๐ฏ๐ต 2016 Christmas Special: Post-GCE 'A' Level Examination End-Of-Year Winter Vacation To Tokyo & Hokkaido, Japan, In December 2016 ~ Section 4 ๐ฏ๐ต
Welcome
to the fourth sub-segment of my post-GCE 'A' Level examination end-of-year
winter vacation to Tokyo & Hokkaido, Japan, in December 2016. This
mid-section of the entire trip report shall be covering two focus
topics. They will mainly be undertaking a long additional early afternoon shopping trip to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) and spending the last Hokkaido day having some seafood and desserts by the seaside and Animal Cafรฉ Jungle in Hakodate, together with exploring around Onuma.
Part 1 ~ Long Additional Afternoon Shopping Trip To Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport)
In the wee hours of the next morning, which was Wednesday (7 December), I woke up at around 4.20 a.m. before my mobile phone alarm could blast off early. The very first thing I did was to have a nice, hot shower and change up into my attire before I went down quietly to the living room to prepare the last portion of my necessary belongings for the day. According to my annual Japanese railway itineraries, I was to undertake a long and luxury additional afternoon shopping journey to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) via the undersea Seikan Tunnel on this day.
To get to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) via the Seikan Tunnel, I would be scheduled to catch the Shinkansen HAYABUSA Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, which would depart from Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station at 7.34 a.m., and then arrive at the Tokyo terminal station at 12.04 p.m.. At Tokyo Station, I would catch a Keihin-Tohoku Negishi Line Rapid Service train bound for Kamata, which would be scheduled to depart from Tokyo Station at 12.13 p.m., and arrive at Hamamatsucho Station at 12.17 p.m..
Upon arrival at Hamamatsucho, I would connect to a Tokyo Monorail Haneda Express train bound for Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport), which would depart from Hamamatsucho Station at 12.24 p.m., and then arrive at the Haneda Airport Terminal 2 terminal station at 12.43 p.m.. I was very lucky since I had made my Gran Class seat reservations at Tokyo Station on Sunday (4 December). Given that my family was still sleeping at this time of the early morning, I quietly went out of the villa at 4.55 a.m. and waited close to the snow-covered road for my pre-arranged cab to Hakodate Station.
The interior of the dining room and kitchen area on the first floor of the La Cachette Villa Hakodate in the wee hours of the early morning
The exterior view of the La Cachette Villa Hakodate in the wee hours of the early morning
Our rented white Toyota Alphard car covered in snow outside the La Cachette Villa Hakodate in the wee hours of the early morning
After spending almost 15 minutes of anticipated waiting outside the main entrance to the La Cachette Villa Hakodate, my pre-arranged black cab to Hakodate Station finally showed up outside the entrance to the La Cachette Villa Hakodate at 5.10 a.m.. The cab driver then got out to assist me with my baggage while I got into the cab for the short and routine pre-dawn early morning road trip to Hakodate Station in the city centre. Once everything was safely loaded in, I finally departed the La Cachette Villa Hakodate for a short and quick pre-dawn early morning cab trip of not more than just 15 minutes to Hakodate Station in the city centre.
Soon enough, I finally arrived at the main entrance to Hakodate Station at 5.25 a.m.. Checking to see that there was nothing left behind on board, I paid up my cab fare while the driver got out to help unload my baggage from the rear cab boot. With my cab fare paid up and everything in hand, I promptly thanked the cab driver for his services and headed into the main station concourse before proceeding to the JR Ticket Office to make some Green Car (first class) seat reservations.
My parents had also reminded me to make our return Green Car (first class) Shinkansen seat reservations for the return trip back to Tokyo for Friday (9 December) while I was out, having given their Japan Rail Passes to me in advance. Upon entering the JR Ticket Office, I quickly headed to a nearby open counter, where a female office member was already waiting. Noticing that she could speak English, I promptly proceeded to make our Green Car (first class) seat reservations for the return trip back to Tokyo on Friday (9 December). The entire reservation process took approximately five minutes.
My pre-arranged black cab to Hakodate Station finally arriving outside the main entrance to the La Cachette Villa Hakodate
Finally departed the La Cachette Villa Hakodate
Travelling along the snowy neighbourhood roads of Yunokawa on route to Hakodate Station shortly after departing the La Cachette Villa Hakodate
Turning into a snow-covered road leading to downtown Hakodate on route to Hakodate Station
Travelling across more snow-covered roads of Hakodate on route to Hakodate Station
Travelling across the snow-covered roads of Hakodate, with Hakodate Station coming into view
Travelling past some closed shops across the snow-covered roads of Hakodate on route to Hakodate Station
Hakodate Station coming into view during a pre-dawn early morning snowstorm
Finally arriving at the main entrance to Hakodate Station
The exterior view of Hakodate Station during a pre-dawn early morning snowstorm
The cab stands and pathways outside Hakodate Station as a pre-dawn early morning snowstorm rages across Hakodate
Finally approaching the JR Ticket Office at Hakodate Station during the pre-dawn hours of the early morning
After completing the necessary return Green Car (first class) seat reservations for our return journey to Tokyo on Friday (9 December), the clock was finally showing 5.35 a.m.. Since I was ready to commence my long morning railway trip to Tokyo, I decided that I would make more seat reservations during my stopover at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station. With that instant, I went to the main ticketing gates, where I quickly showed my Green-type Japan Rail Pass to the ticketing officer at the staffed ticketing gate.
Entering the platform concourse, I went to check which platform the first Hakodate Liner local train bound for Shin-hakodate-hokuto would depart from. According to the departure information screens in the concourse, the first Hakodate Liner local train bound for Shin-hakodate-hokuto would be scheduled to depart at 6.01 a.m. from Track No. 5. Without wasting anymore time, I promptly walked through the main platform concourse to Tracks No. 5 and 6 to commence my first sector to Shin-hakodate-hokuto.
The ticketing gates in the main station concourse at Hakodate Station during the pre-dawn hours of the early morning
Tracks No. 5 and 6 serving the Hakodate Main Line commuter trains at Hakodate Station during the pre-dawn hours of the early morning
The departure information screens for trains departing from Track No. 5 at Hakodate Station during the pre-dawn hours of the early morning, indicating that the first Hakodate Liner local train bound for Shin-hakodate-hokuto would depart at 6.01 a.m.
After spending less than five minutes of anticipated waiting both on Tracks No. 5 and 6, a 3-car 733 series EMU, which would operate as the 6.01 a.m. Hakodate Liner local service bound for Shin-hakodate-hokuto, ultimately entered Hakodate Station at 5.39 a.m. on Track No. 5. Once the train doors were opened, I boarded the train via Car No. 3 and secured a good seating area for the short and routine pre-dawn early morning trip of 22 minutes to Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station in the nearby sparse and rural city of Hokuto.
The train would have a light load for the morning since most of the residents of Hakodate and Hokuto were still asleep. Once the clock struck exactly 6.01 a.m. sharp, all the train doors were closed, and the Hakodate Liner local train finally pulled out of Hakodate Station for its short and quick pre-dawn early morning trip of 22 minutes to Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station located in the city of Hokuto. I was then on my way for a short pre-dawn early morning trip of 22 minutes to Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station in the sparse and rural city of Hokuto.
After spending almost 45 minutes of anticipated waiting on the southbound platform, a 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, which would operate as the Shinkansen HAYABUSA Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, ultimately entered Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station at 7.24 a.m. on Track No. 11. Once all the train doors were opened, I boarded the train via Car No. 10, which was the Gran Class car, and quickly secured my assigned Seat No. 3C for the long early morning trip of 4 hours 30 minutes to the busy and lively ultra-modern hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo via the undersea Seikan Tunnel.
The train would be scheduled to operate in conjunction with the Shinkansen KOMACHI Superexpress No. 12 from Akita beyond Morioka. At precisely 7.34 a.m. sharp, all the train doors were closed, and the Shinkansen HAYABUSA Superexpress No. 12 finally pulled out of Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station for its long early morning trip of 4 hours 30 minutes across the Seikan Tunnel to the lively and ultra-modern hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo. I was then on my way for a long early morning journey of 4 hours 30 minutes across the Seikan Tunnel to the modern and colossal metropolitan capital city of Japan.
The front view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
The rear view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
The logo of the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
Getting ready to board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the
Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, on Track No.
11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
The LED destination panel of
the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the
Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, on Track No.
11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
Another front view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
Another rear view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
A view of my seat, 3C, during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
The view
of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set
No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12
bound for Tokyo, from my seat during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at
Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
My Gran Class ticket for the in-bound segment between Shin-hakodate-hokuto and Tokyo
The cover page of the Gran Class service menu during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
Looking at the welcome message in the Gran Class service menu during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
Reviewing the Gran Class service menu during the boarding process on Track No. 11 at Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
Awaiting departure from Shin-hakodate-hokuto Station
A glass of Gran Class style Coca-cola and some light early morning snacks for myself
Bypassing a large snow-covered field and forest in the sparse, rural seaside town of Kikonai
Bypassing a large snow-covered field in the sprase, rural town of Shiriuchi
Finally crossing beneath the Tsugaru Strait via the undersea Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu
Passing through the now-closed Yoshioka-kaitei Station as the train crosses beneath the Tsugaru Strait via the undersea Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu
The
front view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, as the train crosses beneath the Tsugaru Strait via the undersea Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu
The rear view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, as the train crosses beneath the Tsugaru Strait via the undersea Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu
A view of my seat, 3C, as the train crosses beneath the Tsugaru Strait via the undersea Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu
The view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, from my seat as the train crosses beneath the Tsugaru Strait via the undersea Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu
A bottle and glass of Gran Class style white wine for myself
Planning out the in-bound segment from Hakodate to Tokyo on my blog as the train crosses beneath the Tsugaru Strait via the undersea Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaido and Honshu
Reading
through the most hilarious quote in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets' on iBooks, where Harry's Uncle Vernon throws a temper tantrum
after his nephew tries to teach Dudley to say 'please' so that he could
have more bacon at the breakfast table ๏ฝฐ "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU,"
thundered his uncle, spraying spit over the table, "ABOUT SAYING THE 'M'
WORD IN OUR HOUSE?!"
Finally emerging onto Honshu via Aomori Prefecture after crossing the Seikan Tunnel from Hokkaido
Bypassing a large hilly forest in the sparse, rural town of Imabetsu as the train diverges away from the narrow-gauge Tsugaru-kaikyo Freight Line near Okutsugaru-imabetsu Station
Passing through Okutsugaru-imabetsu Station
Bypassing a large snow-covered field in the sparse, rural town of Imabetsu
The front view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, between Okutsugaru-imabetsu and Shin-aomori Stations
The rear view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, between Okutsugaru-imabetsu and Shin-aomori Stations
A view of my seat, 3C, between Okutsugaru-imabetsu and Shin-aomori Stations
The view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, from my seat between Okutsugaru-imabetsu and Shin-aomori Stations
Bypassing a large snow-covered field and hilly forest in the sparse, rural town of Sotogahama
Bypassing a large snow-covered field in the sparse, rural village of Yomogita
Bypassing some housing areas in the northeastern suburban port city of Aomori as the train approaches Shin-aomori Station
Bypassing a large and hilly snow forest in the suburban town of Shichinohe
Bypassing a large farming field in the suburban port city of Hachinohe
Bypassing more housing areas in the suburban port city of Hachinohe as the train approaches Hachinohe Station
Making a brief stop at Hachinohe Station
Bypassing a large hilly forest and farming field in the suburban port city of Hachinohe shortly after departing Hachinohe Station
The front view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, between Hachinohe and Ninohe Stations
The rear view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, between Hachinohe and Ninohe Stations
A view of my seat, 3C, between Hachinohe and Ninohe Stations
The view of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series
Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA"
Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, from my seat between Hachinohe and Ninohe Stations
Making a brief stop at Ninohe Station
Bypassing some fields and housing areas in the sparse, rural city of Ninohe
Bypassing more housing areas in the sparse, rural town of Iwate
The view
of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set
No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12
bound for Tokyo, from my seat during the brief stopover on Track No. 11 at Morioka Station
A view of my seat, 3C, during the brief stopover on Track No. 11 at Morioka Station
The front view
of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set
No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12
bound for Tokyo, during the brief stopover on Track No. 11 at Morioka Station
The rear view
of the Gran Class cabin on board the 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set
No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12
bound for Tokyo, during the brief stopover on Track No. 11 at Morioka Station
Tracks No. 11 and 12 serving the southbound Shinkansen trains bound for Sendai and Tokyo at Morioka Station during the early afternoon rush hour
The 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U26, operating as the Shinkansen "HAYABUSA" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, awaiting coupling with the Shinkansen "KOMACHI" Superexpress No. 12 from Akita on Track No. 11 at Morioka Station
Track No. 11 at Morioka Station shortly before the Shinkansen "KOMACHI" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo arrived at the station
The 7-car E6 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z8, operating as the Shinkansen "KOMACHI" Superexpress No. 12 bound for Tokyo, coupled onto my train on Track No. 11 at Morioka Station
After spending less than a few minutes of anticipated waiting on the Tokyo Monorail platform, a 6-car Tokyo Monorail 1000 series EMU Set No. 1036F-1031F finally arrived at Hamamatsucho Station at 12.21 p.m.. The train had arrived from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) as a Rapid Service train bound for Hamamatsucho, and was to become the 12.24 p.m. Haneda Express service bound for Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport). Once the train doors were opened, I boarded the train via Car No. 6 (1036F) and secured a good observation seat located by the driver's cab.
1) Finnair Airbus A350-941 Herpa Scale 1:500 (528320-001)
2) Saudia ๏ฝฐ Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Herpa Scale 1:500 (529174)
1) Qatar Airways Airbus A380-861 Herpa Scale 1:500 (528702)
After spending approximately 15 minutes of anticipated waiting on both Tracks No. 1 and 2, a 6-car Tokyo Monorail 1000 series EMU Set No. 1043F-1048F, painted in the new Tokyo Monorail white with green, light blue and navy blue livery, finally arrived at Haneda Airport Terminal 2 Station at 4.01 p.m. on Track No. 1. The train had only just arrived from Hamamatsucho as a Rapid Service train bound for Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) earlier, and was to undergo a directional change before becoming the 4.05 p.m. Haneda Express service bound for Hamamatsucho.
After spending almost 45 minutes of anticipated waiting on Tracks No. 20 and 21, a 10-car E5 Series Shinkansen Set No. U8 & 7-car E6 Series Shinkansen Set No. Z20 finally arrived at Tokyo Station at 7.04 p.m. on Track No. 21. The trains had just arrived from Shin-hakodate-hokuto & Akita as the Shinkansen HAYABUSA & KOMACHI Superexpress No. 26 bound for Tokyo earlier, and were to undergo a quick and extensive cleaning process before becoming the Shinkansen HAYABUSA & KOMACHI Superexpress No. 33 bound for Shin-hakodate-hokuto & Akita. It took not more than approximately 10 minutes to clean the interiors of both trains.
Upon completion of the entire cleaning process, the train doors were finally opened again at 7.14 p.m., thereby allowing the passengers to board the trains bound for Shin-hakodate-hokuto and Akita. Without wasting anymore time, I quickly boarded the last train to Shin-hakodate-hokuto via Car No. 10, which was the Gran Class car, and secured my assigned Seat No. 2A for the long evening return trip of 4 hours 13 minutes back to the small and sparse rural city of Hokuto located near Hakodate in southern Hokkaido through the undersea Seikan Tunnel.
Once the clock struck exactly 7.20 p.m. sharp, all the train doors were closed, and the Shinkansen HAYABUSA & KOMACHI Superexpress No. 33 ultimately pulled out of Tokyo Station for their long evening journeys to Hakodate and Akita located further northwards. Both trains would also be separated for their respective destinations at Morioka Station en route. I was then on my way for a long evening return trip of 4 hours 13 minutes back to the small and sparse rural city of Hokuto near Hakodate in southern Hokkaido via the undersea Seikan Tunnel.
After a long mid-evening return trip of 4 hours 13 minutes from the lively and ultra-modern metropolitan capital city of Japan via the undersea Seikan Tunnel, I finally arrived back at the Shin-hakodate-hokuto terminal station at 11.33 p.m. on Track No. 12. Checking to ensure that I had not left anything behind on board, I quickly alighted from the train and took the escalator up to the main Shinkansen concourse, eventually arriving back there at 11.35 p.m.. I then proceeded to the JR Line interchange ticketing gates, where I showed my two-week Green-type Japan Rail Pass to the ticketing officer at the staffed JR Line interchange ticketing gate.
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