Wednesday, February 10, 2016

6D5N Hokkaido winter trip - Day 4 & 5 - Jozankei hotspring and Asahiyama Zoo

Day 4, we experienced an outdoor hot spring. We enjoyed the hotspring outdoor with the snow failing to our face! We did it in a 5-star hotel + delicious lunch buffet + free shuttle bus from the station at only RM117 or 3,240 yen per person! Totally worth it!!

Our hot spring day trip hotel: MORI NO UTA
http://www.morino-uta.com/en/hotspring/daytrip.html

The view around the hotel is spectaculars!





Photos from hotel management as we cannot take photos in the hotspring:





 Day 5 - Asahiyama Zoo

Is a small zoo and the highlights is the penguin walk! It is so cute , view the video below:



To go to the Zoo from Sapporo:

Super Kamui No 3 train , depart from Sapporo Station at 800am and reach Asahikawa Station at 925am
Take bus number 41, 42 or 47 from Asahikawa Station to Asahiyama Zoo one way ride takes 40 minutes and costs 440 yen. There are about two buses per hour. 
Penguin Walk at 11am. Zoo closed on New Year (December 30 to January 1) 10:30 to 15:30 (entry until 15:00)
Make sure you catch the walk at 11am!



6D5N Hokkaido winter trip - Day 3 Takino Suzuran Park

Takino Suzuran Park is free entrance during winter! Its free!!

We decided not to go to those expensive ski resort in Niseko as both of us not a fan of skiing. So we decided to go to Takino Suzuran Park which is free entrance with free Tube sled <Sled Slope>!




And there are a lots of winter activities you can do in the park and mostly there are free!

Except for Ski at minimal fees : ski rental -2570 yen +4 hr slope lift ticket 1030 yen.

Totally worth a visit to the park.

Address: Takino 247, Minami-ku, Sapporo

Hours: 9:00 – 16:00 daily *Open from December 23 to March 31. Bus leave early at certain hour, please check the notice board the last bus available.

Website: http://www.takinopark.com.e.bn.hp.transer.com/

Getting Here:

To get there via public transport take the Sapporo Subway Nanboku Line (green line) from Sapporo Station to Makomanai Station (20 min, use otaru subway pass) and then the Chuo Bus #102 Takino Suzuran Koen Line to the Suzuran Koen Higashiguchi stop (30 min, 430 yen).

Sunday, January 24, 2016

6D5N Hokkaido winter trip - Day 2 Hakodate

Hakodate is 3.5 hr train journey from Sapporo.. It is quite far to do a day trip. So we decided to stay a night in Hakodate. So 'Why' we want to go so far? 

1) Hakodate Morning Market, 5:00 am – 12:00 pm. At Hakodate Station and there will be a sigh showing you how to walk to the market. This market is famous in Hokkaido for the freshness of the seafood. Chefs in Hokkaido get their raw ingredients from here. We are not chef, so what we do here? Buy the most fresh seafood in the market and get the restaurant beside the stall to cook for you! And don't forget to buy the fruits and corns from here.









 


 

2) Western District Walk - Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse  
Open:9:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Access: A 5 minute walk from Jujigai Tram Station
There are a lots of famous Hokkaido pastries, souvenirs shops here. N must eat the Lucky Pierrot Chinese Chicken Burger.It is a chain burger shop which you can find few of them in here. A local hamburger restaurant that originated in Hakodate. Open:10:00 AM to 12:30 AM daily.






3) Motomachi (元町) - you will have to pass by here before you go to visit the highlights of the town, the night view at Mount Hakodate .Motomachi is the area between the sea shore and the mountain. It reminds me of San Francisco.  There are three churches nearby to each other, there are Russian Orthodox Church (函館ハリストス正教会),Episcopal Church (聖ヨハネ教会) ,Motomachi Roman Catholic Church (函館 カトリック元町教会) which are are beautifully illuminated at night. The Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward is nearby the churches which worth a visit.




 





4) The highlight of the town - Mount Hakodate has the best night views in the world! You can viewed it at around 10 degrees below eyesight and based on internet research, that this angle coincides with the view of an airplane pilot performing a landing. The best part is there is a ropeway to the summit, good for people like me who lazy to walk..


Open:10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (April 25 to October 15)
10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (October 16 to April 24)
Access:A 10 minute walk from Jujigai Tram Station
Address:19-7 Motomachi, Hakodate

Fee : by cable car, 1160 yen return ticket (show tram day pass to enjoy discount ticket of 1050 yen)


5) Goryokaku Tower

Goryokaku Fort is decorated with illumination to have its star shape stand out. During winter, Dream of Pentagonal Stars event,November 28th to February 29th, there will be lighting of the star-shaped building from 17.00-20.00.
Open: 0900 - 1900 hrs (during the "Dream of Pentagonal Stars" event)
Access:A 15 minute walk from Goryokaku-Koen-Mae Tram Station

Address:43-9 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate






To move around in Hakodate, we used tram. Get the 1-day tram pass from the tourist information counter in the Hakodate station.

The hotel we stayed in Hakodate is Hotel Dormy Inn Express Hakodate Goryokaku  and we were glad that we booked this hotel because:



- Guests of Dormy Inn enjoy free access to the luxurious hot spring baths on the top floor of La Vista Hakodate Bay Hotel. These baths offer sweeping view of Mount Hakodate and Hakodate City. It has an outdoor onsen! It is quite a memorable experience to have a hot spring baths outdoor with the temperature of 1 Celsius. And you get to have free flow of ice cream after the bath at the lounge area outside the onsen! Free taxi services between Dormy Inn and La Vista Hotel are provided during certain time of the day,the last taxi service is 22:30. 
Photos from La Vista website
Photos from La Vista website


- Complimentary noodle soup in Dormy Inn is offered between 21:30 and 23:00.

-  It costs us RM181 for a night in this hotel, the room is big and clean.
- It is 3 minutes walk from Goryokakukoen-Mae Station 



6D5N Hokkaido winter trip - Day 1 Otaru

We arrived at Shin-Chitose airport, Hokkaido at 9am, Jan 1, 2016. Once we arrived, we were so hungry and there is one best Hokkaido ramen chain in the airport!

えびそば 一幻 Ebisoba Ichigen Ramen at airport open at 1000-2100; Bibi | 3FChitose Airport, Chitose 066-0012, Hokkaido. The soup is delicious! Worth the queue to try it!




 


After breakfast, we dropped by the JR Information Desk to purchase of Hokkaido Rail Pass 5 day. The cost of the train ticket is super expensive, is 22,000 yen! So please calculate the places you want to visit before getting the pass. For our case, as we wanted to go to Hakodate, so is worth getting the pass.


We took the airport train to Sapporo to drop our luggage at our hotel. New Chitose Airport and Sapporo Station are connected by JR rapid trains (35 minutes, 1070 yen one way, 4 trains/hour). The trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass. We then need to  change to the subway Namboku Line and get off at Nakajima Koen Station. Leave via Exit No. 2 and walk for 1 minute and to reach hotel. We bought a subway day card - Donichika Ticket (One-Day Subway Pass for Weekends and Holidays) Adults at ¥520.

Our hotel in Sapporo is Vessel Inn Sapporo Nakajima Park Hotel. The hotel is very very near to the Nakajima Koen Station, less than 1 min walk from Nakajima Koen Station, which I like the most! Being Malaysian and KL gal, I am super lazy to walk. The hotel rate is quite reasonable, average RM232/night, is like IBIS style hotel. It was clean and tidy and with bath tub and all the basic amenities.It just a bit small but I think is ok for us.. We still can put our 2 large luggage and move around in the room.


After we settled down at hotel, we then took the metro to Sapporo station and pack our lunch at Level 6 JR Tower Stellar Place, Hanamaru Sushi 根室 花まる , open daily 1200-2200.




We then proceed to take the JR train from Sapporo station to Otaru which the cost is covered in our Hokkaido pass. It was a short ride, about 1 hour ride.

Otaru is a small town, famous for its canal and Sakaimachihondori Street. We walked 10mins from the Otaru station to Sakaimachihondori Street.. 10Mins seem far right? but it was a nice walk with the snow.. and there is no other option, unless you want to take the expensive cab..




Visit the following when you at Sakaimachihondori Street:

LeTao Tea Must try dessert in Otaru is LeTao’s double fromage cheesecake.
Address: 7-16 Sakaimachi, Otaru City, Hokkaido, 047-0027
Hours: 10am to 6pm daily
Rokkatei Address: 7-22 Sakaimachi, Otaru 047-0027, Hokkaido
Hours: 10am – 8pm daily
Kitaichi Glass Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru 047-0027, Hokkaido
Hours: 845 am to 6pm daily
Kamaei fish cake 3-7 Sakaimachi, Otaru 047-0027, Hokkaido; 10:00~19:00
Otaru Orgel Doh Orgel Doh Otaru Music Box Museum
Address: 4-1 Sumiyoshicho, Otaru, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan
Hours: 9am to 6pm daily


 

 

After Sakaimachihondori Street, then walk to Otaru Canal which is on the way back to Otaru Station.

Enjoyed the night view and walk at the Canal.



Dinner options at Otaru:
Wakadori Jidai Naruto Honten 若鶏定食 Fried Chicken - 3-16-13 Inaho, Otaru 047-0032 , Hokkaido, 8 mins walk from Canal
Fujizushi 積丹料理 Sushi- 5-36 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido, 10 mins walk from Canal
Isezushi 伊勢鮨 Best sushi in Otaru and must make reservation: 11:00〜15:00 16:30〜19:30, tel: 080-2873-3391 ,〒047-0032 北海道小樽市稲穂3-15-3(小樽駅より徒歩約7分)(〒047-0032 Hokkaido Prefecture, Otaru, Inaho, 3 Chome−15, 稲穂3丁), 7 mins walk from Canal





last train back to Sapporo 2300.







Hokkaido 6d4N within RM5K

Day Places Details YEN RM
Day 1 KL to  Sapporo - Shin-Chitose 2330, 31 Dec 20150805, 01 Jan 2016 to 0920, 06 Jan 20161700, 06 Jan 2016          1,068
1-Jan drop by the JR Information Desk to purchase of Hokkaido Rail Pass
Fri
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/railpass/welcome.html          22,000             792
New Chitose Airport and Sapporo Station are connected by JR rapid trains (35 minutes, 1070 yen one way, 4 trains/hour). The trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass. 
Subway+buses: one-day 1,000
Subway card only: per trip: Adults: ¥200–360 ; One-Day Card for Subway Only Adults: ¥830 ;Donichika Ticket (One-Day Subway Pass for Weekends and Holidays) Adults: ¥520
               520                19
Breakfast えびそば 一幻 Ebisoba Ichigen Ramen at airport open at 1000-2100; Bibi | 3FChitose Airport, Chitose 066-0012, Hokkaido
1200 Vessel Inn Sapporo Nakajima Park Hotel From New Chitose Airport (By Train): Take the JR Rapid Airport Express and get off at Sapporo Station. Change to the subway Namboku Line and get off at Nakajima Koen Station. Leave via Exit No. 2 and walk for 1 minute and reach hotel
Hotel rate per night             583
1200-1300 Lunch Hanamaru Sushi 根室 花まる
Address: Level 6 JR Tower Stellar Place
Hours: 1200-2200 everyday
1300-1400 Otaru Otaru - walk 10 mins from station to Sakaimachihondori Street and most of the attractions is at this street then walk back to station by passing by the Otaru Canal.
LeTao Tea Must try dessert in Otaru is LeTao’s double fromage cheesecake.
Address: 7-16 Sakaimachi, Otaru City, Hokkaido, 047-0027
Hours: 10am to 6pm daily
Rokkatei Address: 7-22 Sakaimachi, Otaru 047-0027, Hokkaido
Hours: 10am – 8pm daily
Kitaichi Glass Address: 7-26 Sakaimachi, Otaru 047-0027, Hokkaido
Hours: 845 am to 6pm daily
Kamaei fish cake 3-7 Sakaimachi, Otaru 047-0027, Hokkaido; 10:00~19:00
Otaru Orgel Doh Orgel Doh Otaru Music Box Museum
Address: 4-1 Sumiyoshicho, Otaru, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan
Hours: 9am to 6pm daily
Otaru canal
Dinner options:
Wakadori Jidai Naruto Honten 若鶏定食 Fried Chicken - 3-16-13 Inaho, Otaru 047-0032 , Hokkaido, 8 mins walk from Canal
Fujizushi 積丹料理 Sushi- 5-36 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido, 10 mins walk from Canal
Isezushi 伊勢鮨 Best sushi in Otaru and must make reservation: 11:00〜15:00 16:30〜19:30, tel: 080-2873-3391 ,〒047-0032 北海道小樽市稲穂3-15-3(小樽駅より徒歩約7分)(〒047-0032 Hokkaido Prefecture, Otaru, Inaho, 3 Chome−15, 稲穂3丁), 7 mins walk from Canal
last train back to Sapporo 2300
Day 2 Hakodate One-day streetcar pass from the Tourist Information Centre at the Hakodate JR station @ 600 yen. When enter the tram, do not need to take ticket but show your pass to the driver when you leave the tram.                600                22
Sat
7:13–11:22 AM Hotel to Hokodate Station                200                  7
Lunch Hakodate Morning Market Hakodate Morning Market
Hour: May – December; 5:00 am – 12:00 pm
Getting Here: “Hakodate”  station
Go to the market towards the end, enjoy looking at the Hokkaido specialty seafood and have seafood bowl rice at the fresh seafood stall.
Walk 4 mins from Hakodate station to Hakodate-Ekimae Tram Station the go to Goryokakukoen-Mae Station and walk 3 mins to hotel
1230-1300 Hotel Hotel Dormy Inn Express Hakodate Goryokaku at day rate of RM181              181
Guests of Dormy Inn enjoy free access to the luxurious hot spring baths on the top floor of La Vista Hakodate Bay Hotel. These baths offer sweeping view of Mount Hakodate and Hakodate City. Free taxi services between Dormy Inn and La Vista Hotel are provided during certain time of the day,the last taxi service is 22:30. Complimentary noodle soup is offered between 21:30 and 23:00.
1330-1530 Western District Walk Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse 
Open:9:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Access: A 5 minute walk from Jujigai Tram Station

Sabou Kikuizumi
Open:10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed Thursdays. Open national holidays.)
Access:A 7 minute walk from Suehiro-cho Tram Station
Address:14-5 Motomachi, Hakodate
1600-1630 Motomachi (元町) 
Motomachi is the area between the sea shore and the mountain. The steep street is similar like San Francisco. The tourist heart of Motomachi is the area close to the cable car to Mount Hakodate and three churches nearby to each other, there are Russian Orthodox Church (函館ハリストス正教会),Episcopal Church (聖ヨハネ教会) ,Motomachi Roman Catholic Church (函館 カトリック元町教会) . Those three churches are beautifully illuminated at night. Also visit the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward nearby the churches.
1630-1800 Mount Hakodate Nightscape Open:10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (April 25 to October 15)
10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (October 16 to April 24)
Access:A 10 minute walk from Jujigai Tram Station
Address:19-7 Motomachi, Hakodate
Fee : by cable car, 1160 yen return ticket (show tram day pass to enjoy discount ticket of 1050 yen)
           1,050          37.80
1800-1900
Goryokaku Tower

Goryokaku Tower
November 28th to February 29th
The 1.8-km perimeter of the moat of a special historic site Goryokaku Fort is decorated with illumination to have its star shape stand out. During winter, Dream of Pentagonal Stars event, there will be lighting of the star-shaped building from 17.00-20.00.
Open: 0900 - 1900 hrs (during the "Dream of Pentagonal Stars" event)
Access:A 15 minute walk from Goryokaku-Koen-Mae Tram Station
Address:43-9 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate
               840                30
1900-2000 Dinner Lucky Pierrot Goryokaku Koen Mae Restaurant ラッキーピエロ
A local hamburger restaurant that originated in Hakodate. The most popular menu item is the "Chinese Chicken Burger."
Open:10:00 AM to 12:30 AM (1:30 AM on Saturdays)
Access:A 10 minute walk from Goryokaku-Koen-Mae Tram Station
Address:30-14 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate
2130 Free La Vista Hakodate Bay Onsen 2230 by dormy inn hotel
Day 3
sun
740 Hotel to Hakodate station
8.13-1147 Hakodate to Sapporo Eat at Train & buy metro day pass                520                19
12-1300 Takino Suzuran Park Address: Takino 247, Minami-ku, Sapporo
Hours: 9:00 – 16:00 daily *Open from December 23 to March 31
Website: http://www.takinopark.com.e.bn.hp.transer.com/
Getting Here:
To get there via public transport take the Sapporo Subway Nanboku Line (green line) from Sapporo Station to Makomanai Station (20 min, use otaru subway pass) and then the Chuo Bus #102 Takino Suzuran Koen Line to the Suzuran Koen Higashiguchi stop (30 min, 430 yen).
               580                21
ski rental -2570 yen +4 hr slope lift ticket 1030 yen            3,600             130
Tube sled <Sled Slope> - free rental
Day 4 Jozankei Morino-Uta 5 star hotel outdoor onsen + lunch buffet            3,240             117
Mon http://www.morino-uta.com/en/hotspring/daytrip.html
9.30-10am Sapporo Station to Makomanai Station - buy metro day pass                830          29.88
10.30am Depart Makomanai Station to Morino-Uta via shuttle bus provided by hotel. Please book shuttle bus service in advance. To book shuttle bus service>> please go to this website: http://www.morino-uta.com/en/contact/
11am MORI NO UTA Outdoor Onsen
13- 15  lunch buffet
1530-16-1630 Depart MORI NO UTA - Makomanai Station - Sapporo Station
1700 Former Hokkaido Government Office Address: Kita 3-jo Nishi 6-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Hour: 8:45 – 18:00
Getting Here: 5min walk from Sapporo Station (JR Line) exit no 10
Sapporo TV Tower Address: Odori Higashi 1, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Hours: 9:30am – 9.30pm daily
Admission: The lower (3F) observatory deck is free. There is a 700 yen fee for the upper observatory deck.
Getting Here:  one minute walk from Odori Station, Exit no27
Clock Tower
Address: Kita 1 Nishi 2, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Hours: 8:45 to 17:10
Admission: Adults 200 Yen, Children Free
Getting Here: The tower is located between Odori and Sapporo Station at Kita 1,Nishi 2. Its a three minute walk from Odori Station (Exit 31).
Odori Park Take the Nanboku, Tozai, or Toho Subways to Odori station. The park runs east to west over the station area.
Sapporo Ekimae-dori underground walkway The Sapporo Ekimae-dori underground walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho) is god sent during winter season. It is linking Sapporo Station and Odori Station on Subway Namboku Line. It was too cold for us to walk outside, so we took the underground walkway to Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade.
Hours: 05:45–24:30
Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade Tanukikoji is an approximately 1km-long arcade with around 200 shops that runs east to west in downtown Sapporo. The arcade features many tax free souvenirs shop.
Odori Station (Subway Namboku Line, Tozai Line, Toho Line)
Susukino  Sapporo’s bars, restaurants, karaoke and pachinko. It’s worth a visit, especially if you’ve never been to Japan before.Susukino station on the Namboku subway line
Eating Options in Sapporo
Ramen Ichigen えびそば 一幻 Sapporo City, Chuo-ku Minami 7-jo, Nishi 9-chome 1024-10, Hrs : 11:00~翌3:00
10 mins walk  from hotel or one at airport  10:00〜21:00
Ramen Shirakaba Sanso 白樺山荘 Hokkaido, Sapporo City, Chuo-ku Kita 5-jo, Nishi 2-chome. 11:00~21:45
3 mins walk from Sapporo Station
Sushi Hanamaru Sushi 根室 花まる Address: Level 6 JR Tower Stellar Place
Hours: 1200-2200 everyday
pork bowls Butadon Meijin 豚丼 Address: Level 6 JR Tower Stellar Place
Hours: 1200-2200 everyday
Sapporo Station
Curry GARAKU CURRY スープカレー. Address: 2-7 Minami 3-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0063
Hours: Monday to Saturday lunch: 1130 – 1530 (last order 1500), Monday to Saturday dinner: 1700 – 2330 (last order 2300)
Getting Here: Odori Station (Subway Namboku Line, Tozai Line, Toho Line)
Oyster Gotsubo 五坪  4 Minami 6-jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 064-0806 , Hokkaido
Hours: 1800-2200 (must go before 7pm as it finishes very early)
Cheap and fresh oyster at 105 yen per piece and huge and nice scallop too
Day 5
tue
800-925 Asahiyama Zoo Super Kamui No 3 train , depart from Sapporo Station at 800 and reach Asahikawa Station at 925
940-1026 Take bus number 41, 42 or 47 from Asahikawa Station to Asahiyama Zoo he one way ride takes 40 minutes and costs 440 yen. There are about two buses per hour.                 440                16
1100-1300 Penguin Walk at 11am. Zoo closed on New Year (December 30 to January 1) 10:30 to 15:30 (entry until 15:00)                820                30
Bus 1200-1241+ train 1255-1420 or Bus 1300-1341+train 1355-1520                440                16
1530 pm Sapporo
Taje Choo Bus (Kan 88) line from Odori Station or from Sapporo Station                420                15
1530-1800 Sapporo Beer Museum Sapporo Beer Museum
Address: North 7, East 9, Higashi-ku, Sapporo Garden Park, 065-8633
Holidays:  Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday) , New Years holiday.
Admission: Free
Getting Here: Bus: Take the Chuo Bus Factory Line (Kan 88) and get off at Sapporo Beer Garden, about a 1 min. walk from there.
               420                15
Day 6 Sapporo - New Chitose AP
wed 5.30am Take taxi to Sapporo            1,200                43
Express train from Sapporo to New Chitose.Earliest train from JR Sapporo Station to New Chitose Airport departs at 06:00 (06:48 arrival). The first Airport Rapid departs at 06:15 (06:53 arrival). Every 15min one train            1,070                39
7am Reach airport
9am Boarding
Meals 5000 yen per day          30,000          1,080
Total          4,309