Hokkaido...The Most Popular Zoo in Japan...

During our trip to Hokkaido, at the north end of Japan, we visited a certain zoo.

You might be wondering why grown-ups visit a zoo without children...

Asahiyama Zoo is recently the hottest zoo in Japan, with a unique way to viewing animals. 

You can meet a giraffe getting this close to it!

The Giraffe site is dug lower than the visitors pavement, 

so that visitors can get to see the animal face to face at human-eyesight level. 

If you visit a Hippopotamus's House, you can see it flying!?

And this zoo has "Mogu Mogu Time", feeding animals, with respect to each animal.

Each Mog Mog time, unique exhibition, is shown by  zookeepers with humorous episodes.

This is a small zoo outside a fairly small city in north island of  Japan and still more visitors come here than Ueno zoo in Tokyo which is the most historical and famous zoo in Japan.  All I'd say is enjoy the zoo for what it is :)

Asahiyama Zoo was much better than I expected, and is a must-visit if ever visit Asahikawa, Hokkaido.

Hokkaido...Shops and Cafe in the Forest...

During our trip to Hokkaido, we visited several shops or cafes in the woods.

This is a tiny studio for wooden crafts 

There were a lot of works and some of them were displayed outside. 

Especially love this work! 

He is like a naughty fairy of the forest, isn't he?

Strolling in the woods, we were getting tired... then, found a nice cafe!!

The name of this cafe is "Mori no Tokei," which means "Forest Clock"

We seated at the bar just in front of a large window, through which we could enjoy the forest green.

I ordered a cup of coffee, then an owner handed a coffee mill to me saying, "Please grind it by yourself."

Forest Clock　seems to tick slowly...

Actually, this cafe provided a setting for Japanese famous TV drama about ten years ago.

I felt like I was in the TV drama, and felt relax to have a delicious coffee and cake:)

And we visited Ninguru Terrace.

Ninguru Terrace is a beautiful collection of boutique huts, housing specialty arts and crafts along with their creators. The creators sit there in the shops displaying and making more of their products as you wander around. This charming village is magical at night with all the lights on.

The woods in Hokkaido gave us an illusion of being in a fairy tale:)

Hokkaido...Flower Farm...

I visited a vast farm in Hokkaido, located at the north end of Japan, last month!

While Cosmoses were in bloom, Sunflowers, typical summer flowers, were also in bloom...
It was a great experience:)

Hokkaido...Ueno Farm...

I've been to Hokkaido last month.
As you know, I love gardens, so visited Ueno Farm, which is one of the popular gardens there.

It was rainy morning unfortunately, but when we got there, the rain stopped:)

Although the name of this garden includes the word,"Farm", it was actually a small colorful and peaceful garden with a cafe and tourist shop. 

An owner, Sayuki Ueno, a famous gardener in Japan, designed this garden.

It was a small garden but well organized the color combination of the plants.

Love the yellow and purple flowers planted along the path in the above photo:)

I rarely use yellow flowers in my garden, but this garden inspired me!

Yellow flowers looked nice!

I'll post real flower farm in the next post:)