRoIqrLLd0tSjEKpLV2_uXutxssQB9ewcmUgr7zH04N8gqtkGW9eMu-4HrsHHhhL60WDai/s320/9+June+09+268.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcHf_fK0ELl_0_mYOMIGp9lsTcO2G9dy3aaj3-3klps_Y97BV30w935wXlp-nIwujQFRBZZ22DkJ5Q6rOGqiBtKgr2O31lqXsvVnMz2SM-1Gy8riKDtyCFykDamsHsY3H5O9c7cBTjcle/s1600-h/9+June+09+283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcHf_fK0ELl_0_mYOMIGp9lsTcO2G9dy3aaj3-3klps_Y97BV30w935wXlp-nIwujQFRBZZ22DkJ5Q6rOGqiBtKgr2O31lqXsvVnMz2SM-1Gy8riKDtyCFykDamsHsY3H5O9c7cBTjcle/s320/9+June+09+283.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum0E-jZ_GTl2qPHZqm2NzeADLSYbvKJMbvhGPSoJDoeWtL3hdQDmVtLFyPGsmj2lH-LPhUBuSrrI4_8BYchyphenhyphenspcbvClSxRQfzQoat5cOy2q2Qorc9EKLc7YWeYD7-wEOt9pvcMaKQy3hh/s1600-h/9+June+09+285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum0E-jZ_GTl2qPHZqm2NzeADLSYbvKJMbvhGPSoJDoeWtL3hdQDmVtLFyPGsmj2lH-LPhUBuSrrI4_8BYchyphenhyphenspcbvClSxRQfzQoat5cOy2q2Qorc9EKLc7YWeYD7-wEOt9pvcMaKQy3hh/s320/9+June+09+285.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFCYLiSNNwljT8vHWC7mXImWec-aLfqw7XXfh4gkn0JxLkvD-O6FC08UbVI6vFI6_n8Pgjufb1aHJ1PSbprZflxvzTF_5vpdC81VxtMACMB-Wk6fryNN8N1SQYN-aToHGM31Bff9S9Soy/s1600-h/9+June+09+302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFCYLiSNNwljT8vHWC7mXImWec-aLfqw7XXfh4gkn0JxLkvD-O6FC08UbVI6vFI6_n8Pgjufb1aHJ1PSbprZflxvzTF_5vpdC81VxtMACMB-Wk6fryNN8N1SQYN-aToHGM31Bff9S9Soy/s320/9+June+09+302.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx32NAQoOskNDtKQg1Y7DVEfYbbhJOfirsL6I5zPxgYPB-0MqfHbuPQw1gZtxmce4YZ0GrBqc7H-P6pyUbk318JLpT5cYpQoqrZk9o8BrpgymcNUp-_8Z29SPZ8lPkPYwnNNbmDzckXRD/s1600-h/9+June+09+304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx32NAQoOskNDtKQg1Y7DVEfYbbhJOfirsL6I5zPxgYPB-0MqfHbuPQw1gZtxmce4YZ0GrBqc7H-P6pyUbk318JLpT5cYpQoqrZk9o8BrpgymcNUp-_8Z29SPZ8lPkPYwnNNbmDzckXRD/s320/9+June+09+304.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqHXwnNaf_0fCr5BB40lNanBMa-qCKxHlrHZ9cbHYql-BppgPyYhkWcJLTDjX8dWypUOPlA0v_Ydw5E8uQfzaUfpqCuj_3eSFlU7wlAw40lWoca9sGby27_aOXBRzXXhyphenhyphenN4wz-2r_GnA0/s1600-h/9+June+09+306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqHXwnNaf_0fCr5BB40lNanBMa-qCKxHlrHZ9cbHYql-BppgPyYhkWcJLTDjX8dWypUOPlA0v_Ydw5E8uQfzaUfpqCuj_3eSFlU7wlAw40lWoca9sGby27_aOXBRzXXhyphenhyphenN4wz-2r_GnA0/s320/9+June+09+306.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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We walked up and down that stretch of road running past Potato No Oka several times, and in that time, the weather blew hot and cold. It was fascinating to watch how the landscape transformed as the sun played peek a boo with the clouds.<br />
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We even managed to catch sight of some birds:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnBGx9aHCfjljHntQb9W2H2MVVWFoXNaUG03BJ2S8yQeAV5BWdWNRKZirmQumVARGOMtK_edjmIdGiZNWmMSe3o9dXzBBdHOcf5pWI1aj3mZ9_tUoDRtMi0muYbVPhNLJbAUM4YPWyojL/s1600-h/9+June+09+297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnBGx9aHCfjljHntQb9W2H2MVVWFoXNaUG03BJ2S8yQeAV5BWdWNRKZirmQumVARGOMtK_edjmIdGiZNWmMSe3o9dXzBBdHOcf5pWI1aj3mZ9_tUoDRtMi0muYbVPhNLJbAUM4YPWyojL/s320/9+June+09+297.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the ubiquitous crow</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2_jieWWNe0aYEveKK-_awDhYc-Kch_s4jOCTlVux2MTRU3BY3SCq13YUG7FQvzlFwoVnLuni-iF-eqRc_FakrQMnVrCHUFha7iecbrMThOAlAmpT6MupEYJUsL7YUs3E5SvjznbyxBeM/s1600-h/9+June+09+233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2_jieWWNe0aYEveKK-_awDhYc-Kch_s4jOCTlVux2MTRU3BY3SCq13YUG7FQvzlFwoVnLuni-iF-eqRc_FakrQMnVrCHUFha7iecbrMThOAlAmpT6MupEYJUsL7YUs3E5SvjznbyxBeM/s320/9+June+09+233.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aStMtESL52VNlbkik0Xxyvp-6UhaDaXkM8dIjueaLFaGmmUqBEQcXxNqwWxPc2C2COlJ0CQJhgOLgQVZHBThZyfiG14teIqb7ZJ1g2ke2Ux6h50M9YaF_A5jp1y-pXqu3JtBZfLSoL-r/s1600-h/9+June+09+309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aStMtESL52VNlbkik0Xxyvp-6UhaDaXkM8dIjueaLFaGmmUqBEQcXxNqwWxPc2C2COlJ0CQJhgOLgQVZHBThZyfiG14teIqb7ZJ1g2ke2Ux6h50M9YaF_A5jp1y-pXqu3JtBZfLSoL-r/s320/9+June+09+309.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQwEdHWFNIE2GdO-Agr-Wto1T8hfJZvBfDIWLNmIqsdrEMOkAhcPyWmESBvmTwnRApjUEYQjyDWrZetbNXSIgZhVg7mBGZAq02q_JlcAKrJMJYkFCNpT9XspkAW3Keo4JshoqmZJD1EmI/s1600-h/9+June+09+314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQwEdHWFNIE2GdO-Agr-Wto1T8hfJZvBfDIWLNmIqsdrEMOkAhcPyWmESBvmTwnRApjUEYQjyDWrZetbNXSIgZhVg7mBGZAq02q_JlcAKrJMJYkFCNpT9XspkAW3Keo4JshoqmZJD1EmI/s320/9+June+09+314.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnau8VkqPvY8v7AmtRrhJFGUadY8XhJ40UxdTQgeVCHx0brbridEtoVk0JG_Byu0j13PQtMNJGAQdpiFDfUNYuIrjCaquAqyDOQMCA1i2MUscSRMZYKgX80N6uGnkEskcz_n2JE8WD3Pt/s1600-h/9+June+09+325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnau8VkqPvY8v7AmtRrhJFGUadY8XhJ40UxdTQgeVCHx0brbridEtoVk0JG_Byu0j13PQtMNJGAQdpiFDfUNYuIrjCaquAqyDOQMCA1i2MUscSRMZYKgX80N6uGnkEskcz_n2JE8WD3Pt/s320/9+June+09+325.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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We even caught sight of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, hopping up and down a wooden lamp-post, but could not get a good shot of it.<br />
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When we returned to the hostel, we found that the tables in the dining room had been set and labelled. We sat down at "our" table on which our dinner had been laid out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m3zB_97ChC_A5HPDv9KzS44PwaHaUQDTt8_3vF_18abtW4djm4QIAUW3Csna221quyozJnFfyvRvN7hBcdkgjOyExIjF8LvsH466p09mXre73C42jm4QXyIpTfD4mWc7ZR66vnLNVIF3/s1600-h/9+June+09+332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m3zB_97ChC_A5HPDv9KzS44PwaHaUQDTt8_3vF_18abtW4djm4QIAUW3Csna221quyozJnFfyvRvN7hBcdkgjOyExIjF8LvsH466p09mXre73C42jm4QXyIpTfD4mWc7ZR66vnLNVIF3/s320/9+June+09+332.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">salad</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2x0ceBZk7GC3GWjG0b9Q0xI0KHnQkOK6g03dmtRLtp9bJStqI9XqsyMlYzoaiOLk4lPqFSAjcTO2XyZPBLIrnVf3Jbf8PA2HzWlY9v91Xm1AXEzMsKpbXoK5rgU3LRZmrcrjmQe0UQ6I/s1600-h/9+June+09+333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2x0ceBZk7GC3GWjG0b9Q0xI0KHnQkOK6g03dmtRLtp9bJStqI9XqsyMlYzoaiOLk4lPqFSAjcTO2XyZPBLIrnVf3Jbf8PA2HzWlY9v91Xm1AXEzMsKpbXoK5rgU3LRZmrcrjmQe0UQ6I/s320/9+June+09+333.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fried fish with tomato sauce, daikon and asparagus</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBcH1cG-y5LcQ01-3tVDK7BdSM7HTRDOHSrXr0dQUoC23BD_mDCbJ6RkuNPKGc2Is7PKXns2O3rDCT3rHj2z3srOhMbBTGUrXxeauideePizVyDTOxywmtCOGEmtNxzVgs3b8OXkW2yBc/s1600-h/9+June+09+334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBcH1cG-y5LcQ01-3tVDK7BdSM7HTRDOHSrXr0dQUoC23BD_mDCbJ6RkuNPKGc2Is7PKXns2O3rDCT3rHj2z3srOhMbBTGUrXxeauideePizVyDTOxywmtCOGEmtNxzVgs3b8OXkW2yBc/s320/9+June+09+334.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">miso soup with tofu and mushrooms</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1ROv8UDwtFjIBYw3BWBjMmXtb1joTEEHPsV74hfnAxn4bDT3uc-ZdqihP8siQzltsRKkBSX55nhdLQD2XFVReqFYIk9rGMvjDPhRB1rYa-hblmyIro4W5gfxMWepUKaklf-tGSswuVZT/s1600-h/9+June+09+336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1ROv8UDwtFjIBYw3BWBjMmXtb1joTEEHPsV74hfnAxn4bDT3uc-ZdqihP8siQzltsRKkBSX55nhdLQD2XFVReqFYIk9rGMvjDPhRB1rYa-hblmyIro4W5gfxMWepUKaklf-tGSswuVZT/s320/9+June+09+336.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">potato gratin with tomato sauce</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORAEwEt6xMGOfpdkUCo0zsKKNsK0DZGIml0oTh_2PVIbeu5vKYV1R6j9kVWPEq0IB8R0fyTMTjSGCsJWkDXi8O2Kd5LJ9KEKPC-VEgpQvlDgTZgb7u5-vyrFCTXWne7v_5iGamWK4Q3Qd/s1600-h/9+June+09+337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORAEwEt6xMGOfpdkUCo0zsKKNsK0DZGIml0oTh_2PVIbeu5vKYV1R6j9kVWPEq0IB8R0fyTMTjSGCsJWkDXi8O2Kd5LJ9KEKPC-VEgpQvlDgTZgb7u5-vyrFCTXWne7v_5iGamWK4Q3Qd/s320/9+June+09+337.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>satsuma</i> (mandarin orange) jelly</div><br />
Dinner was a real pleasure and every bit worthy of the hype. Again, this was a gourmet meal, using French techniques to bring out the best of Japanese ingredients. We didn't see any chef - dinner was served by the hostel staff - though there must have been one.<br />
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After dinner, everyone was served half and half coffee (half soy bean, half coffee). Mr Matsuda, the owner, stopped by each table to explain that half and half would help us sleep better. He assured us that the coffee served in the morning would be full strength!<br />
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After dinner, we observed a group being briefed on the next day's cycling tour of the tour of the area. We had other plans. We retreated to our room. While HM showered, I made our beds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpsbwH1t1OPvg_5KtvSO3rM4canIVosDa-apZM_C_Qcr8PLwXJnzP3FJgJA_ggJwynlQdWOsvBRO9AL0eWvYlye9G6iEYF_L_ap4VwwUUd1igzEdhKR9k9NuYKDkGuKqM5OtjdtDkSkeI/s1600-h/9+June+09+331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpsbwH1t1OPvg_5KtvSO3rM4canIVosDa-apZM_C_Qcr8PLwXJnzP3FJgJA_ggJwynlQdWOsvBRO9AL0eWvYlye9G6iEYF_L_ap4VwwUUd1igzEdhKR9k9NuYKDkGuKqM5OtjdtDkSkeI/s320/9+June+09+331.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not too bad, eh?</div><br />
And then it was lights out.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-74917600964571201222009-06-12T08:36:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:01:01.418-07:00Day 5: Flowers, Food and Fun in FuranoWe woke up bright and early. I went out bird watching before breakfast. HM went running.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu6_BNVKsKDmoD4K9MICDeM89lpvXf6LM3L1Ne0v03DvZ0JYTopyYnaxXX0SPib_VTak6hCF-DMkFKwRdMOv-exClHVJ-iN7BfhRw_LgLFqU3_50ectOK1b8LaViK9am1agIQyAEb_EXI/s1600-h/10+June+09+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYu6_BNVKsKDmoD4K9MICDeM89lpvXf6LM3L1Ne0v03DvZ0JYTopyYnaxXX0SPib_VTak6hCF-DMkFKwRdMOv-exClHVJ-iN7BfhRw_LgLFqU3_50ectOK1b8LaViK9am1agIQyAEb_EXI/s320/10+June+09+001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">still misty</div><br />
It was cold out. The crisp air made it perfect for a walk. Lots of birds were up and about too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwyyu5QYnWZB6SmwSeX-m9ZOfg17uAJh-x852_U6F1I1hePREb_r9RY0zpdkWRgLYpPjdphtxRKTzZg4SZBJ59ag_G9iT4pwMYBKZdEciJuAEyUv5LhiQUMjbMIP2wo00bAbMnv7E-KiH/s1600-h/10+June+09+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwyyu5QYnWZB6SmwSeX-m9ZOfg17uAJh-x852_U6F1I1hePREb_r9RY0zpdkWRgLYpPjdphtxRKTzZg4SZBJ59ag_G9iT4pwMYBKZdEciJuAEyUv5LhiQUMjbMIP2wo00bAbMnv7E-KiH/s320/10+June+09+038.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8gkrSnYtkwPQ74L-DrK6J801wtxtdyV0Ik2q3haMET7zDhMtP0nSCZLLyc0SovPVj1aXwT1XgKT7kqOz7BlDekbHv-aKH5e9HUgPVYwKMIfRhgxcIBoFZtSBOfPuuOaXEpkXfUdCH1Fw/s1600-h/10+June+09+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8gkrSnYtkwPQ74L-DrK6J801wtxtdyV0Ik2q3haMET7zDhMtP0nSCZLLyc0SovPVj1aXwT1XgKT7kqOz7BlDekbHv-aKH5e9HUgPVYwKMIfRhgxcIBoFZtSBOfPuuOaXEpkXfUdCH1Fw/s320/10+June+09+044.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVEu5MKkR_N0iuZ2f-EeOz9D-yerr3E9sV5A7w1wi5cPNRqT3jp0-xFnzhq36tLgK-sB8JLyybrAfUb164W1d9W0u_2Co8opQcG54mfbM9ekXa8dRdJTu9gxlNbjqiq802ntUUfNokQZR/s1600-h/10+June+09+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVEu5MKkR_N0iuZ2f-EeOz9D-yerr3E9sV5A7w1wi5cPNRqT3jp0-xFnzhq36tLgK-sB8JLyybrAfUb164W1d9W0u_2Co8opQcG54mfbM9ekXa8dRdJTu9gxlNbjqiq802ntUUfNokQZR/s320/10+June+09+049.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48i9MwasRrxPzMGGn2Ee8yY3R-THHhyphenhyphen1bT_Pp6D13NbljK7qSLPPXcBl4KtQYcTmENy57ZBEewK5QkrmsqbLv95X4EKTOAHCdX8ZpwHeht52qw2vmWC1dRtUVd_T2HYaEqxvM2isuvR1H/s1600-h/10+June+09+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48i9MwasRrxPzMGGn2Ee8yY3R-THHhyphenhyphen1bT_Pp6D13NbljK7qSLPPXcBl4KtQYcTmENy57ZBEewK5QkrmsqbLv95X4EKTOAHCdX8ZpwHeht52qw2vmWC1dRtUVd_T2HYaEqxvM2isuvR1H/s320/10+June+09+058.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6qfsKk8BKiT2sL8Oa0yrWsuNbRG5A-LoWV453bqcXx0Pt-YWGSXtxKRm3xXOzLhxPXLiS1Hvj65vD4CBFqgN9JEJGcdWxc1CVdYmqR9BPtfzFhvKTz3jSpGj8bSsGPsianLMGYqPxkzg/s1600-h/10+June+09+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6qfsKk8BKiT2sL8Oa0yrWsuNbRG5A-LoWV453bqcXx0Pt-YWGSXtxKRm3xXOzLhxPXLiS1Hvj65vD4CBFqgN9JEJGcdWxc1CVdYmqR9BPtfzFhvKTz3jSpGj8bSsGPsianLMGYqPxkzg/s320/10+June+09+078.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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Breakfast was substantial.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa8knAQaKiQwpaEJtAte4od6l9Z5AOOKRCo7CQieRlLDNeE0Z9Gy5YtoDvlApUqGT5PjnWF6bP-2eTrBZu2FzDslzAgHhpSXHV3pZ29MjdJddbmDtLaBbza37qQ2bZnkSwe15hZ4yXEdi/s1600-h/10+June+09+092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa8knAQaKiQwpaEJtAte4od6l9Z5AOOKRCo7CQieRlLDNeE0Z9Gy5YtoDvlApUqGT5PjnWF6bP-2eTrBZu2FzDslzAgHhpSXHV3pZ29MjdJddbmDtLaBbza37qQ2bZnkSwe15hZ4yXEdi/s320/10+June+09+092.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">scrambled eggs, sausage and salad</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAMAH93dTUJxk3M65Jc6XSJPBwb4VY-h8fu51cbOL4-GNEyOv9wSS0f4At9uKjmVJeyKAquMq7UJj9JUAQG4I7aeklnuBsWwmtcLylI3DKTaZRZZq_-i60NOB-tK9uTUHyvbX1f5CIzbr/s1600-h/10+June+09+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAMAH93dTUJxk3M65Jc6XSJPBwb4VY-h8fu51cbOL4-GNEyOv9wSS0f4At9uKjmVJeyKAquMq7UJj9JUAQG4I7aeklnuBsWwmtcLylI3DKTaZRZZq_-i60NOB-tK9uTUHyvbX1f5CIzbr/s320/10+June+09+094.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">roasted potato</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLKTKRyUrJ_esh7s-DE3m5V-HOgFTmdPiT-_VhPfIGQYIqblwtH5zZz4ThMS71JJvjaUfzT08tk3dB-Abl963DRWMUEox8yzP8IiKAVp_HPq_w0dm1HiaG-VILMR1HYBune3xVKScnW7k/s1600-h/10+June+09+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLKTKRyUrJ_esh7s-DE3m5V-HOgFTmdPiT-_VhPfIGQYIqblwtH5zZz4ThMS71JJvjaUfzT08tk3dB-Abl963DRWMUEox8yzP8IiKAVp_HPq_w0dm1HiaG-VILMR1HYBune3xVKScnW7k/s320/10+June+09+096.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">fresh butter to go with bun and honey</div><br />
and of course orange juice, milk (Hokkaido milk - the best!) and coffee to boot. And we thought we saw the chef!<br />
<br />
Over breakfast, HM recounted the experience of running past a herd of cows and having them watch her with interest as they munched contentedly. It was a first for her, she said.<br />
<br />
So far, we were really enjoying our stay at the Potato No Oka. The food was every bit as good as we had heard it would be, and the setting was so peaceful and scenic. It was really a picture postcard experience. The only downside, for us who do not drive, was its distance from the centre of Biei. Even then, it was possible to walk from the hostel all the way to the train station. Which was what we did that morning.<br />
<br />
Our plan was to visit the nearby Farm Tomita and Furano, so first we had to get to the Biei train station. The walk there took just under an hour and it was mostly downhill, so it was really quite manageable.<br />
<br />
We stopped by the pan shop and bought some "pancakes" for a snack. We were early for our train so we walked around a bit.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBuNMCieX3vhPCeCniMu6Z77yrV6qxN28DO19JN3-6UP3D5RvZqi1BiNZIh09GYeV-Hpfjw3DrFblxI6Lx7tmPlYX_z-Frp1pTS99GgtUoMX3D0uYlwAKvWHnKUKRjDebJrjXLvavHaXj/s1600-h/10+June+09+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBuNMCieX3vhPCeCniMu6Z77yrV6qxN28DO19JN3-6UP3D5RvZqi1BiNZIh09GYeV-Hpfjw3DrFblxI6Lx7tmPlYX_z-Frp1pTS99GgtUoMX3D0uYlwAKvWHnKUKRjDebJrjXLvavHaXj/s320/10+June+09+110.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hotel L'Avenir, conveniently located near the train station</div><br />
The train we were taking was a special sightseeing train, the Norokko, that only ran during the summer months. For 440¥ (SGD$7.04), we could be deposited practically at the doorstep of the lavender fields that the region was so famous for.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaZ2Az_ufYZqCagaPa75iH6gVtpZ6jsDm0kb8cRvbJoHap151bq98YHumg8oBKnru_gERHbI7v0jl5t4p95ezaD6KXbMU1SJkMbnzwNj1Omy8TBfRF-D5a9DFM36ReO-ORQ4VmD6D-X0q/s1600-h/10+June+09+119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaZ2Az_ufYZqCagaPa75iH6gVtpZ6jsDm0kb8cRvbJoHap151bq98YHumg8oBKnru_gERHbI7v0jl5t4p95ezaD6KXbMU1SJkMbnzwNj1Omy8TBfRF-D5a9DFM36ReO-ORQ4VmD6D-X0q/s320/10+June+09+119.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Norokko</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hPtCrMiLo5_sAl748vEghmn3Qg31yMGGhXGYo2ta-Exu8CnJGIb_VhvACWnt-MHVumzWtNlVtXVBnl_DC_uqDCFikbPmVgyb2oIjty7ExQ4CHGHfKOWLDFf1QHJxN41x24sjyAzIz_KV/s1600-h/10+June+09+117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hPtCrMiLo5_sAl748vEghmn3Qg31yMGGhXGYo2ta-Exu8CnJGIb_VhvACWnt-MHVumzWtNlVtXVBnl_DC_uqDCFikbPmVgyb2oIjty7ExQ4CHGHfKOWLDFf1QHJxN41x24sjyAzIz_KV/s320/10+June+09+117.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">unblocked views - good for sightseeing</div><br />
We passed by various train stations...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6MZOQJFrr59FMvT4sSawFoh-DWmyp5zGaU82okYH8HG-c3DYsEuiwiXMcL2sQif01Y10gJAxjQxB3MW9dMw_vSw56jIT0qPm28iJ9NX4tYMwTrR2ReGewNuZL1Af4rjG0bfAcof3QLOm/s1600-h/10+June+09+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6MZOQJFrr59FMvT4sSawFoh-DWmyp5zGaU82okYH8HG-c3DYsEuiwiXMcL2sQif01Y10gJAxjQxB3MW9dMw_vSw56jIT0qPm28iJ9NX4tYMwTrR2ReGewNuZL1Af4rjG0bfAcof3QLOm/s320/10+June+09+132.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Lavender Express, which ran several times a day, from Sapporo to Furano direct</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizockfOivBHdVYFfrPkXbvuMJuVYDfbwQi_begtV5uDpHeeEb-lp-eeeL6PZfNYX0ie4Uky82T2gaNfp1VvSnBhCZlBGOxUmsREDw8KwfdrO-En7r0L5jugbFQ39TsjwcCQQC5tjjdMRMH/s1600-h/10+June+09+134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizockfOivBHdVYFfrPkXbvuMJuVYDfbwQi_begtV5uDpHeeEb-lp-eeeL6PZfNYX0ie4Uky82T2gaNfp1VvSnBhCZlBGOxUmsREDw8KwfdrO-En7r0L5jugbFQ39TsjwcCQQC5tjjdMRMH/s320/10+June+09+134.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">farmland</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r455dgRauzQj1l14E8ECiHK-ytcErJjbQ5LrxSCbfkOIZydbFAjJx683JleLWpcj2pAVpQYeuFF42nBdoaLKc0T7rWMAwTzo7VVrnd__uzxZuKdFdtmfhpEo-WBCFWOLJhAjUqe9QwMy/s1600-h/10+June+09+140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r455dgRauzQj1l14E8ECiHK-ytcErJjbQ5LrxSCbfkOIZydbFAjJx683JleLWpcj2pAVpQYeuFF42nBdoaLKc0T7rWMAwTzo7VVrnd__uzxZuKdFdtmfhpEo-WBCFWOLJhAjUqe9QwMy/s320/10+June+09+140.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">small towns</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBAEbcI0vuPVSMPK5ACw4hMmV55bQCDZ290qH_MI2WiBysTUPDhLZBSW5KOx6qA8izHRLIfkQhQWkK-aMpJ9nqxaSsBh-JAl9Q7kfQz8L1O50aSJ9Iwv-pAq0Ct-xSJNTkp3MWtpmKxjA/s1600-h/10+June+09+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBAEbcI0vuPVSMPK5ACw4hMmV55bQCDZ290qH_MI2WiBysTUPDhLZBSW5KOx6qA8izHRLIfkQhQWkK-aMpJ9nqxaSsBh-JAl9Q7kfQz8L1O50aSJ9Iwv-pAq0Ct-xSJNTkp3MWtpmKxjA/s320/10+June+09+142.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">even smaller towns</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu06oorUPAy-XKayApEXIT0S-F1LlHhzKsbY6w0paBMjwVu4bY5q9AWYmbTPXMX_Ggm2ShzyhuIfenU6BqagEt8A1SqFubHj2CXhHl-SK13LjNV8Zjj3Sv1tsZgbLkJlP9nVuSVDPXilY/s1600-h/10+June+09+147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpu06oorUPAy-XKayApEXIT0S-F1LlHhzKsbY6w0paBMjwVu4bY5q9AWYmbTPXMX_Ggm2ShzyhuIfenU6BqagEt8A1SqFubHj2CXhHl-SK13LjNV8Zjj3Sv1tsZgbLkJlP9nVuSVDPXilY/s320/10+June+09+147.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and mountains</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VNgkIYHJ3oEao5V9VKXhMGYWG0rXnRgBQocG3Y6-5sQkhyphenhyphenftDfz3vLrnIuwEYgJd3KY6bCJD6b7HletaCEh6SO_39NGJ_yUox-RRdnpw4fhdfs0l6xcSwXNLsUJnUbBVBbKrK3lno3s_/s1600-h/10+June+09+138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VNgkIYHJ3oEao5V9VKXhMGYWG0rXnRgBQocG3Y6-5sQkhyphenhyphenftDfz3vLrnIuwEYgJd3KY6bCJD6b7HletaCEh6SO_39NGJ_yUox-RRdnpw4fhdfs0l6xcSwXNLsUJnUbBVBbKrK3lno3s_/s320/10+June+09+138.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love train rides</div><br />
And we had a snack of red bean "pancakes".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGognpdX3eH3aWgd-tZF6FPcgV2A19zj6Dk6OlU7VYiK1brMZpIgniNYD_p5VgwrqD17fj9PBvczNQLD7zwFQh26VUZ35WmLuuWP4JBAbc4oY0Mp01Xf0BfvOLJCL3ZtUk0Gd4vfDjd18-/s1600-h/10+June+09+128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGognpdX3eH3aWgd-tZF6FPcgV2A19zj6Dk6OlU7VYiK1brMZpIgniNYD_p5VgwrqD17fj9PBvczNQLD7zwFQh26VUZ35WmLuuWP4JBAbc4oY0Mp01Xf0BfvOLJCL3ZtUk0Gd4vfDjd18-/s320/10+June+09+128.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">red bean and pumpkin "pancakes"</div><br />
We alighted at a temporary station open only during the summer, for visitors to Farm Tomita, just seven minutes' walk away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx0k4GVAe5KEcbkDNmieBq43ReRcSO5Y3kkE5VaIeg1HBFpt7lW-psBYTNasno5Apr-V9Y9Zg-0Y5X84WDFe3swNxUKi_fHL-nBks56ywuW_51RdcRElgQCygmCouMDk_9j9a3zT2Geub/s1600-h/10+June+09+176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx0k4GVAe5KEcbkDNmieBq43ReRcSO5Y3kkE5VaIeg1HBFpt7lW-psBYTNasno5Apr-V9Y9Zg-0Y5X84WDFe3swNxUKi_fHL-nBks56ywuW_51RdcRElgQCygmCouMDk_9j9a3zT2Geub/s320/10+June+09+176.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lavender Batake (Seasonal) Station</div><br />
Farm Tomita was part garden, part farm, part research facility - 100% tourist attraction.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI6sHqLBERr0n6vs8F2YfbPIiQ5rH1k0skZgpTDnu1LjHAGYZEf6_uDfokPwlTHR5SnUlFwCQ28mAR49g5ZVSVpVFXxg7120i1jY7tP7bKxGwX5NMSUdrMeeSq10ONABK4WuVv5_tbff5/s1600-h/10+June+09+186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI6sHqLBERr0n6vs8F2YfbPIiQ5rH1k0skZgpTDnu1LjHAGYZEf6_uDfokPwlTHR5SnUlFwCQ28mAR49g5ZVSVpVFXxg7120i1jY7tP7bKxGwX5NMSUdrMeeSq10ONABK4WuVv5_tbff5/s320/10+June+09+186.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we were welcomed by these</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh4cNSdn6LuqQK9RcOaTcN3SQzr7v3C-ozIQ7EX_XHhvSJ5MNblWKIdd_tra18CylLeeF5nkROgqmrDGmOwisXV3ptv0e2RbTMpYH7YyL2ClVY63ox1TVHuMGdhCC9Dqlzzt2f3B12E8I/s1600-h/10+June+09+189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh4cNSdn6LuqQK9RcOaTcN3SQzr7v3C-ozIQ7EX_XHhvSJ5MNblWKIdd_tra18CylLeeF5nkROgqmrDGmOwisXV3ptv0e2RbTMpYH7YyL2ClVY63ox1TVHuMGdhCC9Dqlzzt2f3B12E8I/s320/10+June+09+189.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so we had ourselves one of these - pumpkin-flavoured</div><br />
Armed with our first ice-cream for the day, we first went to view the fields of flowers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWa2jb6CMC6uoa9hQidWH6Og77pJDEEV5XJ6ziFozNjW-_4BvVHrxUXQQNRzoiKdy5OCNvP37kDWqv8Re2i16gggK8b5vTpDjCn87e9-AdjIdUaGbdjaSbhXIEtHr481FeSq1i1P8EFPl/s1600-h/10+June+09+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWa2jb6CMC6uoa9hQidWH6Og77pJDEEV5XJ6ziFozNjW-_4BvVHrxUXQQNRzoiKdy5OCNvP37kDWqv8Re2i16gggK8b5vTpDjCn87e9-AdjIdUaGbdjaSbhXIEtHr481FeSq1i1P8EFPl/s320/10+June+09+200.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chive plants</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6MWm-jyGzqfJyb9guhebfAZRRPwZuXbFqjb-Bnmvkepuhwjitvf9YLRximjviMzLv4u_ZDVbpWSQNXxIGsaSJ2mXaDaf46FweCOl__zk9if3ejG73Afu4h2b0QX50ZWWtMxtq3oqwHip/s1600-h/10+June+09+205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6MWm-jyGzqfJyb9guhebfAZRRPwZuXbFqjb-Bnmvkepuhwjitvf9YLRximjviMzLv4u_ZDVbpWSQNXxIGsaSJ2mXaDaf46FweCOl__zk9if3ejG73Afu4h2b0QX50ZWWtMxtq3oqwHip/s320/10+June+09+205.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFYfDm5NrKsKtePP3xL9MOG29pc46BYUnUzSIoLcAyfTua2Npc1HBr3h3fkz5V9FlKMJzTwDNiaa7ZnDAECI9HSzpHnHPTcfhhOt-T04TSqbCTLEBIqw9RzPKhvs8ooHnmzp3JqAoqEOb/s1600-h/10+June+09+212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFYfDm5NrKsKtePP3xL9MOG29pc46BYUnUzSIoLcAyfTua2Npc1HBr3h3fkz5V9FlKMJzTwDNiaa7ZnDAECI9HSzpHnHPTcfhhOt-T04TSqbCTLEBIqw9RzPKhvs8ooHnmzp3JqAoqEOb/s320/10+June+09+212.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGruBaR4idXwMBiwq6niqGZPtSpl_IXvm-umHH2BfatB7RrV1eTbhGT4VBzhmgNE02HOzyDFq7anbC8DTWQVOEMk8UvMTfdqyAPSaemdPudlfpX_zFeiBIpzks74FiklFxC_bJZco0d1_w/s1600-h/10+June+09+232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGruBaR4idXwMBiwq6niqGZPtSpl_IXvm-umHH2BfatB7RrV1eTbhGT4VBzhmgNE02HOzyDFq7anbC8DTWQVOEMk8UvMTfdqyAPSaemdPudlfpX_zFeiBIpzks74FiklFxC_bJZco0d1_w/s320/10+June+09+232.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">oriental poppies</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzobsX-V-4kbutabasu7HFJOHReP9Vc1OuIvmZ0KicaWT7Ycu-DOm451aE8pbb_Fb_MAl6Pf_xwyX0yLA_6h777uavTK9B46CIj92rzIW0Fg4Il200gOhPDxo2U9j9Rwm3T5QgqNniq0f_/s1600-h/10+June+09+233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzobsX-V-4kbutabasu7HFJOHReP9Vc1OuIvmZ0KicaWT7Ycu-DOm451aE8pbb_Fb_MAl6Pf_xwyX0yLA_6h777uavTK9B46CIj92rzIW0Fg4Il200gOhPDxo2U9j9Rwm3T5QgqNniq0f_/s320/10+June+09+233.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ1b1Z_v21e7qIDNEsIosVJVM1larL17Kch818VLq1w3hyphenhyphenF9AkclNI5jmWR9bdnL0lFajHctMpEAyt7fhc8yPuSCPfDP-skar-tGFgYlb61KABUz4wtulVGdSrlNVqwF3ajRSssBigFAW/s1600-h/10+June+09+270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ1b1Z_v21e7qIDNEsIosVJVM1larL17Kch818VLq1w3hyphenhyphenF9AkclNI5jmWR9bdnL0lFajHctMpEAyt7fhc8yPuSCPfDP-skar-tGFgYlb61KABUz4wtulVGdSrlNVqwF3ajRSssBigFAW/s320/10+June+09+270.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyR-FIKZSm9_uaKc52exdW8G6Ylak-jq4oaZG-C5hlKiDXAMor2vfUAgxCyIYxLk0fdfhkl80zyr90pwASu31iCVVHaz0QvW3AUbhiU7oXd_zFPp1Gpg7wLQxycX8YgUBxJhrYZjWs5rL/s1600-h/10+June+09+361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyR-FIKZSm9_uaKc52exdW8G6Ylak-jq4oaZG-C5hlKiDXAMor2vfUAgxCyIYxLk0fdfhkl80zyr90pwASu31iCVVHaz0QvW3AUbhiU7oXd_zFPp1Gpg7wLQxycX8YgUBxJhrYZjWs5rL/s320/10+June+09+361.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">lavender</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HMHpgOGgIwD6fuun99CzeEY9ypwOXMM4VtLsc7alwjLDrh5s2up12s6nfi7NJCGuI-cYzNI3XSTXKVMQcIwPpasXO5Lu_UVHouKReXPLtvkWFOs0GEPLGunLdXMnZb-7xJ-J7jiHwGsv/s1600-h/10+June+09+364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HMHpgOGgIwD6fuun99CzeEY9ypwOXMM4VtLsc7alwjLDrh5s2up12s6nfi7NJCGuI-cYzNI3XSTXKVMQcIwPpasXO5Lu_UVHouKReXPLtvkWFOs0GEPLGunLdXMnZb-7xJ-J7jiHwGsv/s320/10+June+09+364.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">icelandic poppies</div><br />
So that's what the fields of Biei would have looked like, had we visited at the height of summer. Next, we went to the distillery, to see how the oils were extracted from the flowers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilslKSaasfnUzjGlzYHnxIq17GtLXPv5Yb2o1WQLlD4Hb5Hf2TBmwD8U6DYDxroJ_F7MVJtuKwuvCrX_k9Gi7ipsssvCovoJamsGK-l-9y9uU-NZMoNTI22wce6d3ADVxKFxo5nmCKlGuj/s1600-h/10+June+09+249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilslKSaasfnUzjGlzYHnxIq17GtLXPv5Yb2o1WQLlD4Hb5Hf2TBmwD8U6DYDxroJ_F7MVJtuKwuvCrX_k9Gi7ipsssvCovoJamsGK-l-9y9uU-NZMoNTI22wce6d3ADVxKFxo5nmCKlGuj/s320/10+June+09+249.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">explanations in Japanese, English and more</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrNvxj0RsZD7fs7Gasu_YINrxe3rsHkUHhtoUKynKUB64IeZYpuqS5SBqMplrANlxUOM1xZJCt6ma6uKLEH14JsVIojbY8v0h_aJvu4TOzM2DZTo59H-CZ-ZOOSYCC4AsNi35gor5JxxP/s1600-h/10+June+09+253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrNvxj0RsZD7fs7Gasu_YINrxe3rsHkUHhtoUKynKUB64IeZYpuqS5SBqMplrANlxUOM1xZJCt6ma6uKLEH14JsVIojbY8v0h_aJvu4TOzM2DZTo59H-CZ-ZOOSYCC4AsNi35gor5JxxP/s320/10+June+09+253.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">science at work</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjQgBCng2l2MizQXGDD9t_vTcasD_pmGj4BepOw0W-xgXFWKKxpcrHuIp-eCNGlKLVq8abloABuI5Qj-w9z1Z88KlFgQTHaVgd44lJNYYyTQxWphMrVeOD9AyNUQsxrDyy8T-Jl8OxZmr/s1600-h/10+June+09+254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjQgBCng2l2MizQXGDD9t_vTcasD_pmGj4BepOw0W-xgXFWKKxpcrHuIp-eCNGlKLVq8abloABuI5Qj-w9z1Z88KlFgQTHaVgd44lJNYYyTQxWphMrVeOD9AyNUQsxrDyy8T-Jl8OxZmr/s320/10+June+09+254.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wow, high tech equipment</div><br />
Then upstairs we went, to the perfume workshop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJINfb-x9bdERdyioRW7-jI_xU-g1ehexY3sKJttxycNHBxDY_EPiPZjQ21br1z6-klELw0Y079VDhgQpfsmU9VlBybseEPiUH6jIwmCo1LwR9Y69x_MrqBkY5nTkUUwrc0AJkadbEPRW/s1600-h/10+June+09+263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJINfb-x9bdERdyioRW7-jI_xU-g1ehexY3sKJttxycNHBxDY_EPiPZjQ21br1z6-klELw0Y079VDhgQpfsmU9VlBybseEPiUH6jIwmCo1LwR9Y69x_MrqBkY5nTkUUwrc0AJkadbEPRW/s320/10+June+09+263.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">oils being processed</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotdxhQFIukO570GqxA6jZXmaGcBDE4zNLg0wXriGxXIeW1DOAeI9x7MsDp3e4v9UwSq4G13MaJCx4UWmxXQP_HLvtvPbEIFRtERM9TW6BwbfCb2Xt0mZRl2RQ9oyQ2tozzyAS0Zj0XmXl/s1600-h/10+June+09+264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotdxhQFIukO570GqxA6jZXmaGcBDE4zNLg0wXriGxXIeW1DOAeI9x7MsDp3e4v9UwSq4G13MaJCx4UWmxXQP_HLvtvPbEIFRtERM9TW6BwbfCb2Xt0mZRl2RQ9oyQ2tozzyAS0Zj0XmXl/s320/10+June+09+264.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">these would become perfumes</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTmjie7sklAH1jy5YYwdPQiH2rzufw8MKmRA7ZEaURqqJ-50Pv_Rqu6TfcGUbf-3fFfhBQl3S7najUs_eahOYl3PKBBeIrIo07OK2UkuHp6lGR6fogrH1c5rO7CGbxKh1AliBgzcHqV9Y/s1600-h/10+June+09+265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTmjie7sklAH1jy5YYwdPQiH2rzufw8MKmRA7ZEaURqqJ-50Pv_Rqu6TfcGUbf-3fFfhBQl3S7najUs_eahOYl3PKBBeIrIo07OK2UkuHp6lGR6fogrH1c5rO7CGbxKh1AliBgzcHqV9Y/s320/10+June+09+265.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">soaps being made</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOG2NA7_ak3O4zSClSXpxc5wr5GkQMcuVPR75GfbEZdZN2uoe5StVl8vX4Q8TcO8GWaR6_tprIM4GpG9Qc5A_dRUaxS92UxxDNlidqf24prvyXeo0BIZ-i_pCUfFTfHaKrlcE3s1LDt_pK/s1600-h/10+June+09+266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOG2NA7_ak3O4zSClSXpxc5wr5GkQMcuVPR75GfbEZdZN2uoe5StVl8vX4Q8TcO8GWaR6_tprIM4GpG9Qc5A_dRUaxS92UxxDNlidqf24prvyXeo0BIZ-i_pCUfFTfHaKrlcE3s1LDt_pK/s320/10+June+09+266.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">essential oils being added</div><br />
We didn't forget to stop at the souvenir shop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW-u-ayTNFQRBDb2EWdarccIFke2aiyRU7_oyHgXYf64osbltZRdIWEulUh6MrIKF_5uaOVAWl-YEFYvQAFSiqJXzumcqmagNlH6PE47qhCcqM9dNfRIPWOYIylFs_TFzJjExdH96BlHE/s1600-h/10+June+09+258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW-u-ayTNFQRBDb2EWdarccIFke2aiyRU7_oyHgXYf64osbltZRdIWEulUh6MrIKF_5uaOVAWl-YEFYvQAFSiqJXzumcqmagNlH6PE47qhCcqM9dNfRIPWOYIylFs_TFzJjExdH96BlHE/s320/10+June+09+258.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">outside the souvenir shop</div><br />
We bought a range of lavender products - soaps, sachets, bath beads - for friends, family and ourselves of course.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGapXAP16xrt2n7BLz-iucgRqo_FzjYFHLVE3ONWsGe_r-qIeo8YZ0JiS-o34ZmiPPHHeYHpH1erI3jtfqL_wdKDmmZRRRPueTxdcD_1jrNj7bqVYH2GHJRXmcgc3btPtwy_6eeZFFpAT-/s1600-h/10+June+09+256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGapXAP16xrt2n7BLz-iucgRqo_FzjYFHLVE3ONWsGe_r-qIeo8YZ0JiS-o34ZmiPPHHeYHpH1erI3jtfqL_wdKDmmZRRRPueTxdcD_1jrNj7bqVYH2GHJRXmcgc3btPtwy_6eeZFFpAT-/s320/10+June+09+256.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a little kid waiting for his mom</div><br />
At lunchtime, we stopped by the cafe and had...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CGIpmAyJSWetzMJa2CvMlYLL5sIQa4Aob7RHvPa9rav4b7NlVptrAlDz0_1O3-ia3tvH-eCcKmU9M_Ocuo7CQE8cJsHdCdQDsRkOT4QdeR8kf_BuvCknZkwwz3vqoOPGPxIO33YNvvo6/s1600-h/10+June+09+306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CGIpmAyJSWetzMJa2CvMlYLL5sIQa4Aob7RHvPa9rav4b7NlVptrAlDz0_1O3-ia3tvH-eCcKmU9M_Ocuo7CQE8cJsHdCdQDsRkOT4QdeR8kf_BuvCknZkwwz3vqoOPGPxIO33YNvvo6/s320/10+June+09+306.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">curry rice, korokke, bean salad and lavender calpis</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e7XbS80sVXNgI7HALqB4l5RTMyQsAuCk8JvufaEERvOmzqOgVN1P_cJUCa397IULvWXRSo7t-sgQtO3sNWdevaC8EFNMFg6NByeJVasLjAiX4k_8lxdDxCR0ppEotcZQFAK2170ibxrA/s1600-h/10+June+09+307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e7XbS80sVXNgI7HALqB4l5RTMyQsAuCk8JvufaEERvOmzqOgVN1P_cJUCa397IULvWXRSo7t-sgQtO3sNWdevaC8EFNMFg6NByeJVasLjAiX4k_8lxdDxCR0ppEotcZQFAK2170ibxrA/s320/10+June+09+307.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wooden sporks!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYKB274UwKhXcOtkMtd9ntW6fndDjNBRRBFL4F1WirbIxoBWGxdwskdbQ6jRK8io_dFSdw_pxzVGntIZudPT1uy8GyeVxMno_g-mXWrUpPKJj4nP2xVozlgRhmH_bE4ab14zoTzGTYSKR/s1600-h/10+June+09+309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYKB274UwKhXcOtkMtd9ntW6fndDjNBRRBFL4F1WirbIxoBWGxdwskdbQ6jRK8io_dFSdw_pxzVGntIZudPT1uy8GyeVxMno_g-mXWrUpPKJj4nP2xVozlgRhmH_bE4ab14zoTzGTYSKR/s320/10+June+09+309.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so pretty, that</div><br />
The korokke was great smothered in the curry. Even HM who was not a fan of korokke enjoyed it. The lavender calpis though was her idea and I have to say, at first taste, it reminded me of handwash hehe. There were other exciting items on the menu, like the lamb hotdog, but we decided not to overindulge, given the big dinner we were expecting later.<br />
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After lunch, we strolled through the greenhouse and past the flower beds surrounding it, stopping only to admire the flowers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMy8T7UqIf7GPW3MzIqqi66g_a3xezbbDzewHi9B4kwIoKA-kMosNTdUhWUcI4MgfBTxG109jSbOrfWujj1DdhXQVV82FDxFP0nLXwWbvBn3tZj_Q0DmxXyym61WFzjksODvmHlMKjTR5G/s1600-h/10+June+09+302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMy8T7UqIf7GPW3MzIqqi66g_a3xezbbDzewHi9B4kwIoKA-kMosNTdUhWUcI4MgfBTxG109jSbOrfWujj1DdhXQVV82FDxFP0nLXwWbvBn3tZj_Q0DmxXyym61WFzjksODvmHlMKjTR5G/s320/10+June+09+302.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YktofmtLAAG0M0L9ZCmVI9Xo4sndZwB6fd5kkdreOYz8YUu1isks1pVPDgTHdXZf7wlZmAkP7j5LthJO3-EWKv8Px01T40kvRcy0Y8LXSTw9nfATiDJEg6InLCNdQUfVCSXRGBLmVOpV/s1600-h/10+June+09+316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YktofmtLAAG0M0L9ZCmVI9Xo4sndZwB6fd5kkdreOYz8YUu1isks1pVPDgTHdXZf7wlZmAkP7j5LthJO3-EWKv8Px01T40kvRcy0Y8LXSTw9nfATiDJEg6InLCNdQUfVCSXRGBLmVOpV/s320/10+June+09+316.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdkN4E6gC5Zd25udgppupWFS-8F9hX-4i4WqyVI9Zi3hOgOubjg3payXjS_1s59D5tN8f6Xidl6Fk61A_XwGUKr8oGLW5BLRGLjbKjru40XKgLPeTEiz8qr2zB_tcZXLx5wVtxyI_ei8s/s1600-h/10+June+09+318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdkN4E6gC5Zd25udgppupWFS-8F9hX-4i4WqyVI9Zi3hOgOubjg3payXjS_1s59D5tN8f6Xidl6Fk61A_XwGUKr8oGLW5BLRGLjbKjru40XKgLPeTEiz8qr2zB_tcZXLx5wVtxyI_ei8s/s320/10+June+09+318.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtb7pqi9Xb_6vYmzKeM3tJ2TWG5mwXDBjCAci9TC-GHXbl1TJwD7SUiHZxzGuJ84BTy2-y36NN-VTmhj32gUUt5SPJ0YeJk-Rdpx4f8Y8o180lL1z3stQJcWeYyU5R7fffWFW1_o0R119/s1600-h/10+June+09+324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtb7pqi9Xb_6vYmzKeM3tJ2TWG5mwXDBjCAci9TC-GHXbl1TJwD7SUiHZxzGuJ84BTy2-y36NN-VTmhj32gUUt5SPJ0YeJk-Rdpx4f8Y8o180lL1z3stQJcWeYyU5R7fffWFW1_o0R119/s320/10+June+09+324.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-Gi_9ZNiNUucweqlGnRa0wBDgwwAfXHEdhiR_Tpws8tpXE0kFu1UdVbymYG6yBGPsrCsOwDtz4AYWId4KrskUI6QXimT07_RSsMfGcKXNgyh6cSeMgLXBI0E4Kel0Ats3-cKPa1A9LnP/s1600-h/10+June+09+325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-Gi_9ZNiNUucweqlGnRa0wBDgwwAfXHEdhiR_Tpws8tpXE0kFu1UdVbymYG6yBGPsrCsOwDtz4AYWId4KrskUI6QXimT07_RSsMfGcKXNgyh6cSeMgLXBI0E4Kel0Ats3-cKPa1A9LnP/s320/10+June+09+325.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zYvC2HcQyXQ_2zvvXDb4ilzyWlI7rHzJIN3XtFWCJ9sfDNnuDERIajgucpTmjtzlctXjgYF542ItztoG8kusKUX3WlKdsxsi7lkenI8PqDmDIoZVVEHl-NvNcfu9dmcJytGKleSxp77i/s1600-h/10+June+09+328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zYvC2HcQyXQ_2zvvXDb4ilzyWlI7rHzJIN3XtFWCJ9sfDNnuDERIajgucpTmjtzlctXjgYF542ItztoG8kusKUX3WlKdsxsi7lkenI8PqDmDIoZVVEHl-NvNcfu9dmcJytGKleSxp77i/s320/10+June+09+328.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-c0td8PPci3ANy0hYunFEEO3ImtXk1lZIlU7RDRzG3AUnehLXoodNFlp8YOwt2vU6Exv-K88LQC7bZ5Wzby0FzKgenO7DUWiNAmDoJjsEhNot2d_01IjKMBgJHR7G0RMZGeOvJ-iBqb7V/s1600-h/10+June+09+331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-c0td8PPci3ANy0hYunFEEO3ImtXk1lZIlU7RDRzG3AUnehLXoodNFlp8YOwt2vU6Exv-K88LQC7bZ5Wzby0FzKgenO7DUWiNAmDoJjsEhNot2d_01IjKMBgJHR7G0RMZGeOvJ-iBqb7V/s320/10+June+09+331.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uKDcKNYkyhTOjNXBiYkq5vyh-3YmMSfpPiWOAL0kxh4pgrWg7xcfkgzvdqwbkcLNdBoU7IkYVsetcE8tQ9go1K5rVnxU1mlSIliFIEV0BK0xoVWhMngvShhsKwcwxrvGhRnh07zjdQcN/s1600-h/10+June+09+333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uKDcKNYkyhTOjNXBiYkq5vyh-3YmMSfpPiWOAL0kxh4pgrWg7xcfkgzvdqwbkcLNdBoU7IkYVsetcE8tQ9go1K5rVnxU1mlSIliFIEV0BK0xoVWhMngvShhsKwcwxrvGhRnh07zjdQcN/s320/10+June+09+333.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKJ6NbDt_UFSDJYPOUB6K5rm0CgFTkz2lMROvLDHadi3O_r7Wy7yCwdztSbqscnBruFt8Xtdk6izYiWOmPOgvEVnr5r4qO3DziYbcEXJWNEPuUtwyglTO_J3u4xoRhzh256qBaib9oB5r/s1600-h/10+June+09+339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKJ6NbDt_UFSDJYPOUB6K5rm0CgFTkz2lMROvLDHadi3O_r7Wy7yCwdztSbqscnBruFt8Xtdk6izYiWOmPOgvEVnr5r4qO3DziYbcEXJWNEPuUtwyglTO_J3u4xoRhzh256qBaib9oB5r/s320/10+June+09+339.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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Back outside, we saw some of the workers...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKs4cyBtWRtmXaKBQhqkBGdK4vwBmJTkpZ4VohmQN7YGQnxNvbNyYLKFiTF_V1EyVZsz-R4lNoANSepBF5VDd177v4tWwO9UFtLKPm9QYX-g8VAtBkOABejxuJ8bEgGlVwh2eIt7CSu_6F/s1600-h/10+June+09+342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKs4cyBtWRtmXaKBQhqkBGdK4vwBmJTkpZ4VohmQN7YGQnxNvbNyYLKFiTF_V1EyVZsz-R4lNoANSepBF5VDd177v4tWwO9UFtLKPm9QYX-g8VAtBkOABejxuJ8bEgGlVwh2eIt7CSu_6F/s320/10+June+09+342.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">thank you - the flowers were indeed beautiful!</div><br />
Just before leaving, we popped by the Dried Flower House.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTq0KVpsSbvBwqwqzC2zDHIH4E9U9926af6u93aQSNID7XGxJeg5ILYdvLe5zIY8zh4Cx0p9ihh5lKNQ2jr9sD-0Lw_ou_pLcTbTq_3yIs0ll1i-wAARG5eO5wNLmaR8f9V7TTl8sjNS_F/s1600-h/10+June+09+194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTq0KVpsSbvBwqwqzC2zDHIH4E9U9926af6u93aQSNID7XGxJeg5ILYdvLe5zIY8zh4Cx0p9ihh5lKNQ2jr9sD-0Lw_ou_pLcTbTq_3yIs0ll1i-wAARG5eO5wNLmaR8f9V7TTl8sjNS_F/s320/10+June+09+194.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68vGRsFD2ITpeXdA0twLNYx64QKqpFOqG32KCa7gGEAGK3HIXVF1Eg_xN1ke7eBgNmvPAD9ydOUmHZ15Q9fsR9nBQbCR3hNup8xZal_v2UWWzkHjS7-9ywDaxbvMMEiGnshn1rMUaLb7D/s1600-h/10+June+09+351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68vGRsFD2ITpeXdA0twLNYx64QKqpFOqG32KCa7gGEAGK3HIXVF1Eg_xN1ke7eBgNmvPAD9ydOUmHZ15Q9fsR9nBQbCR3hNup8xZal_v2UWWzkHjS7-9ywDaxbvMMEiGnshn1rMUaLb7D/s320/10+June+09+351.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF2LBSfZ9SXHEWQXyN5KM7DHRQXNTuC5AcNqDKXmL4uhGBFxhS3Z-qBE9Mf5g6m20kD0EZ2deMMEKzcqxr1NTCbiK9CWuppuPy5d_TSq-JxNTAl6cPKoFEyMnkKME6WMfGC0aIFVKYICa/s1600-h/10+June+09+352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF2LBSfZ9SXHEWQXyN5KM7DHRQXNTuC5AcNqDKXmL4uhGBFxhS3Z-qBE9Mf5g6m20kD0EZ2deMMEKzcqxr1NTCbiK9CWuppuPy5d_TSq-JxNTAl6cPKoFEyMnkKME6WMfGC0aIFVKYICa/s320/10+June+09+352.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywx1qPGZmassJpOQNApyCLdZS4taX8Bzw2S7-XC9symAcVWMvJcwyi2hbKz3rM1F_4VxcLzMX16Pw0A9fvtAZXWpjGbBI3Hph8gVrPN07limSYVKggHgycTgQag64t8_CtFYNAaYRynH6/s1600-h/10+June+09+354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywx1qPGZmassJpOQNApyCLdZS4taX8Bzw2S7-XC9symAcVWMvJcwyi2hbKz3rM1F_4VxcLzMX16Pw0A9fvtAZXWpjGbBI3Hph8gVrPN07limSYVKggHgycTgQag64t8_CtFYNAaYRynH6/s320/10+June+09+354.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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It was all very pretty, if rather twee, but we beat a hasty retreat anyway when HM started to sneeze.<br />
<br />
Just before leaving, we decided to sample a few more lavender-infused goodies.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ghepPzBUTnI2TMnzXpVZlGYyJycza97cBnFWcFc851pi7VZGdT28nOEhB19wwNeIZr5l2K0Ubi-PshzwTv4oD4a4RKdsaPjrYQd6uWOTcs2VeaXjGfm_K3eli01iu6hVzgDdPI0d7Hvx/s1600-h/10+June+09+193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ghepPzBUTnI2TMnzXpVZlGYyJycza97cBnFWcFc851pi7VZGdT28nOEhB19wwNeIZr5l2K0Ubi-PshzwTv4oD4a4RKdsaPjrYQd6uWOTcs2VeaXjGfm_K3eli01iu6hVzgDdPI0d7Hvx/s320/10+June+09+193.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hmmm, what to choose...</div><br />
We settled for...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDH-tN_HbU1PQWY88noahzVKQuX0LSVapKa5itdru-Q9TmcKasfoPZy_W-IdhqvhqyHfZWloU3Lfef8wqMxVv8YRuQgvfYC-wfpT-RgfMu-mFw8uRiZHwIAJi0wsq-pHt8ZS97YC9in4R/s1600-h/10+June+09+371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDH-tN_HbU1PQWY88noahzVKQuX0LSVapKa5itdru-Q9TmcKasfoPZy_W-IdhqvhqyHfZWloU3Lfef8wqMxVv8YRuQgvfYC-wfpT-RgfMu-mFw8uRiZHwIAJi0wsq-pHt8ZS97YC9in4R/s320/10+June+09+371.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">lavender soda and lavender honey pudding</div><br />
The lavender soda was like Sprite with a hint of lavender but the lavender honey pudding was delicious!<br />
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All in all, Farm Tomita was a pleasant way to spend a morning.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1r_bPS446ObR5-Kj9n7yNm3-jkDN-xCXTtzJNnm49SXCGhJ2BvDpBL8FMZ09U7dBMaVn-bjBBGf9W5XTGfitcP4rGogd-ktqy_Ct-bT-nARl3rCW06ojcN_3yCE8Cw1hN3CnI0q6MiND/s1600-h/10+June+09+312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1r_bPS446ObR5-Kj9n7yNm3-jkDN-xCXTtzJNnm49SXCGhJ2BvDpBL8FMZ09U7dBMaVn-bjBBGf9W5XTGfitcP4rGogd-ktqy_Ct-bT-nARl3rCW06ojcN_3yCE8Cw1hN3CnI0q6MiND/s320/10+June+09+312.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a little kawaii</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap-VaXfekWE_WINbVx2mO28pgt6lfaQQyJliwuWPcLu-WGB8NZuqz220x89ZHjKLxdI0YJxshPLmj9hpfJw_RqHqbGlVSnuwzasJHIjNAocRjUJpjIRD8kFAaxh-jvlVkUh1rr6Ciie-A/s1600-h/10+June+09+346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap-VaXfekWE_WINbVx2mO28pgt6lfaQQyJliwuWPcLu-WGB8NZuqz220x89ZHjKLxdI0YJxshPLmj9hpfJw_RqHqbGlVSnuwzasJHIjNAocRjUJpjIRD8kFAaxh-jvlVkUh1rr6Ciie-A/s320/10+June+09+346.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a little corny</div><br />
but very Hokkaido!<br />
<br />
On our way back to the train station, we couldn't resist poking our noses into other people's business.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsUGZ-lA-XTx6OznvA3jl8rLi6L4vxDkdx5TzmHaTNkkH9-Ddg2-jQZlLbze3aMo_VngZrgh7Uafar70CuA-iM-4Oaklm6zVv73xrplnqtaiSYu3qos3YC_e68q2ZiKMso_CpxPvdyAow/s1600-h/10+June+09+375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsUGZ-lA-XTx6OznvA3jl8rLi6L4vxDkdx5TzmHaTNkkH9-Ddg2-jQZlLbze3aMo_VngZrgh7Uafar70CuA-iM-4Oaklm6zVv73xrplnqtaiSYu3qos3YC_e68q2ZiKMso_CpxPvdyAow/s320/10+June+09+375.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we wondered what were growing in these</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-qWPBO01dXAROfqgLFJa4Oy3gjZdg4C0gKnduPkGV4oF2b09ZiVyMbZCX9x4n3VH8jkxXSn_IzHqYjKQLrf8ouei1x1qgtE_vuImw73fBP7eB1duZ1zPnVb1nFy5cjZKf8jscipuvDao/s1600-h/10+June+09+373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-qWPBO01dXAROfqgLFJa4Oy3gjZdg4C0gKnduPkGV4oF2b09ZiVyMbZCX9x4n3VH8jkxXSn_IzHqYjKQLrf8ouei1x1qgtE_vuImw73fBP7eB1duZ1zPnVb1nFy5cjZKf8jscipuvDao/s320/10+June+09+373.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ah so, the much-prized melons</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPHhA3Dkx-aUbXGS86PKzEP2UGJcFlJFsOBlnt8GtqXV4WnnLUzaJMsywDL0TZGpaNAglI0yOtfWypfKlMoO583qSWp4vzLhdRbJjhNO1r3yYkl-kRJVTjQ1e1JSIWZi1WYPcCZ39Nuvr/s1600-h/10+June+09+377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPHhA3Dkx-aUbXGS86PKzEP2UGJcFlJFsOBlnt8GtqXV4WnnLUzaJMsywDL0TZGpaNAglI0yOtfWypfKlMoO583qSWp4vzLhdRbJjhNO1r3yYkl-kRJVTjQ1e1JSIWZi1WYPcCZ39Nuvr/s320/10+June+09+377.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">melon plants, one presumed</div><br />
We walked back to the train station under the blazing sun.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8NwcydxXWlKOrPR71Aq2DtViuHTsMKkjpduQFpQydA6s7tbJpMc7Lm1SIOAkhEfVudjriyBr233XEOivREwAkXvkV0tz8VgxWpjza9d2h7DV_SMlQPcKy_Zlq1QBpL0i4xPK7UuvGTUj/s1600-h/10+June+09+381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8NwcydxXWlKOrPR71Aq2DtViuHTsMKkjpduQFpQydA6s7tbJpMc7Lm1SIOAkhEfVudjriyBr233XEOivREwAkXvkV0tz8VgxWpjza9d2h7DV_SMlQPcKy_Zlq1QBpL0i4xPK7UuvGTUj/s320/10+June+09+381.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">it was blazing hot</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkar-C2bsAfYQtZxYSHc8mrE9cT9rDDDwjWs-I2pqHOIEUJaqi5GPsE2xBilogsRWyIQJ5JFFjxNA9Mo3htdoPGPCeXX4or0nOzWyVrjy1wbTW7GRV7zQwG9wR1NmJ9-rh9DslUwgVtFM/s1600-h/10+June+09+384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkar-C2bsAfYQtZxYSHc8mrE9cT9rDDDwjWs-I2pqHOIEUJaqi5GPsE2xBilogsRWyIQJ5JFFjxNA9Mo3htdoPGPCeXX4or0nOzWyVrjy1wbTW7GRV7zQwG9wR1NmJ9-rh9DslUwgVtFM/s320/10+June+09+384.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">getting back on the Norokko</div><br />
The ride to Furano was a short one, costing us another 180Y (SGD$2.88).<br />
<br />
At the Furano Tourist Information Centre, which was right next door to the train station, we made some enquiries. We were interested in touring the food-related sights, notably the winery and the cheese factory, and were hoping that there was a quick and easy way to get between the both. Unfortunately, short of paying an arm and a leg for a taxi, we would have to choose between the two. The wine factory was at least on the sightseeing bus route, but given my extremely low tolerance for alcohol, we plumped for the cheese factory instead, even though we would have to walk there. It didn't look that far on the map anyway...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeKUyKn9DGXmyocbz_frxcR_5tezrBANgsVw6T42KsyPVRuKGWyGKCWa9FEII3izZZfBHSnEN5b4da9mYyZCvBbPOlUl2sw-VfNfgr7y6FpTK3YHKxuTyFjeFNZCdzlgD7zxfnroFM1lg/s1600-h/10+June+09+386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeKUyKn9DGXmyocbz_frxcR_5tezrBANgsVw6T42KsyPVRuKGWyGKCWa9FEII3izZZfBHSnEN5b4da9mYyZCvBbPOlUl2sw-VfNfgr7y6FpTK3YHKxuTyFjeFNZCdzlgD7zxfnroFM1lg/s320/10+June+09+386.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a Furano well-wisher</div><br />
We walked down a busy main road, passing by lots of shops, a handful of which were picturesque...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU_qg5GH_Be_RTPBsU3NQSSD-SNHnJkO9cmTAn8B9Mc0eiptix86br0Z7675ExYE7tBf9yMdQQSUpZutr_UHW5V5WolxTIfOQCfx95zlksR8dWdyHPfhyrcRajrS0TxKYVaVyvh2Sns6U/s1600-h/10+June+09+387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuU_qg5GH_Be_RTPBsU3NQSSD-SNHnJkO9cmTAn8B9Mc0eiptix86br0Z7675ExYE7tBf9yMdQQSUpZutr_UHW5V5WolxTIfOQCfx95zlksR8dWdyHPfhyrcRajrS0TxKYVaVyvh2Sns6U/s320/10+June+09+387.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG1f-bn7JJYiLlYp2udMxxnmfOpOr2OB9m6OfAgMPLTRDI-y8_os5v2ISJEvMZQr6Amx15H8MnV_pf__kW3LKndDGvsxFmJ_1QWHjU7ZONuZPAH70DsuPi9_tqcNwuhOuTtA0QpvxOn3r/s1600-h/10+June+09+388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG1f-bn7JJYiLlYp2udMxxnmfOpOr2OB9m6OfAgMPLTRDI-y8_os5v2ISJEvMZQr6Amx15H8MnV_pf__kW3LKndDGvsxFmJ_1QWHjU7ZONuZPAH70DsuPi9_tqcNwuhOuTtA0QpvxOn3r/s320/10+June+09+388.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
... there were some attempts to make Furano more distinctive...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWt7qiRxQf_IFe4zcyM47mj1idwWRjGidqD8z-ow7rB0KSB6GTNwxSbVYK2M58xJukys1bZi89JpDrTx4UJh4Qne45A8FQ7sc9mQ7EQNytZz4I8vGFZv63mYd1mTmAcf0ARsekDV4VDey/s1600-h/10+June+09+389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWt7qiRxQf_IFe4zcyM47mj1idwWRjGidqD8z-ow7rB0KSB6GTNwxSbVYK2M58xJukys1bZi89JpDrTx4UJh4Qne45A8FQ7sc9mQ7EQNytZz4I8vGFZv63mYd1mTmAcf0ARsekDV4VDey/s320/10+June+09+389.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKge8zYkaj93C4rwMgLZYY5ppXbqt0iZbKa7n9XAecA9mRx5ydA5JL9qqxT0VIxyLJZZ-evI0nCfdhZ60K1iqLj8VgQzG8hl0IyLFNlN2FF_ztNfSMJ9dK4dgT5eQZ94AD4wlkDNLehZU/s1600-h/10+June+09+391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKge8zYkaj93C4rwMgLZYY5ppXbqt0iZbKa7n9XAecA9mRx5ydA5JL9qqxT0VIxyLJZZ-evI0nCfdhZ60K1iqLj8VgQzG8hl0IyLFNlN2FF_ztNfSMJ9dK4dgT5eQZ94AD4wlkDNLehZU/s320/10+June+09+391.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0cq9nTl56SH9WyFKbU2QwiWvqTy3kTSYTghKRwapJqqsOD8ynVsGkwuqKUJRhcjTLafAV35dkJK71bm930IfRFyuWNzO9bmJ8yODdv3gmx2odOy2UhM5RIXrEkhcsmHUS_444aFnz76g/s1600-h/10+June+09+393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0cq9nTl56SH9WyFKbU2QwiWvqTy3kTSYTghKRwapJqqsOD8ynVsGkwuqKUJRhcjTLafAV35dkJK71bm930IfRFyuWNzO9bmJ8yODdv3gmx2odOy2UhM5RIXrEkhcsmHUS_444aFnz76g/s320/10+June+09+393.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Furano pastries?</div><br />
.... but really it was a lot more mundane and everyday, almost ugly, compared to Biei. As tourists, we were glad that we had chosen to stay in Biei.<br />
<br />
It got better once we got out of the town centre.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZapHGCe22y32sgdARZKk2CKOb0Ux7ri_xqnjxE-zZf_Xe-3qUTLK4S0wyAXWmJ2ivkqDCPWriJwXrta8EMS7o9U8v0uYqQrC3A0e-uneM5GzCiL9CGk1367lIpW8vK8frE2_Ap648_QJ/s1600-h/10+June+09+394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZapHGCe22y32sgdARZKk2CKOb0Ux7ri_xqnjxE-zZf_Xe-3qUTLK4S0wyAXWmJ2ivkqDCPWriJwXrta8EMS7o9U8v0uYqQrC3A0e-uneM5GzCiL9CGk1367lIpW8vK8frE2_Ap648_QJ/s320/10+June+09+394.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">onto a highway of sorts</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfbrSApQaY14-XxIu_FkptWGU18X_AyyNPVezKU-nnIJKeESstSTBzn40RbaRXs1CfEZ5IZCNH_O5zfTZRTQi9ZTvN6iGlOXcBIUYzdeJk7GutXVNiAxB0msocujIPc3NYeGnyjIbbDaN/s1600-h/10+June+09+395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfbrSApQaY14-XxIu_FkptWGU18X_AyyNPVezKU-nnIJKeESstSTBzn40RbaRXs1CfEZ5IZCNH_O5zfTZRTQi9ZTvN6iGlOXcBIUYzdeJk7GutXVNiAxB0msocujIPc3NYeGnyjIbbDaN/s320/10+June+09+395.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">where we could see the (we presume) Furano River</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzoFWb4zjgmpADCU40gN4e3oaT97U5102TcLWy_S4bqwRq7MRQ_s5Bclut2enT1xmLYnvO9ME1CmhQKQfJPukVF5rWdR-EUIKiYihYd3FhD7-P1QnmfZj-IMAc-tCxLv7XnInDqzklPyV/s1600-h/10+June+09+396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzoFWb4zjgmpADCU40gN4e3oaT97U5102TcLWy_S4bqwRq7MRQ_s5Bclut2enT1xmLYnvO9ME1CmhQKQfJPukVF5rWdR-EUIKiYihYd3FhD7-P1QnmfZj-IMAc-tCxLv7XnInDqzklPyV/s320/10+June+09+396.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">over this bridge</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKNzFIq5CDgeNQMXkx0HBhF5flVQwatO50NZYfCpTp25QU8iaK4G5-nt-I2_lf9TEUklXRCNwVssAX1XXlGjukwBPCNBsX5XljwnYvq5Z9a8n71A3_M4PE2DUObpRBU0isE9d5LeQyAcM/s1600-h/10+June+09+404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKNzFIq5CDgeNQMXkx0HBhF5flVQwatO50NZYfCpTp25QU8iaK4G5-nt-I2_lf9TEUklXRCNwVssAX1XXlGjukwBPCNBsX5XljwnYvq5Z9a8n71A3_M4PE2DUObpRBU0isE9d5LeQyAcM/s320/10+June+09+404.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">out amongst the fields again</div><br />
The walk took nearly an hour, longer than we had expected. Nevertheless, we had arrived!<br />
<br />
The cheese factory churned out more than just cheese. Comprising several big buildings with workshops, demonstration rooms, cafes and so on, it also produced ice cream. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, in mid afternoon, most of the day's work had ended, so we viewed...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgLOs3D07bbmrrO09_n-j8N3a9taj-qeJuxiQj9vMGiEeAMcGwmY-L7czWXBydFZRjibZEHGsqMfGxuXQfl4AWlv4ayL_bqGEQE9FNI1zflxWuw9k0i04kteVb1xVFlo4gNwSo-DTUnlE/s1600-h/10+June+09+409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgLOs3D07bbmrrO09_n-j8N3a9taj-qeJuxiQj9vMGiEeAMcGwmY-L7czWXBydFZRjibZEHGsqMfGxuXQfl4AWlv4ayL_bqGEQE9FNI1zflxWuw9k0i04kteVb1xVFlo4gNwSo-DTUnlE/s320/10+June+09+409.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... lots of machinery ...</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DGx0PSolRJkhV66nF283YN3GOQ2Y8OOo9qigb2baxNL_b6c8RQq7jEadjDgIlJAt2GWTDtpEkHrLMQtu_k14NRQjUKKZ9d__ct2koPGgLJ1LtBwubWLox3YiQ6AJ6PIWVdQ-mUN2LcQ1/s1600-h/10+June+09+413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DGx0PSolRJkhV66nF283YN3GOQ2Y8OOo9qigb2baxNL_b6c8RQq7jEadjDgIlJAt2GWTDtpEkHrLMQtu_k14NRQjUKKZ9d__ct2koPGgLJ1LtBwubWLox3YiQ6AJ6PIWVdQ-mUN2LcQ1/s320/10+June+09+413.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... finished products - circles of cheese in their little refrigerators...</div><br />
... but really what better way to experience cheese-making than to eat the final product!<br />
<br />
Shortly after we arrived, we chanced upon a cafe selling pizza made with the factory's own cheese. It was not crowded so I suggested to HM that we take the opportunity to try some pizza before a crowd appeared.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtc7JMVuqCO9C2K4LV3hnFRT88JKSzkpEjjMlnqQIKQaNAYm_UXHVEx2XYJRp0WyC7dnzaOv6tWqG-W4M6s_o6Tf-jhcpsM4uAyCuuT8GlWt3kBQVBa9Wi2rgP1Ne2CEDvTzFWQ2IJvW9/s1600-h/10+June+09+432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtc7JMVuqCO9C2K4LV3hnFRT88JKSzkpEjjMlnqQIKQaNAYm_UXHVEx2XYJRp0WyC7dnzaOv6tWqG-W4M6s_o6Tf-jhcpsM4uAyCuuT8GlWt3kBQVBa9Wi2rgP1Ne2CEDvTzFWQ2IJvW9/s320/10+June+09+432.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not many people</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkVC08RyM7PHM_80Am2R44J-eDIVJ0z-2oOT16Kqs4-Yt8BGzl8OT4LwYT9trMkQ64EUrYK-hjJ4s0FmFTFGx-ofPlSCz2A_L8bElvKuWKNUcmo8EkZADCf92Au7uiRwxJb2r-akcjPwI/s1600-h/10+June+09+415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkVC08RyM7PHM_80Am2R44J-eDIVJ0z-2oOT16Kqs4-Yt8BGzl8OT4LwYT9trMkQ64EUrYK-hjJ4s0FmFTFGx-ofPlSCz2A_L8bElvKuWKNUcmo8EkZADCf92Au7uiRwxJb2r-akcjPwI/s320/10+June+09+415.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a margarita</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6LUHbqNVhw2Ht_N9I1OyQ1g8ODdj7BFBtXYBGWBGwlA4weTU1MF-X2fw-YqbWD2YkqmJIDZ69KqmpCEBwCnVnBQY6VFWjh_2ytTa2m0HZKPEPhK0Has0OsEQofVoz12r4JAkewj87xqu/s1600-h/10+June+09+416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6LUHbqNVhw2Ht_N9I1OyQ1g8ODdj7BFBtXYBGWBGwlA4weTU1MF-X2fw-YqbWD2YkqmJIDZ69KqmpCEBwCnVnBQY6VFWjh_2ytTa2m0HZKPEPhK0Has0OsEQofVoz12r4JAkewj87xqu/s320/10+June+09+416.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">caprese</div><br />
The cheese was very Japanese - very light but tasty, not heavy and rich. We liked! We washed it all down with some iced coffee, just the thing to keep us going on a sleepy afternoon.<br />
<br />
Back on the tour, we walked through an exhibition on the history of cheese. One of the things we did was try...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe1jad5rnoEZ3_gI3SuJCC7RkT9roZbNIvoc4MOHinXZsjLZNSV8GV2kz3551XlDEG406EXEolb1XRDMcxveUAEGQewncSJ4J-oWmhuN9bbq1Yb2r1CCirDhBHtYWDMShfXawtgf20QFp/s1600-h/10+June+09+417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe1jad5rnoEZ3_gI3SuJCC7RkT9roZbNIvoc4MOHinXZsjLZNSV8GV2kz3551XlDEG406EXEolb1XRDMcxveUAEGQewncSJ4J-oWmhuN9bbq1Yb2r1CCirDhBHtYWDMShfXawtgf20QFp/s320/10+June+09+417.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... cuttlefish ink cheese - tasted surprisingly normal!</div><br />
We also tried our hand at milking a cow, albeit a mechanical cow.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnk0S-nmRK3WZ0DbYgV5od5uXqwhxaJ0Yqx4XQgCjHwPPSvT2pyKzCJfFitG_-XTrVzEQeuCm1AzvN121jitAdomsl2J74FEhMgbp1AO06Jn5gTuZOP_A0Wy8agflPzqqkm8L8Iaw67vM/s1600-h/10+June+09+418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnk0S-nmRK3WZ0DbYgV5od5uXqwhxaJ0Yqx4XQgCjHwPPSvT2pyKzCJfFitG_-XTrVzEQeuCm1AzvN121jitAdomsl2J74FEhMgbp1AO06Jn5gTuZOP_A0Wy8agflPzqqkm8L8Iaw67vM/s320/10+June+09+418.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">all things are possible with technology</div><br />
Of course the exhibition covered many other aspects of cheese and cheese-making.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD9HzfWkA1HenPxOKSDnW7tlzE4bO-1LBhq18DyRuFO4GCFSdc_lOSf21NbAfwOKhhEcCL7ZTwxljPo-AWwawsrLnwYNLUoCuXrAhR29bSZEXVb_y3qh3cZDf_oQRn0s7E2KUDs84UJaF/s1600-h/10+June+09+420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmD9HzfWkA1HenPxOKSDnW7tlzE4bO-1LBhq18DyRuFO4GCFSdc_lOSf21NbAfwOKhhEcCL7ZTwxljPo-AWwawsrLnwYNLUoCuXrAhR29bSZEXVb_y3qh3cZDf_oQRn0s7E2KUDs84UJaF/s320/10+June+09+420.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">all about French cheese</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcEUgaYEb9VuhuV8CY3Q5j_JeFT83R3zXdPBptXixyOlMPTZdeLXqlhTRBQ6Qwi0ZVBxo6jujvAw8tJR3pmCtbkxhCjYpuuZrNU37i7aV5FkNBkdER2eulFAL3ozl6PgS6SMhHp3clYk3/s1600-h/10+June+09+421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcEUgaYEb9VuhuV8CY3Q5j_JeFT83R3zXdPBptXixyOlMPTZdeLXqlhTRBQ6Qwi0ZVBxo6jujvAw8tJR3pmCtbkxhCjYpuuZrNU37i7aV5FkNBkdER2eulFAL3ozl6PgS6SMhHp3clYk3/s320/10+June+09+421.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">suggestions of how to use cheese in various ways, like cuttlefish ink cheese on ramen!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGxWe7jiMKOl-dfKGVB7M-YiQ_IiSDOD7EK4AGAYpIJILTC0qcWKaIDiiKU-HdDaBD7pkiOK9Wfx5ioYLaPuF1NBIIQr94WNEqE-9rAbML7vDNg70B5YQ5vyqVzqEVekRz-nvcXT_vWNC/s1600-h/10+June+09+423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGxWe7jiMKOl-dfKGVB7M-YiQ_IiSDOD7EK4AGAYpIJILTC0qcWKaIDiiKU-HdDaBD7pkiOK9Wfx5ioYLaPuF1NBIIQr94WNEqE-9rAbML7vDNg70B5YQ5vyqVzqEVekRz-nvcXT_vWNC/s320/10+June+09+423.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">write-ups on the history of cheese</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RYmSzs6eGySILn6WpOooLdZuGqB2RNHbTqjW6AiFgI1LZ77wgqAx7mSpjR0WcCB9omH0yfiB_wMcqHK3jU-YDviXzL214hLUSagrx6lauZrlCbdkRjFtNDUH8Bum0DjKhv7aqxyFg2mK/s1600-h/10+June+09+424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RYmSzs6eGySILn6WpOooLdZuGqB2RNHbTqjW6AiFgI1LZ77wgqAx7mSpjR0WcCB9omH0yfiB_wMcqHK3jU-YDviXzL214hLUSagrx6lauZrlCbdkRjFtNDUH8Bum0DjKhv7aqxyFg2mK/s320/10+June+09+424.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">what to eat cheese with - look at all that fake bread!</div><br />
On the way to the ice cream factory, we stopped at the ice cream stall.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJoMTkD7jwaPq9g8ijVI8IY-Ojo9yGWO1xCO59agztXh1opWVkVC9Q-WU9DyI_SfSq_0_6SUcDQWh1DT5DDUQQk6nxaGYQRepHqQRMlh-22s5_3ZSlhApjR4PU8YBepRT6GMJrpcEu1GH/s1600-h/10+June+09+429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJoMTkD7jwaPq9g8ijVI8IY-Ojo9yGWO1xCO59agztXh1opWVkVC9Q-WU9DyI_SfSq_0_6SUcDQWh1DT5DDUQQk6nxaGYQRepHqQRMlh-22s5_3ZSlhApjR4PU8YBepRT6GMJrpcEu1GH/s320/10+June+09+429.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ice cream on sale</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7MKCOaYWRdtMEMJdsoAUuGaht5K9WxscdelRog3I3bhOodIUhQc0BnBZb-GE-Y07mvwKgroFTaqXeAgtHYlZsswflK40mkbE6XHXxCELKe-ui1XNrOHjLv7hKX8KrQKRfc7m92SIq4VA/s1600-h/10+June+09+434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7MKCOaYWRdtMEMJdsoAUuGaht5K9WxscdelRog3I3bhOodIUhQc0BnBZb-GE-Y07mvwKgroFTaqXeAgtHYlZsswflK40mkbE6XHXxCELKe-ui1XNrOHjLv7hKX8KrQKRfc7m92SIq4VA/s320/10+June+09+434.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">there were lots of flavours - milk, cheese, pumpkin, corn, grape and asparagus</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7JFz0v5lEPnfk3xgwFP1pkLLAnlxBePto_ikXksAVEacGaa30eDTYPJuXXu619OlZuwbWduBZWLpBj-sVsL5vakAO0L95qzBoJmc-oBhiT6fmvB0ITj569XDoWIiRcSkYACZiTPAH_TR/s1600-h/10+June+09+431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7JFz0v5lEPnfk3xgwFP1pkLLAnlxBePto_ikXksAVEacGaa30eDTYPJuXXu619OlZuwbWduBZWLpBj-sVsL5vakAO0L95qzBoJmc-oBhiT6fmvB0ITj569XDoWIiRcSkYACZiTPAH_TR/s320/10+June+09+431.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we had the asparagus - tasted quite normal - and the cheese - like milk, but saltier</div><br />
With that we had tried the gamut of Hokkaido flavours!<br />
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We took a quick look at the ice cream factory...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BqCA8cbY8_wWIaFvX5aLx7hi1_XmhiyXa50vgWRvu7WflIF5FG17I3neofh8omPRyoC42u7XOLYvdRwRAwFwEPQ1yzPIJQSIIjVRtub7WoPYacDelxes6fF-5dOQoD-fAukm0dG5PKmh/s1600-h/10+June+09+433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BqCA8cbY8_wWIaFvX5aLx7hi1_XmhiyXa50vgWRvu7WflIF5FG17I3neofh8omPRyoC42u7XOLYvdRwRAwFwEPQ1yzPIJQSIIjVRtub7WoPYacDelxes6fF-5dOQoD-fAukm0dG5PKmh/s320/10+June+09+433.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">don't those look like washing machines?!</div><br />
... but it was getting late and we thought it best to start making our way home. It had been a long day. There were no cabs in sight and if we didn't find one, we were faced with an hour's walk back to the train station. The solution? HM saw a sign in the reception area, advertising taxi services. She therefore summoned all her Japanese language resources and called us a cab! I knew the language classes would pay off some day, hehe...<br />
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While we waited for our cab to appear, we amused ourselves.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigh_1HbVegFj8oJYf_pdnMA4U_SXKHLVetME6bQas9S8Ps10CSsciMrRyaFq8cTuuKOdxEOUyMDXcHOU2_K5jZ8i9lGz3J1xSr71BH05yIRVETWV7YH_f_GOAcxzyA5t3xbjF6KihUR4x/s1600-h/10+June+09+442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigh_1HbVegFj8oJYf_pdnMA4U_SXKHLVetME6bQas9S8Ps10CSsciMrRyaFq8cTuuKOdxEOUyMDXcHOU2_K5jZ8i9lGz3J1xSr71BH05yIRVETWV7YH_f_GOAcxzyA5t3xbjF6KihUR4x/s320/10+June+09+442.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">were those little birdies?</div></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0D9eFXagW5Y_V_Chlv3OZYH0GoYuwq1e5RuOmosL43oBtQMC5dlqPg6bP4V-ZSff_S49rNTAVVkNoQm1B18y319vKa5I8nDeoNVGRNkaLIAzfYN312tdPY2XRAsV3matO3bzNmN2Ojad/s1600-h/10+June+09+439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0D9eFXagW5Y_V_Chlv3OZYH0GoYuwq1e5RuOmosL43oBtQMC5dlqPg6bP4V-ZSff_S49rNTAVVkNoQm1B18y319vKa5I8nDeoNVGRNkaLIAzfYN312tdPY2XRAsV3matO3bzNmN2Ojad/s320/10+June+09+439.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">kawaii ne - tomodachi (friends), a little birdy and a caterpillar!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgcxgy8iuA_K_ZdJbvZMsyM-L9K3PdvGmMl9vnJB6ltnz4Y1wRTanNHF2bDPLEeAtrlM85vvBf5TVLnjIQLk66CNJJ0-ax1HWxOkVba8ua5ITZdgRvGK-fgoVV4qgYRxJcZcWrGDyI9J6/s1600-h/10+June+09+443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgcxgy8iuA_K_ZdJbvZMsyM-L9K3PdvGmMl9vnJB6ltnz4Y1wRTanNHF2bDPLEeAtrlM85vvBf5TVLnjIQLk66CNJJ0-ax1HWxOkVba8ua5ITZdgRvGK-fgoVV4qgYRxJcZcWrGDyI9J6/s320/10+June+09+443.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">uh, no, we weren't going to pose with no tractor</div><br />
The taxi ride back to the train station cost us 1250¥ (SGD$20), not so expensive after all, and the taxi driver was friendly and professional.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi598FTweJZ1hWDDld-szgt1H1Op37F5bXJNn_D0Teug9enRiZSGbJg3L34fouNg2aZLO5U9KfWPAQRufiGHlUsIVpkeUGwJY19lODxC-eJV3dttpW1nnyZyGtUNzPRkIwUHb2iWoHrWxbA/s1600-h/10+June+09+448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi598FTweJZ1hWDDld-szgt1H1Op37F5bXJNn_D0Teug9enRiZSGbJg3L34fouNg2aZLO5U9KfWPAQRufiGHlUsIVpkeUGwJY19lODxC-eJV3dttpW1nnyZyGtUNzPRkIwUHb2iWoHrWxbA/s320/10+June+09+448.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this was a different cab company, with a snowman logo; ours had a crown on top</div><br />
The next train back to Biei was a regular local train, not the Norokko, and there was a good half hour wait so we took a walk around the station.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmPV0F8skvt_nIKbbhUgWEcfSgK03yXgpt9olVjKVJRjVBuKmkZj1mhi3zUBClpEBhSSjFvFITHXNI9e10XCEujWx-jxbUPbN6q4ctNOAvBA5yyPZbH81HewSEFwwAvrC3waoiecIBZB-/s1600-h/10+June+09+455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmPV0F8skvt_nIKbbhUgWEcfSgK03yXgpt9olVjKVJRjVBuKmkZj1mhi3zUBClpEBhSSjFvFITHXNI9e10XCEujWx-jxbUPbN6q4ctNOAvBA5yyPZbH81HewSEFwwAvrC3waoiecIBZB-/s320/10+June+09+455.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">some interesting architecture near the train station</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5qUIEAAsHdnkN6kIBe9j2vKKq9YNLtM_cPPl3VjOE3HjxNLSpX-mRmQ3VNrXhjjaZ-fSxWM_OH7dFGd8rOrbdVFGJggXHJepLGPy9DEvcRKp424BFrryQeKFgW7nesjpSqNjutZpTFAv/s1600-h/10+June+09+456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5qUIEAAsHdnkN6kIBe9j2vKKq9YNLtM_cPPl3VjOE3HjxNLSpX-mRmQ3VNrXhjjaZ-fSxWM_OH7dFGd8rOrbdVFGJggXHJepLGPy9DEvcRKp424BFrryQeKFgW7nesjpSqNjutZpTFAv/s320/10+June+09+456.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">another Furano mascot</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXHfqU933moTot6Bc9tCZ5bLezIastvYqv49MjJEI6cgNgr4oKCtDrvDNDRWF39gWvPnSuUTny2dJwL3RL38PskdDMbNGx3pzn1n5jI8OXAtdYZDUYutuWrLjh-tproDi8ywp6CGKp65t/s1600-h/10+June+09+458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXHfqU933moTot6Bc9tCZ5bLezIastvYqv49MjJEI6cgNgr4oKCtDrvDNDRWF39gWvPnSuUTny2dJwL3RL38PskdDMbNGx3pzn1n5jI8OXAtdYZDUYutuWrLjh-tproDi8ywp6CGKp65t/s320/10+June+09+458.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">taken while we sat on a bench outside the station</div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We did find a souvenir shop where we bought one more lavender-inspired gift.</div><div><br />
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Back in Biei, we went back to the pan shop to buy some bread for breakfast; we would be leaving too early to have breakfast at Potato No Oka. And then we hopped into our second cab for the day, for a ride back to the hostel. The fare came up to 1150¥ (SGD$18.40), money well spent, we thought.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY6TLgP9MOtuDnClRWPdymOz6iIxHkJ1yK_dmQb_jUkaAm7VP-KJJHGZnBn9QMfBv4X_amTvMCDjei01NSjZRyy4Yw7olBkNqZK5yr7tt2wfqKRIf4mZ9ZmSmgw-uSP6MH4qS-VcT4lhN/s1600-h/10+June+09+464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY6TLgP9MOtuDnClRWPdymOz6iIxHkJ1yK_dmQb_jUkaAm7VP-KJJHGZnBn9QMfBv4X_amTvMCDjei01NSjZRyy4Yw7olBkNqZK5yr7tt2wfqKRIf4mZ9ZmSmgw-uSP6MH4qS-VcT4lhN/s320/10+June+09+464.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we retired to our room, to freshen up before dinner</div><br />
Then HM read in the upstairs alcove, while I took photographs of the place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2yvhgz7g_16gX53Ubqp6iDxmryGtIRjBBILbIlSfOFqQSK984EFTvwnUsS22lbVo78JLBTSReJ30dCjqXHvYq5nDiXBF8ZD-pJXCRhO_9OQFJ1fkPEmyeFqOFVWnNDkLg9cQkYxkjlVL/s1600-h/10+June+09+466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2yvhgz7g_16gX53Ubqp6iDxmryGtIRjBBILbIlSfOFqQSK984EFTvwnUsS22lbVo78JLBTSReJ30dCjqXHvYq5nDiXBF8ZD-pJXCRhO_9OQFJ1fkPEmyeFqOFVWnNDkLg9cQkYxkjlVL/s320/10+June+09+466.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">artworks by local artists</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM-3dgLhaJv-DALDY4u1_4ovqXL-X1R__49Xazc7JZJVTZqT5zYZVvyHet4mNBs8IZXpEVbfwJX3xmOXKw8lKp1NN0NWg4yy00xkwcWn4ZnaYDYfS4VT3ZTdSP0SfX_ExlCYLA2Laq-wu/s1600-h/10+June+09+467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM-3dgLhaJv-DALDY4u1_4ovqXL-X1R__49Xazc7JZJVTZqT5zYZVvyHet4mNBs8IZXpEVbfwJX3xmOXKw8lKp1NN0NWg4yy00xkwcWn4ZnaYDYfS4VT3ZTdSP0SfX_ExlCYLA2Laq-wu/s320/10+June+09+467.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">HM wanted a shot of the rather twee slippers we had been given to wear</div><br />
We were early enough to watch dinner being served.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzERwpt8FLvQ6jB901W69-p3dJk74BBoBkE4Gq5e2K7XgldqCl2OWZPmep937ELkY_4RuTmFnyqrHyW00EYz96fTleCfEgGJs-lwaIMe6nOEP1XdCj-Uh-lXK5L811HSpqgReGPvGiT_f/s1600-h/10+June+09+474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzERwpt8FLvQ6jB901W69-p3dJk74BBoBkE4Gq5e2K7XgldqCl2OWZPmep937ELkY_4RuTmFnyqrHyW00EYz96fTleCfEgGJs-lwaIMe6nOEP1XdCj-Uh-lXK5L811HSpqgReGPvGiT_f/s320/10+June+09+474.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one of the hostel staff, again not the chef</div><br />
We figured the chef worked half a day at the hostel, and possibly cooked at the restaurant next door at night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V3Ru8f9lPhGEP7LagEyy-0Xnlsg455b-JDXRlQ0C3VHLZ8B-zt3kGtdjSlH4-RjL4oJBM42vUtRTl2ZpYq6_T273Ip1p2TFsVIQx2nMhKOx8xhhZ5E8-eY0ehIGmsCtIvgZmO5pngjlq/s1600-h/10+June+09+487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V3Ru8f9lPhGEP7LagEyy-0Xnlsg455b-JDXRlQ0C3VHLZ8B-zt3kGtdjSlH4-RjL4oJBM42vUtRTl2ZpYq6_T273Ip1p2TFsVIQx2nMhKOx8xhhZ5E8-eY0ehIGmsCtIvgZmO5pngjlq/s320/10+June+09+487.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">an early diner</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWVaTy41FSHIaW_3slUzB63HPX7GeEkaj1xHF-CbttH4ZGGhL_RWas11MJy4YiEMVRY0XT6RFVYTsiggrZl6F70uEEMg5hRoax6_6o68hF70D-GkxK3T8wZld_8mF0VnkTHRZbu3w1Z8y/s1600-h/10+June+09+488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWVaTy41FSHIaW_3slUzB63HPX7GeEkaj1xHF-CbttH4ZGGhL_RWas11MJy4YiEMVRY0XT6RFVYTsiggrZl6F70uEEMg5hRoax6_6o68hF70D-GkxK3T8wZld_8mF0VnkTHRZbu3w1Z8y/s320/10+June+09+488.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our dinner table</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRuDNxAgLNO0qNKDEb6HaO-TxsEUYL1i1ZL8WtBUX1NvQjsFvYuCKTwBWmH1G38LDAW6qTc3ZHhJVRvxy-j3BPKNHHufzYDI4l6DP2qWJcysZeFuapSxoDiKpM2-0r0dcnrsbNj1-FTGG/s1600-h/10+June+09+489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRuDNxAgLNO0qNKDEb6HaO-TxsEUYL1i1ZL8WtBUX1NvQjsFvYuCKTwBWmH1G38LDAW6qTc3ZHhJVRvxy-j3BPKNHHufzYDI4l6DP2qWJcysZeFuapSxoDiKpM2-0r0dcnrsbNj1-FTGG/s320/10+June+09+489.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">chicken in a white wine cream sauce, with Japanese mushrooms</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbTELQFEnnP2FSqqzXDqBg0NIbJcCwrEVN4juc3LHWHF8W_2qra34xaj9PF9Pv0j9grPM7d3eKnrQfhcNvFqDc3lIZg6rKmZcprj0_XhpZ-IuBFsJ5HW6D3w6uE62BYUAHNP9cNIitViG/s1600-h/10+June+09+491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbTELQFEnnP2FSqqzXDqBg0NIbJcCwrEVN4juc3LHWHF8W_2qra34xaj9PF9Pv0j9grPM7d3eKnrQfhcNvFqDc3lIZg6rKmZcprj0_XhpZ-IuBFsJ5HW6D3w6uE62BYUAHNP9cNIitViG/s320/10+June+09+491.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">onion soup</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BvYiBKJMSFGvTo0YN4shdQKEBWTOgG7Ptz8-tMMKkwsCBtbtm_LQjVCTFjxopywrb-JH9B1-AaF6XGkU9EAlx2SE48KZrCsJNyUz6BQe8K3yR2FnBKyRgveoMM8KofnXoorS8rU1yD-5/s1600-h/10+June+09+493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BvYiBKJMSFGvTo0YN4shdQKEBWTOgG7Ptz8-tMMKkwsCBtbtm_LQjVCTFjxopywrb-JH9B1-AaF6XGkU9EAlx2SE48KZrCsJNyUz6BQe8K3yR2FnBKyRgveoMM8KofnXoorS8rU1yD-5/s320/10+June+09+493.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">potato with mustard sauce</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9XPyGN1zR_TBIkHdAdMmzLfYRq17mDyCMgb6iAsokaQRY_WOaSln8e1gkjUjUtdklqx5RDQjQPfmK96Fc0XjcAC-VRcuZEBTbq_J03S4WpZMzfCxixiTVXGhw2WK8rHhHcSN5jZOXypD/s1600-h/10+June+09+495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9XPyGN1zR_TBIkHdAdMmzLfYRq17mDyCMgb6iAsokaQRY_WOaSln8e1gkjUjUtdklqx5RDQjQPfmK96Fc0XjcAC-VRcuZEBTbq_J03S4WpZMzfCxixiTVXGhw2WK8rHhHcSN5jZOXypD/s320/10+June+09+495.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">salad</div><br />
Dessert was lime jelly. During coffee, we had Mr Matsuda's company. When he heard that we were going to be staying at the Asahidake Bearmonte Hotel, he asked us to send his regards to his friend, a Mr Watanabe who worked at the front counter.<br />
<br />
We retired early enough that night but were awakened by the sound of ambulance sirens, which in the midst of rolling fields, was rather disconcerting. It became alarming when we could clearly hear the ambulance drawing into the hostel's driveway and then the carpark. We sat up and wondered what was happening. Could it be Mr Matsuda? We sat there and speculated for quite a while, not wanting to seem overly <i>kaypoh</i> (busybody) but a little worried nonetheless. In the end, I stumbled downstairs in my pyjamas but could see no one, no commotion, without being too intrusive. I withdrew in defeat and we went back to sleep, flummoxed.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-52551257338023646822009-06-11T07:48:00.000-07:002010-04-09T07:41:57.836-07:00Day 6: Awesome AsahikawaIt was our final morning in Biei and Potato No Oka. We were leaving for Asahikawa and Asahidake Onsen in the Daisetsuzan National Park. It was raining quite heavily, as we waited for Mr Marushima to give us a ride to Biei central. It had been a lovely stay but all good things must come to an end.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpOKLqOntO8SSWcTM5qcQcSr6OBKRFTOMXzmPNvcQ_26FcLWeYnY6N5p96BIz_xRt31suMlPsXT3w3BZewglNLaEXuoSvpsTsvbNWPkRSM0baxbadFrantvTbA_II1E9w5DCGbGlVIDyX/s1600-h/11+June+09+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpOKLqOntO8SSWcTM5qcQcSr6OBKRFTOMXzmPNvcQ_26FcLWeYnY6N5p96BIz_xRt31suMlPsXT3w3BZewglNLaEXuoSvpsTsvbNWPkRSM0baxbadFrantvTbA_II1E9w5DCGbGlVIDyX/s320/11+June+09+009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">little homey touches</div><br />
We asked Mr Marushima if everyone was alright. Apparently, an ambulance had been called because one of the guests, a little girl from a Singaporean family, had been running a high fever. The hostel staff had deemed it prudent to send her to the nearby hospital for a check-up. She was fine now, according to him.<br />
<br />
Outside Biei station, we waved goodbye to Mr Marushima and went to catch our train.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS6BEZybpPR4r4D8uyA_gG-ZbyMZ35raEUhGgga4xP_AVFmm54Y2jSpdFDozf-NIj8SMtVbZuvKLQJyljpFTHeeuroUOXXSPshm1MJkO5F6xfoWPSy86EQmVRA7s6OzPBiBM68Pwet_Cz/s1600-h/11+June+09+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS6BEZybpPR4r4D8uyA_gG-ZbyMZ35raEUhGgga4xP_AVFmm54Y2jSpdFDozf-NIj8SMtVbZuvKLQJyljpFTHeeuroUOXXSPshm1MJkO5F6xfoWPSy86EQmVRA7s6OzPBiBM68Pwet_Cz/s320/11+June+09+011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a wet day indeed</div><br />
The reason why we had left so early was that we had decided to squeeze in a visit to the Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa. That hadn't been on our original itinerary. We like animals but we are selective when it comes to zoos. There aren't many that surpass Singapore's Mandai Zoo. Asahiyama Zoo hadn't been on our radar but since we arrived in Sapporo, we had come across lots of publicity for the zoo and it didn't look half bad. A chance to see temperate climate animals and an opportunity to do something other than gaze at fields, so why not, we thought.<br />
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We left our luggage in lockers at the Asahikawa train station and headed out to the bus stop. It was cold out, 12 degrees before wind chill, but we weren't the only ones queuing for the No. 47 bus. We stood there, munching on our bread, our breakfast that morning.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5r-jSurFA8YCr1P-OjMkD8flRXdTM5x2XroZvf2xlDOswowEiKUA6vlh0mI7m-X-LX1Tym6w-dYJ87iufSgMQnGj-mn42oMPCpQyqDaEBB-KEsHcGmHGAGPDjpE4fLuB8tRz8kMMIA53/s1600-h/11+June+09+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5r-jSurFA8YCr1P-OjMkD8flRXdTM5x2XroZvf2xlDOswowEiKUA6vlh0mI7m-X-LX1Tym6w-dYJ87iufSgMQnGj-mn42oMPCpQyqDaEBB-KEsHcGmHGAGPDjpE4fLuB8tRz8kMMIA53/s320/11+June+09+012.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wow, so many people even on a rainy day</div><br />
The ride to the zoo took more than half an hour. When we got there, it was still wet and even more cold. The first thing we did was to buy a piping hot can of coffee to warm ourselves up with!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HnDRqVN8-jDuSgaEBnynG-ofaS_T-1URlvhYVHOrPAOVIMuGC_CRuV9cKplzwaQJTi-be-Pwj2GWiccnI5U9egK8GCuTKcA2Blaufr1kmuxpemf0KjiNTZIZwk-v7opXTW8t8UdkuvnM/s1600-h/11+June+09+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HnDRqVN8-jDuSgaEBnynG-ofaS_T-1URlvhYVHOrPAOVIMuGC_CRuV9cKplzwaQJTi-be-Pwj2GWiccnI5U9egK8GCuTKcA2Blaufr1kmuxpemf0KjiNTZIZwk-v7opXTW8t8UdkuvnM/s320/11+June+09+014.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">welcome to Asahiyama Zoo</div><br />
And then off we went to see the animals. One of the first enclosures was an aviary.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouMGVdO3dN_LPNDkWlvMT5wisqsG0CSJU26e0-sOYpljwDGA0LPN9s-D6gnKHTFvs0hmCj6-8gV1wySYNRLihIObSO8npVhm6lDuX_7vQsTK70M8IlC5OF4EPrSXGuS9MNef37ICIdpoi/s1600-h/11+June+09+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouMGVdO3dN_LPNDkWlvMT5wisqsG0CSJU26e0-sOYpljwDGA0LPN9s-D6gnKHTFvs0hmCj6-8gV1wySYNRLihIObSO8npVhm6lDuX_7vQsTK70M8IlC5OF4EPrSXGuS9MNef37ICIdpoi/s320/11+June+09+020.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">amazing, tropical flamingos!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZYTKJ-C3cWM2-PLU7yiaGIkjiWraB-YoZ662BauNLVLAPXaTUp0rfzE8pkdiCqlwOphW51vpdSCnxNAVR9Q9vwD126H1WCaDfrn2xz-hlVIQaOH_0WfQ2fpVhyphenhyphenm0idOV1LuRuNcSgXZk/s1600-h/11+June+09+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZYTKJ-C3cWM2-PLU7yiaGIkjiWraB-YoZ662BauNLVLAPXaTUp0rfzE8pkdiCqlwOphW51vpdSCnxNAVR9Q9vwD126H1WCaDfrn2xz-hlVIQaOH_0WfQ2fpVhyphenhyphenm0idOV1LuRuNcSgXZk/s320/11+June+09+021.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mute swan</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzBW3KFqE243hE-iPtLOiM0wS_bjZBleFa5iIRCiFhU9hajy84f8-1c3e_kat-vSuZoaFnlgTAhmnhkXRxWZKL7tGTtPwbWThunP7HQAaXn54EMEVitJumUHQrhWaCURQxxmhkoqRyUjZ/s1600-h/11+June+09+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzBW3KFqE243hE-iPtLOiM0wS_bjZBleFa5iIRCiFhU9hajy84f8-1c3e_kat-vSuZoaFnlgTAhmnhkXRxWZKL7tGTtPwbWThunP7HQAaXn54EMEVitJumUHQrhWaCURQxxmhkoqRyUjZ/s320/11+June+09+030.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tufted duck</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0erAy0_mNfkKqwtHjjJ8cZ4cYWFK3McSmWaJ0xtcNl1OFXT_s3JpLh-iLpjceqd64kTDLo9vguLeHI047L5a-NMoYEr8veK6ECRcAdclKdhYf6UIrVHzU_fMLjt6E_dU0kp1ipFLDGuoS/s1600-h/11+June+09+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0erAy0_mNfkKqwtHjjJ8cZ4cYWFK3McSmWaJ0xtcNl1OFXT_s3JpLh-iLpjceqd64kTDLo9vguLeHI047L5a-NMoYEr8veK6ECRcAdclKdhYf6UIrVHzU_fMLjt6E_dU0kp1ipFLDGuoS/s320/11+June+09+032.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">duck</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Oewe08CR1qRIxOcZKapZ5bOKGzqNWFEwZrOAJP11wWwibEfs0NPEvKqLwFYvuU72Ypn7H8vWF34o1mhlupguDEqnT5v1NGFT-iH_rEPKzbF_7qhYxW2pchodXTJ80-HV1drNUiN0mmd5/s1600-h/11+June+09+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Oewe08CR1qRIxOcZKapZ5bOKGzqNWFEwZrOAJP11wWwibEfs0NPEvKqLwFYvuU72Ypn7H8vWF34o1mhlupguDEqnT5v1NGFT-iH_rEPKzbF_7qhYxW2pchodXTJ80-HV1drNUiN0mmd5/s320/11+June+09+036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">common pochard</div><br />
Next up were the penguins.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3T2MgXfpB1bt8F_OHoYBRhXTmwo42NbUvAndv8qNifnSEEWQBbK4zsJ3gacvwJhR4fRaHcRkWLn9tdPAlXI7fYkWp_7h5DQN6DwXjkm7bROfsvrtJizBwkvfPWtYIRMci4N4VHvEZaTBn/s1600-h/11+June+09+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3T2MgXfpB1bt8F_OHoYBRhXTmwo42NbUvAndv8qNifnSEEWQBbK4zsJ3gacvwJhR4fRaHcRkWLn9tdPAlXI7fYkWp_7h5DQN6DwXjkm7bROfsvrtJizBwkvfPWtYIRMci4N4VHvEZaTBn/s320/11+June+09+039.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">entrance to the viewing gallery - cute!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue6W39XaZLY79tABJbIRsCGJs5Hfk87R1e3jTZlU_7AgdZl77FtACk8SMGQufOuOEkRS2CgTsZENkZiUOW5ozZBcbIjBksKSSa9169Q4AJ2cYl91KWTMMdbiAdq2YTQLamfB44DMj_NpP/s1600-h/11+June+09+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue6W39XaZLY79tABJbIRsCGJs5Hfk87R1e3jTZlU_7AgdZl77FtACk8SMGQufOuOEkRS2CgTsZENkZiUOW5ozZBcbIjBksKSSa9169Q4AJ2cYl91KWTMMdbiAdq2YTQLamfB44DMj_NpP/s320/11+June+09+044.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">silhouette of penguin in the water</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEcw32mJWVb6d5mD8N-ovMVYXXVwnoCKIj0S6r8MgbcMzXWEsAvoU9nU4ztj8AUmoB88zmOdewJijlk1I6zKqTIBh_6bDKjcCISAlaufpxznwbRnzFahu3tL8PFJPjNTKu7teD-UKCv1j/s1600-h/11+June+09+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEcw32mJWVb6d5mD8N-ovMVYXXVwnoCKIj0S6r8MgbcMzXWEsAvoU9nU4ztj8AUmoB88zmOdewJijlk1I6zKqTIBh_6bDKjcCISAlaufpxznwbRnzFahu3tL8PFJPjNTKu7teD-UKCv1j/s320/11+June+09+052.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a timely reminder</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0tJld-YiuVsVZ4pKRg4KpOfQujggBFcyJRoCJQzno8Qr8cDqa8Mjddddz7Zh5v3FeE5JVEcczvu1WEvW2NBd523qm917oWMWp378cRl4mFiQSmQRxxVPji4jXrUIoKkraPd1Bf-WGeUG/s1600-h/11+June+09+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0tJld-YiuVsVZ4pKRg4KpOfQujggBFcyJRoCJQzno8Qr8cDqa8Mjddddz7Zh5v3FeE5JVEcczvu1WEvW2NBd523qm917oWMWp378cRl4mFiQSmQRxxVPji4jXrUIoKkraPd1Bf-WGeUG/s320/11+June+09+053.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the four types of penguins on display</div><br />
Then we went out to the open-air viewing area.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNGoxRsNQZTv6gndYe_mWWOKu_b04DbGZt2cmJfhSwKEmEB2-8v-ic1dlYvs5qwElJjObANQimB8C4_8yOvazt4-Xou357vZO_s7cFs9Hds36dUvv8lAU4B2mzmF8IQysNSi3_4axmr06/s1600-h/11+June+09+069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNGoxRsNQZTv6gndYe_mWWOKu_b04DbGZt2cmJfhSwKEmEB2-8v-ic1dlYvs5qwElJjObANQimB8C4_8yOvazt4-Xou357vZO_s7cFs9Hds36dUvv8lAU4B2mzmF8IQysNSi3_4axmr06/s320/11+June+09+069.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"wow, people are so strange!"</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtx60tvbmCUC9YNaF23saFCDooR70uu6a9gKfRoe-fXcedKvPHbnDXFbf_oKgTQvm5hotjAlza4ddbnEN2v0_ZiyEn7_VrA2Gkmsf4X7Lqm0B0l8kQ0qVLfVSjdTN_flaEAKCJnzdmNIEj/s1600-h/11+June+09+072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtx60tvbmCUC9YNaF23saFCDooR70uu6a9gKfRoe-fXcedKvPHbnDXFbf_oKgTQvm5hotjAlza4ddbnEN2v0_ZiyEn7_VrA2Gkmsf4X7Lqm0B0l8kQ0qVLfVSjdTN_flaEAKCJnzdmNIEj/s320/11+June+09+072.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"alright, let's all air our armpits!"</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxT71lWvQg-cs7oLNKbD04gngpQOAXZzGB1kTEx6qsylxXjegRKzJGbxj9BId6-vZ3JF-YAO1MFTKbAV_77w7hCycCpEukT51nON-iwMHRki3sFXOr3z84AFEYdpTvNcmHhkRy2TVE5d5/s1600-h/11+June+09+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxT71lWvQg-cs7oLNKbD04gngpQOAXZzGB1kTEx6qsylxXjegRKzJGbxj9BId6-vZ3JF-YAO1MFTKbAV_77w7hCycCpEukT51nON-iwMHRki3sFXOr3z84AFEYdpTvNcmHhkRy2TVE5d5/s320/11+June+09+073.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Ok, ok, so I'm moulting... Big deal..."</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPGHzS1iUzQZT3JbNsFYjkfhV0x690l4mUyjqRByh80UTShPrikSQeSKg2ff3-AScEEDj-64kDFe9V0h2xgyRnpMTKyI2XdRJNzJekTMwynFsOnYQDZozHpjOvHKpSNJj325a51-3Rq-N/s1600-h/11+June+09+075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPGHzS1iUzQZT3JbNsFYjkfhV0x690l4mUyjqRByh80UTShPrikSQeSKg2ff3-AScEEDj-64kDFe9V0h2xgyRnpMTKyI2XdRJNzJekTMwynFsOnYQDZozHpjOvHKpSNJj325a51-3Rq-N/s320/11+June+09+075.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we were lucky to catch the feeding session</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURfMsF5D11Oa8fHyxRTeRVWXIo3hyBJlTng96q82Lqfv1KHggqWaZwSCbqK4G1uJGes-eBztXiH9h9QudyM0H9air0Ya-hEeDvwo-w62rETLwhEkU08xfxzAdnTSUi1gEb0w_LqsJDp8l/s1600-h/11+June+09+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURfMsF5D11Oa8fHyxRTeRVWXIo3hyBJlTng96q82Lqfv1KHggqWaZwSCbqK4G1uJGes-eBztXiH9h9QudyM0H9air0Ya-hEeDvwo-w62rETLwhEkU08xfxzAdnTSUi1gEb0w_LqsJDp8l/s320/11+June+09+081.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Oooff... Gotta lose some weight..."</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8lRnAvu9LOeajrzo1hjDE2Ok5lwprG9IFJS7ZK_WWlW25Ou7t8Xed0WsIFEP6X9qjAHPDi4oWTrbLyWNPfs3V6MV-epXlIj5ErQddmy_9XRjUroYEuemwGcMDawKyZxSCP5A8xUf1Zt6/s1600-h/11+June+09+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8lRnAvu9LOeajrzo1hjDE2Ok5lwprG9IFJS7ZK_WWlW25Ou7t8Xed0WsIFEP6X9qjAHPDi4oWTrbLyWNPfs3V6MV-epXlIj5ErQddmy_9XRjUroYEuemwGcMDawKyZxSCP5A8xUf1Zt6/s320/11+June+09+083.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"And now, introducing our latest penguin star!"</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn8eqNMPoUMCqSunfxk11mEf3798Gbh5bB-_a2F2Bu9eYY_l3qyH98iggl4oojKe3bNsfEfleRrE5gYs5UbqCgfWiN94bKsM_xWvQxDTHRsmvx3k0-UXNHjKfB6P_QO5G8OQWo9FaUAbp/s1600-h/11+June+09+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn8eqNMPoUMCqSunfxk11mEf3798Gbh5bB-_a2F2Bu9eYY_l3qyH98iggl4oojKe3bNsfEfleRrE5gYs5UbqCgfWiN94bKsM_xWvQxDTHRsmvx3k0-UXNHjKfB6P_QO5G8OQWo9FaUAbp/s320/11+June+09+085.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"What... What... What..."</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv7VES9rgUnvo7vheOO6XCxvk9r6BCHeimglNQeVW2KHqGmuZqQuORQGQpp142Xbzddu9Jj9iuUrsKa_AboaWjbnEnizc3YsQB3lx4CzRfjj4mmV3kP8t2oDud3deZDqTxXCKG9Tpsks-/s1600-h/11+June+09+090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiv7VES9rgUnvo7vheOO6XCxvk9r6BCHeimglNQeVW2KHqGmuZqQuORQGQpp142Xbzddu9Jj9iuUrsKa_AboaWjbnEnizc3YsQB3lx4CzRfjj4mmV3kP8t2oDud3deZDqTxXCKG9Tpsks-/s320/11+June+09+090.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Do I look better from the left or from the right?"</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0z-UpakXT8Qpl40Ayn6eT85_oZUfIBmN0RerP4tBGnCvtQxil7pdm2LjXnHbKsZP-hWrryraqxYeL5nnu3dPGl-ljetnSUGntgS9yNRJYVuakioRqXk2dkBYLHT-Z1xpKgwgJkLMgcts/s1600-h/11+June+09+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0z-UpakXT8Qpl40Ayn6eT85_oZUfIBmN0RerP4tBGnCvtQxil7pdm2LjXnHbKsZP-hWrryraqxYeL5nnu3dPGl-ljetnSUGntgS9yNRJYVuakioRqXk2dkBYLHT-Z1xpKgwgJkLMgcts/s320/11+June+09+107.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">there was an intruder</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMfkvCcz4txNE53xipuVIhdkSBXeZ3l8GKMISMqTOrRXPP5wnD01wNVrNFd-qI3lJZZq2utBeiIn_IgOZrNvWgLU5gyFpfOwNQRPJzaCWHN8Rmrzna4PQYihOjYB8-nU3B3AGNi9JR1oE/s1600-h/11+June+09+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMfkvCcz4txNE53xipuVIhdkSBXeZ3l8GKMISMqTOrRXPP5wnD01wNVrNFd-qI3lJZZq2utBeiIn_IgOZrNvWgLU5gyFpfOwNQRPJzaCWHN8Rmrzna4PQYihOjYB8-nU3B3AGNi9JR1oE/s320/11+June+09+114.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this poor raptor - a white-tailed sea eagle, I believe - was bound to a stand</div><br />
The other big star of the zoo was the polar bear.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqBP6QLe2VzjzWvIKiTGlZXQ6wQFge9ahXjGFd3IdPq_ZKti6jcyVKT8rq8-UZq8__2UEFKoLsD4LgzrB-Ac0vMG4-utSCnIpgqzyR6Cq3Ij9BaGz2ohseD901UUl7f6DC4SiokpU2OdV/s1600-h/11+June+09+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqBP6QLe2VzjzWvIKiTGlZXQ6wQFge9ahXjGFd3IdPq_ZKti6jcyVKT8rq8-UZq8__2UEFKoLsD4LgzrB-Ac0vMG4-utSCnIpgqzyR6Cq3Ij9BaGz2ohseD901UUl7f6DC4SiokpU2OdV/s320/11+June+09+116.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">all squashed in the viewing gallery for a glimpse of the feeding session</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAzEHjAVKLgVZCLFFBtZy1vZ50ZQ0Fu7-tIxdQvSnIDmSTD75OpnQqMXYDQmuxLdUfRKtac9Wx5wi3VC0HgwFdlfWMKQibaEQ3JSsSHlK0hiLwgjJBiP6FFRt-NRstaLTg3FPw8PCeq8_/s1600-h/11+June+09+123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAzEHjAVKLgVZCLFFBtZy1vZ50ZQ0Fu7-tIxdQvSnIDmSTD75OpnQqMXYDQmuxLdUfRKtac9Wx5wi3VC0HgwFdlfWMKQibaEQ3JSsSHlK0hiLwgjJBiP6FFRt-NRstaLTg3FPw8PCeq8_/s320/11+June+09+123.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the poor man holding up a "please do not use a flash" sign</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9hnQ4yn5uuQ1EruQQ4OBGb3NIf880qyX8lO8LJfMrjPxFm7ML_xDQ0qvY0-4QhusO5JTNkMPzGKbwWiSTEj_hCN4fbOjBNNkCh3EQOot4aMs0rJSUaLlNl-mcucigb7mOQtmPjz-n5uA/s1600-h/11+June+09+133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9hnQ4yn5uuQ1EruQQ4OBGb3NIf880qyX8lO8LJfMrjPxFm7ML_xDQ0qvY0-4QhusO5JTNkMPzGKbwWiSTEj_hCN4fbOjBNNkCh3EQOot4aMs0rJSUaLlNl-mcucigb7mOQtmPjz-n5uA/s320/11+June+09+133.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">scarfing down his lunch</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz2q9a-RQqFVEoaPCqTqdOjcn1E3kZ1Sc61coUUNqLAPtjM9X91TPWVEcJ0vSMi_ru0bDukjdJn89NrKWK_fonnnReI-0FRUC06_q9U7GgNdyRyAYZiKTRAyEJaBjbbGKeHdm5uE9TjPK/s1600-h/11+June+09+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz2q9a-RQqFVEoaPCqTqdOjcn1E3kZ1Sc61coUUNqLAPtjM9X91TPWVEcJ0vSMi_ru0bDukjdJn89NrKWK_fonnnReI-0FRUC06_q9U7GgNdyRyAYZiKTRAyEJaBjbbGKeHdm5uE9TjPK/s320/11+June+09+135.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">it was really crowded in there, so we were quite pleased indeed to see this</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxzaeUksgevcOq2AMylt33hDJhhZkIPjO3GHv6W1WMB9nPlwFzwXUCncuSEAxF4ygl0rom4_KiDwOFXa2EKmfpyPiBj4b0yulnTx1oHSmRSOIs_63Ep58pj6S5IZ3QDdW808OxdtYQzOe/s1600-h/11+June+09+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxzaeUksgevcOq2AMylt33hDJhhZkIPjO3GHv6W1WMB9nPlwFzwXUCncuSEAxF4ygl0rom4_KiDwOFXa2EKmfpyPiBj4b0yulnTx1oHSmRSOIs_63Ep58pj6S5IZ3QDdW808OxdtYQzOe/s320/11+June+09+136.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">after-lunch stupor</div><br />
I have to say it was nice to see polar bears with white fur, not like the slightly green ones we get at home, no thanks to fungal growth.<br />
<br />
Other than the penguins and the polar bears, we focused on the animals of Hokkaido and the northern hemisphere, and gave the tropical animals like the lions and elephants a miss.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4mHQdx78eMtKvzy3MqQWI0LwicAOH8L-5enRs9jimxBQzGHZfKtU1P8cevGDj4igbWf-qqKFcq9JXjILwFpEythL1DwiabeX7L1AQz4mSpLSOAGX1M0m3L1G-ahZPXwwEbNvbQSi2ald/s1600-h/11+June+09+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4mHQdx78eMtKvzy3MqQWI0LwicAOH8L-5enRs9jimxBQzGHZfKtU1P8cevGDj4igbWf-qqKFcq9JXjILwFpEythL1DwiabeX7L1AQz4mSpLSOAGX1M0m3L1G-ahZPXwwEbNvbQSi2ald/s320/11+June+09+141.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a lesser panda</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6xrax_01tbJtEFdfPRDb5f1ltGg7E2210EN-ojC9clqE7dtmJNj_VvsvjsO8mtsX7UwT4j9U0_Imq0VjKY6rx0MfidoaQ4jh8BJwxY0bioy9qQvpkKXXD3RTqPfPty5q8EnHnC2ya6cn/s1600-h/11+June+09+158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6xrax_01tbJtEFdfPRDb5f1ltGg7E2210EN-ojC9clqE7dtmJNj_VvsvjsO8mtsX7UwT4j9U0_Imq0VjKY6rx0MfidoaQ4jh8BJwxY0bioy9qQvpkKXXD3RTqPfPty5q8EnHnC2ya6cn/s320/11+June+09+158.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a wolf</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2bp2EeMxjwd69cKUlff9SCn4phLPF3zXxRMspukRpfLLiDyokeCGNDmjx0BQrgKZKsAZeUaxKA8bCjx5mKSEpBqtpzqin42magOacJAds4nbQOU_civLhZd11GNNG5t3FTUOolKahhkU/s1600-h/11+June+09+160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2bp2EeMxjwd69cKUlff9SCn4phLPF3zXxRMspukRpfLLiDyokeCGNDmjx0BQrgKZKsAZeUaxKA8bCjx5mKSEpBqtpzqin42magOacJAds4nbQOU_civLhZd11GNNG5t3FTUOolKahhkU/s320/11+June+09+160.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ezo deer</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9nQfYXhMXtAtwiBt1eXRhyLZOMBnsZ70Qhenz2ijRbNf2290fouUzOpWIbcUu4aSz1oPNbBiTv8w04Demt4dwmZ7fZIpL16dlm5wVAc4oGYX_FnlnHZ3tZhipk4KC67yt0d_mBUYGwgM/s1600-h/11+June+09+168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9nQfYXhMXtAtwiBt1eXRhyLZOMBnsZ70Qhenz2ijRbNf2290fouUzOpWIbcUu4aSz1oPNbBiTv8w04Demt4dwmZ7fZIpL16dlm5wVAc4oGYX_FnlnHZ3tZhipk4KC67yt0d_mBUYGwgM/s320/11+June+09+168.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a snowy owl</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjivHmMHEVlnqTZAcw1TPSlL-yJh_mqx81Tn63ChUXZLoFYRUVmbjad0wD94LYQm64P0cu-eGj6OnJ0ckO4wE94Vj67Qk5CKTF8u1hrj-I22JNUKtTceZlScJwdbmqGLgGW2lJxdtLu0EA/s1600-h/11+June+09+169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjivHmMHEVlnqTZAcw1TPSlL-yJh_mqx81Tn63ChUXZLoFYRUVmbjad0wD94LYQm64P0cu-eGj6OnJ0ckO4wE94Vj67Qk5CKTF8u1hrj-I22JNUKtTceZlScJwdbmqGLgGW2lJxdtLu0EA/s320/11+June+09+169.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Japanese macaques</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m6SmJEdfusniamZR2wH8WoILx3dmQEObvmg3S-4qdv05ErRPOiLP1qXyoan5fk4yCOjKO6kImJ-i0beMnomE3spyukU5i5XEadM6q36u4PacX9AoMy3Z2e2ki74pnsdrFtJq4nu90MFf/s1600-h/11+June+09+171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0m6SmJEdfusniamZR2wH8WoILx3dmQEObvmg3S-4qdv05ErRPOiLP1qXyoan5fk4yCOjKO6kImJ-i0beMnomE3spyukU5i5XEadM6q36u4PacX9AoMy3Z2e2ki74pnsdrFtJq4nu90MFf/s320/11+June+09+171.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Japanese macaques</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uv_v_8OM8Of77pgpbCNqntXEObJmRO4uq7smRrF9Gtno-DQhl5jc9a7DexFploK80J8Xhzwoqm1jM3zPtfB6ScFPTad3EOGm_7NgJD_qbuvUROwhPXQ-gz5TxwnGQoYyh5ck5Y-V2gG8/s1600-h/11+June+09+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uv_v_8OM8Of77pgpbCNqntXEObJmRO4uq7smRrF9Gtno-DQhl5jc9a7DexFploK80J8Xhzwoqm1jM3zPtfB6ScFPTad3EOGm_7NgJD_qbuvUROwhPXQ-gz5TxwnGQoYyh5ck5Y-V2gG8/s320/11+June+09+174.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Japanese macaques</div><br />
At some point, we needed a snack to keep our internal furnaces burning in the cold...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzykuEYU6A5iIKzPX9NTmkr_huHgUohsbJ2RCQULy3mdz7U7Znlvl4JQlKPibu1MpRNTOj6udsMEmmaMtnyU0h40-BInDu5EKedTLacX1P7NFyrENx8A9oXVW0xr5nhyphenhyphenvQLDRwzZzkcpMW/s1600-h/11+June+09+177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzykuEYU6A5iIKzPX9NTmkr_huHgUohsbJ2RCQULy3mdz7U7Znlvl4JQlKPibu1MpRNTOj6udsMEmmaMtnyU0h40-BInDu5EKedTLacX1P7NFyrENx8A9oXVW0xr5nhyphenhyphenvQLDRwzZzkcpMW/s320/11+June+09+177.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">more Hokkaido milk and a hot dog</div><br />
... and a toilet break of course.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU93QpKAr9CIizC8FjLBQEUK2sjc5fSZs6r28fb7eiwsm1JHVscJCZFUFXPl0sFReNrd7T8xrArvFKfbSRy6Zvx5pProDZVVqCBoerAP3jpMiz41LIeggkgeicuz_AZ3ZbTeU1LFQ3pFAS/s1600-h/11+June+09+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU93QpKAr9CIizC8FjLBQEUK2sjc5fSZs6r28fb7eiwsm1JHVscJCZFUFXPl0sFReNrd7T8xrArvFKfbSRy6Zvx5pProDZVVqCBoerAP3jpMiz41LIeggkgeicuz_AZ3ZbTeU1LFQ3pFAS/s320/11+June+09+150.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hehe only for boy bears</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFFbiNVfg7oFAbFLTxN6APWWbMU6CPxASdGoFOUTiNVxoRUAnsdCJgEeGDpn-6aC-e2nlIxaryd393WrvLJ_sIgti1bMdHThVUytX7Rjv-T2pJZlcw4BgHFAc42GXbX9JOTv8W3ntNiSZ/s1600-h/11+June+09+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFFbiNVfg7oFAbFLTxN6APWWbMU6CPxASdGoFOUTiNVxoRUAnsdCJgEeGDpn-6aC-e2nlIxaryd393WrvLJ_sIgti1bMdHThVUytX7Rjv-T2pJZlcw4BgHFAc42GXbX9JOTv8W3ntNiSZ/s320/11+June+09+151.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">only for girl bunnies</div><br />
Then we couldn't resist dropping by the petting zoo.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoQO__vPoFS1BZTovTTKvOPtoqsR-cSjCwmo6f-jrN-txWSYi7TpN9J19akd3zV6AylrL4VNn-XK3CekrEjgPMSwvbZQphdL5dD6B3k7qnpto_hfj2VI6o47QYjs0s1v-Qx4s6u_UVvOD/s1600-h/11+June+09+179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoQO__vPoFS1BZTovTTKvOPtoqsR-cSjCwmo6f-jrN-txWSYi7TpN9J19akd3zV6AylrL4VNn-XK3CekrEjgPMSwvbZQphdL5dD6B3k7qnpto_hfj2VI6o47QYjs0s1v-Qx4s6u_UVvOD/s320/11+June+09+179.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">domestic ducks</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64UuKSkYVShe4K0YkzaKEamfMH_eCn89bXTXQXfnHuzWdfiNEZXiODafNttlWsN8nHqEzPGrezpMNBanwnRSpLV9RVqWPmlCBEc4cDVY9yg7Qwj0KkZPlJqNECp8RKOfmnCTTWS8frAPA/s1600-h/11+June+09+191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64UuKSkYVShe4K0YkzaKEamfMH_eCn89bXTXQXfnHuzWdfiNEZXiODafNttlWsN8nHqEzPGrezpMNBanwnRSpLV9RVqWPmlCBEc4cDVY9yg7Qwj0KkZPlJqNECp8RKOfmnCTTWS8frAPA/s320/11+June+09+191.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">domestic ducks</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxzbmSzZQJbzfQSg0gSbI_bC6bOz7_-qie5KScfsjw7M2ou3RpyphqR4CwjRvx5stVhkxpI-l4ByLvDs4c8B2MK9usImp7jjqlM-4CG_neA9_VTRcqxS25g1zzW1n72pDA52xM8qTUQLa/s1600-h/11+June+09+204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxzbmSzZQJbzfQSg0gSbI_bC6bOz7_-qie5KScfsjw7M2ou3RpyphqR4CwjRvx5stVhkxpI-l4ByLvDs4c8B2MK9usImp7jjqlM-4CG_neA9_VTRcqxS25g1zzW1n72pDA52xM8qTUQLa/s320/11+June+09+204.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">kiddy introducing herself to domestic ducks</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeubNUpiLVBOuPoRdh6xjs9ETr5sTgL3Mc_7yBd4qMZXgs_5dUMJKDdCCvUbYgwZRVmEfMb8bPbDk-4ngGlFYpUO0HPxNV4-ybMUmGHJtY5d286dBHvgCwByCwq99RH4EbqumXV-01cPk/s1600-h/11+June+09+187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeubNUpiLVBOuPoRdh6xjs9ETr5sTgL3Mc_7yBd4qMZXgs_5dUMJKDdCCvUbYgwZRVmEfMb8bPbDk-4ngGlFYpUO0HPxNV4-ybMUmGHJtY5d286dBHvgCwByCwq99RH4EbqumXV-01cPk/s320/11+June+09+187.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">bunnies!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsywpyXzhlyN5ZMf4L3rU3wo0CN-v8hQpVeDi2vPmooFOUxqmfOBJIgMiO4uXh1Qqbut9ygx8tatXiPi33kueH0thSYPM_046nU4AhyX_NUd-5QDC_TCTNIt0r8TGyL4OD3cHJNf8posK9/s1600-h/11+June+09+194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsywpyXzhlyN5ZMf4L3rU3wo0CN-v8hQpVeDi2vPmooFOUxqmfOBJIgMiO4uXh1Qqbut9ygx8tatXiPi33kueH0thSYPM_046nU4AhyX_NUd-5QDC_TCTNIt0r8TGyL4OD3cHJNf8posK9/s320/11+June+09+194.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">guinea pigs</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaWCUgwZLfwFXceKepV3FAdAow99dT_uI96WVEYa24q5_afU_V-FXYnfPyWt1RLrTQxyZ9PjDuADmJhP6cV_gQAPsRDX6mdTMKo0hoQWLRQVLbmqogw1NRoYzBijK-Zi7YBX8_ENAixyB/s1600-h/11+June+09+197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaWCUgwZLfwFXceKepV3FAdAow99dT_uI96WVEYa24q5_afU_V-FXYnfPyWt1RLrTQxyZ9PjDuADmJhP6cV_gQAPsRDX6mdTMKo0hoQWLRQVLbmqogw1NRoYzBijK-Zi7YBX8_ENAixyB/s320/11+June+09+197.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hey doesn't that look like Hutch from Curse of the Were-rabbit?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04heOcQpv8_Hz14pSM1Vni-_GDB1v7Gw2GNi4IsitoPeu9c7U8aoaEzXDKUw8lpQxGPDf6qHrQ9UEFLIZuzmfx6InJBjPeXkHaW8tOJnYdmdTitexmKudcN_agKNWLdMPeHB3x5q8bIBR/s1600-h/11+June+09+202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04heOcQpv8_Hz14pSM1Vni-_GDB1v7Gw2GNi4IsitoPeu9c7U8aoaEzXDKUw8lpQxGPDf6qHrQ9UEFLIZuzmfx6InJBjPeXkHaW8tOJnYdmdTitexmKudcN_agKNWLdMPeHB3x5q8bIBR/s320/11+June+09+202.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">no, probably not part of the petting zoo per se</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI6DZKcN4UBmhonEH9R9Rys7liqSN-5cLLqO8_bze695nynjfWHJxSL7snNc40rU8g90wkcmPQ2JxnLffkC8PfCPibDOZFC1RfzIOhyJVPgIpgrdL2wSCUeuXykQg4BH801AthuAYBLKN/s1600-h/11+June+09+205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI6DZKcN4UBmhonEH9R9Rys7liqSN-5cLLqO8_bze695nynjfWHJxSL7snNc40rU8g90wkcmPQ2JxnLffkC8PfCPibDOZFC1RfzIOhyJVPgIpgrdL2wSCUeuXykQg4BH801AthuAYBLKN/s320/11+June+09+205.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a goat</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPfk4oWfPQQ1y4Bt7n3wrdZ92UdOtzHOgflr1nI1Dlvgq6Y2Ot_C8PckY7B6dXBadqkK12OoTQ6ZUwkgI13DJk9yPSLghKzJhd7TiuHAq2lY_QIYm3alLb1IXn5PubJZcww0isf6454lh/s1600-h/11+June+09+208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPfk4oWfPQQ1y4Bt7n3wrdZ92UdOtzHOgflr1nI1Dlvgq6Y2Ot_C8PckY7B6dXBadqkK12OoTQ6ZUwkgI13DJk9yPSLghKzJhd7TiuHAq2lY_QIYm3alLb1IXn5PubJZcww0isf6454lh/s320/11+June+09+208.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a sheep</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Xb6jww2e431zUWLq2lNQJZ-k4-bePg96MWM1qQF189I37l4w9wsK-Q-2utfx-KXtHz1SM1w-W0SPaqb3Jo3Vj49hYIT90X2HL6nFohz0Um6qrGWCU5aqbjBpZe3VVP5A-zpI7MiZt-m7/s1600-h/11+June+09+209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Xb6jww2e431zUWLq2lNQJZ-k4-bePg96MWM1qQF189I37l4w9wsK-Q-2utfx-KXtHz1SM1w-W0SPaqb3Jo3Vj49hYIT90X2HL6nFohz0Um6qrGWCU5aqbjBpZe3VVP5A-zpI7MiZt-m7/s320/11+June+09+209.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not an exhibit either but really hello kitty boxer shorts are kinda hard to ignore</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M1LJsLU07I4v_Wrc0dY1VxMBLweh-WT-u7i3bI9fS6mApVGg7EQwnEdQnOFzUODe_zNdZ3XeUKCCqEDwtVXNl97Ny70u5FJ4J8xzM6GuBjiOWmGCFuNH3UJZq0vkmyEqLova5nuVv-Wm/s1600-h/11+June+09+210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M1LJsLU07I4v_Wrc0dY1VxMBLweh-WT-u7i3bI9fS6mApVGg7EQwnEdQnOFzUODe_zNdZ3XeUKCCqEDwtVXNl97Ny70u5FJ4J8xzM6GuBjiOWmGCFuNH3UJZq0vkmyEqLova5nuVv-Wm/s320/11+June+09+210.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mini-horsies</div><br />
By this time, we were in need of a hot meal and so we decided to leave. It was a good thing we did. Back at the train station, we dropped by the Tourist Information Centre to ask for a good lunch recommendation. The English-speaking officer on duty, no doubt excited at having someone to practise his spoken English on, insisted on helping us with our travel arrangements, even though we did not in fact ask for any help with that! He went to great lengths to explain which bus to take (bus no. 66 from outside the station - we already knew that) and dug around for a bus schedule. To our shock, the timings for the bus were a whole hour earlier than what we had been told at the Biei Tourist Information Centre. Imagine if we hadn't returned from the zoo early. We might have missed the last bus for the day and not made it to Asahidake Onsen for the night, not without incurring a massive taxi fare anyway. Phew, that was a close call.<br />
<br />
Abandoning all thought of a good place for lunch, we just popped into an eatery at the train station itself and had ourselves a set with...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo87ic9jU5EZTWyEhNoufJhyFu9jd1AOPy-WjtytFDOHcsFvRLoGtqJ2KnAA8_sRGNtIgAbnBLtj_pmW9QYVmf1OgI8-yK_G6-Q0rhhlz58DxDzmySi_rObuWEhPRzhyphenhyphenU18LA6sSvfF3Hw/s1600-h/11+June+09+212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo87ic9jU5EZTWyEhNoufJhyFu9jd1AOPy-WjtytFDOHcsFvRLoGtqJ2KnAA8_sRGNtIgAbnBLtj_pmW9QYVmf1OgI8-yK_G6-Q0rhhlz58DxDzmySi_rObuWEhPRzhyphenhyphenU18LA6sSvfF3Hw/s320/11+June+09+212.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a <i>gyu don</i> (beef bowl) and</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx52wr1En6gBiCK2JMirbmpMe6s_XvZsfXqYxHAS_KWrsarRT-QdZcUvnsNf8ZxWjjKnjO9wvYyTodbHTuJmOmccSLRRLfgRctwIdAv01jAQWmniew9hHkey7u2bMzkr082YDIO7lKdjH9/s1600-h/11+June+09+213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx52wr1En6gBiCK2JMirbmpMe6s_XvZsfXqYxHAS_KWrsarRT-QdZcUvnsNf8ZxWjjKnjO9wvYyTodbHTuJmOmccSLRRLfgRctwIdAv01jAQWmniew9hHkey7u2bMzkr082YDIO7lKdjH9/s320/11+June+09+213.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and a bowl of Asahikawa <i>shoyu ramen.</i></div><br />
It was a bit of a rush but we caught the bus without further incident. The ride cost 1320¥ (SGD$21.12) per person.<br />
<br />
When we arrived at Asahidake Onsen, it was raining. What was it with onsens and the rain?! We had to stop and ask a friendly <i>obaasan</i> for directions but we made it through the rain. Finally, we were out of the wet and cold and in a nice hotel.<br />
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The Asahidake Bearmonte looked every bit as posh as we had been told. Once again, it wasn't a traditional ryokan. It was a large ryokan hotel, like the Shirogane Kankou, but certainly more upmarket, newer and more classy.<br />
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When checking in, we asked to see Mr Watanabe. When he emerged from the office, HM giggled - Mr Watanabe had Koizumi hair. We conveyed Mr Matsuda's regards as requested.<br />
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Our room was very pleasing to the eye.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXkpA3wDf8WkRt3kdVziVMz2l1uPpCZE6nOEJiw1nh8IbAoH5r-2pibs8qfsE-GVoHLl8s4xnrMt61LluV71NbTMYItZTzKBhfO_e31Gb72C0dR_ECVO-mi01Jh4JgQ33fxna0FNmzSAd/s1600-h/11+June+09+214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXkpA3wDf8WkRt3kdVziVMz2l1uPpCZE6nOEJiw1nh8IbAoH5r-2pibs8qfsE-GVoHLl8s4xnrMt61LluV71NbTMYItZTzKBhfO_e31Gb72C0dR_ECVO-mi01Jh4JgQ33fxna0FNmzSAd/s320/11+June+09+214.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">clean lines</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtyZI9h0_97xfNkUQbxQDUDsgnQoGgBcCe_GrhTqrSjNSX1aE4oEjSJBjGOXhLBQGbtFOI2OA5XMQdy_0QL-hRyU94ksYO-KjladIS2TU6ITKSXjbDIPh_Wqm3oAADqwBmjBmeueAgZIa/s1600-h/11+June+09+216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtyZI9h0_97xfNkUQbxQDUDsgnQoGgBcCe_GrhTqrSjNSX1aE4oEjSJBjGOXhLBQGbtFOI2OA5XMQdy_0QL-hRyU94ksYO-KjladIS2TU6ITKSXjbDIPh_Wqm3oAADqwBmjBmeueAgZIa/s320/11+June+09+216.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">standard toilet cubicle</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfwucjT4qKxZ_yI4IMpqe9dPUit29BcpLzJE5UiAWZ23FnTZ_A3kNsJJCHXdmRGK9feMvgXovztC0uz0ehvoUgNZKIa97QSk2FAYv7YRABj0mobUu75egxzRmRM8iZG0CRmzwJ20IIbfa/s1600-h/11+June+09+217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfwucjT4qKxZ_yI4IMpqe9dPUit29BcpLzJE5UiAWZ23FnTZ_A3kNsJJCHXdmRGK9feMvgXovztC0uz0ehvoUgNZKIa97QSk2FAYv7YRABj0mobUu75egxzRmRM8iZG0CRmzwJ20IIbfa/s320/11+June+09+217.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">standard bathroom cubicle</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi05bM7g3jNmKYlz07w2lh_aeh8SUmQotIAkYltSJAm6-VJVus-ucd4eMVBJfF9XeCLM6DIe3nDMbc7rAQ-yQ6qqkSsQS5Dn_VPWOf835Anax2Dn8WI7faqMGdwYTCHQHHUFPofSYCwssy/s1600-h/11+June+09+220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi05bM7g3jNmKYlz07w2lh_aeh8SUmQotIAkYltSJAm6-VJVus-ucd4eMVBJfF9XeCLM6DIe3nDMbc7rAQ-yQ6qqkSsQS5Dn_VPWOf835Anax2Dn8WI7faqMGdwYTCHQHHUFPofSYCwssy/s320/11+June+09+220.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the in-room tea set</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBLtx7bDdgx6N8li0mhvN46Pttx-CzAgIn8Z4EJahigDQeIc1i-77tBe8jfM1iVwOM-CKKOpe7y9FXYHADsuGNdFWLHk1Cr8KFDQO2lfXRGW_jFen-sQer6eeT1ENZMMdY0rtbLCWWl5e/s1600-h/11+June+09+219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBLtx7bDdgx6N8li0mhvN46Pttx-CzAgIn8Z4EJahigDQeIc1i-77tBe8jfM1iVwOM-CKKOpe7y9FXYHADsuGNdFWLHk1Cr8KFDQO2lfXRGW_jFen-sQer6eeT1ENZMMdY0rtbLCWWl5e/s320/11+June+09+219.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our view</div><br />
We couldn't believe our eyes - was that snow in June?! It was still light out so we had to go out and have a look.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4F-pdHz02y12-5Xx0vdR5LhZoHnYZxksbdixgWy2B1iaviiLT-cQO-0-we1-c588fvEE5qjWMY_tKEbmkAGEi1iUrKTa2IScNbTYMx_SJw63HS8LSzhQ9jz1mchByXEdTe83AbGWI1_8/s1600-h/11+June+09+222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4F-pdHz02y12-5Xx0vdR5LhZoHnYZxksbdixgWy2B1iaviiLT-cQO-0-we1-c588fvEE5qjWMY_tKEbmkAGEi1iUrKTa2IScNbTYMx_SJw63HS8LSzhQ9jz1mchByXEdTe83AbGWI1_8/s320/11+June+09+222.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the lift lobby</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7il1s5iYI5w3UdbVV5B_ax0jObtYr7EWb-Y4YBx8x2Yy6I5KV43Zcatp8BgyFlKFzlHc4F-7SZyk1V3D38sYEqx1_EwcR6hAu-wKcFQqhSRBeNBr3opEjTcPiV-GABVZro8TfaxAP83wc/s1600-h/11+June+09+224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7il1s5iYI5w3UdbVV5B_ax0jObtYr7EWb-Y4YBx8x2Yy6I5KV43Zcatp8BgyFlKFzlHc4F-7SZyk1V3D38sYEqx1_EwcR6hAu-wKcFQqhSRBeNBr3opEjTcPiV-GABVZro8TfaxAP83wc/s320/11+June+09+224.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a quick look down our corridor</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8bgSiYE8Aai5pyjpenUiEl0KoZ9PIFRWaLNAyOu4DnM2TW3xB_HsrxgyIF4bGJ5jV74h99J8ee5N5NGb6fA3B7BGZ2C7D3ygD6ukikMrT8XJTwIRv05fzOsoXsSlElNpVEkDUFtQMlhy/s1600-h/11+June+09+230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8bgSiYE8Aai5pyjpenUiEl0KoZ9PIFRWaLNAyOu4DnM2TW3xB_HsrxgyIF4bGJ5jV74h99J8ee5N5NGb6fA3B7BGZ2C7D3ygD6ukikMrT8XJTwIRv05fzOsoXsSlElNpVEkDUFtQMlhy/s320/11+June+09+230.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">uh huh it was indeed the last of the snow!</div><br />
We noticed the Asahidake Visitors' Centre across the road and dropped in to find out more about the trails. We were left in no doubt that this was snow country.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IQ17t5N7tAg5gffRYIJBT9klyJlQoGjLK408JUwjf-oEM5Dqt55-hGarPQqKDHazKwRWtRU7FwSuVui0njnShtcim_5X3JzJTxxrEgw_ILtPOaOJPlZkvkI1cIGpov1qxjhXF7mrfmoO/s1600-h/11+June+09+226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IQ17t5N7tAg5gffRYIJBT9klyJlQoGjLK408JUwjf-oEM5Dqt55-hGarPQqKDHazKwRWtRU7FwSuVui0njnShtcim_5X3JzJTxxrEgw_ILtPOaOJPlZkvkI1cIGpov1qxjhXF7mrfmoO/s320/11+June+09+226.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">snow plough?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DbO72sYMqxwwCSfauC73CWmF_N3jqE2zDinY2OltkU5rfJSBm4J5rFGPUJ8RDPPJILRXdjoRV9KvIdOIWzqEbTwixiF0lBlqT3ySTMDa4DPqDcn-palDlp_zo6eamx7Q2Z6E_wuLXc6I/s1600-h/11+June+09+227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DbO72sYMqxwwCSfauC73CWmF_N3jqE2zDinY2OltkU5rfJSBm4J5rFGPUJ8RDPPJILRXdjoRV9KvIdOIWzqEbTwixiF0lBlqT3ySTMDa4DPqDcn-palDlp_zo6eamx7Q2Z6E_wuLXc6I/s320/11+June+09+227.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">skis and snow shoes</div><br />
We found out that the Asahidake Ropeway was closed that day, as a result of strong winds. We hoped that weather conditions would be better the next day and that we would have the chance to take the ropeway to the Sugatami Trail.<br />
<br />
Back at the hotel, we were a tad disappointed to find that, once again, dinner would not be served ensuite, but we could see why. The guests seemed to be either savvy cosmopolitan travellers - been there, done that - or local tourists on those coach tours for whom the opportunity to tuck into an international buffet must be a rare luxury.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93B7qOXuAExrDyCrovYCZcuYUacPFRiS4QD5b7qzH0G21rhWbHt9Kg8aOXkb_9K-UzbHykYynAYECTS9ZL9D0d-CK0w-cNvdCp28aRVQl1TP0ShuQxD6513m_LQF3XAjIWCJAxbjkvb0B/s1600-h/11+June+09+232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93B7qOXuAExrDyCrovYCZcuYUacPFRiS4QD5b7qzH0G21rhWbHt9Kg8aOXkb_9K-UzbHykYynAYECTS9ZL9D0d-CK0w-cNvdCp28aRVQl1TP0ShuQxD6513m_LQF3XAjIWCJAxbjkvb0B/s320/11+June+09+232.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6rs3-C8kVz2r5CSgOep55OBPTB12Q3eV4dylxFfr7a0iiUozphiRL1xPwC6HdGiA_8DnKnODnA_phLGKtaQyA9DQM6vDaIhcQL66OIR_VVI4DmayjwYa1R3VglsBNYS820VQqMfwiIGJ/s1600-h/11+June+09+235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6rs3-C8kVz2r5CSgOep55OBPTB12Q3eV4dylxFfr7a0iiUozphiRL1xPwC6HdGiA_8DnKnODnA_phLGKtaQyA9DQM6vDaIhcQL66OIR_VVI4DmayjwYa1R3VglsBNYS820VQqMfwiIGJ/s320/11+June+09+235.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWJAsZHLweq6clQlYCwh510rLfKNnJ9wYfNU0r4GVZvX01SvQLiztUDNkOK5IUAYIJckpKPlh7hqEbZZ4ZXwYwXfApjIqGgJ52og6W0x2YZnOKtIxuL0MfhR2X0VGncXsfds5L1fTQLkz/s1600-h/11+June+09+237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWJAsZHLweq6clQlYCwh510rLfKNnJ9wYfNU0r4GVZvX01SvQLiztUDNkOK5IUAYIJckpKPlh7hqEbZZ4ZXwYwXfApjIqGgJ52og6W0x2YZnOKtIxuL0MfhR2X0VGncXsfds5L1fTQLkz/s320/11+June+09+237.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPnTuxITmCkrgGGyUzk3hM1T2Y_bex1OADxugtDOzJnqSiAu4XwayzzcfJR6cTKvSbqU0_C8PQki1NBkJAGK0r1GEdrcw6ZCdoBXrF6mcWWipHJCLfTbQ-MtFhnPnipRZJCJk83gqQeZh/s1600-h/11+June+09+238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPnTuxITmCkrgGGyUzk3hM1T2Y_bex1OADxugtDOzJnqSiAu4XwayzzcfJR6cTKvSbqU0_C8PQki1NBkJAGK0r1GEdrcw6ZCdoBXrF6mcWWipHJCLfTbQ-MtFhnPnipRZJCJk83gqQeZh/s320/11+June+09+238.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsZ37XzWsiNUsSMaedJiFA15zCtxK5jsYb1Ju9MRKImN4AoWdGurCpoFXtHdQQ4-WH7UgQq4VZel0jUAG53a_FiH43_8anxlI0oSU8RkX2-tWUMtCf7_AYySjm9H_IhyuOPGqlBrdfBbD/s1600-h/11+June+09+241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsZ37XzWsiNUsSMaedJiFA15zCtxK5jsYb1Ju9MRKImN4AoWdGurCpoFXtHdQQ4-WH7UgQq4VZel0jUAG53a_FiH43_8anxlI0oSU8RkX2-tWUMtCf7_AYySjm9H_IhyuOPGqlBrdfBbD/s320/11+June+09+241.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
After dinner, we ventured forth to the baths.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM50IKdycW8d89pQD1gKNrCAOYIsQgOfm5P4nXhdJrYBHyFCAE9ouRRYENXP1LN-49Z3i8hSL8f-QIGiesCFvP8iR_pebdXZKFz8ODfr2O2r28sOBryTGQBx_3vuV5qSRS7PrZU5TC5j84/s1600-h/11+June+09+243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM50IKdycW8d89pQD1gKNrCAOYIsQgOfm5P4nXhdJrYBHyFCAE9ouRRYENXP1LN-49Z3i8hSL8f-QIGiesCFvP8iR_pebdXZKFz8ODfr2O2r28sOBryTGQBx_3vuV5qSRS7PrZU5TC5j84/s320/11+June+09+243.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the ladies' bath</div><br />
Unlike the one at Shirogane Kankou, this one was noisier and busier, filled with the aforementioned coach tourists. It wasn't so crowded that we didn't have space to ourselves, but we did miss the peace and quiet we had experienced previously.<br />
<br />
Still, scrubbed and soaked, we retired early.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5yw8D0zTTeCicjt4_A4Fitj07l5tW8LU-vbpg6Sy_dXveu6z9HBKNUeqItRyip-tP_WCrG33LkZG8wIIJXOsNOG6binHxMOW_ehPKI8SgXlH15uOZwauQg9kSSxsdAlU7-H9fIIi9Mqa/s1600-h/11+June+09+246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5yw8D0zTTeCicjt4_A4Fitj07l5tW8LU-vbpg6Sy_dXveu6z9HBKNUeqItRyip-tP_WCrG33LkZG8wIIJXOsNOG6binHxMOW_ehPKI8SgXlH15uOZwauQg9kSSxsdAlU7-H9fIIi9Mqa/s320/11+June+09+246.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">bedtime</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-12104888349183965852009-06-10T23:48:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:01:01.419-07:00Day 7: Astounding AsahidakeThe next morning, Mount Asahidake beckoned. We woke up reasonably early and rushed downstairs to check the noticeboard downstairs for updates on the weather situation. Was the ropeway open? It was!<br />
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Breakfast was a buffet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2YASXghkW0_fb6KdeEawOxhgYORlyiygUJDHcqXZsOkSaOYB9QY1zF6hdUX3OeioaBUY-Z5t_NhjB9gSRWS994-Dbd6qXykUR6aYPUbM6qNNG2yhdSpExC_0xMhXmvOA2Ytzdq07luwW/s1600-h/12+June+09+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2YASXghkW0_fb6KdeEawOxhgYORlyiygUJDHcqXZsOkSaOYB9QY1zF6hdUX3OeioaBUY-Z5t_NhjB9gSRWS994-Dbd6qXykUR6aYPUbM6qNNG2yhdSpExC_0xMhXmvOA2Ytzdq07luwW/s320/12+June+09+001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stuck to my guns - a Japanese breakfast or nothing!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tUXsiZF8_ZSJ9NwSeCC7bCzlK6w_auolXfIF-B7F6vD4bd_0QMIYEy_KNTYIni8gupsrX4vHRuv9BzlMYr47xuNGCs3eOILhJorsSWGooFovVypgIeHy47zI62SHECL8MckTGZ6GP-kf/s1600-h/12+June+09+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tUXsiZF8_ZSJ9NwSeCC7bCzlK6w_auolXfIF-B7F6vD4bd_0QMIYEy_KNTYIni8gupsrX4vHRuv9BzlMYr47xuNGCs3eOILhJorsSWGooFovVypgIeHy47zI62SHECL8MckTGZ6GP-kf/s320/12+June+09+003.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">close-up - some grilled salmon, lots of pickled vegetables, pickled cod roe</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMBO1yRvbW-2wxQ_AGgamuD0VohS5-xfHCqAmjSvvPLv9degvt7BHvbR0KuEowB5Ememz1S6EKs97WN722xbr7v6L_iItbqTwGX5TM88Ds1i-PHCfNUY2lTd33jevQXkWh7qhaCwDF-4d/s1600-h/12+June+09+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMBO1yRvbW-2wxQ_AGgamuD0VohS5-xfHCqAmjSvvPLv9degvt7BHvbR0KuEowB5Ememz1S6EKs97WN722xbr7v6L_iItbqTwGX5TM88Ds1i-PHCfNUY2lTd33jevQXkWh7qhaCwDF-4d/s320/12+June+09+005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">HM was plenty excited that there was yogurt, with blueberries no less</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuPmZThR4vMi0frulbY9yrcs7gv2CDHrQzjJq_3kr6k4H_gCPYvrgzht2QHLHPcycNTGfGcPPefERBg0p_zap2T7a_-t-qY4tW7NPLKOFoJ0GpwnBN9nxgl7h75oHX15uS3NZehM2rS7q/s1600-h/12+June+09+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuPmZThR4vMi0frulbY9yrcs7gv2CDHrQzjJq_3kr6k4H_gCPYvrgzht2QHLHPcycNTGfGcPPefERBg0p_zap2T7a_-t-qY4tW7NPLKOFoJ0GpwnBN9nxgl7h75oHX15uS3NZehM2rS7q/s320/12+June+09+007.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't ignore the "western" options entirely</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0mqha0PGhaUbz28R5dgAbyg-31I2OOk0vnU6g7oPy4kSgoFwlGCRX_Nz6fXbDrksao_qDFJhvqZcgBgd6BNxS2MwSs-CReWImW-NKlhxz-qG07TiQWOkaH164lSvt8H3T5RNz-5ti8oK/s1600-h/12+June+09+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0mqha0PGhaUbz28R5dgAbyg-31I2OOk0vnU6g7oPy4kSgoFwlGCRX_Nz6fXbDrksao_qDFJhvqZcgBgd6BNxS2MwSs-CReWImW-NKlhxz-qG07TiQWOkaH164lSvt8H3T5RNz-5ti8oK/s320/12+June+09+009.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cornflakes - always good</div><br />
After breakfast, we headed out for our big adventure.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_L0LBXeTCDtMAN-_ZfjjoUY-P70JBD6oh9R0_O7kKezw3BtOo0WsHxXQbn6I0s9TJsxGuz9QpjoQ2FhjcyYi0NNa1DZEbF1eQPYRvy1u8m2TvWoNKnFLkwQ8B_NVbhVTC14-8wVn44_c/s1600-h/12+June+09+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_L0LBXeTCDtMAN-_ZfjjoUY-P70JBD6oh9R0_O7kKezw3BtOo0WsHxXQbn6I0s9TJsxGuz9QpjoQ2FhjcyYi0NNa1DZEbF1eQPYRvy1u8m2TvWoNKnFLkwQ8B_NVbhVTC14-8wVn44_c/s320/12+June+09+011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the visitors' centre we visited the day before</div><br />
All the guidebooks and websites had said that the trail at the upper ropeway station was an easy one. We imagined a nicely laid out path, with benches and signage, but the sight of snow just outside our hotel the day before had given us pause.<br />
<br />
Our adventure for the day started with a ride up the ropeway.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSZ-Ie6AK0DLv-V2x6DjCsQcct5mm2aH6SSEKDWst-m5K331EgcrFw7DDJ8ljfufyprqzUeUm7qCCuMI-qTmi37TFgCerjvydTCp4nV8TugDjbDlR5RuqhOS-rHX9XfI1fplqym4RygrZ/s1600-h/12+June+09+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSZ-Ie6AK0DLv-V2x6DjCsQcct5mm2aH6SSEKDWst-m5K331EgcrFw7DDJ8ljfufyprqzUeUm7qCCuMI-qTmi37TFgCerjvydTCp4nV8TugDjbDlR5RuqhOS-rHX9XfI1fplqym4RygrZ/s320/12+June+09+013.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">whoa coniferous forests</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11Wjh8Ai821R7UQxzHWp2KClVaidJLKeAyxNEMALKTNDpIXvS6Y_KZkXl1yuVM1iAh0KuXjgCo4NyBOAatQ-bSMAFET65aa0U7gMnHf6qbHg6naY_EI7w3aUFQPPMBxwSh_jxi9h7gL11/s1600-h/12+June+09+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11Wjh8Ai821R7UQxzHWp2KClVaidJLKeAyxNEMALKTNDpIXvS6Y_KZkXl1yuVM1iAh0KuXjgCo4NyBOAatQ-bSMAFET65aa0U7gMnHf6qbHg6naY_EI7w3aUFQPPMBxwSh_jxi9h7gL11/s320/12+June+09+029.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">omg snow!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVTa_OiDwBNSBGNYKsl7bQVRKR7agIVJX6Vgbc-p65yOjSEGC6l2ToOlg1Yhmq2Dd51UqpBTmqyuhjf6BO9wMD8-Qy1EK0ucMTyyNA24T0y_JR1W-ycve8sJy8N8seUFF3sq5od8pKPaT/s1600-h/12+June+09+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVTa_OiDwBNSBGNYKsl7bQVRKR7agIVJX6Vgbc-p65yOjSEGC6l2ToOlg1Yhmq2Dd51UqpBTmqyuhjf6BO9wMD8-Qy1EK0ucMTyyNA24T0y_JR1W-ycve8sJy8N8seUFF3sq5od8pKPaT/s320/12+June+09+034.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the ropeway</div><br />
At the upper ropeway station, we were greeted by an enthusiastic ranger and given a briefing. Of course, not being Japanese, we were given an English Language brochure to read instead.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlGtDogoRsJe6PDPmw472AQEBT2_EXoetRiABdL32PbYdImWDOnwSX7hQl-AXU6fZqhF_a4f1Ky3751IQpTmndmZpxKNFJAASs5walMAWsYYVh5C21bBrGoTzJ0QiUAztYY8dnLwedjtV/s1600-h/12+June+09+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlGtDogoRsJe6PDPmw472AQEBT2_EXoetRiABdL32PbYdImWDOnwSX7hQl-AXU6fZqhF_a4f1Ky3751IQpTmndmZpxKNFJAASs5walMAWsYYVh5C21bBrGoTzJ0QiUAztYY8dnLwedjtV/s320/12+June+09+036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a quick intro to Mount Asahidake, Hokkaido's highest peak</div><br />
Then the ranger brought all of us into the next room and showed us where we could change into rubber boots ala Phua Chu Kang. Rubber boots! We did as told, and then proceeded outside to discover that we had been sorely mistaken to imagine a path of any sort.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYBpEBDIJSe_1_JcVTjOlOUZH3opADTbMdEoIVbe-LlwEOGz7p7G29RD2eI9zRix6ho9VvUqt7A-Fdh_pG-jPuZW0iVuu2jZ-omPamXHGoyeIVHyT1TXbrqX0oSse9_P5LWCV_xp2Z8Jz/s1600-h/12+June+09+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYBpEBDIJSe_1_JcVTjOlOUZH3opADTbMdEoIVbe-LlwEOGz7p7G29RD2eI9zRix6ho9VvUqt7A-Fdh_pG-jPuZW0iVuu2jZ-omPamXHGoyeIVHyT1TXbrqX0oSse9_P5LWCV_xp2Z8Jz/s320/12+June+09+037.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">er, there's a trail here somewhere...</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSS6FlOWP_Il0rt8lQB6wKNniEE2JiLfxx5Ww416PKojWl-3mUlqOpitts7nwI4dx63_tr11hmI0zMCiVoUpd-BskaMqWXyHYjQkzckHD_TUcerS5bM_-CkZEkN5OU3pdNrmd_EK_BEQ3/s1600-h/12+June+09+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSS6FlOWP_Il0rt8lQB6wKNniEE2JiLfxx5Ww416PKojWl-3mUlqOpitts7nwI4dx63_tr11hmI0zMCiVoUpd-BskaMqWXyHYjQkzckHD_TUcerS5bM_-CkZEkN5OU3pdNrmd_EK_BEQ3/s320/12+June+09+039.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one last look at civilisation</div><br />
Off we went, treading gingerly at first, then with greater confidence. Needless to say, just when I was getting the hang of it, with great inevitability, I fell over, my foot going right through a loosely packed mound of snow and my butt landing on the wet snow.<br />
<br />
Once I got over that novel experience, there was much to look at and enjoy. The landscape was dramatic and varied.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHuvrlQvzqy4TNlH-Gcpq1xp9GdKhG4MbWlNgT-6zWxsMB7WfFhMJsd4F61-dzP2x6pIPB2BYD4VshNJP77uV4YwFFaY0mAqNLFMWRJCqETwJN1prm8IKo5zznMLiTutFgDuO7m6iz7SF/s1600-h/12+June+09+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHuvrlQvzqy4TNlH-Gcpq1xp9GdKhG4MbWlNgT-6zWxsMB7WfFhMJsd4F61-dzP2x6pIPB2BYD4VshNJP77uV4YwFFaY0mAqNLFMWRJCqETwJN1prm8IKo5zznMLiTutFgDuO7m6iz7SF/s320/12+June+09+040.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mount Asahidake</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UvXu7JTEehDDJqJ6Tz_ibeD3R9oVEUW_MgypW0VgxwcxmhEhTw8yn_H5Nm-Gu_iHvopYYsVzbQo6gmFusHt3f_jEtYUZA4T-jC4qrAPJGoh2a9B9D6ZVDsp4rZt4MZatLs6HFWgjPixM/s1600-h/12+June+09+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UvXu7JTEehDDJqJ6Tz_ibeD3R9oVEUW_MgypW0VgxwcxmhEhTw8yn_H5Nm-Gu_iHvopYYsVzbQo6gmFusHt3f_jEtYUZA4T-jC4qrAPJGoh2a9B9D6ZVDsp4rZt4MZatLs6HFWgjPixM/s320/12+June+09+052.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">snow fields, rather than fields of flowers</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_kHAgUnr7e4dfkiJmooY5SOar148V0V026MNF5D3tzCQL8x06ULT7QJIB5-lIDTAk-5aAFH36dewPEuyUzBaw6Fovxr5dbv7OgW2hWIdXhoWl7irgSRyc2yiAj_9oo-efFqaaSYe0ToO/s1600-h/12+June+09+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_kHAgUnr7e4dfkiJmooY5SOar148V0V026MNF5D3tzCQL8x06ULT7QJIB5-lIDTAk-5aAFH36dewPEuyUzBaw6Fovxr5dbv7OgW2hWIdXhoWl7irgSRyc2yiAj_9oo-efFqaaSYe0ToO/s320/12+June+09+059.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">phew, a clear patch!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lDZl-a15xxK4VV6uBqxD8D9yXH1OTdXf8IBl5T5hIj3KSqHKvf2mRwz6hWmhVbpg4jbxi5R4fg-mIl_ZtVFAJg5hqWpzD_eHBumWUhEXn0jXIucxrrkAkaj50JQ8uVKSsjxjMWsZVftC/s1600-h/12+June+09+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lDZl-a15xxK4VV6uBqxD8D9yXH1OTdXf8IBl5T5hIj3KSqHKvf2mRwz6hWmhVbpg4jbxi5R4fg-mIl_ZtVFAJg5hqWpzD_eHBumWUhEXn0jXIucxrrkAkaj50JQ8uVKSsjxjMWsZVftC/s320/12+June+09+058.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hey, birdwatchers</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-UJtxNs67kizapNtgeahO3X9b0PV2o_nyzU-CKauDnKGU9uN7VAlFNV4Eqoj-1DjSx3DuTBcHhq22ZYX-kFSQmzxLK_HU8FquMRqyr49JgcMyP7nqxIEdj427iTHAyjMFIcMYMQEcH6H/s1600-h/12+June+09+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-UJtxNs67kizapNtgeahO3X9b0PV2o_nyzU-CKauDnKGU9uN7VAlFNV4Eqoj-1DjSx3DuTBcHhq22ZYX-kFSQmzxLK_HU8FquMRqyr49JgcMyP7nqxIEdj427iTHAyjMFIcMYMQEcH6H/s320/12+June+09+073.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">they were obviously waiting for something to appear</div><br />
For a brief moment, there was a flash of brown, which even HM and I could see without benefit of optical equipment, and the lenses swivelled in unison and into action.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLX1Ppzyi38FuFXhuS4QuObuinIUCvgrzBTdlz0VBQNtkzNmsbDDKGRoCecU51gudPBxG2gGy4OPmtARpj4h5vgg6Z0uxGCakz9coKRi7BJGKj_JfYGVQn4JNdYoNQLdbt8qpaF-MOB1g/s1600-h/12+June+09+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLX1Ppzyi38FuFXhuS4QuObuinIUCvgrzBTdlz0VBQNtkzNmsbDDKGRoCecU51gudPBxG2gGy4OPmtARpj4h5vgg6Z0uxGCakz9coKRi7BJGKj_JfYGVQn4JNdYoNQLdbt8qpaF-MOB1g/s320/12+June+09+078.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">so that's what they were looking for</div><br />
It was tempting to stop and stare, but we had a walk to complete.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z4vMUuh5UGqdI6cv9IkSaxDkgZM4_BUkJtQlilulff420RVzK91vPTgib2Hx3gIgKsxwGgvW4GUdRBAhBH8el8ChDCMOHmzqiwESa1puH7JjQIuB3FoG6zwca71VBhaB_XSdyqECo23M/s1600-h/12+June+09+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z4vMUuh5UGqdI6cv9IkSaxDkgZM4_BUkJtQlilulff420RVzK91vPTgib2Hx3gIgKsxwGgvW4GUdRBAhBH8el8ChDCMOHmzqiwESa1puH7JjQIuB3FoG6zwca71VBhaB_XSdyqECo23M/s320/12+June+09+065.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">impressive displays of weather </div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXq3JP0INLplgeItPg3QSD0RGyK4jaxhNdR0P13IjpbPCqiqNZc8kRqlsyqk5Mbyq0cD7rfcDkN48PbO9x3VpPyHAzcXw5PpuaSH3_tvw2pB9n2yKckrualnZalVtQVcXUqxLqBjIDntX/s1600-h/12+June+09+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXq3JP0INLplgeItPg3QSD0RGyK4jaxhNdR0P13IjpbPCqiqNZc8kRqlsyqk5Mbyq0cD7rfcDkN48PbO9x3VpPyHAzcXw5PpuaSH3_tvw2pB9n2yKckrualnZalVtQVcXUqxLqBjIDntX/s320/12+June+09+066.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">crystal green lakes</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqgtq2j4fQoPfLwWW5MAah4o21cszyvaQhzcEU8-G4qlDRZpI9kzek92z-VPvfXgXqSG3dERfOF1sFaMKNT1LKluUZFIH5yyJ9gF27DZpY5v-zIvNhlDmBNIYkL7-H_OPixw6ECsS87Ns/s1600-h/12+June+09+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqgtq2j4fQoPfLwWW5MAah4o21cszyvaQhzcEU8-G4qlDRZpI9kzek92z-VPvfXgXqSG3dERfOF1sFaMKNT1LKluUZFIH5yyJ9gF27DZpY5v-zIvNhlDmBNIYkL7-H_OPixw6ECsS87Ns/s320/12+June+09+107.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">reappearing in the spring</div><br />
Interspersed between the snow fields were the early alpine flowers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGeaHy2dv-0CwQT49qeVifVa71BdeVHmo7EK8YNibiZ_LS19dMtKgQ6i9jlxyoRIF2g7C7tqw9b7s3r4lQrJ6Ol7LZ1fRW1VDLCwsyxGKWa8jjFwf1cSLJO7gbNYq0wUsSlylgtDWHqwc/s1600-h/12+June+09+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGeaHy2dv-0CwQT49qeVifVa71BdeVHmo7EK8YNibiZ_LS19dMtKgQ6i9jlxyoRIF2g7C7tqw9b7s3r4lQrJ6Ol7LZ1fRW1VDLCwsyxGKWa8jjFwf1cSLJO7gbNYq0wUsSlylgtDWHqwc/s320/12+June+09+145.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">flowers revealed</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp8MRI5qIZMzKPYxRoTmL-e5cwtxULxKXmM0dEwcrIK2ZftgxR3ffYcjL1aSxHfit6a5lE_wMU-AyKtQCCzDkETvAZ8jB7YUdt2Q2YbLWHfLcxMc9-R2Rr4zXFQyPC6QjXSPkv5KD8OKr/s1600-h/12+June+09+075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp8MRI5qIZMzKPYxRoTmL-e5cwtxULxKXmM0dEwcrIK2ZftgxR3ffYcjL1aSxHfit6a5lE_wMU-AyKtQCCzDkETvAZ8jB7YUdt2Q2YbLWHfLcxMc9-R2Rr4zXFQyPC6QjXSPkv5KD8OKr/s320/12+June+09+075.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">rhododendron aureum</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwPBgMID9meC9QOwOOszrIg_NKlVMzzT-ugOZfcaxnEPF5Kt4ly_cNosnFU3JTeVkhe29U5VHMDm_8B8MUzzMwfgG2oJWJvbTLuMpNRQQQLjvDaHGL17cxkhAXH1DPZTe0WlVqS1FJPag/s1600-h/12+June+09+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwPBgMID9meC9QOwOOszrIg_NKlVMzzT-ugOZfcaxnEPF5Kt4ly_cNosnFU3JTeVkhe29U5VHMDm_8B8MUzzMwfgG2oJWJvbTLuMpNRQQQLjvDaHGL17cxkhAXH1DPZTe0WlVqS1FJPag/s320/12+June+09+114.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pink alpine azalea</div><br />
It didn't take long for us to be reminded that we were at the mercy of fickle Mother Nature. Looking ahead, we could see...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBluq7zENq2hyphenhyphenv4XnU6YYef_m3uA0qTE1_HO_60BFLiN79hiRKN-5LGyRf6PY9tKYI_a5zJLJ-1fOa48RXzTxi8nxEqBAO7XZZbFy-C3N9stQegPXO4iRb_xsAYyY5ws-tVQwJZTS1C1Z/s1600-h/12+June+09+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBluq7zENq2hyphenhyphenv4XnU6YYef_m3uA0qTE1_HO_60BFLiN79hiRKN-5LGyRf6PY9tKYI_a5zJLJ-1fOa48RXzTxi8nxEqBAO7XZZbFy-C3N9stQegPXO4iRb_xsAYyY5ws-tVQwJZTS1C1Z/s320/12+June+09+125.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">aiee, a white-out!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxZ_KwPkzquMFdZ9Q60bY-VTN5hbNjNoQPQTu8_imspuowdfvBjUK_8SITtzwvhp9uLbi34uLHqAajf7Wj3-Lq0nqF2RnKD2MIYwocbDKfNDGjb4oOjfdDuw5y4ZMy5Yz5BGqnFAzXgDQ/s1600-h/12+June+09+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxZ_KwPkzquMFdZ9Q60bY-VTN5hbNjNoQPQTu8_imspuowdfvBjUK_8SITtzwvhp9uLbi34uLHqAajf7Wj3-Lq0nqF2RnKD2MIYwocbDKfNDGjb4oOjfdDuw5y4ZMy5Yz5BGqnFAzXgDQ/s320/12+June+09+126.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we wondered if we too would need to traverse that great white expanse</div><br />
But first we had to admire Jigoku-dani, or Hell's Valley, with its belching fumaroles.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46JT9-0iQLhgtN9MfACW_9V6J_exi3-Tsi0cpqfI8vTX_EEEMUznfUd-JmCfaosOdDHxnc4LEmvurRy1ZfjT6x6WAw2oTKLvJ1nbqj1bfyfYKtdUbuSWg3NFul2P3grlEDIQZuUlpzOa8/s1600-h/12+June+09+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46JT9-0iQLhgtN9MfACW_9V6J_exi3-Tsi0cpqfI8vTX_EEEMUznfUd-JmCfaosOdDHxnc4LEmvurRy1ZfjT6x6WAw2oTKLvJ1nbqj1bfyfYKtdUbuSWg3NFul2P3grlEDIQZuUlpzOa8/s320/12+June+09+139.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoraqR3ue9CgtYA1yIxsQWH7Uoqa5IPF2vZonRo5jbRhf3jehrealCDAaFd0Bryqhr_7POd4icYuN9iVrAxOr7DgzDiZwLP_WY0VU7m2GCIcszPPcSwXXy8u6WmsuBX6VbeqnDnTQXC0HL/s1600-h/12+June+09+160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoraqR3ue9CgtYA1yIxsQWH7Uoqa5IPF2vZonRo5jbRhf3jehrealCDAaFd0Bryqhr_7POd4icYuN9iVrAxOr7DgzDiZwLP_WY0VU7m2GCIcszPPcSwXXy8u6WmsuBX6VbeqnDnTQXC0HL/s320/12+June+09+160.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ofBmL1k54RmZ5YambT_I9RlugKVprJIELjdTP6bTNVFntvV5CNHmuoRxkOhjHHLHkpJ0_M4FkoWnxUJ_vvMRuBtwT5NXrx0mNc8PK1OSH9OUXj01FgWzrvUZ_cu4NMgKSEYCxeeYUCHY/s1600-h/12+June+09+168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ofBmL1k54RmZ5YambT_I9RlugKVprJIELjdTP6bTNVFntvV5CNHmuoRxkOhjHHLHkpJ0_M4FkoWnxUJ_vvMRuBtwT5NXrx0mNc8PK1OSH9OUXj01FgWzrvUZ_cu4NMgKSEYCxeeYUCHY/s320/12+June+09+168.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
And then there we were, no, not the summit, but the highest point of that trail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA5tcVJwBv0zBaU2CUhW_Se9a5EbHvb-2XSH5u5pCv4Q8MQrWbj84cDdrQIgP6MZYieXOYBArjW0SPhLL_8_xp1qlBK2vmiVB65CuSv_Jzf0nK_rsU9zGsIpZTmPCHr0UZSvsLK6621Jz/s1600-h/12+June+09+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA5tcVJwBv0zBaU2CUhW_Se9a5EbHvb-2XSH5u5pCv4Q8MQrWbj84cDdrQIgP6MZYieXOYBArjW0SPhLL_8_xp1qlBK2vmiVB65CuSv_Jzf0nK_rsU9zGsIpZTmPCHr0UZSvsLK6621Jz/s320/12+June+09+165.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1665m above sea level</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUu3617GYNe6iOH8ysAd2kMvtyEgbC2bsVVmtbH3Iz-394fah3JQujW8-PXVSM4Etb-L6j_9rt6IIbbCqE_FtYw_SVCkT7zinLFn41fuiRk37sJsecsEhuFvfVqeNkIM6JPVqcREeZWMD/s1600-h/12+June+09+171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUu3617GYNe6iOH8ysAd2kMvtyEgbC2bsVVmtbH3Iz-394fah3JQujW8-PXVSM4Etb-L6j_9rt6IIbbCqE_FtYw_SVCkT7zinLFn41fuiRk37sJsecsEhuFvfVqeNkIM6JPVqcREeZWMD/s320/12+June+09+171.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">good to know that there were emergency huts</div><br />
Then it was our turn to walk across that snow field, in somewhat hazy conditions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgPpkNwyPjqYQ25tPiPhdXdqadd-dnk3VJ0CxJqZku339qQ2_qEDhDPL8lAB1tAxbx0INABkVptPo8KYVgzzUMsulIIPz69e57zjM-XskfircPXSjOezyzKbvOHWM9zNPHS88RhEyK0QJ/s1600-h/12+June+09+177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgPpkNwyPjqYQ25tPiPhdXdqadd-dnk3VJ0CxJqZku339qQ2_qEDhDPL8lAB1tAxbx0INABkVptPo8KYVgzzUMsulIIPz69e57zjM-XskfircPXSjOezyzKbvOHWM9zNPHS88RhEyK0QJ/s320/12+June+09+177.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">following others</div><br />
All in all, the walk took maybe a little more than an hour and ended sooner than we would have liked, even though there were a couple of moments where us city slickers were a tad apprehensive.<br />
<br />
Back at the ropeway station, we had ourselves a snack as we recounted the thrill of the walk. We felt brave and adventurous, or at least I did!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9aU-aU_nG9TTTYMgNcMfgESVdv-FfDT0PCn74ghZF_Ggt204jMn9z88wQlVs_OjQMHc0oA_xhxqYw84EQnaUrnxCAFDefzwcGzFT00X9rG2HoYLvoZPndgEgcMi2AVTKIGR-ES90B5gr/s1600-h/12+June+09+189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9aU-aU_nG9TTTYMgNcMfgESVdv-FfDT0PCn74ghZF_Ggt204jMn9z88wQlVs_OjQMHc0oA_xhxqYw84EQnaUrnxCAFDefzwcGzFT00X9rG2HoYLvoZPndgEgcMi2AVTKIGR-ES90B5gr/s320/12+June+09+189.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hot coffee and some pastries</div><br />
Looking out the window, we could see that the weather had miraculously cleared up. The sun was out in full force, so we decided to go round the trail again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJvZWdQmSNMEA9eH44hhIjgsgczwFocC4ydaeilovOYWqLiZnmsG2GmZQ30i9517N9SEW8I1DJ0JdfRY6gmvlQlK14M6WC66CZDJ_XGqYkH7HybtEm4SLd1dXW0ISZLc6I4AKR3T024hn/s1600-h/12+June+09+197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJvZWdQmSNMEA9eH44hhIjgsgczwFocC4ydaeilovOYWqLiZnmsG2GmZQ30i9517N9SEW8I1DJ0JdfRY6gmvlQlK14M6WC66CZDJ_XGqYkH7HybtEm4SLd1dXW0ISZLc6I4AKR3T024hn/s320/12+June+09+197.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">towards Mount Asahidake one more time</div><br />
This time we chanced across some wildlife...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EIPdJjOsNbUXnJtNAhESU9KHg2EDdx47kee70aDjNJwEkmtVqcgFtQup6hWILDtiiQ767GWmhCAqokCSoWmTKBzqZXI2TXneZIzDhI-1bmjScYnw7wyrOog6sfHUiS5-Mf_N3XMkmALV/s1600-h/12+June+09+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EIPdJjOsNbUXnJtNAhESU9KHg2EDdx47kee70aDjNJwEkmtVqcgFtQup6hWILDtiiQ767GWmhCAqokCSoWmTKBzqZXI2TXneZIzDhI-1bmjScYnw7wyrOog6sfHUiS5-Mf_N3XMkmALV/s320/12+June+09+200.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">siberian rubythroat</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jW78MewV-YgJhYI0gItnsb_OEzKxkOec9AOhM92b5S738YdAM52OQzs-C2QqUC4eSNGs5DV9XLfCCMZwSBRw36_AKb5nuyUmlAjlx5Y4tjOj7drNJOimjuC8qXQQUmmvYM2wAEv2e_gA/s1600-h/12+June+09+219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jW78MewV-YgJhYI0gItnsb_OEzKxkOec9AOhM92b5S738YdAM52OQzs-C2QqUC4eSNGs5DV9XLfCCMZwSBRw36_AKb5nuyUmlAjlx5Y4tjOj7drNJOimjuC8qXQQUmmvYM2wAEv2e_gA/s320/12+June+09+219.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this lil fella scampered across my path, sat up and then scooted off before I could even say, "Look, there's a..."</div><br />
By this time, there were more people enjoying the sights and sounds of this little corner of Daisetsuzan National Park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpGeFNErstpZX9CJTTSQych9EOaw8smA-mTiD6JU5_3eNUn5INbutBbK4wvBrf5Og6sVzTm3_h6ZEt88HITlGFHVP4dncs0RFG6QcdXU5BTpklCThH-LLsil52TcueZyV5qPgoCSl2LA8/s1600-h/12+June+09+234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpGeFNErstpZX9CJTTSQych9EOaw8smA-mTiD6JU5_3eNUn5INbutBbK4wvBrf5Og6sVzTm3_h6ZEt88HITlGFHVP4dncs0RFG6QcdXU5BTpklCThH-LLsil52TcueZyV5qPgoCSl2LA8/s320/12+June+09+234.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a little pause in life's journey</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D4KDnup9cfnL1Uga8_ayufWlvzEQNI5ltTBC3sc6TMqGTGXM3dhUjX_HbC1VrTZncEZLDeHanbxLqcbADq1tTOGmuU313h0p4uG7fI7ymf54NA6SGVSmrjxmsBzYuyeeICH_lT_CoNmo/s1600-h/12+June+09+248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-D4KDnup9cfnL1Uga8_ayufWlvzEQNI5ltTBC3sc6TMqGTGXM3dhUjX_HbC1VrTZncEZLDeHanbxLqcbADq1tTOGmuU313h0p4uG7fI7ymf54NA6SGVSmrjxmsBzYuyeeICH_lT_CoNmo/s320/12+June+09+248.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">people from all walks of life, bare-legged and otherwise</div><br />
Then it was time to say goodbye to Mount Asahidake.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYpwh7T5ljX8CZYpWkHe2II438xnkdrIUI_nLHwXaIBVS2qTPSCglWitd4dDb3Grr8nhXvpcsz8RClhV2oROe1shLbIFDD8-8DRLbLQf9CeubjRoKxf3Csih9uofHW9znizl0SJSTu3eL/s1600-h/12+June+09+287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYpwh7T5ljX8CZYpWkHe2II438xnkdrIUI_nLHwXaIBVS2qTPSCglWitd4dDb3Grr8nhXvpcsz8RClhV2oROe1shLbIFDD8-8DRLbLQf9CeubjRoKxf3Csih9uofHW9znizl0SJSTu3eL/s320/12+June+09+287.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one last look</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7g-Ez1LBPK4FMw_gTOFeTnwm6f09NBmAMLZbeTXVsFCXr5r0h-KiSs7BjzU1c_1-w6mXlCsLLm065qJLprEI_UKs078zBYOS92U6Cd5flIu7FYc9k8AhHPZd-uQ9Dp9CCPi36gjVAhyphenhyphenN/s1600-h/12+June+09+295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7g-Ez1LBPK4FMw_gTOFeTnwm6f09NBmAMLZbeTXVsFCXr5r0h-KiSs7BjzU1c_1-w6mXlCsLLm065qJLprEI_UKs078zBYOS92U6Cd5flIu7FYc9k8AhHPZd-uQ9Dp9CCPi36gjVAhyphenhyphenN/s320/12+June+09+295.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">then it was back on the ropeway</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqFKkO_LCI6DkGNDYG_JPYMQ3sRWqdZKkM_T0GbWP666Ho2Zo2ZarPNt9iSlJoAIAasykCz6pkip5SF7wV5QSxnhIksBoMeRJ__J_FbqA1Toh79mBdu8ExckSwZ6oBWCLe6SJBCmx8yGi/s1600-h/12+June+09+300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqFKkO_LCI6DkGNDYG_JPYMQ3sRWqdZKkM_T0GbWP666Ho2Zo2ZarPNt9iSlJoAIAasykCz6pkip5SF7wV5QSxnhIksBoMeRJ__J_FbqA1Toh79mBdu8ExckSwZ6oBWCLe6SJBCmx8yGi/s320/12+June+09+300.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">looking down at cross-country terrain</div><br />
The LP guide had recommended a ramen shop at one of the other hotels, and so we went in search of some lunch. With the sun out and clear skies, the little village was a pretty sight indeed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxW_No3sVs6mdOJbAbR48BEN3XC9KDBQ-O02oI16t6z5cb3d4NLFomvW3PJ6TbTwJ2qbqdC-0_ULYo85uHHtaLFkv2XYjl5yUrhEpFL_L9bWuwrm4qHgSEcSJdtn6yfOtbDRjMfmEnxaqZ/s1600-h/12+June+09+306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxW_No3sVs6mdOJbAbR48BEN3XC9KDBQ-O02oI16t6z5cb3d4NLFomvW3PJ6TbTwJ2qbqdC-0_ULYo85uHHtaLFkv2XYjl5yUrhEpFL_L9bWuwrm4qHgSEcSJdtn6yfOtbDRjMfmEnxaqZ/s320/12+June+09+306.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we could still see the top of Mt Asahidake</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPpsKkI2RPoiREPg7FqQExcugCWku4WljDWIkZpVH_yMiQnxKRqzrGhMbbDtmWrwzaVZwekqHbk0XTAvDLw7fF8ZIlMCk89UkJwwBdsaCTMjnJBEu4QnSCacBDAFj0lX3ATC481p0zfsO/s1600-h/12+June+09+311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPpsKkI2RPoiREPg7FqQExcugCWku4WljDWIkZpVH_yMiQnxKRqzrGhMbbDtmWrwzaVZwekqHbk0XTAvDLw7fF8ZIlMCk89UkJwwBdsaCTMjnJBEu4QnSCacBDAFj0lX3ATC481p0zfsO/s320/12+June+09+311.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiunFPR4tydLGdYNNJEO717TOUTQBTRRgxRX87EqoIuQ9T-orw4wnNd2m3M3yYI9dQywmAiIVNEgjkkeSUL0TWL0pXLYuZTJefHaGRVU6wyNZ5WCV6krUqMvuQK5ndn0873vRHoDA7y1-5/s1600-h/12+June+09+315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiunFPR4tydLGdYNNJEO717TOUTQBTRRgxRX87EqoIuQ9T-orw4wnNd2m3M3yYI9dQywmAiIVNEgjkkeSUL0TWL0pXLYuZTJefHaGRVU6wyNZ5WCV6krUqMvuQK5ndn0873vRHoDA7y1-5/s320/12+June+09+315.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
Alas, the ramen shop was no more. A sign on the door proclaimed that the chef/owner had retired the December before. We wandered back to our hotel, the Asahidake Bearmonte, to see if the restaurant was open. It was not. So what to do next? The ropeway station did have a snack bar...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZADSDHMPRP9_FYR6ZUKpe2ORmII4KuPy8Xym0QYys2-tSx6PBxS9rdthNbNbwoJmOwy0dRZALd9dcdrcZzX80_yhfvbUbRFSJ_9tZsWXA4Gs-aYirUijJBDlna0fipIZcyV-FRdpqyGF/s1600-h/12+June+09+302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZADSDHMPRP9_FYR6ZUKpe2ORmII4KuPy8Xym0QYys2-tSx6PBxS9rdthNbNbwoJmOwy0dRZALd9dcdrcZzX80_yhfvbUbRFSJ_9tZsWXA4Gs-aYirUijJBDlna0fipIZcyV-FRdpqyGF/s320/12+June+09+302.jpg" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the ropeway station</div><br />
There, we had ourselves...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgRUpMDqapyQ43LGSDMKmhi_VMWF_Gxz1D5FayngqXAPRdvT2qJokGKZFXWTnI95VxbP75T8SPNkaHEzDhn1ZPcglmU16TOi-eFrdB-FA72mP7N2IZio0WTEcJZepXMkGRx8UNOC2omg0/s1600-h/12+June+09+317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgRUpMDqapyQ43LGSDMKmhi_VMWF_Gxz1D5FayngqXAPRdvT2qJokGKZFXWTnI95VxbP75T8SPNkaHEzDhn1ZPcglmU16TOi-eFrdB-FA72mP7N2IZio0WTEcJZepXMkGRx8UNOC2omg0/s320/12+June+09+317.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">emomochi aka potato mochi</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmwgUc3zwEUuZG7GIENb3wtpn3AITmWdPTzlmC-_T3s6e0R-TRaegjgkwVt74O5jDwxVWO8MjPVFQ3rPNaYIKYKzymh8QlxnM3rUAPJzW-q9b1dRYE7oxXK3ea30N38v5RpnK3FDJpCAA/s1600-h/12+June+09+319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmwgUc3zwEUuZG7GIENb3wtpn3AITmWdPTzlmC-_T3s6e0R-TRaegjgkwVt74O5jDwxVWO8MjPVFQ3rPNaYIKYKzymh8QlxnM3rUAPJzW-q9b1dRYE7oxXK3ea30N38v5RpnK3FDJpCAA/s320/12+June+09+319.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">vegetable korokke</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0F6PnW67Ij3DbwVmudq0XBEKLWZtFDvRZWFgTgnTCEW7sXW89IXaZdX9bx9R7hRe8NQ8oPLczypM0eYXN__P7akbUvonJ0_so5PfJvQ9pNRoyMxRC-Y8fyfYm0ozWw0X1HqcfR-wADX9E/s1600-h/12+June+09+322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0F6PnW67Ij3DbwVmudq0XBEKLWZtFDvRZWFgTgnTCEW7sXW89IXaZdX9bx9R7hRe8NQ8oPLczypM0eYXN__P7akbUvonJ0_so5PfJvQ9pNRoyMxRC-Y8fyfYm0ozWw0X1HqcfR-wADX9E/s320/12+June+09+322.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and another milk-flavoured ice cream</div><br />
Temporarily sated, we did some shopping at the ropeway station's souvenir shop, we bought some small trinkets and...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlmr3_c51G7r06VzxZuCVbB-oecNm6ckifYFMNghXgmlPH1fozEUzH35c4eBJWCI_gA4Mi3Ge7tYKpRekTbICCtU8Dcd3muqHuYic0wV5PRvqJReBs3nlJoUMhNia2gO73_rVPaZJF0-0/s1600-h/12+June+09+325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlmr3_c51G7r06VzxZuCVbB-oecNm6ckifYFMNghXgmlPH1fozEUzH35c4eBJWCI_gA4Mi3Ge7tYKpRekTbICCtU8Dcd3muqHuYic0wV5PRvqJReBs3nlJoUMhNia2gO73_rVPaZJF0-0/s320/12+June+09+325.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">scallop flavoured potato chips</div><br />
This would serve as a snack later. Then we wandered around the short trails around our hotel.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1muAfrydt6V5hngDNYIYIRK4TJEN2ue-XYmFIbnOh6FWLMIMhLYEHJ0fFWlKaXTAXroT4Zg6KXUim3bxW1_DDPbRcgprBddFa6nifLMxh-mnCR9PBku7CrqmOjMCM-ZoH2KHOhIe66u1z/s1600-h/12+June+09+326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1muAfrydt6V5hngDNYIYIRK4TJEN2ue-XYmFIbnOh6FWLMIMhLYEHJ0fFWlKaXTAXroT4Zg6KXUim3bxW1_DDPbRcgprBddFa6nifLMxh-mnCR9PBku7CrqmOjMCM-ZoH2KHOhIe66u1z/s320/12+June+09+326.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">too bad many parts were still covered in snow</div><br />
Without the appropriate footwear, there were only so many places we could go to.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-_uu311hGiv66fPYT28MeJe_aHKrhNKBmuSJ_hayUpvikzq4CxKCICHDhxIaMR-aROC2r_Xpdp2HiSgWM4Z8G4JNUbe-6P2AQDP1XQDM3tFFtjrfzQDXvkHHRhEMmdOBPBFNHiEzZlGx/s1600-h/12+June+09+335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-_uu311hGiv66fPYT28MeJe_aHKrhNKBmuSJ_hayUpvikzq4CxKCICHDhxIaMR-aROC2r_Xpdp2HiSgWM4Z8G4JNUbe-6P2AQDP1XQDM3tFFtjrfzQDXvkHHRhEMmdOBPBFNHiEzZlGx/s320/12+June+09+335.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">how thoughtful, a boardwalk</div><br />
So back to the hotel we went. From the hotel's convenience store, we bought...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqMsdop3f_A_GHO9Zkd7UpNmGjovJyU1DL8hwgbc7Nh-Swdz8RpVRr_Me5KnJQspq82eB8R2DKJ-N8cUToInyJTPCdnyxZesmZf1fzcJyfDB4hUcreLNkrRpVTnZWIVaTSXXw7qOEE_2L/s1600-h/12+June+09+337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqMsdop3f_A_GHO9Zkd7UpNmGjovJyU1DL8hwgbc7Nh-Swdz8RpVRr_Me5KnJQspq82eB8R2DKJ-N8cUToInyJTPCdnyxZesmZf1fzcJyfDB4hUcreLNkrRpVTnZWIVaTSXXw7qOEE_2L/s320/12+June+09+337.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sesame genmaicha</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFrrgoSX2TWkh8LwV9tRmghR83FsWRAbsvH7eqKPsnw0_wqUXDnDswMhE1LUEH6Wie3KudaeXwd0BNfw7Pak254UWB8nUoxXZKWONmqAShW2eFT-gVgPh6hYuMIB_p_ZGbNJp6liFyDi4/s1600-h/12+June+09+339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFrrgoSX2TWkh8LwV9tRmghR83FsWRAbsvH7eqKPsnw0_wqUXDnDswMhE1LUEH6Wie3KudaeXwd0BNfw7Pak254UWB8nUoxXZKWONmqAShW2eFT-gVgPh6hYuMIB_p_ZGbNJp6liFyDi4/s320/12+June+09+339.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">instant noodles, duck flavour no less. yay!</div><br />
Together with the Jagabee, those made for a handy second lunch/early tea. That tided us over till dinner.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, HM was content to relax in our rather pleasant room but I was restless and itching to spend more time outdoors, and so I popped out for a pre-dinner walk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3w85Uv_ejxvbmzWQ_VPmkbbgySUsRqk46Kir_pZ7iMMxMu0bkIxnIstp9bdBRwTn3ZUDmQYWZKCSzksXo2v6POpL3umGUjwe-KjFV7KnctckNTiHhwm0znXjf0Iz932VZogEv9hD-qEO/s1600-h/12+June+09+350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3w85Uv_ejxvbmzWQ_VPmkbbgySUsRqk46Kir_pZ7iMMxMu0bkIxnIstp9bdBRwTn3ZUDmQYWZKCSzksXo2v6POpL3umGUjwe-KjFV7KnctckNTiHhwm0znXjf0Iz932VZogEv9hD-qEO/s320/12+June+09+350.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">white wagtail</div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr659qnFf9RxJU2IJOSrZagt4iysB70-IaY_vuOLoVw9Z1agUtGRnolysDf2IpXuVkZaMJu7Wv2jQ0bh6kSYDJKC6HSKnwcbYL09iAfTaIhgnfUeJG4VR_cZLuyLf9vZil4y29lpPooX5r/s1600-h/12+June+09+373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr659qnFf9RxJU2IJOSrZagt4iysB70-IaY_vuOLoVw9Z1agUtGRnolysDf2IpXuVkZaMJu7Wv2jQ0bh6kSYDJKC6HSKnwcbYL09iAfTaIhgnfUeJG4VR_cZLuyLf9vZil4y29lpPooX5r/s320/12+June+09+373.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">white wagtail</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x7qOzVLWZxpDelgg7Sq3F_PLnRVAxeZw9AsCOG_zhfHYleDd_nuoP64BUTA15DOKPEDsaLzfZYhjBy9V47PSe2yKpsBvZqyi7uXNSc5hJ0xPi8fN7or7htnQbIFTRhB0nI3KEf2ZTx11/s1600-h/12+June+09+359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x7qOzVLWZxpDelgg7Sq3F_PLnRVAxeZw9AsCOG_zhfHYleDd_nuoP64BUTA15DOKPEDsaLzfZYhjBy9V47PSe2yKpsBvZqyi7uXNSc5hJ0xPi8fN7or7htnQbIFTRhB0nI3KEf2ZTx11/s320/12+June+09+359.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a grey wagtail standing on the rock</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGYEP6AcIH97c6f-aa8n-cuaUu6g9_rYxYljIENjr-MNFDokEZK2kDSMWAAAgQ5qyJ5x_NF3_mBCQsx2pYB6I1QHk_Uon4Wq2ZVIQdVftI6Mm0c2vYdc-ceTmAI6afhbCLMYMbnslKrNY/s1600-h/12+June+09+364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGYEP6AcIH97c6f-aa8n-cuaUu6g9_rYxYljIENjr-MNFDokEZK2kDSMWAAAgQ5qyJ5x_NF3_mBCQsx2pYB6I1QHk_Uon4Wq2ZVIQdVftI6Mm0c2vYdc-ceTmAI6afhbCLMYMbnslKrNY/s320/12+June+09+364.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the weather started looking ominous again</div><br />
Dinner that night was once again the buffet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5ARr7kFinQZb_SfO3-VE15H1oFQ_EicmgfXKRJhD82pAqLBRondvjMDWHFLGrLKtWT0dUx9Yx3xufDS2j-k-35sgethI9iUX6NaXUb60gya08ABl98l-B290o45P7a3WYPvYvp8ZICng/s1600-h/12+June+09+382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5ARr7kFinQZb_SfO3-VE15H1oFQ_EicmgfXKRJhD82pAqLBRondvjMDWHFLGrLKtWT0dUx9Yx3xufDS2j-k-35sgethI9iUX6NaXUb60gya08ABl98l-B290o45P7a3WYPvYvp8ZICng/s320/12+June+09+382.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the same spread, more or less</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsA8uCJ94krSD2KuYI1DWcf_bf1eGSspTB5EzdIdCnznlJVwZkjojhfT63eV8_swKw5AwsqsKQLa42rvddEzyfH3CbRoMfv66v9n3ejzSaUgzp3lBziGmaa9ZDdXgjIfVAxeScs0q5YnA/s1600-h/12+June+09+384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsA8uCJ94krSD2KuYI1DWcf_bf1eGSspTB5EzdIdCnznlJVwZkjojhfT63eV8_swKw5AwsqsKQLa42rvddEzyfH3CbRoMfv66v9n3ejzSaUgzp3lBziGmaa9ZDdXgjIfVAxeScs0q5YnA/s320/12+June+09+384.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">roast beef, and good roast beef at that</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIdnXrppUgGjJue8QYPzH4tGaRMpQeFoiFfknk1VslXvwh8tS19Lk_6OT55V17HgZci-3G6n5ajAB2v9_AGiMdO1QHLYjmoPkPleHsVo7qNC-sbusUBNFWG0TahwhZhUtSPjMLd7rpti1/s1600-h/12+June+09+385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIdnXrppUgGjJue8QYPzH4tGaRMpQeFoiFfknk1VslXvwh8tS19Lk_6OT55V17HgZci-3G6n5ajAB2v9_AGiMdO1QHLYjmoPkPleHsVo7qNC-sbusUBNFWG0TahwhZhUtSPjMLd7rpti1/s320/12+June+09+385.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we were each served a plate of this - s salad with prawns and smoked salmon</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBgkQ7zpwMMgB8WhJB-Y-FBJOClMwdIKg3y8VbKJfsQmfahNYlem2H8_DW5XGnWPsnTjc2yl3jzpLDgGKLY9LypB3sTC36qQ024RsqHXixzSRiNvmaIFUmYBPLEbCYP1gwV6gf4F17Ere/s1600-h/12+June+09+388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBgkQ7zpwMMgB8WhJB-Y-FBJOClMwdIKg3y8VbKJfsQmfahNYlem2H8_DW5XGnWPsnTjc2yl3jzpLDgGKLY9LypB3sTC36qQ024RsqHXixzSRiNvmaIFUmYBPLEbCYP1gwV6gf4F17Ere/s320/12+June+09+388.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a Japanese selection</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhePCHCvAc6DhbSY1miVsg8rwUloaPAGV6EGj7qWHGjz9J8EwumoHgmRRWM5oFce_VEOECn4Pw2JNZZC_g4J1touyNqmFUr6ltDJ5f1XJcvaPAqb7oCyJyRL9Ohyphenhyphen5D1pY1TwjEMek7mCy/s1600-h/12+June+09+389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhePCHCvAc6DhbSY1miVsg8rwUloaPAGV6EGj7qWHGjz9J8EwumoHgmRRWM5oFce_VEOECn4Pw2JNZZC_g4J1touyNqmFUr6ltDJ5f1XJcvaPAqb7oCyJyRL9Ohyphenhyphen5D1pY1TwjEMek7mCy/s320/12+June+09+389.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Japanese make the lightest sponges!</div><br />
Sadly, our Hokkaido adventure was drawing to a close. We would be flying out the next day, to return to Tokyo. On our last night in Hokkaido, we took a long bath. The day-trippers were gone, the baths were nice and quiet, perfect for a contemplative bath before bedtime.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-37999016462309648532009-06-09T07:19:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:01:01.420-07:00Day 8: Tokyo Te AmoOur last morning in Hokkaido started with breakfast...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDZpTrURE22S8EuSld5CZp9gv2a5ZFXAXtMDKghlDWDq2yimw8pAYR4KrgZS_EkULME3U-MzOQ39sVWKjW05T7b4UCrpyz6wdqYP9UO1fib5A4AULbD44jpCtveBg083ASXhdwrsJW8Ls/s1600-h/13+June+09+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDZpTrURE22S8EuSld5CZp9gv2a5ZFXAXtMDKghlDWDq2yimw8pAYR4KrgZS_EkULME3U-MzOQ39sVWKjW05T7b4UCrpyz6wdqYP9UO1fib5A4AULbD44jpCtveBg083ASXhdwrsJW8Ls/s320/13+June+09+013.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our last breakfast in Hokkaido</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbh-Nyg_cqxOXzgcqMtMkFo8SQ3Vnud7_yPuyEtzuUy_qApjOAGTQPunDZK5_zVBnNzOP9Ec1lKZkD7dLjmku6vnfEYGE6sViFUAFpVNrddmOqGB-2aYFfoU37nKIiCSTYAd1jB3MViLi/s1600-h/13+June+09+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbh-Nyg_cqxOXzgcqMtMkFo8SQ3Vnud7_yPuyEtzuUy_qApjOAGTQPunDZK5_zVBnNzOP9Ec1lKZkD7dLjmku6vnfEYGE6sViFUAFpVNrddmOqGB-2aYFfoU37nKIiCSTYAd1jB3MViLi/s320/13+June+09+014.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our last breakfast in Hokkaido</div><br />
... and a bath. Then it was time to say goodbye to Asahidake Onsen and the Bearmonte Hotel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjJADQEmLc7_V0uqzfO6YEpvQFabGZ-3UTkpVsmUnfT18iG5NpNPbqeXQOQD-tuZOsSq0eSoBBn7rqW2IeQAKKEfbHLI0VrWl3FCSxWoznXqbfr4nOdg6r4sseP_ZLgPr7yxA3RFbeNbi/s1600-h/13+June+09+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjJADQEmLc7_V0uqzfO6YEpvQFabGZ-3UTkpVsmUnfT18iG5NpNPbqeXQOQD-tuZOsSq0eSoBBn7rqW2IeQAKKEfbHLI0VrWl3FCSxWoznXqbfr4nOdg6r4sseP_ZLgPr7yxA3RFbeNbi/s320/13+June+09+017.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Bearmonte foyer</div><br />
We took a cab from the onsen to Asahikawa Airport, a ride that cost a whopping 7700¥ (SGD $123.20). There wasn't an alternative though - the public bus wasn't scheduled to get us to the airport in time for our flight - so we sat back and enjoyed the most expensive cab ride we have ever taken.<br />
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We got to the airport in plenty of time, but as luck would have it, our flight was delayed by an hour anyway. Not surprisingly, we headed for one of these family restaurants at the airport and had ourselves...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODhQ7ERl3_4EAO23fbaQX7P70ckklCraPGbzR-zOJV8ltF25qzSh1WNFs8zeFdT84Op_UbUPWTj9Wk2j5Dfd0a2GcuK7exZyJx1hpJJUtiiLrxcoO8d5-iXCkR68xpb0PzlieFGLo84yb/s1600-h/13+June+09+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODhQ7ERl3_4EAO23fbaQX7P70ckklCraPGbzR-zOJV8ltF25qzSh1WNFs8zeFdT84Op_UbUPWTj9Wk2j5Dfd0a2GcuK7exZyJx1hpJJUtiiLrxcoO8d5-iXCkR68xpb0PzlieFGLo84yb/s320/13+June+09+021.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a Hokkai bento</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoqsRbm00v9uXg8Y5KEBa41ws5zyMxXxPq_Mk3ApyzgYRitfNoWp2LMFqMVep1ViWldsCYPRm2AsAV5LVvgNqCTXih5bFF_mqMOC-f5YWkNCqr7CO00qBvy3U-JQjKIBpG6gevObF1AKe/s1600-h/13+June+09+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoqsRbm00v9uXg8Y5KEBa41ws5zyMxXxPq_Mk3ApyzgYRitfNoWp2LMFqMVep1ViWldsCYPRm2AsAV5LVvgNqCTXih5bFF_mqMOC-f5YWkNCqr7CO00qBvy3U-JQjKIBpG6gevObF1AKe/s320/13+June+09+027.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">beef steak bento</div><br />
Fittingly, the restaurant (and the airport as a whole) had a great view of Hokkaido's mountains.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxr64LFDDcDDigSfmtDzXzzTmpHJxWfQIhSKvFCHFK1c3_8hfj_Sh12E-vz83kyxJua7LlqhbGe_mOKHfHg8ddBC9ACq9aJ4Hn6l2hAY1n75TyUTg6o9f89CQBaK1rJcpiRriBP96wpog/s1600-h/13+June+09+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxr64LFDDcDDigSfmtDzXzzTmpHJxWfQIhSKvFCHFK1c3_8hfj_Sh12E-vz83kyxJua7LlqhbGe_mOKHfHg8ddBC9ACq9aJ4Hn6l2hAY1n75TyUTg6o9f89CQBaK1rJcpiRriBP96wpog/s320/13+June+09+026.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">till we meet again</div><br />
The flight back to Tokyo was on Air-Do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb34YUmmBFRlWlH0bCWZNLilrKkclMifnN81KODgeXx6Ia_XjxnMtLzDS04GlEYv16ZXtMJE7eHziyRToFKaZqtPuJVTylE8kWbxpoPWTms1dHLWQo8uq9lCo7a_vmS37l8U6cWmCduoC/s1600-h/13+June+09+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb34YUmmBFRlWlH0bCWZNLilrKkclMifnN81KODgeXx6Ia_XjxnMtLzDS04GlEYv16ZXtMJE7eHziyRToFKaZqtPuJVTylE8kWbxpoPWTms1dHLWQo8uq9lCo7a_vmS37l8U6cWmCduoC/s320/13+June+09+031.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Air-Do Bear in the holding area</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkj6BXCWE5UROJfOL-A-3Zlgrw8cGxLfrJ9iYV5UDMFWRnb5QJYQG-bJP5pLtmIWIn_XzOJJVNBON-xgINsWgtTPlWHuyQaQ51rtQezC6GqBeqspvDzqakAYPZAhp90_kAtihKB_T9CnZ/s1600-h/13+June+09+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkj6BXCWE5UROJfOL-A-3Zlgrw8cGxLfrJ9iYV5UDMFWRnb5QJYQG-bJP5pLtmIWIn_XzOJJVNBON-xgINsWgtTPlWHuyQaQ51rtQezC6GqBeqspvDzqakAYPZAhp90_kAtihKB_T9CnZ/s320/13+June+09+034.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">kawaii ne!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83tfICmu3uE6YYHYoPY2vutTCOEmQtjgeLIj-AzHeerCz5LBzVx_A9JwhBBaB2OWQZuOeuxCGAaVJ_J0W1P8J-7JaQwfR6guL71fDC7tnFmOLeBqO1Zod5xiMhf8GjOxwvur5WP3sBq9q/s1600-h/13+June+09+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83tfICmu3uE6YYHYoPY2vutTCOEmQtjgeLIj-AzHeerCz5LBzVx_A9JwhBBaB2OWQZuOeuxCGAaVJ_J0W1P8J-7JaQwfR6guL71fDC7tnFmOLeBqO1Zod5xiMhf8GjOxwvur5WP3sBq9q/s320/13+June+09+036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our last look at Hokkaido lol</div><br />
An hour and a half later, we were back in Tokyo. We hadn't been able to get a booking at the Oakwood Shinjuku apartments and so went with the Park Hotel at Shiodome instead. From Haneda Airport, we took the Keisei line to Daimon Station and then to Shiodome Station. Phew!<br />
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From the start, HM was thrilled. The hotel was just her cup of tea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ddKPr7xx5mcbGX1twy3gXvrXzBi09JAZoY3yTZU93wUTuztrBJgb9yNQYZ2rjAfAxeZ9_oOWF2plVCAlmU7ze3p5JOIOyjWVmC2d7AZ_eJcU3Mk_HuskGBVmYI16RupqgMATUipeCFSU/s1600-h/13+June+09+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ddKPr7xx5mcbGX1twy3gXvrXzBi09JAZoY3yTZU93wUTuztrBJgb9yNQYZ2rjAfAxeZ9_oOWF2plVCAlmU7ze3p5JOIOyjWVmC2d7AZ_eJcU3Mk_HuskGBVmYI16RupqgMATUipeCFSU/s320/13+June+09+052.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">masculine, with clean lines</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQ9ULuRTT-PhuOAYogArpPtFdvYTNqoGEt9FgMs5QPWU9Eo71NWNAgwx5oIndo9KhBhx-glpmmi-5tyaiK4glZMLNryWFWp6qO1nzhWHH5hjXhBR74CjVVv1avKUyzAyZ0R8X3JbiROon/s1600-h/13+June+09+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQ9ULuRTT-PhuOAYogArpPtFdvYTNqoGEt9FgMs5QPWU9Eo71NWNAgwx5oIndo9KhBhx-glpmmi-5tyaiK4glZMLNryWFWp6qO1nzhWHH5hjXhBR74CjVVv1avKUyzAyZ0R8X3JbiROon/s320/13+June+09+041.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with a view of Tokyo Bay</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy2_RHe3oaOf_KgaSc5D4B2Bt0hjtkib8hjI9m1hB13NRDAN6RPtis_uuPVCwZAXJc_R4CeQx5uJr1Y2AGr5wQm87We3RQOUanDWegZq8-RreoaqgwObJPOhA4AFjaiL-hR9oGSK45rbJ/s1600-h/13+June+09+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy2_RHe3oaOf_KgaSc5D4B2Bt0hjtkib8hjI9m1hB13NRDAN6RPtis_uuPVCwZAXJc_R4CeQx5uJr1Y2AGr5wQm87We3RQOUanDWegZq8-RreoaqgwObJPOhA4AFjaiL-hR9oGSK45rbJ/s320/13+June+09+038.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">modern and stylish</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkBRcWx6j_jYQSuWPmyFcuNpCJ4hvWp4Ah8nQXGZED8ynBuFDGpuKwUaa2ffxaptde-30rlwWU2N471Cl6SlWn7t5Gncr6WXQrfTxFXIHS6rh45OBMOUGRcpz9FV5Czy2YQ7VnUA0CT6J/s1600-h/13+June+09+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkBRcWx6j_jYQSuWPmyFcuNpCJ4hvWp4Ah8nQXGZED8ynBuFDGpuKwUaa2ffxaptde-30rlwWU2N471Cl6SlWn7t5Gncr6WXQrfTxFXIHS6rh45OBMOUGRcpz9FV5Czy2YQ7VnUA0CT6J/s320/13+June+09+040.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yet functional</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJu4ayZc44-YX3NoyNOBve5hs5USIzsePqZX5MCfJLJTkd9fopRe5pfRgkiQ_DqCpaVxKL_sEgIuFadvzI8xRp7XIcSSJvlUIVyxuQbR-ZkpS4LQTiNHzmGdNYqjKUFhaaeAovOmavumF/s1600-h/13+June+09+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJu4ayZc44-YX3NoyNOBve5hs5USIzsePqZX5MCfJLJTkd9fopRe5pfRgkiQ_DqCpaVxKL_sEgIuFadvzI8xRp7XIcSSJvlUIVyxuQbR-ZkpS4LQTiNHzmGdNYqjKUFhaaeAovOmavumF/s320/13+June+09+045.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">always, a super-efficient bathroom</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVDadoV_MuiRMxvdvdUSuqS5gnK1AZPaR4lIoQ1c2PFLq6MaMgJWZJiY6MTaON8MkG8b9H5KkuGc6GzzsSMh9DVTo6kO-2HRGz-n3TPwgzEzvPK5RG3x8x9TdyXRy3TVrMH6QTYrPjIqn/s1600-h/13+June+09+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVDadoV_MuiRMxvdvdUSuqS5gnK1AZPaR4lIoQ1c2PFLq6MaMgJWZJiY6MTaON8MkG8b9H5KkuGc6GzzsSMh9DVTo6kO-2HRGz-n3TPwgzEzvPK5RG3x8x9TdyXRy3TVrMH6QTYrPjIqn/s320/13+June+09+046.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">with a bath-tub of course</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_TqMyYeVkj1PoKjhiB_3HzWCZ5Uz3tFiuwMoLVG2c0otXV-uDinh91LNUq8S_qmx8a9VaIUut9ABxzB0NVxSRQlvhCCexp2uCLN-KfoXUzDzy9OBeuHyX_IdRISB4rxr69Qez4qtqVBH/s1600-h/13+June+09+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_TqMyYeVkj1PoKjhiB_3HzWCZ5Uz3tFiuwMoLVG2c0otXV-uDinh91LNUq8S_qmx8a9VaIUut9ABxzB0NVxSRQlvhCCexp2uCLN-KfoXUzDzy9OBeuHyX_IdRISB4rxr69Qez4qtqVBH/s320/13+June+09+048.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and, best of all, Harn and Thann toiletries</div><br />
We put our feet up for a while, snacking on some Hokkaido goodies that we had brought back with us...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrt0CIqL9nJyr9QSvyh_AvmQb1cOJFvHhlIYbMWEsNSREr4RxhkOiBps6OWQrDw9yuTp1nN4FrAV478p54WFceelMmvnj6DvVzRGxI2DTqb9Zbih5fsWHoe8LjN0d8QFjnpgGSxmMNV5H/s1600-h/13+June+09+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrt0CIqL9nJyr9QSvyh_AvmQb1cOJFvHhlIYbMWEsNSREr4RxhkOiBps6OWQrDw9yuTp1nN4FrAV478p54WFceelMmvnj6DvVzRGxI2DTqb9Zbih5fsWHoe8LjN0d8QFjnpgGSxmMNV5H/s320/13+June+09+043.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">strawberries coated in white chocolate</div><br />
As soon we felt rested, we headed out. Our first night back in Tokyo had to be spent in Shinjuku, the very heart of Tokyo, as far as we were concerned. After all that time spent in bucolic Hokkaido, it was good to be back in the streetscape of futuristic Shinjuku.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi06aHlIJlrYJ0-qj5JPsPnSm88-4sGZX8GoRhjE-wkZH2NvFWakwnicM75L27Lg8Fee9_ShjLIeU5LOiMX_79BIpe2z5BuW1kR-MjxpxVli2384EcTpfBYkA9ky3MeZQPPGCb-yDPolj/s1600-h/13+June+09+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi06aHlIJlrYJ0-qj5JPsPnSm88-4sGZX8GoRhjE-wkZH2NvFWakwnicM75L27Lg8Fee9_ShjLIeU5LOiMX_79BIpe2z5BuW1kR-MjxpxVli2384EcTpfBYkA9ky3MeZQPPGCb-yDPolj/s320/13+June+09+058.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRXlm1MR7bOXpluwE35RAGU3jQyXvJyUEuVokBYTV8qyxiIvCwDFZawzhIiyOxoo8A5K5jWS-8L9VVouvmQXJZZGpP1ljJCDYmr5x1-vvCZDiSRyKGeVqdEeJWAnOp6NOfyLMQkFRe_A-/s1600-h/13+June+09+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRXlm1MR7bOXpluwE35RAGU3jQyXvJyUEuVokBYTV8qyxiIvCwDFZawzhIiyOxoo8A5K5jWS-8L9VVouvmQXJZZGpP1ljJCDYmr5x1-vvCZDiSRyKGeVqdEeJWAnOp6NOfyLMQkFRe_A-/s320/13+June+09+060.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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We did a little shopping...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwqO4bHTQIfhMVPzMQ8IH_amI-h4NuPkG3fFUDL50keQt_jWddg-I1fYfNJl8O2ja9DAcfkbnZhJW426LR_Wj_-s5NQHsvrIGL785hZ8sBmW4j_YyxSCxq2jpaAPAfexG2xGYsJyuKsSD/s1600-h/13+June+09+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwqO4bHTQIfhMVPzMQ8IH_amI-h4NuPkG3fFUDL50keQt_jWddg-I1fYfNJl8O2ja9DAcfkbnZhJW426LR_Wj_-s5NQHsvrIGL785hZ8sBmW4j_YyxSCxq2jpaAPAfexG2xGYsJyuKsSD/s320/13+June+09+056.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yes, four floors and more of Uniqlo!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPSpFwnHF-raHg6OdgmApgBrm9mbz2ZEztmFekWf6X4GnklpHjGr-UdRjkS28VKZZBA15kMsoiC_cCZ4F-z29G0HL5ziyn-kMvVz2s0YetGWsM-qbCuEuom0CCVSGdPU_KvbfzgwBhCMx/s1600-h/13+June+09+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPSpFwnHF-raHg6OdgmApgBrm9mbz2ZEztmFekWf6X4GnklpHjGr-UdRjkS28VKZZBA15kMsoiC_cCZ4F-z29G0HL5ziyn-kMvVz2s0YetGWsM-qbCuEuom0CCVSGdPU_KvbfzgwBhCMx/s320/13+June+09+061.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the specs shop at Muji, where HM bought two pairs of frames</div><br />
... and a whole lot of walking. We even waded into the gay district to look for a recommended soba shop, but alas, it was not to be found.<br />
<br />
Back in Shinjuku, we finally settled for dinner at a busy izakaya-style place that specialised in grilled seafood.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuqdYkhuQNB7SHeg1LzBwrL2WRmKEkGEXrP59x86IdYO_kCCnmw3xjRsat4gnncOQJqeb8VsIYS5HDr0lAw5ucbcNE-tNS69YgFxFaOCDTDRuCJ9IQH1PVABfaHt54HNKKC6XcW5nBdBl/s1600-h/13+June+09+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuqdYkhuQNB7SHeg1LzBwrL2WRmKEkGEXrP59x86IdYO_kCCnmw3xjRsat4gnncOQJqeb8VsIYS5HDr0lAw5ucbcNE-tNS69YgFxFaOCDTDRuCJ9IQH1PVABfaHt54HNKKC6XcW5nBdBl/s320/13+June+09+088.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this one</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzdDaXQ0jAxytcFp5wXA9Zb0H-A6xcbdTUYTk03xoQEOCjayOQENMcRFvwiZ9CzAc8TsRtV6OjdXMoiu6hedzMUAm-w60v5NtcFoLn0-Y8CBEc54nUySWq_51J8-LIj1r_G4hJj9iCxyI/s1600-h/13+June+09+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzdDaXQ0jAxytcFp5wXA9Zb0H-A6xcbdTUYTk03xoQEOCjayOQENMcRFvwiZ9CzAc8TsRtV6OjdXMoiu6hedzMUAm-w60v5NtcFoLn0-Y8CBEc54nUySWq_51J8-LIj1r_G4hJj9iCxyI/s320/13+June+09+064.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">sashimi - not sure what kind</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI0EkTx7vVlOsriWxYPC5dyQ3EbjBnVZ4d5SlEULfwk03dEOFoD-JkV31VEXKEPPLyLqQHuDMZQEoLhTgJmTP4ddO6V4ZqD3aglkmWhAcaGDkwIulYX4Mh-NcsdyjaujIE0YC_B4N-0sG/s1600-h/13+June+09+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI0EkTx7vVlOsriWxYPC5dyQ3EbjBnVZ4d5SlEULfwk03dEOFoD-JkV31VEXKEPPLyLqQHuDMZQEoLhTgJmTP4ddO6V4ZqD3aglkmWhAcaGDkwIulYX4Mh-NcsdyjaujIE0YC_B4N-0sG/s320/13+June+09+071.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">grilled whole squid</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtvuekBC-3lzjE340jS20WRNo4WGR7XaSnZdYhSU16OF2O8lByktomO_FG7EErJ41dv62n17q5v234aClvolPCOgq9oMKhB4F8Q6dk1KJluakDeiqLgAq4jk8Wu-MLAtVm10AazkoR7Wl/s1600-h/13+June+09+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtvuekBC-3lzjE340jS20WRNo4WGR7XaSnZdYhSU16OF2O8lByktomO_FG7EErJ41dv62n17q5v234aClvolPCOgq9oMKhB4F8Q6dk1KJluakDeiqLgAq4jk8Wu-MLAtVm10AazkoR7Wl/s320/13+June+09+087.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">grilled hamaguri clam</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMZdOY7TyqoNx1MgtrX5fClM68GPrbcj5okWaA_mlIlItyqGn9iWyiqkJf25K-Ub96r9CHBeRpG-e7t3KTaMbOqfkCbeAGXACPCRuDN_MJIZQD3a94Yc2iv9_YrDnlZ2IwFNGQ8rK8y-w/s1600-h/13+June+09+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMZdOY7TyqoNx1MgtrX5fClM68GPrbcj5okWaA_mlIlItyqGn9iWyiqkJf25K-Ub96r9CHBeRpG-e7t3KTaMbOqfkCbeAGXACPCRuDN_MJIZQD3a94Yc2iv9_YrDnlZ2IwFNGQ8rK8y-w/s320/13+June+09+073.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">instant noodles, I swear, but with clams</div><br />
Washed down with some cola and sake, it was a decent enough meal, though nothing to write home about. What it did do though was to prove that we should always have a professional grill our seafood for us; we were abysmally bad at it.<br />
<br />
Thus ended our first day back in Tokyo.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-60743998230096944272009-06-08T08:45:00.000-07:002010-03-27T20:23:09.252-07:00Day 9: Tokyo Te AmoOne of the main attractions of Park Hotel is its location. It is fifteen minutes' walk from Tsukiji Market, the world-renowned fish market. Unfortunately for us, the market closes on Sundays. We didn't find out till we were actually there at some godforsaken time; we had forgotten to check the market's schedule. Anyway, that meant that we were up and about and walking around the Shiodome area bright and early, which was when we chanced upon this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eW8AH4BLy3d3c4F1NZQlqfmDkpS9oF0A1mUMiPg4bWnEJ_mp8PRv2k14WI8jUh8T4E1JNBMn6XBruGNpWSDiVmeOwfPhZqVVYS2uYFmwLNK4HcfYrTEhG6HgBHA2BkGW7TpPDlMl4iFt/s1600-h/14+June+09+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eW8AH4BLy3d3c4F1NZQlqfmDkpS9oF0A1mUMiPg4bWnEJ_mp8PRv2k14WI8jUh8T4E1JNBMn6XBruGNpWSDiVmeOwfPhZqVVYS2uYFmwLNK4HcfYrTEhG6HgBHA2BkGW7TpPDlMl4iFt/s320/14+June+09+002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a Ghibli-designed clock, clearly inspired by Howl's Moving Castle</div><br />
Sundays are Harajuku days. The plan was to spend the day wandering around the neighbourhood. This required a change of trains at Yoyogi, so we decided to have breakfast at the Tully's there.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4RNS0RXXh83BTyIY31PVle62pOeroks1cqmNMZOaqc4QmUZJUzPt54Q4NCGfsxF66g9iQZQGi8JrmeWbN34aznP5143SgXG74m27uEmorWCRx66bD4fDGzVPNfw-vR6Pp9viG1RMyEvR/s1600-h/14+June+09+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4RNS0RXXh83BTyIY31PVle62pOeroks1cqmNMZOaqc4QmUZJUzPt54Q4NCGfsxF66g9iQZQGi8JrmeWbN34aznP5143SgXG74m27uEmorWCRx66bD4fDGzVPNfw-vR6Pp9viG1RMyEvR/s320/14+June+09+004.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">coffee, cheese and egg toast, and plain toast</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gM9hjA-6qvEviRftvzQYovYpSPA4F199bot4WsXUX7jkaUSbPAZZDbswS0K4xDZ8NmaZHvVuDgSudXjP0SF6QtSLk3yQ_gsZvEpduN81vGxoqnEP-vuWFQ3sLaueGva4TTF1P6gG6Wz2/s1600-h/14+June+09+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gM9hjA-6qvEviRftvzQYovYpSPA4F199bot4WsXUX7jkaUSbPAZZDbswS0K4xDZ8NmaZHvVuDgSudXjP0SF6QtSLk3yQ_gsZvEpduN81vGxoqnEP-vuWFQ3sLaueGva4TTF1P6gG6Wz2/s320/14+June+09+005.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this boy was doing work - heh not so different from Singapore</div><br />
Then it was back to Yoyogi Station for a quick ride to Harajuku.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxMrPUFev1qgxXWDKNXPEl_rUmZScaBA6_NPRj29MDYjzgtApMTOMhr5urDBNWLDIF141RCNwYEFdM-5IyjUhrrt1eM5ee8MSjZNLVGjuRfIRlmsBjaHXLo5Yzc4_JpBDdQSzMlJVS53u/s1600-h/14+June+09+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxMrPUFev1qgxXWDKNXPEl_rUmZScaBA6_NPRj29MDYjzgtApMTOMhr5urDBNWLDIF141RCNwYEFdM-5IyjUhrrt1eM5ee8MSjZNLVGjuRfIRlmsBjaHXLo5Yzc4_JpBDdQSzMlJVS53u/s320/14+June+09+006.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yoyogi Station</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9dPNl16KTn3R8a7NiZ73u1bPNY4dxtPfInKrQ1FsFOFSKDD8c7Q2H1gor7RsxtxI4FR4FJlfUc1dlVFRy5qCXg5veEYXPvgsvom0oxQVkpycXokuvfGQ9Cl0Ije8amaD36x2sbsXoG0l/s1600-h/14+June+09+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9dPNl16KTn3R8a7NiZ73u1bPNY4dxtPfInKrQ1FsFOFSKDD8c7Q2H1gor7RsxtxI4FR4FJlfUc1dlVFRy5qCXg5veEYXPvgsvom0oxQVkpycXokuvfGQ9Cl0Ije8amaD36x2sbsXoG0l/s320/14+June+09+011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">what we didn't have for breakfast - cream-filled hot dogs omg</div><br />
Harajuku was, as always, a feast for the eyes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4uGJ3HPVscyOc5IfWKDlD1fQ5uwmwG51p6_Cb2FA_0OeIwKlcIorXBERHtw0J9a_W8A3qAt6KeodJoUmHFIhkgly-CIdBXEIJ88Hd4gjSn-y2W7DFskjsCY3O_skr5FEyduOy8G_rbli/s1600-h/14+June+09+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4uGJ3HPVscyOc5IfWKDlD1fQ5uwmwG51p6_Cb2FA_0OeIwKlcIorXBERHtw0J9a_W8A3qAt6KeodJoUmHFIhkgly-CIdBXEIJ88Hd4gjSn-y2W7DFskjsCY3O_skr5FEyduOy8G_rbli/s320/14+June+09+014.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">wow, no smorking indeed</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy0HRJvV-V4xPqUqaR386VPJOZdcPiTF4LX6UPPDuX2w3JLyosiUazNQUAQNUDwPMtJzRk6AyY6Z01YOjptTsWtkFJU-ZHRA82FQ511fHbP3UNSAbo51FDncOsz3Lc3boKPVjEeprcuTw/s1600-h/14+June+09+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy0HRJvV-V4xPqUqaR386VPJOZdcPiTF4LX6UPPDuX2w3JLyosiUazNQUAQNUDwPMtJzRk6AyY6Z01YOjptTsWtkFJU-ZHRA82FQ511fHbP3UNSAbo51FDncOsz3Lc3boKPVjEeprcuTw/s320/14+June+09+017.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cute t-shirts - too bad the material was not to my liking</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQGcJhKfE5r59IUtGjZ0oPsYaSxVM1RhBVsVrHLWpxafi-ZgJurOPPvkQDLa9ZeVZ4PSVKwIRPOilhuASo6wWLswTXVApy0ERIS0ixTj_mnrShJaoY9hCZiDWSkF6TtWFkHbOOEv6ZLC-/s1600-h/14+June+09+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQGcJhKfE5r59IUtGjZ0oPsYaSxVM1RhBVsVrHLWpxafi-ZgJurOPPvkQDLa9ZeVZ4PSVKwIRPOilhuASo6wWLswTXVApy0ERIS0ixTj_mnrShJaoY9hCZiDWSkF6TtWFkHbOOEv6ZLC-/s320/14+June+09+013.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">doggy outfits</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK40hsvOwfxrXsUV0JcJc8ra2NIOBcg6ncoIkSOCdWUAnsXyctsY6tWsCqPEMpVFANQMhKTYUyLf9OWYncLugrSB0AwaTozfXz4bBqrETz76jrqJ2tlqVjDuJuv_sWecyWNkVm5AfDe5iu/s1600-h/14+June+09+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK40hsvOwfxrXsUV0JcJc8ra2NIOBcg6ncoIkSOCdWUAnsXyctsY6tWsCqPEMpVFANQMhKTYUyLf9OWYncLugrSB0AwaTozfXz4bBqrETz76jrqJ2tlqVjDuJuv_sWecyWNkVm5AfDe5iu/s320/14+June+09+018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we grabbed a Harajuku crepe</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMZIYvKcuztjbLte_fg-RreG0wx5Vb4hSWfXdFAiu6LkuxhiUJ76gpKwFSJkXcf71lItdqrLW2K9Jvdwpt0gy7b4dgYvM9GE_WW6BNPPPZzZYUCZDjhW6CWx8bmBT11wZ0_aBl1-JYHRp/s1600-h/14+June+09+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMZIYvKcuztjbLte_fg-RreG0wx5Vb4hSWfXdFAiu6LkuxhiUJ76gpKwFSJkXcf71lItdqrLW2K9Jvdwpt0gy7b4dgYvM9GE_WW6BNPPPZzZYUCZDjhW6CWx8bmBT11wZ0_aBl1-JYHRp/s320/14+June+09+020.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one of these</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogdV8vpsyOmsr4S_iG8oq9f6sVS_vwhuxNdoQ_C7WYsbaKiL8oG-ZTJw6YE9Omq0yIR0ra4EJ1jHSnpU2BwphcM04tR27ZPgY-UO3qE8_q_FQSETmfyU-i5vS_Y74nT74kU-LKLyH1H7u/s1600-h/14+June+09+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogdV8vpsyOmsr4S_iG8oq9f6sVS_vwhuxNdoQ_C7WYsbaKiL8oG-ZTJw6YE9Omq0yIR0ra4EJ1jHSnpU2BwphcM04tR27ZPgY-UO3qE8_q_FQSETmfyU-i5vS_Y74nT74kU-LKLyH1H7u/s320/14+June+09+023.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the hordes poured in</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwk9UB6ZAuXcf4qj4VGYr8MKVs4-qdZAsMGevMZdOfgcvqRX3A23w7QyvbyGcahamWc-uQOK8G-ZYkAFalnyGdgCoQ2Re7dBV7d-nSwSNifajeTR1QIWxJPPCtnUeufwja3u8TOt-9-NK/s1600-h/14+June+09+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwk9UB6ZAuXcf4qj4VGYr8MKVs4-qdZAsMGevMZdOfgcvqRX3A23w7QyvbyGcahamWc-uQOK8G-ZYkAFalnyGdgCoQ2Re7dBV7d-nSwSNifajeTR1QIWxJPPCtnUeufwja3u8TOt-9-NK/s320/14+June+09+033.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mostly young women</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQ8eeoqXKTO1MQ_EV0_3imfznE06JkqHNuUNVY7fomXbrtv-vGO68uHAt9ZwQntkRgzgBYNfL8uS81eh4W7-hQNxCS1p28WTOSPdviKPDkkjXkpJmTXXHw8_b3t0RiETwRyOmzbO4vUYm/s1600-h/14+June+09+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQ8eeoqXKTO1MQ_EV0_3imfznE06JkqHNuUNVY7fomXbrtv-vGO68uHAt9ZwQntkRgzgBYNfL8uS81eh4W7-hQNxCS1p28WTOSPdviKPDkkjXkpJmTXXHw8_b3t0RiETwRyOmzbO4vUYm/s320/14+June+09+055.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the latest (and hippest) craze</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirENmrnGOst3x_7JJStQVHBk4Ppber4Q5pWkAGDQtQJmqT5nMNVVAQsQUqCkJZF9ItUw3b1t7ZLuHCjIkfZfRGHIvbR3J4Rb9rflRLfw-2xrox5mh5lvYN7CrHQuhm4CIt0UT49UjJ0wJ8/s1600-h/14+June+09+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirENmrnGOst3x_7JJStQVHBk4Ppber4Q5pWkAGDQtQJmqT5nMNVVAQsQUqCkJZF9ItUw3b1t7ZLuHCjIkfZfRGHIvbR3J4Rb9rflRLfw-2xrox5mh5lvYN7CrHQuhm4CIt0UT49UjJ0wJ8/s320/14+June+09+056.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ice cream from Hokkaido!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYHQikAJWNKb-Ce4MfDQA0oX8DDVyGismYwfvvQcE48bxFUr4MaDJcGNjUBB4stMEdIw7GkMjxnPWou614Wbhx_zuooMs23fzPA_kPH9bLSe4_AED1z5xOSRTTizJELi8XPSaopT6RHdv/s1600-h/14+June+09+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYHQikAJWNKb-Ce4MfDQA0oX8DDVyGismYwfvvQcE48bxFUr4MaDJcGNjUBB4stMEdIw7GkMjxnPWou614Wbhx_zuooMs23fzPA_kPH9bLSe4_AED1z5xOSRTTizJELi8XPSaopT6RHdv/s320/14+June+09+060.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yes, the Hanabatake ice-cream chain</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7-qfwGKp-4s8r0cfJYRkoIyJqX6qIpMBrz2btErZUKN-qMQ_1xMTd6diNPdeGDJlS1ythbeDd_OOxhQ7_JDii_7nYq9c5tvs7iqEBXf19ArZoEcgsu59h1LdkQbz71Jf1evADo1mrx-b/s1600-h/14+June+09+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7-qfwGKp-4s8r0cfJYRkoIyJqX6qIpMBrz2btErZUKN-qMQ_1xMTd6diNPdeGDJlS1ythbeDd_OOxhQ7_JDii_7nYq9c5tvs7iqEBXf19ArZoEcgsu59h1LdkQbz71Jf1evADo1mrx-b/s320/14+June+09+062.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">another queue for something sweet - entrance to a food court selling nothing but desserts</div><br />
Then there were these fun murals:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2lmyPpzeWWONi86uPRr4_H4TtwdQuFyjZB-bnKVpezPBVEPZgXEgMnQaXJrV5Ft-iMQQV2tN3SNtcMbid4i0bsOR8UajkHpHVm-Z2smDNxhrX_faktHfM44M0Aq-y1Qrv6pWPj37_mo-/s1600-h/14+June+09+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2lmyPpzeWWONi86uPRr4_H4TtwdQuFyjZB-bnKVpezPBVEPZgXEgMnQaXJrV5Ft-iMQQV2tN3SNtcMbid4i0bsOR8UajkHpHVm-Z2smDNxhrX_faktHfM44M0Aq-y1Qrv6pWPj37_mo-/s320/14+June+09+063.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQcxFbalaekJ79uz8KGvELqKcLmL7ma-PDapwfIW4LHrXkJXAVs4j5-QPRc2p3QUPY_fsQZ9qBDj3JuZouzre1588ASV03j9fHz9XR0kIWP3NQtoyC3yfzluTgj6O0ug9ZFv5VHSC8VNE/s1600-h/14+June+09+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQcxFbalaekJ79uz8KGvELqKcLmL7ma-PDapwfIW4LHrXkJXAVs4j5-QPRc2p3QUPY_fsQZ9qBDj3JuZouzre1588ASV03j9fHz9XR0kIWP3NQtoyC3yfzluTgj6O0ug9ZFv5VHSC8VNE/s320/14+June+09+064.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NF5zqUYQPp59gLM3fFCZXJ3fi7wNfCR8elBfUXPhMG3UitU7syd32GyHCDvU7UMGM1OFgwnBLQn_e8naFeQ5D5ApkLJs7MJjPAB6-xkY2VAblFpHjGkaUUD7PwzQn2CDRp5Ab50F1RVL/s1600-h/14+June+09+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NF5zqUYQPp59gLM3fFCZXJ3fi7wNfCR8elBfUXPhMG3UitU7syd32GyHCDvU7UMGM1OFgwnBLQn_e8naFeQ5D5ApkLJs7MJjPAB6-xkY2VAblFpHjGkaUUD7PwzQn2CDRp5Ab50F1RVL/s320/14+June+09+065.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfbZGuU5tGCiqXwjrayp4rpz1yDqM1CtdlQeddcLdEkv3LpQyz-HPDhxkGwfZlvSs8AIixbJQzr3QYuGMdBKBvs_LbB6Wzw34QznqKmwC7_JdosV-RATw2ex5jidff8nlIYM2MTeVi6g9/s1600-h/14+June+09+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfbZGuU5tGCiqXwjrayp4rpz1yDqM1CtdlQeddcLdEkv3LpQyz-HPDhxkGwfZlvSs8AIixbJQzr3QYuGMdBKBvs_LbB6Wzw34QznqKmwC7_JdosV-RATw2ex5jidff8nlIYM2MTeVi6g9/s320/14+June+09+066.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
We turned into the back lanes of Harajuku which are lined with an eclectic mix of fashionable boutiques and themed eateries.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCCu_1pXh05yLhTiiQl-AwJCgqcsKePpMR04esksK9yiS1V3raf_C1nNFk6a0dxflCDnEiDnS3Hj49L0-rf7EfKeAf2_w7giujekqkuxuW2U7W9t9njbtavnSwRG8bFIpmsaffqZTOtdO/s1600-h/14+June+09+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCCu_1pXh05yLhTiiQl-AwJCgqcsKePpMR04esksK9yiS1V3raf_C1nNFk6a0dxflCDnEiDnS3Hj49L0-rf7EfKeAf2_w7giujekqkuxuW2U7W9t9njbtavnSwRG8bFIpmsaffqZTOtdO/s320/14+June+09+081.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">punk lolitha brand</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3FELWPki38q-Pr_-P9BF0MgN2nV_Yf98VnbYm6y2QLR3n7ypPZHSzwBR_G8fYomGONOJt1PS6isf8tbdECvdlRdZmxq-s5-dwFDkA20K8bYDALt9c8Qm9odi6eFZvpM342M8KUm81P41/s1600-h/14+June+09+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3FELWPki38q-Pr_-P9BF0MgN2nV_Yf98VnbYm6y2QLR3n7ypPZHSzwBR_G8fYomGONOJt1PS6isf8tbdECvdlRdZmxq-s5-dwFDkA20K8bYDALt9c8Qm9odi6eFZvpM342M8KUm81P41/s320/14+June+09+089.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">food & fashion - how Japanese</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDShZMTVAZ7jPNplnm-Dq2V8YWBpuDArvth9Iu270gEpr8XTDfHHTt_5QnjFd_UHLppD-f72bWk3EtY6h6MK-EWTflYuaMjbGfIUZUMGs1iZoXLLsCkqiGZqST4HcITa-KUo1uNVBQExuI/s1600-h/14+June+09+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDShZMTVAZ7jPNplnm-Dq2V8YWBpuDArvth9Iu270gEpr8XTDfHHTt_5QnjFd_UHLppD-f72bWk3EtY6h6MK-EWTflYuaMjbGfIUZUMGs1iZoXLLsCkqiGZqST4HcITa-KUo1uNVBQExuI/s320/14+June+09+091.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">typical of Japanese obsession with the foreign & the exotic</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuebEgwuHGj-c_jVe862bmSbjJCtc2VMZfmQOUYpiX6x6J7RIsqVcOVbxEsLbC01MEMQJ6KU1hyyvtLZ2pVBEFYVHNdk_HQsPDFqLqKGeyzljgFpRpdL7_aH5JP9xKViQShQvULOjUxJo/s1600-h/14+June+09+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuebEgwuHGj-c_jVe862bmSbjJCtc2VMZfmQOUYpiX6x6J7RIsqVcOVbxEsLbC01MEMQJ6KU1hyyvtLZ2pVBEFYVHNdk_HQsPDFqLqKGeyzljgFpRpdL7_aH5JP9xKViQShQvULOjUxJo/s320/14+June+09+093.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jindian cuisine, anyone?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFrBvmDdW_jV3irPA80X8aSf3Up32xFeLEt8nnrcW5U3_fn0o8TVhd-bJXvJ8VZxVL6xfm3_ANlofjRCwyWkOKm0wlw96mhxEKtL9z0TT9DJ5KLmj1A_uTDa9fEp04y2l9eu_XoomJNFa/s1600-h/14+June+09+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFrBvmDdW_jV3irPA80X8aSf3Up32xFeLEt8nnrcW5U3_fn0o8TVhd-bJXvJ8VZxVL6xfm3_ANlofjRCwyWkOKm0wlw96mhxEKtL9z0TT9DJ5KLmj1A_uTDa9fEp04y2l9eu_XoomJNFa/s320/14+June+09+095.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">of course the colonial Indian cafe is next to a knitting shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOYko2qyBR_WCE4nVAJNmMA_7lBIRa9hn29JYSJpkJyR1RhuUUqRS8jMW9W6m6FRDdQVIQgVBlPNHFwvT7UlLu8dKic-YOUvi3yEoJyZ0GLWDRmyhBttLUy1NKiFZI336c75Pd9J0eelP/s1600-h/14+June+09+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOYko2qyBR_WCE4nVAJNmMA_7lBIRa9hn29JYSJpkJyR1RhuUUqRS8jMW9W6m6FRDdQVIQgVBlPNHFwvT7UlLu8dKic-YOUvi3yEoJyZ0GLWDRmyhBttLUy1NKiFZI336c75Pd9J0eelP/s320/14+June+09+100.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">another hip Japanese brand</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fbckOgtYXVLNLRYIfwZO9bZKuCO8Okq7z3Gc56lB2vndKDZPsGvtPCbaCVXjvmy-2vWP5rz2mvOf3vhwWABD4VDCA4_DCLBi0b_bGB-mT9e3l8D0VjMTK0v1EyrfoshbmiwRZEt2bl2I/s1600-h/14+June+09+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fbckOgtYXVLNLRYIfwZO9bZKuCO8Okq7z3Gc56lB2vndKDZPsGvtPCbaCVXjvmy-2vWP5rz2mvOf3vhwWABD4VDCA4_DCLBi0b_bGB-mT9e3l8D0VjMTK0v1EyrfoshbmiwRZEt2bl2I/s320/14+June+09+101.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ok that's so wrong - the Japlish or the concept, I don't know</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKjnsJS6OCqEmnaresi4DLmzZ3Wyd5RpN2qHCd5bhmd_AxL1IT-2XS7rwrSDjJcZhcmHtbKPLzPkxpL5huFyLtQ5_qjTS3bZBXKmLQqSLFS8e8hasX7gThWc7J8tQ3svwMAYI0utG4DDR/s1600-h/14+June+09+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKjnsJS6OCqEmnaresi4DLmzZ3Wyd5RpN2qHCd5bhmd_AxL1IT-2XS7rwrSDjJcZhcmHtbKPLzPkxpL5huFyLtQ5_qjTS3bZBXKmLQqSLFS8e8hasX7gThWc7J8tQ3svwMAYI0utG4DDR/s320/14+June+09+102.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">oh look pink flamingos!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY5eOmBibsXVsIjOIi_E4SsYapFiH8EHnYYZxuZ0BXX3oxRD4l4X2nHf2WHUTJ_ST6_9NzH4UjBsbguj1NQxLB6ZN2SgnymtERxsLO2gP2Fq11mig0HaAFIds2rW85iLGLTwZW3de8B5A/s1600-h/14+June+09+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY5eOmBibsXVsIjOIi_E4SsYapFiH8EHnYYZxuZ0BXX3oxRD4l4X2nHf2WHUTJ_ST6_9NzH4UjBsbguj1NQxLB6ZN2SgnymtERxsLO2gP2Fq11mig0HaAFIds2rW85iLGLTwZW3de8B5A/s320/14+June+09+104.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the peasant look - only in Japan</div><br />
Unlike previous visits to Harajuku, we had no destination in mind this time. Without an itinerary of must-visit places, we were free to go where our fancy took us. Which was how we came across this place:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3yvm45liv5Ite8k_Ml5l83agXK41Hw-gD_F0TgX-8vygiWpyrJZ3YwlY_y4v0uSR7nUXb-krrm1vD3_duFk_3YLazeeFFsJ6xoYitORxR5Y7EKIBUUY1Yj7OJ3YB77TNgJWVzOufbf9F/s1600-h/14+June+09+109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3yvm45liv5Ite8k_Ml5l83agXK41Hw-gD_F0TgX-8vygiWpyrJZ3YwlY_y4v0uSR7nUXb-krrm1vD3_duFk_3YLazeeFFsJ6xoYitORxR5Y7EKIBUUY1Yj7OJ3YB77TNgJWVzOufbf9F/s320/14+June+09+109.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Omamori</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6htSOw2eBg2dhw342bFjWvIRfVFIz4PznNIaJ7HTwqeTmdQIErFqOuaEJjVPDLggaqCVTLYkdQ59XAEPjRkV6ZqgbzcsnxW4NZDGE8ipTLSHiBs7XrLn5y4cgNz-KEIpshL0xVDFWTFQ/s1600-h/14+June+09+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6htSOw2eBg2dhw342bFjWvIRfVFIz4PznNIaJ7HTwqeTmdQIErFqOuaEJjVPDLggaqCVTLYkdQ59XAEPjRkV6ZqgbzcsnxW4NZDGE8ipTLSHiBs7XrLn5y4cgNz-KEIpshL0xVDFWTFQ/s320/14+June+09+132.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">it looked nice and inviting</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGObFXxXBL7FIajAGg_bjSNUiGiceAzgJd3WICk-3vQWKQfoRMqNhHIJAvliiwEVQ0hDYYFo44QKZ5em3YFzBKbn_I0bb8sgg4x46MNEtAtMJIYijwK7uarOKz2owT0TA6e2FPxorHRUWV/s1600-h/14+June+09+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGObFXxXBL7FIajAGg_bjSNUiGiceAzgJd3WICk-3vQWKQfoRMqNhHIJAvliiwEVQ0hDYYFo44QKZ5em3YFzBKbn_I0bb8sgg4x46MNEtAtMJIYijwK7uarOKz2owT0TA6e2FPxorHRUWV/s320/14+June+09+114.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a trendy nook</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcIOS2SCsUwkvSEtHu0k2UoFISbbYxV4fJwjYRBRJ1lNrYGTreNysRLigtBVV1Mu9dc44xTbfckEZRNls7VmQ6bJJK-XtQJ6NzwdjrKf9dmBNh-5VXB9FpUHhNxdzL8mjevnBWwRU70ii/s1600-h/14+June+09+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcIOS2SCsUwkvSEtHu0k2UoFISbbYxV4fJwjYRBRJ1lNrYGTreNysRLigtBVV1Mu9dc44xTbfckEZRNls7VmQ6bJJK-XtQJ6NzwdjrKf9dmBNh-5VXB9FpUHhNxdzL8mjevnBWwRU70ii/s320/14+June+09+116.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">filled with local denizens</div><br />
This was our chance to be part of an oshiare neighbourhood scene and we didn't hesitate.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYF_NA6folDzDGncrFfu_VTWx-RxO__nKjHLruuVw2ME9akewEZsAazKX232O9DCb_7xyu53AM-_5Z2aEiiqvWoWGTyLnNdBmnVU0ol-o1DJcesJWqQ_dVoTS-JBSEG70gsrewpjEHUo_3/s1600-h/14+June+09+120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYF_NA6folDzDGncrFfu_VTWx-RxO__nKjHLruuVw2ME9akewEZsAazKX232O9DCb_7xyu53AM-_5Z2aEiiqvWoWGTyLnNdBmnVU0ol-o1DJcesJWqQ_dVoTS-JBSEG70gsrewpjEHUo_3/s320/14+June+09+120.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">brown (!) rice, salad, miso soup & pickles</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBABCYXfbx4c-wZOJSPmqUcmMeqia0uD00Kv9yjw2l0b_OhoooXFTN-s1ALxTliK93WcHz-KPkJb9Obi69aqtdsqnLmuWALTnkyNwRwlzg6NbWt7NubN3A9B9egQhmSCWx8OK0ghzizrZ/s1600-h/14+June+09+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBABCYXfbx4c-wZOJSPmqUcmMeqia0uD00Kv9yjw2l0b_OhoooXFTN-s1ALxTliK93WcHz-KPkJb9Obi69aqtdsqnLmuWALTnkyNwRwlzg6NbWt7NubN3A9B9egQhmSCWx8OK0ghzizrZ/s320/14+June+09+124.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the chicken set</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRff1IDmlUkdksnh9pPKXpAq-3g-L74dbEAPUX7lT0wL9pPK53XtIHWNZIRrytXTRjMGiiPPDiT7hD97s0AgKsOy5CizzFjdNCxyouyjia_c2o9hOhiUYZdDcbqGldrU1EkLlbivA8A6lU/s1600-h/14+June+09+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRff1IDmlUkdksnh9pPKXpAq-3g-L74dbEAPUX7lT0wL9pPK53XtIHWNZIRrytXTRjMGiiPPDiT7hD97s0AgKsOy5CizzFjdNCxyouyjia_c2o9hOhiUYZdDcbqGldrU1EkLlbivA8A6lU/s320/14+June+09+126.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the pork set</div><br />
The set meals were delish and cost only 1000¥ (SGD$16) each. We were most pleased with our little find.<br />
<br />
This flyer lay on our table at Omamori...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-39vnSi7bmnSAmlLAIwl9rdBDL84kIM0-U7_NcMo4IsmTxliciExMYXqGHCYEY5x_Epr8criJWJmuKILdoIgZKlcNvwYI3aSIVoLrEqge_CR5Y_j5aa3cFgskLRr1piq7Em4YVfxjUOc9/s1600-h/14+June+09+129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-39vnSi7bmnSAmlLAIwl9rdBDL84kIM0-U7_NcMo4IsmTxliciExMYXqGHCYEY5x_Epr8criJWJmuKILdoIgZKlcNvwYI3aSIVoLrEqge_CR5Y_j5aa3cFgskLRr1piq7Em4YVfxjUOc9/s320/14+June+09+129.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
... and then we passed by the shop.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBOt_cHUTq5zexytXZ0emR3WXCSlDw2MWw_PCic_mbuLbXgIWCfDnaKrjHThavAGJa0PY9gRQ6mSP3-o1WOpqN-bj_0GrVJjhGJSgEXOIRzZ9kMCNRqpy_1XeX7CkSqYalqiVsaEwN5t8/s1600-h/14+June+09+138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBOt_cHUTq5zexytXZ0emR3WXCSlDw2MWw_PCic_mbuLbXgIWCfDnaKrjHThavAGJa0PY9gRQ6mSP3-o1WOpqN-bj_0GrVJjhGJSgEXOIRzZ9kMCNRqpy_1XeX7CkSqYalqiVsaEwN5t8/s320/14+June+09+138.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hip ne</div><br />
We had just a little bit of the Harajuku stroll left...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUv5K1SE8jdUThLaphprIV9UFKA0UwNKKkQKilCVOrZQpyCBEYichbDWKprBqVhJDM63CcXGIuInm5P8xQnUXTxtT4zWMyY832f6PDukidM1TOyDZufhoxgCnBLWdjbZk1n_Z9fGq5DtO/s1600-h/14+June+09+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUv5K1SE8jdUThLaphprIV9UFKA0UwNKKkQKilCVOrZQpyCBEYichbDWKprBqVhJDM63CcXGIuInm5P8xQnUXTxtT4zWMyY832f6PDukidM1TOyDZufhoxgCnBLWdjbZk1n_Z9fGq5DtO/s320/14+June+09+142.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">yup, they do lei it on thick</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4Nan0g5CUv7RMQVvYPJg3lwUSnjo_0yqhrQWy95kzFRw25GRLX8bLcvnDmWdjW-BHXrlbVueSUWaK98iK2wTElYAvM3bOjPq52dcU02VUvNqybXb-e_F_tpzT3_4O97x8jyq8ScNxKVR/s1600-h/14+June+09+143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4Nan0g5CUv7RMQVvYPJg3lwUSnjo_0yqhrQWy95kzFRw25GRLX8bLcvnDmWdjW-BHXrlbVueSUWaK98iK2wTElYAvM3bOjPq52dcU02VUvNqybXb-e_F_tpzT3_4O97x8jyq8ScNxKVR/s320/14+June+09+143.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mobile kakigori</div><br />
We emerged from the backlanes of Harajuku, onto the main drag of Omotesando where window shopping is de rigueur.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFhFGPGJkdrainOta_yTWNAOpwHhBGNRQyt6XOX3I_kUnihH8UdH04EnWxzBjlDOlRPDkwuEBvNtO90bXOpXhS44rrns40dDUl5ANGQtPfh9sUQUfqlV5wn4GKxsn2UfIourH__ahzrP3/s1600-h/14+June+09+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFhFGPGJkdrainOta_yTWNAOpwHhBGNRQyt6XOX3I_kUnihH8UdH04EnWxzBjlDOlRPDkwuEBvNtO90bXOpXhS44rrns40dDUl5ANGQtPfh9sUQUfqlV5wn4GKxsn2UfIourH__ahzrP3/s320/14+June+09+145.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the latest trend - organic produce</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgultK2-244tK3EHUEtGNTNboHNT8rip2XvB0jqVTKKz3Tb0OtEfhiik12ZVSFaE4JrAgxWKUX9P2zVxZMC2qkamWUFRGccN1RlpgK9LEMUNIhSGc5irr6PVzDvvxJw59-yEKXZcV5klMTm/s1600-h/14+June+09+147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgultK2-244tK3EHUEtGNTNboHNT8rip2XvB0jqVTKKz3Tb0OtEfhiik12ZVSFaE4JrAgxWKUX9P2zVxZMC2qkamWUFRGccN1RlpgK9LEMUNIhSGc5irr6PVzDvvxJw59-yEKXZcV5klMTm/s320/14+June+09+147.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">next door to Kiddyland</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd2OPggsTHfO1BzCr97HRompYQWXAP3toBN1qenKMzobnGHxi5NvNUe0lsNYqwDBBriMOcJuWJ2XBDV0A6JQV-DzET6sdaRlyZKywLWNQdbkmDUahcjiVd6JFGqsB17-3OKtgI1cVhDwa/s1600-h/14+June+09+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVd2OPggsTHfO1BzCr97HRompYQWXAP3toBN1qenKMzobnGHxi5NvNUe0lsNYqwDBBriMOcJuWJ2XBDV0A6JQV-DzET6sdaRlyZKywLWNQdbkmDUahcjiVd6JFGqsB17-3OKtgI1cVhDwa/s320/14+June+09+150.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ooh macaroon art</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTXPtdxCRPM8nvcdv9_gOYNx6UlRnztUzPuo6fC2fpg2vw6N11W82DK1rb8Z7iXU6inbq-Ln0_wJNhGJ8y78Z2OYOKep1iuPGBl2KrluI0MX3M21N9JRRBajZ1k8WKT0uLHEivj6oG4pb/s1600-h/14+June+09+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTXPtdxCRPM8nvcdv9_gOYNx6UlRnztUzPuo6fC2fpg2vw6N11W82DK1rb8Z7iXU6inbq-Ln0_wJNhGJ8y78Z2OYOKep1iuPGBl2KrluI0MX3M21N9JRRBajZ1k8WKT0uLHEivj6oG4pb/s320/14+June+09+151.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">or is that macaroon sculpture?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDyf0Y3NFmkXjs_wlVLqdge6CWXm0ojMY3yZWg1pWwtOozePlTZQ3TgCPfMNNk8B_099chRnX7Zx9mcYr-srdncOfleqifPAtsu5OvNRnrZviJmXmmxT5rcHwmsDcPuPu6LUSIFVaW0ko/s1600-h/14+June+09+156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDyf0Y3NFmkXjs_wlVLqdge6CWXm0ojMY3yZWg1pWwtOozePlTZQ3TgCPfMNNk8B_099chRnX7Zx9mcYr-srdncOfleqifPAtsu5OvNRnrZviJmXmmxT5rcHwmsDcPuPu6LUSIFVaW0ko/s320/14+June+09+156.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we didn't forget to pop into the ever-fascinating La Foret for a dose of funky creative fashion</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI-NU9FT15mUaOGfwAtKLOrjX80MepgEnbfPiS24LAz91gSwTYDrDyaUIlGi7H3a4Oq9sXMfQrRgaONCb1cQYk7cP3GGWHAtbeZtsZndFpqgzeedevA8BRLcoQSGrX3ltwDNWlJ4R7M8N/s1600-h/14+June+09+157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI-NU9FT15mUaOGfwAtKLOrjX80MepgEnbfPiS24LAz91gSwTYDrDyaUIlGi7H3a4Oq9sXMfQrRgaONCb1cQYk7cP3GGWHAtbeZtsZndFpqgzeedevA8BRLcoQSGrX3ltwDNWlJ4R7M8N/s320/14+June+09+157.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this place was new to us, so while HM was busy browsing...</div><br />
I was busy people-watching.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wSIwN5ZTU06wHilcBVFSL-emhBRnnvkoX5moG57BF-VR2VvLnqgyLNBBRiqrXe0wW7lqVBVQNkNwb_wulxkzw4FKumJgR8nwdo5pPrE0FTQ3coKBBZlODWvUrGDH2QeZW8dSe91m4Hf4/s1600-h/14+June+09+171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wSIwN5ZTU06wHilcBVFSL-emhBRnnvkoX5moG57BF-VR2VvLnqgyLNBBRiqrXe0wW7lqVBVQNkNwb_wulxkzw4FKumJgR8nwdo5pPrE0FTQ3coKBBZlODWvUrGDH2QeZW8dSe91m4Hf4/s320/14+June+09+171.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">entertainment provided by WeGo</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6iYM3RqvnVJCZYCdMAdluT-zRMxqtoKtcsNwOx4TvOmvk6sShlqie_QG5rRKQIYpfGt84LtJUd9p03dMeRn9JZAVDIXVxYmeGt76XaKOto-m3L_GYshFX-V3rfrKSL6irjbRTOPCRYkT/s1600-h/14+June+09+180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6iYM3RqvnVJCZYCdMAdluT-zRMxqtoKtcsNwOx4TvOmvk6sShlqie_QG5rRKQIYpfGt84LtJUd9p03dMeRn9JZAVDIXVxYmeGt76XaKOto-m3L_GYshFX-V3rfrKSL6irjbRTOPCRYkT/s320/14+June+09+180.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">gyarus galore</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZebLB0pxH394kHZHnChSA5l_1vwv7JpAv5eK8IiKf12iutmqqz17hQaUJp_rk5fhnzoItTJJmEJnM8baYOTnYLeTP6NoDEhaNOt7nCYnd8IIbVG50YIwqbZDtEcq1XOs1j9pK3cd8tdD/s1600-h/14+June+09+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZebLB0pxH394kHZHnChSA5l_1vwv7JpAv5eK8IiKf12iutmqqz17hQaUJp_rk5fhnzoItTJJmEJnM8baYOTnYLeTP6NoDEhaNOt7nCYnd8IIbVG50YIwqbZDtEcq1XOs1j9pK3cd8tdD/s320/14+June+09+185.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not above being tempted</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDclTCf_bIM_I2SmhTf_dFoEF8ItBItcGRlsiMTNeHpTWPqiyAnxPEqzeqVuwlQyMiK0s2tG46DQ25gBcUdqFmhbFQ9g3cIUB7VVCqxE7ik3wGSnrU-0lchbNjJlEwTsjPFR9OQfWHG3C/s1600-h/14+June+09+187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDclTCf_bIM_I2SmhTf_dFoEF8ItBItcGRlsiMTNeHpTWPqiyAnxPEqzeqVuwlQyMiK0s2tG46DQ25gBcUdqFmhbFQ9g3cIUB7VVCqxE7ik3wGSnrU-0lchbNjJlEwTsjPFR9OQfWHG3C/s320/14+June+09+187.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">anything to catch the eye</div><br />
We decided to walk to Shibuya.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvM5ILwvpEmloZI7G9F5zXDqKaOypasq3d7XQl2WD4KqqZx9vIyCRbleUlzMgt3f8ENRggweqhl-GCGI4s2slTTKAVohRKMb7w4oVFEokWCnYglqfo-1LMtc-jhPUfRHaUAwAbPuWhVJW/s1600-h/14+June+09+192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvM5ILwvpEmloZI7G9F5zXDqKaOypasq3d7XQl2WD4KqqZx9vIyCRbleUlzMgt3f8ENRggweqhl-GCGI4s2slTTKAVohRKMb7w4oVFEokWCnYglqfo-1LMtc-jhPUfRHaUAwAbPuWhVJW/s320/14+June+09+192.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">amazing, a Gundam gallery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueIfCIcupw6A4AZ3JE0opuS65wxbXBaD_pDOqE45iJaQDZQi-MkgslWHPEFMQTwcfvs14zi2h-kYopHV1vFMNc8Ps2CVMKx3_RKRWv2tW-1FVRt8qMzHkwnEHJ7ySqmwri7uaRWwfcI5z/s1600-h/14+June+09+194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueIfCIcupw6A4AZ3JE0opuS65wxbXBaD_pDOqE45iJaQDZQi-MkgslWHPEFMQTwcfvs14zi2h-kYopHV1vFMNc8Ps2CVMKx3_RKRWv2tW-1FVRt8qMzHkwnEHJ7ySqmwri7uaRWwfcI5z/s320/14+June+09+194.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">my favourite t-shirt shop</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPs269oQcrIR0gaLtw-w7t57bMhnwXzOvfkUHob-98rlUTvomofKzwCCeORATxIH-VSYsYFnskyoDQrWzXz32Tbcv16NWqiKYdNm_JnHVfRZhwpLGMghAbaU4Vm7zzqdId_6N_rH4PZ-s-/s1600-h/14+June+09+198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPs269oQcrIR0gaLtw-w7t57bMhnwXzOvfkUHob-98rlUTvomofKzwCCeORATxIH-VSYsYFnskyoDQrWzXz32Tbcv16NWqiKYdNm_JnHVfRZhwpLGMghAbaU4Vm7zzqdId_6N_rH4PZ-s-/s320/14+June+09+198.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pseudo-Bohemian chic</div><br />
Finally, we ended up at Shibuya 109 and Shibuya 109-2 (yes, there are two of them).<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmsfuCwtCWetYlStXC8JG-USk_XqbXiljI1rg0_6o_sST55L4C6A0wk_SWa2p_lfU_9k80Tv25RRG-NPwiga9klKDdn27BCOc9CkMMjEpnLK3LT8tFbxqH5_2hKYtOVqZVFn_Pquvbpq8/s1600-h/14+June+09+211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmsfuCwtCWetYlStXC8JG-USk_XqbXiljI1rg0_6o_sST55L4C6A0wk_SWa2p_lfU_9k80Tv25RRG-NPwiga9klKDdn27BCOc9CkMMjEpnLK3LT8tFbxqH5_2hKYtOVqZVFn_Pquvbpq8/s320/14+June+09+211.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">everything a lolitha would want</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindE9Hsxm3Ne4iUkeoOacnir3Q8PfCBhB2AJYxicZJFJhR2Yv-39Xaa5_SkqJboerMLOF684_AAaq7bbJdeviOtyk08pJpxDAHG1aJ22rPvbacl9ilxVLI_v5tIGxzKxfkP6o6gKB6i3Nd/s1600-h/14+June+09+235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindE9Hsxm3Ne4iUkeoOacnir3Q8PfCBhB2AJYxicZJFJhR2Yv-39Xaa5_SkqJboerMLOF684_AAaq7bbJdeviOtyk08pJpxDAHG1aJ22rPvbacl9ilxVLI_v5tIGxzKxfkP6o6gKB6i3Nd/s320/14+June+09+235.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the secret to every gyaru's perfectly coiffed head</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMxhxu1euhBKJu3orlXg3GFdY0uk1sBN9kZhyphenhyphenjQhabGPgJxK3MKjYXlVED7OK3RWvzAWh9wKkJX74Db-NSaAOI-PMzpYmHW2C0G4MIv59vHA2gXQiDoZ0hTLfxV5yx_N5dCB6FtdoXCb-/s1600-h/14+June+09+231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMxhxu1euhBKJu3orlXg3GFdY0uk1sBN9kZhyphenhyphenjQhabGPgJxK3MKjYXlVED7OK3RWvzAWh9wKkJX74Db-NSaAOI-PMzpYmHW2C0G4MIv59vHA2gXQiDoZ0hTLfxV5yx_N5dCB6FtdoXCb-/s320/14+June+09+231.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">looking for the perfect match</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-80D1Vr7YmDSdJm4z6ux0vbB4KN_bYDJ4OtXvSCOrwhPXUcLJ7WbgYs9WjCVS_H6wtR67GGWX8mANnfP8lRspGVp3vh3HP-jimEQe_XK72H_nAH-4nJSNHfibNgnZuWUUoaDMyaoz2c6/s1600-h/14+June+09+237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-80D1Vr7YmDSdJm4z6ux0vbB4KN_bYDJ4OtXvSCOrwhPXUcLJ7WbgYs9WjCVS_H6wtR67GGWX8mANnfP8lRspGVp3vh3HP-jimEQe_XK72H_nAH-4nJSNHfibNgnZuWUUoaDMyaoz2c6/s320/14+June+09+237.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">plenty of choice - cute or sexy</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHqBeG8qRWQBsW-Vl1E2PBcxbnXnTS2v5J9IA-HA43ZCLmfITfPLuLFLqG8nfyXOE4Q0_He85EUG1Et672BZgmBTFlnx8IVzROO6h99fgLbaYxEE7CeJghH5N7FiugMMZtxWYpPfA7j8k/s1600-h/14+June+09+238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHqBeG8qRWQBsW-Vl1E2PBcxbnXnTS2v5J9IA-HA43ZCLmfITfPLuLFLqG8nfyXOE4Q0_He85EUG1Et672BZgmBTFlnx8IVzROO6h99fgLbaYxEE7CeJghH5N7FiugMMZtxWYpPfA7j8k/s320/14+June+09+238.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not the perfume</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr4hJSkMgFuDCHAl6LlpPjTX-yUr0b_gEgTK2-vy-Y50VdgJhyI3FqgRdAuo7yAq2z5hsPniA3RLhwycFUzRAPNxBonuyHAI6Vq86znmG1QYkciJOWFUGCAbcQh2eAPK46SFUu5UrYB2q/s1600-h/14+June+09+239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr4hJSkMgFuDCHAl6LlpPjTX-yUr0b_gEgTK2-vy-Y50VdgJhyI3FqgRdAuo7yAq2z5hsPniA3RLhwycFUzRAPNxBonuyHAI6Vq86znmG1QYkciJOWFUGCAbcQh2eAPK46SFUu5UrYB2q/s320/14+June+09+239.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">trends never die, not in Japan</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20u0zqkMhNCNAxu7DitAQGcBXgEZGITxDS7lQ34azxMj4E8r6zpHUQj9PrpBSF3n055_N0dvrDNkPdNxNAs-5cAn6jnAtd6YhP5Ac8xWxOrcbyCfFskstsCaklVN5xizGmJz_4GEaxE6o/s1600-h/14+June+09+240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20u0zqkMhNCNAxu7DitAQGcBXgEZGITxDS7lQ34azxMj4E8r6zpHUQj9PrpBSF3n055_N0dvrDNkPdNxNAs-5cAn6jnAtd6YhP5Ac8xWxOrcbyCfFskstsCaklVN5xizGmJz_4GEaxE6o/s320/14+June+09+240.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">40% flying off</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaq6ILyN0AVbIJmJ6dyOdccw7yoWBfSJAFoh1Hg2c_VQC-JKpQFMvPFf3dpA-NvSJKgEAQbCjnR0uhVA9ddTAflub3vvXobt5Vo1XD_97srei9Az0CTGCDRfFf81pxoKLQwvqdSJmt3hn6/s1600-h/14+June+09+241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaq6ILyN0AVbIJmJ6dyOdccw7yoWBfSJAFoh1Hg2c_VQC-JKpQFMvPFf3dpA-NvSJKgEAQbCjnR0uhVA9ddTAflub3vvXobt5Vo1XD_97srei9Az0CTGCDRfFf81pxoKLQwvqdSJmt3hn6/s320/14+June+09+241.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">how could a gyaru resist this?!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OL-EFao56yOPIbS7riDdLL63jZD9eTmTHFbx7lzU3XBq6C49H64WMs7gBih8MxDJcAhSf2psNA6cpjxEHGTMqBqMgqgEsCVyLAgKAUSIfUI5nm7ENNgTt5Z4Dal6gPthu2xH6wTnaPEg/s1600-h/14+June+09+242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OL-EFao56yOPIbS7riDdLL63jZD9eTmTHFbx7lzU3XBq6C49H64WMs7gBih8MxDJcAhSf2psNA6cpjxEHGTMqBqMgqgEsCVyLAgKAUSIfUI5nm7ENNgTt5Z4Dal6gPthu2xH6wTnaPEg/s320/14+June+09+242.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">didn't that look go out in the 70s?!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-ZB-MtVsafmoSvDT841KY2EONoXBlQhh2TiPk6H7kBdcP7Hn9gmoBxmCzHT-BnXmrcPEfxQJaeNniw3xWKiX5wk3rc0owI4msLWMky0wJjlS-lGoqW0MtF5OncsU2_vLB3becaChteVk/s1600-h/14+June+09+244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-ZB-MtVsafmoSvDT841KY2EONoXBlQhh2TiPk6H7kBdcP7Hn9gmoBxmCzHT-BnXmrcPEfxQJaeNniw3xWKiX5wk3rc0owI4msLWMky0wJjlS-lGoqW0MtF5OncsU2_vLB3becaChteVk/s320/14+June+09+244.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Deep Roy? Is that you? </div><br />
Tired out from all that walking and not keen to venture out into the rain, we settled on dinner at Shibuya 109 itself.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIx0x6AYnFoKEQUsk1ETKYgYh2_OdcBZ6l1rJ0QR03a0i9KjFtNf4ryd9ugYvG1gIp9ieykR5H-eXWL44hLeaMcLnoen12x9x0m7dp7NsAksBYReYDBTSQXrV52gMSlP_aM0YhAMDZF3M/s1600-h/14+June+09+261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIx0x6AYnFoKEQUsk1ETKYgYh2_OdcBZ6l1rJ0QR03a0i9KjFtNf4ryd9ugYvG1gIp9ieykR5H-eXWL44hLeaMcLnoen12x9x0m7dp7NsAksBYReYDBTSQXrV52gMSlP_aM0YhAMDZF3M/s320/14+June+09+261.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chirico Di Napoli (Spaghetti House)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZgJweX11nQtkxZZ9kvKy-AOnnagb8um7bRNG4skcuBWVBAkyBSxvDv_49YE3Ko33Wb5NIFpCzBnu1uxY7D0yGf6uTTqwbXhK7ZjPeVWWFq4IRdj0UBUnlILeiQKFRcNHsHbiooicAIR8/s1600-h/14+June+09+258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZgJweX11nQtkxZZ9kvKy-AOnnagb8um7bRNG4skcuBWVBAkyBSxvDv_49YE3Ko33Wb5NIFpCzBnu1uxY7D0yGf6uTTqwbXhK7ZjPeVWWFq4IRdj0UBUnlILeiQKFRcNHsHbiooicAIR8/s320/14+June+09+258.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Inside the restaurant</div><br />
It seemed like a nice cheery place and the Japanese do make a decent al dente pasta. And it had a view of the Shibuya streets.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o8tWbbm1VT_2gQ_bUEtm2o-InKYMn2XA6aQpVOEqGHu3uJHAZBjSiuBLI5cIOCFx7g2ylDEo7fARj44HzKm5FQAGdFr-bWFepvxBnMO9LWTvIE6qRxao0VLmVDECiR3HkwjzbW0X4NR2/s1600-h/14+June+09+246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o8tWbbm1VT_2gQ_bUEtm2o-InKYMn2XA6aQpVOEqGHu3uJHAZBjSiuBLI5cIOCFx7g2ylDEo7fARj44HzKm5FQAGdFr-bWFepvxBnMO9LWTvIE6qRxao0VLmVDECiR3HkwjzbW0X4NR2/s320/14+June+09+246.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our view</div><br />
We opted for the set meal which comprised:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhaykcnzHq71TDrwmJgpwWU5liVHBrqowH0KbiWqElyQyeph-G13hFRUBkLWqW7745t0aFmGsfvfzadGAcICJpt1ceNYrAThmZckRbXi-1hwsTKBM0seNYGt6DqdexbKyq8RS_r1zlvCC/s1600-h/14+June+09+247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhaykcnzHq71TDrwmJgpwWU5liVHBrqowH0KbiWqElyQyeph-G13hFRUBkLWqW7745t0aFmGsfvfzadGAcICJpt1ceNYrAThmZckRbXi-1hwsTKBM0seNYGt6DqdexbKyq8RS_r1zlvCC/s320/14+June+09+247.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a standard soup starter</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduJV_xa8gKA3pUedHU3sMTx01dJXTCCRnIVA6V3j3isyqJtOwgAcH00s0MtKMyawmy08vSTW2rIldVK3KsInJi5mRqIuPLAlvNHLq9baPt0aqnLkeTruMhDkka3I1nOBPq2wx2322oE1y/s1600-h/14+June+09+252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduJV_xa8gKA3pUedHU3sMTx01dJXTCCRnIVA6V3j3isyqJtOwgAcH00s0MtKMyawmy08vSTW2rIldVK3KsInJi5mRqIuPLAlvNHLq9baPt0aqnLkeTruMhDkka3I1nOBPq2wx2322oE1y/s320/14+June+09+252.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">spaghetti with Chinese spinach, prawns and crab meat</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKumnhsmYL_ybGhxkdWs4w9-ESohMiD4XOQqcs2SYZpF1tBKr6CY3CqKuPAsWWknOykzykGgq1Mp_wCexDzTAjLuH_gC6cWUW8mEM5imoyXiv32Dw7xzcAL7CJKR4QpwZiyrGOj4Zkk97y/s1600-h/14+June+09+254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKumnhsmYL_ybGhxkdWs4w9-ESohMiD4XOQqcs2SYZpF1tBKr6CY3CqKuPAsWWknOykzykGgq1Mp_wCexDzTAjLuH_gC6cWUW8mEM5imoyXiv32Dw7xzcAL7CJKR4QpwZiyrGOj4Zkk97y/s320/14+June+09+254.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">spaghetti with mozarella cheese, ham and tomato sauce</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m8qTATc9aIN4vAt6oRUi93439pNwi_r1n-eR_WX3uijRcZjbWu6Zt7frePTOVRnqjlFfw7gTTuwoQMbGCsWTlQKemaLZkYnsLoXMD6Ad4GRxrTMyCO8KDPef9SBIDTA-scaSBV69AV3c/s1600-h/14+June+09+256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m8qTATc9aIN4vAt6oRUi93439pNwi_r1n-eR_WX3uijRcZjbWu6Zt7frePTOVRnqjlFfw7gTTuwoQMbGCsWTlQKemaLZkYnsLoXMD6Ad4GRxrTMyCO8KDPef9SBIDTA-scaSBV69AV3c/s320/14+June+09+256.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">parfait</div><br />
We hadn't gone out of our way to eat at any critically acclaimed restaurant nor sought out any must-eat food joints, but we were pretty pleased at our choices for the day. That was what we liked about Tokyo - that we walk into almost any eatery, like a local would, and be reasonably satisfied with the quality and presentation of the food.<br />
<br />
Back at the hotel, we enjoyed the view from various vantage points before turning in for the night.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVnMolIV47BaqcTrYqOYnenIvA6Esmdxs1Bi5FXUZ_UL2TYD10EnbdBXdERDk1na7XUxYDYTk94oSLulh-YYaHNg-XaL0POYGvOPKApp5WLHsMyZLwPSkvi7wJJ-J1F0juDIobSSLB8KV/s1600-h/14+June+09+271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVnMolIV47BaqcTrYqOYnenIvA6Esmdxs1Bi5FXUZ_UL2TYD10EnbdBXdERDk1na7XUxYDYTk94oSLulh-YYaHNg-XaL0POYGvOPKApp5WLHsMyZLwPSkvi7wJJ-J1F0juDIobSSLB8KV/s320/14+June+09+271.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tokyo Tower, emulating the Eiffel</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z6UJWI3cePUujhOnuCMzVlku0eF6eeItFISayiuRkozO6c-vCpQ6OI-0pBjCdB-eXUPI4f1VfE5sZJudOPew3_UIEtJsoeaQbinbLR8yG2PO28KvjRYEdBZDsjXrFCTbTB0sYUmC6IQM/s1600-h/14+June+09+274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z6UJWI3cePUujhOnuCMzVlku0eF6eeItFISayiuRkozO6c-vCpQ6OI-0pBjCdB-eXUPI4f1VfE5sZJudOPew3_UIEtJsoeaQbinbLR8yG2PO28KvjRYEdBZDsjXrFCTbTB0sYUmC6IQM/s320/14+June+09+274.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tokyo - a city like no other</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-59144730535703730532009-06-07T07:15:00.000-07:002010-03-31T08:04:51.449-07:00Day 10: Tokyo Te AmoThe day started badly. We tried to walk to the Imperial Palace but, get this, we got lost in the Shiodome maze. In the end we had to backtrack and start from square one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv6MHKSQ6We63JnCrjO3G_jhqQyjTvN29cPQEfIB1toh8Ct4yfDR66dsCU4AFCe9F8PiVPvnAVdU_B5IudX6btkYo-59iKpB5X4MsL9rY_mIKMDc7u_d2ChSRPIrD9kwhMa6VelCsJNXW/s1600-h/15+June+09+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdv6MHKSQ6We63JnCrjO3G_jhqQyjTvN29cPQEfIB1toh8Ct4yfDR66dsCU4AFCe9F8PiVPvnAVdU_B5IudX6btkYo-59iKpB5X4MsL9rY_mIKMDc7u_d2ChSRPIrD9kwhMa6VelCsJNXW/s320/15+June+09+001.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hmm, we probably passed by this more than once</div><br />
While HM returned to our room to freshen up after our disastrous start, I took the opportunity to drop by the exhibition that was on in the Shiodome Media Tower.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPi8OLLpGqTEIScYetDgVAUFkrmKxbX6Wwdzp786YByiANQ4Y8AhyphenhyphensTHGRVttIvyM2wmeO55AVV0fmMJeJtpQNIHtqIB-sFNGbt3YUsJlxrZiVZX_IQRD7lupZzUDHu8x6A_uKBV6g0sh/s1600-h/15+June+09+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPi8OLLpGqTEIScYetDgVAUFkrmKxbX6Wwdzp786YByiANQ4Y8AhyphenhyphensTHGRVttIvyM2wmeO55AVV0fmMJeJtpQNIHtqIB-sFNGbt3YUsJlxrZiVZX_IQRD7lupZzUDHu8x6A_uKBV6g0sh/s320/15+June+09+005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">'twas an exhibition on political cartoons</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaevtfpeo0Xt2yR1u_7kxGKy9Snr3n3wC9mshyrQLuAr9ZfjRWptLP3yFx7BWOP5DBb-LgYc2iMjGVFaiT-vBBOGwU4JuGHp9zyGbQdXiddQfy61k58Rv0_OJYPlib5ziOyDaaUEPbr6D/s1600-h/15+June+09+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaevtfpeo0Xt2yR1u_7kxGKy9Snr3n3wC9mshyrQLuAr9ZfjRWptLP3yFx7BWOP5DBb-LgYc2iMjGVFaiT-vBBOGwU4JuGHp9zyGbQdXiddQfy61k58Rv0_OJYPlib5ziOyDaaUEPbr6D/s320/15+June+09+010.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S0iZKqRj0Yan1MnBpUNMQkMAiBGG8Gj4P1AsssMbexuoIM1MBVNhNx0BbrJGFMfolExS_DCN-22Runapmmw3EpLyimlunbY0TJyZz1HTC4Qct7DKL1vRnxd_jQDH5Kab9iEKR953Lp1z/s1600-h/15+June+09+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S0iZKqRj0Yan1MnBpUNMQkMAiBGG8Gj4P1AsssMbexuoIM1MBVNhNx0BbrJGFMfolExS_DCN-22Runapmmw3EpLyimlunbY0TJyZz1HTC4Qct7DKL1vRnxd_jQDH5Kab9iEKR953Lp1z/s320/15+June+09+012.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Obama was the hot topic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrKlwNaZCgPkEUTIx9b1-KATgGKKFjcH0OfUgpVo8Nk1LysFZuaiZ5c68t9k4fY_rMjSmTmxZ4oE-Ejy8LaH4DiriqDLrvLKyvWqpJ0yqWcsGfNIJF-ACqN7_zKtvpk4XjT9z8yfN02pG/s1600-h/15+June+09+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrKlwNaZCgPkEUTIx9b1-KATgGKKFjcH0OfUgpVo8Nk1LysFZuaiZ5c68t9k4fY_rMjSmTmxZ4oE-Ejy8LaH4DiriqDLrvLKyvWqpJ0yqWcsGfNIJF-ACqN7_zKtvpk4XjT9z8yfN02pG/s320/15+June+09+007.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYHHxSpfjb3gRCyKeNPXDmDHYKSHKxNOARqXjTC4owgbmu-ObuvKBxyELVz4Y8PmC5q9p1C1MJzmsy2KPxtEAnoOqArlKPdBHAZ0B5uSmjWEJRKyyXV_YiHuU_H239oTcTAOsyJWyI0-i/s1600-h/15+June+09+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYHHxSpfjb3gRCyKeNPXDmDHYKSHKxNOARqXjTC4owgbmu-ObuvKBxyELVz4Y8PmC5q9p1C1MJzmsy2KPxtEAnoOqArlKPdBHAZ0B5uSmjWEJRKyyXV_YiHuU_H239oTcTAOsyJWyI0-i/s320/15+June+09+008.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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Take two: we start off again. This time, we first head to Tully's downstairs in the basement for breakfast. We successfully partake of soft milk bread, a tuna and potato sandwich, and of course, some coffee. Then we take the train to the Imperial Palace. We are thwarted yet again. We weren't counting on being able to visit the palace per se - we knew that the palace was out of bounds to visitors except by prearranged tour -but we thought we'd be able to stroll through the palace gardens. Little did we know that all imperial gardens close on Mondays. How frustrating.<br />
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We ended up circumambulating the palace. That's when we realised that the controversial Yasukuni Shrine wasn't that far away. It hadn't been on the cards but we decided to make the best of the situation and our location.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PwQUvE_jxHp9n_N8AfouyPoBzsLEteRsVAz1T5DyGeioWe5VVEBfRrMUIY_iN9nbO6FMY40bapYp9d2v4WrKO_7Rye22HWBhip6N7ufjJPpcYF_CWr_ROPby5ZD__QfmZIQdzq47AjE_/s1600-h/15+June+09+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PwQUvE_jxHp9n_N8AfouyPoBzsLEteRsVAz1T5DyGeioWe5VVEBfRrMUIY_iN9nbO6FMY40bapYp9d2v4WrKO_7Rye22HWBhip6N7ufjJPpcYF_CWr_ROPby5ZD__QfmZIQdzq47AjE_/s320/15+June+09+018.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">140 years of commemorating those who died for the Emperor of Japan</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWkN3g8O3uhzglXpEqAS9fMjIlkkzXTMtllKKupfe1RX9XFCpUc2XMKO-XS8shahMUawHTKbbeSkRSdph6Jzq-GeeMbYQ8J4qugyhzZ0NW-uXbXHhVAAtJf6O5fGHBuwnbwZMDCXXop5V/s1600-h/15+June+09+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWkN3g8O3uhzglXpEqAS9fMjIlkkzXTMtllKKupfe1RX9XFCpUc2XMKO-XS8shahMUawHTKbbeSkRSdph6Jzq-GeeMbYQ8J4qugyhzZ0NW-uXbXHhVAAtJf6O5fGHBuwnbwZMDCXXop5V/s320/15+June+09+021.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the Daiichi Torii, made of steel - a symbol of Japan's military might?</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDKpl6aU3U1lIf49IObMuQ23aMsaL-_NDmoAdbZ86b_pMgHlvyfXHueO8OGJXpZFyMy2opqHnIgy1KCMGP2EEZjECxWCsL7A2leLjjQS_ACqKXrquRkWo95E1K5CZRjWoYSJHLWgFnNxG/s1600-h/15+June+09+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDKpl6aU3U1lIf49IObMuQ23aMsaL-_NDmoAdbZ86b_pMgHlvyfXHueO8OGJXpZFyMy2opqHnIgy1KCMGP2EEZjECxWCsL7A2leLjjQS_ACqKXrquRkWo95E1K5CZRjWoYSJHLWgFnNxG/s320/15+June+09+027.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ōmura Masujirō, the Father of the Modern Japanese Army, with a symbol of peace (sort of) perched on his sword</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5XTJ6IgP2Lo-hUSDKnxpF9kEJDtdvbv0CAWLIKWYE7TDkN-zGdtlVN0yH_W_-SJxAM396rnTcmTQbOqnBEpWHi3lvxrdNsIltqzV_ZoIlJaDFfiR8vwMk-LbXRqc7N_B0J9QVzKbN1lJ/s1600-h/15+June+09+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5XTJ6IgP2Lo-hUSDKnxpF9kEJDtdvbv0CAWLIKWYE7TDkN-zGdtlVN0yH_W_-SJxAM396rnTcmTQbOqnBEpWHi3lvxrdNsIltqzV_ZoIlJaDFfiR8vwMk-LbXRqc7N_B0J9QVzKbN1lJ/s320/15+June+09+031.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nationalistic propaganda?</div><br />
At times the shrine seemed no different from the others.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH8o1HtQbLi17KwrHhLWkl4DmstjH0GPrXeKED6UFxlkDu3bzn2nvX4boHk0_OMY4LPj95Kq7UkoOMC3dsBj6PlweLIGp9c1mQqSkIndqRZz9tjI2tUFeTT_Y2Wy6tOpKmZep8EgkRPXK/s1600-h/15+June+09+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH8o1HtQbLi17KwrHhLWkl4DmstjH0GPrXeKED6UFxlkDu3bzn2nvX4boHk0_OMY4LPj95Kq7UkoOMC3dsBj6PlweLIGp9c1mQqSkIndqRZz9tjI2tUFeTT_Y2Wy6tOpKmZep8EgkRPXK/s320/15+June+09+036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">not just for crusty old soldiers of yore</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8GnQpUJbd7klqG2dPBnUm8xql9ok-1PZgvJVxzN9hMs5Nrhrh9-6-m7jYNJcvc45eYx8tktjxwDrwMCXD51xowrO9up_20m6247ZWvExLGUMUSd0zG5vFwcbI0qkyONSJEW0h84QVfrE/s1600-h/15+June+09+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8GnQpUJbd7klqG2dPBnUm8xql9ok-1PZgvJVxzN9hMs5Nrhrh9-6-m7jYNJcvc45eYx8tktjxwDrwMCXD51xowrO9up_20m6247ZWvExLGUMUSd0zG5vFwcbI0qkyONSJEW0h84QVfrE/s320/15+June+09+042.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">irises in bloom</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5J92LfEa-vO9PgA_oS1j1s6MHxGC2NVvmQGbmUG88jivLvA9cErOzJhfwTdVPQAldEuRuPp8oMpp59dpc0eijRybyf5o_JveWK1qbiPCZrXJfiQ_anHIGHKK4uVhughYqaLVliwAm9oKv/s1600-h/15+June+09+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5J92LfEa-vO9PgA_oS1j1s6MHxGC2NVvmQGbmUG88jivLvA9cErOzJhfwTdVPQAldEuRuPp8oMpp59dpc0eijRybyf5o_JveWK1qbiPCZrXJfiQ_anHIGHKK4uVhughYqaLVliwAm9oKv/s320/15+June+09+045.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">winning entries in an ikebana competition</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY46beqKYKujs7VGLmgP8OkzxAeEPiHw4A81E-cMeIlWfcL_lWoiPtQ7p1ZBsgmSbcpUb1EP9xfrWRQMzNZjr-WZ6kaeoVEd_Rd5mRx93liqvA-HuRb5SmXnOAGUGSlRGgs0HuPrZvgsDE/s1600-h/15+June+09+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY46beqKYKujs7VGLmgP8OkzxAeEPiHw4A81E-cMeIlWfcL_lWoiPtQ7p1ZBsgmSbcpUb1EP9xfrWRQMzNZjr-WZ6kaeoVEd_Rd5mRx93liqvA-HuRb5SmXnOAGUGSlRGgs0HuPrZvgsDE/s320/15+June+09+051.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">unexpected beauty</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFuQaYxRnkFgH1FQmSyWJWEUJoyEEXwAAeU0F5qCCANTraCVe9eLauTsmp1EYY0o-cJfP89D5ilvz_AB7usdkmXP4pGkOweN-T7v-or1cPx1suMwnXQnvlYJxrtKTxAULLGM5mzJir7ms/s1600-h/15+June+09+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFuQaYxRnkFgH1FQmSyWJWEUJoyEEXwAAeU0F5qCCANTraCVe9eLauTsmp1EYY0o-cJfP89D5ilvz_AB7usdkmXP4pGkOweN-T7v-or1cPx1suMwnXQnvlYJxrtKTxAULLGM5mzJir7ms/s320/15+June+09+052.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a shrine like any other</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ANeRkeQSXC6Pye7r7dz7ZAC94xOvvnu6hEN_BdkcZydWY6WP36sgZbhUW0mYAKHA5VAOiGJJXjML4CdeRm95RTcCZAgpIAx5zIbG0t9arlRIwBSMIQYq32jygsfyT08VxC0jw4sV-6Ip/s1600-h/15+June+09+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ANeRkeQSXC6Pye7r7dz7ZAC94xOvvnu6hEN_BdkcZydWY6WP36sgZbhUW0mYAKHA5VAOiGJJXjML4CdeRm95RTcCZAgpIAx5zIbG0t9arlRIwBSMIQYq32jygsfyT08VxC0jw4sV-6Ip/s320/15+June+09+055.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">calling on the gods</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikahpMER94DF4yfyFb06eN1xHOWVQSwqdPMO0LbTPeodygWnJwnEibyqP1NB7up1zi4GqyOVtizkOSmUcaWaSieU_t6qvSSNIBN-pO8gsA-ZCMJ6QP9eBIRiRgaq0ldfefKyg3RV8GeB6H/s1600-h/15+June+09+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikahpMER94DF4yfyFb06eN1xHOWVQSwqdPMO0LbTPeodygWnJwnEibyqP1NB7up1zi4GqyOVtizkOSmUcaWaSieU_t6qvSSNIBN-pO8gsA-ZCMJ6QP9eBIRiRgaq0ldfefKyg3RV8GeB6H/s320/15+June+09+059.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">talismans</div><br />
But then there was the Yusukan War Memorial Museum, featuring exhibits that celebrate Japan's military achievements, a touchy topic no doubt for other Asians.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxlzyf4jWtUF6piOln4YTwqLFjAd7mtQ96k2DjowK63gf8SELJp4-YZknlIypEA7quj6mHzpySHDntFt-oU-y-kE4oLYOaiUR7huTgAyJcHI5WJj7YZvL77ssNxIGXtfbsZbqSdAaTz8L/s1600-h/15+June+09+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxlzyf4jWtUF6piOln4YTwqLFjAd7mtQ96k2DjowK63gf8SELJp4-YZknlIypEA7quj6mHzpySHDntFt-oU-y-kE4oLYOaiUR7huTgAyJcHI5WJj7YZvL77ssNxIGXtfbsZbqSdAaTz8L/s320/15+June+09+061.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a locomotive from the infamous Death Railway</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80fx74ayvPUoAnPOA48vhKSkoTlTWis8Q-PgNCSEoIchhdqYkhBC9YFuXyl7yGy8LahutmABI2kq398rZFgNWqQ4s34ZtRNYs_Nh-qhD3y4byQwuC2P-5Pn-DOB-8ALAfU-4e6LOZXICU/s1600-h/15+June+09+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80fx74ayvPUoAnPOA48vhKSkoTlTWis8Q-PgNCSEoIchhdqYkhBC9YFuXyl7yGy8LahutmABI2kq398rZFgNWqQ4s34ZtRNYs_Nh-qhD3y4byQwuC2P-5Pn-DOB-8ALAfU-4e6LOZXICU/s320/15+June+09+063.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">an explanation that made no mention of how the POWs had little choice in the fate ahead of them</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvaXOMekslBtCm-lXsY3Ijf9u8pI5bPgX1ywhZCFUk3ksdxuZI0G58kSl2e7PELBM8D5HJxzdaHr4iIhmlaUWSvvYxO7kBmO1Y5ldkdrQW3-IdjRiqCIgNGuxA7vibyxtdp5anBuFkff6/s1600-h/15+June+09+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvaXOMekslBtCm-lXsY3Ijf9u8pI5bPgX1ywhZCFUk3ksdxuZI0G58kSl2e7PELBM8D5HJxzdaHr4iIhmlaUWSvvYxO7kBmO1Y5ldkdrQW3-IdjRiqCIgNGuxA7vibyxtdp5anBuFkff6/s320/15+June+09+066.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Japanese artillery</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1ehsQcbWuayddtXfsBSvr-8xrWejGSadEjYRATqvow428r4P5iUEMAsaH0Ix3Oqb_9f_cxirixfR3Sqstq8_-f0f3ZwJGvJngbnMFyafg2ComFD6vV3LAU57bZDIIh1__i0klqMZxpRa/s1600-h/15+June+09+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1ehsQcbWuayddtXfsBSvr-8xrWejGSadEjYRATqvow428r4P5iUEMAsaH0Ix3Oqb_9f_cxirixfR3Sqstq8_-f0f3ZwJGvJngbnMFyafg2ComFD6vV3LAU57bZDIIh1__i0klqMZxpRa/s320/15+June+09+071.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the pride and joy of the Japanese - the zero fighter plane</div><br />
Other than that, the shrine seemed innocuous enough. Almost.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAdpbHejTpGWrbQVySGiVNjsJ4CWu1mxJEOcz1rRfpnL3Fn4Sqrli2lGDmGioBaVh6-wfL1U_pmV2svcNZx2HNoIX4LegyMzimpR414PdpMhE9eC2XtPTNV8O1Id8mxQsk74XxbJUVjUG/s1600-h/15+June+09+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAdpbHejTpGWrbQVySGiVNjsJ4CWu1mxJEOcz1rRfpnL3Fn4Sqrli2lGDmGioBaVh6-wfL1U_pmV2svcNZx2HNoIX4LegyMzimpR414PdpMhE9eC2XtPTNV8O1Id8mxQsk74XxbJUVjUG/s320/15+June+09+076.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">almost idyllic</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4HpG_XFaOhhga1gQ7m5ExMrGVapU9jDCyV-m9o0PyigQJ0O4aOlV2kBifFkC-VTibqZejv5LM65UVQU8Fv0ICv-BpnVHavwgZbiQ_wlWp6GbHJzbP0FLCvh3fBxfJG1nIgAZWxUo9B0d/s1600-h/15+June+09+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4HpG_XFaOhhga1gQ7m5ExMrGVapU9jDCyV-m9o0PyigQJ0O4aOlV2kBifFkC-VTibqZejv5LM65UVQU8Fv0ICv-BpnVHavwgZbiQ_wlWp6GbHJzbP0FLCvh3fBxfJG1nIgAZWxUo9B0d/s320/15+June+09+085.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">you have to wonder what he's singing about</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j7irj8B8zYzO6poTIzQIsAgwrJ1FtvsVFdj7rbM3g3Ep_nVvSgm1IAX53u75aKhLRfhc4oIx7KTtEtixelqwVsC5p3JSCX7gasLx3-bRZTB9T3WgCyYAacBCCzzzOKCNNuOkRhevKzdF/s1600-h/15+June+09+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j7irj8B8zYzO6poTIzQIsAgwrJ1FtvsVFdj7rbM3g3Ep_nVvSgm1IAX53u75aKhLRfhc4oIx7KTtEtixelqwVsC5p3JSCX7gasLx3-bRZTB9T3WgCyYAacBCCzzzOKCNNuOkRhevKzdF/s320/15+June+09+088.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Irei no Izumi (Soul-Comforting Spring), dedicated to those who have suffered from or died of thirst in battle</div><br />
We emerged from the past straight into the future.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtyplGmoUCC6_WBTD2AYYBqx8S1a7OMgzAAAlWoL3qqmW6nxz5SmzbAsPtgmjEL0aGaokYxRews_14HhhfIlqzkfBUG1L7Ge3703dpYfmwKo5jjs5geXEUq0cQq1Z6aQ1160UcxSfamOE/s1600-h/15+June+09+092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtyplGmoUCC6_WBTD2AYYBqx8S1a7OMgzAAAlWoL3qqmW6nxz5SmzbAsPtgmjEL0aGaokYxRews_14HhhfIlqzkfBUG1L7Ge3703dpYfmwKo5jjs5geXEUq0cQq1Z6aQ1160UcxSfamOE/s320/15+June+09+092.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tokyo University of Science</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV4bF4Ope1vv4SGtBXnUKoUi3M0CKpbJ2qSH9E5pryfiCNOP3yAfVJ7ETEZNvOjFJTd8TVTBuGy8zLSUNEsOe9HhOEYLArmh6nfpwcYVSibscLyVk3rvroxt_n-EKAh6tVZEwfizZgq8N/s1600-h/15+June+09+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV4bF4Ope1vv4SGtBXnUKoUi3M0CKpbJ2qSH9E5pryfiCNOP3yAfVJ7ETEZNvOjFJTd8TVTBuGy8zLSUNEsOe9HhOEYLArmh6nfpwcYVSibscLyVk3rvroxt_n-EKAh6tVZEwfizZgq8N/s320/15+June+09+093.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">HM wanted to accost this oshiare young man</div><br />
By this time, we had refined our game plan: to visit neighbourhoods that we had never been to before. Next up on the itinerary - Jimbocho aka Book Town. HM was all a-twitter about this. She had the anime, R.O.D. ("Read or Die"), in mind.<br />
<br />
Jimbocho was a Japanese bookworm's dream come true. For that matter, it was a pleasure to be surrounded by so many books.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ3JvqxMtIo2PJCB4rwaqpm4x7rt4yfqFiRY20oXAjXY0-xU_o2jqPQkrqBvRgA6BCwMGjt04ONSCenAncylr4ZgQhz7i7oLZh-78-Lg9iYkwCKuhzcgZTpro68vUkP8cqK8kBhBKriFu/s1600-h/15+June+09+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ3JvqxMtIo2PJCB4rwaqpm4x7rt4yfqFiRY20oXAjXY0-xU_o2jqPQkrqBvRgA6BCwMGjt04ONSCenAncylr4ZgQhz7i7oLZh-78-Lg9iYkwCKuhzcgZTpro68vUkP8cqK8kBhBKriFu/s320/15+June+09+096.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">alleyways filled with bookstores</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBjTZlDoGNVI5VloosgFk7dZtEmSWDcWKu-v7vv6X3Mk5c5rBHBeBpZ8_uJohGbfR2BLXti-yZCyjoTG-oNGTHt727M1zf_1IOCGDQMJRHYOFkYR60f5uafh22jXAglEfjih0XgDy0V9Y/s1600-h/15+June+09+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBjTZlDoGNVI5VloosgFk7dZtEmSWDcWKu-v7vv6X3Mk5c5rBHBeBpZ8_uJohGbfR2BLXti-yZCyjoTG-oNGTHt727M1zf_1IOCGDQMJRHYOFkYR60f5uafh22jXAglEfjih0XgDy0V9Y/s320/15+June+09+098.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">stacks upon stacks</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleZnpVZDYCZvolL25n0UQLBZq2mr5kIfnr0f3NN6XRO_4kAg_1-NWrQ0_FyHQoGEpHvdgt4GBQXFtJPvCKC5JKBj3zVBK5i65EqiGQxrIz_QjJum4StW-9hWL0p7Tyfs7sWdxZdVohluE/s1600/15+June+09+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleZnpVZDYCZvolL25n0UQLBZq2mr5kIfnr0f3NN6XRO_4kAg_1-NWrQ0_FyHQoGEpHvdgt4GBQXFtJPvCKC5JKBj3zVBK5i65EqiGQxrIz_QjJum4StW-9hWL0p7Tyfs7sWdxZdVohluE/s320/15+June+09+101.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">something naughty</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwxSnRkpSu0YIOUpf6g1PGck4Ya87Vi3C-vijVRscLlMUUnVPADruBZZloyIVvkQjk5p-rO0RK4lOx4CfsPGXUOJe6S8IdoZzuvmx0z2HbUFDQ6gqYn5LDPCk-Y0RLrABsDAd53ZSnsKJ/s1600-h/15+June+09+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwxSnRkpSu0YIOUpf6g1PGck4Ya87Vi3C-vijVRscLlMUUnVPADruBZZloyIVvkQjk5p-rO0RK4lOx4CfsPGXUOJe6S8IdoZzuvmx0z2HbUFDQ6gqYn5LDPCk-Y0RLrABsDAd53ZSnsKJ/s320/15+June+09+104.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for film buffs</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg716ugGrQAuMJmOPQd4hLQKPxQhml8VhH_hP9ALrLaPvNwxKrXp_xS13xZ1w9u0RzyPGOCL8IrCm4widwLjTKM_ze_WMeOObojf_xzV_nqRA4hS4MvrZjKXUoKW-RrXwoaYe8eU9NF_HYd/s1600-h/15+June+09+106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg716ugGrQAuMJmOPQd4hLQKPxQhml8VhH_hP9ALrLaPvNwxKrXp_xS13xZ1w9u0RzyPGOCL8IrCm4widwLjTKM_ze_WMeOObojf_xzV_nqRA4hS4MvrZjKXUoKW-RrXwoaYe8eU9NF_HYd/s320/15+June+09+106.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">books, books...</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI9YCB9oI0jQvGRQmu8UGeeYlRJRvsxrndHBSOrxsEtBZfdG_4yaX_BsAlNC2LfisuFMbIVNqtnb8WyHOewZ-VjyzybDFd3Sjv_MQe3qG66eaPngli9OqVd38x6Dx9p1_iPdeZ_O44dZb/s1600-h/15+June+09+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEI9YCB9oI0jQvGRQmu8UGeeYlRJRvsxrndHBSOrxsEtBZfdG_4yaX_BsAlNC2LfisuFMbIVNqtnb8WyHOewZ-VjyzybDFd3Sjv_MQe3qG66eaPngli9OqVd38x6Dx9p1_iPdeZ_O44dZb/s320/15+June+09+111.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and more books</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIigqOjGkjXN29_mQGoP-8zFOseEyT2dIhn6eRPy6UWJhv8tJVAaPUJwBQeqF9cL2xzBKpuzDWASJbT2qabVjJCQLBeLIvvUmxdeaimgbhC8W5qv2Z6nl5LHtko7EuLSB8PoK9tysQomx/s1600-h/15+June+09+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXIigqOjGkjXN29_mQGoP-8zFOseEyT2dIhn6eRPy6UWJhv8tJVAaPUJwBQeqF9cL2xzBKpuzDWASJbT2qabVjJCQLBeLIvvUmxdeaimgbhC8W5qv2Z6nl5LHtko7EuLSB8PoK9tysQomx/s320/15+June+09+116.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">visual kei posters!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0iXYox-gvsD8Rmk5rjxnTiSnRTX1Q4hCWj3CalOuyu63lihT53FHVA3Dbb90WaZkS0BaectQ6LXrCKvqNhTjRZ7QeOLI_QbQObHmKXAKrkWkGjTVphtayJv5X1SN2PmJb-f9JfCXjuTB/s1600-h/15+June+09+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0iXYox-gvsD8Rmk5rjxnTiSnRTX1Q4hCWj3CalOuyu63lihT53FHVA3Dbb90WaZkS0BaectQ6LXrCKvqNhTjRZ7QeOLI_QbQObHmKXAKrkWkGjTVphtayJv5X1SN2PmJb-f9JfCXjuTB/s320/15+June+09+118.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hopefully not a dying trade</div><br />
There were plenty of inexpensive places for a quick lunch, no doubt appealing to the many academics who roam the neighbourhood.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMX-xZ62fn3k9UpsOasZFU5TZnQWoQbsTf_VGEinAwojkk0KJmGZF1DCSoVzjAY3voQ3rBF6VYA5UF6Y3Ms0q0WjjJRa0FYsNYtVI8yvSYTlmfi7EYbvrj3x8uZdbDBtget0QRr_rLX0Z6/s1600-h/15+June+09+129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMX-xZ62fn3k9UpsOasZFU5TZnQWoQbsTf_VGEinAwojkk0KJmGZF1DCSoVzjAY3voQ3rBF6VYA5UF6Y3Ms0q0WjjJRa0FYsNYtVI8yvSYTlmfi7EYbvrj3x8uZdbDBtget0QRr_rLX0Z6/s320/15+June+09+129.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thai food? Maybe not...</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAIvpbMKu5Xc4gI5oN_zj49c8t1pnXx4gEgu-ZAOXzctNUarHLHLNkiN6b9k4BYmuy2vrx4I4L_u0PuFMl8duNEcvn19Gy8gUFsp7ADFjVqBVatvpOdL50wDJDwq_6vI4jxYQr2GhF4Q9/s1600-h/15+June+09+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAIvpbMKu5Xc4gI5oN_zj49c8t1pnXx4gEgu-ZAOXzctNUarHLHLNkiN6b9k4BYmuy2vrx4I4L_u0PuFMl8duNEcvn19Gy8gUFsp7ADFjVqBVatvpOdL50wDJDwq_6vI4jxYQr2GhF4Q9/s320/15+June+09+126.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a soba shop - our first for the trip</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDyWLW88nPP1QP35lq4_U5sT0Em199byxfwKaajq1Cho92bVHALKfX8sop5S-RCED3EThE5d4Mifk-xA2oD0aAftZmhxsllCWjGsCm4nv2BrqJjlN72sU48p5DSe9XSkfE0waHK6MqHUN/s1600-h/15+June+09+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDyWLW88nPP1QP35lq4_U5sT0Em199byxfwKaajq1Cho92bVHALKfX8sop5S-RCED3EThE5d4Mifk-xA2oD0aAftZmhxsllCWjGsCm4nv2BrqJjlN72sU48p5DSe9XSkfE0waHK6MqHUN/s320/15+June+09+125.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">your friendly neighbourhood noodle shop</div><br />
We had...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguismh_6CeEnKRW3XswqrdhpzGMQTRjubGa6ozzhqZnlKziP_J6hYyBffPY-3_DdBrHTEsIO31iFIYUL_bjxnSmn6IhlLcQ6JyjhPpKtysFNlB-aqs6mNIcUyP4EMmrvKtvXoYsSaWfM-b/s1600-h/15+June+09+122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguismh_6CeEnKRW3XswqrdhpzGMQTRjubGa6ozzhqZnlKziP_J6hYyBffPY-3_DdBrHTEsIO31iFIYUL_bjxnSmn6IhlLcQ6JyjhPpKtysFNlB-aqs6mNIcUyP4EMmrvKtvXoYsSaWfM-b/s320/15+June+09+122.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">duck soba</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmjXt8fkLqaj-yvpDJkBa_xSDYntSjNQHuGQ7DBZmW-hSUlJJiShCoeVwaLMI6eO_EJZ_jq5531ZhqGodsDg9gSzIoIviZKeBBwxXX0VJXxZ6j1omEvEnYsVUOvO1QWLh9AmhLdpsz4xM/s1600-h/15+June+09+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmjXt8fkLqaj-yvpDJkBa_xSDYntSjNQHuGQ7DBZmW-hSUlJJiShCoeVwaLMI6eO_EJZ_jq5531ZhqGodsDg9gSzIoIviZKeBBwxXX0VJXxZ6j1omEvEnYsVUOvO1QWLh9AmhLdpsz4xM/s320/15+June+09+124.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">soba with pork and egg</div><br />
From Jimbocho, it was a quick ride to Akihabara aka Otaku City.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQVhfM59FhZ3jnpBzU8KgeUwQaR9UTqo3Ffpq3uTY8yTj_Z5DQjz24ox7abyTc0PLyF7Yg9q9hk4cxml3Fl4VCflboMkoimDFY_UYGCM4SpPJgJBOHzMVwzGHYRnAzZH3LTuReTaGG2JP/s1600-h/15+June+09+130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQVhfM59FhZ3jnpBzU8KgeUwQaR9UTqo3Ffpq3uTY8yTj_Z5DQjz24ox7abyTc0PLyF7Yg9q9hk4cxml3Fl4VCflboMkoimDFY_UYGCM4SpPJgJBOHzMVwzGHYRnAzZH3LTuReTaGG2JP/s320/15+June+09+130.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at the heart of Akihabara</div><br />
We found the electronics shops but where were the maid cafes and comics shops we had heard so much about? Either they were in another part of the neighbourhood or were simply less visible from street level. Anyway, we spent some time in Yodobashi Camera, exploring the seven floors of merchandise that would warm any geek's heart. We even bought a laptop bag. We finally left with that overly catchy Yodobashi jingle ringing in our ears... "Yodobashi Camera!" (sung to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic"). No wonder - it was played incessantly over the sound system, ad nauseum.<br />
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From there, we resumed our whirlwind tour of Tokyo, but not before picking up a snack from this place:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTVM2yL6RovMd1AFNVPKARxjp8O7Rdm8IR89AT441lnKyWQprxGSyEB51399Gvls6iE9j5SHREg-rnSDI-ENSqEY_OijyEFj8AJfDTLPouuILC9IK8QHpfUPDaJ3IE3FMRHvp4onCvwGp/s1600-h/15+June+09+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTVM2yL6RovMd1AFNVPKARxjp8O7Rdm8IR89AT441lnKyWQprxGSyEB51399Gvls6iE9j5SHREg-rnSDI-ENSqEY_OijyEFj8AJfDTLPouuILC9IK8QHpfUPDaJ3IE3FMRHvp4onCvwGp/s320/15+June+09+132.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">literally, Glutinous Rice Street</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQEfeFEHiIbEvUcjUbSWnjj2DwTH0LPR-ZXiBFEw8zK-DJ_DFnTWM2jOB_s4z7_fQ24jH7rsEAQ99AtQkeaFOaKkGwZhU5vW_C6xyzJ8EzXrT6l4hhjagM62iaffDWF7R-4C0mdwnK6_I/s1600-h/15+June+09+137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQEfeFEHiIbEvUcjUbSWnjj2DwTH0LPR-ZXiBFEw8zK-DJ_DFnTWM2jOB_s4z7_fQ24jH7rsEAQ99AtQkeaFOaKkGwZhU5vW_C6xyzJ8EzXrT6l4hhjagM62iaffDWF7R-4C0mdwnK6_I/s320/15+June+09+137.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">on the train, we marvelled at how polite everyone was</div><br />
From the slightly seedy to the posh, from the decidedly local to the cosmopolitan, we went from Akihabara to Roppongi...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XucoYTq2wXmqERO6p9IJz3QXGSFqOPVJ9unVGsvW5_aywSLubdVOmZpB3-LVfFMOrQ8aAXlkLUyVaZmzaXj55FUswW6E1Tqg8pqE0oH8RwrUZP8ugPVCOwQUnLDDM-TGYDshR29AGgF-/s1600-h/15+June+09+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XucoYTq2wXmqERO6p9IJz3QXGSFqOPVJ9unVGsvW5_aywSLubdVOmZpB3-LVfFMOrQ8aAXlkLUyVaZmzaXj55FUswW6E1Tqg8pqE0oH8RwrUZP8ugPVCOwQUnLDDM-TGYDshR29AGgF-/s320/15+June+09+141.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Roppongi Hills Mori Tower</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuejAMHcmIskrzTog14ro4LbJ3IRTLrqWGgYrJ8plvMnyuFtZfmsOjii2n7XH53kAS2IOCFEvJBab9c71ZrRCwmNJb7wH2ZSGBlHDQNIRZapnhuxBOsbm-5x8uU0_4ywmbtLHtWGUHudeY/s1600-h/15+June+09+143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuejAMHcmIskrzTog14ro4LbJ3IRTLrqWGgYrJ8plvMnyuFtZfmsOjii2n7XH53kAS2IOCFEvJBab9c71ZrRCwmNJb7wH2ZSGBlHDQNIRZapnhuxBOsbm-5x8uU0_4ywmbtLHtWGUHudeY/s320/15+June+09+143.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a sprawling complex</div><br />
... and were promptly smothered by the monotony of international brand sameness. It was the peripheral entertainment options that we were engaged by.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKDYgcyrQa-GJfeRfltHvnt_HGvWqYIt9SJqhw6TBr2A5XBVDLgnU75FBp5-m3BfWczrev3pr6EGIFVcKe71AEkFrA27ewFnxL-2MExjQdROksSCBOGUaSJp_ns5unSO2cC9shjn-vvwU/s1600-h/15+June+09+144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKDYgcyrQa-GJfeRfltHvnt_HGvWqYIt9SJqhw6TBr2A5XBVDLgnU75FBp5-m3BfWczrev3pr6EGIFVcKe71AEkFrA27ewFnxL-2MExjQdROksSCBOGUaSJp_ns5unSO2cC9shjn-vvwU/s320/15+June+09+144.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">art in the park</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkyrvxDRd5Xz6C8pIZzq65wV-CGBfA-QXVJ5ZXASyOVSRtdfWKrqTzbPYhWD4yHdIANXkfqG3_2XFMvVzODJ2lSq7gNu-yPO_5aX_-QM-i41cCrTyWIRb9aezG_N7rLlae4RsxSDc_8i0/s1600-h/15+June+09+149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkyrvxDRd5Xz6C8pIZzq65wV-CGBfA-QXVJ5ZXASyOVSRtdfWKrqTzbPYhWD4yHdIANXkfqG3_2XFMvVzODJ2lSq7gNu-yPO_5aX_-QM-i41cCrTyWIRb9aezG_N7rLlae4RsxSDc_8i0/s320/15+June+09+149.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">whimsical touches</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhPIZ2Z96UuJA0S6_FHzJoG1e23gGajWczp0kYosxMFxOIZ6ol-nkSfDWC3peMjYEbL41KNee7ibpBYel5h_dKTTKbS6cVZvVqeAbHFVitW-s-YwReWNOns6jfa4pblPoBV5ZlTDpseQq/s1600-h/15+June+09+153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhPIZ2Z96UuJA0S6_FHzJoG1e23gGajWczp0kYosxMFxOIZ6ol-nkSfDWC3peMjYEbL41KNee7ibpBYel5h_dKTTKbS6cVZvVqeAbHFVitW-s-YwReWNOns6jfa4pblPoBV5ZlTDpseQq/s320/15+June+09+153.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">even the lift was not spared</div><br />
There were great views to be had, from the viewing gallery:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdUl0ZDRRnNq5lbuqrXvOM7MkvgWys0XYIZlG0frK9ypyuvU2374LDUtzpCtrLpVO3Zdn93LbzZ1g5xgvZ9KMkg-oQ24SePQAENQ5m_wbJPvCnJgbu5Px2_GXeyCM5iaHvcespPEOM1U0/s1600-h/15+June+09+161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdUl0ZDRRnNq5lbuqrXvOM7MkvgWys0XYIZlG0frK9ypyuvU2374LDUtzpCtrLpVO3Zdn93LbzZ1g5xgvZ9KMkg-oQ24SePQAENQ5m_wbJPvCnJgbu5Px2_GXeyCM5iaHvcespPEOM1U0/s320/15+June+09+161.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tokyo at a glance</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59LtZ_uPAZyVh3IxUhoqXd2kyhyphenhyphenP67draecw0-dFnsWLVDNFa928PEiXdeu6J418DwOJ-ZWcflyb3fz2HTor-2a13qndsPHmSbE1lUyugM134o6W1U3QOTf3X-ifze4UDJP-5uluFXtAm/s1600-h/15+June+09+179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59LtZ_uPAZyVh3IxUhoqXd2kyhyphenhyphenP67draecw0-dFnsWLVDNFa928PEiXdeu6J418DwOJ-ZWcflyb3fz2HTor-2a13qndsPHmSbE1lUyugM134o6W1U3QOTf3X-ifze4UDJP-5uluFXtAm/s320/15+June+09+179.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">bird's eye view</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q11HiWQht3m9pS_KlCbsuYnmF30tQ8JLmlqPv_rC58e6l7w9gB_HJA8RkJzxj0by3WQHjnMOc5GWLROAiUeOufFy5SRfRfqs4AIvnLZ221fAM-gq5SrkMWHV2VR8nvDd_XI1Y0ZgQ7FN/s1600-h/15+June+09+155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q11HiWQht3m9pS_KlCbsuYnmF30tQ8JLmlqPv_rC58e6l7w9gB_HJA8RkJzxj0by3WQHjnMOc5GWLROAiUeOufFy5SRfRfqs4AIvnLZ221fAM-gq5SrkMWHV2VR8nvDd_XI1Y0ZgQ7FN/s320/15+June+09+155.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hey, an outdoor swimming pool</div><br />
We were endlessly fascinated by the cemeteries:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aoqr5EtQ030QtPchYwp3K7ZM5bv9aXZJ3IqDRa0yHp4vCh9i7a8J5L71go0QzM1sj6wULSGwPp1FJqCmi2mVYB0FcGyyNDi-z0tjPoOgY4NcbHWMPd5oYNdwZ2evBrUQ5Xdllx0atjYV/s1600-h/15+June+09+158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aoqr5EtQ030QtPchYwp3K7ZM5bv9aXZJ3IqDRa0yHp4vCh9i7a8J5L71go0QzM1sj6wULSGwPp1FJqCmi2mVYB0FcGyyNDi-z0tjPoOgY4NcbHWMPd5oYNdwZ2evBrUQ5Xdllx0atjYV/s320/15+June+09+158.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">very neat, very orderly, very Japanese</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuT6YfMx6mZ-g96zVH_O-ybhrQLNPN5f_QZRhgYxBOCbrS52lT2YuiF4QM3n0HEX9yJ5UG0CjHFE0T7AUbi_KHpwNMy0tqix4_7DEHzUYTrHz2hkozWJoO7-Nb5DczuFDCzNT6PfErd4f/s1600-h/15+June+09+166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuT6YfMx6mZ-g96zVH_O-ybhrQLNPN5f_QZRhgYxBOCbrS52lT2YuiF4QM3n0HEX9yJ5UG0CjHFE0T7AUbi_KHpwNMy0tqix4_7DEHzUYTrHz2hkozWJoO7-Nb5DczuFDCzNT6PfErd4f/s320/15+June+09+166.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">very small, also very Japanese</div><br />
Another highlight was the Mori Art Museum.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aa1g1A9o3aD6Oil_lWN_nWeVFwr8Tj4cAxl0PFdj8-TeVeF31NPzpoOcqMK3aPsWaLf4d8gC0jQEBjbc0YOqZ7Z9SS3QZ7YmLunfIdnOKtbwikjzHl4yfgw1QLCNVTNCash-0GRjjPQZ/s1600-h/15+June+09+208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aa1g1A9o3aD6Oil_lWN_nWeVFwr8Tj4cAxl0PFdj8-TeVeF31NPzpoOcqMK3aPsWaLf4d8gC0jQEBjbc0YOqZ7Z9SS3QZ7YmLunfIdnOKtbwikjzHl4yfgw1QLCNVTNCash-0GRjjPQZ/s320/15+June+09+208.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the exhibition that was on then</div><br />
Finally, we sat ourselves down... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UD28MKvIhCOG3L_tAA7hzwm93AdkUS95OfGuAXW7vc3QR1NRJ5tly7AlxtkUQ_CS3Nei3fgBDI2rqLlIs62lyqeqc1RriOgkU_CCtQSc3uZO02Hw9g6FuDUP5w0voZjm_PLZYXlvdn6B/s1600-h/15+June+09+210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UD28MKvIhCOG3L_tAA7hzwm93AdkUS95OfGuAXW7vc3QR1NRJ5tly7AlxtkUQ_CS3Nei3fgBDI2rqLlIs62lyqeqc1RriOgkU_CCtQSc3uZO02Hw9g6FuDUP5w0voZjm_PLZYXlvdn6B/s320/15+June+09+210.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">outdoor seating area</div><br />
... and put our feet up (well, not literally) for a while.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-rs4kRTulRKm3K_JY-BV0A3-vtyhScIVzvOb6KSe0Hs3WRssJXUPD-KNC-IBaxA5KZA0Z2EO1vNNmcSr4GjlxanJmNI_HpxX2_9tczQFehu3RTS3ChPe68n0RzbKtJEdDwonqpTrdQTO/s1600-h/15+June+09+193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-rs4kRTulRKm3K_JY-BV0A3-vtyhScIVzvOb6KSe0Hs3WRssJXUPD-KNC-IBaxA5KZA0Z2EO1vNNmcSr4GjlxanJmNI_HpxX2_9tczQFehu3RTS3ChPe68n0RzbKtJEdDwonqpTrdQTO/s320/15+June+09+193.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the tako onigiri we had bought earlier</div><br />
We washed our onigiri down with a Starbucks coffee and then could not resist checking out L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon aka Joel Robuchon Light hehe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnhAitpuieFWCAnvJIog9ehQKbJirLumzJPw3a7KfN3SRkkBUFD70cNLFXBNMDg0hazmjrt5lLUmNU1yhnCkoeMpzflRBwT0bFuTgF3ifL2OrkDhx9s6sm1c0GCJhurCZDGYlkDJQftxS/s1600-h/15+June+09+199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnhAitpuieFWCAnvJIog9ehQKbJirLumzJPw3a7KfN3SRkkBUFD70cNLFXBNMDg0hazmjrt5lLUmNU1yhnCkoeMpzflRBwT0bFuTgF3ifL2OrkDhx9s6sm1c0GCJhurCZDGYlkDJQftxS/s320/15+June+09+199.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">nicely posh</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1DZ1tsgtXbogOquWdKhNxcU9tXnMOlifWv_QR5Gwlhodf8AR3m7pO4J46zoHW-AjWuBNAHM5CzZ278wQnaFz8I2Hl819N3ib0mRRyHt5RBqhFZFbXEpsgYRg8xq5GuMq0xShDfUHW_xs/s1600-h/15+June+09+203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1DZ1tsgtXbogOquWdKhNxcU9tXnMOlifWv_QR5Gwlhodf8AR3m7pO4J46zoHW-AjWuBNAHM5CzZ278wQnaFz8I2Hl819N3ib0mRRyHt5RBqhFZFbXEpsgYRg8xq5GuMq0xShDfUHW_xs/s320/15+June+09+203.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a chi chi version of the humble croque monsieur or ham and egg sandwich</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JxZyeknww-u6yYrd3gyHCEQqV6P0Id_OAys8zQR3dvaTcqXWyHscPATBxlTWKtNwa-82Byr_0oV_xz7D6rTbPR7sN0XmGL6vV9HgsIpHENympKQTb2LDiqKenwObER_aFMBvGrbF7Bpc/s1600-h/15+June+09+214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JxZyeknww-u6yYrd3gyHCEQqV6P0Id_OAys8zQR3dvaTcqXWyHscPATBxlTWKtNwa-82Byr_0oV_xz7D6rTbPR7sN0XmGL6vV9HgsIpHENympKQTb2LDiqKenwObER_aFMBvGrbF7Bpc/s320/15+June+09+214.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I surprised HM with some of these</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeh3q1IMYnvX3fM1BH23w18sEnfuQH4OSxtCzlFlQ9OIURUBTfsApMUeFlZj06A8I2IvjnglvAiQbF1u-RkZqhglhQYxgzhqyZzOUQCHy7bkRlWwaNmxaJ6Pf6fVvx1z77wz3YJ8WvInJ/s1600-h/15+June+09+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeh3q1IMYnvX3fM1BH23w18sEnfuQH4OSxtCzlFlQ9OIURUBTfsApMUeFlZj06A8I2IvjnglvAiQbF1u-RkZqhglhQYxgzhqyZzOUQCHy7bkRlWwaNmxaJ6Pf6fVvx1z77wz3YJ8WvInJ/s320/15+June+09+215.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">our verdict: Pierre Hermes pwn-ed Joel Robuchon</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisddMzaAkubFfzxwHrD87JSHa9fGS8x3xLd9CrKPmBTpgbTsi_16HyEseFmviv14XoiuTdQH3h56RTnV9nfIZgZ1J472qdQsvQdgcewJyzNY-Q2mpG59tChFokMd69Qxf2g8wURYsZ9WVW/s1600-h/15+June+09+218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisddMzaAkubFfzxwHrD87JSHa9fGS8x3xLd9CrKPmBTpgbTsi_16HyEseFmviv14XoiuTdQH3h56RTnV9nfIZgZ1J472qdQsvQdgcewJyzNY-Q2mpG59tChFokMd69Qxf2g8wURYsZ9WVW/s320/15+June+09+218.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one last look at Roppongi</div><br />
In the end, we retreated to one of our happy places, Shibuya, where we couldn't get enough of the quirky and the trendy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEswSK97YsyMnwCgY0NL7Au-sOBnnjpV3_eLyYfhcOwYCCF8rJ-HEBNghARXzX57XvLrjNZoqP_feZ6Jkk-z74nuCLWTfzNh7ROmiXsJMsoXNLGYf77bqdkNLsASVFUyIFJITBR7r7YdH/s1600-h/15+June+09+225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEswSK97YsyMnwCgY0NL7Au-sOBnnjpV3_eLyYfhcOwYCCF8rJ-HEBNghARXzX57XvLrjNZoqP_feZ6Jkk-z74nuCLWTfzNh7ROmiXsJMsoXNLGYf77bqdkNLsASVFUyIFJITBR7r7YdH/s320/15+June+09+225.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one of our favourite stores selling everything and anything</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rRJLKKyxzAORLCj9rUokFuvLU3OkqdkfYhST3Ne6w2ssqvvPvBtUtXs4KtLjr76eefljGnpXJ9aKVg02lW1XL5-qSJNp3q4O_Pk_II9Q-X2lbMmqMjsxps0Mva__XiY61k8LnjObk_9K/s1600-h/15+June+09+221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rRJLKKyxzAORLCj9rUokFuvLU3OkqdkfYhST3Ne6w2ssqvvPvBtUtXs4KtLjr76eefljGnpXJ9aKVg02lW1XL5-qSJNp3q4O_Pk_II9Q-X2lbMmqMjsxps0Mva__XiY61k8LnjObk_9K/s320/15+June+09+221.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tempting - multifunctional pouches</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ig1tPTQxYoKc50qhoJISjNf7GFfJH0VZOwlpnrFYG9Gait4IrSrcUzywdpT6Uk9w-pe6kn-3CWCxcndRcNxjdt7tZLMIXJO0vRasaGAMWgcOz-Io-qJLhtt-W4yOdOeGKWrhrTWP6Pez/s1600-h/15+June+09+224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ig1tPTQxYoKc50qhoJISjNf7GFfJH0VZOwlpnrFYG9Gait4IrSrcUzywdpT6Uk9w-pe6kn-3CWCxcndRcNxjdt7tZLMIXJO0vRasaGAMWgcOz-Io-qJLhtt-W4yOdOeGKWrhrTWP6Pez/s320/15+June+09+224.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">face masks galore</div><br />
When it came to dinner time, youth-oriented Shibuya offered lots of fast food choices. We couldn't remember where the Freshness Burger outlet was and anyway it was drizzling, but there was always...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLpSD4QpwCSMP9lxdGN_Iy9BPXfYNFSfvA466BWzgnmddk9fYK8I62us6dQveyJJ-DqRLJF3mM4aE73PkOKXVD25wmEdKmMYZT-cZznZsTp4KA3i5RqZTSE8FpKT_l8EJ_iZuSSD6yeaq/s1600-h/15+June+09+228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLpSD4QpwCSMP9lxdGN_Iy9BPXfYNFSfvA466BWzgnmddk9fYK8I62us6dQveyJJ-DqRLJF3mM4aE73PkOKXVD25wmEdKmMYZT-cZznZsTp4KA3i5RqZTSE8FpKT_l8EJ_iZuSSD6yeaq/s320/15+June+09+228.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">good ol' Maccas</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPVhGoyHBV0Y043pI2xi01yOmE9seqnb8_gv2jnFoFPUMWDY-bbYWSLuoUHUe5o1s_JzDQc8eZHOBq0nSu0hNTB0W9yvQ5NVaFkqBYwc-P9ArqCqrEqc_ngKxINVaHNz-wKmPiFXepCwF/s1600-h/15+June+09+244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPVhGoyHBV0Y043pI2xi01yOmE9seqnb8_gv2jnFoFPUMWDY-bbYWSLuoUHUe5o1s_JzDQc8eZHOBq0nSu0hNTB0W9yvQ5NVaFkqBYwc-P9ArqCqrEqc_ngKxINVaHNz-wKmPiFXepCwF/s320/15+June+09+244.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and creme de la creme of Japanese fast food barring Freshness Burger</div><br />
Tough choice? Not...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmNJ1FYm1FQ4z9ClOxZf0didn3t2u3PkB5Gw4bCGhpehfFvBOtnUzj2Q_EAMKEGqLPQrXP1k2A5_6ahqyyK_ThnzC1Sm4hGSy3E5CQSOjkh_IzHDlPe_04vPfIF2oGqnHxh7CLhsEmR-Z/s1600-h/15+June+09+240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmNJ1FYm1FQ4z9ClOxZf0didn3t2u3PkB5Gw4bCGhpehfFvBOtnUzj2Q_EAMKEGqLPQrXP1k2A5_6ahqyyK_ThnzC1Sm4hGSy3E5CQSOjkh_IzHDlPe_04vPfIF2oGqnHxh7CLhsEmR-Z/s320/15+June+09+240.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">this particular outlet had a 'fine dining' concept</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10QTfVFtmyYxQJyCXE1YPA12CcJRKEYkQ17DAHrh_CnaJeQq8i43qRfVSbb3IiOISVs0bTUdFh66_JFCsjZOGq1magezwQubsKJk2sIBjL87NE4LIN8PCG6EmfuR7c87BBjqRGMP1aCXN/s1600-h/15+June+09+230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10QTfVFtmyYxQJyCXE1YPA12CcJRKEYkQ17DAHrh_CnaJeQq8i43qRfVSbb3IiOISVs0bTUdFh66_JFCsjZOGq1magezwQubsKJk2sIBjL87NE4LIN8PCG6EmfuR7c87BBjqRGMP1aCXN/s320/15+June+09+230.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">check out the fanta melon drink!</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOn1ZVlD2t9mgEFmHVLxsXdOp3DGGm5MOxMwY-5Qi8Eijya_7vWLjtVdoUzddDdqegXfhLUQV8GTVSNR-CAyV83-5FHU0tkR7Nx_dVBMm40wz5-yrfo010Jt2ubYWzzECZb_DALHXmKJm/s1600-h/15+June+09+232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOn1ZVlD2t9mgEFmHVLxsXdOp3DGGm5MOxMwY-5Qi8Eijya_7vWLjtVdoUzddDdqegXfhLUQV8GTVSNR-CAyV83-5FHU0tkR7Nx_dVBMm40wz5-yrfo010Jt2ubYWzzECZb_DALHXmKJm/s320/15+June+09+232.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a cross between a jambalaya & a minestrone soup</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6BSkdjrV1RzHssRMZpXb8Qk9lPbmnrjKnU4dqjyuJnH7hm15GgNqRRowF4qEY0DmiVIi-dvjjWKeAvg_odAbZ4qAvXXqo33cAuLqUtStvo-IPneohKnVP14aD5Ki0Tzhvr8x1aM1XLrA/s1600-h/15+June+09+234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6BSkdjrV1RzHssRMZpXb8Qk9lPbmnrjKnU4dqjyuJnH7hm15GgNqRRowF4qEY0DmiVIi-dvjjWKeAvg_odAbZ4qAvXXqo33cAuLqUtStvo-IPneohKnVP14aD5Ki0Tzhvr8x1aM1XLrA/s320/15+June+09+234.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">hambagga</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP-g0bj3vRpvHiNBvMNlsbea400fo-vKxTWPWy0jbc8UfB7MdkHbZnrEaErwee78DRzrjsr7rgctg66eM_AXyVBPY51x4VD5wvZhq3kJ5LkWwwWvy_8SUhZsesAVGuwvPHCM0MbhBumH8/s1600-h/15+June+09+235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiP-g0bj3vRpvHiNBvMNlsbea400fo-vKxTWPWy0jbc8UfB7MdkHbZnrEaErwee78DRzrjsr7rgctg66eM_AXyVBPY51x4VD5wvZhq3kJ5LkWwwWvy_8SUhZsesAVGuwvPHCM0MbhBumH8/s320/15+June+09+235.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">cheezubagga</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70rw53AwnIL-L1mSCClaiUaT-mceA4quVyJna00c4rXYwKWY0aHzvWFHVAT43NHiE9C6yL5zqcK-j-H5vK9lBXpHDID3VFzqBNG2AXKOtiAwh2bPern_rCP0Jd5eM383X6igkqOloYIr_/s1600-h/15+June+09+237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70rw53AwnIL-L1mSCClaiUaT-mceA4quVyJna00c4rXYwKWY0aHzvWFHVAT43NHiE9C6yL5zqcK-j-H5vK9lBXpHDID3VFzqBNG2AXKOtiAwh2bPern_rCP0Jd5eM383X6igkqOloYIr_/s320/15+June+09+237.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">even the placemats were different</div><br />
As we were leaving Mosburger, we spotted this across the road.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhrVEywE0wWhATWbEhYZ7WIa3_gz1OJRLGrRIoSxDsPZV8vvxR1aSrQUkSlEMy8PUhAdjo_v_XFczSGyMNGpMdxnrOXiFwx-NtUzNqVA4RX4X8kLeHkdbJAUiQzVHqNQUyeDGIZU2WWqp/s1600/15+June+09+251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhrVEywE0wWhATWbEhYZ7WIa3_gz1OJRLGrRIoSxDsPZV8vvxR1aSrQUkSlEMy8PUhAdjo_v_XFczSGyMNGpMdxnrOXiFwx-NtUzNqVA4RX4X8kLeHkdbJAUiQzVHqNQUyeDGIZU2WWqp/s320/15+June+09+251.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ooh...</div><br />
We had to have some so across the road and through the drizzle we dashed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzdwQQvsbk8ZBC4ZEOKzl8wHf8hGJUJyfzzlgvAhO3amJP4DrKUNFKMpjV3YPL5-hgBvGKaJoKz93Zmr49Rr3IGo8fnaDxASIqo0dMzu3TJ1ziACqNRm7sw6V37rr0XbhxBfxNr_QQM1J/s1600-h/15+June+09+249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzdwQQvsbk8ZBC4ZEOKzl8wHf8hGJUJyfzzlgvAhO3amJP4DrKUNFKMpjV3YPL5-hgBvGKaJoKz93Zmr49Rr3IGo8fnaDxASIqo0dMzu3TJ1ziACqNRm7sw6V37rr0XbhxBfxNr_QQM1J/s320/15+June+09+249.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">one of the bigger outlets, we would imagine</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIE1kT37wB5tgnwXHJbji4-cVHOqFM9DY4b-4vKRAb7NdaPzOser3mtqZpVhLRPeD1f3vvh3lZVO4OGHhA2yhSDPVA5ecw0aOSfe6OVxKPXzuhyphenhyphennnYK17PolXXUcRJ7UCuTz_E5yxknSv/s1600-h/15+June+09+247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIE1kT37wB5tgnwXHJbji4-cVHOqFM9DY4b-4vKRAb7NdaPzOser3mtqZpVhLRPeD1f3vvh3lZVO4OGHhA2yhSDPVA5ecw0aOSfe6OVxKPXzuhyphenhyphennnYK17PolXXUcRJ7UCuTz_E5yxknSv/s320/15+June+09+247.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">made fresh</div><br />
It was closing for the day but there were still people queuing so we joined the queue and bought a little something before heading "home" to pack and rest for the flight home.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-9210179000563651912009-06-06T07:59:00.000-07:002010-03-31T07:52:02.343-07:00Day 11: SayonaraWe woke up early. We had to - the airport limousine bus was due to pick us from the hotel at the ungodly hour of 7.15 a.m.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGUxU4efMQEhfPU5Fp3MWRdrUZ0tMNwByJj9km7nMcJRIpcxw5o5ZkzCpxvl0y4iGn49MILEsO-cSjiICXOP5EgbswxjT5qBDMa-S198ttfX0Hqcf2nzpCnOLbL0KlRZs6BrpgP3SlxyD/s1600/16+June+09+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGUxU4efMQEhfPU5Fp3MWRdrUZ0tMNwByJj9km7nMcJRIpcxw5o5ZkzCpxvl0y4iGn49MILEsO-cSjiICXOP5EgbswxjT5qBDMa-S198ttfX0Hqcf2nzpCnOLbL0KlRZs6BrpgP3SlxyD/s320/16+June+09+005.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">breakfast with a view</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5LKnyEYdmHKVNjMHRqmklEsFlu2gdrxeraSugCGRaBQYGHbuNgyNDXlIYWrfg9gB-Nh3cWKHEG8J92PNmgrjQwbhFUmW1eUgZJr01ni7nhDlErXyfx-IRzSTysrjvO1YOR9f2n7VTrDn/s1600/16+June+09+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5LKnyEYdmHKVNjMHRqmklEsFlu2gdrxeraSugCGRaBQYGHbuNgyNDXlIYWrfg9gB-Nh3cWKHEG8J92PNmgrjQwbhFUmW1eUgZJr01ni7nhDlErXyfx-IRzSTysrjvO1YOR9f2n7VTrDn/s320/16+June+09+010.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">deliciousness-ness-ness</div><br />
Check-out was smooth and then we were on our way to Narita Airport.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VLj3Y9U8aDEAurj4S7t7lLem0LBQZvlHB6BxDhiLUZT-QRzPoAbXE428AgKihptaSGqa9f-bfSED6njdPyQ98PM-o2OxW-gaqbE9MRd97jBK1znxQHpy9ne3RYI2ptItP1S6qqoH7g8t/s1600/16+June+09+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VLj3Y9U8aDEAurj4S7t7lLem0LBQZvlHB6BxDhiLUZT-QRzPoAbXE428AgKihptaSGqa9f-bfSED6njdPyQ98PM-o2OxW-gaqbE9MRd97jBK1znxQHpy9ne3RYI2ptItP1S6qqoH7g8t/s320/16+June+09+022.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">we had front row seats</div><br />
The ride took just under 90 minutes.<br />
<br />
As always, we had second breakfasts at the airport.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz5UYnRVGcOhvlnQgUxgWhyhUs42F4EIa-elMRq2UH_tNA6PLa4EHa0dlafnINSVjOeXv5wIRff67Tq7z4isPdgm-Qj0DFAIroJKNIKbxxGWmRhIAFsewVVx2npB3fH1c8hDohN_BqVF1/s1600/16+June+09+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz5UYnRVGcOhvlnQgUxgWhyhUs42F4EIa-elMRq2UH_tNA6PLa4EHa0dlafnINSVjOeXv5wIRff67Tq7z4isPdgm-Qj0DFAIroJKNIKbxxGWmRhIAFsewVVx2npB3fH1c8hDohN_BqVF1/s320/16+June+09+027.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">breakfast set</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfS57RXMpX1tnsonrMiLdC-V2iBIueiYx2T9AUX6hjrny05LPoVR3uoVNLJG4gJzVxjO7dmCfoHOdS8qI5LdVoOcsJVpo7A1zdNNwwD8NYrCCqSdaBxCX6ZsXxhHlNUKfdQu7FHUkyNZf/s1600/16+June+09+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfS57RXMpX1tnsonrMiLdC-V2iBIueiYx2T9AUX6hjrny05LPoVR3uoVNLJG4gJzVxjO7dmCfoHOdS8qI5LdVoOcsJVpo7A1zdNNwwD8NYrCCqSdaBxCX6ZsXxhHlNUKfdQu7FHUkyNZf/s320/16+June+09+032.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tsukimi ("moon-viewing") udon - the egg is the moon</div><br />
As we lined up to enter the restricted area, we realised to our horror that the jam we had bought from Hokkaido and painstakingly carried all the way to Tokyo would be considered a liquid and that we would have to jettison the two bottles, given that our luggage had already been checked in. We crossed our fingers but to no avail; our jam got confiscated by airport security. Sigh. Oddly enough, the crab miso paste survived the blitzkrieg. Go figure.<br />
<br />
The flight back home was uneventful, punctuated as always by a meal or two. Served out of Narita, the meals were a cut above the rest.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsjbL9mRsEylAYGMrKMp3DU1fpjwgxS7O2bNFZb0rMI58LPs7oMC-Yv81EqxsDBQ0oeQU0XzbWu8-KivTni_yKKVOw9rMOnQakDO8IRtFmw-OvW2nmodrC6SWItxfMMqMiiiAt44SOf0p/s1600/16+June+09+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsjbL9mRsEylAYGMrKMp3DU1fpjwgxS7O2bNFZb0rMI58LPs7oMC-Yv81EqxsDBQ0oeQU0XzbWu8-KivTni_yKKVOw9rMOnQakDO8IRtFmw-OvW2nmodrC6SWItxfMMqMiiiAt44SOf0p/s320/16+June+09+036.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">lunch on the A380</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywDNj3nP8kw7Wo3XIwbZM84GCU3gTRB_nhr04FWLQrycjQF2RvLVowSh7xpQrh5ioF95m5si2DaJg1cbcSXO6w9pdKYv7OkLgxHSRBe39E6k5uUjhwq2SJl6WnBb-e-q0vwAeLSzYkJ2S/s1600/16+June+09+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywDNj3nP8kw7Wo3XIwbZM84GCU3gTRB_nhr04FWLQrycjQF2RvLVowSh7xpQrh5ioF95m5si2DaJg1cbcSXO6w9pdKYv7OkLgxHSRBe39E6k5uUjhwq2SJl6WnBb-e-q0vwAeLSzYkJ2S/s320/16+June+09+041.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">lunch on the A380</div><br />
It had been a most satisfying trip. We had seen a whole other side of Japan, at its best pastorally speaking, and gotten to know our favourite city, Tokyo, a little better. Till we next set foot on the isles of Japan, we could only dream of our next trip.blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7866608040374460106.post-88097524678184526022009-06-05T08:00:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:01:32.063-07:00Our Loot - The Goodies<u>Food</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdC66Q3hpxk6RCXMcTYneBFFgLjR3vwU8ZnN-xRCe1H_kGwuU0PyH-v00jOwKgUbYTTL_5y12p5y8R1FlQOzUjvuq0nZrEJUToEGvRfXYdcFLl2UzAi0a1THZpfRDPW8BzS2Ec3thbY_b/s1600/16+June+09+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdC66Q3hpxk6RCXMcTYneBFFgLjR3vwU8ZnN-xRCe1H_kGwuU0PyH-v00jOwKgUbYTTL_5y12p5y8R1FlQOzUjvuq0nZrEJUToEGvRfXYdcFLl2UzAi0a1THZpfRDPW8BzS2Ec3thbY_b/s320/16+June+09+058.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">goodies from Hokkaido - crab miso, white chocolate coated everything (strawberries, corn...), caramel, biccies...</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFBGmuFisz1InZ-GM6pSS-YNdcKVWMkU4GMJ_XK9iP7LloZP5bV8KuoIoC-mpycwoND2yAQaq6h6Y0eWu5B5nU6dk9l-lDQKipNTlBEgEv2iKDI1gGczJbdz5_DfXQl2PyiczPHhtB50m/s1600/16+June+09+060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFBGmuFisz1InZ-GM6pSS-YNdcKVWMkU4GMJ_XK9iP7LloZP5bV8KuoIoC-mpycwoND2yAQaq6h6Y0eWu5B5nU6dk9l-lDQKipNTlBEgEv2iKDI1gGczJbdz5_DfXQl2PyiczPHhtB50m/s320/16+June+09+060.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">pepper tea (from Shirogane Kankou)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC9vAiNzULwL4rkWGg1e_Vx6cEy2_k4ReUnzbMboztkotpOnnW9NiRWwyy799roIOnV6PLHAEOsQt7INM-RusYZY65Sj7OZq81CnEcKRetXVMYRnQJqeNXCdpy4hUNPqrlto41NQ9On1g/s1600/16+June+09+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKC9vAiNzULwL4rkWGg1e_Vx6cEy2_k4ReUnzbMboztkotpOnnW9NiRWwyy799roIOnV6PLHAEOsQt7INM-RusYZY65Sj7OZq81CnEcKRetXVMYRnQJqeNXCdpy4hUNPqrlto41NQ9On1g/s320/16+June+09+062.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">unusual Kit Kat flavours - corn and potato</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04cqOYLjTsBKHm5cJ-Y26O6RLJqCOPM6BOclVUYuEY-5y7x7P3A7FMBTRc2-iZ1EF1E91kJI_5nlJJAkVUO0qz5_GEHoRQUaj0JjoAdYK3drYbq80A1WSigntcCzj8ywmnTnF49ZDuM6X/s1600/16+June+09+064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04cqOYLjTsBKHm5cJ-Y26O6RLJqCOPM6BOclVUYuEY-5y7x7P3A7FMBTRc2-iZ1EF1E91kJI_5nlJJAkVUO0qz5_GEHoRQUaj0JjoAdYK3drYbq80A1WSigntcCzj8ywmnTnF49ZDuM6X/s320/16+June+09+064.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tokyo bananas - banana-shaped sponge cakes filled with banana cream</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarmyxhxQKGEAX-a4CeeQBt46qn-4ntrS2eqtrq5vnD2hiDYw_LUJ647XE7P11Z5wVKknxfQ2vwxzkB9-xAOKDbyU3k2My8m2e7Eyfv78irXsfH_pwi1QSNv7JKObPUzoZoAigpqTPA65O/s1600/16+June+09+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarmyxhxQKGEAX-a4CeeQBt46qn-4ntrS2eqtrq5vnD2hiDYw_LUJ647XE7P11Z5wVKknxfQ2vwxzkB9-xAOKDbyU3k2My8m2e7Eyfv78irXsfH_pwi1QSNv7JKObPUzoZoAigpqTPA65O/s320/16+June+09+066.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hiyoko - chick-shaped sponge cakes filled with sweet bean paste</div><br />
Everything came in beautiful packaging.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOvU1tIevX2WMERpECbyeikylERfj2EleiFNvN3XU8DIhhphBATisSotBtA_HveDqdoqkEk623BJIhyphenhyphenOiEg3zWOeyRkr0TbMCAMmsoyIIgwMMFcTBoIGJS-3vY_M-a5lXCHgM5g9G4e8r/s1600/16+June+09+072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOvU1tIevX2WMERpECbyeikylERfj2EleiFNvN3XU8DIhhphBATisSotBtA_HveDqdoqkEk623BJIhyphenhyphenOiEg3zWOeyRkr0TbMCAMmsoyIIgwMMFcTBoIGJS-3vY_M-a5lXCHgM5g9G4e8r/s320/16+June+09+072.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RIzZURuETsjOMELf37TsxE5LPQs1NPUWJB3se_HwU7iLivN_3RP7t-ALfZ63-rqIGJfYMLax269jo65JodT9nwzjuw0EJcCzyWAYUxl-pIZAwE8_J1XbxDgcbf5urwG9TJQzn32WTEh-/s1600/16+June+09+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RIzZURuETsjOMELf37TsxE5LPQs1NPUWJB3se_HwU7iLivN_3RP7t-ALfZ63-rqIGJfYMLax269jo65JodT9nwzjuw0EJcCzyWAYUxl-pIZAwE8_J1XbxDgcbf5urwG9TJQzn32WTEh-/s320/16+June+09+110.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<br />
<u>Fashion</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM5F2ctFMhAdHrzheiAIr6VXz4Gl5zOYNEzx0BULORtrnpRdW4T_t0vX8YcqWIKY58FKrdEPTpN1Ya93oSFIQJhwE_5-B1raQdjIkDFtHBlsJyHjMdZBQL2zANw90bAMSqqIign8_IRQi/s1600/16+June+09+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM5F2ctFMhAdHrzheiAIr6VXz4Gl5zOYNEzx0BULORtrnpRdW4T_t0vX8YcqWIKY58FKrdEPTpN1Ya93oSFIQJhwE_5-B1raQdjIkDFtHBlsJyHjMdZBQL2zANw90bAMSqqIign8_IRQi/s320/16+June+09+078.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Uniqlo</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-SRxhA7ShVbklR2M9zDuSTFLCTTbFTo1WLtNbn4uSp2niCpCqdHpctlWkalnJS4hfoju5-UexKZI4puOYfOrCw64mqdQMgtY_IBgQU2tGWT94aGNau2DbHAfRgEBlbIjAHq783JqzKOZ/s1600/16+June+09+080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-SRxhA7ShVbklR2M9zDuSTFLCTTbFTo1WLtNbn4uSp2niCpCqdHpctlWkalnJS4hfoju5-UexKZI4puOYfOrCw64mqdQMgtY_IBgQU2tGWT94aGNau2DbHAfRgEBlbIjAHq783JqzKOZ/s320/16+June+09+080.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Loft</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZPCUdSZXcd67ylQnKvEZfl-7o3ZGGlwufwNthUHy7YZ97X63g07ys7STyqTOh2AM2hFPVgcwzt6Pvfv5biHXHTTsKv4Ibcmv9GK8fBQkbcMYtKA9FEJ14LyCwzBpoFUnbDGoKRqE9toc/s1600/16+June+09+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZPCUdSZXcd67ylQnKvEZfl-7o3ZGGlwufwNthUHy7YZ97X63g07ys7STyqTOh2AM2hFPVgcwzt6Pvfv5biHXHTTsKv4Ibcmv9GK8fBQkbcMYtKA9FEJ14LyCwzBpoFUnbDGoKRqE9toc/s320/16+June+09+082.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Graniph</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZhxD2cA9VBfk57fL0sh-fn6Iegsd-v4KXtKL-ESXgBsGekvBCKHV4ZP0GI_1ha_YvcuIvoap87VTcG8dIcDV-SQPM5bm66Cxq-DmQr4Kb_tl0UlGLKEEgXLrwK8I90CLJrLGOpM5a_Fl/s1600/16+June+09+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZhxD2cA9VBfk57fL0sh-fn6Iegsd-v4KXtKL-ESXgBsGekvBCKHV4ZP0GI_1ha_YvcuIvoap87VTcG8dIcDV-SQPM5bm66Cxq-DmQr4Kb_tl0UlGLKEEgXLrwK8I90CLJrLGOpM5a_Fl/s320/16+June+09+083.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Graniph</div><br />
<br />
<u>Make-Up</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCqS682gpjeLTqOw_CHAqei1-7cA95mjdM8BxqvsjgsJtsNnHBkBzH4-BHqMYLeslIckcXQQ6WqzgmfOJcedZ8c_jEsIruQBAEmNkH3zQnxq2utIIJskGp6AtvXo1U-2mP07lsvWFJ_K2/s1600/16+June+09+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCqS682gpjeLTqOw_CHAqei1-7cA95mjdM8BxqvsjgsJtsNnHBkBzH4-BHqMYLeslIckcXQQ6WqzgmfOJcedZ8c_jEsIruQBAEmNkH3zQnxq2utIIJskGp6AtvXo1U-2mP07lsvWFJ_K2/s320/16+June+09+100.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from drugstores</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6orlXvHSXsS8f4PoC7-yfmymWC6K0KIlQjImhqrjEGMJM74n5B-iAj-LC20Lig081nRIXiOPYojVLwR04fuSHCIm3ETdCAhOHjxQADcE-Quvf3N51Jh4CiJe4VspF4qTGuod44Ibl9C-v/s1600/16+June+09+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6orlXvHSXsS8f4PoC7-yfmymWC6K0KIlQjImhqrjEGMJM74n5B-iAj-LC20Lig081nRIXiOPYojVLwR04fuSHCIm3ETdCAhOHjxQADcE-Quvf3N51Jh4CiJe4VspF4qTGuod44Ibl9C-v/s320/16+June+09+103.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from drugstores</div><br />
<br />
<u>Everything Else</u><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKaJjGNjBZOq2zPZ3PFmJD98zwKI7rdQF4F_38oFz9X9tA2gNKbWPrMNXDOD7v42_ODXFebz1f5GvfI-4qjWFrJO0iosoG8ofkV42gDqO2oU0UPPfVx8nIk9eO0yCR9pJjFCfY6YB8WtO/s1600/16+June+09+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKaJjGNjBZOq2zPZ3PFmJD98zwKI7rdQF4F_38oFz9X9tA2gNKbWPrMNXDOD7v42_ODXFebz1f5GvfI-4qjWFrJO0iosoG8ofkV42gDqO2oU0UPPfVx8nIk9eO0yCR9pJjFCfY6YB8WtO/s320/16+June+09+087.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Yodobashi Camera</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQiZ_PtMy5uH1tmR0_VP9g6Evzl63urWE2OqUvAlPgXwYcWJaDcFRlQ4Bqby1epomYiJf0AZ6zdt5nftFFVT6n7mvgEbsViTj5MmMXzmbCah9FM99V3G6_iLUVs4YzWLROiiPu4-Ayvep/s1600/16+June+09+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQiZ_PtMy5uH1tmR0_VP9g6Evzl63urWE2OqUvAlPgXwYcWJaDcFRlQ4Bqby1epomYiJf0AZ6zdt5nftFFVT6n7mvgEbsViTj5MmMXzmbCah9FM99V3G6_iLUVs4YzWLROiiPu4-Ayvep/s320/16+June+09+089.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Loft</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EPO99oTehgV9782o679ywTAlyh23twzNJi6oEI3Orz66H5TNlZtdtzK-mIk2eP2ouR-60oVAda3eOblc9JMQ6HOiIThBGYAfdW9PAw9lis1umHJo2RjpjHCawj4753aLtzFwzwDCKUfB/s1600/16+June+09+090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EPO99oTehgV9782o679ywTAlyh23twzNJi6oEI3Orz66H5TNlZtdtzK-mIk2eP2ouR-60oVAda3eOblc9JMQ6HOiIThBGYAfdW9PAw9lis1umHJo2RjpjHCawj4753aLtzFwzwDCKUfB/s320/16+June+09+090.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Loft</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttxsbfMx73pBsRACQHpMoFwSKS4HDwecR00QG25kTKkkZxXPrNz-C7BEZ-LH_eqr7DsLM7V4flFryuxWaHO4OInf82gAo6P06UW7z3Xx0WtvwOqsdOTJuWErxrC27G5z8xcVeu1UCMNGL/s1600/16+June+09+092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttxsbfMx73pBsRACQHpMoFwSKS4HDwecR00QG25kTKkkZxXPrNz-C7BEZ-LH_eqr7DsLM7V4flFryuxWaHO4OInf82gAo6P06UW7z3Xx0WtvwOqsdOTJuWErxrC27G5z8xcVeu1UCMNGL/s320/16+June+09+092.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Kiddyland</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZbkFgWmtZSO2T-j7dxPRyJlSzxTL7RQ-GWbnLo5mFrMlr9kiye3ptjSjRDcfNv1xR0zctx4hX_PBKB1hFI2DMhhezLTLmJhTrqeSnwBufmwvIBXGdGFXekXYPkFhTAqQZwuewqMf1MHA/s1600/16+June+09+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZbkFgWmtZSO2T-j7dxPRyJlSzxTL7RQ-GWbnLo5mFrMlr9kiye3ptjSjRDcfNv1xR0zctx4hX_PBKB1hFI2DMhhezLTLmJhTrqeSnwBufmwvIBXGdGFXekXYPkFhTAqQZwuewqMf1MHA/s320/16+June+09+095.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Tokyo Hands</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlaoWURUoV7hrCsrussi-IvJZt3zR1mUXCC6As9tuPzoWzZ80DJN0OjfqbH0tn_pAHGvPPFUm_yfUx4C2ruqEle8SRhUNKJraLIyffoVgOcv8vGAxj7HTvsGCyZBmbs7Fzsogvehlux7y/s1600/16+June+09+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlaoWURUoV7hrCsrussi-IvJZt3zR1mUXCC6As9tuPzoWzZ80DJN0OjfqbH0tn_pAHGvPPFUm_yfUx4C2ruqEle8SRhUNKJraLIyffoVgOcv8vGAxj7HTvsGCyZBmbs7Fzsogvehlux7y/s320/16+June+09+098.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Tokyo Hands</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbzzXncRi_URR8Nbn6BuaUX_0YGBNkogsT7_MWRKQTuWH_WzxNjH79zcthetlFChN223u4jNMaPMBRS76_O63ayP-QzOcKLkvoulaonT4I3gILyE5Zi9QDt_WHamTgIY-G-fWPsuVJ5Xy/s1600/16+June+09+106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbzzXncRi_URR8Nbn6BuaUX_0YGBNkogsT7_MWRKQTuWH_WzxNjH79zcthetlFChN223u4jNMaPMBRS76_O63ayP-QzOcKLkvoulaonT4I3gILyE5Zi9QDt_WHamTgIY-G-fWPsuVJ5Xy/s320/16+June+09+106.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Muji</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3epz7DnqYKL60m4X3-h94KB6IwfgUBDIxtBTblypGlAa6r34kH3VEQ79UBxnB8qVm366j9Ox_Y3Y98qTy9Db1nQrJmoSiclScEGyAS8Dt49Omm7iklvS-31uQPfraUg4C5G_2iKMjrRCd/s1600/16+June+09+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3epz7DnqYKL60m4X3-h94KB6IwfgUBDIxtBTblypGlAa6r34kH3VEQ79UBxnB8qVm366j9Ox_Y3Y98qTy9Db1nQrJmoSiclScEGyAS8Dt49Omm7iklvS-31uQPfraUg4C5G_2iKMjrRCd/s320/16+June+09+107.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Mori Art Museum bookstore</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSgfrhZSXx0XD-Drt4J4kZui_i1fmtPpxJFByIuN6Y417hOHbnKXemnTEnTJP9hh8pLi1aLx0x9k7kGqa7X56-99yrCONEpuKDz6jTs41dGtBlPFck81oDj4hQznY8votlrmnfyp-2jOs/s1600/16+June+09+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSgfrhZSXx0XD-Drt4J4kZui_i1fmtPpxJFByIuN6Y417hOHbnKXemnTEnTJP9hh8pLi1aLx0x9k7kGqa7X56-99yrCONEpuKDz6jTs41dGtBlPFck81oDj4hQznY8votlrmnfyp-2jOs/s320/16+June+09+111.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Asahikawa Zoo</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn1Bnd3sWt9hYVr2OCDNBsXYe5sa_Z0aPrJ0EDVUxu_3BjTHrk2WaQR6P9A2mdzoail_PyJ1Z4PivryagvifSFAIdsu_47RlznOyqoBlpE0RhL_UAQ0RcXX6CEW360_ebiEFdIVFLk9Oz/s1600/16+June+09+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYn1Bnd3sWt9hYVr2OCDNBsXYe5sa_Z0aPrJ0EDVUxu_3BjTHrk2WaQR6P9A2mdzoail_PyJ1Z4PivryagvifSFAIdsu_47RlznOyqoBlpE0RhL_UAQ0RcXX6CEW360_ebiEFdIVFLk9Oz/s320/16+June+09+116.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Tsutaya</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2n9NnjwyT5TGtG3f_6we13XyjbQG1_GHETh6FxgnDZ1QUPVtQREqiCyd0DC12gLd0KH8_jwUyiBW53Fe-0nnczKFD_ZIAA79qyAQs6Z756ECm72fYCreo8N42SteJR1TrBSyFWu1A27a/s1600/16+June+09+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2n9NnjwyT5TGtG3f_6we13XyjbQG1_GHETh6FxgnDZ1QUPVtQREqiCyd0DC12gLd0KH8_jwUyiBW53Fe-0nnczKFD_ZIAA79qyAQs6Z756ECm72fYCreo8N42SteJR1TrBSyFWu1A27a/s320/16+June+09+074.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from Its' Demo</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cGH49jcPmpq9snOWwPib-_x5E5O9uZ4VBvg3Ahog4if5BKN-qzgL2aKKL9mOKSdHUJT4Fubwn6nDWmdw4Bq2Owqrn6hJslk2w03HaD9GwCoYcVkpepjFHpOqAPs2L6g17G1F5SnnPGMR/s1600/16+June+09+076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cGH49jcPmpq9snOWwPib-_x5E5O9uZ4VBvg3Ahog4if5BKN-qzgL2aKKL9mOKSdHUJT4Fubwn6nDWmdw4Bq2Owqrn6hJslk2w03HaD9GwCoYcVkpepjFHpOqAPs2L6g17G1F5SnnPGMR/s320/16+June+09+076.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">mittens, from Asahidake Onsen</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy2dSxNF30l-g39k533yfbRUzG1JKCuoI72kn09HCcma5jq8RiEQf8FIpad2vDXw-XUEU0VFdQzOgOTPgMbr0loot0PIuMNX93TgxnIXeX_s7R2UsPTluu2kqfcY-Ths-igxbkg5O8hMx/s1600/16+June+09+069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy2dSxNF30l-g39k533yfbRUzG1JKCuoI72kn09HCcma5jq8RiEQf8FIpad2vDXw-XUEU0VFdQzOgOTPgMbr0loot0PIuMNX93TgxnIXeX_s7R2UsPTluu2kqfcY-Ths-igxbkg5O8hMx/s320/16+June+09+069.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">from SQ</div>blobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02268342577307668738noreply@blogger.com1