Japan 2022 Day 6

Day 6: Shiretoko to Sapporo

Beautiful sunny day today. We left Shiretoko and travelled to Memanbetsu airport for flight to Sapporo. It’s like a regional airport and it was pretty empty so we had time to look at the amazing array of packaged goods ( Sally is going to do a special edition of the blog around the food and packaging practices of Japan)

They all look a bit serious but the choices were seriously challenging!

The Japanese are inefficient at some things but they are so efficient in certain aspects of air travel……

They tell you how long the security queue is
When you board the plane, there is a group number on your ticket and you board by groups. And very sensibly, all the window seat holders are in the same group and board first. How sensible is that?o

And when the luggage is placed on the carousel all the handles point outwards so they are easy to collect!

When we got to Sapporo we had some time to spare before checking into hotel, so did a visit to Okurayama ski jump stadium, one of the sites which hosted the 1972 winter olympics. And here we are, getting into the spirit of things

This is what it looks like from top of ski jump

And no, we didnt walk up the hill to get this picture. We took a chairlift.

Great views from the top and it couldnt have been a better day for viewing

And here’s Les on the simulator …i think he reached a speed of about 149 km/hr

We checked in at the Prince Hotel which has lovely internal lifts and then explored some of the many shopping areas of Sapporo.

A brief word on some of Hokkaido’s road infrastructure. Many of the roads have long sturdy fences along the roadside to break the force of the winds and hold back the snow. There are also very impressive structures to prevent sliding rocks, and the roads have little red arrows which are iridescent at night. Enjoy these engineering moments

awaywiththebirds

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7 responses to “Japan 2022 Day 6”

  1. Thank you Sara for these daily blogs, they are good to read in absentia and to see vicariously what you are doing. Looks like fun experiences together despite uncooperative weather at the start. Anne

  2. Well, I have heard a lot about Sapporo and feel, now, as I have visited. Thank you.

  3. You still have not told me what I won. Also, we want a list of the things at which Japan is inefficient!!

  5. I loved the ski jump simulator too! And can’t you just see our airport baggage handlers carefully placing the luggage the right way around ………NOT!
    Your blogs are amazing Sara – so informative and interesting xxxx

  6. Great blog Sar, well done! You have a new career! Can you include video of others on ski simulator – Les made it look very easy! What happens if you fall off ?

  7. Yay 🌞🌞🌞. Pics are fabulous. The Japanese packaging and presentation, thoughtfulness etc second to none. Sar are you trying any really weird food? Xxx