Hokkaido Once More

Some sort of fate brought me back to Hokkaido this season. The transitional period from autumn to winter brought me much surprises. The heavy snow rained on me as I walked alone on for a while in Kyogoku. Despite the novelty, the pricking cold was hard to bear...

Behold the best of Hokkaido as it display both the remnants of autumn and the first snow of winter.

Beautiful lake behind a small little hut where we had lunch. A pleasant surprise indeed.

Carefree swans paddled around the gorgeous lake in the nice weather.

Hell Valley as its name suggest. Much geothermal activities going on.

Forest patches dyed in what remains of autumn. Still glorious colours to me.

Taken on the bus.

Autumn almost fading away.

Mount Usu as I remembered in summer. Although the pathway heading down to this crater is closed during winter.

Lake Toya. The lake that doesn't freeze.

First snow of the season. Waku waku~.

Feels almost like Christmas.

The picturesque Kyogoku Fukidashi Park in winter.

Started snowing last night in Niseko and here we are in this serene morning outside Hilton.

Where you going?

Snowing back in Sapporo too. As if beckoning me to come back to experience its beauty in winter. Trust me, I will.

How can I not love this?

 I must confess.... these photos are obviously not taken by me. I don't have such awesome DSLR. Only a semi-pro which is put to shame next to the professional.

A tiring trip. But definitely a fruitful one. One that strengthened my resolve on my future path.