RHS'69

Tomodachi Tour III

October 24 - November 6, 2017

This is the third tour to Japan by some members of the Combined Class of '69.

Thirty-nine alum of RHS'69, Kalani'69 and McKinley'69 are taking in Northern Japan this time.

RHS'69 Reunion Committee chair Vincent Yim is your tour reporter...

The journey continues...

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October 29  - Day 5

October 29 - Day 5

Noboribetsu to Hakodate. The day starts with a bus trip to Hakodate, the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. The city was founded in 1454 which makes it really old. It is well known for seafood and sushi.

The group plans a stop at Ohnuma Park for some time at the famous Konbu Kan Store which features kelp everything - a kelp theater, kelp museum, kelp tea, kelp candy and kelp ice cream.

From there it's off to get some pictures of the famous "night view" of the city.

It's early - everyone's hungry.

There's old fashioned all-you-can eat buffet downstairs. Let's go clean 'em out.

It's early - it's not open yet.

Everyone wait.

Wandering the streets like the lost souls they are.

Noboribetsu Jikokudani.

Jigokudani or "Hell Valley" is a spectacular, appropriately named valley just above the town of Noboribetsu Onsen, which displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity. It is a main source of Noboribetsu's hot spring waters. It is also quite a hike.

Little kids bathroom...

Some got their lunch this way...

And some this way...

And some this way...

And some couldn't make up their mind...

Welcome to Onuma Park. This is the official  stop for lunch after riding some bikes to work up an appitite.

It's called the famous Konbu Kan Store. It's famous because it's all things kelp. Kelp everything - a kelp theater, kelp museum, kelp tea, kelp candy and kelp ice cream. Kelp antacid after eating all that kelp.

After checking the view from a hotel window, it's dinner time at the Hotel Banso At Hakodate. Everyone needs to fuel up for the trek up the mountain for the night view.

This afternoon we went to the Kombu Factory.  Inside their domed theater we saw a presentation on how Kombu are harvested. It was shown on a 360 degree ceiling dome and we sat on reclining lounge chairs..

Alan Nishimoto fell asleep.

Well, that was a bust. Everybody jumps on the bus to head for the mountain to see the highly rated night view of the city. It was pouring. Couldn't see a thing. Back to the hotel and go to bed as day 5 comes to a soggy end.

Here's what it looks like from the Japan Travel Bureau website - if it weren't raining.

Later when Vincent and Wendy checked into their and looked out the window...there was Myra and Lynn standing on the squid.