Hokkaido help. Train?Drive?

[cheefarn]

Thanks for the replies!

It is a free and easy self planned trip, unfortunately we have alrdy booked our hotel at asahikawa beside the station. Would any 1 recommend an alternate destination besides takinoe pink moss park that we can visit on the same day as the zoo trip?

Thanks!

The zoo itself will take you prob 1/2 a day to explore properly.

But if u really want to chiong 2 seperate places in a day, I suggest going to Sounkyo gourge area at Daisuetsan National Park.

But it will be a pity if u don't stay overnight in Kamikawa town... for there's quite a lot of things to see in the town itself.... and the Rokyans over there are one of the best in Hokkaido...

Do be advised that its a rather long drive up the winding mountain road up to Kamikawa town and Sounkyo gourge. You will need to decide if you can really make it to n fro from Asahikawa within 1/2 day. Rem Hokkaido is way up north... and even in spring or early summer, sunset will be earlier than what you'd expect in SG. And even that clueless packaged tours guide from SG that I subscribed to back in 2008 will tell u that their Japs tour bus drivers doesn't recommend hanging ard the mountain area after sun down.

The roads will be pitch dark and becos of the low temp, its not uncommon to see frost n ice on the roads and surroundings overnight even in May or June. As it is, if u check accuweather.com now, you'd see its still snowing occasionally in Kamikawa...and it is May! Dangerous to drive. Even if u splurge on a rental SUV eg Rav4 or Nissan X Trail, the slippery roads will still be a hazard esp if u go downhill

 

[faustz]

Not really have to chiong 2 places in a day, its jus tat after the zoo trip dunno where else to go within the area that dont need a 1hr 2hr drive.
thanks

 

[kifo]

Most of the time on ordinary roads the speed limit is 60km/h. On highways where you have to pay tolls, you can drive up to 100km/h. Please don't speed on their highways. They have cameras everywhere.

 

[cheefarn]

Not really have to chiong 2 places in a day, its jus tat after the zoo trip dunno where else to go within the area that dont need a 1hr 2hr drive.
thanks

Pls see here and you'd have a better idea what to do in Asahikawa... Having super authentic Asahikawa Ramen is a great pasttime

Asahikawa Tourism - Accommodation, Restaurants, Places of Interest

 

[kanashii23]

Hello again! Got a few more questions i needa ask. Thanks for any replies!

Can any1 reccomend a good outdoor hotspring at Jozankei Hotsprings ?

I will be staying next to Asahikawa Stn and renting a car for the stay there, issit possible/ recommendable to go to The Asahiyama Zoo and Takinoue Pink Moss Park on the same day?

What about driving from Asahikawa stn to Biei pass Patchwork Road/Panorama road to Furano Cheese Factory and to Tomita Farm Nakafurano on the same day?

Thanks!

I will suggest you to go to Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park & (Do a short stop @ monbetsu to buy crabs ) Takinoue Pink Moss Park . Can be cover in a day but back at Asahikawa in the evening for a rest

Next day can drive for Biei Patch work road but during mid May not much flowers. Tomita Farm is also quite small in May but you can see Lavenders in their Greenhouse.

Where you intend to stay after going to Tomita? Sapporo, Asahikawa, Jozankei ?

 

[kanashii23]

If May still snow storm then seriously where is the spring?

Do not be surprise. I encounter snow last year during mid May @ Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park it was 4 degree & we were wearing jacket only.

 

[cheefarn]

Do not be surprise. I encounter snow last year during mid May @ Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park it was 4 degree & we were wearing jacket only.

Yup, I've been tracking the weather in Hokkaido via accuweather.com

Seems like winter in Hokkaido is unusually long this year. Kamikawa town and Mombetsu town are slated for yet another round of flurries this evening(6 May 2013)

Siao liao la, how can tulips blossom in snow ley??

 

[kanashii23]

Yup, I've been tracking the weather in Hokkaido via accuweather.com

Seems like winter in Hokkaido is unusually long this year. Kamikawa town and Mombetsu town are slated for yet another round of flurries this evening(6 May 2013)

Siao liao la, how can tulips blossom in snow ley??

Weather have been very unpredictable.

anyway this is what happen when I was there

 

[cheefarn]

Weather have been very unpredictable.

anyway this is what happen when I was there

Oh no.... How can tulips survive in such weather?

You were there in mid May last yr? Sigh... its my turn in 10 days timeHopefully I will hv better luck this time round

 

[kanashii23]

I was there in mid May. Don't worry . the tulips will survive 1-2 days of snow but take note of weather forecast and maybe go visit 2 days after snow fall for the snow to melt. Today snowing in Biei i think.

 

[cheefarn]

I was there in mid May. Don't worry . the tulips will survive 1-2 days of snow but take note of weather forecast and maybe go visit 2 days after snow fall for the snow to melt. Today snowing in Biei i think.

Sigh.... my iternery doesn't allow me to back track to Kamibetsu on the 2nd day ya. So die die will need to visit the park even if it snows heavily.

Sigh...

 

[kanashii23]

Sigh.... my iternery doesn't allow me to back track to Kamibetsu on the 2nd day ya. So die die will need to visit the park even if it snows heavily.

Sigh...

LOL that wat i did too. unable to afford the drive back. so went around in t shirt , long sleeve and jacket. borrow rainboot from the nice park warden there . take photos and set off for lunch. too cold to enjoy at all.

Do stop at this place for lunch if you are heading toward moss park.

Kamiyubetsu Onsen Tulip no Yu (Grilled Pork)
Monbetsu (buy seafood from the shop and you can go 2nd floor where they provide charcoal)

 

[cheefarn]

LOL that wat i did too. unable to afford the drive back. so went around in t shirt , long sleeve and jacket. borrow rainboot from the nice park warden there . take photos and set off for lunch. too cold to enjoy at all.

Do stop at this place for lunch if you are heading toward moss park.

Kamiyubetsu Onsen Tulip no Yu (Grilled Pork)
Monbetsu (buy seafood from the shop and you can go 2nd floor where they provide charcoal)

Roger that. Anyway I will pack proper winter clothings for this trip. I've been to Hokkaido before back in 2008 (via packaged tours) and I can relate to the wild swing in temp in Hokkaido in Spring time. But at least it didn't snow at all back in April 2008... this year.. whoa liao eh, there's light furries even in Sapporo last evening (5 May 2013)

I will stay in Mombetsu for the night.. dinner included in hotel... but thanks for the tip anyway

But I will prob check out that grilled pork restaurant you've mentioned. Is it just next to the tulip park?

 

[kanashii23]

Kamiyubetsu Onsen Tulip no Yu Roadside Station is around 10 min drive away.
They serve standard set meals & we order some ginger pork set which were really good.

 

[cheefarn]

Kamiyubetsu Onsen Tulip no Yu Roadside Station is around 10 min drive away.
They serve standard set meals & we order some ginger pork set which were really good.

Okie roger that. Will check it out when I'm there. Tks

 

[faustz]

Hi all. Currently in Hokkaido, saw the sakura report in sapporo supposingly blooming on 8th may, reached on 11th but alrdy too late =( only managed to see like 1 or 2 fully bloomed trees)
Nothing is blooming in Asahikawa, Biei n Furano~ drove pass vast empty fields. Farm tomita has only like 3 or 4 rows of flowers and a small greenhouse of flowers. Been raining on and off since 11th too.

 

[cheefarn]

Hi all. Currently in Hokkaido, saw the sakura report in sapporo supposingly blooming on 8th may, reached on 11th but alrdy too late =( only managed to see like 1 or 2 fully bloomed trees)
Nothing is blooming in Asahikawa, Biei n Furano~ drove pass vast empty fields. Farm tomita has only like 3 or 4 rows of flowers and a small greenhouse of flowers. Been raining on and off since 11th too.

Noooo.... I'll be there in 2 days time... Hopefully some flowers can be seen by next Wed where I will be at Biei and Furano