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Japan: Hokkaido |
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Japan: Hokkaido |
Hokkaido is the northernmost of Japan's island, a wild frontierland with few people and beautiful nature, often likened to Alaska or Scandinavia. In September-October 2000 I spent about two weeks traveling around the island by camping and hitchhiking (a story recounted in more detail in the length J3J Episode 19, "Ruff, Tuff and in the Buff") and all the pictures here were taken during that time. Fall was already well on its way and it, along with my fascination with the contorted shapes of mountain trees, shows...
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Akan
National Park
Pictures from the lakes of Mashu-ko, Kussharo-ko and immediate surroundings in eastern Hokkaido. The lake the park is named for, Akan-ko, was unfortunately left off my itinerary. Shown: Ripples on the surface of Pond Kaminoko-ike, near Mashuko |
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Onuma National
Park
A few memories of a one-night stay on the shores of the Onuma lakes. Shown: A distant view of Komagatake and its plume of volcanic smoke |
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Sapporo
The administrative center of Hokkaido and, with 1.7 million people, the only big city on the island. Shown: Buddhist monk reading the newspaper on a local train |
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Shiretoko
National Park
A peninsula jutting out of northeastern Hokkaido, within sight of the disputed Kunashiri Islands, home to Japan's largest population of brown bears and all sorts of natural wonders. Shown: Cliffs opposite the Furape waterfall |
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Taisetsuzan
National Park
Mountains, gorges, waterfalls and hot springs in the heart of Hokkaido. Shown: Trail up Mt. Kurodake, near Sounkyo Onsen |
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Toya-Shikotsu
National Park
Lake Shikotsu-ko, a haven of peace and mossy canyons, and Lake Toya-ko, home of (very) active volcanos Mt. Usu-zan and Mt. Showashin-zan, on the western side of Hokkaido. Shown: A small section of Koke no Domon (Moss Canyon) near Shikotsuko |