stayed in this area called Susukino, an entertainment area. i think something like orchard. this is view from my floor. signboards.
the last trip to japan, i bought a donut before i boarded the Shinkansen 新幹線 at Sendai City仙台市. didn't know that the donut was really very yummy then. this time, i had to have it AGAIN.
glazed. oh my... so delicious. oh this is for supper. haha!
breakfast was onigiri once again. the standard breakfast served in Toyoko Inns which i must say i am happy. give me rice anytime.
today.... we were going to Otaru 小樽, another city about 40mins away from Sapporo 札幌. i love trains and i had to ride on this steam locomotive (SL) which had limited runs! chose today to do it and go to Otaru. actually this train goes a longer way but due to limited time, we could only hop on it for a short distance.
look look!!
they allowed passengers to take photos from the engine room and I even got to try on their engineers' cap!
the engine room and the engineers in their 'old-school' uniforms.
train plate. the whole journey of the train runs from Sapporo to Rankoshi.
inside. since it was autumn, they decorated it accordingly. this train is a revived one. it actually served regular passengers from 1945 to 1973.
you can actually take a pict with the uniform. i only found out when we were alighting... darn.
this is the canteen portion. you get more info about the train, you can buy sandwiches and also merchandise.
genuinely run by coal.
SL Niseko stopped at Otaru. we contemplated stopping here actually. but i found out that from Sapporo to Otaru, somehow, the train was not running on her own. she was pulled using a modern engine train. only from Otaru onwards, the train will run on her own.
i couldn't give up the opportunity to be a on 'real' SL (steam locomotive) so i discussed about our plans and decided we have enough time to sit through one more station. from Otaru onwards, the real steam engine of the train will be in use!
anyway, at Otaru, everyone queued up for a photo with the staff and the engine. a little girl with a 'v' sign. kids....
oh us..... haha.
then the train prepared to leave. apparently, the train has lots of fans!
this is the modern engine pulling the whole train from Sapporo. but from Otaru onwards, it will not be in use.
choo choo
photo taking, since train not leaving yet.
i bought some dango, like rice ball.
okay folks, time to leave!
oh look!! the steam engine at work!!!!
we arrived at Yoichi 余市 and had to get off, else we would not make it back to Otaru on time. look at the magnificient train!!
