Hokkaido Trip Review

[kangtan]

Thanks to the wonderful info. gathered from this forum, we had a good time at Hokkaido. Posted below are some of our highlights with photos for this trip which we hope will be useful for future users.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – Furano Cheese Factory, Ningle Terrace
Day 2 – Farm Tomita, Biei Patchwork Road, Panorama Road, Tokachidake Bogakudai Observatiory
Day 3 – Shirahige Falls, Blue Pond, Kamikawa Ice Pavillion, Takinoue Pink Moss Park
Day 4 – Kamiyubetsu Tulip Fair, Takikawa Canola Fields, Susukino
Day 5 – Takino Suzuran Park, Shiroi Kobito
Day 6 – Curb Market, Edo Woderland Noboribetsu, Oyunuma Footbath, Orofure Pass, Lake Toya Fireworks
Day 7 – Lake Toya, Nishiyama Crater Walking Trail, Lake Hill Farm
Day 8 – Takino Suzuran Park

Views – Awesome Views in Our Opinion

1.Tokachidake Bogakudai Observation – At the observatory as well as along the road from shirogane. We feel the close-up views of the diesetsuzan mountains with snow on it is just awesome.

2.Orofure Pass – Viewpoint from parking immediately after Mt Orofure tunnel on the right in the direction of lake toya. Great view of Mt Yotei in the backgorund though my auto camera did not do the view any justice.

3.Biei Patchwork Road – Treat the famous trees as points of reference and get lost in the maze of roads here. Thats where the beauty lies.

4.Lake Hill Farm – Lunch / Ice Cream with Mt Yotei in the background. Worth the premium paid.

to be continued

 

[kangtan]

Tulips – Kamiyubetsu Tulip Fair vs Takino Suzuran Park

We prefer the Takino Suzuran Park. The kamiyubetsu tulip fair has more tulips (the takino one is approx. 20% of the fair) but we felt the flowers at takino are planted more nicely together and with the setting on a slope surrounded by trees, it looks better. The fair is along the roads/parking and the planting style is more grid-like. So, if itinerary is tight, no need to drive all the way to yubetsu.

Takino

Kamiyubetsu

 

[kangtan]

Hokkaido for Kids – Some places which our Kids Liked

1.Takino Suzuran Park – The play area is awesome (you have to see the website for yourself as there are some many things to do) and it is so inexpensive 400 yen for adult, 80 yen for child and below 6 free. Due to some foreseen circumstances, we have a free day on Day 8 and we all voted to visit the park again.

2.Ice/Snow at Tokachidake Bogakudai Observation – Without snow in Singapore, even a small patch drives them nuts. Yes, we also went there twice, Day 2 evening and Day 3 morning by unanimous vote.

3.Edo Wonderland – I feel nothing fantastic and overpriced but they are thrilled by the 2 shows on ninjas/samurais fighting and they get to buy a wooden ninja sword with matching head bands, darts and shurikens. So, I get to see the repeat of the fighting scenes every night in our hotel room.

4.Random Playgrounds – Hokkaido has less such facilities as compared to Australia and NZ but this one at Lake Toya is nice.

 

[kangtan]

Worthwhile Places

1.Nishiyama Crater Walk – it is a 3.2km walk to and fro but we find it quite educational for the kids as they get to see the destructive force of the volcanic eruption in 2000 with destroyed roads / buildings.

2.Blue Pond and Oyunuma Footbath – nice, serene short hikes in the forest ending with nice view / soak

3. Takikawa Rapeseed and Takinoue Pink Moss

Places We Feel Not Must See

Furano – the cheese factory and ningle terrace are at most worth a 15-30 mins walk through.

 

[cheefarn]

Whoa bro, great pics.. ahh all the tulips are bloomed... and it was barely one week after our trip

hmm.. tks bro, you've just given me some ideas for my next Hokkaido trip next yr haha

We can be the Hokkaido 'experts' here liao

 

[cheefarn]

Places We Feel Not Must See

Furano – the cheese factory and ningle terrace are at most worth a 15-30 mins walk through.

Well I'm glad we shared the same views on Ningle Terrace. The place is just way too overhyped for what it is worth. And the handicraft shops over there seems to be languishing for biz.

I suppose its worth a leisurely after dinner stroll if you're staying in Furano Price Hotel, but if you were like me, who stayed at the other end of Furano-shi, its not worth driving approx 20-30 mins just to see the Ningle Terrace

Hmm... I thot the Cheese factory wasn't too bad, but the cheese are too expensive. I didnt go this round though, cos wifey spent too much time shopping at Farm Tomita and Furano town liao

 

[kangtan]

Well I'm glad we shared the same views on Ningle Terrace. The place is just way too overhyped for what it is worth. And the handicraft shops over there seems to be languishing for biz.

I suppose its worth a leisurely after dinner stroll if you're staying in Furano Price Hotel, but if you were like me, who stayed at the other end of Furano-shi, its not worth driving approx 20-30 mins just to see the Ningle Terrace

Hmm... I thot the Cheese factory wasn't too bad, but the cheese are too expensive. I didnt go this round though, cos wifey spent too much time shopping at Farm Tomita and Furano town liao

Well I feel nothing much to see inside the factory unless perhaps you sign up for that cheese making course.

Maybe it also because my mind is in shut down mode after overnitr flight and 2hr+ drive from the airport

The surrounding however is nice to sit around and enjoy some ice cream / pizza.

 

[twtan14]

Is Japan famous for their cheeses? When I was in Holland, their cheese factory tour was very informative and they got such a huge range of products.

 

[cheefarn]

Is Japan famous for their cheeses? When I was in Holland, their cheese factory tour was very informative and they got such a huge range of products.

Well Hokkaido is, particularly in Furano.

Anyway, cheese was introduced into Hokkaido originally by the Europeans and Americans. But the Japs improved on the cheese making techniques and incorp Japs 'elements' into the products.. hence Furano cheese tastes different from the goumet cheese you get in Euro and USA.

Furano cheese tends to be smoother and more refined tastes. And they're generally less salty than Americans ones.

Its worth a go to the Furano cheese factory if you have not been there before. The factory surroundings is worth a visit itself liao lor. And parking is free as usual.

 

[kangtan]

For Holland, I only know the Alkmaar Cheese Market and that one is very interesting with all the round blocks of cheese laid in their beautiful town square with pple dressed like super mario brothers transporting/rolling the cheese around.

 

[xiaojing11]

Nice photos!

 

[isky]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[dreamer75]

Must go to the Furano Cheese Factory. Their cheese super nice!!

 

[cheefarn]

Must go to the Furano Cheese Factory. Their cheese super nice!!

Yup yup Although the $$ is on the high side

But then again, you can't possibly compare Furano cheese with those NTUC brand chedder cheese slices from Australia right?

Furano cheese are all bespoke gourmet food, not some run of the mill cheese