Explore Hokkaido -Visiting more places in the city of Sapporo - Day 10

Goodbye Sky Apartment at Matsubara Building, it was only once we bumped into a middle eastern couple in the apartment other then that it was totally soulless during the last 2 nights stay.

Toyohira River is near the place we stayed and we have to cross it every time we go downtown Sapporo. 

It was a Sunday and there was a running event at the river side of Toyohira River.

A beautiful cherry blossom tree awaiting us outside Relief Sapporosusukino Hotel as we checked in for the next 3 nights. Sosei River is the name of the river next to it.

This was the baggage we left it with Relief Sapporosusukino Hotel on the first day we arrived at Sapporo and after 10 days later we collected it back from the hotel. We will be staying in the hotel for the remaining nights before we return to Kuala Lumpur. These were our Ikea Dimpa bags and materials for our bike packing.

Let's go downtown Sapporo for more visits and discovery.

Encountering many traffic lights and junctions is common as you go roaming round the city, hence the flow was always interrupted by the traffic lights.

I was recommended by David Chew to visit the campus of Hokkaido University for meal at the Central Co-op Cafeteria. I found the campus it is huge and lively.

The cafeteria was supposedly meant for students but it seems to be popular among visitors too. It was crowded when we arrived, the queue was smooth and pretty quick to get our food.

Jo bought two cups of soft ice cream to complement our meals it was delicious and after all Hokkaido is popular for their soft ice cream.

A complete and nutritious meal at a super affordable cost, we felt like students taking a typical meal in the cafeteria.

At the outside of the cafeteria where our bicycles were parked at among the bicycles.

Ferris wheel on top of a 7 storey building is a landmark seen within the vicinity of Susukino district and not too far from Relief Sapporosusukino Hotel. 

Odori Park with packed with people on a Sunday and the weather was fine and good.

We stumbled into this interesting alley with all the shops selling ramen, we decided we will come back for it later in the evening. It is known as Ganso Ramen Yokocho, apparently this is the birth place of this ramen. Ganso which means originator. 

We picked this restaurant Teshikaga in this ramen alley. We were fortunate to get 2 seats out of the 6 seats at the counter. The place looks old and small indeed but an authentic feeling of such compact eatery.

A thick broth ramen that tasted so good and yummy.

And a side order of Gyoza, a delicious Japanese fried dumplings.

The two friendly men were busy serving yet entertaining. Domo arigatogozaimasu.

hen we went on to explore the underground shopping of Sapporo and it was at Pole Town. It is confusing as to which exit to get up at the end of the walk, everywhere look the same. Hardly I could find any escalator or lift and had to use the steep staircase up. I guess it is too big a mall and feeling lost is common in the underground shopping.

Eventually we were out with the truly atmosphere of the real surrounding where one can feel the wind, the sound of the traffic and the coldness of the weather.

Good night and it's back to Reief Sapporosusukino Hotel for a good rest.

Explore Hokkaido -Explore Ishikari Coast & Sweden Hill - Day 9

Ohayo gozaimasu Day 9 it was an unfinished business to be completed for our exploration of Ishikari coast and Sweden Hills as recommended by Hokkaido Cycling Tourism.

From Sky Apartment we headed to Sapporo Train Station to get a connection to Ainosato Keon Station where we last visited for Moerenuma Park but this time we are heading northward for Ishikari coast.

Passing by the Odori Park as we moved towards the station.

Catching our train for another day of adventure.

Sapporo - Ainosato Keon train tickets.

Finally we arrived at Ainosato Keon Station, weather was good and we shall take the challenge for the day.

We do not have any idea as what we will expecting to encounter or see, we just proceed and hope for the best. The mountain and sea of Ishikari were part of our initial scenery.

Taking time off to capture anything that excite us and kept of ourselves busy with of photo shooting.

It was relatively a flat terrain at the vicinity of Ishikari.

One of the several bicycle paths we came across but not as many if we were to compare with South Korea.

Nothing busy on the road, there weren't many bicycles seen too except one or two seen along our ride. Yes we were heading to the beach of Ishikari.

As we entered Oyafune we saw this pinkish and white tiny flowery patch at the road side which seem to be seated on a private property.

So this is known as the Hayashi Grandma Pink moss Garden as I found out later in the internet.

We started to see more houses and cars as we approached closer to the coast, judging by it there should be something attractive ahead.

I could sense that the sea side was already nearby.

The Japanese spending quality time with their family by the sea side camping and having barbecue.

Ishikari Beach is a treasure trove of some of the best beach plants. You can also overlook the Sea of ​​Japan. This is part of Hamanasunooka Park. 

The wooden boardwalk is meant for watching the beach plants and flowers with the iconic lighthouse of Ishikari.

Taking a nice rest and refreshment at Hamanasu Hill Park Visitor Center at a lovely viewing deck.

Outside the visitor centre where I was enjoying the lovely sea breeze and its prefect weather. 

As we were coming out of Oyafune we could see this distinguish bridge over Ishikari River and we will be crossing it later in our ride.

The houses at the farm land with steep pitch roof which doesn't look anything like Japanese.

Slowly but steady cruising our way on the flat land of the farm where we were targeting to see Sweden Hills.

Always ensuring that our course of direction is contained as we could only see similar scenery.

It was always nice to see attractive spots like this beautiful flowering bed by the road side.

The beginning of the climbing and this was the first ascend and the most severe climb of the day.

Sweden Hills Golf Club looking nice and lovely surrounded with houses of Sweden design.

The style of the houses are Falu red wooden houses. A Swedish ambassador visited the nearby town center of Tobetsu and thought that the climate was quite similar to the Swedish climate. The development of this village started in 1984. Tobetsu Town's sister city is Leksand in Dalarna County, Sweden.

A Sweden flag in front of the building as we passed by it. Going clockwise in this loop was a right choice as we only encountered one severe climb and downhill all the way back to the flat land.

Stopped by at this park for a toilet break known as Aioi Park. 

A visit to Royce Ainosato Park Shop for its delicacies. It was a pity we missed the ice cream the queue for it was too long. 

We completed the loop and were back at Ainosato Keon Station, took a train and headed back to Sapporo City.

Visited the Former Hokkaido Government Office before we decided to go back to Sky Apartment.

Yeah we managed to complete the loop covering Ishikari Coast and coming back via Sweden Hills for a distance of 44km.