六人が寝てる

Proof that I can sleep six in my cavernous mansion!

Great people, all met through Couchsurfing.com.

I hear people in more popular locations get overwhelmed by emails, but I enjoy playing host to visitors every month or so in remote Hakodate.

聖パトリックの祝日

These images courtesy of Tomoko, the happiest camper! My earlier shots didn't really do justice to how beautifully lit the whole festival was at night, so these pictures plug the gap nicely.

It's funny how the one 'Irish' pub in town is plastered with exactly the same Guinness images that I always think of in relation to James, Kelly et al from university. It's like a taste of home, with extra nostalgia value. Shame the beer is crap and overpriced though.

A moment of Japanese-ness: You go to a pub on St Patrick's Day and find that the majority of table space has been reserved, and that the people who later arrive, who made the reservations in the first place, are all old guys wearing suits who wouldn't recognise a Patrick's Day party if it slapped them in the face with a wet fish.

雛祭り

The princess/doll festival that takes place on the 3rd of March (note: the boy's festival is held on the 5th of May, so rather enterprisingly the gay community has claimed the 4th of April as their own!)

This particular set belongs to the mother of the owner of a noodle shop I frequent, the same noodler who discovered my bike two days after it got stolen, minus a saddle but basically OK.

Bike thieves and mutilators, may their consciences be forever wracked with guilt, or their organs with cancer... either would suit me fine.

雪祭り：雪

Finally, we got to fulfill our ostensible purpose in visiting Sapporo! Here's a selection of the awe-inspiring work on display: The popular golfer, Aiko-chan, with anime-sized head; Taiwan's offering, complete with giant buddha, peace memorial arch, the same tower I was at for New Year and the weird teapot-head family; A well-lit peacock in the nightclub district; A dragon, in the same area; Australia's offering (some railway station); Other stuff, including two cute kids and the amazing Tottoro!

Well worth the trip, as always.

雪祭り

In Sapporo for a weekend of alcohol, debauchery, love hotels, curry and aggressive barmen. Pictures to follow.

Meanwhile here's the only evidence of an anti-smoking movement I've ever seen in Japan. Nice to know they have a sense of humour too...