Where I am

You've figured Japan by now. "The Land of the Rising Sun" is comprised of 6,852 islands.  Of the largest four, Hokkaido is home to Japan's fifth largest city, Sapporo, and only a 20 minutes train ride west is Otaru.  Once a bustling port town, Otaru now depends primarily on tourism to support its 150,000 residents.

Otaru sits on the northern island of Hokkaido. Through my readings, I am finding that Hokkaido was inhabited only by native people, Ainu, until around the mid-1800s.  At that time, Japan colonized Hokkaido mainly for its land and resources.  Accordingly, the land and structures of Otaru resemble design and architecture not so different of that in the western hemisphere likely because of its contemporary construction.  While compact, the buildings, both commercial and residential, of Otaru hug the mountainous terrain.  Steep mountains frame the city to the south and levels off a bit just before turning to coast waters of the bay.  The land is green now but I'm warned that winter isn't far away which brings cold temperatures and piles of snow.  Thanks to the mountains, snow brings many opportunities for skiing and snowboarding, so I say -Bring on the Snow!