Entrusting a glimmer of hope to move forward | Journey to Cape Soya with the Hokkaido & East Japan Pass #09 (December 2025)

When I returned to the room, my child said excitedly,
"I was looking into whether we could use the bus.".

Upon checking, I found that highway buses to Wakkanai only depart from Sapporo, not Asahikawa.
When I started checking on my smartphone, all buses from Sapporo were already fully booked.

"It doesn't look like we can get on a bus from Sapporo. I wish there was a bus from Asahikawa to Nayoro..."
I said, and when I searched on Google, a bus company's website appeared.

I found out that a local route bus called Dohoku Bus operates from in front of Asahikawa Station to in front of Nayoro Station.
There is one bus each in the 9 o'clock and 10 o'clock hours.

Knowing there was a sales office in front of Asahikawa Station, I checked out around 9 o'clock and headed to the bus center.

Half-expecting that the bus might not be running due to the heavy snow, I asked at the counter and was told it was scheduled to operate as usual.

It looks like we can make it to Nayoro Station.

From Nayoro Station, there is one train departing just before 15:00.
When I moved to Asahikawa Station and confirmed with a station attendant,
"There are no plans for suspension at this time"they said.

I felt as though a path had been connected by a thin thread.

⛄ Advancing along the white road

At 10:25, we board the bus departing from in front of Asahikawa Station.
Outside is a landscape covered in snow.

Even so, not only the bus but other cars as well are driving as if nothing were wrong.
For someone like me who has never driven on snowy roads, it was an unbelievable sight.

Along the way, people carrying snowboards get on.
It seemed they were heading to the Pippu ski resort.

The sky is gloomy, and the snow looks like it has started to get stronger again.
Even if we reach Nayoro Station, will the train run?
If it doesn't run, what should we do?
My thoughts just keep going.

I'm on the bus, but my body isn't warming up at all; I'm still chilled to the bone.

At Pippu, most of the snowboarders got off. A pair of foreigners who remained spoke to me in English.
It seems they intended to go to a different ski resort in Asahikawa and had taken the wrong bus.
They appeared to have mistaken the bus.

I told them in English that they could turn back at Wassamu, and they said "Thank you" and got off.
A little further on, we passed a bus heading to Asahikawa. I pray they were able to board it safely.

⛄ Snow in Nayoro

At a railroad crossing over the Soya Main Line, I could see the tracks buried in snow.
I wonder if they will clear the snow now.
Or is the road ahead still going to be difficult?

As we approach Nayoro, the sky brightens just a little.
I pray in my heart, since I've come this far over three hours.

I get off the bus in front of Nayoro Station and walk to the station.
It's only about 100 meters, but the fresh snow is deep, and I'm covered in snow up to my knees.

I still don't know if the trains will be running from Nayoro Station onwards.
But, I have made it this far.

(To be continued)