📷 Suburban Stillness: An Autumn Walk in Sapporo

Neatly lined trees glowing yellow and orange as fall begins in a Sapporo park.

On our first morning in Japan, we woke slowly, snug in our our futons and recovering from the long flight. We had stayed up late catching up with Mayu for more than 30 years of lost time (more on that here) and we picked right up over a long, slow and delicious breakfast. Finally, we stepped outside to explore the neighborhood and give Mayu and her daughter a chance to get ready.

  • A peaceful suburban street with one pedestrian and trees showing early fall colors in Sapporo.
  • Blue sky over tree-covered mountains with early touches of autumn color in Sapporo.
  • Orange leaves contrasting against green foliage and a darkening sky near a sports field in Sapporo.
  • Neatly lined trees glowing yellow and orange as fall begins in a Sapporo park.
  • A wide, empty suburban road in Sapporo with tall apartments visible in the distance.
  • Long shadows stretching ahead on a sidewalk during a morning walk in Sapporo.
  • A Japanese pedestrian crossing light with kanji, framed by bright orange tree leaves and blue sky.
  • Decorative Sapporo manhole cover with the clock tower and salmon design.
  • Dappled shadows falling across an asphalt walking trail in a Sapporo park.
  • Close-up of bright fuchsia and chartreuse Kochia plants growing in a Sapporo neighborhood.
  • Low morning sun shining through trees in a suburban Sapporo park, with bright green grass and early autumn leaves.

It was such a perfect morning – autumn was hinting at its arrival with a slight crisp in the air and colors peaking out on the trees. The streets were practically silent, with just some birds, a little wind in the leaves, and an occasional utilitarian vehicle rumbling down the road. We absolutely fell in love with Sapporo, and these quiet, ordinary moments are what we’d return to throughout our trip.

Naturalist’s Notebook
hand drawn magnifying glass

Look up

Every so often, stop and look above you. Notice the way the trees touch (or don’t), birds, wires, apartment or office windows, and whatever else has been outside your field of view.

hand drawn ear

Listen

As you walk through the space, let your ears do the navigating. Listen for the silence and head towards it. What do you learn about where you’ve been? Or where you end up?

hand drawn question mark

notice the type

You may be accustomed to differences in typefaces in your own language, but travel can expose you to font variations in entirely scripts. Look for differences in spacing, stroke, ornament, and weight.

Posted In: Sapporo, Japan, Place as Story, Sightlines, Tracks & Traces

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