By: Alex
Walking alone down a snowy forest path, unable to see ahead due to the snowstorm — this scene might feel oddly familiar to people from Hong Kong.
This is what it’s like to attend Hokkaido University. pic.twitter.com/xWey1O2GLr
— Cunqiaojiuliji?Beida@Shengdan11157Rimu04:57:02 (@mkuriki_) January 19, 2021
▲“This is what it means to go to Hokkaido University.”
Heisei Poplar Avenue, one of the famous scenic spots at Hokkaido University (commonly referred to as “Hokudai”), is lush and green in summer, turns golden in autumn, and by winter, after the leaves have fallen, only bare branches remain.The photographer, Murabashi (@mkuriki_), came across a solitary figure walking under the snow-laden trees and found the atmosphere so striking that he captured the moment.
▲(photo by mkuriki_ @Twitter)
Murabashi is a researcher at Hokudai’s Faculty of Science. That morning, it had already started snowing in Sapporo, and he thought the snow might pile up beautifully on the trees, so he brought his camera along. Later that afternoon, as he passed by the tree-lined avenue, he saw someone walking beneath the snow-covered branches and was suddenly struck by the thought that student life in Hokkaido is genuinely tough. He used his camera to express those emotions.
▲The snow can pile up to waist height!(photo by mkuriki_ @Twitter)
In fact, it’s about a 2-kilometer walk from his home to the Faculty of Science at Hokudai. Even on snowy days, he walks there just like the person in the photo. When asked why he doesn’t ride a bicycle, he explained that cycling on snowy roads can be quite dangerous, so for safety reasons, he usually chooses to walk.
▲Another corner of Hokudai campus in winter. (photo by otenki_hokkikai @Twitter)
Hokkaido University has three famous tree-lined avenues. In addition to the previously mentioned Heisei Poplar Avenue (Heisei Poplar Row), there is also a Poplar Avenue (Poplar Row), located southwest of the First Farm and northwest of the Faculty of Science (Faculty of Science).Furthermore, entering the campus through the North 13th Avenue Gate and heading straight to the Faculty of Engineering takes you along the Ginkgo Avenue, which attracts many visitors in autumn and is a popular local spot for ginkgo viewing.
▲Heisei Poplar Avenue in summer. (photo by mkuriki_ @Twitter)
▲Heisei Poplar Avenue in autumn. (photo by mkuriki_ @Twitter)
▲The Ginkgo Avenue on Hokkaido University campus. (photo by mkuriki_ @Twitter)
▲Viewing the yellowing Poplar Avenue from the Faculty of Science. (photo by mkuriki_ @Twitter)
Source: J-town