Too early in the morning! Taking the transfer train to the Shinkansen station at Shin Hakodate Hokuto.

Exhausted after the ride.

It arrived eventually. On the Super Hokuto to Hakodate, a route I’ve done enough times.

Due to the earthquake last month our next train to Hakodate is running 40 minutes later than ticketed. We could have gone shopping at the outlet stores for longer!

Alex bought hot chicken and chips from a station vending machine. There’s a bakery vending machine as well!

Beautiful, if Stark, scenery. There were fishermen out in the grey sand.

Aboard the Super Ozora bound for Sapporo, or Minami-Chitose in our case.

Arrived at Kawayu Onsen Station. The foot bath was closed for the night.

My only train of the day! Everywhere else we drove, now I have to return to Kawayu Onsen for the night.

Gorgeous mountain scenery with autumn leaves and burbling streams. Magic!

Gorgeous scenery along the line to Abashiri. Gentle farmlands followed by clear mountain streams and stunning autumn foliage as we rise into the mountains.