Hands up if you like chocolate!

On Wednesday we visited a Sapporo Landmark...The Chocolate Factory. I can only imagine that as you read the words `Chocolate Factory` you were automatically reverted to `Charlie and The Chocolate Factory` and the ever amazing Willie Wonka. If you weren`t, this is fair warning that I was...

As we walked down the side walk, a sign appeared on the horizon the let us know we were heading in the right direction* `Chocolate Factory`...there in the middle of a mountain range was a magical place that we couldn't`t wait to explore and taste...soon enough the sweet scent of chocolate filled the air and our mouths were salivating. The smell was so intoxicating that I wish I could have bottled it up and brought it home to share with you..I have never smelled something quite like this...rich, creamy and irresistible...

Inside the gates the magic truly began to come to life. As the four five of us (we had the pleasure to be joined by Hina, Sylvia`s home stay sister) passed through the gates we were immediately greeted not only by the smell of chocolate and flowers but our other senses were exercised as well. There were flowers and gardens as far as you could see, tiny houses, bright sunshine, beautiful wrought iron canopies...even a tree house. A train circled around the courtyard for children to ride and squeal with pleasure. A show was beginning-the spectacle was full of energy and enthusiasm as figurines danced and twirled above our heads welcoming us. People stood in awe, grinning from ear to ear at the sight before them.

When the show had ended, we wandered through the tiny houses, took our photos by a hillside of flowers and decided it was time to see what the factory had to offer inside- again we were warmly welcomed as we paid for our tickets. Iron dog footprints lead us on our tour. We would stop and watch as chocolate cookies were made-the workers moving with precision. It was a sight to see. Everything within the factory was decorated in celebration of the work that took place there...there were figurines above the heads of the workers of children and animals who loved chocolate and were excited to be a part of the magic. We would walk through hallways that were decorated with fancy gold plating and special antiques...there were toys museums, music museums, hot chocolate cup museums, chocolate container museums, chocolate labelling and advertising museums...it was unreal.

Near the end of the tour, we came across a table of boutonnieres and tiny cakes...as we got closer we noticed that they were made of chocolate and sugar....they are made by hand each day-it
would have taken so much patience from the person responsible for them because there were
hundreds of tiny globes, each containing a beautiful piece of art.

We walked past a chocolate cafe where you can buy pieces of cakes, cookies or pure chocolate itself..across from the cafe there was a grand piano...it was playing a beautiful song without a musician. Hina enjoyed this the most...she stared in awe as the keys moved independently...

She played her own invisible piano on the train ride home....

At the end of the tour we went outside with some of the goodies we had bought to devour them in the sunshine...

Hina and I `cheersed` over a can of super thick, rich chocolate milk...

YUM!


We had lunch across the street over looking the mountain range and soccer field...afterwards we decided we should go souvenir shopping...we came to a shop that I`m almost certain sold everything you could ever desire....

We walked into the store and sure enough, we were right...you can find ANYTHING here...including a crab hat...

WAY TOO HILARIOUS!!








After a little shopping we were off for supper! A local Izakaya always hits the spot!





KAMPEI!!!