A sad day today as we pack and prepare for our trip home tomorrow. The bike fit beautifully in the box and we managed to get out and about by lunchtime. Tried out Fugetsu Okonomiyaki Bar, a neat place where you cook your own okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake). We tried the normal style and the Hiroshima style (which we cook at home occasionally). Both were great. We also loved that there was an I-pad at each table where we could enter our order and watch instructiona...

One step closer to home! Today we caught the train from Asahikawa to Sapporo. This was a lot less stressful than the last trip as we figured out a system, we weren't in any hurry and we used the I-pad to stop the child running away. In Sapporo, it took us about an hour from when the train arrived to get all the baggage down two storeys, through the train station, put together two bikes and load up ready to go. Pretty good going I think. It was raining when we ...

We seem to have settled into a bit of a routine. Big buffet breakfast, hang around the hotel room for a bit then head to the park for a play and a walk around. There are always other kids at the playground but they seem shy of Elsie and vice versa. However, she's loving having both mummy and daddy to boss around! Then back to the hotel room for more gear sorting and organising plus some sushi and random bits and pieces for lunch from the 7 Eleven. Then this ...

Another chilled day hanging out at the park and putting the bikes together in the hotel room. Hotel staff look at us like we're crazy walking our bikes through the lobby for a trial run to make sure everything works. Navigated our way through the crowds of pedestrians, cars and other cyclists (none of whom wear helmets). Shane seems to have quickly mastered the art of zipping through the gaps while I hang back terrified I'm going to take out some poor old lady wi...

Well we've had a rather lovely day given we are all a bit sleep deprived and not feeling 100%. Started the day with an amazing buffet breakfast at the hotel. Plenty of western and Japanese options to try. Then Elsie made us laugh by pushing the buttons on the toilet and turning on the bidet function. Poor girl got a big fright from the stream of water shooting up at her. We walked to the park (only a block away) for a play for the morning then lazed around at t...