Otaru has around 100 sushi restaurants, including some 20 on the famed Sushi Street, which is five minutes on foot from where we were staying. As much as we like sushi, we were in the mood for a variety of small hot dishes – specifically, we wanted to eat at an izakaya. We decided to…
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It was a sunny Saturday morning in Otaru, a port city on the western side of Hokkaido. Gathered at one end of Otaru Canal was a busload of Chinese tourists whose tour guide was instructing where to meet later. Shaded under colourful umbrellas, the women were busy posing for photos in front of the shimmering…
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Driving through the mountains between Furano and Sapporo after sunset was harrowing. For more than an hour – it felt like eternity – I sat tense and upright on the edge of the seat with my hands gripping the wheel. Whenever I spotted the faint outline of a yellow board in the distance, I would…
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“Are we there yet?” Panting with arms akimbo, I squinted at the rock path snaking through the alpine green ahead. Another ridge to cross. More loose rocks to scramble over. We continued trudging to the peak of Mount Furano, stopping occasionally to take photos of the beautiful lush surrounds. “Hey, I think we’re finally there!”…
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“Is it left over right or the other way round?” I wondered as I wrapped my yukata tightly around my body. It has been a few years since I last visited an onsen (hot spring). Barefoot in our yukatas with towels in hand, we made our way to the basement of Ryounkaku Tokachidake. Then we…
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It was summer but the skies were grey and the wind gave me goosebumps under my jacket. We had arrived at the entrance of the ramen shop. Sliding the door open, we stepped inside. The air was thick with humidity, a warm welcome and respite from Sapporo’s chilly streets. It was only 5pm but the…
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Yoichi is a small coastal town located in the bottom part of Shakotan peninsula in western Hokkaido and is about 30 minutes by car from Otaru. The area is noted for its fruit production, especially apples. In addition, it offers the ideal climate at the right latitude for whisky production. When I was in Hokkaido…
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I visited Hokkaido in 2012 and it was only recently that I finally went through all the photos taken by my mum, sis and I, as well as edited my raw files. I started to work on a photo book – which expanded into two volumes – and have been laying out the photos manually (not…
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Have you ever had a colour analysis where someone advises you what colours flatter your skin tone and which ones you should avoid at all costs? I did and was told that cool colours like blue and purple are great for me, whereas warm colours such as brown and orange don’t match my complexion. This week’s…
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Angelina Hue 