Japan May 2025 – Hokkaido and Kyushu

First few weeks of our Japan trip were fantastic. Despite some minor confusion over our visa length on entry, we had a great start in Sapporo, with nice weather and friendly people.

In our first two days, two different people stopped to talk to us, one older gent just to ask where we were from and if we were enjoying our visit, and another young chap from a local college who wanted to practice his English. He was doing this almost daily with different strangers who looked like they might speak English in the park! Impressive.

We were also lucky that cherry blossoms were still in bloom in and around Sapporo!

I was also introduced to what has been my favourite beer of the trip so far, Sapporo Classic! Unfortunately I found out only after we flew down to Kagoshima that this beer is only sold in Hokkaido. Sayonara, Sapporo Classic. You were taken from us too soon 🥲.

Since I'm writing this while staying in Hakata, it feels sacrilegious to say this, but the best ramen I've had on this trip was a place we randomly walked into on our first day in Sapporo, Yoshiyama Shouten in Tanukikoji.