Tokyo + Hokkaido trip in Feb 2018

[thwysg]

Top-down:
More ice sculptures - if you see those with many smaller pieces surrounding the sculptures, it means they are no longer part of the whole display.
Asahiyama Zoo - no chance to visit the Night Zoo, the mister said it’ll be too difficult to take pictures without flash at night
Feeding time for the giraffes
Rules to follow for the penguin march - two rounds of marching (11.30am and 12pm) because the penguins didn’t manage to walk together in a single line, partly due to the weather.

 

[SGRevolution]

wah Asahikawa looks nice...
heng i nvr go otaru feel its just a stupid long kang

 

[thwysg]

wah Asahikawa looks nice...
heng i nvr go otaru feel its just a stupid long kang

Actually Otaru has more things to see and do than Asahikawa. It’s not just Otaru Canal. In fact, my first visit to Otaru some years back did not include the canal.

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Penguin march
Seal museum
Two seals born last year
Silver salmon
Pork belly shoyu ramen from Korakuen at the food court in Aeon Mall Asahikawa Station - surprisingly cheap and good. ¥550 excluding tax. The mister couldn’t take it with the snowstorm at the Zoo (a lot of open spaces, not much of sheltered area) so we headed back to catch the bus to Sounkyo Gorge.

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Gindaco tamago mayo takoyaki - ¥550 before tax, also from foodcourt.
Sounkyo Gorge - took the bus from Asahikawa bus terminal to Sounkyo Gorge for Hyoubaku Festival
Inari Jinja
Hyoubaku Jinja
Ice sculpture inside ice caves
Dinner - marked down sushi at ¥1,710 from supermarket inside Aeon Mall Asahikawa Station. Reached Asahikawa Station after taking last bus back from Sounkyo Gorge. Foodcourt last order closes at 8.30pm so ended up grabbed something from the supermarket.

 

[kosongice]

I feel the cheese ice cream at Le Tao not as good as the vanilla one from Rokkatei. Have you tried?

 

[kosongice]

I miss Naruto's chicken.

 

[thwysg]

I feel the cheese ice cream at Le Tao not as good as the vanilla one from Rokkatei. Have you tried?

No, didn’t try Rokkatei’s soft serve. Way too many tourists. And Kitakarou was worse, almost all the shelves were empty! Next time if we’re back here, shall visit Marchen Crossroad in the morning.

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Asahi Premium - bought from Asahi Factory
Haagen-Dazs special flavors - from supermarket
Breakfast: egg sandwiches + canned corn postage - long train journey from Asahikawa to Obihiro
Butahage & signature butadon - ate here because it opens earlier than Panchou
Panchou - original creator of butadon
Rokkatei Honten

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Inside the cafe, Rokkatei
What we ordered - apparently they are not exclusive to the main store, also available at Sapporo outlet. Hot chocolate was very smooth. Butter cream sandwich with rum-soaked raisins and a desserts that’s called The Forest. White cream topped with grinded coffee, filled with strawberry jam and strawberries. Not for those who dislike cream.
Poster of Sairinka - winter festival in Tokachi
Dinner - cooked by the host’s wife: venison salad, venison stew, fried whitebait and wild rocket quiche.
Sairinka - music and illumination, a lot of visuals on the “trees”. Interesting.
Other illuminations at the venue
Jewelry ice at Otsu coast

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Migratory swans and ducks at Tokachigawa.
Can find birds and Ezo squirrels at Otofuke Jinja.
Ezo squirrel.
Great spotted woodpecker.
Shikaribetsu Kotan - ice village built with ice blocks from the lake every winter.
Ice Bar.

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Inside the Ice Bar.
Small stage for live performances on weekends.
Open-air onsen - Couldn’t find the footbath.
Ice chapel.
Geo Igloo - exhibit on how the village was built and the different kinds of ice blocks used.
Flying squirrel - our host brought us to this forested area that’s close to Lake Shikaribetsu to wait for the sun to set. Camping for a family of flying squirrels.
Lodge - where we stayed for two nights. Very good place to take stars: almost zero light pollution except occasional passing cars.

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Salmon jerky - only heard of beef or pork jerky, first time seeing this. Sold only on JR trains.
Lucky Pierrot - local burger chain, promoting slow food.
Chinese Chicken Burger - most popular burger from Lucky Pierrot.
Winter illumination in front of Hakodate station.
Donburi Yokocho next to Hakodate Morning Market.
Brunch, not cheap - a little disappointed with the scallop. The mister was even more disappointed after I upgraded his uni to Bafun uni. Very miserable portion.
Tsutaya Books - megastore located within a residential area.
Inside of Tsutaya Books.

 

[apeape]

Same reason why some people bother to surf hardwarezone when they are enjoying their holiday overseas?

LOL why bother? dont bother one, no one layan him liao. he will call us mountain tortoise, but he like one dog keep on barking asking for attention.

just enjoy the photos other forumers willing to spend their time posting here and ignore, all will be ok one

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Kids’ section inside Tsutaya Books.
Star of Illumination at Goryokaku Fort Park - discounted entry tickets if you bought after 5pm.
Shio Ramen at Ajisai Honten - located just opposite Goryokaku Tower on Level 2.
Gyoza - lots of greens in them.
Ajitama onigiri - interesting onigiri.
Chahan onigiri - fried rice onigiri. With bits of fried egg and spring onions. Conbini staff warmed both rice balls for us.
Muginae - top 3 ramen stalls. Everything made with natural ingredients, no preservatives and managed by a young couple. Queued for about 30 min.
Tokusei shoyu ramen - ¥1,080. It has wantan, smoked pork, chashu and chicken!

 

[thwysg]

Top-down:
Noodles from Muginae.
Itogawa-zakura Festival - along Itogawa, next street to Atami Ginza. Walk 15 min from Atami station.
Mejiro among the trees - they were everywhere.
Cremia - neighbor said very nice, must try. Bought and tried, normal. Just that the cone is a langue de chat. ¥500 (or was it ¥450?), very expensive.
Mt. Fuji on the way back to SG.

 

[freddisier]

OMG, I can't believe you queued at Narikura for 2.5 hours :dead:. What time did you arrive at the restaurant? I read that people start lining up at 10AM before they open and only had to wait for like half an hour. 2.5hr is such an over kill

 

[thwysg]

OMG, I can't believe you queued at Narikura for 2.5 hours :dead:. What time did you arrive at the restaurant? I read that people start lining up at 10AM before they open and only had to wait for like half an hour. 2.5hr is such an over kill

Around 11.45am. By the time we went in, the staff already put a sign outside that the stall is closed for the day. And there were at least 15 people behind us. Next time try Tonta or Maruichi instead.

 

[freddisier]

Around 11.45am. By the time we went in, the staff already put a sign outside that the stall is closed for the day. And there were at least 15 people behind us. Next time try Tonta or Maruichi instead.

Did you think it was worth waiting that long? After all it's just tonkatsu, right?

 

[thwysg]

Did you think it was worth waiting that long? After all it's just tonkatsu, right?

There’s a reason why it’s no. 1. It really tastes different from the usual ones we eat in SG. And similar pricing. But if the queue was so long in the winter, then no.

I thought it was going to be bad for Muginae too (via its Twitter live updates for past few days) , but we were lucky on that day when we saw only 5 people in front of us.