Japan, Hokkaido.

This post came alil late, cause im being lazy. Lol. 

But at least i've uploaded photos onto Facebook.

Just that the blogging comes only when im less lazy, and when i feel like it.

So i went to Hokkaido from 31-Dec-2016 to 12-Jan-2017.

It was a last minute decision though, 

i only bought the air tickets one month before the departure date.

Hah, just because Huisi was checking air tickets online.

Hahahah.

Yup, 12 days in Hokkaido, travelled around 5 areas.
Travelling with luggages is nothing in winter.

Travelling and tugging luggages around in snow is really no joke.

Sapporo > Furano > Hakodate > Noboribetsu > Otaru > Sapporo.

So, first stop the Airport.

We were flying via Scoot, so there's a stopover at Taoyuan Intl Airport.

Damn, i really miss Taiwan so bad that i wont mind not flying to Hokkaido that very day.

LOL.

Yup, we purchased the Hokkaido Rail Pass.

And calculating all the expenses, we actually saved more than S$100 with the pass.

Transportation in Japan is really expensive, OMG!

Yes, all the we we we, i was with Meranda Tan the whole time.

SO much to rant, LOL.

The transit card that was given to us upon arrival in Taiwan.

Passed through the security check, back at the boarding area.

Thank goodness we had close to 1.5hrs before departing to Hokkaido,

so we could fill our stomach in Taiwan. 

Taiwanese food, so good!

I really miss Taiwan.

Japan, Hokkaido.

Sapporo.

They just have vending machines in every corner.

The street, carpark, mrt stations...

Everywhere, which is good for us because we are always looking for water.

The streetcar that took us to many different parts of Sapporo.

Quite cool an experience though.

I've tried the tram in Hongkong, but this is nothing much like the Hongkong one.

Price wise definitely more expensive than the one in Hongkong.

Per ride is 170Yen for adult and 90Yen for children.

You dont have to pay upfront when you board the tram, but in fact you pay when you alight.

Meranda and i took a few roundtrip before we finally decided to alight somewhere.

And it only cost us 170Yen. Close to SGD2 though.

And yup, notice that small note there? 

They have this one signage telling you how much calories you are burning everytime you take the stairs!

How motivating!

I have no idea who that 2 are in the photo, as i just snapped and continue walking.

That was taken on the 1st of January, when everyone goes to the Hokkaido Shrine...

The Japanese do not have outdoor parties for countdown. Maybe private parties, yes? Idk.

But they will just head over to a Shrine and pray for good wealth/health/luck for the upcoming year.

So we joined in their culture, and went to the Hokkaido Shrine.

Some views along the walkway towards Hokkaido Shrine.

That's the main torii gate for Hokkaido Shrine. 

Not a fan of crowded places, but since we're there.

All we did was just to walk around and see what the locals do as they enter the Shrine.

***

Japan, Hokkaido.

Furano.

That is the Hokkaido Railpass that we got.

24000Yen = SGD310.

But you could make reservations for trains and free rides within that 7 days.

Ohh, that's a 7 day pass, btw.

First sushi bento! Tasted real good. 

Sushi in Singapore and sushi in Japan really have a huge difference in taste.

Had my first ski experience.

LOL~

I failed trying to ski my way down (not even that slope there)

I gave up.

I brought the 2 ski board up, and sat on it.

And ski-slided myself down.

It was really fun though, too fast a speed.

But yup, first ski experience!

Hahahha.

Breakfast with a view.

The resort that we stayed while we were at Furano.

We stayed there for 3 nights, and throughout that 3 nights, we only saw 5 workers there.

I think it might be a family business. Idk.

Interior of the JR Furano Station.

Onward to Asahikawa for the Asahiyama Zoo.

And yup, what is winter without having some ice cream?

What is visiting Hokkaido without having their milk ice cream?

Okay, excuses. I am just a fan of ice cream!

But the milk ice cream is really so so so so good.

I think i had more than 7 cones of ice cream for my whole trip.

WOW~

The Zoo.

I was never so close to a giraffe in my entire life.

Like the first time, and probably the last time...

Pretty views at Asahiyama Zoo.

Ohh, and the Penguin Parade.

I was never so close to a penguin too.

Objectives of the Penguin Walk:-

It's a treatment for them as the King Penguins do not swim in winter, 

all they do was just keep still,

(i really thought they were fake penguins when i was there)

so the Zoo started this Penguin Walk as a treatment to make them exercise.

The Zoo didnt undergo any special treatments for this Penguin Walk.

The King Penguins will just gather at the exit themselves, 

the amount of penguins per day is dependent on their mood.

If they dont wanna move, they will just keep still.

These penguins are just too cute.

I video-ed them in the timelapse mode as they walked, too cute.

Hahahah.

And yup, paid a visit to the Farm Tomita, and guess what i saw.

NOTHING~

This was what i saw~

A field of snow.

:(

Pretty as it is, but it would be nicer if i went there in Summer,

when all the flowers bloom.

What a view it would be.

***

Japan, Hokkaido.

Hakodate.

Went to the Hakodate Morning Market in search of the king crab!!!

And TADANG, we found a shop that we finally wants to go in and sit.

Actually, most of the shops there have the king crab and the prices are almost the same.

But yup, the KING CRAB~

SO FRESH, SO GOOD!

We had it boiled.

The KING CRAB cost us 14000Yen, which is SGD170.

But i mean, we have alrd made our way to Hokkaido, 

and it's gonna be a once in a lifetime experience, 

so i think it's money worth spending?!

And i dont think i will be able to eat the whole crab in Singapore with that amount.

Cause i believe the price will be more than that SGD170 if i were to eat it in Singapore.

Some photos of what i took on the day at Hakodate.

This is the first place of entering Hokkaido.

Pretty views taken somewhere, i forgot. 

The Old Public Hall of the Hakodate Ward.

And then up we went to their Hakodate Mountain.

The views was just too awesome.

Day view and night view really looks so much different.

Go experience yourself!

I dont know what mountain this is, 

but it was taken on the rail ride from Hakodate to Noboribetsu.

***

Japan, Hokkaido.

Noboribetsu.

Noboribetsu really smells like a fart town because of the sulphur smell...

But i had my first experience of the public bath there, i wanted to die.

Hahahha.

Aha, that's me in a Yukata, all ready for the public bath.

First try:- Failed~

Getting all ready to strip, but that lady in front of me just took everything out.

I was so shocked, i out back that yellow coat, wore my slippers, went back up to my room.

Second try:- I went for the Onsen, and experienced the public bath.

Yup, my first experience for Onsen and Public Bath.

You really have to be all naked when you're in Japan for Onsen.

OMG~

But honestly, when you are all conscious of yourself being naked, 

you tend to look at other people to see if they are watching you.

Only realising you're the only one staring at people, 

when the rest actually just avoids contact with your body, or in fact you yourself.

Not too bad an experience.

At least i tried, and i wore the Yukata.

Hahhaha.

This Noboribetsu monster appeared as we were on our way to checkout.

It's a female monster i think.

Fail to converse in Japanese, all i did was to wave at her, and did the "clicking the shutter" action.

Oh yah, checkout time for hotels in Japan is 1000am.

So we still had time before the bus to bring us to the JR Noboribetsu station,

so we took a stroll to the Jigokudani.

Awesome views~

Ohh, and as we were walking downwards to the main road,

a wild shiba inu appeared.

Hahhaha. Of course with it's owner.

Mushashi is his name, as the owner said.

So cute, so fluffy!!

***

Japan, Hokkaido.

Sapporo.

Our initial plan was to head over to Otaru from Noboribetsu.

But as soon as we arrived at Sapporo station, there was an announcement saying there's an accident somewhere and trains to Otaru has been cancelled for the rest of the day.

So we went to check in at our hotel at Sapporo, of course we have to pay for that extra one night's stay.

The Clock Tower of Sapporo.

The TV Tower of Sapporo.

We went up to highest level of the TV Tower, and seeing views of Sapporo at different angles.

And then went back to the hotel after dinner, we decided that we should go to Otaru.

So we packed a few clothes and headed over to the Sapporo Station.

Thank goodness trains services to Otaru has resumed.

So yes, onward to Otaru~

Slept over at the hotel we book initially, and getting ready for the next day.

This was outside the Otaru Tourist Plaza, some day and night view.

So pretty~

Ohh, and then it started snowing in Otaru again.

Including this Otaru's snow, it's my 4th time experiencing snow in the 12 days trip.

And the snow flakes are in star shaped, so pretty! 

The Otaru canal~

Has always wanted to go there since last December (2015), and i am finally there!!!

Some day and night views.

Aha, just a selfie at the Otaru Canal!

Ohh, this is one menu from the cafe in the Otaru Tourist Plaza.

I accidentally took it out as we head over to some store to collect my glass artpiece.

Of course i returned it to the Uncle from the cafe.

My glass artpiece, LOL.

The whole session was in Japanese, and i really didnt understand any word from the owners.

But, thank goodness the artpiece looks decent looking enough that i can wear.

Back at Sapporo, also the last day before the flight day.

No trip to Hokkaido is complete without a visit to the Shiroi Koibito Park.

The famous butter cookie with chocolate.

Ohh, and this ice cream is really so good.

People says it's not as good, but i think because im a sucker for ice cream.

So i think it's good~

Too much indulgence this trip, too sinful~

But all in all, the trip to Hokkaido was not too bad, 

but if i were to visit Hokkaido again, i will never choose this period ever again.

Reason being, the weather is just too cold.

Just that. 

#saminhokkaido