A spoiled tranquil Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan

If not necessary, I wouldn't prefer going to places during festivals.  The crowd, the noise, the view being blocked would just spoil my mood for taking photos.  Some of the below photos are much of sub-standard - either hand-shake, out-of-focus or any possible mistakes. 

Snow path of lights up, old train track, Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan

On the middle level of this city Otaru, where the old train track is, there was a nice alley (filled with heavy snow) of snow decorations.  It seems because of the main city Sapporo having the snow festival, the neighbouring towns would have the similar snow fair.  The last photo shows how it is in the summer time.

On the way to Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan.

I enjoy the train ride from Sapporo to Otaru, as I can watch the bay area of the North West Hokkaido.  It looks like it's a place not easily found on Earth, probably under my strong impression with the movie "The contact" (by Jodie Foster) which told about a 2nd tele-pod on a plan B built around this area - a pod to travel to visit another extra-terristrial intelligence.

Otaru is often very gloomy at winter time, that further added more mystery to this area.

Otaru 小樽, Hokkaido, Japan

Took 30 minute train ride from Sapporo, here we got in Otaru.  This time the scene is in a stark contrast to the last time I visited here (heavy snow storm at -10).  Saw many green and people in summer outfit.

When we are there

The past 2 days the TV has been showing what a devastating earth quake and tsunami can happen out of the blue. A train was reported to be missing along the coast of north eastern part of Japan. I recalled I took a train to Otaru 小樽 from (Hokkaido). The beautiful coast line has still captured my mind. It's very cold in the North Eastern part of Japan. Millions of families have lost their home. Now that with the nuclear threat, it is even making their lives harder. We should be really thankful for having a place to stay and food to eat....

*It would take at least a few years the nuclear pollution can be cleared up in the north eastern part of Japan. Hope that there won't be any big after shock as that would cause much more damage to the remaining severely hit nuclear plants.

Otaru 小樽, Hokkaido, Japan

Otaru is about 30 minute train ride (express) from Sapporo. It's a very nice and quiet town on the south west coast of Hokkaido. This somehow reminded me of the movie "Contact" starring Jodie Foster - a scientist in contact with extra-terrestrial on a tele-pod to visit another civilization. Finally I got to see this coastal line and thrilled to see it be covered with a blanket of white.

1/2. Otaru train station.

3/4. The town.

5-7. This is a famous canal and attracts a lot of tourists.

8. A snow shower was approaching - see the mountain on the behind. Also there are some rickshaws for tourists.

9. the port.

10-12. Finally the snow arrived and I got to switch off my camera as it's not water proof.

13. See the ice.

14. Canal at 4pm in a break from the snow.

15. A place for photo taking.

16-17. Those warehouses are no longer warehouses. They are now either restaurants or shops.

18. at night. (remarks: couldn't take more photos due to snow and strong wind again. My camera was even shaken, though mounted on a tripod.).