Sunday, August 26, 2012

Hokkaido-Otaru

Otaru City
Otaru is a port town of about 145,000 people in western Hokkaido located on the northern tip of the Shiribeshi district of Hokkaido on the Sea of Japan side of the island, facing Ishikari-wan Bay. This city was formerly called Otarunai (meaning "River of Sands" in Ainu) and was later renamed to Otaru (meaning "small barrel" in Japanese). A fishing village was established here during the Tokugawa period as an outpost of the Wajinchi district administered from the castletown of Matsumae. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains, while the fourth faces Ishikari Bay.


Otaru Canal
Otaru Canal is the symbol of this city. The gaslights and stone warehouses along the canal producing a beautiful nightscape popular with young couples. There are many cafes, museums, restaurants & shops as well as the brewery restaurant .Painters and other artists set up their easels etc

Buildings around Otaru


Mount Tengu
Take the Otaru Mount Tengu Ropeway to the top of Mount Tengu and you’ll find a ski museum, the Tengu Museum that features all kinds of articles relating to Tengu, the mythical creature after which the mountain was named,restaurant & more






View from Mount Tengu. Visitors can enjoy the panoramic view, especially night view of Otaru Port and Ishikari Bay
Ski Museum

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Hokkaido-Noboribetsu


Noboribetsu Beach Park

Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe is a modern style marine park .It consist Nixe Castle which modelled after an existing ancient Danish castle. It features a magnificient aquarium where marine life of all kinds, including sharks and salmon, swim directly above visitors. There are also entertaining dophlin and sea lion shows and a penguin parade.
/

Nixe Castle

Penguin Parade


Jigokudani(Hell Valley)
Jigokudani(Hell Valley)the volcanic hot steam rises from the rock surface ambient air is full of strong sulphur smell, it is a hell scene .It is a spectacular valley just above the town of Noboribetsu Onsen.
  1. Noboribetsu Jigokudani is part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
  2. It is a 450m wide mouth of a volcano, created by an eruption about 10,000 years ago.
Walkway that takes you down to a fenced hot spring vent
The fenced hot spring vent at the end of the walkway.
you'll see statues and figurines of demons (Oni & Enma). They're the guardians or protector of
Noboribetsu.