Noboribetsu

During our stay in Sapporo, we spent an afternoon in Noboribetsu volcanic area...
We walked several easy trails through the forest and also very close to the sulfurous ponds and geysers...
On the same day, we visited an Ainu village which was a bit touristy to my taste and where I was really sad to see two magnificent grizzlies held in cages. The museum was the part I liked the best. Btw, the small Ainu museum in Sapporo (in the Botanical Garden) is also interesting to visit, with lots of beautiful costumes and artifacts and old pictures.
Next are three more photos of Sapporo, before heading off to beautiful Kyoto...