Hokkaido Trip: Day 2 [Hakodate & Onsen Experience]

Annyeong!

In continuation of my previous blog regarding my Day 1 in Hokkaido, here comes my day 2.  Day 2 was to explore Hakodate 函館市.  The Hakodate Fish Market and the Hakodate Market are famous for the huge variety of fresh goods.  And what left me in awe was the cleanliness of the entire market place.  No smell, no stinking puddles of dirty water.  I couldn’t believe that this is a place we called PASAR PAGI in Malaysia.  It smells better than the market section of our Tesco or even Jusco.

Touristy shot. Hehe..

Vending machines everywhere.  Red price labels are for HOT drinks. Blue for cold.  Why do I need to write HOT drinks because they are so hot that made me feel that they were BOILING HOT.  Hotter than our warmer hot packs.

I skipped taking nice photos of the gigantic sea creatures which were ready to be human’s food.  Because my hands were shivering because of the super cold weather and because I didn’t bring my gloves because I wanted to look cool like “it’s okay”. So many because.

Our bus parked at the famous Hakodate port. Le Husband. Hehe..

Just couldn’t hide the coldness in me anymore. I need FAIYAH!!!! (fire)

Wanted to do something like Titanic, Rose and Jack. Epic fail but fun.

Bought this cute yet comfy yet cheap bandages from the Pasar.  There’s a huge drug store.  Wow!

My favorite Miffy!  I failed to get more Miffy plasters everywhere else.  So sad.

Then, we went to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse.  Bumped into this really cute and nice cheesecakes. Small portions so that we could eat more flavors!  This is amazingly nice.  The bear cake was Banana Milk cake dusted with Cocoa powder.  I don’t usually like banana milk. So you know I purchased and ate it because it’s such a cute BROWN bear.  I just love Brown bears.

Most of the Malaysian cafe’s latte wins over this latte. I’m so sorry to point this only flaw. Keke..

Then we strolled around again.  So beautiful. Beautiful autumn in such a sweet weather.

Autumn, autumn! Lovely!

My bucket list ticked.  I have been wishing to witness red maple leafs blooming.  Since autumn is the second spring where leafs bloom like flowers.

Behind the scene. Cold like want die right now!

Then we continued our journey to Motomachi Roman Catholic Church.  So bad lah I didn’t really appreciate the beauty of the building but instead I love this view after hiking up the stairs!  Beautiful scenery and so peaceful.  Like: aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh~~~  Can I live here forever?

Sometimes you really need to take a seat, and enjoy the lil moments in life.

It took me 29 years to be able to sit down on a red maple tree.  What a blessing.

Our japanese lunch. Yummeh!

Then we headed to Konbu Museum which I felt the only highlight was the Konbu (seaweed) soft serve.  Totally not my type.  So not going to upload pics. Hehehe..

Bought this from a drug store! So popular among Malaysian girls.  Gonna try it, soon.

Ultimate answer for my furry furry hair when I tie my messy bun!

Then we headed to Noboribetsu and spent a night at Sekisui Tei, an Onsen (hot spring) Hotel.

Okie okie, here comes the HOT SPRING EXPERIENCE!

For a person who never been to any Onsen before, it was a scary thing to try.  Again, another bucket list ticked.  It was so scary that it took me so long to finally change into Yukata and took a deep breath and entered the Onsen area.

1.  Change into Yukata, with or without warmers top and bottom. I wore because it was way too cold. Undies CTRL+X (removed).
2. Grab the small and big towel provided by the hotel or Onsen. Wear slippers provided.  Then go to the Onsen facility area.
3. Open the facility door, remove slippers and put it nicely on the designated area.
4. You may notice many many fully naked people walking around.  Do not look at people.  Focus on yourself ONLY.
5. Find a rack full of empty baskets and put your belongings including the towels and undress completely. COMPLETELY.
6. Bring the small towel with you.  Go to the public bathing area.
7. Take a seat and start bathing as usual.  USE THE DETERGENTS provided.
8. You can use the small towel to do whatever you want but when you dip yourself in an Onsen, never allow the small towel to drop or wash or float in the Onsen it is very unhygienic.
9. Enjoy the Onsen. No peeing or farting. Hehe.I spent about 15 mins IN THE ONSEN and I felt giddy so I got out from the hotspring.
10. As you leave, there will be a bucket or a pool of cold water for you to cool down.  Heard it’s not a must.  I tried. COLD LIKE CAN DIE RIGHT NOW.
11. Head to the place you put your belongings AFTER you squeeeze all the water from the small towel, wipe yourself so that you are not dripping all over.
12. Use the big towel to wipe yourself and wear whatever inside you want to wear and end with the Yukata.
13. Head to the blow hair area and use their toner, moisturizer and whatever.  So comfortable.
14. Drink at least 300mL of water before leaving.  You tend to get dehydrated internally after the Onsen session.  If you don’t, your body will remind you by feeling extremely thirsty.

Mom and I wearing Yukata.

Wow!  What a lengthy post I am writing!

LOL!

Wookie, hope you enjoyed this post and it may sparkle your interest in spending a vacay there in Hokkaido!

Annyeong, til I blog again!

Love,

Yen-Nee.