The market area spans about four city blocks. Hokkaido is a treasury of abundant seafood. There are many markets for fresh seafood, vegetables and fruits for the local people.
Above all, this morning market in Hakodate with over 400 shops is one of the best in the size and abundance of commodities.
Products on sale include various types of fresh seafood and several restaurants can be found in the market area as well. Hokkaido is famous for its catch of variety of crab, such as hairy crab, king crab or snow crab.
Stall after stall, the vendors call out to tourists, handing out samples of piping hot crab meat to lure them in. Competition seemed stiff, as vendors laid out their seafood in attractive displays. The streets smelled of sweet-cooked crab.
We saw black rounded sea creatures with lots of sharp thorns around them. They are sea urchins. They don't come cheap too and it cost me 1,000 yen to buy this fresh sea urchin.
Sea urchin roe which is considered a delicacy in Japan. I ate this 1000 yen raw sea urchin. Sweet, juicy sensation spread in my mouth, and I could not help but praising for it awesomely delicious taste.
Die..die must try!!! (5 stars)
The market is full of lively voices of the vendors.
We saw “live” squid swimming in the tank.
Quote us 1,000 yen for 1 squid and grill for us as well. Hakodate's signature fish is squid and so we ordered....(we're rubbing our hand)
Vendor pull out 1 squid, squeeze it body to drain out excess water.
Squid was struggling for it very existence.
Within ten minutes, we sample it meat. Wow, was wonderful surprising tender. At least this squid did not die in vain, it serve it purpose that was to please our taste buds.
After the market, we took their local tram headed for Goryokaku Park in the north of the city. It is located at the site where the first western style castle in Japan was built in 1855.
Help! There's no shelter anywhere.
Goryokaku Park is designated as a special historical site today. "Goryokaku" means five edges, in other words a star shape.
This pentagonal park design as the star-shape structure fringed with greenery.
Not worth visiting to be honest.
I'm melting
Lunch
We took bus intending to sightseeing along the way. Their ticketing system is quite interesting. You get a ticket the moment you board the bus. The ticket show will show a number indicated which bus stop you boarded.
When you intended to disembark, just look at the board it will show how much should you pay base on which bus stop you board earlier.
We took the wrong bus, end up in the middle of “don't know where”
All is not lost, I found a hair saloon. One of the thing must do in Japan is trying out their hair-cut aka Japanese style.
Hair cut damaged: 3650 yen (SGD53/-)
She is my stylist. Their chair is remote control, very nice, very advance.
The lady in my far left is the shampoo girl and she's the who washed my hair. So pretty, so stylish unlike our local counterpart. Oh yeah, the Japanese stylist is really good, she trim my eyebrow for free. My mum and sister loves my new Jap look.
Next, below are the pictures we took around Hakodate.
Hakodate Russian Orthodox church.
This British Auglican Church.
Old British Consulate.
Bay area
Along the bay area, there is this foot onsen. It free, meant to use by the pubic. The water isn't dirty. Some minerals contained in onsen make it look brown.
Our feet really enjoyed every moment.
