There was no snow, no sunset over the Little White River—something just felt missing.

Text & Photos /Happy Cloud

Yesterday marked the end of two consecutive weeks of Central American travel talks at the Shilin Civic Center. This time, aside from sharing about Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama with friends, I also tried to incorporate my views on travel into the presentation. I shared the journey’s emotional impact and the world seen through the lens of “heart” and “eyes.” There’s already been so much discussion about the meaning of travel. To be honest, the longer I travel, the less seriously I take the notion of “the meaning of travel.” Just go when you feel like it, head out when the urge strikes. Searching for meaning or purpose… it often feels like using your brain to justify the trip. But why not simply trust your feelings? Sometimes it’s as straightforward as wanting to go out and explore… Hahaha. So don’t overthink it—just go when you can. When you have the chance and the time, make the most of it. I think that’s exactly what I’ve been doing these past few years.

Some places feel familiar even before you visit, having been seen countless times on TV, in movies, or in photos. I think Otaru in Hokkaido was one such place for me. But perhaps traveling with these preconceived notions can lead to disappointment. What was meant to be an initial adventure of exploration turned into more of a “confirmation” due to all those fixed impressions.

I wanted to see for myself if it was really as beautiful as I had imagined... When I arrived in Otaru that day, it was already afternoon. Following my friend, I crossed the street—and there it was, the famously renowned “Little White River”! What the... How could this possibly be the stunning canal I’d seen in countless images?? Where was that breathtaking sunset glow, the romance of a snowy white world, the fairy-tale charm reflected in the lights?? Could this really be the place?? Was it just my angle?? Or… Ya~~~ I have to admit, the Little White River was one of the few moments during my travels that left me so shocked and disappointed. Perhaps the image in my mind was just too beautiful—when reality didn’t match up, the letdown was immense.

When I checked in on Facebook, many friends posted photos of the evening glow or the snowy white landscape. Ya~~~ How could there be such a huge difference? Time changes, seasons change, and the world changes along with them... Hahaha. My travel companion even joked that my expectations were just too high... After snapping a quick tourist photo, we decided to head out and explore the streets—shopping, strolling, eating, and having fun.

This old street is indeed great for wandering, and there are several well-known local chocolate shops. Even if you miss some,
there’s no need to backtrack—perfect for lazy people or those who can’t decide what to buy right away!! It’s really quite lively here, with lots of shops and pop-up stalls that effortlessly coax money out of your wallet, hahaha... People with weak self-control can easily end up spending it all.

Along the way, vendors sell incredibly delicious cantaloupes in season. A single slice, with no added toppings, is so good it’ll make you feel like you’re flying!!

And then there’s that unassuming corn. Strange—why is it all cut and soaking in ice-cold water? Would this… actually taste good? I bought a piece to try. Wow~~~~ My goodness!! Is this really “corn”?? How can it be this delicious? Besides its natural sweetness, it even has a milky flavor. This… is honestly such a... delightful surprise. Affordable, tasty, and feels healthy too (no grilling, no seasoning needed).

The street is lined with several dessert shops beloved by Taiwanese, like LeTAO, which now also has stores in Taiwan. The variety of sweets in each shop makes you want to eat them on the spot or bring some back as souvenirs. Wow!!!! That’s just… too much!!

They even generously offer samples of Earl Grey tea chocolate—you can even try a whole piece of raw chocolate. They’re not stingy at all with samples for passersby. How generous. Go ahead and try some. No wonder they’re not afraid to let you taste it—because once you do, you’ll definitely fall in love. Especially since I had just returned from the amazing chocolate country “Switzerland,” and even I thought this… was insanely delicious!! Since raw chocolate doesn’t keep long and is hard to carry, it’s best enjoyed right here. I ended up sampling three without realizing it—but luckily, the shops are plentiful, and you’ll find LeTAO just a short walk ahead. That makes it less awkward to snack your way through.

Because of how good their tea chocolate was, I couldn’t help but step into a chocolate shop. The dazzling array of chocolate products in the display cases made me want to take them all home. I picked out a chocolate pudding—time to pay… I pulled out my SMART PAY Taiwan debit card to see if there were any discounts?? The clerk said this LeTAO didn’t offer any, but the one across the street did. If you’re buying souvenirs, you should go there—the more you buy, the more you save ccc. Even though the pudding was a few hundred yen, I could still use SMART PAY with no transaction fee, and it was settled at the previous day’s exchange rate!!

Almost forgot to tell you all how delicious this chocolate pudding is. It was so good that my friend and I fought over it, and at the end, we even wanted to lick the bowl clean. This… is honestly way too sinful to be this delicious.

The whole street is filled with souvenir and gift shops. Otaru’s glassware is also super... famous. The Japanese really… do value the aesthetics of daily life, don’t they? Such beautiful vessels are actually used to hold mosquito coils. Hahaha… I’m impressed!!

Many shops along the street accept the Taiwanese debit card Smart Pay. Be sure to look for the little signs, posters, or stickers at the counters. With this, you not only get to pay without a transaction fee, but some even offer an extra 2% cashback, which will be refunded to your account next month. Others may give out small souvenirs or the like. Honestly, the Taiwanese debit card (Smart Pay) seems pretty handy in Hokkaido. It even made me, someone who usually uses VISA, cling to my friend and ask him to swipe for me first. Friends planning to travel to Hokkaido can check out the official website beforehand!!! Plus, with current tax exemption benefits, you can save quite a bit of money.

For more information, please visit the official website!!!! And if you have any questions, feel free to check with your bank.

There’s even a post office on the old street. This… is one of my new recent obsessions. I went inside the post office to buy locally limited-edition postcards. Collecting all the Hokkaido postcards at once—so satisfying!!

I missed the performance of the steam clock at the end of the trip—it was a bit of a pity. Otaru’s steam clock is indeed related to Vancouver’s steam clock. No wonder it felt so familiar.

My time in Otaru today was limited, and the weather wasn’t ideal either. Hahaha, I look forward to having another chance to see the beautiful sights I had imagined. Hahaha, sometimes the disappointment after confirmation can leave a deep impression. Fortunately, all the street food and treats helped lift my mood, and I continued on to the next leg of the journey.

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