Hokkaido Recommendation

[kanashii23]

Need some recommendations from all you nice ppl here.

Intend to go Hokkaido and do a 1 day pre wedding shoot.
Does not want to book thru local tour agency
Does not want to drive.

Any recommendation for Studio in Hokkaido? Maybe near sapporo
I am also looking for Car/Van rental with driver include any one can recommend?

My plan will be as follow

Intend to visit these places in 4 days time and arrange transport

Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park
Takinoue Moss Pink Park
Farm Tomita
Biei Panorma Route
Asahikawa City / Zoo
Sapporo City
Noboribetsu
Otaru

 

[samtcy]

Need some recommendations from all you nice ppl here.

Intend to go Hokkaido and do a 1 day pre wedding shoot.
Does not want to book thru local tour agency
Does not want to drive.

Any recommendation for Studio in Hokkaido? Maybe near sapporo
I am also looking for Car/Van rental with driver include any one can recommend?

My plan will be as follow

Intend to visit these places in 4 days time and arrange transport

Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park
Takinoue Moss Pink Park
Farm Tomita
Biei Panorma Route
Asahikawa City / Zoo
Sapporo City
Noboribetsu
Otaru

Did a brief search on the internet, only came up with these:
- English speaking Driver guide Private Tour - GO HOKKAIDO!
- list of car rental companies: Japan rental car company listing
- Charter Bus & Limousine Japan | Bus Rentals, Limousine services

Those places will be a rush to visit within 4 days.
Also, depending on which month you are intending to visit, bear in mind that the sun will start to set from 3+pm onwards in autumn and winter season.

Found 1 Hokkaido based wedding photography
Wedding photography in Hokkaido - Beautiful bridal photos in Sapporo, Otaru, Asahikawa, Furano and Biei.

Alternatively, I am available for bookings too (am also a wedding photographer). Heh.

 

[VD]

hahaha, sam... that is a great idea

hire sam as a guide + photographer

 

[samtcy]

hahaha, sam... that is a great idea

hire sam as a guide + photographer

haha, yeah. too bad I don't have a car license nor a Japanese makeup artist contacts.

 

[kanashii23]

intend to visit in Mid May. if 4 days is a rush maybe will extend to 6 days stay.

Once touch down, will be trying my luck for the last bloom of sakura. after that will go onsen, slowly moving upwards to the flowers farm north.

 

[VD]

@sam: can always get someone who knows how to drive... Wedding grown/suit and other stuff can bring over. Finding a make up artist shouldn't to too difficult too.

A potentially good source of $$$, people these days wouldn't mind paying more to make their wedding unique... I'm also thinking of it too (getting my photos taken else where and not becoming the photographer )

Apologize for the OT

 

[samtcy]

@sam: can always get someone who knows how to drive... Wedding grown/suit and other stuff can bring over. Finding a make up artist shouldn't to too difficult too.

A potentially good source of $$$, people these days wouldn't mind paying more to make their wedding unique... I'm also thinking of it too (getting my photos taken else where and not becoming the photographer )

Apologize for the OT

I've been trying to look for Japanese makeup artistes' contacts online since last year and still no luck. Those I emailed didn't respond, would be better if I know more Japanese. Right now my Japanese is so limited.

Anyway back to topic, kanashii23 I agree that 6 days will be much better. Not so rushed. 4 days will be so hectic.

 

[gundamhamtaro]

Hokkaido is very big. From what i remember when i was there, this is the travelling time (normal train, assume take from Sapporo) needed for one way.

Asahikawa City / Zoo 3hrs
Otaru 2 hrs

So if can, better stay longer, maybe slightly more than a week.

 

[samtcy]

Hokkaido is very big. From what i remember when i was there, this is the travelling time (normal train, assume take from Sapporo) needed for one way.

Asahikawa City / Zoo 3hrs
Otaru 2 hrs

So if can, better stay longer, maybe slightly more than a week.

I agree that at least 1 week would be a good duration for Hokkaido. You've already paid so much for the airfare, might as well spend a couple more days there to make your airfare worthwhile.

Actually regarding train durations,
- From Sapporo to Asahikawa (80mins, 4880yen for reserved seat) The zoo is another about 35mins bus ride away from Asahikawa station.
- From Sapporo to Otaru (46mins, 620yen)
- From Sapporo to Noboribetsu (about 63mins, 4560yen for reserved seat)

Times, schedules, fares from Hyperdia |

Trains in Hokkaido (except for the line between New Chitose Airport to Sapporo and Otaru) are very infrequent. Often, you can only get 1 train every 1 or 2 hours. So best check your train's schedules before you leave for Japan.

 

[ceecookie]

How about Niseko? Its one of the snowiest town on earth and its very beautiful during winter

 

[kanashii23]

How about Niseko? Its one of the snowiest town on earth and its very beautiful during winter

Niseko got anything in May?

 

[samtcy]

Niseko got anything in May?

I'm not too sure whether there's still snow in May, but I don't think so since it's way past winter season by then. Maybe there might be snow in April but I doubt there will be in May.

 

[kanashii23]

For the places i wish to go, any recommend hotels to stay?

 

[samtcy]

For the places i wish to go, any recommend hotels to stay?

For Sapporo, I liked Hotel Gracery's location. It's just directly opposite Sapporo station and there's an underpass that connects the station to the hotel directly. Rooms are kinda small, but to me, location is more impt than room's size since I just go to room to sleep and bathe.

For Otaru, usually people just stay at Sapporo and then do a day trip to Otaru without staying there.

For Asahikawa, I'll be staying at Fujita Kanko Washington Hotel just opposite Asahikawa station for my Hokkaido trip next week. Cheap (I booked for 5250yen per night) and good location.

For Noboribetsu, I stayed at Noboribetsu's Dai-ichi Takimotokan Hotel (paid 27300yen for 1 night which includes breakfast and buffet dinner for 2 pax) in dec 2010. The hotel is a large touristy hotel with many onsen baths. Room is traditional tatami room, I would liked it more if they had served the dinner to our rooms like the ryokan we stayed at in Lake Toya, instead of the buffet dinner at the dining hall. Dinner food wise, there's a large variety which tastes not too bad but nothing fantastic. There's free flow king crab legs too but doesn't taste as nice as the ones we had at Sapporo's King crab restaurant.

 

[pker88]

For Sapporo, I liked Hotel Gracery's location. It's just directly opposite Sapporo station and there's an underpass that connects the station to the hotel directly. Rooms are kinda small, but to me, location is more impt than room's size since I just go to room to sleep and bathe.

For Otaru, usually people just stay at Sapporo and then do a day trip to Otaru without staying there.

For Asahikawa, I'll be staying at Fujita Kanko Washington Hotel just opposite Asahikawa station for my Hokkaido trip next week. Cheap (I booked for 5250yen per night) and good location.

For Noboribetsu, I stayed at Noboribetsu's Dai-ichi Takimotokan Hotel (paid 27300yen for 1 night which includes breakfast and buffet dinner for 2 pax) in dec 2010. The hotel is a large touristy hotel with many onsen baths. Room is traditional tatami room, I would liked it more if they had served the dinner to our rooms like the ryokan we stayed at in Lake Toya, instead of the buffet dinner at the dining hall. Dinner food wise, there's a large variety which tastes not too bad but nothing fantastic. There's free flow king crab legs too but doesn't taste as nice as the ones we had at Sapporo's King crab restaurant.

gracey is alwasy the best location hotel in sapporo

i vote for it i stay before
plus the hotel staffs understands english and seak to u in english too

 

[kanashii23]

I have check with one of the website and to charter a van for 4-8 ppl with driver for 8 hours a day will work out to around SGD $750 a day excluding toll/parking etc.

I know it is cheaper to rent and drive but not a very good driver

If my group have 7 ppl to share the van cost, it will still be cheaper than booking thru travel agency and yet offer flexibility and we can visit more places without waiting for ppl.

Only reasons i don't feel like taking tour is becasue some tour have like 20+ pax and we spend the day waiting and waiting for ppl.

 

[kanashii23]

Have plan out my trip. Need suggestions where should I head for lunch/dinner

Day 1
Arrive at Asahikawa Airport at 11.15am head to Asahiyama Park for Sakura (Lunch Where) before proceeding to check in at Asahikawa Grand hotel follow by short trip to Asahiyama Zoo

Day 2
Have breakfast before heading to Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park (lunch) & Takinoue Pink Moss Park return to Asahikawa Grand Hotel
Any good place to have lunch/dinner while driving from asahikawa to Takinoue Pink Moss?


Day 3
Head to Farm Tomita and Biei from Asahikawa & check in Otaru
Any good place to have lunch

Day 4
Sushi at Otaru & Head to Sapporo

Day 5
F&E Sapporo

Day 6
F&E Sapporo & head to Shikotsuko Daiichi Hotel Suizantei

Day 7
Breakfast @Shikotsuko Daiichi Hotel Suizantei and depart @9.45am to New Chitose Airport

 

[larcano]

So romantic, go Hokkaido take wedding pics!

Your itinerary is similar to mine - using Asahikawa as a base to explore the tulips and pink moss parks and Biei/Furano.

There's a ramen village in Asahikawa, but not very accessible if you don't drive. But anw, I guess when you're in Japan, even instant food from their train stations tastes nice. So, I think dun really have to plan for food.

 

[kanashii23]

When will you be going?

 

[ksapple]

sorry to necro this thread, anyone can noe avg cost at there? including gown suit and make up artist? looking at 1/2 - 1 day photoshoot. please help