Prague & Japan

May 18-28, 2012
May 18 AC448 YYZ-YUL, LH475 YUL-MUC, LH1692 MUC-PRG,
May 22 LX1485 PRG-ZRH, LX160 ZRH-NRT, NH2153 NRT-CTS,
May 26 NH82 CTS-HND, TG661 HND-BKK,
May 27 TG922 BKK-FRA,
May 28 LH76 FRA-DUS, LH472 DUS-YYZ

Like the trip to Turkey and Taipei, this trip was booked last July and was about getting the best value out of a First Class reward ticket to Asia with a stop in Europe.  Although we've been to Japan many times, we've never made it to the north island of Hokkaido so I picked Sapporo as our Asian destination.  Since our trip near the Czech border on our trip to eastern Germany in 2003, I have always wanted to visit Prague, so with some creative routing managed to put together a great trip.  To make the most of the first class experience we had time in the Munich, Zurich, Haneda and Bangkok First Class Lounges (including another trip to the spa for a massage) and what may be our final trip to the Frankfurt First Class Terminal.  Prague lived up to my expectations with a beautiful old town and although we didn't have a lot of time, enjoyed Hokkaido, as we have the rest of the country.  This part of Japan was almost free of western tourists, so language was a bit challenging, but the locals were very friendly and accommodating, so we got by without too much drama.  On our way home we got to experience the private suites (with sliding doors) of the Thai Airways first class to Bangkok and Frankfurt, another once-in-a-lifetime experience that capped off a great trip.   

May 18-19
Overnight flight to Prague and afternoon and evening to explore

Hockey fans gather in Old Town Square to watch televised hockey against Slovakia

Astronomical Clock in front of Old Town Hall

Vltava River as the evening sun sets

Evening sun lights up the old town buildings along the river

The remains of the hockey celebration; unfortunately the Czechs lost

Powder Tower on our way back to the hotel for the evening

May 20
Beautiful day in Prague to explore the town

Old Town Hall in the busy Town Square

Looking down at the square and the Church of St. Nicholas from the Town Hall tower

Modern elevator in the town hall

Looking up at Prague Castle from the Charles Bridge

Looking up the Vltava River from the Charles Bridge Tower

Looking down at the crowded Charles Bridge

The Old-New Synagogue (1270), the oldest in Eastern Europe

Ceremonial Hall, mortuary house next to the cemetery

The Old Jewish Cemetery; from 1439-1787 only permitted burial ground for Jews in Prague

Franz Kafka Monument; Prague’s Kafka riding on a empty suit’s shoulders

Dancing House Building (1996) designed by Milunic in cooperation with Gehry

Crypt of Cyril & Methodius Cathedral, scene of last stand in 1942 of Nazi resisters

May 21
Last full day in Praque

The main gate of the Prague Castle

Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral in castle walls

Obelisk erected in 1928 (celebrating 10th anniversary of Czechoslovakia)

St. Vitus Cathedral (1344-1929)

Franz Kafka lived briefly in this home on Golden Lane in the castle walls

Loreta Church with it’s famous bell tower

Santa Casa (Holy House) in thecloister of Loreta

Interior of Baroque Church in Loreta

60m Petrin Lookout Tower (1891) similar construction to Eiffel Tower

Looking down on the city below after climbing the tower

John Lennon Wall covered with Lennon inspired graffiti since the 80s

Prague Metronome (1991) in location of former Stalin Statue (destroyed in 1962)

“Good king” Wenceslas Statue in front of the National Museum in the new town

May 22-23
Day of flying and afternoon in Sapporo

After a long day of flying we check out 147.2m Saporro TV Tower

Odori Park stretches out below the tower

Former Hokkaido Government Office (1888) not far from our hotel

May 24
Morning train to Otaru and afternoon in Sapporo

One of the many stone buildings in the historic Otaru Canal

Sapporo Beer Museum opened in 1987 in former brewery with history of Sapporo Beer and samples

Looking down at the countryside from Moiwayama Summit near sunset

Looking down at the city below from the mountain top

May 25
Morning train to Hakodate with stop in Noboribetsu

Welcoming entrance to Noboribetsu volcanic area

Steam vents on the hillside

Proof that I was there

Soaking my feet in the hot springs

One of the many amusing safety signs in Hakodate

Hokkaido Prefectural Government’s Old Branch Office in Motomachi Park

Looking back on Hakodate from the top of the ropeway

Hakodate Harisutosu Seikyokai (1916) Russian Orthodox Church

Old public hall of Hakodate lit up for the night

May 26
Last day in Hakodate and afternoon train to Sapporo an flight to Haneda

Historic streetcar through streets of Hakodate

Vine-covered entrance to Goryokaku Park

Arial view of the Goryokaku park, a former fort, from the Goryokaku Tower

Beautiful summit view from our train ride back to Sapporo, an hour long trip

May 27-28
After midnight departure from Haneda and on to home with night in Frankfurt