 Most viewed - HOKKAIDO 北海道 |
Toyako Onsen has a nice lakefront promenade for pedestrians. Cars no longer travel here so it's pleasant for a stroll.164 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.164 views
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Susukino Station164 views
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This symbolic sculpture has been retained from the old Sapporo Station.164 views
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View of Sapporo Station's north side from JR Tower. Admission to JR Tower lookout deck on the 38th floor is 700 yen.164 views
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This is a local Hokkaido group dressed as school girls calling themselves Moegi-iro Jogakuin. もえぎ色女学院164 views
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Hot spring foot bath is also popular with visitors.163 views
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His Yokozuna "tsuna" rope belt.163 views
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Entrance to Aurora Town, an underground passage and shopping arcade between Odori Station and the Sapporo TV Tower.163 views
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Otaru in sight from the train window.163 views
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The walking trail becomes a nice wooden boardwalk on rough terrain.162 views
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An adjacent crater contains water and emits some steam.162 views
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Pole Town162 views
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Above the train platforms is this roof and parking lot.162 views
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View from JR Tower looking east.162 views
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Uroko fish market popular with tourists.162 views
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Toyako Onsen lakefront. There are a few cruise boat docks, motor boat docks, and swan pedal boats.161 views
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Waste vegetable oil collection box sign.161 views
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The famous Clock Tower or Tokeidai is overshadowed by much bigger and modern buildings in central Sapporo. A short walk from Sapporo Station and Odori Park.161 views
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Nicknamed "Akarenga Chosha" (Red Brick Government Building), a fire in 1909 gutted the interior, but the exterior was little damaged. The building was restored in 1911. 赤れんが庁舎161 views
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Inside Otaru Station161 views
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New Chitose Airport terminal160 views
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The Iolani Palace ice sculpture is 16 meters wide and 8 meters high. It was built with 700 large blocks of ice weighing 135 kg (298 lb.) each. 160 views
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The closest we can go is this park at the foot.159 views
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Neon lights of Susukino159 views
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Inside Unga Plaza159 views
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The statue of King Kamehameha did not come out that well, but I was happy to see it nonetheless. 159 viewsHe was the king who unified Hawaii while the different islands were still ruled by different chiefs.
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He is doing the Unryu-style dohyo-iri.158 views
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Mt. Showa-Shinzan as seen from Mt. Usu.158 views
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Sapporo Station is nicknamed "Satsu-eki."158 views
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Incredible dinosaur snow sculptures. I can tell you, this was really awesome.158 views
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Destination: Nakajima islands157 views
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The trail starts with a bumpy asphalt road.157 views
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Apparently there weren't any cars on the road when this happened since everyone had been evacuated before the eruption occurred.157 views
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Sign explaining the deformed road.157 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport at the check-in terminal, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Welcome signs.157 views
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Odori Station157 views
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The ice sculpture was built by over 250 members of the Japan Ice Sculpture Association. Most of the 250 were from the Sapporo chapter working as chefs at Sapporo area hotels. In Japan, ice sculptures are often featured at high-priced buffets, etc.157 views
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Beautiful at night as well. The snow festival sculptures are lit up until 10 pm nightly during the festival. It's too cold to keep standing to watch something for more than 20 min. It's best to keep moving.157 views
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Another ice slide.157 views
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Water fountain and Sapporo TV Tower156 views
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My favorite train station name: Zenibako Station. Zenibako means money box.156 views
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Otaru Station156 views
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Back in 1982, the second festival site was at Makomanai, a short subway ride. They had more sculptures and ice slides for kids.156 views
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Sculpture: SHOWEN, by Noriyoshi Matsumoto. 松本 憲宣「SHOWEN」155 views
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Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台155 views
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New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza155 views
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Parco155 views
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JR Tower155 views
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Sapporo Station's North Entrance has a sculpture and water fountain.155 views
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Unga Plaza inner courtyard.155 views
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Kraithong by Thailand155 views
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Honu snow statue by Hawaii155 views
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Most of the passengers were Chinese tourists. I came across Chinese tourists quite often in Hokkaido. They are certainly helping to support Japan's tourist industry.154 views
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Going further along the crater trail.154 views
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View from the No. 2 Nishiyama Crater Lookout deck154 views
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Hot spring foot bath154 views
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Sculpture: Anthem of the Sun, by Machiko Kodera 小寺 真知子「太陽の賛歌」154 views
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New Chitose Airport's beautiful Central Plaza.154 views
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Upper deck is also very spacious.153 views
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Ezo deer on Benten island.153 views
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There are four Nakajima islands. Each one has a name. On the far right is the smallest island, named Manjujima island. Also nicknamed Snake Island since they say it has many vipers. 饅頭島153 views
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On the eastern shore of Lake Toya in Sobetsu town, there's an uphill road off the lakeside road. It goes up to Sobetsu Park, a hillside park full of plum trees.153 views
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In my seat. Calbee is a sponsor, selling potatoes and potato chips.153 views
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See the same sculpture in front of the old Sapporo Station, which really was a train station with almost none of the shops and restaurants found in the new station building.153 views
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View of Sapporo Station's west side from JR Tower. See the roof of Daimaru Dept. Store.153 views
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Snow raft rides for 300 yen.153 views
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Nishiyama Crater Trail152 views
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Kitanoumi as a young sumo wrestler. Even as Ozeki, he already had the aura of a Yokozuna. He had an ideal sumo physique, quiet dignity, and awesome sumo technique and power. He was a shoo-in to be a yokozuna.152 views
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View of Lake Toya from the ropeway car.152 views
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Bye-bye Hokkaido...152 views
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Second floor of the Clock Tower. Mostly pews for a lecture hall.152 views
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Chuo-dori road looking toward Otaru Station152 views
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Clock in front of the Otaru Orgel-do (Otaru Music Box Hall)152 views
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One of the largest and most active Nishiyama crater. There are about 30 craters in the area, and this one emits the most steam.151 views
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Sculpture: Traveling Person, by Yoshiro Mineta 峯田 義郎「旅ひとり」151 views
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The Toyako Visitor Center is spacious with a giant aerial photo of Lake Toya and various exhibits introducing the lake which is within the Shikotsu-Toya National Park.151 views
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Lava dome on Mt. Usu. This volcano has erupted four times in the 20th century: 1910, 1943-45, 1977-78, and 2000 (on the west side called Nishiyama).151 views
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Going through the boarding gate at New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido.151 views
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Ramen shop sign.151 views
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View of Sapporo Station's north side from JR Tower.151 views
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View of Sapporo Station's south side from JR Tower.151 views
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You can't be afraid of heights while working on these giant sculptures.151 views
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No. 1 Nishiyama Crater Lookout deck150 views
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Ezo deer sculpture and the Nakajima islands in the lake. The sculptures are called Toyako Gurutto Chokoku Koen (Lake Toya Circular Sculpture Park). The sculpture project started in 1984.150 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Welcome signs.150 views
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One of the entrances to Sapporo Station on the south side.150 views
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Dinnosaurs lit up at night.150 views
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Toyako Onsen Spa tourist information office with a G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign. Near the bus terminal and center of town.149 views
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Sculpture: Muse, by Nobuyuki Akechi. 明地 信之「Muse」149 views
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Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu.149 views
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Bottles showing the waste oil conversion process from left to right.149 views
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Sapporo Ekimae-dori as seen from Sapporo Station, right side. Notice the bus parked at the bus stop for New Chitose Airport.149 views
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View from JR Tower looking south toward Odori Park.149 views
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Sculpture: Onna (Woman) by Chizuko Sasado. 笹戸 千津子「女」148 views
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Inside a subway train (Toho Line).148 views
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Mitsukoshi Dept. Store148 views
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Also on the south side of Sapporo Station is this countdown display for the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held in early July 2008.148 views
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View of Sapporo Station's west side from JR Tower.148 views
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Milk shake with a Yubari melon flavor.148 views
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They had a Yamaha keyboard player providing music coordinated with the colorful lighting. ２丁目 ウィンタースポーツ王国・北海道148 views
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Leaving the Nakajima islands.147 views
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Ukimido near Benten island147 views
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Broken telephone pole.147 views
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The trail passes by a wrecked confection factory.147 views
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Lake Toya is a caldera lake, or crater lake. The mountain blew its top forming a huge crater. Later, volcanos erupted at the center to form smaller mountains which are now islands in the water-filled crater.147 views
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Hot spring foot bath on the lakefront promenade. It's called "Toron no Yu." 足湯147 views
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Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台147 views
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Tulips also give a colorful touch to the grounds. In 1968, the building was restored to its original state, and it has been preserved since then. It has an American Neo-baroque style.147 views
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In March 1969, it was designated as an Important Cultural Property. Its 2.5 million bricks were made locally and laid in a French style.147 views
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Sapporo Station Kita-guchi or North Exit.147 views
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View from Sapporo Station's North Exit147 views
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Chuo bus terminal next to Otaru Station.147 views
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Day after the snow festival: Destroy all dinosaurs!147 views
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Boat dock at Oshima island. This island has a small nature museum.146 views
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Lava dome on Mt. Usuzan146 views
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Sapporo Station's North Entrance has a sculpture and water fountain.146 views
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View from JR Tower looking east.146 views
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View from JR Tower looking south toward Odori Park. Sapporo TV Tower on the left.146 views
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Crab146 views
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Toyako Onsen as seen from the lake.145 views
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Benten temple on Benten island145 views
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Another hiking trail goes closer to Ginnuma Crater for a better view.145 views
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Heading back to the ropeway terminal.145 views
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New Chitose Airport, another Welcome sign as we head for the baggage claim area.145 views
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Sapporo Ekimae-dori is not a very long road. It's only about 3 km from Sapporo Station to Nakajima Park at the south end. Yet, there's a subway station (Namboku Line) every kilometer or so.145 views
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145 views
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View from JR Tower toward Hokkaido University.145 views
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Otaru Station platform145 views
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Hokke, 500 yen each145 views
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Kraithong by Thailand showing an alligator killer.145 views
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The trail goes to the Minami-guchi (South entrance) of the crater trail.144 views
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In July 1974, he became the youngest sumo wrestler to be promoted to Yokozuna at age 21. His 18-year sumo career included 24 tournament championships.144 views
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Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu.144 views
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Ropeway terminal144 views
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Geihinkan Guesthouse in Date Rekishi no Mori park, Hokkaido. Two-story wooden structure built in 1892 during the Meiji Period. 迎賓館144 views
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Otaru Station144 views
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View of Chuo-dori road from Otaru Station. Walk down this road to reach Otaru Canal.144 views
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Odori Park from the TV Tower. 144 views
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Okadama Airport is right next door.144 views
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The island on the left is Kannonjima island which is connected to Bentenjima island on the right via a sandbar. The islands are not accessible during winter.143 views
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View of the No. 2 Nishiyama Crater Lookout deck143 views
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Windsor Hotel and lake cruise boat.143 views
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Lake Toya and cherry blossoms blooming in early May.143 views
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New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza143 views
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Odori Station platform143 views
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Sculpture in front of Sapporo Station, south exit.143 views
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View of Sapporo Station's west side from JR Tower.143 views
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Climbing Mt. Akaiwa. Almost rock climbing with a ladder and rope.143 views
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Otaru Station143 views
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Temiya Line143 views
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Otaru Station and bus terminal on the left.143 views
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Sign in English, Chinese, Korean, and Russian.143 views
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It took about 2 weeks to build Iolani Palace out of ice. They started building it on Jan. 15, 2010. The sculpture was planned by Mainichi Shimbun Newspapers.143 views
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This lookout point is for viewing the Ginnuma Crater.142 views
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The Clock Tower was built in 1878 as part of the Sapporo Agricultural College established largely by three Americans from Massachusetts: Dr. Willian S. Clark, William Wheeler, and David P. Penhallow.142 views
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Evidence of underground construction work for the passage linking Sapporo Station and Odori. They already have Aurora Town and Pole Town, so how about Snow Town for the new passage?142 views
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Uroko fish market142 views
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Entertainment held here included a talent contest for young wannabe idols.142 views
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Dresdner Frauenkirche means "Church of Our Lady."142 views
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Kannon temple on Kannon island.141 views
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Sea gull on the lake.141 views
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View from the No. 2 Nishiyama Crater Lookout deck141 views
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During Nov.-April, it operates every hour from 9 am to 4 pm. The cruise takes 50 min. if you don't get off to visit the Nakajima islands. Otherwise, allow 80 min. if you want to get also step foot on the Nakajima islands.141 views
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Hot spring foot bath, great especially after taking a long walk.141 views
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Path to Ginnuma Crater141 views
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The baggage crew worked very quickly. That's my bag rolling off the plane while I was still sitting in my seat waiting to get off.141 views
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The interior of the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building is just as dignified as the exterior. This triple-arch staircase is what you first see when you enter the building.141 views
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Horse carriage ride for tourists141 views
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Female snowboard jumper 141 views
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In 4-chome was the first giant snow sculpture called "Zoo of the Northland" in STV/Yomiuri Square.141 views
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Honu "flying" turtles by the Hawaii team.141 views
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Hatsune Miku141 views
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Front of the boat.140 views
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Heading to Oshima island.140 views
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Flowers from the asphalt cracks.140 views
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The trail continues to more dramatic landscapes.140 views
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The lake cruise boat heads back to shore as the Windsor Hotel (G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit venue) can be seen on the hill above. More boat cruise photos here.140 views
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These pictures show what you will see when you cycle east from Toyako Onsen. I did it during cherry blossom time in early May. You can cycle around in 3 hours, but it took me all day due to sightseeing and shooting photos.140 views
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View of Lake Toya from the ropeway car.140 views
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View of the coast.140 views
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Trolley bus140 views
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Looking mean.140 views
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Ice figures of winter sports athletes. When the freezing wind blows, your unprotected ears will feel it first. But in Sapporo, warm shelter is always nearby, either below ground or in a building.140 views
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Kannon island, so called because there is a Kannon temple. 観音島139 views
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Leaving Toyako Onsen139 views
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Oshima island, Nakajima islands.139 views
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The Ekimae Sanbashi Pier, almost front and center along Toyako Onsen's lake shore, has cruise boats leaving for lake cruises to the Nakajima islands every 30 min. from 8 am to 4:30 pm during April-Oct.139 views
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Sculpture: 奥山喜生「回峰」139 views
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Going back down on the Usuzan Ropeway.139 views
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Ropeway terminal139 views
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New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido's main gateway, is the first place you see G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Welcome signs as we get off the plane.139 views
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Scale model of what the Sapporo Agricultural College looked like. Notice the Clock Tower. In those days, Sapporo's population was only 2,600.139 views
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The Sapporo TV Tower was built in 1957. The mid-level deck has gift shops.139 views
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View of Odori Park from Sapporo TV Tower.139 views
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Billboard bus139 views
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Karaoke place designed to blend in and conform to the area's building code.139 views
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The main sculpture in 2-chome. "Winter Sports Kingdom Hokkaido!"139 views
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Steller's sea eagle オオワシ139 views
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Stage event 139 views
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Mickey and Minnie lit up at night.139 views
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During the last eruption in 2000, Toyako Onsen was damaged by the debris. But no one died because everyone had been evacuated. A series of tell-tale earthquakes prompted the evacuation.138 views
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Inside New Chitose Airport's Central Plaza, more G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Welcome signs.138 views
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Iolani Palace in snow, lit up at night138 views
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Odori Park is a long, rectangular park divided into numbered blocks called "chome." Next to the TV tower was 1-chome with a skating rink (free of charge) and 2-chome featuring a group of sculptures called Winter Sports Kingdom Hokkaido!138 views
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Michael Jackson snow sculpture 138 views
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6-chome also had the festival site's largest food court called, "Hokkaido Winter Food Park." There was also a large TV monitor showing how the snow sculptures were designed and constructed.138 views
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Doraemon snow sculpture/statue138 views
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Homer Simpson snow sculpture/statue138 views
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Oshima is the largest Nakajima island.137 views
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Crater bottom.137 views
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Air Do Boeing 767 at New Chitose Airport.137 views
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On the boarding bridge to the plane. Notice the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Welcome signs.137 views
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The second floor has several large rooms. This is the Hokkaido Archives where Hokkaido's historical documents and records are kept.137 views
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Banner on a building urging the shinkansen to reach Sapporo.137 views
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Gondola displayed in Kitaichi Venetian Art Museum. The art gallery charges 700 yen admission. Gift shop sells Venetian glass and masks.137 views
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Iolani Palace ice sculpture lit up at night. The sculptures are lit up nightly till 10 pm. Ice sculptures in particular become very beautiful when lit at night due to their translucence.137 views
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Mt. Showa-Shinzan as seen from Lake Toya.136 views
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Lake Toya sign and the Nakajima islands.136 views
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From the ropeway terminal is a path to another hill which has another lookout point.136 views
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View of Date city and the ocean.136 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown in front of Sapporo Station.136 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise. They all seem to be unofficial goods. They don't bear the official logo.136 views
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The clock inside the tower is Japan's oldest. The gears and other main parts are also still the original ones. Thanks to excellent care and maintenance, the clock has come this far.136 views
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Odori Park was originally a space to prevent the spread of fire.136 views
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Mt. Akaiwa136 views
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It takes about 40 min. to walk the crater trail one way. So allow at least 90 min. for a round-trip.135 views
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View from the No. 2 Nishiyama Crater Lookout deck135 views
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The lakefront promenade goes for a good distance, passing in front of numerous hotels.135 views
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View of the Nakajima islands from eastern Lake Toya.135 views
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135 views
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During early to mid-May, the plum blossoms bloom.135 views
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Inside the refrigerated warehouse. There are two large rooms, one is filled with snow (seen in the back wall) and the other has the produce.135 views
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