Monday, 27 October 2025

Today was one of those days when alternate plans were needed. Weather forecast for Otaru included heavy rain and as I had done the museums yesterday and the winery was closed doing harvest activity I decided to go to Kutchan. A couple of purposes for doing that, it’s relatively close to Hokkaido’s version of Fuji-san, Mt Yotei, and it was an option to travel though it to tomorrow’s destination Hakodate instead of backtracking to Sapporo. The train turned out to be a very nice 2 unit diesel (DMU) and while it was crowded out of Otaru most people got off a couple of stations down the track. It had a variety of seating, and a baggage rack so it shouldn’t be a drama to use it tomorrow.

If I was visiting Kutchan then my original plan was to go to Fukidashi Park, although that required a bus ride on an infrequent service. The aim was more foliage, views of the mountain and it is supposed to have quality spring water (rated in the top 10 in all of Japan). Well the weather made that unattractive so I decided to stay in Kutchan and visit a couple of local museums if the weather turned terrible.

So first the train. Nice two unit DMU that runs to Kutchan about every 80 minutes …

the DMU to Kutchan

Note this train, unlike Australian trains has toilets including a disabled one. It’s a single operator train so if you get out at a station that is unmanned you can only do it via the front door next to the driver and he will collect your ticket/fare.

accidental capture

Taking photos from a train is usually not worth it but with the iPhone up against the glass I managed to capture this tree. I didn’t mean to, I wanted the background but the iPhone shutter is slow and so this tree photo bombed the shot!

Like Sapporo there is construction happening around the station building for the new Shinkansen line. I guess it will be an elevated station for the Shinkansen even though about 80% of the line will be in tunnels.

a hole in the ground with a pillar growing in it

I had caught glimpses of Mt Yotei from the train without any cloud but by the time I stepped out of the station it was wearing a hat.

Mt Yotei

And it didn’t get any better than that. Unperturbed I went out walking to see if I could score a better view.

The main road reminded me of main roads in the USA.

main road USA?

A statue of Lieutenant Colonel Theodor von Lerch (Austro-Hungarian), who was associated with bringing skiing to Hokkaido.

Lieutenant Colonel Theodor von Lerch

Back to those mountains.

Niseko

The ski resorts are that way, which explains the Shinkansen routing (and construction).

Mt Yotei

No cooperation from those clouds on Mt Yotei though, a volcano has to have its security blanket.

some nice textures

one last chance

I finally turned by back on it and turned my attention to the museums. A couple of interesting shots on the walk (and no I don’t count steps).

plowed fields

well done to this gardener

Lovely piece of work in someone’s garden.

The first museum was “Shu Ogawara Museum of Art”. A small two room museum, one room dedicated to Shu Ogawara and another with more modern local artists. Very nice, except the a/c was turned up to Hades. My glasses fogged up on entering.

Shu Ogawara’s room

the other room

this was nice

The other museum is the”Kutchan Museum of Natural History” which is a seemingly random collection of stuff.

a classroom

Subaru 360 from 1958

Outside was more foliage, fallen and still clinging on, but I think autumn leaves is done for the year here.

fallen leaves

Heading further south tomorrow.