Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill | Review by Linda Liao

Jingisukan barbecue is also one of the must-eat foods when visiting Hokkaido! First, beef fat is spread evenly over the sizzling grill, giving the slices of meat a rich aroma as they cook. Then, tender slices of meat are laid out and slowly grilled. Fresh local Hokkaido vegetables are spread beneath the grill, catching the dripping meat juices and fat. The vegetables soak up all that flavor, creating a delicious mix of savory and sweet! Hokkaido vegetables are already naturally very sweet, and grilling makes them even sweeter and tastier. Eating big bites of meat with the vegetables is simple but incredibly satisfying and enjoyable!

The last time I visited Naruko Onsen was during a cold winter. Soaking in a hot spring was perfect in the frigid air. This small place in northeastern Japan doesn't get many foreign tourists. Most visitors are Japanese travelers, so it feels less bustling and more quiet and unassuming.

Besides its hot springs, Naruko Onsen is also famous in Japan for producing kokeshi dolls. After my bath, I wandered into some shops across the street and happened upon Grandpa Seiichi Okazaki's little shop. It was very simple inside, but felt warm and welcoming. Traditional tools for making kokeshi dolls lined the walls and tables. Each one looked as if it had been used for many years, with the passage of time etched into the wood. They must have accompanied him in his work for a long time.

We naturally started chatting in Japanese, and he seemed very happy. As we talked, he made a small sake cup by hand and gave it to me as a keepsake. It was just a simple little gift, but it added an unexpected touch of emotion to the trip. Before leaving, I also picked out a small kokeshi doll to take home. I never imagined that little wooden doll would sit there for so many years.

I hope I get the chance to return to Naruko Onsen someday and see whether Grandpa Okazaki is doing well.

Kanamori Bay (Hakodate Bay) is near Hakodate's famous red brick warehouses, and the surrounding area has the atmosphere of a port town. When I visited last winter, the Christmas lights were up, making the evenings especially romantic. Unfortunately, it was the middle of winter, and the sea breeze was bitterly cold, so it wasn't a good time for a cruise and I had to give up on it. Still, enjoying the lights from the shore had its own charm.