Sometimes Plan A doesn't work out, and you simply have to make the best of Plan B. My Hokkaido trip at the end of May and beginning of June was actually a replacement for my planned Camino de Santiago. I cancelled my Emirates flight because of the uncertainty in the region, and Hokkaido became the alternative. Not a bad Plan B, I must say.
With a Hokkaido Week Pass in hand, my route was Sapporo → Hakodate → Furano → Wakkanai → Sapporo. Hokkaido is huge, so one week was definitely not enough. There were many places I had to leave for another trip.
First stop: Sapporo.
Despite being a major city, Sapporo didn't feel overcrowded. At times, I actually wondered, where are all the tourists? One place not to miss is Odori Park and the iconic Sapporo TV Tower. And then there was the Hokkaido muskmelon. Soft, juicy and very, very sweet. So sweet that you might wonder whether you're eating fruit or dessert.
The next day, I took the train to Hakodate—a three-to-four-hour journey. Right outside the station is a market selling fresh seafood at reasonable prices. A short 15-minute walk takes you to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, where the old warehouses have been given a new life as shops and restaurants. It reminded me a little of the repurposed warehouse district in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
And, of course, there is Mount Hakodate and its famous million-dollar view. The night view is spectacular, with the city lights stretching out between the sea. The only problem? Everyone else knows about the million-dollar view too. It was super crowded. But after squeezing my way through the crowd and finally getting a view, I had to admit—it was worth it.
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