isky Fly & Drive Hokkaido

[VD]

Love your shot of the alps... like yourself, we also didn't see much, just too bad but at least I got another reason to return to Hokkaido

 

[isky]

Love your shot of the alps... like yourself, we also didn't see much, just too bad but at least I got another reason to return to Hokkaido

True true, a good reason.

But you'll be in a catch-22, cos if you go Tomita during Summer, you'll enjoy the most picturistic landscapes and endless rows of flowers, but the alps will no longer be snow-capped.

 

[VD]

I don't really like summer weather.. reminds me too much of SG

 

[isky]

Although Tomita is not at its best, we still spent about 3 hours there. It was almost 2pm by the time we were ready to leave.

Stopped by this nice little family-run restaurant BIRCH on our way back to Biei, it served the best western food we'd had in Biei.

Hamburger, which is served with rice in Japan

Beef stew, simply beefylicious

 

[isky]

Hill of Shikisai (Shikisai no oka) 四季彩の丘
http://www.shikisainooka.jp/
Mapcode: 349 701 247

Revitalized after a good lunch, we continued our journey to Shikisai Hill (四季彩之丘).
Unfortunately, it was just not the right time of the year, the place was just as bare and
barren as Tomita.

So just took some obligatory pictures of their mascots - Roll-kun and his galfriend.
Really a pity as this is a very beautiful place when the flowers are in full bloom.

 

[kanashii23]

very nice intro of hokkaido.. make me wanna buy tickets and fly there now

 

[coolwinx]

thanks for sharing.

thinking of going Hokkaido too..

 

[isky]

Shinei no oka 新栄の丘
Mapcode: 349 790 676

This is the best place for sunset views if you stay in/near Biei.

Dinner time! at Santouka Biei's branch.

Santouka is one of the most authentic Hokkaido ramen you can find here in Sg,
you can find them at The Central and Cuppage Terrace.

 

[isky]

Patchwork Route 拼布之路

For ease of exploration, Biei's tourism has split the vast scenic prairies of Biei into two - the Panoramic Route and the Patchwork Route.
Today we explored the Patchwork Route before we have to return the car.
You can also explore these places by bicycles, but more suitable for the ironman-fit.

Hokusei no oka 北西の丘. Mapcode: 389 070 315

This place will be full of lavender during Summer

Ken & Mary Tree. Made famous by a commercial. Mapcode: 389 071 727

Snap shot from inside the car, nothing special here but I just like this pic

Tree of Seven Star セブンスターの木. Looks bare now. Mapcode: 389 157 129

 

[isky]

Ramen again for dinner

This is really one of a kind - Sunflower Ramen 向日葵拉麵 ラーメンのひまわり !!!

Miso with Sunflower

Shoyu with Sunflower


And was it good?
Guess this says it all

 

[droozy]

really fantastic photos !!! U use wat camera ah ? and u din any of your photos rt ? coz they look natural .

 

[isky]

really fantastic photos !!! U use wat camera ah ? and u din any of your photos rt ? coz they look natural .

Tks. Oldie but goodie - LX3.

No pp, straight from camera, the most resize only.

 

[droozy]

Wooo !! Nice .. with manual shots lah.. rt ? actually I dun like to edit photos.. natural is the best ! Keep yr photos coming . They are great !

Tks. Oldie but goodie - LX3.

No pp, straight from camera, the most resize only.

 

[isky]

From Biei, we took JR train to Sapporo via Asahikawa.
Asahikawa is the 2nd busiest city in Hokkaido, just 30min away from Biei, it has a famous zoo.

Asahikawa JR station

Asahikawa city walk


We stayed at Sapporo Hotel Gracery, which is conveniently located right across Sapporo JR station.
If it's raining/snowing, you can even access it via underground passage from Apia Food Walk.

Shot this from hotel lobby. View of Daimaru, Apia, Sapporo JR station, JR Tower & Esta (from left to right).

Pokemon Center on the 9th floor of Esta.

Sapporo Ramen Republic, on the 10th floor of Esta. All the best ramen of Hokkaido can be found here.

Lunch at Ootoya in the end, had enough ramen

 

[isky]

Wooo !! Nice .. with manual shots lah.. rt ? actually I dun like to edit photos.. natural is the best ! Keep yr photos coming . They are great !

Thanks. Usually I'll use Landscape (SCN) Mode, Program Mode or just iA Mode.
For macro shots, I'll use Aperture Mode. Manual Mode mostly for night scenes.
Some shot with High Dynamic (SCN) Mode.
During sunny days (eg. at Takinoue and Mt Fuji), I'll use a CPL filter.

 

[pker88]

as expected from a lx3 ahah

 

[stars87]

From Biei, we took JR train to Sapporo via Asahikawa.
Asahikawa is the 2nd busiest city in Hokkaido, just 30min away from Biei, it has a famous zoo.

Asahikawa city walk

there's a similar statue in lake toya, right in front of kohan tei hotel. except that there's no cat and there's a bird on the head of the guy playing the saxophone

 

[isky]

there's a similar statue in lake toya, right in front of kohan tei hotel. except that there's no cat and there's a bird on the head of the guy playing the saxophone

Really? That's cool, I was only at Lake Toya briefly, didn't catch that.

Maybe there are more of these statues out there!

 

[isky]

From Biei, we took JR train to Sapporo via Asahikawa.

And since we're taking the train on a fairly long journey, how can we missed out on their railway bento - 駅弁 ekiben.

 

[stars87]

Really? That's cool, I was only at Lake Toya briefly, didn't catch that.

Maybe there are more of these statues out there!

yeah. its starting to seem like some conspiracy to me. mysterious statues of a saxophone man across hokkaido.

Do keep those photos coming. they are very very nice.

possible to ask a small request of you bro ? is it possible to upload the brochure(or a picture of it) from UOB travel/the fly and drive company with all the mapcodes of nice places ? that would really really be a great aid to those of us who do DIY driving and travel. very practical. can key the mapcode and get to the place (because sometimes, the phone number option on the GPS dosent work very well and google maps may not always reflect the destination)

thank you ! onegaishimasu