Day 467: February 11, 2023
Saturday – Asahikawa Roadtrip with the Tomamae Gang
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| Driving to Asahikawa City via the Togeshita-Numata Line |
It's a lovely morning. The Tomamae ALTs are going on a road trip with our JTE Hasegawa-sensei today. We'll be going to Asahikawa for the Asahikawa Winter Festival 2023. Our original plan was that we would get picked up at the Seicomart near my house, but since Jon would be bringing his car, I suggested that he park it near my place and we would be picked up by Hasegawa-sensei there instead.
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| The JR Rumoi Main Line |
Hasegawa-sensei came to pick us up at around 9 AM. We took the road less traveled which was the Togeshita-Numata Line was going to Asahikawa City (旭川市). My wife and I used it several times last year during our road trips and we refer to it as the backdoor to Asahikawa. There were only a handful of vehicles using the route. Regardless, it was cleared of snow and was safe to use.
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| Ishikari River |
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| Waiting for the Super Kamui train |
Hasegawa-sensei first brought us to one of the places that he frequently visits during summer. It is a small road by the Ishikari River which was near Inoo Bridge on the outskirts of Asahikawa City.
Asahikawa Winter Festival 2023
After the meal, Hasegawa-sensei drove us to Tokiwadori. It was the nearest drop-off point to reach the Asahikawa Winter Festival along the Ishikari River. Hasegawa-sensei is not a big fan of the festival, so he decided to spend time somewhere else and then pick us up again after 2 hours.
It is my first time experiencing the Asahikawa Winter Festival. Although it is not as big as the Sapporo Snow Festival which I attended last week, it has its beauty. Not to mention, a smaller crowd. Mike, Jon, and I enjoyed going around and taking photos of the snowmen and ice sculptures on the festival grounds. I also enjoyed watching the student performances on the snow sculpture stage.
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| Chidorigaike Pond |
We visited and took photos of the Kamikawa Shrine, which was also inside the park. I just offered some prayers, just as I always do when I visit a shrine.
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| Asahikawa Central Library |
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| Inside Asahikawa Central Library |
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| Asahikawa Rotunda |
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| This place is one of the filming locations of First Love |
From there, we walked a few meters to Asahikawa Central Library. We did a bit of exploring in the library before Hasegawa-sensei arrived to pick us up a little after 4 to pick us up.
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| Bookoff Asahikawa Sahimachi |
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| Inside Bookoff Asahikawa Sahimachi |
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| Hard Off Asahikawa Pulp Town |
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| Inside Hard Off Asahikawa Pulp Town |
Our Asahikawa trip didn’t end there though, we drove to Bookoff Asahikawa Sahimachi and then to Hard Off Asahikawa Pulp Town to shop. I was able to buy Ella some toys for her collection.
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| Dinner at Ramen Sugawara |
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| Miso Ramen at Ramen Sugawara |
Before going home, we went to Ramen Sugawara for dinner. The store was assumed and be tucked away in some street in the city but was surprisingly popular with the locals and even celebrities. I tried the Miso Ramen and was satisfied with the taste. What made the dinner extra special was that Mike generously paid for our meal (Thanks Mike!).
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| There was a "mini blizzard" on our way back to Rumoi City |
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