Second Hokkaido Trip

[Leftyaof]

Guys need some help with planning. I got 3d 2n at lake abashiri. First day I will travel up from lake akan to lake mashu then drift ice ship then onsen hotel. Second day i had no idea where to travel/visit. Appreciate if you guys can throw me some ideas!

Thanks!

 

[oceanicmanta]

Guys need some help with planning. I got 3d 2n at lake abashiri. First day I will travel up from lake akan to lake mashu then drift ice ship then onsen hotel. Second day i had no idea where to travel/visit. Appreciate if you guys can throw me some ideas!

Thanks!

that is a fair bit of driving, in winter, from Abashiri to Akan area and back

I wld rather stay in Akan area

dont think u can cover drift ice in 1 day as well given the very short day light hours

other places of interest around Abashiri are Cape Notoro, Abashiri Prison, Fairy Tale Knoll ... tour groups also visit Yamubetsu JR Station, Okhotsk Ryūhyō Museum

I usually visit Shiretoko from Abashiri, but it is closed for winter. Seems like there is some conducted Eco tours though .. but in winter, it's kind of far from Abashiri to self drive ... if transport provided, can consider

 

[Leftyaof]

Oh sorry I think I phrase it wrongly. I will be leaving Lake akan and driving up to abashiri for 3D2N. And along the way I will go visit Lake mashu etc then check in at Lake abashiri onsen Hotel.

I was wondering are there any place of interest or food to try near abashiri.

 

[Hardware4455]

Oh sorry I think I phrase it wrongly. I will be leaving Lake akan and driving up to abashiri for 3D2N. And along the way I will go visit Lake mashu etc then check in at Lake abashiri onsen Hotel.

I was wondering are there any place of interest or food to try near abashiri.

I just came back from east Hokkaido . The place is beautiful and secluded.
For Abashiri, you can visit the glass museum and the restaurant just beside the museum serve very fresh crab dishes.
These are the places I visited.

Abashiri prison museum
drift ice ship. If you are lucky
Cape Notoro. This place is beautiful I was alone there during my visit
Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum

these few attraction is enough to get myself occupied for 3d2n. If can make it to 4d3n it will be pleasant

AND if you are driving please drive carefully and leave a distance between other vehicle. Intersection area slow down to dead slow speed. The roads are extremely slippery. Tap brakes as gentle as possible when driving .

 

[oceanicmanta]

the restaurant just beside the museum serve very fresh crab dishes.

Abashiri Banya

Do they still have live Taraba Kani ?

or it is other types of crabs ie snow crab, hairy crab or hamasaki ?

 

[MajiMax]

https://en.japantravel.com/hokkaido/sapporo-art-camp/69511

 

[dude123]

I just came back from east Hokkaido . The place is beautiful and secluded.
For Abashiri, you can visit the glass museum and the restaurant just beside the museum serve very fresh crab dishes.
These are the places I visited.

Abashiri prison museum
drift ice ship. If you are lucky
Cape Notoro. This place is beautiful I was alone there during my visit
Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum

these few attraction is enough to get myself occupied for 3d2n. If can make it to 4d3n it will be pleasant

AND if you are driving please drive carefully and leave a distance between other vehicle. Intersection area slow down to dead slow speed. The roads are extremely slippery. Tap brakes as gentle as possible when driving .

Wow nice, thanks for recommendation, will look into these for my next trip.

Did u go to furano? If so, any recommendation for lodging nearby? Hotels & airbnb in furano is very exp.. looking for cheaper options in the city, if not nearby, driving thou..

 

[luckygal]

I actually know of a group of friends who visit Sapporo in Hokkaido every alternate year. Every alternate year they will spend a week there together as gathering. Somehow they say Sapporo is interesting enough.

 

[oceanicmanta]

I actually know of a group of friends who visit Sapporo in Hokkaido every alternate year. Every alternate year they will spend a week there together as gathering. Somehow they say Sapporo is interesting enough.

within 1hr drive of Sapporo, there r many places of interest (not the touristy type like Otaru), nice scenary, open spaces, parks, lakes etc can easily make day trips to explore

will find some time to post some pics from my last Autumn trip

Wow nice, thanks for recommendation, will look into these for my next trip.

Did u go to furano? If so, any recommendation for lodging nearby? Hotels & airbnb in furano is very exp.. looking for cheaper options in the city, if not nearby, driving thou..

since u going Summer, u can consider staying at Asahikawa (many cheaper hotel accommodations) and visit Furano by day trip

Summer day light hours r long, so u have plenty of time to explore Furano/Biei ... the drive to n fro is not too tedious in Summer

alternatively, see if this meets your budget ... Yumoto Shirogane Onsen Hotel
it is near Blue Pond ..
when I stayed in Sep, off peak, prices were very reasonable
... the location is rather remote n quiet which also makes it good for exploring surrounding on foot

I chosed this place as I also dont find Furano hotels appealing

 

[Sauron]

Summer daylight is 15 hours but sunrise is 4am , really ish land of rising sun

So sunset ish 7pm.

Gonna experience it for myself this June

 

[oceanicmanta]

Summer daylight is 15 hours but sunrise is 4am , really ish land of rising sun

So sunset ish 7pm.

Gonna experience it for myself this June

yah
even in Sep, it is bright at 5am
.. go out for run/walk, return 7am
.. go onsen
.. still in time for breakfast at 8am

 

[Sauron]

yah
even in Sep, it is bright at 5am
.. go out for run/walk, return 7am
.. go onsen
.. still in time for breakfast at 8am

sounds great...

I intend to go to unkai terrace but would need to start around 0330hrs from furano. I probably just sleep through haha

 

[oceanicmanta]

sounds great...

I intend to go to unkai terrace but would need to start around 0330hrs from furano. I probably just sleep through haha

i have not tried the unkai at Tomamu ... better check the probability of unkai before heading out

i tried at Tsubetsu Pass, woke up early, drove there but alamak the road leading up to the Observation Point was closed for maintenance

 

[Sauron]

i have not tried the unkai at Tomamu ... better check the probability of unkai before heading out

i tried at Tsubetsu Pass, woke up early, drove there but alamak the road leading up to the Observation Point was closed for maintenance

Tsubetsu pass can also see sea cloud?
Is 5-6am too late for viewing the unkai?

 

[oceanicmanta]

Tsubetsu pass can also see sea cloud?
Is 5-6am too late for viewing the unkai?

supposedly .. can check out pics on Google Map

no idea about the timings, it's not guaranteed .. think weather condition key

recall tomamu resort (or somewhere) publish unkai sightings during season ( August is the peak I recall )

 

[dude123]

within 1hr drive of Sapporo, there r many places of interest (not the touristy type like Otaru), nice scenary, open spaces, parks, lakes etc can easily make day trips to explore

will find some time to post some pics from my last Autumn trip



since u going Summer, u can consider staying at Asahikawa (many cheaper hotel accommodations) and visit Furano by day trip

Summer day light hours r long, so u have plenty of time to explore Furano/Biei ... the drive to n fro is not too tedious in Summer

alternatively, see if this meets your budget ... Yumoto Shirogane Onsen Hotel
it is near Blue Pond ..
when I stayed in Sep, off peak, prices were very reasonable
... the location is rather remote n quiet which also makes it good for exploring surrounding on foot

I chosed this place as I also dont find Furano hotels appealing

If base at Asahikawa to explore furano area like farm tomita etc, not too far meh?
Just saw on agoda Yumoto Shirogane Onsen Hotel $488/night sia..over budget for me..hotel prices in july sky rocket high sia..sian

 

[oceanicmanta]

If base at Asahikawa to explore furano area like farm tomita etc, not too far meh?
Just saw on agoda Yumoto Shirogane Onsen Hotel $488/night sia..over budget for me..hotel prices in july sky rocket high sia..sian

no, it is not too far for Summer

stay near Asahikawa JR, which is southern part of city, easier to get out (regardless Asahikawa city traffic is much lesser than Sapporo)

within 1 hr, u shld reach Biei, then work your way down to Furano (or vice versa)

bcos the whole stretch, will be dotted with "sights" ... some not so easy to find ... so it wont appear to be long drive

start off early

i recall Blue Pond lighting is best late afternoon, when the sun is behind u .. in the morning, u r looking into the sun

wow $488 is really ex ... Summer is peak season there, due to flowers .. even Dormy Inn Furano is $300+

 

[dude123]

no, it is not too far for Summer

stay near Asahikawa JR, which is southern part of city, easier to get out (regardless Asahikawa city traffic is much lesser than Sapporo)

within 1 hr, u shld reach Biei, then work your way down to Furano (or vice versa)

bcos the whole stretch, will be dotted with "sights" ... some not so easy to find ... so it wont appear to be long drive

start off early

i recall Blue Pond lighting is best late afternoon, when the sun is behind u .. in the morning, u r looking into the sun

wow $488 is really ex ... Summer is peak season there, due to flowers .. even Dormy Inn Furano is $300+

Okie, let me look around Asahikawa hotel..last night book hostel in furano for $180/night liao but still quite reluctant to stay due to shared bathroom

Btw, the journey from Asahikawa to Biei/Furano any toll fees?

Wah so blue pond must go in the evening like 5pm?

 

[oceanicmanta]

Okie, let me look around Asahikawa hotel..last night book hostel in furano for $180/night liao but still quite reluctant to stay due to shared bathroom

Btw, the journey from Asahikawa to Biei/Furano any toll fees?

Wah so blue pond must go in the evening like 5pm?

no toll

3pm onwards is ok

 

[dude123]

no toll

3pm onwards is ok

Is staying in biei ok? Nearer to furano at least.. can shorten the driving by half..