I’m setting off on an easygoing trip today, starting at Kotohira Station.

Departing from Kotohira Station
Departing from Kotohira Station

I reached Okayama. The big city.

Changing to the Shinkansen in Okayama
Changing to the Shinkansen in Okayama

Once aboard the Shinkansen, I refueled.

Fuel for the train ride
Fuel for the train ride

In Osaka I headed for the airport and had another drink in the lounge. Someone was eating shumai with their drink. Genius.

Another drink in the lounge
Another drink in the lounge

I couldn’t decide what shoes to wear in a Hokkaido winter, so I put on my alpine boots for snowy mountains. Nobody can accuse me of underestimating Hokkaido now.

Alpine boots for this trip
Alpine boots for this trip

It’s been four months since my last trip to Hokkaido.

Teto at the gate for the Sapporo flight
Teto at the gate for the Sapporo flight

The flight was delayed, but I was relieved when the plane arrived. We took off safely.

Above the clouds
Above the clouds

It shook quite a bit before landing. Everything below the window was white, like the starting screen of a city-building game.

Snow-covered Hokkaido
Snow-covered Hokkaido

Arriving in Otaru

I reached Otaru from New Chitose a little after seven in the evening. The temperature was below freezing.

I’m back.

Arriving at Otaru Station
Arriving at Otaru Station

I wanted to look for Karin, but first I headed for the hotel. Even the canal looked completely different in winter.

Snow along the Otaru Canal
Snow along the Otaru Canal

I checked in and let Teto and Karin rest for a bit.

A rest in the hotel room
A rest in the hotel room

That evening I warmed some Takaragawa sake. It’s from Rikka’s supposed family brewery.

Warm Takaragawa sake
Warm Takaragawa sake

I walked around town a little more and saw Chifuyu at Megane no Takada.

Chifuyu at Megane no Takada
Chifuyu at Megane no Takada

I couldn’t find Karin’s panel, but just looking at the snow-covered streets was fun. The thermometer by the canal read −8.4°C. Nicely chilled.

The canal thermometer reads −8.4°C
The canal thermometer reads −8.4°C

It’s Snow Miku season, but I came to Otaru because I wanted to see the town where Karin grew up in winter.

I liked it when I first came in June, returned in October, and now I’m here in the snow. Seeing it in each season adds another scene to the picture in my head whenever someone talks about Otaru.