At Hakodate Hokuto Station, we change trains to the Super Hokuto to get to Hakodate.

We reach at the destination late afternoon. If we are not too tired from the long journey, it is nice to stroll around the red brick warehouses, some of which are covered with ivy.

There are many fir trees around the warehouses.

In Hakodate, there are quite a few dog-friendly cafés and restaurants.

We enjoyed a late lunch on the patio of a nice restaurant. I ate seafood pasta and waffles, which were very good.

You can see farms and fields along both sides of the road. I love this typical scenery of the countryside in Hokkaido, which is peaceful and relaxing. Every time I come here, I feel as if I were in a totally different world. Surrounded by vast fields, I forget the busy life I normally lead back home. What matters here is the fact that I “live” now. In a sense, coming to Hokkaido means renewing my view of life.

Up the hill from Lake Toya, there is a farm called Lake Hill Farm. I really like this farm. They keep animals such as rabbits and cows. All the animals look happy in the peaceful environment.

The last time I visited the farm, I saw a goat eating grass. She was so elegant and sweet that I was glued to every movement of hers. I loved the sound when she tore off and ate grass.

There are some orchards and lovely gardens on the farm.

The Hidaka region is known for its thoroughbred horses. It is between the Hidaka mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Compared to other areas in Hokkaido, it is relatively warm here and there is relatively little snowfall in winter. The mild climate is suitable for raising horses.

Horse ranches spread out as far as you can see. You can meet horses here and there.

It was the best time to view autumn leaves in Hokkaido. Tiffany enjoyed walking on green carpets of moss and grass with colorful autumn leaves scattered around.

I must not forget to mention food in Hokkaido. Our favorite hotel, the Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort, offered great meals as always. I ate buffet-style meals six times during my stay. They were always delicious, so I never got tired. Every dish was made from fresh, local ingredients. The vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, eggs, rice, wheat, milk, and even honey were locally produced. Thanks to the well-balanced food, I stayed healthy during the stay, except that I ate too much.

I appreciated the blessings of the nature in Hokkaido.