Hokkaido Trip

[tomicaguy]

Hokkaido can go R rated one meh?

 

[cheefarn]

Hokkaido can go R rated one meh?

Just hang ard Susukino area and you'd know what I mean

Not as hardcore as Shinjuku of cos, but if u like ermm... softer...P... Sapporo will suits u nicely....

And Sapporo girls tends to real...more 'real'

 

[tomicaguy]

ic. Heard of Susukino entertainment district.

 

[HmMmMm]

I will be going spending one day to and fro from Sapporo to Otaru.


Since it's my first trip to Hokkaido, i have also book one day tour to go Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park and Takinoue Moss Pink Park. Saves me the trouble to spend time on traveling to get to that place. Is it a good idea?

Will be planing to go to Farm Tamita to try on the lavender ice-cream, and hopefully there are some flowers to see when i'm there (end of May). And also the cheese factory.


Will be spending one day at Hakodate also, and go up to the mountain to see the scenery.

Am still planning whether can i spend one day to visit the Lake Toya, Mt Uzusan, Bear Ranch and Hell Valley. Will it be possible? Are they very far apart from each other?


By the way is there any website which i can found out how long does it takes to get from one station to the other? i.e how long it takes to travel from Toya to Noboribetsu, Farm Tomita to Tomamu etc.

 

[cheefarn]

I will be going spending one day to and fro from Sapporo to Otaru.


Since it's my first trip to Hokkaido, i have also book one day tour to go Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park and Takinoue Moss Pink Park. Saves me the trouble to spend time on traveling to get to that place. Is it a good idea?

Will be planing to go to Farm Tamita to try on the lavender ice-cream, and hopefully there are some flowers to see when i'm there (end of May). And also the cheese factory.


Will be spending one day at Hakodate also, and go up to the mountain to see the scenery.

Am still planning whether can i spend one day to visit the Lake Toya, Mt Uzusan, Bear Ranch and Hell Valley. Will it be possible? Are they very far apart from each other?


By the way is there any website which i can found out how long does it takes to get from one station to the other? i.e how long it takes to travel from Toya to Noboribetsu, Farm Tomita to Tomamu etc.

Bro, as some of the bros here have stated b4, your iternary will see u sprinting almost 3/4 of Hokkaido liao. Very bad idea bro. Rem, public transport in Hokkaido is less developed than in mainland Japan, you'd be spending alot of time on trains and buses if u proceed with your iternary

First of, you do realize Hokkaido is a huge place right? Although nowhere as big as the US of A, its overall layout is FAR MORE Americanized than what you'd find in Tokyo and other cities. Do read up the history of Sapporo and Hokkaido in general and you'd find that the modern Hokkaido was designed and pri built by Americans before and after the war. Notice Hokkaido has tons of victorian, goltic and western buildings? The whole Sapporo city layout looks ALOT like New York City... both employs big lattice grid layout for their roads and building.

Anyway, I strongely suggest you to decide on ONE part of Hokkaido... be it eastern/central, or central/south side. Already the distance between south and central part of Hokkaido is quite vast... You need quite some time to travel from Furano to say, Hakodate and Lake Toya. Rem, there's no bullet train svcs in Hokkaido, conventional JR trains are much slower than that.

>>>I will be going spending one day to and fro from Sapporo to Otaru.

I do recommend overnight in Otaru if possible. No doubt the distance between Otaru and greater Sapporo is approx 30 mins apart by train, but unless you dont mind a late night train back to Sapporo, the Otaru canal and its surrounding looks magical after nightfall. Its a pity if u have to leave the place before sun down. Also, there's a lot of quaint shops and attraction in Otaru, you'd need a whole day there to explore the town properly.

>>>i have also book one day tour to go Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park and Takinoue Moss Pink Park. Saves me the trouble to spend time on traveling to get to that place. Is it a good idea?

In a word, not recommended. Both attractions are on the eastern side of Hokkaido, and the rest of your iternary are mostly on the south side. In addition, many tulips will prob start to die off by the end of May liao. Tulips are very sensitive to heat and anything over 20-22c will kill it. Pink moss can still hang on abit.

The train trip going to n fro Eastern side of Hokkaido is going to be LONGER than if you'd drive. If you'd drive, you can drive through mountains ranges of Daisuetsan National Park (Sounkyo area) and pass Asahikawa, Biei, Furano and back to Sapporo. Trains will take the Kushiro route and the distance is signifcantly longer... and the $$ will be expensive too. Do keep all these in mind. Its logistically quite stressful to try to complete the whole round trip in a day.

>>>Will be planing to go to Farm Tamita to try on the lavender ice-cream, and hopefully there are some flowers to see when i'm there (end of May). And also the cheese factory.

This part is ok, for they're still in Furano... but typically... Lavender bloom time is ard late June- Aug. You shd be able to see Lavender sprouts in May though.

>>>Will be spending one day at Hakodate also, and go up to the mountain to see the scenery.

This is the hard part bro. Hakodate is far away from Sapporo. You'd spend alot of time traveling to n fro just to enjoy the nite scenery up the mountain.

>>>By the way is there any website which i can found out how long does it takes to get from one station to the other? i.e how long it takes to travel from Toya to Noboribetsu, Farm Tomita to Tomamu etc.

Bro, I strongly recommend you'd drop by JNTO office at Hong Leong Building during office hrs to pick up Hokkaido travel infro over there.
JNTO Singapore office is located at:
16 Raffles Quay, #15-09 Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581

The office is unmanned and you just go in and choose the info you required. Please take a copy of Hokkaido Tourist Map over there. It will answer you qns above and more

 

[dl]

Just like what cheefarn said about distance, both Kamiyubetsu and Hakodate are quite far from Sapporo....

But as I'm heading to Kamiyubetsu myself in a month's time, I understand that the day tour is probably the Bus Tour that you get on really early in the morning (before 8am)... gets you to both attraction in the afternoon, and drops you back in Sapporo at night (after 8am) You will probably spend more than 10 hours in the bus.... but it's probably worth it.

For me, the Kamiyubetsu drive is done over 2 days (a night in Asahikawa), and then I'm spending a leisurely 6 days all over the area (Sounkyo Gorge, Biei, Furano...)

As for the matter of tulips dying... based on all the flowering diaries, there will be between 40-50% of tulips still "alive" by end of May/Early June. Only after the Tulip Fair closes, will they start to "kill" them off

Farm Tomita is probably a good idea, but it's still another long day trip, and a lot of time on the bus/train.

As for Hakodate, it's actually a beautiful place to visit, and more than just a day trip. Do try to stay for at least a night or two. Even more "historical" in terms of some of the churches in the motomachi area. Personally, Hakodate is a great Winter City to go to... and I think I'll go back there in December

p.s. Otaru is a great day trip, short train ride, nice place to walk around... not worth staying over night; but just like Hakodate, it's probably a lot more beautiful in Winter, with snow everywhere, it's actually pretty magical.

p.p.s. Images are personal and not meant for reproduction.

 

[cheefarn]

Just like what cheefarn said about distance, both Kamiyubetsu and Hakodate are quite far from Sapporo....

But as I'm heading to Kamiyubetsu myself in a month's time, I understand that the day tour is probably the Bus Tour that you get on really early in the morning (before 8am)... gets you to both attraction in the afternoon, and drops you back in Sapporo at night (after 8am) You will probably spend more than 10 hours in the bus.... but it's probably worth it.

But the problem with this setup is... you're spending over 10 hrs on the bus ya!Yes the tulips and Pink moss are magical to look at, but IMHO, spending 10 hrs on the bus to n fro just to visit these 2 places doesnt sound logical to me.

Also, there are quite a lot of other attractions to see in Mobetsu area... Eg... Lake Saroma, Okotosk Sea Ice museum, morning fish market etc... That bus certainly won't stop by these places en route would it?


As for Hakodate, it's actually a beautiful place to visit, and more than just a day trip. Do try to stay for at least a night or two. Even more "historical" in terms of some of the churches in the motomachi area. Personally, Hakodate is a great Winter City to go to... and I think I'll go back there in December


Hakodate is a big city that warrants at least 2 nights to explore. HMM bro, you're going on a free n easy tour of Hokkaido... so make sure it is free n EASY for you laYour iternery makes it looks like you're joining some clueless packaged tours from our local retail tour agencies


p.s. Otaru is a great day trip, short train ride, nice place to walk around... not worth staying over night; but just like Hakodate, it's probably a lot more beautiful in Winter, with snow everywhere, it's actually pretty magical.


I see your point. But I'm staying overnight in Otaru for my upcoming trip in less than 3 weeks time For me, its not wise to take a drive back to Sapporo in the evening as I've got a 4 yr old kid in tow. She needs to sleep early.

Will be staying in Dormy Inn@ Otaru, directly opposite Otaru JR station and near 2 morning fish markets... so plenty of activites and attractions for young n old

 

[dl]

But I'm staying overnight in Otaru for my upcoming trip in less than 3 weeks time For me, its not wise to take a drive back to Sapporo in the evening as I've got a 4 yr old kid in tow. She needs to sleep early.

I know the drill. End of May, I am travelling with a 9, 7 & 5 year old and our 10 month old baby.... so I do intend to end each day early with a good soak in the onsen (where available)... ... it's also an easy way to make sure each kid has their bath

The last time we were at Otaru (Dec 2011), we stayed overnight too, before the long drive down to Hakodate

 

[HmMmMm]

Thanks cheefarn for the comments. Will look into my itenary again

by the way, just a question. If i were to take JR train from Sapporo to Furano, i know i will need to transfer to another JR line, which is at JR Takikiwa Station.

Is the transfer complicated? Is the railway from Takikiwa to Furano quite far from the railway which arrive from Sapporo?

How is the transfer like at JR Station?

 

[cheefarn]

Thanks cheefarn for the comments. Will look into my itenary again

by the way, just a question. If i were to take JR train from Sapporo to Furano, i know i will need to transfer to another JR line, which is at JR Takikiwa Station.

Is the transfer complicated? Is the railway from Takikiwa to Furano quite far from the railway which arrive from Sapporo?

How is the transfer like at JR Station?

Ermm.... I'm afraid I won't be able to ans your qns bro. Frankly I've NEVER taken ANY of their JRs before. My 1st trip to Hokkaido was back in 2008 via packaged tours.

As after being totally pissed off by A*A , I've decided to revisit Hokkaido again this time round... and its Fly n Drive...

Haha ok so I'm a car guy... Unless absolutely have to, I really have no wish to take public transport in my vacation country... Hey come on, I've had enough of MRT and buses in SG daily liao.

Ok la, Japan is hardly a place to live out your high speed fantasies, and my rental Honda Freed Hybrid is actually a downgrade to what I have in SG... a Civic. But its the wide open space that I'm looking forward to.

 

[kangtan]

Do not worry about transferring train. It is fairly easy.

Takikawa should be a small train station so there should only be a few platforms at most to look out for. If you read chinese, just look out for the jap kanji for the destination city of your train and use departure time to confirm.

Anyway, jap train system is super efficient. If you use hyperdia, you will notice that it will even suggest transfer time of a few minutes if the train timing allows so you can be sure that transfer is easy.

 

[kangtan]

Just have a look at takikawa train station using google map. Only 5 platforms. So no problem.

 

[HmMmMm]

thanks kangtan

btw at hokkaido, do they have hi-card where by I'm able to use 3G?

 

[cheefarn]

thanks kangtan

btw at hokkaido, do they have hi-card where by I'm able to use 3G?

Well if you're just trying to use data on your smartphone, you can save yourself a big bundle by using their version of Wireless@SG

freespot.com

Registration and usage is free.


Or if you die die require full 3G GSM data access 24/7 and everywhere you go, you can consider the following
http://www.jalabc.com/english/index4.html

 

[kangtan]

thanks kangtan

btw at hokkaido, do they have hi-card where by I'm able to use 3G?

As far as i can find, If you are thinking of voice, you have to rent a sim or phone and the charges are high. I calculated and it is As ex As using roaming.

If you are talking about data only, see the bmobile thread. It is prob. The most economical way and the 1 Gg plan is fast enough for Skype. Or rent a mobile wifi from GAC if sharing access.

 

[kanashii23]

I know the drill. End of May, I am travelling with a 9, 7 & 5 year old and our 10 month old baby.... so I do intend to end each day early with a good soak in the onsen (where available)... ... it's also an easy way to make sure each kid has their bath

The last time we were at Otaru (Dec 2011), we stayed overnight too, before the long drive down to Hakodate

I intend to go to Hokkaido this year end with 3 kids , 10, 8 & 3. do you mind sharing the hotels you stay for your trip. i also intend to end each day in the onsen , will also like to know how did you book your hotel. thru a tour or website as most japan hotels does not have connecting rooms.

Thanks a lot.

 

[dl]

I intend to go to Hokkaido this year end with 3 kids , 10, 8 & 3. do you mind sharing the hotels you stay for your trip. i also intend to end each day in the onsen , will also like to know how did you book your hotel. thru a tour or website as most japan hotels does not have connecting rooms.

Thanks a lot.

Hi there.


For this Spring/Summer trip, we are staying at Mecure Sapporo (quad/family room), Dormy Inn Asahikawa (Quad Room), Choyotei Sounkyo (Western/Jap Room) and Forest View in Furano (which is about half a house). We share beds (usually put 3 kids in a queen or pushing 2 twins together)


But if you're headed at the end of the year (I am assuming a Winter holiday), you might not want to drag your family on such a long journey as driving in the snow is quite slow and tedious. Probably to Asahikawa and Furano at most. In 2011, We spent 2 full days driving from Otaru to Hakodate*, and then Hakodate to Hirafu/Nieseko, as the distance is fairly long, and winter roads can become scary above 60-70kmh (although once you get the hang of it, you could probably push 80-90)


Personally I am already starting to plan my Winter Vacation (in Hokkaido again. Yes we are boring, and like Hokkaido a lot) So for that trip, as it's meant to be a ski vacation, we are likely to head only to 1 place: Hilton Niseko Village. It has everything we want, including the "modern" Australian-influenced town of Hirafu (lots of restaurants there) and we are rather familiar with the surroundings and transportation network. It also has the best ski-in ski-out valet and easy access to rentals, buses, chairlifts, gondolas.... and the buses from Chitose are frequent enough

Hope this helps!


*p.s. For our stay at Hakodate, because the hotel we stayed at (Hotel Chocolat) only had twin rooms, we booked side by side rooms and put our older kids there for the night...that's the only way to do it without adjoining rooms.

 

[kanashii23]

Hi there.


For this Spring/Summer trip, we are staying at Mecure Sapporo (quad/family room), Dormy Inn Asahikawa (Quad Room), Choyotei Sounkyo (Western/Jap Room) and Forest View in Furano (which is about half a house). We share beds (usually put 3 kids in a queen or pushing 2 twins together)


But if you're headed at the end of the year (I am assuming a Winter holiday), you might not want to drag your family on such a long journey as driving in the snow is quite slow and tedious. Probably to Asahikawa and Furano at most. In 2011, We spent 2 full days driving from Otaru to Hakodate*, and then Hakodate to Hirafu/Nieseko, as the distance is fairly long, and winter roads can become scary above 60-70kmh (although once you get the hang of it, you could probably push 80-90)


Personally I am already starting to plan my Winter Vacation (in Hokkaido again. Yes we are boring, and like Hokkaido a lot) So for that trip, as it's meant to be a ski vacation, we are likely to head only to 1 place: Hilton Niseko Village. It has everything we want, including the "modern" Australian-influenced town of Hirafu (lots of restaurants there) and we are rather familiar with the surroundings and transportation network. It also has the best ski-in ski-out valet and easy access to rentals, buses, chairlifts, gondolas.... and the buses from Chitose are frequent enough

Hope this helps!


*p.s. For our stay at Hakodate, because the hotel we stayed at (Hotel Chocolat) only had twin rooms, we booked side by side rooms and put our older kids there for the night...that's the only way to do it without adjoining rooms.

I might be skipping furano for the winter trip. planning to reach Hakodate , drive up to Hilton Niseko for 2 days then Otaru and Sapporo.

Might want to side trip while in Sapporo to Asahikawa Zoo but depend on weather and the kids chill tolerance.

you are not boring. this will be the 2nd time i will be in hokkaido and i just went there last year LOL. great to know like-mind ppl around who can share tips.

I am planning to stay in Hilton Niseko too but wondering how to keep the kids entertain there.

 

[dl]

I am planning to stay in Hilton Niseko too but wondering how to keep the kids entertain there.

Thanks.

BTW, the Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate, Niseko was almost identical to my trip in 2011.
It's all magical in Winter in those places, and you're doing the right thing to start down south and end up North!

As for entertainment, Buffet Breakfast at Melt, followed by All day skiing, ending with a good soak in the onsen, and then buffet Dinner at Yotei is enough for my older ones to feel tired enough to sleep even at 9pm (because in Dec, the sun sets at 4 )

As for the 3 year old, sign the kid up for the kids ski class and they'll take care of it all for you. Of course the older ones can sign up too

If you're there in the 3rd week of Dec, we might meet

 

[kanashii23]

Thanks.

BTW, the Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate, Niseko was almost identical to my trip in 2011.
It's all magical in Winter in those places, and you're doing the right thing to start down south and end up North!

As for entertainment, Buffet Breakfast at Melt, followed by All day skiing, ending with a good soak in the onsen, and then buffet Dinner at Yotei is enough for my older ones to feel tired enough to sleep even at 9pm (because in Dec, the sun sets at 4 )

As for the 3 year old, sign the kid up for the kids ski class and they'll take care of it all for you. Of course the older ones can sign up too

If you're there in the 3rd week of Dec, we might meet

Great we might be there LOL. I will be at Niseko Hilton on 22-24 Dec now got promotion early bird booking 30% but still expensive $500++