We flew in from Toyama and then caught a train from the airport into the city.  We’re staying at the Mercure Hotel – quite comfortable but very busy.

It was snowing lightly as we left the train station to walk to the hotel – about 1km.  By the time we had reached the Mercure were had almost mastered the “Saporro Shuffle” – walking carefully on the ice without lifting your feet.  Some of the pavements were very slippery but the roads were downright dangerous!

Sapporo is home to around 2.5 million and the area where we are staying reminds me a little of Tokyo – bright neon signs, lots of restaurants and bars, busy people slipping and sliding on the icey footpaths.

Our first night and we were hungry.  The tiny Ramen bar on the corner near the hotel lured us in with the delicous aroma of garlic.  Little did we know that our Ramen noodle bowls would be so filled with garlic that we would be slightly regretting out choice over the next day or so.  But the Ramen was good.  Note to self – don’t look too closely at the kitchen fittings when sitting along the bar in front of it.  It might put you off 😦

Christmas Lights

After our Ramen, we walked to the central park where there was a very impressive display of Christmas Lights and stalls selling decorations.  The stalls were all German, not Japanese – how interesting…..

We’re finding breakfasts a little tricky in Japan.  What we usually enjoy for breakfast is simply not available.  There are plenty of Japanese noodle shops open and bakeries with sweet pastries.  Not what we like for a nutritious start to the day.  Macdonalds was Jeff’s choice for our first morning in Sapporo where he enjoyed a Sausage & Egg McMuffin and Hash Brown – mmm…….  I sat at the bench with my black coffee and apple – I’m such a naturopath at times!

Nijo Fishmarket

The Nijo Fishmarket was our first stop after breakfast, a fairly quick 15 minute walk.  It would have been quicker except for having to negotiate the ice on the footpaths.  Lots of fresh seafood, some being cooked in front of you.  The size of the crabs astounded us.

Jeff simply loves sushimi.  We found this tiny little two seater sushi bar inside the market where Jeff got to indulge his raw seafood passion with sushi made in front of him.  I watched, opting for a boring coffee and french toast with a fruit plate at a cafe back towards the hotel.  I like sushi, but not all the time…..

Sapporo Brewery

No trip to Sapporo is complete without a visit to the Brewery.  I never knew beer had been brewed in Japan for so long!  The tour ended with a tasting, of course!

That evening we wandered out for a pre-dinner drink about a block down the road to a bar.  It was Friday night and very crowded but the beer and wine was good.

We had had our eye on a crab restaurant for dinner across the road from the hotel Mercure.  After a 20 minute wait, our shoes were off and we were seated at the low Japanese table.  Ordered everything crab – crab salad, crab mornay, crab suhi, broiled king crab legs – all were pretty delicous.

I should have stuck to a beer as the wine with the crab was very sweet, even worse than a dessert wine!  Jeff has developed quite a taste for hot saki after dinner.  Me, not so much…..

Our waitress, Yui, became our new best friend.  She had very good English after spending three years of high school in Brisbane with a homestay family.  She is going back to Brisbane for university in February.  I’m sure we are going to hear from her as she is keen to visit us in Canberra.

Breakfast on our 2nd and last day in Sapporo was a little better. Jeff found a cafe on line that looked good, and it was.  Off we set rugged up well as it was snowing.

Only a short 10 minute walk and we were sitting in a cosy coffee house run by an older Japanese couple.  Very simple meals on offer which were very good – toast with a cold boiled egg and jam, and an egg salad toasted sandwich.  The slices of bread were thick and the coffee was good.

Headed off to the train station for our next leg – Otaro, a seaside port on the west coast, which would take about a half an hour.

Jeff and Catherine x