Xmas Time in North Japan – Hokkaido <6.12.2008>

What would be the weeks before Christmas (we called it “Advent”) without Xmas markets selling typical sweets and most important “Gluehwein” (Hot red wine with spices)!!!

Unfortunately they yearly Xmas market at Roppongi Hills was canceled this year so I had to find an other spot for it. And I found it – in the upper north of Japan in Sapporo!



Sapporo ("important river flowing through a plain" in Ainu language) the capital of Hokkaido is Japan's fifth largest city and also one of the nation's youngest major cities. Can you imagine that in 1857, the city's population stood at just seven people ;-) Now it is about 1.8 mio.

And exactly at this weekend the yearly German Xmas–Market was held with many goodies from Munich and on top a heart warming Xmas Light-up in the Odori park.

Sapporo became world famous in 1972 when the Olympic Winter Games were held there. Still you can enjoy a breathtaking view over Sapporo city which is today well known for its ramen, beer, and the annual snow festival which is held in February.

The other days were dedicated to the closer highlights around Sapporo, which you can reach within few hours drive:

Otaru is a harbor city, half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train. Its beautiful canal area and famous for its beautiful glas handcrafts!

Close to Otaru you can find the NIKKA WHISKY which was rewarded recently as world best single malt whiskey - first time not from UK!

You can visit the destillery and get a tasting for free - worth a stop on the way for all whisky lovers.

Lake Toya (Toyako) belongs to the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. In addition to the lake itself, the Toyako area features hot springs and an active volcano, Mount Usu, which last erupted in the year 2000. The beautiful lake was chosen as the location of the G8 summit which Japan hosted from July 7 to 9, 2008.

Mount Usu (Usuzan) is an still active volcano which has erupted four times in the past 100 years. It's most recent eruption occurred just in the year 2000.

The Usuzan Ropeway brings you up to the volcano's summit. The upper station's observation deck offers panoramic views of Lake Toya and neighboring mountain Showa Shinzan. From a second observation deck and a short walk away, there are views of the ocean and Mount Usu's largest crater, which was formed in an eruption in 1977.

Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya are the two most prominent geographical highlights of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Both lakes are caldera lakes, which were formed from collapses in the earth after volcanic activity.

From here you can visit one of the lake side Onsen were you can enjoy a great sunset view during you are soaking in the hot water:

Wish you “Frohen Advent”

Kyushu – the southern Tip <22.11.2008>

Kyushu is Japan's third largest island, located southwest of the main island Honshu. An early center of Japanese civilization, Kyushu offers you many historic treasures, modern cities and especially natural beauty.



And beside the natural treasure it also keeps one of the most valuable secret for Austrians in Japan: The only one and original Austrian bakery run by Adolf Sailer since many many years.
Adi provides the full span of Austrian bakery in its preserved original way and taste – a wonderland for us who left our home and search for the full taste of Austria ;-)



For those who get interested in please check his homepage and he also delivers most things throughout Japan:
http://www.sailer.jp/en/index.html

… he is the best pick in Japan looking for real black bread and Austrian goodies!



My trip lead me from the capital Fukuoka in the north, over the largest crater in the world – Aso until the very south Ibuski famous for the sand onsen where you feel like enjoying you last moment in life – buried alive ;-)

Mount Aso ( Aso-san) is an active volcano in the center of Kyushu. Its ancient caldera ranks among the world's largest, with a diameter of up to 26 kilometers and a circumference of more than 100 kilometers

The huge caldera contains the entire town of Aso and several volcanic peaks, including Nakadake, whose spectacular, active crater is easily accessible to tourists by toll road or ropeway.

Heading south the Kagoshima you can visit the Kirishima Shinto Shrine
A gorgeous red shrine deifies "Ninigi-no-mikoto", called the leader in the legend. Chinese infuenced shrine with red lacqar and relief on the decoration. The shrine was originally built on the top of Mt. Takachiho around the 6 century . The gate of the shrine which was built in 1988 is the biggest shrine gate in the Western Japan.

Nagasakibana Cape (Yamagawa Town)
is the most Southern cape in Satsuma peninsula. From the cape, there are great view of Mt. Kaimon, Sata cape of other side of peninsula.

The trip concluded with a visit to the famous IBUSKI sand bath
which is very unusual throughout the entire world. Bury yourself in the sand comfortably, and have some snooze with a sound of the sea.... After burried in the sand, you can take a bath in big bathhouse, wash off the sand and refresh like... a baby!

A new life is born!