Abashiri

Day 3 and Hokkaido here we come! Haneda airport was amazingly automated with hi tech automated self baggage drop! Then we flew teddy bear airlines to Hokkaido landing surrounded by deep snow drifts! Abashiri prison was our first stop an unusual tourist attraction but it was the prisoners of Abashiri who built the first roads on Hokkaido starting its development in the 1890's. The best bit apart from the pickled vegetable storage vats was the ice slide demonstrated by Sandra in the picture! And the snow train. The hotel has a lovely onsen so I've spent the last 2 hours soaking in hot water outside in the snow- brilliant! Drinking a pre dinner chuhai and looking forward to a post dinner soak!