Hokkaido Trip

[kenpachi82]

Here is the location.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.76461,140.71257&spn=143.415369,23.027344&t=v&z=3&layer=c&panoid=d-BxTPXuGEBcjfPsC4Ndeg&cbll=41.76461,140.71257&cbp=13,44.76219510539309,,0,9.167324722092971&source=gplus-ogsb

Take the no. 5 city tram to Suehirocho Station

thank you for assistance!

 

[HmMmMm]

Places to cover at hokkaido

1) Sapporo
2) Hakodate
3) Noboribetsu
4) Otaru
5) Furano

Any places is a must to go which i have missed out?

 

[cancer81]

not going to Akan Lake?

you might have not have enough time since each spot can spend significant amt of time

 

[cheefarn]

not going to Akan Lake?

you might have not have enough time since each spot can spend significant amt of time

Lake Akan is located in the eastern part of Hokkaido. Unless you're planning most of your trip at the eastern part of Hokkaido, it is a total waste of time just to travel all the way there just to see a lake

If it is lakes that you want to see, I'd recommend Lake Sanoma enroute to Mombetsu town from Memembetsu Airport. It is the largest lake in eastern hokkaido. Perhaps it is less well known as compared to lake Akan, but I'd imagine the scenary would be comparable to Akan as well

 

[cheefarn]

Places to cover at hokkaido

1) Sapporo
2) Hakodate
3) Noboribetsu
4) Otaru
5) Furano

Any places is a must to go which i have missed out?

May I add

6) Biei
7) Asahikawa

Both are pretty close to Furano (by Hokkaido context la)

I'd give Lake Toya and that Ainu village experience a miss. Been there in 2008 and IMHO, they're too touristy a place to really invest your time in, esp Ainu village. Not the lake's fault of cos... but unfortunately it is one of the must-go for almost all retail tour agencies ard the world... not just SG

 

[cancer81]

XD the Ainu village

I am not very fond of that place either. The lake is awesome even when frozen lol

I am not sure of how the place helps the Ainu with preserving their culture XD

 

[cheefarn]

XD the Ainu village

I am not very fond of that place either. The lake is awesome even when frozen lol

I am not sure of how the place helps the Ainu with preserving their culture XD

Ermm... Lake Toya doesn't freeze no matter how low the ambient temp is. The geo themal heat from the ground makes sure the water stays above 5c all year round.

Haha I see what u mean. The trouble is, if you go by packaged tours, the tour guide will surely bring u there and watch the Ainu dance. You'd easily waste at least 2 hrs there not doing much

This is why I advocate free n easy travel in Jap, esp Hokkaido. Those retail travel agencies in SG, esp those that tout super cheap packages to Hokkaido, make sure you do 90% shopping and just 10% sightseeing... And they bring you to those superbly touristy places that, IMO, doesn't really offers you the true Hokkaido experience.

Although some Jap specific tour agencies eg Prime Travel and JTB do offer much better packages and overall experiences to Hokkaido, their $$ is really OMG

Free and easy doesn't need to be expensive if you plan early and be able to capitalize on the airfare/hotel deals as n when they're available. My upcoming eastern Hokkaido trip in mid May costs way less PER PERSON than any 8 days packaged tours to any part of Hokkaido. And I've factored in all taxes liao

 

[cancer81]

what you get with package tours is the ease of mind and you can simply just have fun (wherever possible)

of course some stuff can make things difficult. Like kids whose parents can't control them and they eat whatever they like then start getting car sick on the bus....

Or a particular group of the tour just like to be late. That kind of thing can be really frustrating.

I found planning for my upcoming trip a real.... treat... but it is tiring.

 

[tomicaguy]

Lake Toyako nothing one?

Planning to head down from Noboribetsu.

 

[Clue99]

Here is the location.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.76461,140.71257&spn=143.415369,23.027344&t=v&z=3&layer=c&panoid=d-BxTPXuGEBcjfPsC4Ndeg&cbll=41.76461,140.71257&cbp=13,44.76219510539309,,0,9.167324722092971&source=gplus-ogsb

Take the no. 5 city tram to Suehirocho Station

nice view! isit near Bay area or Red Brick?

 

[cheefarn]

what you get with package tours is the ease of mind and you can simply just have fun (wherever possible)

of course some stuff can make things difficult. Like kids whose parents can't control them and they eat whatever they like then start getting car sick on the bus....

Or a particular group of the tour just like to be late. That kind of thing can be really frustrating.

I found planning for my upcoming trip a real.... treat... but it is tiring.

I can relate to that I'm doing ALL the planning this time too. My wife is not chipping in to help. Not that I expect her to la... she will only mess things up All the prep and planning can be super tiring. Esp when you're unsure if you're getting the best deal from that particular hotel/ryokan you're eyeing for. And then you get worried when customer's feedback of that hotel tends to be poor. etc

And then theres the car rental planning. Although far cheaper than what you'd pay to rent a car in SG, car rental in Hokkaido can be expensive as compared to USA... so you'd need to hunt ard for the best deal...

And after you've confirmed your flight, hotels and car,you will need to draft out your iternary as to where to go. And that's the hard part if you have kids in tow. You need to make sure the attractions are still somewhat appealing to the child because theme parks are virtually non existent in Hokkaido.

But if you can overcome all of these... you'd have a great time in Hokkaido

 

[cheefarn]

Lake Toyako nothing one?

Planning to head down from Noboribetsu.

Don't get me wrong bro. By all means drop by Lake Toya and enjoy the view and atmosphere... its just that for me, the place can be a bit too touristy.

I don't know la, Lake Toya is a big circular lake, the bank of onsen hotels I stayed in back in 2008 was very touristy. You can see lots of tour buses going in and out of the hotel...

and a few bus load of China tourist...aghhh.... really spoil the place and serenity

 

[HmMmMm]

May I add

6) Biei
7) Asahikawa

Both are pretty close to Furano (by Hokkaido context la)

I'd give Lake Toya and that Ainu village experience a miss. Been there in 2008 and IMHO, they're too touristy a place to really invest your time in, esp Ainu village. Not the lake's fault of cos... but unfortunately it is one of the must-go for almost all retail tour agencies ard the world... not just SG

anything nice to see at biei?

by the way, where's the cheese factory and eating ice-cream where you can enjoy scenery.

 

[HmMmMm]

i will be going at the last week of may. Is it the good time to go where there are flowers to see such as the tulips.

 

[dl]

Based on all my research the last week of May is the perfect time for Tulips.

 

[cheefarn]

anything nice to see at biei?

by the way, where's the cheese factory and eating ice-cream where you can enjoy scenery.

Sure do bro. Kindly refer to the trip reports by isky and socrates bro here
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/isky-fly-drive-hokkaido-2809643.html

Start reading from page 1

The cheese factory is located in Furano. Well within traveling distance from Biei. There are a few flower plantations where site special ice cream are sold. I believe you're refering to Farm Tomita at Nakafurano? Its ard Furano too.

Furano and Biei Tourism Information

Oh one more pt to add

8) @@ at Japs SYT wearing micro miniskirts along the way just try not to do it when driving hor... you will prob crash the car when they sit down on staircases and short ledges

 

[cheefarn]

Based on all my research the last week of May is the perfect time for Tulips.

Yup mid may to be exact. Approx 3 weeks away as of this writing

Tulips can't handle heat and anything over 20-22c will see them all up the lorry liao

Now u know why we can't even bring one bulb of tulip back to SG even if they give u for free?

 

[dl]

Here's a LIVE cam view of the Tulip Park

refresh this thread to see the latest image

3 more weeks to 50% bloom, 4 weeks to 80% bloom

check out last year's "Flowering Diary"

Based on this, 70% will be in bloom when I arrive...

 

[HmMmMm]

anymore things to share?

 

[cheefarn]

anymore things to share?

Hmm... what else would you like to know?

Maybe you can tell us what you've in mind or are planning to do? Are u planning a fly n drive trip? Or you'd be taking public transport all the way?

Will it be a G rated trip or RA rated trip?