Category: Lifestyle
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Otaru Diaires: Otaru Pride and Barbeque
Following up on last week’s post, on June 29th, I spent the day out at Otaru! First, my third Otaru pride around noon, and a barbeque with my friends at Ranshima beach afterwards. From my friend’s house, I headed to Yoichi station and took the 10:20 train to Otaru. It was a little early, but…
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Yoichi Diaires: Strawberry Picking and Sleepover!
On June 28th I went with my friends strawberry picking! After our fail last year, my friends and I were determined to go this year. I figured out the fruit farm we wanted to go to only does strawberry reservations online, so I hopped on the site at 9am sharp. I barely managed to get…
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Sapporo Diaires: Immigration Bureau Fails, Eating and Shopping Around
On June 9th, I went out to Sapporo! It was a Monday that I didn’t have work, so my grand plan was to go to the Sapporo Immigration Bureau to take care of some stuff, since they only open on weekdays (and well, I usually I have work). The rest of the day was eating…
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Sapporo Diaries: Handmade Marche and Hanging with Friends
On May 24th, I went out to Sapporo to hang out with my friends visiting Hokkaido! It was their last full day, and coincidentally, I found another handmade festival event for this weekend. Separate from the Mono Village that happens twice a year, the Handmade Marche seems to be a national event held around the…
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Sapporo/Otaru Diaries: Lilac Festival 2025 and Showing Friends Around
My college friend is visiting Hokkaido for a week with a couple friends! I met up with him in Sapporo to give him a basic tour, and the day after was an Otaru day! It also happens there’s a ton of festivals happening in Sapporo this week, so it was a good time to come!…
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Sapporo Diaries: Sakura Foods and Haircut
On March 8th, I went out to Sapporo to get a haircut! I was originally debating whether or not to go out during mid-March, but was leaning towards not because of a bunch of plans lining up at the end, and no real plans in Sapporo besides eating. I’ve been meaning to get a haircut,…
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Sapporo Diaires: Kamen Rider Show and Mt. Okura
February 23rd was the Emperor’s birthday this year, and because it’s a Sunday, we get the Monday off as a replacement holiday. I spent the long weekend in Sapporo, doing some shopping and eating as usual, but the main event for me was seeing my first Kamen Rider show on Sunday! While I was at…
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Sapporo Diaires: 2025 Snow Festival
This year, the Sapporo Snow Festival was from February 4th to February 11th. It only included one weekend this year, and my parents came from America to come see it and spend some time together! From there, we took a short trip to Hiroshima! Here’s the Sapporo part of the trip. February 7th: After getting…
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Otaru Diaries: Cells at Work Movie and Snow Miku hunting
On Februrary 1st, I went to see a movie in Otaru! We love a movie discount day, and I was hoping the live action Cells at Work movie that came out in December would still be playing in theaters by the time a discount day rolled around. Luckily, it was! Time for my first weekend…
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How to Survive Winter in Hokkaido
It’s peak winter in Hokkaido right now! Japan gets pretty hot (and humid) in the summer, but also gets pretty cold in the winter. Winter in Japan means snow piles up fast in the north, and falls in the southern areas too. As someone who’s survived 3 Hokkaido winters now, I think I’m pretty qualified…