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Showing posts from September, 2016

Cycling Around Mount Fuji

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Note that this photo is a posed shot. You are supposed to cycling anti-clockwise around the lake! Haha If you are deciding between taking the train to Kawaguchiko or driving, you can check out the car rental prices at   https://www.nipponrentacar.co.jp/english/user-guide/reservations.html   and train prices at   http://www.hyperdia.com/ It depends on whether you’re staying overnight at Kawaguchiko and the number of people travelling. Remember to add toll fees of about ¥4200 one way. We decided to rent a car but forgot about the toll fees so it ended up being more expensive. I’d say if you’re staying for one night and there are at least 3 of you, renting a car is a good option. If there are two of you and you want more freedom to move around (such as going to neighbouring places like Oshino Hakkai, Chureito Pagoda, Yamanakako etc) it is also better to rent a car. You should also be warned that traffic is congested upon leaving and arriving at Tokyo. We parked our car at ou...

2016 Hokkaido Trip Day 8 (9 Sep)

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Sapporo 札幌 Accommodation: Century Royal Hotel The weather didn't hold up again so we didn't manage to get on the nature cruise at all during our stay in Shiretoko due to the strong winds and waves. That means I can use it as an excuse to come back another year. We checked out of Hotel Kifu Club and brave a 2-hour drive in the rain to Memanbetsu Airport, returned the car and took a domestic flight to Shin Chitose Airport.  As I have mentioned in my first post, on hindsight, we could have rented the car starting from Sapporo, head to Furano, Biei, Asahidake, Sounkyo, Shiretoko, Akanko and back to Sapporo as it would have been much cheaper to pick up and return the car at the same place but that means an entire loop of driving which can potentially be tiring for the driver. The way we did it was more expensive but at least my husband didn't have to do the long drive back to Sapporo. It's shopping in Bic Camera and Yodobashi and dinner at Ichi Nii San! I've written abou...

2016 Hokkaido Trip Day 10 (11 Sep)

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Sapporo 札幌 This is our last day in Sapporo before going back to reality tomorrow... We were torn between making a trip to Noboribetsu onsen 登別温泉 to do the walking path leading to Oyunuma footbath お湯沼足湯 or the Sapporo Beer Museum 札幌ビール博物館 (Sapporo Biiru Hakubutsukan). We decided to just take it easy and go to the beer museum and were so glad we did because we chanced upon the most amazing supermarket beside the museum!! The beer museum tour was so-so for us cos we are not fans of beer. We bought one glass to try and nope, we still don't like it haha we definitely enjoyed the supermarket much much more than the beer museum hahaha!  It's at a building called Ario and has a good variety of fruits at very reasonable prices!  Check out their variety of limited edition Haagen Daz flavours! Lockers that are mini refrigerators! Gasp! Dry ice dispenser. Not just ice. Strollers that are just too kawaii I got these kawaii rice molds We also found the Evita rose facial wash from Kanebo ...

2016 Hokkaido Trip Day 9 (10 Sep)

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2016 Hokkaido Trip Day 9 (10 Sep) Sapporo 札幌 Market Hokkaido Shrine The good thing about being in the city is that there are more options for wet weather contingency plans such as shopping and museums.  Weather forecast for today is scattered showers so we took a train to higashi kiyakusho mae and walked to the market hoping to get some good quality Hokkaido dried scallops (conpoy). To our disappointment, the prices are not that much cheaper than in Singapore (Hock Hua and ZTP). In fact, I found the place touristy because the shop owners who recognised us as tourists rightaway tried pushing us their conpoy.  I find the ones sold in Singapore larger and the fact that you can haggle didn't appeal to me so we didn't buy anything except 2 slices of cut melons to eat there. We then visited Hokkaido Shrine and chanced upon some really cute Japanese kids partaking in some kind of ceremony. Lunch was at Kani Honke カニ本家 opposite JR Sapporo station. The crabs are very fresh and...

2016 Hokkaido Trip Day 7 (8 Sep)

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Shiretoko Goko   知床五湖 ( Shiretoko Five Lakes ) Kamuiwakka no taki   カムイワッカの滝 ( Kamuiwakka Falls ) Our nature cruise was cancelled due to strong waves and although the weather is cloudy, we were thankful that there is no rain so we could go to the  Shiretoko Goko   知床五湖 ( Shiretoko Five Lakes) region. There is a ¥500 carpark fee. The long course is 3 km (1.5 hours) which starts from 5th lake and ends at 1st Lake and the short course is 1.5 km (40 min). To enter, you need to pay a small fee of ¥250 at the center, register to obtain a certification card and attend a short 10 min lecture about how to respond if you come face to face with a brown bear. The building is right in front of the carpark with clear signage so you won't miss it. There is also a souvenir shop with light meals (venison burger, soft ice cream) and toilet. There are no toilets on the trail. Certificate for Entry We took our time and stopped to take photos so we took about 3 hours. Do wear...