Sakura: Cherry Blossom

Sakura: Cherry blossoms started blooming in Tokyo. Here in the Imperial Palace, more and more people come to see the flowers. Keititsu in Japanese means the day on which insects appear from their holes in the earth. These days are Human Keititsu, which people start come out of thier houses or offices to feel the warmth of spring. Human's behavior is not so much difference from the insects' one. This is because both insects and human being are creature on earth.

If you want to see cherry blossoms in Japan, please get the updated infomation where and how much cherry blossoms blooms on news, we call it Sakura FRONT, like cold (warm)front in the weather forecast.

Rossia in Japan

As you see in a map, the top north of Japan is pretty close to Rossia. Thus, many ships come and go between Wakkanai (the most northen city in Japan) and Rossia. When Rossian ships are moored in Wakkanai Harbor, you see many Rossian people here and there in the town. Some shops are open just for Rossian customers: the Japanese customers cannot enter the shops. You will see sign board written in Rossian in Wakkanai as the left photo.

In Japan, you will see English signs in middle and large cities, Korean and Chinese signs in the north cities in Kyushu (Southwest of Japan) and Portuguese in town where many Brazilian people work, such as Shizuoka and Gunma in Honshu (mainland of Japan).

As Japan has had a campaign called "Visit Japan Campaign" to welcome more people from overseas, we will see more and more foregin visitors in Japan. I would be fun for us!

Zoo at Top North: Asahiyama Zoo

Asahiyama Zoo is located in Asahikawa-city at the center of Hokkaido, North Island in Japan. The zoo is the furthest northern Zoo in Japan and also has the most number of visitors in Japan followed by Ueno Zoo in Tokyo.
You will see many interesting ideas to have you see the animals from various view points, such as a bait of polar bears. Penguin walk is one of the new ideas. You will see penguins walking around in the zoo. The number of penguins taking for a walk and which kind of penguins are depending on the day i.e. their feeling for walk.
Although you feel it strange to see lions and giraffes standing on snow, you will enjoy the animal parks in different ways in different seasons.

Monbetsu:the Sea of Okhotsk

The areas facing the Sea of Okhotsk have floating ices every winter.
If you are lucky you will see seals and egales resting on the ices.
At Monbetsu in North-east of Hokkaido, it is fun to take a small ship
which go through the floating ices by breaking them. It depends on the
wind where you find the ices. Sometimes by the shore, other times offshore.
Ar far east of Hokkaido, Abashiri, you may join a walking tour on the ices.
Enjoy cold weather in Hokkaido!

Top North: Wakkanai

Wakkanai in Hokkaido is situated in over 45 degrees north. So, it is pretty cold in winter but cool in summer.
It faces two seas, the Sea of Japan (east sea for Koreans) and the Sea of Okhotsk. Thus, the north wind is very strong all year around.

Though the weather is quite harsh, there are many things which make you happy and warm.

Foods there are very tasty, especially fresh sea foods.
Also there is an amusement spot where you can experience dog/horse sledge, snow rafting, snow slider, snow shoe hiking and snow mobile ride.

Why don't you start your travel in Japan from this Top North?