Scenes from Hakodate City (Hokkaido, Japan)

After walking around the park for awhile we walked to the Moo Town Cafe.

Per the internet: Yamakawa Bokujyo Moo Town Cafe Factory, is a small ranch producing milk and beef meat. Their roast beef sandwich as well Philly steak sandwich are highly recommended. But please try a plain glass of cold milk. It is amazing! Without any additives it tastes sweet and nothing like milk you can buy in a supermarket. It is such a delicatessen!

We ordered a roast beef sandwich and a Philly cheese steak sandwich and split them between us. I've had Philly cheese steak sandwiches in Philadelphia and they were nowhere near as good as the one we had in the Moo Town Cafe.

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Fujinon XF 16-80mm f4 lens
Fujifilm X-T2 camera
Hokkaido, Japan - August-September 2024​
 
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Hakodate looks to have almost as many trams on their streets as they have cars. Surely more trams than rickshaw...

Your first photo on page 1 reminded me of the trams in Toronto when I was last there for an extended visit, so long ago - 1982. I suspect a lot has changed in that city in that time. Even back then the trams didn't look quite like yours in Hakodate, but close enough. The street scene in reminded me of College Street in the city center near the Kensington Market, where I lived in super el cheapo digs and walked everywhere, I was on a third world budget and even the tram fares stressed out my finances.

Maybe somebody who reads this can post one (or more) images of those Toronto trams.

Herein likes the makings of yet another fascinating thread in the, I hope, near future. Entirely about trams. You would have some mighty fine visual contributions to this, I reckon. As for me, I will now look for some of mine, but it may be a long search - I'm still overseas, and back home I will have four huge portable hard disks to wade through. My usual life situation, too much to do but too little time left. Even my priority list will overflow off the laptop page...

Splendid images as always. 素晴らしいですね!!!

PS (added later) Your images of Onuma Park remind me of my many visits to Perak state in Malaysia. I'm overdue to return here next month and am greatly looking forward to this. One of my 'chosen spots' in southeast Asia to revisit, and where I at times wish I had opted to a decade ago. Which may yet happen as my partner is from there, and has family in Ipoh. So one of my wishes may come true.

Your images of this truly lovely place now make me want to go to Japan, more so than before...
 
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Okay, getting back to the middle of nowhere. After departing the Moo Town Cafe, we walked another 15 minutes or so to reach the Onuma train station. This station is one stop prior to the Onumakoen station that we originally arrived at. We have been walking a lot today. I'm tired but I can't admit that in front of my wife. Sometimes one has to act like they're tougher than they really are for the good of the team. Press on regardless!
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Fujinon XF 16-80mm f4 lens
Fujifilm X-T2 camera
Hokkaido, Japan - August-September 2024​
 
The problem with these train stations in isolated areas is that the trains don't run very often. Sometimes they only run a few times a day. Out on the train platform this station looks big but we're the only people here. We checked the schedule and our train should be here in 20 minutes. The fact that nobody else is here makes us feel a little uneasy. My wife reads a book while I take pictures.
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Fujinon XF 16-80mm f4 lens
Fujifilm X-T2 camera
Hokkaido, Japan - August-September 2024​
 
@Yokosuka Mike, were you inspired by travel shows such as this?
美しい日本に出会う旅|BS-TBS
They've been heavy on coverage of Hokkaido and it's unmanned rail stations. Amazing for me to imagine that some of those far-flung areas were once bustling.

Hi Jeff! I haven't seen that show but my wife and I do regularly watch a lot of domestic travel shows on television; especially the ones for Onsens. We try to go on a 3 day (or longer) trip every month. If we see an interesting place on a travel television show my wife will do the research and we'll possibly go there. My wife is an incredible travel planner. She doesn't just poke around google, she goes to the library and reads books (travel guides) for the area and she'll create an amazing itinerary that maximizes the things we can do in the desired location and the surrounding area. She's really great!

All the best,
Mike
 
In this thread you show us an entirely new and different side of your photo style.

As I've most likely said before, your visual views of Hakodate make me want to go and see it for myself.

I'm pleased to see the photos of your wife. It was kind of her to let you post photos of her here. I look at those images and I see kindness, many shared interests, enjoyment of travel and obviously of being with you. It's also obvious to me that you are comfortable with each other and you enjoy each other's company. In every way she seems a truly lovely person.

I especially liked the photo (#48) of her reading at the railway station while you both waited for a train. Obviously she knows how to keep herself pleasantly occupied while you are out and about with your cameras.
 
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In this thread you show us an entirely new and different side of your photo style.

As I've most likely said before, your visual views of Hakodate make me want to go ther and see it for myself.

I'm very pleased to see the photos of your wife. It was very kind of her to let you post photos of her here. I look at those images and I see kindness, many shared interests, enjoyment of travel and obviously of being with you. It's also obvious to me that you are comfortable with each other and you enjoy each other's company. In every way she seems a truly lovely person.

I especially liked the photo (#48) of her reading at the railway station while you both waited for a train.

Thank you, DownUnder, thank you very much.

My wife is an amazing person. Strong, independent, intelligent, fun, funny; together we can do anything. She makes me a better person.

All the best,
Mike
 
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