Big in Japan - Alphaville Part III

 The next stop on our extended journey across all 5 of Japan's main islands was at

the largest city on the island of Hokkaido and in fact the largest in the country

and straight in with the locals,

the mandatory Temple and the waters that make for longevity?

The very few Birds started with the familiar
GREAT WHITE EGRET
which has collonised Great Britain in recent years with the far less well known

MEADOW BUNTING
and

SPOT-BILLED DUCK
while a day-long taxi into the bitter cold countryside was worth every yen if only for the

BAIKAL TEAL
and

ORIENTAL (white) STORK
now seriously endangered and on the cusp of extinction!

More street scenes and without staring too much this wonderful looking character.

The most risky in the city was left until Last as physically it could have been our Last

on a visit to a not to be missed

FUGU RESTAURANT
with the
FUGU PUFFER-FISH
being one of the most deadly in the world.

A King's Ransome as well but do no remember the price as it was the moment more than the money.

Training to become a Fugu Chef takes 7-10 years, a rigorous written exam, and an exam where he must successfully clean the poisonous fugu in front of more experienced fugu chefs. We, as this post proves survived what was considered an unmissable experience before

BITING another BULLET
to take us to our furthest north and final destination.

Through the gloom
MOUNT FUGIYAMA

along with very good numbers of

STELLA'S SEA EAGLEs

With a professional image, taken by A N Other, adorning the stern-sheets of my caravan home!

Think the geography here was a little askew but it was a long time ago!