Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, greeted us with stunning views as we landed, the city blanketed in snow. We opted for an airport transfer to observe how locals drive during the winter, as we had plans to self-drive for the next five days. Upon arrival at Ibis Styles Sapporo, we were pleased with the spacious room and the excellent breakfast offering a wide variety of both Japanese and Western dishes. After settling in, we ventured to the Suzukino area for Sapporo’s famous miso ramen. Luckily, we arrived early, as the restaurant was small with space for only about ten people, meaning we didn’t have to wait long in the freezing cold under the starry sky. We spent the next three days exploring the city. Our first stop was Shiroi Koibito Park, famous for producing white chocolate biscuits. We got to see the manufacturing process firsthand and enjoyed decorating cookies with chocolate. We also indulged in white chocolate fondue while taking in the snowfall at their whimsical playgrou...