Our ANA flight was delayed by almost 1hour, and we only arrived in Tokyo around 9am the next morning. We had about 4hours transit time, before our flight to Hokkaido, so we did alittle shopping around the airport. Just a brief information, there are 2 international airports in Tokyo, Narita and Haneda. Narita itself has 2 terminals, and can you can easily take the shuttle bus to move around the 2 terminals. Just take note on terminals you will be arriving/departing. For us, we arrived at terminal 1 with ANA flight, while our Hokkaido flight with Skymark Airline was terminal 2. For Narita airport to Tokyo city, it will take about 1hr 20minutes with Narita Express, and 2hours with the Airport Limousine(I will blog more about the Tokyo transportation issues later). As for Haneda airport, it's much nearer to Tokyo city, only 20minutes by train.
After a 1 1/2hr flight, we arrived in Hokkaido - New Chitose Airport. FYI, New Chitose Airport has a really big mall for all your Hokkaido goodies shopping, so everyone should just buy all the goodies at the airport. Saves your effort carrying them all the way.
Lots of Japanese bento sets available at the New Chitose Airport
We then took another 1 1/2hr to our hotel, Asari Classe Hotel. We had a really good deal for this hotel. We only paid 7,200yen (~93SGD) per person per night, including breakfast and dinner. And the best thing about this hotel, is that there is free wifi everywhere!! In your room, hotel lobby and even along the walkway. Gotta give them the bonus point for that!
For the first night, we had a Japanese and Western fusion, 8 course meal.
Cold crabmeat Tofu with pickles
Part 1 of our menu
very refreshing salad, with fried lotus, baby shrimps, arugula leaves and Japanese pickled onions.
Peeled Hokkaido crab stick for our Shabu shabu
Part 2 of our menu includs scallops, prawns and fish.
Mini french pastry for desert, served with tea/coffee
Hokkaido is famous for its seafood, and it's a pity I didn't mange to try any salmon sashimi. Am so looking forward to going back again. Hokkaido is also famous for its hot baths and hot springs. Almost every hotel in Hokkaido has their hot baths! It's really nice to soak in hot water baths out in the open.
We also did some sightseeing in Hokkaido, going up to the longest ski jump in Japan. Took the ski-lift up to the peak of the ski jump, and had a magnificent view of Hokkaido. It's a must go for all tourist looking for a scenic view! They serve really good Hokkaido ice-cream too!
Visited the famous Ishiya Chocolate Factory, where actual production of these chocolates actually take place. There is a museum where they exhibit old antique toy cars and old school items. Mummy was commenting that I should have kept our toys and not throw them away! I went crazy shopping for all the beautifully packed chocolates! Wished I had more baggage space. :(
On our touring day around Hokkaido, we visited a horse farm.
Such interesting description of their horses!
Me attempting to ride on a horse. A really lazy horse (p/s: or maybe I was too heavy for him.)
Miniature horses for children to ride on.
Lunch was at the Kirin Brewery, where we had a authetic Japanese BBQ, with alcohol free beer! 0% alcohol, with the same excellent taste of malt! We should have these in Singapore!!
Eating it, wearing it Japanese style!
On our 3rd day in Hokkaido, we drove about 2 hours to Noboribetsu, famous for its hot spring resorts. Reaching the hills, we could smell the sulphur from the hot springs! Before we checked into the Noboribetsu Grand Hotel, we visited the bear farm. Had to take the cable car up, and it was raining when we were up there, made it miserably cold!! Was there barely more than 20minutes and we had to seek refuge in the sheltered museum! Anyway, you can pay about 100yen to feed the bears with their dried food. Bears walking towards you, and waving their hands for you to throw a snack to them - it's like being in a circus.
Scenic views of the mountain from my hotel room! They only have free wifi in the hotel lobby, and unlike the other hotel we stayed, there was no wifi available in the rooms. Alittle troublesome for me. especially having to walk quite a distance to the lobby. Luckily, we only stayed for a night.
My sincere apologies for the messy room. That happens when you have the whole room by yourself. :S
Wanted to walk around the resort the next day, but the weather was not good. It was raining the whole night and day, so we decided to go to the airport earlier. We got to the airport about 1pm, and decided to change our flight to Tokyo earlier since we had nothing much on in Hokkaido. Had to top up additional SGD300 for the flight change. And because there was really strong wind in Tokyo, our new flight might return back to Hokkaido if they could not land the plane!! Thank god we landed in Tokyo safe and sound, despite really bad turbulence before landing.
Will be back with photos form Tokyo! Hope everyone enjoyed the photos as much as I enjoyed Hokkaido!
xoxo,
Jade
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