Hokkaido - Takinoue

Surrounded by mountains, Takinoue is a beautiful town with many waterfalls and valleys.

Moss pink grow in colonies of thousands of small flowers colored white, light pink or dark pink. As the name suggests, they look like a pink carpet of moss blanketing entire hills.



The gift shop naturally sells everything related to Moss Pink. Including ice-cream.
Imagine 2 kids sitting there licking ice-cream like that's the best thing that they ever tasted. They became the star attraction there. Everyone stop and take photo.

Hokkaido - Kamiyubetsu

Feels like someone planted holland in hokkaido. If you like tulips, here's the place. The picture says it all.





Flowers so perfect it actually looks fake.

Hokkaido - Lake Akan

Lake Akan is a beautiful crater lake in Akan National Park. This is where locals go for their holiday!


The Ainu village. Great showcase of wooden craft-work.



Along with that you have a lot of merchandise based on a rare algae that can be found in the lake called marimo. They have marimo everything here!

Ferry ride while enjoying the sunset.


And Finally, back at the hotel for some R&R

Hokkaido - Shiretoko

One of the most remote parts of hokkaido.
It's also a UNESCO world heritage site. Has a huge population of brown bears and deers. Not to mentioned great scenery.



Five lakes of Shiretoko. (Not all are open when we're there)




Wild deers. They can be seen everywhere along the way. This one and family walk right next to me at the lakes.


Shiretoko Mountain PassMount Rausu




Snow but air temperature is 15 degrees

ela...ela...ela....me and my umbrella

Heartland

Found this old photo while I browse through my folder.
Didn't like it a first. Now.....seems OK. What do you think?

Botanic garden shoot

Was at botanic garden in the morning.

It rained...
But I was lucky to manage this standing at the shelter