Photographing Hokkaido: A Journey Through Japan's Northern Frontier
Photographers Jaron Schneider and the author traveled to Hokkaido, Japan, in March after covering the CP+ photo and imaging show in Yokohama. Sponsored by Sony and the Alpha 7 V, they explored lesser-known cities including Morioka, Hakodate, Otaru, and Sapporo, traveling entirely by train. In Morioka, they sampled three local noodle dishes: Morioka Reimen (adapted by a Korean immigrant after WWII using potato starch), Wanko Soba (where the author ate 34 bowls), and jajamen (a Japanese riff on Chinese zha jiang mian). In Hakodate, they visited the fish market, ate obanzai (Kyoto-style home cooking), and viewed the city's nightscape from Mount Hakodate. In Otaru, they photographed the quiet port town. In Sapporo, they explored the city and went snowboarding at a resort 40 minutes away. The author used a Sony a7 V with three lenses: 28-70mm f/2 GM, 50-150mm f/2 GM, and 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II. The trip emphasized spontaneous discovery over predetermined plans.
Key facts
- Travel occurred in March after CP+ show in Yokohama.
- Sponsored by Sony and the Alpha 7 V.
- Visited Morioka, Hakodate, Otaru, and Sapporo.
- Traveled entirely by train, including Shinkansen and local trains.
- Ate three noodle dishes in Morioka: Morioka Reimen, Wanko Soba, jajamen.
- Author ate 34 bowls of Wanko Soba; Jaron ate 14.
- Morioka Reimen was invented by a Korean immigrant after WWII using potato starch.
- Hakodate opened for foreign trade in the 1850s.
- Seikan Tunnel is world's longest undersea rail tunnel (25 minutes).
- Mount Hakodate is one of Japan's top three night views.
- Ate obanzai lunch in Hakodate, described as best meal of trip.
- Fished live squid for sashimi at Hakodate fish market at 8 AM.
- Otaru was formerly a major port city, now quiet.
- Sapporo described as smaller, compressed version of Tokyo.
- Went snowboarding at a resort 40 minutes from Sapporo.
- Author learned to snowboard in December prior.
- Used Sony a7 V with three lenses: 28-70mm f/2 GM, 50-150mm f/2 GM, 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II.
- Author's usual camera is Sony a7R V.
Entities
Artists
- Jaron Schneider
Institutions
- Sony
- CP+
- Alpha 7 V
Locations
- Japan
- Hokkaido
- Yokohama
- Morioka
- Iwate Prefecture
- Hakodate
- Seikan Tunnel
- Mount Hakodate
- Otaru
- Sapporo
- Tokyo
- Kyoto
- Osaka