Hokkaido - Japan: Winter Wanderlust

Our final day in Hokkaido (OTARU) began with a bitter twist. Winter had truly settled in, halting all sightseeing plans. Heavy snowflakes blanketed everything, bringing with them the news that our flight might be cancelled. Secretly, I hoped for more snow, longing for an extra day in this winter wonderland. My hopeful grin drew laughter from the group (NOBORIBETSU).

The greatest disappointment was the cancellation of our visit to the Okurayama Viewing Point, the 1972 Winter Olympic Games ski jumping venue. As someone who relishes visiting iconic spots, this news hit hard, like a sharp arrow piercing my heart. Also cancelled was the panoramic view of Sapporo city from the mountain peak and the visit to the serene Sapporo Shrine in Maruyama Park. No sightseeing at all. It felt like an explosion in my head, shattering my excitement.

With our plans thwarted, we headed to the wet market. Malaysia has plenty of markets, so this didn't excite me. I wandered aimlessly through the stalls, quickly deciding to retreat to the warmth of the coach.

Later, we moved on to a shopping mall, famed for its exclusive Burberry Blue Label handbags. Shopping held little appeal for me, so I roamed the mall, more out of boredom than interest.

 

Lunch was another standard Japanese seafood meal, complete with slowly grilling abalone over a charcoal flame, which I passed to the person next to me. Having had my fill of seafood on this trip, I didn't eat much.

When we moved on to the Mitsui Factory Outlet, I sought out something different - a bowl of spicy pork ramen at the food court. This ordinary noodle dish was a comforting and delicious change from the seafood overload.

I killed time with more shopping until the late evening, essentially doing nothing. Dinner, however, was a highlight at Kani Honke Sapporo. It was a true feast, the best meal of the trip, featuring cheese-baked crab, fresh raw crab legs, crab steamboat, and a finale of thick, gooey crab porridge stirred with eggs and topped with spring onions in the same steamboat broth.

While everyone else enjoyed the meal at full speed, I barely ate. My tour guide and fellow travelers were puzzled. They couldn't understand why I was passing up such a luxurious seafood feast. The truth was, I was already satisfied with my ramen at Mitsui Factory Outlet and couldn't fathom another extravagant seafood meal.  I sipped into coffee and watched my tour buddies relish the seafood feast. Once dinner was over, we returned to the hotel for our final night of the tour.

 

I was already looking forward to the buffet breakfast I had been longing for. After skipping dinner the previous night, I made sure to eat to my heart's content at the buffet.

Eventually, our tour came to an end, and with our luggage loaded into the coach, we headed to the airport for the journey back to home sweet home.

Hokkaido Reflections: Insights and Experiences  

Hokkaido Food: Fresh Catch Delights and Breakfast Bliss

Fresh sea catch was the star of our meals. At the restaurants and hotel buffets, those who can eat are welcomed to a glorious world of seafood. I did enjoy the seafood dishes, but after having had enough, what truly made my meals a pleasure was the buffet breakfast. Loads of dishes I love, like tofu, seaweed, stir fried veggies, salads, eggs, congee, and flavored fish, especially the salty versions.

 

Japanese pickles eaten with rice were another favorite of mine. That said, I'm not one to overeat just because there's plenty of food available. I eat mindfully and take my time enjoying my meals, rather than stuffing myself because it's an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Travel Buddies or Travel Baddies?

As the only Indian in our tour group, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed traveling with the 25 Chinese companions. They were down-to-earth, easygoing, and full of soul, much like myself. We laughed and chatted about life, family, careers, and cooking without anyone bragging or showing off.

 

Does this mean traveling with Chinese folks is better than with Indians? Maybe, maybe not. But it certainly highlights the importance of choosing your travel companions wisely. For me, joining this group was an easy decision, knowing they'd make the trip enjoyable.

Snowmobile Thrills and Samurai Spills

I loved all the activities and sightseeing we did. The snowmobile ride up the hilltop was a crowning achievement of my lifetime, a truly magical winter experience. However, the samurai show and onsen show didn’t quite win me over. They were more of a "been there, done that" kind of deal (SNOW MOBILE RIDE).

 

Impulse Buys and Pricey Tries

I didn’t feel tempted to shop much, although I did pick up some sheet masks at the shopping arcade. It was more of an impulse buy than a necessity. I’m not one to shop while traveling, and Hokkaido was no exception. Malaysians, if you think shopping is cheap here, think again. Most products are available back home, and branded skincare items are even pricier when converted to Malaysian currency. The price of Shu Uemura cleansing oil at a beauty counter nearly gave me a heart attack - it was 40% more expensive than in Malaysia.

Cold Stares and Loud Flares

Though Japanese people are often seen as humble and simple, I encountered a few rude ones. One unforgettable incident happened on the last day at the wet market. It was cold, so I stood in front of a heater at a shop, and the shopkeeper immediately switched it off while giving me a nasty stare.

 

Japanese people can also speak loudly, which can be intimidating and offensive, especially when you're buying stuff on the streets. The service at food outlets was lacklustre, with staff acting like zombies. Except for the greetings when you walk in, there was no smile or warmth. Hotel staff did their jobs, but emotionally, it was like dealing with robots.

 

Lost in Translation

Immigration was a nerve-wracking experience. The officers were practically shouting, and I had no idea what they were trying to tell me. My tour buddy had to step in and explain that they wanted me to look at the camera. Smiling at them didn’t help; they just thought I was being funny.

Tongue-Tied in Translation

The language barrier is a real issue. Except at hotels, it’s hard to find English speakers in Hokkaido. Thankfully, our tour guide helped us out with shopping and inquiries. If I ever travel to Japan again, I'll stick to tour groups as a solo traveler rather than relying on online translations.