First stop was Wakkanai[稚内] the northernmost City of Japan. You can see Russia from here (on a clear sunny day).

The adventure started at the airport of Fukuoka. Here a japanese school class, which was also going to Hokkaido, camped in front of the Gate. Quite an interesting sight, everyone was so disciplined.

The weather at Wakkanai was cold (up to -15C) and it snowed a lot. So when I went to Cape Soya (the northernmost point of Japan), I could not actually see Russia. Everywhere in the city however you could see the proximity to Russia. Streetsigns, most other signs, menus & writings are both in Japanese and in Russian. By coincident I even came across a performance of a Russian folklore group, when I came out of the Onsen. The Onsen here was one of the nicest I’ve been to so far in Japan. It was located on the rooftop with an outside bath overlooking the harbor. After going to the Sauna or before going into one of the hot bath you could lie naked in the snow and make snow angels (OK, I was the only making naked snow angels;-)

At this time of year there are almost no tourist (or people in general) here. Somehow this silence & desertion gives the town a very special & relaxing feel. I enjoyed my time here and would really like to come back in summer to see the contrast and enjoy once again the great food. The seafood here is totemo oishii (very delicious:-)



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