Our Wonderful Trip in Hokkaido - 2013 (DAY 1 - 18 June)

We reached Haneda Airport @ 5.30am after 6 1/2 hours flight from Singapore.  From there, we boarded a domestic flght to Hakodate Airport around 6.45am.  We reached Hakodate at 8.30am.

Our coach captain, Mr Takashima, greeted us at the airport and drove us firstly to Asa-ichi Market, a local seafood market. 

It is really an eye opener for my family... the boys are extremely excited to see different kinds of sea food that are sold in the market here. 

Our next stop was Goryokaku in Mtotomachi.  Goryokaku  was designed in 1855 by Takeda Hisabur. The fort, built by Tokugawa Shogunate, was shaped like a five-pointed star. 

This allowed for greater numbers of gun emplacements on its walls than a traditional Japanese fortress, and reduced the number of blind spots where a cannon could not fire.


Then our coach captain drove us to the Trappistine Convent or known as the Lady of the Angels' Convent.  The convent was built and founded in 1898 by eight nuns from the convent of Ubexy, France.

We were welcomed by St Michael and then Mother Mary which stood just at the entrance of the convent. 

The red-brick contemplative convent was built in a solemn combination of Gothic and Romanesque styles reminiscent of old European castles.  I love the surrounding as it is very peaceful and makes me feel as if I am near heaven. 

Next we visited the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward.  The hall standing on a hill commanding a panoramic view of Hakodate Bay.  It is a two-story wooden structure with beautiful contrast of blue-grey walls and yellow window frames. It is built in colonial style where large windows and balconies are arranged symmetrically to the right and left of the front porch.

Our second last stop was Old Hakodate Meijikan Post Office. This red-brick building was initiaily built as Hakodate Post Office in 1911.  

However it is now a shopping mall where an array of glasswares, music boxes, display of bears are housed.

After dinner, we headed to Mount Hakodate by coach.  It was windy and cold.  However it was still early and it is not dark yet.  We enjoyed a breath-taking and bird’s eye view of the fan-shaped town area between the Tsugaru Strait and Hakodate Bay.  

We returned to our hotel tired and yet happy.....get ready for Day 2.....