Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 60

Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 60

Weekend 60: December 24 – 25, 2022

Day 418: December 24, 2022

Saturday – Flight to Osaka

This is it! Day 1 of our 2022 -2023 Winter Vacation.

Good morning from Sapporo Grand Hotel
Day 1 starts at Sapporo Grand Hotel in Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture

Northern Terrace of Sapporo Grand Hotel
Breakfast at Northern Terrace of Sapporo Grand Hotel

Breakfast at Northern Terrace of Sapporo Grand Hotel

We started it by having a scrumptious breakfast feast at the Northern Terrace of Sapporo Grand Hotel. I didn’t miss out on the salmon sashimi and the different desserts.

Looking for omiyage at The Bakery and Pastry
Looking for omiyage at The Bakery and Pastry

We had a great time at Sapporo Grand Hotel. Until next time!
We had a great time at Sapporo Grand Hotel. Until next time!

Before checking out, we bought omiyage for our Japanese family in The Bakery and Pastry which is also inside the hotel.

Off to Sapporo JR Station to board the train going to New Chitose Airport
Bought tickets at Sapporo JR Station to board the train going to New Chitose Airport

We walked back to Sapporo JR Station from the Sapporo Grand Hotel and then boarded the Rapid Express train from Sapporo JR Station to Shin Chitose Station in Chitose City (千歳市).

New Chitose Airport - Chitose City, Hokkaido Prefecture
Christmas feels at New Chitose Airport

Waiting for our plane at New Chitose Airport
Waiting for our plane at New Chitose Airport

Since we were very early for our 3 PM flight, we spent our time watching films on Netflix. I got to finish about two episodes of the 2nd season of Alice in Borderland. The boarding gates opened around 2 PM.

Finally! Bound for Osaka!
Team Nicerio's off to Osaka!


Bye for now snowy Hokkaido!
Bye for now snowy Hokkaido! 

We boarded flight MM11 and arrived at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture at 5:25 PM. Mr. Toshi and his family were there to pick us up.

Touchdown Osaka!
Touchdown Osaka!

Mr. Toshi and his family were there to pick us up
Mr. Toshi and his family were there to pick us up

Sakura Coffee Izumisano
Sakura Coffee Izumisano

Sakura Coffee Izumisano
This is what I had for dinner

Dinner with the Kameyama Family
Dinner with the Kameyama Family

Before heading home, we had dinner at Sakura Coffee Izumisano in Izumisano City (泉佐野市).

Check out what was posted on the wall of Mr. Toshi's house
Check out what was posted on the wall of Mr. Toshi's house

Mr. Toshi and family brought out the Christmas cake / Welcome cake
Mr. Toshi had the Christmas cake / Welcome cake for us

Thank you for such a warm welcome.
Thank you for such a warm welcome. 


Itadakimasu!

When we got home to the Kameyama Residence in the town of Kumatori (熊取町), Mr. Toshi’s son Tako and his family came to visit and we had a great time chatting with them. We even had two cakes to celebrate our arrival and Christmas Eve.

Before calling it a day, we prepared our luggage for our 3-day Hiroshima Road Trip tomorrow. It is something that we have been looking forward to for a long time.


Day 419: December 25, 2022

Sunday – Christmas Day – Hiroshima Road Trip Day 1

My favorite view from Mr. Toshi's house
My favorite view from Mr. Toshi's house

Mr. Toshi preparing breakfast
Mr. Toshi prepares breakfast

Our second home in Japan
Our second home in Japan

First stop: Suita City, Osaka
First stop: Suita City, Osaka

We went to Mr. Toshi's daughter's place to drop off Yomo
We went to Mr. Toshi's daughter's place to drop off Yomo

Mr. Toshi and Yomo
Mr. Toshi and Yomo

We left the Kameyama Residence in the town of Kumatori in Osaka Prefecture at around 9 AM. For our first stop, we drove to the house of Ms. Akiko, Mr. Toshi’s daughter, in Suita City (吹田市) which is also in Osaka Prefecture. We went there to drop off Yomo, the family dog so that she would also get her 3-day vacation.

Miki Service Area in Miki City (三木市) in Hyogo Prefecture
Toilet breast at Miki Service Area in Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture

From there, we drove westward. We had a brief toilet stop at the 
Miki Service Area in Miki City (三木市) in Hyogo Prefecture.

Sanyo Expressway
...and we're back at Sanyo Expressway

Kurashiki manhole cover
Kurashiki City manhole cover

Before reaching Hiroshima Prefecture, we took a 
Kurashiki City (倉敷市) tour in Okayama Prefecture. We visited the following places:

Kurashiki River / Kurashiki Canal
Kurashiki River / Kurashiki Canal

👖 Kurashiki River / Kurashiki Canal


Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

👖 Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter


Kurashiki Denim Street
Kurashiki Denim Street

Kurashiki Denim Street

👖 Kurashiki Denim Street


Kurashikimon
Kurashikimon

👖 Kurashikimon


Kurashiki Ivy Square
Kurashiki Ivy Square

Kurashiki Ivy Square

👖 Kurashiki Ivy Square


Kurashiki City manhole cover 2
Kurashiki City manhole cover 2

Yahata Parking Area (outbound)
Yahata Parking Area (outbound) 

Entering Hiroshima City via the Sanyo Expressway

It was almost 5 PM when we left but unlike in Hokkaido, there was still plenty of sunlight left until we reached Hiroshima Prefecture. Since it was still a bit of a drive, we had another brief stopover at the Yahata Parking Area (outbound) in Mihara City (三原市), Hiroshima Prefecture.

Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima
Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima

Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima

Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima

Team Nicerio stays in Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima

We reached the Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima in Ujina Island, still part of Hiroshima City, at around 6 PM. After checking in, we first brought our bags to room 701 before heading back down to the lobby to meet Mr. Toshi and his family. 

Hiroshima Teppanyaki Manpachi
Hiroshima Teppanyaki Manpachi

We then drove to Hiroshima Teppanyaki Manpachi in the city proper for dinner. My family and I tried the Hiroshima Okonomiyaki for the first time and we had mixed feelings about it. Regardless, we enjoyed the meal.

Hiroshima okonomiyaki
Hiroshima okonomiyaki

Dinner with the family
Dinner with the family

With our stomachs full and contented, we drove back to our hotel to rest and prepare for our new adventures tomorrow.

Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima
Good night for now! See you tomorrow.

Overall, it was a long drive but my family and I got to visit two new prefectures in just one day (Okayama and Hiroshima). It brings us to a total of 14/47 prefectures visited in Japan. With that, it’s time to sleep. See you tomorrow!

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Week 60
Japan Diaries 4: Day 418
Japan Diaries 4: Day 419

Sapporo Grand Hotel
Kurashiki River
Kurashiki Denim Street
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area
Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima
10 More Things to Do in Sapporo City
10 Things to Do in Chitose City
10 Things to Do in Kurashiki City
5 Things to Do in Ujina Island
10 Things to Do in Hiroshima City

Japan Diaries 4: Summary

Previous:

Japan Diaries 4: Week 59
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 59

Next:

Japan Diaries 4: Week 61
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 61


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