Otaru This & That

The other day Masa who is the landlord of Backpackers' Hostel Morinoki introduced a newly opened cafe near Suitengu Shinto Shrine in his facebook page.

The cafe looked quite cool from the images he uploaded, so I went there yesterday.

It was absolutely wonderful!
There are many cafes and restaurants that serve good food in Otaru, but few where you can also enjoy a nice view from.

It is also one of the rare cafes providing vegetarian menus in Otaru.

I think June is the best season to visit Hokkaido.

The weather here is quite pleasant at this time while most other areas in Japan are in rainy season.

It is still light after 7 p.m, which enables us to enjoy casual evening stroll.

It is also the beginning of fruits season. Strawberries are in season now, and cherry season is coming soon.

I really would like you to visit Hokkaido at this time of year.

Nakajima Park is an urban park in Sapporo.
Although it is located in the center of the city, the park is quiet and tranquil, and attracts many people to relax.

It is the height of spring in Hokkaido now. If you ever stay in Sapporo in this season, please visit the park. Colorful flowers and the scents of spring will welcome you when you are a bit tired after shopping in the nearby shopping streets.

There is a pond in the center of the park.

People in Otaru seem to like tulips very much.
You can see tulips everywhere in the city at this time of year.

Tulips' season is quite short, but when they bloom, the city looks vigorous with their vivid colors of red, white and yellow.

Colorful flowers always inspire us after the season of deep snow when everywhere is solid white.

The central reserve in front of Sumiyoshi Shinto Shrine

Japanese food has gained popularity in the world, and Wagashi, the Japanese confection also seems to catch on among the people living in Japan.

Wagashi is always made featuring the nature of the season, so you can enjoy different beautiful Wagashi each season.

The Wagashi of the images are some examples from "Tsukushi Makita" one of the exquisite Wagashi shops in Otaru.

Each Wagashi depicts azalea, the emblem flower of Otaru, lily of the valley, and cherry blossoms from the top respectively.

Many bloggers in Hokkaido post the articles of cherry blossoms at this time of year.

When cherry blossoms bloom, people in Hokkaido feel full-fledged spring has started.

I am not the exception, and I can't resist boasting the beautiful cherry blossoms in Otaru.

Here in Otaru, early flowering cherry blossoms are in full bloom now.

Tenjoji Buddhist Temple's cherry blossoms are blooming beautifully this year again.

The weather has been bad and cold, but cherry blossoms and other spring ephemeral are blooming as if they have known the time to open.

People in Hokkaido have a special feeling for this time of year as the winter here is long and hard buried in the deep snow.

Some cherry blossoms are in full bloom but others are not. We can enjoy the blossoms during May, so I really would like as many tourists as possible to come to Otaru and enjoy this wonderful season.

Cherry Blossoms in Otaru Park

They are not in full bloom yet, even so, they are absolutely beautiful.

Golden Week of this year is nearly coming to the end.

Unfortunately, it has been cold, windy and rainy for the past few days, but the strong wind brought the Koinobori or carp streamers alive as they should be. 　

Koinobori over the Katsunai River

This is the annual sight of this river.

In Japan, the week between the end of April and the beginning of May is called Golden Week, as some national holidays are concentrated in this period.

29th April, 3rd, 4th, 5th are national holidays. This year, some people can take 10 days off by taking two extra holidays on 2nd, Monday, and 6th, Friday, and putting them together with the two weekends.

In Otaru, cherry blossoms begin to bloom around this time, so Golden Week is a good outing season if the weather permits.

We have many attractions to offer here in Otaru.

Otaru Milk Plant is known as one of the many ice cream shops in Otaru.
It opens seasonally between the end of April and early November every year.

The shop building was originally built in 1930s as the milk plant of the company producing ice cream sold here.

This lovely building is face-lifted before the new season starts every year, and attracts many customers who buy their varieties of ice cream during the season.