The first sight of drift ice in 2015

I could see drift ice on the horizon first this winter.

It looks like a white line in this picture.

Did you find that ?

The mombetsu city hall announced that the first sight of drift ice from mombetsu in 2015.

It was earlier 8 days than last year.

There is drift ice about 20 km from coastline in Mombetsu today.

If north wind continued to blow, it would be getting closer.

Ice-breaker boat "garinko-gou" will start to run on 20th this month.

It's first cruse might go into drift ice scene.

Winter tourisum is about to start.

White Tail Eagle

If you want to see a White Tail Eagle, you should go to port.

It might be on a street light.(photo)

I recommend the street light near the fish cake shop "DEZUKA SUISAN".

This eagle come here every winter.

By the way, Fish Cake is a special product of our town.

It's KAMABOKO in Japanese.

Today's wild seals information.

I could see them near Okhotsk Tower. (photo)

A seal face is under center on this picture.

I took this picture at Garinko-gou station.

I saw 4 seals.

They looked at me.

Wild seals

Wild seals came to Mombetsu again in this winter.

Today, I could see 6 wild seals at port for Garinko-gou.

Garinko-gou is a drift ice crusing boat.

That cruse will start to run on 20th January.

From now on, surface of sea will start to freeze gradually.

Then, we can take some pictures of seals with floating sea ice.

New Year First Visit Shrine 2015

A happy new year !

I visited the local shrine to ask for my wish.

In japanese , " HATSUMOUDE"

This is a japanese traditional event.

 

People was talking about their written oracle.

 

The happiest paper is "DAIKICHI".

 

I didn't buy a written oracle , becouse I don't believe that.

 

God lives in this house as shrine.

I wished  I will have no problem on my health this year.

Thanks to good weather , a lot of people visited the shrine.

Winter ice River

This Syokotsu River is the largest river in Mombetsu.

Snow has covered on ice surface of river now.

Salmon come up this river from Okhotsk Sea in autumn evey year.

Local people say a brown bear lives in the heart of the mountains.

But a bear is deep sleeping in winter, I think.

My Heart Will Go On ♪

Left seal boy behaved like a baby on seal girl.

" I love you!　Trust me! "

Seal girl also patted boy on the head gently.

" Me too!  Trust you!"

♪ My Heart Will Go On  ♪   CELINE DION

A fairy tale at the Seal Center.

To be continued ?

White illumination

In winter, the center of town is illuminated.

Here is the shopping center in front of  the Bus Terminal.

This is "white illumination",  becouse of  snow.

It was so beautiful and fantasy !

I used a soft filter lens on my camera for this picture.

You can buy various local souvenir at this shop.