JR Hokkaido Train Update 22:00, 18 March 2011 - after the Earthquake

JR Hokkaido website has updated the train information as follows;

From 19 March, the following service will be resumed;

Hakodate-Shin Aomori
Hakodate 7:24 -> Shin Aomori  ~Super "Hakucho" #20
Hakodate 10:17 -> Shin Aomori ~Super "Hakucho" #26
Hakodate 12:04 -> Shin Aomori ~Super "Hakucho" #30
Hakodate 13:56 -> Shin Aomori ~Super "Hakucho" #34
Hakodate 17:07 -> Shin Aomori ~Super "Hakucho" #42 (except between Aomori and Shin Aomori)

Shin Aomori 9:13 -> Hakodate ~Super "Hakucho" #95
Shin Aomori 10:16 -> Hakodate ~Super "Hakucho" #11
Shin Aomori 13:03 -> Hakodate ~Super "Hakucho" #19
Shin Aomori 15:38 -> Hakodate ~Super "Hakucho" #25
Shin Aomori 16:41 -> Hakodate ~Super "Hakucho" #27

Sapporo 22:00 -> Aomori ~"Hamanasu"
Aomori 22:42 -> Sapporo ~"Hamanasu"

The following information is about cancellation of the service.

*Cancelled till 24 March (the train schedule after 25 March will be advised )
Sapporo 17:12 -> Ueno ~"Hokutosei"(express sleeper)
Ueno 19:03 -> Sapporo ~"Hokutosei"
Sapporo 16:12 -> Ueno ~"Cassiopeia" (express sleeper)
Ueno 19:03 -> Sapporo ~"Cassiopeia"
Sapporo 14:05 -> Osaka ~"Twilight Express" (express sleeper)
Osaka 11:50 -> Sapporo ~ "Twilight Express"

Hakodate area (Hakodate Line and Esashi Line) has continued to limit the service for a time being.

*Cancelled (Hakodate Line) Sapporo-Hakodate
Sapporo 7:30 -> Hakodate ~"Hokuto"#4
Sapporo 12:22 -> Hakodate ~Super "Hokuto"#12
Sapporo 16:52 -> Hakodate ~Super "Hokuto"#18
Hakodate 8:30 -> Sapporo ~Super "Hokuto"#3
Hakodate 12:30 -> Sapporo ~Super"Hokuto"#9
Hakodate 17:11 -> Sapporo ~Super"Hokuto" #17

Please refrain from travelling unless you really really must do so.
If you do, please check the service and  best wishes for the safe trip!

JR Hokkaido Train Update 15:00, 13 March 2011- after the Earthquake

According to the Hokkaido JR (Japan Rail) website update (http://mobile.jrhokkaido.co.jp/web/index.asp), most train timetable get back to normal except for Tsugaru-Kaikyo Line (Kikonai-Aomori). Hakodate Line (Hakodate-Oshamanbe), Esashi Line (Hakodate-Esashi) are partially operating.
The detailed information is as follows:
■Cancelled Trains
(Hakodate-New Aomori) "Super Hakucho" and "Hakucho" - all cancelled in 13 March
(Sapporo-Ueno) "Hokutosei" and "Cassiopeia" - all cancelled in 13 March
(Sapporo-Aomori) "Hamanasu" - all cancelled in 13 March
(Sapporo-Osaka) "Twilight Express" -all cancelled in 13 March
■Trains in operation
(Sapporo-Hakodate)
16:52 (Sapporo->Hakodate) Super Hokuto #18
15:18 (Hakodate->Sapporo) Super Hokuto #13
17:18 (Hakodate->Sapporo) Hokuto #17
19:42 (Hakodate->Sapporo) Super Hokuto #21
*"Suzuran" (Sapporo<->Muroran) is operating as scheduled.
*"Ozora" (Sapporo<->Kushiro) is operating as scheduled.
updated on 15:00, 13 March 2011

A Record Earthquake - need your support!!

Please keep your fingers crossed for all in Japan. 

Japan has lost far too many precious lives. We don't know when and how it will stop. Or will it ever stop?

We are all in God's hand, so please pray for us. 

Noboribetsu has been extremely fortunate only to have had rather small shakes and to have avoided tsunami so far. However timetable for train and bus hasn't been back to normal, so if you're in Noboribetsu and have lost your way, visit our counter in bus terminal or contact me via email (noboribetsu.gateway@gmail.com). Our staff will aim for the best to help you.

All the wishes for everyone including me!

Guided Tours Leaflet released

English leaflet for Noboribetsu tours has been released!
Click on the image to enlarge.

January 7th is a traditional festival day

Today is one of five seasonal festival day in Japan. We call today "Jinjitu no hi" (day for human). Following a tradition, I have prepared 7 herbs and cooked rice porridge to wish for wellbeing. This is "nana kusa gayu" (rice porridge with seven herbs)

Picking young herbs at the new year start means that we receive a new life force from the mother nature. We inherited from our ancestors the notion that our spirit is connected to the nature. Beside that traditional belief, it is also good to eat a simple porridge and to give a tummy a break after the New Year big feasts.

 

A Happy New Year

Fresh fish is here!

Noboribetsu is fortunately located along the rich fish source area. 
Fresh local fish is sold at a local fish market with a generous price. If you are a tourist and want to buy Hokkaido fresh fish, don't look elsewhere.

The photo is my favorite fish shop, "Kawashima Fish"san. The shop has been operated for a several decades and been loved by local customers. 


A friendly owner always offers the best of best. Scallops and calamari freshly out of the local sea are still alive and wiggle a bit. Crabs are picked in the morning and boiled to be a bright red. There are all sorts of local seafood which makes it hard to choose!


Kawashima san makes great sashimi on the spot too.
If you are very picky about what you eat, try some!
No chair, no table, but it is just fun to pick your fish and watch them slice it to make sashimi for you. Oh, but the best part is to eat them there!


If you want to sit down and eat some descent sushi and sashimi, please go check:  http://noboribetsu-onsen.blogspot.com/2009/10/where-can-you-eat-yummy-sushi-with-good.html


for more information, email to contact@noboribetsu.co.jp