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Warning: Lightly proof read, so excuse mistakes!
Land At Last
Approaching Otaru (Sapporo)
Ah, land at last. We landed at Otaru, the port city for and suburb of Sapporo. It’s a 45 minute drive from Otaru (population 110,000) to Sapporo (population 2,000,000).
And we are docked right near the Otaru city center as the only cruise ship in town. Some pictures from the ship once we docked and before we got off. With beautiful weather, the retractable roof at the pool area was open.
When we got off to go on our tour, we had to clear Japanese Immigration and Customs. Immigration was time consuming. Each passenger individually had to meet face to face with an immigration officer. There was no verbal questioning; in fact, they didn’t speak much if any English. It was all biometrics. But you were digitally finger printed and your eyes were scanned. I don’t know what that told them, but they intently watched the results on a computer screen. Then you were given a stamp in your passport and sent on your way to Customs. We were waved right through Customs, but we saw one or two passengers who were body searched, patted down, and who had all there possessions (pocket books, knapsacks, and camera bags) religiously searched.
Today’s tour was about five hours long – Highlights of Hokkaido, the island on which Otaru and Sapporo are located. It’s Japan’s northernmost island and Sapporo is where the 1972 Winter Olympics were held. Pictures from the bus:
Our first stop was for lunch at a Mongolian BBQ. It was an efficient assembly line production held at the Asahi Beer Hall. Very well done, especially considering there were four busses of cruisers there at the same time. The Asahi Brewery was next door. We all sat, four to a table, where each table had its own gas grill in the middle and one plate full of noodles and vegetables and another plate full of meat (beef, pork, lamb, and bacon). Then you just threw stuff on the grill (with tongs), stirred as it cooked, and helped yourself with the tongs onto your own plates. Everyone got a separate dish of rice and there was plenty of soy sauce. Asahi beer (or another beverage of choice) was handed out too. Good food. Good beer (and as much as you wanted). Alas, we shared a table with one of our least favorite passengers, but we persevered. There was an interesting vending machine at the entrance. See me chowing down at the shot of the long table (Elaine took the picture)?
After lunch we drove around Sapporo to see the city before stopping at Odori Park where we had an hour to wander on our own. The park runs east to west through the whole city. Sapporo is a beautiful modern city. Very clean. The park is beautiful with lots of flowers. Here are lots of pictures. We loved the two little Japanese boys were were playing in the park with their mothers (or nannies). Note the smoking kiosk. Weird. No smoking allowed in the Park. The city was planning on allowing smoking, but apparently the ban is still in effect. The most noticeable landmark in the park is the Sapporo TV Tower. The picture of the Aurora Town entrance is especially for Cindy. Aurora Town is Sapporo’s underground shopping center (which I’m sure is much appreciated in winter when Sapporo gets lots of snow).
When our hour’s wandering was up, we regathered as Viking Tour #17 and we all ascended the tower for viewing the city. There were two elevators to get the viewing platform. The views were grand. There were gift shops at the base, at level one, and at the top. Also at level one there was an expensive looking restaurant. The picture of Elaine is in the elevator on the way down. The next-to-last picture is looking straight down.
Then it was back on the bus for the ride back to the ship in Otaru, just in time for 5 pm cocktails. Dinner was in the World Cafe, and we were early to bed. We don’t sail tonight and tomorrow we will most of the day to explore Otaru on our own. It looks like a nice little town.
See you then!
Love the Aurora Town sign. Thanks for the pic of Elaine by it. The little ones are “adorable”. So very cute and happy. It must have been great to have finally felt the ground under your feet. Nice you will have more time to roam in days ahead. We are still hot in CO. All the weather people are puzzled but it’s keeping them busy! Stay well you two.
Know getting to ground was nice though it would be great to have days of catching up on
My reading!!
Love the little ones and lunch with your own hibachi(?) sounded great – actually like Japanese beer which we had when there!!
Enjoy♥️
Wow, that Mongolian BBQ looked interesting and cozy. Sounded like good food.
The park looks lovely, as do you, Joe and Elaine. How cute are those toddlers.
Be still, my heart. Those views from the the tower were something.