Hakodate - Winter Wonderland

Rather than returning immediately from Sapporo after we'd had our fill of the snow festival, we decided to stop half-way home and spend a full day and night in our favorite Japanese city: Hakodate. We visited once before over the fourth of July. But it was fun seeing the city blanketed in white, puffy snow. We didn't really have a set agenda for our stay here. It was too cold to do much walking and sight-seeing. So we mostly relaxed, ate, and shopped. I was able to find nice Japanese thank you gifts for the hostesses of my baby shower. We also got to enjoy some quality R&R in the two story Starbucks right on the water. It was a very relaxing trip!

Our hotel overlooking the red brick warehouse shopping district

First stop: lunch at a familiar European fusion restaurant

James enjoying his lambchops

DELICIOUS margherita pizza made by drizzling pesto over a cheese pizza.

The red brick warehouses where we did all our shopping

Our favorite Starbucks in the world. No joke. So fun!

The squid is kind of the mascot of Hakodate. How cute is this!

Relaxing

That night we went to dinner at the Hakodate Beer Restaurant. Unfortunately, they did not allow cameras inside because they had their brewing process out on display in the center of the restaurant floor. But we enjoyed a delicious mutton stir fry while being serenaded by a live piano player. Very classy.

The next morning, we woke up to clear skies and a good view of the city beside the water. We packed up, enjoyed a Western breakfast at Starbucks, and then took the train home. Over all, we really enjoyed our trip and returned refreshed and ready to tackle this moving business...

Their Starbucks sells real banana pancakes!! Crazy!