Hello from Sapporo
Current temperature: Freezing (Google says it is 7 degrees)
Current location: Sapporo
I reached Narita airport yesterday and stayed in the airport for quite a while, waiting for my friend to arrive (My friend wishes to be anonymous, so I will refer to him as A). After he arrived, we paid 1000円 each to Ueno Station to seek our intended capsule hotel. We were quite lost for a while before we asked a kind Japanese who showed us the way to the capsule hotel (for males only). The particular capsule hotel we have chosen was relatively cheap - 2100円.
I must say that staying in a capsule hotel is an interesting experience. Firstly, it is because the people cannot speak much English and the signs and all are in japanese (The concept of capsule hotel comes from the problems of males stranded at train stations after the last train left). These are the procedures we have worked out:
1) Remove shoes and place them in lockers
2) Pass the keys of the lockers to the counter and request to check in
3) We are given keys to lockers and in the lockers there is a towel, smaller towel and a green robe and boxers.
4) Change into boxers and green robe
5) Take a bathe in the communal bathing place
6) Dip in the hot water
7) Dry up and sleep in the capsule
Today morning, we woke up and straighten ourselves before checking out. We went to a nearby shop to buy some breakfast - some sushi rolls before catching our 07:02 Hayate 1 to Hachinohe, then another limited express to Hakodate and finally a limited express to Sapporo. The total travel journey was about 10hours. It was interesting because when we first got off at Hachinohe, I was thinking hmm the weather is good - nice and cold. Then when I got off Hakodate, I can feel that it is getting cold. At Sapporo, I felt that it is freezing.
It feels colder here than in Melbourne the midst of winter, even though it is supposed to be pre-summer in Japan. Now, cherry blossom is supposed to arrive in the city in a few days time. On my train ride to Sapporo, we managed to see quite a few sakura trees blossoming. I can't wait to see a street-full of cherry blossom (Hopefully I can see that at Hakodate).
I want to upload photos, but I didn't bring any card reader. What a pity.
Labels: victor's boring life
posted by roticv @ 11:50 PM
10 Comments:
!!! The capsule thing sounds so fun! I should have been born a guy...! (im assuming that it's only for males)
@Esther: Oh you hahahahaha… it’s great that you’re born a girl—world needs more nice people around instead of those who try to appear all machismo for no reason.
That said, 7 degrees does sound nice and cool, though the wind chill might bring it down to the feeling of subzero temperatures. Glad you’re starting to have fun—reminds me that I should probably look into getting on a break or something since I’ve been working continuously for a while by now.
You should try their hot sake—great way of feeling warm (while losing heat heheheh) and I think that they have a strong enough drinking culture that you can try the different kinds of sake that are available in various parts of Japan.
Meanwhile I’m working on more theories for work, even to the point that while I was at a drinking party for a friend/colleague’s birthday, I was still thinking about the theories and had to write some of my thoughts down. Ridiculousness indeed.
Okay, I’m spamming too much on your little comment area. Have fun! (=
So...was the communal bath the 'a lot of people taking bath together' kind? If so, I'm not sure if esther will still want that, haha.
Aquila
@Mun Thye: You should really take a break (Have been telling you so for quite a while). A holiday maybe. I haven't had much of a drink here yet, except some beer at a beer museum.
@Junrong: There were not many people in the public baths I have visited since the hostels I have been to are not very packed.
Will write more another time... Maybe tonight.
the communal bathing area is single gender or mixed?i wud assume is single gender rite?
@bbun: Single gender
cool im so jealous it is incredibly HUMID here.
we are expecting souvenirs hinthint.
carmen
hahaha. cause i know japanese have a tradition of bathing tog as a family too. some parts of japan. i rmbr watchin it in documentary on channelnewsasia. those weekend documentaries. haha
Go find the mixed ones vic!
Aquila
yea vic, find mixed ones! Hahaha.. But i bet if u do that, u cant enter the water... LOL
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home