在日本報導備受矚目的新聞4 / Some news out of Japan which might bring some relief for the Corona Virus panic 4

北海道因為是日本最初新型冠狀病毒的市內感染而受到矚目。2月14日出現被認為在2月上旬的札幌雪祭會場受到感染的男性患者。直至今日，現今雖然在北海道的患者人數有增加，但痊癒的人數也持續增加。至今沒有發生重病患者集中到醫院造成醫療體系崩壞的情況。

Now for some news out of Japan which might bring some relief for the Corona Virus panic

Hokkaido was in the spotlight for Japanese people at the early stage of the Covid-19 outbreak’s patient cluster map. This resulted from the first patient turning up on February 14th after seemingly contracting the virus at the Sapporo Snow Festival which was held in the beginning of February. He hadn’t been to China and no acquaintances related to him had traveled in China either. After that, the number of patients increased both in Hokkaido and Japan-wide. That being said, it has not been dramatic thus far, and the death toll hasn’t skyrocketed like in less fortunate parts of the globe. At the moment, Japan isn’t seeing a collapse of medical services.

Hokkaido Travel Tips has been able to gather news which might ease fears about the ongoing Corona Virus crisis from different recent media in Japan.

在日本報導備受矚目的新聞3 / Some news out of Japan which might bring some relief for the Corona Virus panic 3

在日本報導備受矚目的新聞3

北海道的鈴木直道知事於3月19日宣佈解除從2月28日所發布的緊急事態宣言。社會活動的自我約束雖然達到3週以上，但斷定為避免了爆發性的擴大感染。他主張如持續進行預防感冒等健康管理，也可以進行一般的社交生活。被描述立定了能兩全防止感染擴大和社會活動•經濟活動的「北海道範例」。

Now for some news out of Japan which might bring some relief for the Corona Virus panic

On March 19, Suzuki Naomichi, the governor of Hokkaido, called off the proclamation of a state of emergency which he declared on February 28th. The announcement, which was in effect for three weeks, instructed Hokkaido residents not to hold parties or events where people gathered. Also, all schools were required to close. He decided to call it off because the pattern of expanding numbers of Covid-19 patients seemed to have passed its peak. He added that we should keep being careful not to get a cold and return to our normal lives. Naming it the ‘Hokkaido Success Case’, he announced that the Hokkaido Government would continue to pursue it.

Hokkaido Travel Tips has been able to gather news which might ease fears about the ongoing Corona Virus crisis from different recent media in Japan.

在日本報導備受矚目的新聞2 / Some news out of Japan which might bring some relief for the Corona Virus panic 2

在日本報導備受矚目的新聞2

中國科技技術部在3月17日時，發表了針對新型冠狀病毒的治療藥，日本富士底片的附屬企業所開發的抗流感藥物「Avigan」（法匹拉韋、Favipiravir）的有效性。在武漢市和深圳市的醫院以200名患者為對象進行臨床試驗，據稱用藥的患者在短時間內從陽性轉為陰性並且肺炎症狀等也有改善。

https://zh.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/法匹拉韦

The Ministry of Science and Technology in China announced on March 17th that Avigan tablets worked quite well as a medicine against Covid-19. Originally, Avigan, or Favipiravir, is amedicine approved for influenza, created and developed by a Japanese company - a division of the Fuji Film Corporation group. The clinical test research was held in Wuhan city in Hubei Province, the center of this pandemic, and in Shenzhen city in Canton Province. Of the 200 clinic trial patients, the group taking Avigan showed negative results earlier than the control group. The former also experienced alleviation of pneumonia symptoms.

Now for some news out of Japan which might bring some relief for the Corona Virus panic

Hokkaido Travel Tips has been able to gather news which might ease fears about the ongoing Corona Virus crisis from different recent media in Japan.

莫埃來沼公園 (三月) / Moerenuma Park in March

莫埃來沼公園（位於札幌市東區） 的三月因享受冬季的結束的人們而熱鬧。氣溫不像深冬一般的寒冷，特別是在晴天時出遊很開心。在高度約50公尺人工建成的兩座山上，小孩子們玩著雪橇和滑雪。在廣闊的平原上也看到有人在製作雪人。也有看到在步行滑雪，或是穿著雪靴在公園內散步的大人的身姿。

At Moerenuma Park (Sapporo City Higashi-ku) in March many people enjoying playing on the field of snow and manmade mountains. The temperature is naturally not as cold as in mid-winter, and people can enjoy a sunny day, playing in the fresh air. On the two artificial mountains, which are both approximately 50 meters high, children can enjoy sleighing or fun-skiing. On the large field, some make a snowman. On the other hand, there are adults who enjoy cross country skiing or snowshoeing, which is good exercise. This park is a good destination for families with kids this season.

在日本報導備受矚目的新聞1 / Now for some news out of Japan which might bring some relief for the Corona Virus panic

在日本報導備受矚目的新聞1

森下龍一教授（大阪大學）致力於開發新型冠狀病毒的劃時代疫苗和治療藥物。報導中顯示是不攜帶病原體的DNA疫苗，可以使研究人員和醫師能安心操作。使用大腸菌來培養，預計約需要6個月就可達到實用化，可以盡早供給。

Now for some news out of Japan which might bring some relief for the Corona Virus panic

Ryuichi Morishita, M.D., Ph.D. (Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University) has been developing a breakthrough vaccine for the 2019 novel coronavirus. According to different news media in Japan, the vaccine is a sort of DNA vaccine which doesn’t contain disease germs; and as such, is easy to handle without danger for researchers and doctors treating patients. Colon bacillus is used to culture this new vaccine, and may be ready for release in as little as six months.

Hokkaido Travel Tips has been able to gather news which might ease fears about the ongoing Corona Virus crisis from different recent media in Japan.

http://www.cgt.med.osaka-u.ac.jp/cont/e_professor.html

3月3日是桃花節（女兒節），別名「雛祭（HINAMATURI）」。其由來是因為舊曆上這一天是桃花開花的季節。雖然從超過1000年以前就開始慶祝並且不分男女在舉行，但從約17世紀左右被當成女兒節來慶祝。是祈禱女孩們能健康成長的節日。向雛人偶供奉雛米餅和菱餅等，並且享用白酒和散壽司等飲食來慶祝。在超市也會販賣相關商品。

March 3rd is the day of the Peach Festival, which is one of the seasonal festivals in Japanese tradition. The festival, which dates back more than 1000 years, historically signaled the time that flowers on peach trees started blooming in Japan's old, lunisolar, calendar. Around the 17th century, it became a day for girls to pray for good health and growing up. Its other name is the Doll’s Festival. This is because we display special dolls. It’s also common to enjoy special food and drink; hina-arare or hishi-mochi, shiro-sake and chirashi-zushi. In supermarkets or shops, these related snacks and foods in modern styles are sold.

Photos from Wikipedia

門松 / Kadomatsu

「門松」是在正月時放在家門前或店鋪前的裝飾品。有紀錄顯示正月的風俗習慣是從10世紀左右開始。主要的裝飾物是松樹枝，中世紀以後竹子便一起拿來裝飾。也有超過人身高的門松。常被放置於百貨公司的店門口。也有販賣家庭用的小型門松。一般來說是從元旦裝飾到1月15日為止。

Kadomatsu is a Japanese traditional decoration for the New Year. Kado stands for gate, and matsu means pine tree. It’s put in front of the entrance of houses or shops. This custom started around the 10th century according to written-records. For Kadomatsu, pine trees were originally used, but after the medieval period, using bamboo with the pine tree grew in popularity. Pine tree and bamboo are evergreen plants, which suggests eternal prosperity. Big ones stand taller than an average man, and are usually seen at the entrance of department store. For home-use, small ones are sold at shops, and even at some supermarkets. They're displayed until January 15th.

跨年蕎麥麵 / Toshikoshi Soba

「跨年蕎麥麵」是日本的風俗之一。是指在除夕（12月31日）時吃可帶來好運的蕎麥麵。因為蕎麥麵比其他的麵類容易切斷，有「斬斷今年一整年惡運」的意思，一般來說是在除夕當晚的跨年前吃。歷史上的起源有諸多說法。12月時蕎麥麵店家會提供家庭用蕎麥麵的預約販賣等，是日本年末的傳統景象。

Toshikoshi Soba is a Japanese traditional custom. Toshikoshi means ‘beyond a year’ and Soba is Japanese buckwheat noodles. They're eaten on New Year's Eve to pray for good luck. Soba is of an easier to cut texture than other noodles, and we believe that bad things from the year are cut off and not to continue. Generally, Toshikoshi Soba is eaten as lunch or dinner on New Year's Eve. There are a number of stories how this custom came about. In December, we see soba specialty shops sell sets of noodles to be cooked at home. This scene brings the mind to the coming new year.

海之休息站 / Umi-no Eki

海之休息站是伴隨可以牽引固定船隻設施的建築物，是人們聚集地區的據點。當然也可以以開車的交通方式前往。2019年至今。在全國有168個海之休息站被註冊。（北海道中有8處。）有的海之休息站也有溫泉和住宿設施。幾乎所有的海之休息站都可見到海鮮市場、餐廳、商店等。不同的休息站有不同的特色，也有會在休息站舉辦地方的祭典。

Umi-no Eki is a complex with facilities to accommodate passengers from private ships or boats, and as a base for people to come and enjoy the sea. As the key concept is as same as a Road Station, Umi-no Eki literally stands for Sea Station in English. Access is not only from sea by boat, they are of course is accessible by car. As of 2019, there are 168 sea stations registered by the Ministry of Land - with eight of these in Hokkaido. Some stations house onsens or hotels, while most stations have fresh seafood markets, restaurants, and shops. Each station has interesting unique features, and the sites of the stations are often used in local festivals.

https://www.umi-eki.jp/en/

This is OK? as our 0-yen (free) service for tourists

我們開始了旅遊諮詢服務（免費）。北海道旅遊的交通上很花時間。「在札幌吃完早餐之後於釧路吃午餐」等這種旅遊計畫很難執行。從札幌到釧路加上休息時間開車至少要7小時。各位的停留天數和想去的地方用直接留言的方式傳給我們的話，我們會為你判斷旅行計畫是否可行。

旅遊諮詢服務請寄英文訊息

We have just started a new 0-yen (free) service for tourists from all over the world who may be thinking of visiting Hokkaido. It’s “This is OK?”, and it provides you with an opportunity to ask if your itinerary makes sense. Hokkaido is big, and it can take many hours to move from city to city. However, a lot of people seem to think it easier than it is. For example, from Sapporo to Kushiro is a seven hour drive. Eating breakfast in Sapporo and eating lunch in Kushiro is nigh on impossible. You can send your itinerary idea by direct message on Facebook and we can offer advice as to its feasibility.

INISHIE街道 / Inishie Kaido

INISHIE街道（位在江差町）是有保存歷史建築物的約1公里長的道路。江差町是北海道當中最古老的港口城鎮之一，12世紀時就有和人（住在本州的日本人）到訪這裏。17世紀時因為鯡魚漁業的興盛而繁榮，並建造的許多建築物。在INISIE街道可以看到往昔的批發商商店、倉庫、商家、神社和寺廟等。也有散步途中可以休息的會館。

Inishie Kaido (Esashi Town) is the name of a road, approximately one kilometer in length, which houses preserved historical buildings. Esashi Town is one of the oldest towns in Hokkaido, with Wajin (Japanese people from Honshu Island) visiting, and starting to settle there in the 12th century. In the 17th century, the herring fishing industry prospered, and many buildings were constructed. At Inishie Kaido, which means long-ago and denotes nostalgic feelings in Japanese, visitors can see old buildings of merchants, Ubagami Shrine, and Higashi-honganji Temple. The Former Town Hall allows a place to have a rest while walking.

北緯45度的緯線 / Latitude 45 degrees

北海道有北緯45度的緯線通過，通過的城鎮有幌延町、中頓別町、枝幸町（赤道的緯度為0度，北極的緯度為90度，緯度45度剛好是在一半的位置上。）在各處都有獨特的看板和造景藝術。作為拍照打卡的地點也很受歡迎。此外，幌延町內往南北方向行駛的道路上幾處地點都有看板。在道路上畫出一條線。

Latitude 45 degrees runs through the island of Hokkaido, and it disects Horonobe Town, Naka Tonbetsu Town, and Esashi Town in the northern part of Hokkaido. (Latitude 0 degree the Equator and latitude 90 degrees is the North Pole, latitude 45 degrees is the midpoint) There are some unique traffic signs and objects beside the roads, which show the exact point of latitude 45 degrees. It seems that most of drivers don’t know it, but they discover it easily via the signs while driving. Drivers often like to take photos. In Horonobe Town, there are some points where signs about the town's claim to fame are seen.

Kabuto Line

從泊村、岩內町延伸到積丹町的神威岬的國道229號被稱作KABUTO Line。在懸崖和山脈與海岸線相連的地方建造道路，可以在海上享受兜風的樂趣。特別是在泊村的KABUTO岬一帶都是斷崖峭壁。其優美的風景被指定爲後志十景（後志為北海道的行政區之一）。是可看的北海道大自然之一。

The section of route 229 between Tomari Village, Iwanai Town and Cape Kamui in Shakotan Town is called the Kabuto Line. This section of the road runs along the bottom of the cliffs and steep hills facing the Sea of Japan. As such its construction was quite a feat. The Kabuto Line allows people to enjoy traveling by car through the beautiful landscapes of the coastline and the sea. Around Kabuto Rock in particular are steep cliffs. The Kabuto Line is designated as one of the top 10 scenic areas of Shiribeshi District. Visitors can assuredly admire one of the natural and unique vistas of Hokkaido.

乳神神社 / Chichigami Shrine

乳神神社（位在浦幌町）是浦幌神社境內的一個小神社。以祈求求子、安產，結緣等被人們所信仰。起源是在20世紀初有顆長有像乳房般的樹瘤的橡木被當作神木來祭祀。當時這棵神木十分靈驗的評價開始傳開後，也開始祈福保佑母乳豐沛和病痛的康復。人們便將附近找到乳房形狀的砂岩奉納給神社。

Chichigami Shrine (Urahoro Town) is a small, independent shrine in the Urahoro Shrine precinct. It’s believed that the deity in the shrine brings good luck to those looking for a good partner, trying to have a baby, and for the safe birth of one's child. This shrine was built in the early 20th century, deifying a Japanese oak. The oak had two knots like a woman’s breasts. At the time, an old woman prayed that her granddaughter could suckle her baby well, and it came true. People then started to pray for their good health too. A strange-shaped stone which resembles breasts which was discovered near the shrine is exhibited. Chichi stands for woman’s breasts and Gami stands for deity in English.

釧路川河畔綠地 / Riverside Green Space of Kushiro River

釧路川河畔綠地（位於釧路市）是將流經市內中心的釧路川兩岸建設而成的。在長廊可以一邊遠眺釧路川一邊散步。這個長廊是從幣舞橋經過久壽里橋一直延伸到旭橋，單側約2.5公里。在觀光景點的幣舞橋附近的「NUSAMAI廣場」也會舉辦活動。到了夜晚則會打燈照明。

Riverside Green Space of Kushiro River (Kushiro City) is on both sides of the river, between Nusamai Bridge and Asahi Bridge, and includes Kusuri Bridge. There are long promenades on both sides, stretching approximately 2.5 kms, which allow pedestrians to view the Kushiro River. Nusamai Bridge is another sightseeing spot, famous for it's view of the sunset.It also features four famous sculptures. At Nusamai Square, some events are held occasionally, and it’s illuminated at night. Also, there are some squares on the promenades. In winter, it’s too cold for walking, but in summer, it’s a good place to spend a lazy day.

札幌市政府的屋頂 / The City Hall of Sapporo

札幌市政府的屋頂（位於札幌市中央區）是在廳舍的19樓。被稱作展望迴廊，開放給參觀的一般民眾。高度幾乎等同於札幌電視塔，可以遠眺札幌市中心。雖然無法全方位看到所有景色，但可以享受位在沒有屋頂的空間的開放感。開放期間是從4月下旬～10月下旬，以及雪季期間的平日。下雨，天氣不好時則會關閉。

The City Hall of Sapporo (Sapporo City Chuo-ku) has nineteen floors. The rooftop is a publicly accessible observation deck, approximately as high as its counterpart in the Sapporo TV Tower. Visitors are able to look over the central part of the city as well as Odori Park. Although visitors cannot see 365° views, the lack of a roof means that visitors can experience the views in the open air.

The observation deck is open during weekdays from the end of April to the end of October, as well as the week of the Sapporo Snow Festival, but closed during heavy rain or strong winds.

狸貓岩和長毛象岩和親子熊岩石 / Tanuki Iwa, Mammoth Iwa and Oyako-guma Iwa

狸貓岩和長毛象岩和親子熊岩石（位於Setana町）是在國道229號沿線上的海邊奇岩。每個都有設置專用的看板（日語），但如果開車中途經過可能會遺漏掉。請事先用網路地圖或是導航系統來確認位置。三個奇岩的所在地相互間的距離很密集，開車約10分鐘。因為沒有專用停車場，也有很多車子行駛速度很快，特別需要注意安全。

Tanuki Iwa, Mammoth Iwa and Oyako-guma Iwa (Setana Town) are strange-shaped rocks located along the coastline road of route 229. Tanuki means raccoon dog, Oyako means a child and parent, and Guma stands for bear. There are signs at each rock, however only in Japanese. Also, as the signs are not big, they are perhaps easy to miss while driving. Most drivers are going fast in this area, and parking is at a premuim. Checking the location of the rocks in advance using a driving map or car navigation is sound advice. The three rocks are not more than ten minutes by car apart.