…and that are nonetheless price visiting even when you’ve by no means watched or learn the Hokkaido journey anime/manga.
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, is a implausible place to go to. As Japan’s largest and least densely populated prefecture, it’s stuffed with websites of scenic pure magnificence, and each time our Japanese-language reporter Saya Togashi makes a visit as much as Hokkaido, she finds someplace new to like.
Oh, and she or he additionally finds connections to Golden Kamuy, certainly one of her favourite anime/manga collection. A few of these occur to be in or close to cities which might be additionally on essentially the most normal Hokkaido journey itineraries, just like the prefectural capital of Sapporo or the port cities of Hakodate and Otaru.
However Golden Kamuy is a sweeping journey story with scenes that happen all throughout the prefecture, and so on this installment of Saya’s Hokkaido journeys, she’s headed farther away from the town facilities to go to a trio of spots which might be wonderful sights in their very own rights, with the anime connection being an added bonus for followers.
First up, Kamuy Kotan, a river valley the place Golden Kamuy’s seventh Division is ambushed by Toshizou Hijikata, who demolishes the bridge with a swing of his sword.
▼ The actual, intact bridge is sort of picturesque, stretching throughout the Ishikari River.
Within the language of the indigenous Ainu folks, Kamuy Kotan interprets to “the place the place gods reside,” and legends say that one of many unusually formed rock formations that may be seen alongside the waterway is the petrified physique of a demon who was slain by a hero in ages previous. The swift-flowing river present carves a path by steep cliffs in sure sections, and people making boat voyages are mentioned to have prayed to the gods to grant them protected passage.
The closest prepare station to Kamuy Kotan is Asahikawa, from the place it takes about half-hour by bus or automobile to succeed in the bridge Saya visited, as proven within the map above. Alternatively, if as an alternative of going west from Asahikawa you head east by bus or automobile, in round two hours you’ll attain Sounkyo, a area of mountains and gorges that inside Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park.
Inside Golden Kamuy, Daisetsuzan is the place protagonist Saichi Sugimoto and his companions are pressured to land their stolen airship and make an arduous climb by the mountains. Whereas the real-world Daisetsuzan does have quite a few mountaineering trails, Saya as an alternative opted to make her method up the park’s Mt. Kurodake by the ropeway/cable automobile.
Certain, that is the straightforward approach to get to the highest, but it surely affords you a chook’s-eye view you wouldn’t get whereas mountaineering, letting you admire the majestic vastness of the forests under.
It’s a few seven-minute journey to the highest of the ropeway, which is itself about half-way to the mountain’s peak. That gave Saya loads of time to ooh and aah over the surroundings, and with Daisetsuzan being certainly one of Hokkaido’s greatest locations to view the autumn colours because the leaves change, it’s going to be much more lovely within the weeks to come back, earlier than the winter snows set in.
▼ Oh, and when you determine to hike by the forests as an alternative and find yourself feeling sore from the exertion, Daisetsuzan has scorching springs too.
And final, we come to Lake Kussharo, the place Sugimoto meets blind bandit and ex-convict Anji Toni.
Lake Kussharo is a caldera lake inside Akan Mashu Nationwide Park. We’re now within the far japanese part of Hokkaido, with the closest prepare cease being Mashu Station, a few half-hour south of the lake by bus or automobile (alternatively, it’s about an hour and a half south of Abashiri, the place Saya just lately loved a meal on the “Jail Cafeteria”).
It’s 57 kilometers (35.4 miles) to make an entire lap across the lake, and 125 meters (410.1 ft) to its deepest level. However you don’t have to do something greater than decide a single level to admire how fantastically clear the water is.
For those who’re feeling extra lively, although, there’s a lot to do in Akan Mashu Nationwide Park, with mountaineering, bicycling, and kayaking all choices round or on the lake. The native geothermal exercise additionally signifies that there are a variety of open-air scorching springs, some free to make use of, proper alongside the shore.
As at all times when planning a visit to Hokkaido, it’s vital to keep in mind the seasonal climate patterns, because the chilly, snowy winters have a big impression on the supply of transportation, lodge lodging, and availability of leisure actions. So be sure to test the circumstances for the timing of your journey, and when you’ve bought the time to learn a pair chapters of Golden Kamuy too, Saya thinks you’ll get pleasure from your time in Hokkaido much more.
Associated: Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park Council official web site, Akan Mashu Nationwide Park web site (Ministry of the Setting)
Photographs ©SoraNews24
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