I went to Sapporo last weekend for that I had something to do.
I took an intercity bus at JR Sapporo station to go back to Otaru as usual.

There are two bus companies, Chuo Bus and JR Bus, operating the route between Sapporo and Otaru. It was a JR bus I took then.

This looks just an ordinary clear soda pop in appearance, but once you taste it, you will find it absolutely chocolate! “CHOCOLATE SPARKLING” by Suntory, a major Japanese beverage company, is an unprecedented soft drink. Contrary to the perfect flavor of chocolate, the nutrition facts written on the bottle reads “No chocolate is used as ingredient”. Interesting taste, I admit, but I wonder CHOCOLATE SPARKLING can catch on with people.

It was Hina Doll Festival yesterday(March 3).
A friend of mine invited me to dinner at her home to celebrate the festival.

Masa Harada, the husband of my friend and proprietor of a backpackers’ "Morinoki" did all the cooking for five ladies came along last evening.

He is really a good cook, and I am always impressed with his ability of composing the menu with varied dishes whenever I j

Prolonged economic slump compels people to cut down on expenses in all things.
From around last year, super low-price “bento” or ready-made boxed lunch started to appear at the deli counter of supermarkets in Japan.

The packed lunch in the photo costs only ¥298 (approximately $3)! The average price of a boxed lunch of this kind is ¥450-¥500. I wonder how they make a profit out of this low cost bento, but it certainly is helpful for someone like me who cannot afford much money for everyday lunch.

3rd of March is “Hina Matsuri“ or Doll Festival in Japan.
It is the festival to wish girls’ healthy growth and happiness, and households with a little girl, or girls in their families set up a display of Hina dolls clad in ancient aristocratic costume.

In Otaru, an event to visit and see various types of Hina dolls is held in some places like museums, shops, restaurants, cafes and so on during this period. There are some dolls as old as 400 years among those displays. A typical set of dolls in the photo is the exhibit in Otaru Museum.

When in mid-winter, I crave for warm, verdurous season to come as soon as possible.

On the other hand, on a sunny day like this, I feel a rush of affection for outgoing winter and the beautiful scenery that only the snow and the blue sky can create.

Otaru Park

Winter Olympics is being held in Vancouver, Canada at the moment.
If you have ever visited both Otaru and Vancouver, you can find that the two cities have unique object in common.

The Steam Clock standing in front of Orugoru-doh(a large music box shop at Merchen Crossroads) is identical with the one in Gas Town, Vancouver. Otaru’s clock is the gift from Vancouver as a token of friendship.

Owing to the Steam Clock, I feel affinity with Vancouver although I have never been there.

It is already mid-February.
The days are getting longer.

Otaru is in the deep snow yet,
while plum-blossoms are blooming
in some other areas of Japan.

In Otaru, you can often come across cats in the streets.
I think the city like Otaru where cats can live free and easy must be cozy for the citizens to live as well.

The images are some of the cats I came across in the city.

Sakura-mochi is a popular Japanese confection that appears at the shops only this time of year. It is expressive of cherry blossoms, and the leaf wrapping around the rice cake is a real salted cherry leaf.

The savor of cherry leaf evokes a cherry blossoms season that is still several months away in Hokkaido. It is interesting that Sakuramochi disappears from the storefronts by the time when cherry blossoms bloom.

The other photo is Uguisu-mochi expressing uguisu or Japanese bush warbler which is also known as a symbol of heralding spring in Japan.

Nantaru Market is a bustling market where both local residents and visitors love to shop.

There are 31 shops in the market building. Fresh fruits, vegetables and marine products of the season always attract the shoppers. As the market is conveniently located near JR Minami Otaru Station, not a few customers come from Sapporo areas to get particularly Otaru’s fresh seafood at great price.

One of the most popular shops is Fukazawa Meat Shop. This meat shop’s specialty is homemade smoked meat products. Various kinds of smoked meat are sold with samples for tasting.

Otaru Snow Gleaming Festival is the popular annual winter festival of Otaru. It is going to be held from 8th (Friday) to 17th  (Sunday) of February this year.

This year's catch line is "Starry Sky on the Earth". As it suggests, the whole city will be illuminated by the flickering candlelight throughout the festival period.

One distinctive character of Snow Gleaming Festival is that many Korean volunteers who love Otaru support the festival in many ways.

Some of the visitors to Otaru in Hokkaido get off the train Nantaru Market, a popular market among both the locals and tourists, is about 10-minute-walk distance from JR Minami Otaru Station.

There are also nice eating and drinking places and cafes popular with the locals within half a kilometer radius of JR Minami Otaru Station. Minami Otaru area is worthy visiting to find part of Otaru’s various charms.

The photo is an old building with a stone warehouse in Minami Otaru area.

If you like soul music, "Thirsty Soul" is the right place to visit. You can enjoy soul music and drinks in a cozy atmosphere created by the old-established building built in Taisho Period (1912-1926) and modern interior design.

The building was originally built as Kimono shop, and it used to be three-story. The second and third floor is now put together, and used as Thirsty Soul. The third floor was the proprietor’s private room made in response to his taste for western architecture. The ceiling and the mirror on the wall kept in the state of those days are really a must-see.

It's another Christmastime. Glass Christmas ornaments appear in JR Hokkaido Otaru station concourse this year again.

The street along the upper side of former Temiya line that is abolished railway in Otaru Hokkaido is an interesting area. There is a series of old buildings of low eaves that used be pubs or bars many years ago.

The shop, maybe bistro, in the photo got into my eyes over the small alley between some of those small buildings. There are some things that you can pass over unless you are walking at leisure.

Autumn tints are at closing stage in Otaru, Hokkaido. Autumn is another colorful season of the year after flowery spring. We have a special feeling on this brilliant autumn leaves period, as the world will be like a monochrome drawing being blanketed with snow soon.

You can come across the scene like in the photo while rambling in Otaru at this time of year.

Myoken Marché may be the smallest bakery in Otaru, Hokkaido. It is in Myoken Market that was once a thriving market in Otaru. The market does not have the bustle of old days any more, and only several shops keep up their business, but they are still popular with some customers.

Myoken Marché is a newcomer among the shops of old standing, but this tiny and spiffy bakery, run by a young baker, seems to bring new perspective to the dwindling market by attracting new customers who like good home-baked bread.

Please visit Myoken Marché.

In Otaru, Hokkaido, you may come across some strange and interesting scenes spontaneously created by aging buildings like these in the photographs. If you would like to see something interesting in Otaru, the best way is walking around the town at random.

Summer heat in Otaru has already gone. It is much cooler early in the morning and evening though daytime sunshine is still strong. The sound of crickets singing in the evening reminds us that the long winter of Hokkaido is not too distant.

The sunrise point has been gradually moving to the east of the city.

Refer to the photos to see the difference. Both photos were taken from exactly the same point in early July and September.