It's been about 12 hours since we woke up in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk under the joyful sound of the alarm clock, what happens is that on the day of departure on vacation. We leave by bus welcoming us to the Northern Japanese town of Wakkanai to approximately 6 hours to be in the capital city of Hokkaido, Sapporo two million.
We have to spend on the road a little more than 300 kilometers, much of which lies along the Western coast of Hokkaido. The sea of Japan, unfortunately, due to the late evening (which in Japan begins earlier than in Russia) and cloudy weather, showed us their spaces, but caught our attention with subtle shades of coastal waves.
Along the way we had two stops in Haboro and Sunagawa. Parking, I must say, was very short and literally run to the bathroom and buy something to drink in the machines.
The bus itself is more than comfortable. For maximum individualization of space in a long way the seats are placed in three rows, one chair with two aisles, probably to gaijin (foreigners), like me, dropped it on the neighbor's inexperienced hands triangular rice bags with stuffing (rice balls) or falling asleep after the next portion of beer, dripped saliva representatives of the host country.
In the chair, among other regulations, provides the function of pushing small, but soft footrest: "Dozo, dear! Resavica, relax". On the street heat even at night with the air conditioner absolutely no slacking, and not in Japanese actively cools the passengers. By the middle of the way your hand reaches for your personal rug, which is provided for each. As I found out later, the toilet seems to have been in the bus. But he effusively for the beer lovers, because even Japanese as I noticed they did not use. That he could not work I would not believe. We're in Japan )))
I don't know what kind of track we drove, paid or free, but between the settlements of the bus held a stable speed in the range of 70-100 km per hour. Contrary to my expectations, the way most of the way was one lane in each direction. The scenery outside the window had to watch for long, because quite quickly it got dark. But it was possible to see that the machines with soft drinks in Japan are almost in the middle of the field. I do not know whether to use these machines cows that graze around, but they look exactly the same as our "cows". Well, except that unlike the Russian cows give no milk, and Marko" ))) But here they can understand. When you have to eat hay, which is right on the package in huge white bags, the world is changing Willy-nilly )))
For a short stop in the night, Haboro, we continue to explore the depth and range of Japanese food (and even this depth of the Mariana trench never dreamed of). In my, largely Russian, gastronomic opinion, everything that makes Japan to be consumed as food, can be divided into two categories:
- Terribly delicious!
- Creepy! Just plain creepy! A couple of hours Japan we were pleased by an unforgettable delicious ramanam, and then boom!
Hot dog noodle!!! Pasta!!! Do you imagine that? ))) Well, not horror? )))
In the evening, I tasted the same, and the traditional composition of a hot dog bun with sausage. Immediately I recalled the sausages from the buffet in the Tokyo hotel two years ago. Still take a claim: sausages — not the Japanese thing. The only thing good to eat Japanese sausages — is that after eating the ramen seems even divine.
Generally speaking, my deep conviction is that the Japanese have succeeded in cooking foreign cuisine no more than we in cooking Japanese. My personal advice: if You're coming to Japan as a tourist (i.e. not for long) that is eat Japanese food and don't waste so precious in Japan, the place his stomach on the absorption of the Japanese distortion of the overseas (to them) kitchen.
A quick visit to the toilet during a stop of the bus led to a Japanese, but this is closed to our mind the conclusion: the meal should be advertising in the toilet!
Kind of nonsense and absurdity, on the one hand, and on the other: - Let the place in the body? Here's the options to make up for the loss!
- You can always, science's sake, to compare the original product with the results of his stay in your body )))
- Japanese toilets are so clean that there at least come with a sandwich )))
Bus Wakkanai — Sapporo (330 km) cost 4000 rubles for our money at both ends. Specifically looked at our Siberian prices for a similar route. Received 900 rubles. But the difference, as You can guess, not only in price. I have, in General banal opinion that the high cost of movement of transport in Japan is quite a reasonable fee for the service, in the broadest sense of the word. Buses and trains in some areas go half empty (evening commuter trains and the metro don't count), because I go often. And have to pay for it. Inside the vehicles, everything is always clean, comfortable, human. It turns out that over the Affairs of an organization have to lay out money. A little expensive, but reasonable.
Interesting arranged, and the bus driver. About mid-way to Sapporo, the bus stopped in the Parking lot next to others of the same, only the following back. Bus drivers filled out some papers, straightened his cap, gloves and suit, thanked everyone for everything ... and changed buses. And everyone went back to drinking a late night beer at your favorite bar. Here's a curious and logistics.
The street was dark, but the speed is almost not affected. Coverage, you know, great. On the highway, we rode a speed 70 — 100 km/h. No, we almost did not pass, however, and we are also ahead of the machine is not in a hurry. This was the feeling that we're going around the track almost alone. What surprised me was that there all the way only one lane in each direction. Perhaps it is a peculiarity of the free track. And yet, for some reason I thought the entire route is highlighted. But I guess too I am insolent in their expectations, and seized Japanese wonders.
Regularly along the way there are tunnels.
Well, in the end of this six-hour, but it is not a tiring journey we came on the night bus to Sapporo. And as there was tired when excellent service is superimposed on a nice rush from the first hours of stay in a long-awaited Japan.
We are standing with suitcases in front of Sapporo-stamen (says the voice of the metro) surrounded by warm air, the night lights of the capital city of Hokkaido, incomprehensible, but nevertheless pleasant chatter of passers-by. My face froze stunned smile. I'm new in Japan and I have almost a week ahead. Here it is — a tourist's happiness )))
Konban wa, Sapporo!!!