Experiencing Cherry Blossoms Hanami at Maruyama Park in Sapporo & Tokyo Bubble Tea's Sakura Season!

Not that I've been to many places in Japan already but my current favorite has got to be Sapporo in Hokkaido. If you've noticed, my "favorites" are tied with super memorable experiences, most of them like my first times, dates with J, new discoveries, rediscoveries, finding my way or when I had a change of heart about something :) For Sapporo, I got a dose of what they call "hanami" or cherry blossom watching in Japan. Since I can't zap myself there this year, I try to find similar experiences in Manila that make me reminisce about the real thing. Just in time because Tokyo Bubble Tea has sakura-inspired (cherry blossom) concoctions for this summer :)

 

A Day in Odori Park: Russian and Aycha Turkish Food in Sapporo!

We went to the Odori Park during the Sapporo Lilac Festival and found yummy treats from Russia and Turkey after our Chigiri-E (paper tearing session), manga drawing and Japanese ornament making! Haha. I dunno what it is about me and towers, it seems I've been to quite a number in my last Japan and Korea tower trips. Hehe. This one (the Sapporo TV Tower) is located at one end of the Park and a nice landmark too when you're in Sapporo =) Underneath this park is a long labyrinth that leads to underground malls and subway stations ;)

Sapporo Lilac Festival in May: Introduction to Japanese Arts & Crafts - Chigiri-e (Tearing of Paper to Make a Picture), Origami, Wheat Snowflake, Manga Drawing

May 22, 2013 (Wednesday) Afternoon

While it's summertime there in Manila in May, it's springtime and super cold here still in Hokkaido. It's the time for cherry blossoms, lilacs, lavenders, tulip and many more to bloom week after week. This week they are holding the annual Sapporo Lilac Matsuri (Festival) at Odori Park. The flowers are a bit late so we only saw a few but we immersed ourselves for one whole afternoon in the making of different Japanese arts and crafts for the event. We met some wonderful Japanese volunteers who introduced us to Chigiri-e (the art of tearing Japanese paper to make a picture), the art of making Japanese ornaments (in this case, a snowflake) from wheat, origami and getting ourselves drawn by "manga" artists. Time really did fly so fast during this wonderful day.

Saera Odori Fruit Sandwich Shop in Sapporo, King Crab Sandwich Also Available!

May 22, 2013 (Wednesday) Morning

Today was a super eventful day here in Sapporo, Japan! I would have to divide it into three parts because there are so much pictures and things to show you hahaha. First off, it's my first time to eat a fruit sandwich! It's weirdly good and filling - and a very nice and "healthy" brunch idea! You may want to try this fruit sandwich restaurant called Saera, conveniently located very near the Odori Subway Station Exit 19 if ever you come here =) Although I cannot speak Japanese and there is no English menu, I'll tell you some of the things you can order in this post hehe. It's also a good restaurant concept to bring to Manila or a good snack suggestion to do at home BTW hahaha.

Getting Lost in Japan - Chicken Karaage at Cafe Zill Sapporo, Things to Find and Buy in a Local Japanese Supermarket in Hokkaido

May 21, 2013 (Tuesday)

I didn’t want to go out today because I actually missed blogging while I’m here in Hokkaido. I’ve been here for more than a week now - touring, walking and eating just about anything - without internet connection. This is the first “me-time” I got in Hokkaido so let me tell you about why I’m so happy today =) I’m so thrilled that I got lost in Sapporo (Sapporo is a city in Hokkaido, Japan) - just a few hours ago hahaha.