hokkaido gozaimasu!

Finally went to my dream country: Japan! Though we only stayed a total of 1 1/2 days in Tokyo, I enjoyed every bit of my time in Hokkaido in Northern Japan where we stayed for 4 days. Via small plane, it took around 3 hours to get there from Chofu airport, an hour away by car from Tokyo.


Everyone kept saying that Hokkaido doesn't look like Japan. And it's true. Its landscapes of rolling hills are more reminiscent of Northern Europe than Asia.



We stayed at the Hazel Grouse Manor House, an English-style hotel and restaurant.
We always ate French food (that's what they served at the restaurant). Sometimes it felt weird. Here we were in Japan and we felt like we were in Europe.


But our host took pity on us and took us to a Japanese restaurant on two nights. Here's the robata grill which uses bincho-tan or white charcoal that's harder and slower-burning than its black counterpart. Tradition dictates than an elderly woman does the grilling at the center of the restaurant.


The autumn winds were freezing. I think temperature dropped down to zero. But I couldn't complain; one morning at 4 am when we were gearing up for a shoot, it snowed! My first snow. I was grinning from ear to ear. It only lasted for 10 minutes and even the locals were surprised. Snow in October. Dave Matthews' words kept playing in my head: I love you oh, so well. Like a kid who loves candy and first snow.

Hokkaido was beautiful--the perfect nature getaway--sounds like a rip-off from a brochure, but it's true anyway.


Fishing at Lake Kussharo


Our gracious host Utsumi-san

I'm longing to return to Japan to soak in Tokyo.

Samar out there

Ari's photo

Because of my recent Samar trip and Wrong about Japan (Mabes' bday gift), the book I recently finished, I am fascinated about World War II. The Guiuan airstrip, on where the above 1957 Beech 18 was parked, is the only existing testament to the thriving US airbase back in 1944-1945. (And yes, we rode that restored plane from Manila to Samar.)

Just imagine, this airstrip used to host a steady stream of bombers and fighter planes. It was also where the Enola Gay took off before it bombed Japan.

In Wrong about Japan, I read about a war survivor whose story was the inspiration for the animated movie, Grave of the Fireflies. So that sorta made me think of the other side of war--when Japan was being incessantly bombed by the US.

Anyway, one morning at 4 am, I asked my mom about WW II stories because really, it happened not so long ago. She couldn't remember much but she remembered seeing dead bodies and watching her school go up in flames. She was just a kid then.

I wish I asked my titos and my lola about the war when they were still alive.