Japan Travel (Part 4) - May 2025

A few more posts from our Japan trip are still under development.  Hopefully, I'll complete them this week.

Hakodate, Hokkaido

We were on our own this day - no private guide or ship excursion. We started our day with a walk amidst the Morning Hakodate Fish Market. There were many vendors with fresh and dried fish - and very large snow crabs. We were told that a large crab can cost $300 USD, with cooking added at no charge.

Leaving the fish market, we took a tram to Gorykaku Park and Tower. Along our walk from the tram, we viewed several statues of cute children and animals. Gorykaku Park was the site of a fort that became the last and failing holdout of Tokugawa Shogunate forces from the Meiji government military. The park is now filled with cherry trees, but in this colder northern location, the cherry blooms were a few weeks away. 

In the middle of the park is the restored Magistrate's building. This was the administrative center for the Tokugawa Shogunate leaders. After the Battle of Hakodate, the building was taken down. In 1985, efforts to reconstruct the Magistrate's building were started. In 2010, the reconstruction was complete. 

We were able to enter the large building and were amazed by the intricate historical building practices that were used during the restoration work. Moreover, the building we viewed was much smaller than the original office. 

On our return to the pier, we stopped at the Hakodate Noodles for a delicious ramen lunch at the counter. Hakodate ramen is known for its shio ramen, a salt-based broth made from pork bones. This broth is clear, less fatty than others and typically does not contain seafood.

 

Goryokaku Park

Magistrate's Building

Kushiro, Hokkaido

We started our tour day with a private guide from ToursByLocals. Our first stop was the former site of an Ainu Village. This village is not often visited as few guides are familiar with its location. The interior of these Ainu houses ("Cise") are within deep pits in the ground, such that only the roofs appear. The entry is located away from winter winds . Our guide came across this site after being hired during the COVID pandemic by the government to visit and map sites of interest to tourists. 

 

Our next stop was Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. Designated as a National Park in 1987, it is the largest marsh in Japan. Bird watching and nature watching can be enjoyed in the park. Elevated boardwalks protect the marshland and provide year-round access. Red Headed Cranes reside in the park. These birds were thought to be extinct but now at least 1,000 have been counted. It is possible to rent a canoe and paddle on the Kushiro River for another wildlife view.  As distance from the boardwalk can make the cranes difficult to view, we noted some cranes may be more easily viewed from the paved road as they forage in nearby dairy farmland.  

We spent much of our time in this park, observing cranes, deer, aquatic animals and flora . Our guide had a bird calling recording that, when played, attracted the response of nearby birds. 

Can You Spot the Deer?

Red Headed Crane

Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Honshu

After a night of rolling seas, it was great to walk on solid ground. This morning, we went on a ship excursion to the Seaside Flower Park and Nakaminato Fish Market. 

At the Seaside Flower Park, Insignia Blue Nemophilia were just starting to bloom as we walked along the hilly paths. We could imagine the colorful views in just a few weeks.

Leaving the park, our excursion stopped at the Fish Market, in Ibaraki. The Nakaminato Fish Market is the largest east coast fish market in Japan. Over one million visitors visit the market each year to purchase fresh fish and shellfish and stop at one of the many restaurants. There were a few small street food vendors in the market. We tried takoyaki from one of the vendors, which consisted of a tiny octopus covered in an egg batter. We weren't sure if the dish needed more cooking as it was very goopy and difficult to eat.