At last! I would be embarking on a Hokkaido driving holiday.
A casual chat that I had not been to Hokkaido yet because it is preferable to drive rather than travel by rail, evolved into a driving holiday from two (Jo & I) to four of us (BB, Flo, Jo and I).
Day 1 Tokyo - Chitose
We arrived late in the evening, and checked into Chitose Station Hotel near the airport. (With bf 29812Y/ $66)
Day 2 Lake Shikotsu - Jugokudani - Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort
We picked up our rental car from Toyota-Rent-a-Car at New Chitose Airport Poplar (Car rental: - 145200Y). Our first stop was Lake Shikotsu, a caldera lake formed after volcanic activities.
The lake is less-developed as a tourist area (Now I know why we had difficulty locating the routes to other parts of the lake). Eventually, we drove to the western shore with a visitor centre. There were canoeing activities on the lake. I enjoyed the serenity and splendid landscape while walking on the trails along the lake.
Jugokudani (Hell Valley) is in Noboribetsu, and part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. The valley has numerous hot steam vents and sulphurous streams.
A walk along one of the walking trails through the wooded hill gave a glimpse of the massive volcanic landscape.
Lake Toya
Lake Toya was also formed out of a powerful volcanic eruption ages ago, and spans 10 km in diameter. It is part of the Toya-Usu UNESCO world heritage site. The hotel fronts the lake and the room has full view of the lake. 😍
I made my way to the hotel onsen and had a blissful soak while enjoying the lake view. <<As a 'newcomer' (BB, Fl and Jo were x-schoolmate), we clicked rather well - so far so good 😊>>
Day 3 - Toya-Usu - Lake Toya
Toya-Usu Unesco Global Geopark allows visitors to see the landscape transformation from volcanic eurptions - Lake Toya formed 110000 years ago and Mt Usu - 20000 years ago. Then Showa Shinzan - volcanic lava dome next to Mount Usu, is one of Japan's youngest mountains and was created during the Mt. Usu eruption in 1944 and 1945. The name means 'New mountain in Showa Period'.
We tooked the Usuzan Ropeway to the Usu Volcano Terrace. It was a relatively long walk to the observatory, we made stops to admire the colourful and pretty blossom of summer flowers along the path.
Before we returned to the hotel, we shopped at a mall and dropped by a popular cafe with a blooming garden and a small farm.
Evening - I had another enjoyable soak in the onsen. After dinner, we strolled along the main street outside the hotel and also watched the firework by the lake again.
[[Day 2 & 3 lodging: The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort, twin room with large window (36.8m2/non smoking), Dinner + breakfast 150480Y/$342]]
Day 4 - Sunflower Park - Yuyu Pippi Hot Springs Inn
We embarked for our longest drive ~ 246km to Yuyu Pippi Hot Springs Inn. Along the way, we stopped at a mall for shopping, lunch at a sushi restaurant, and also a coffee break at a charming small cafe
Sunflower Park at Hokuryu Town has about two million sunflowers and they bloom from late July to mid-August. However, the flowers were not in full bloom yet for us.
We arrived at our hotel in the late afternoon. Yuyu Pippi is a hot-spring hotel that is open to day-trippers, thus its hot-bath (onsen) is relatively big with various different types of baths.
I tried out the different baths to relax as it had been a long day on the road. Then, we had dinner in the hotel's restaurant. <<No twin-share for more than 20 years old, I assumed it's so far okay for my roommate>>
Day 5 - Ueno Farm - Asahikawa Zoo - Ramen Village
Ueno farm (gnomes' garden) was a charming(British-style) garden spread out at the foot of a hill. Adapted to Hokkaido climate are more than 2000 kinds of flowers that bloom one ofter another from spring to autumn.
The sets of chairs at the top of the hill was a delightful and playful display of art amongst the flower garden. I strolled around the pond and took photos of the blue solitary seat at the garden (display on its brochure as well). 😁
Asahikawa zoo
It is a popular zoo outside of Asahikawa City. It highlights wildlife from Hokkaido, glass domes for viewing the animals, a tunnel through the penguin pool and also animals from across the world. I like the graiffe. 💕
The penguins were cute as usual.
Surprisingly, I enjoyed the zoo visit.
Asahikawa Ramen Village
There are many selection of ramens in the Asahikawa Ramen village for lunch.
We selected one based on our best-guess (?) basis, and it was tasty. We shopped at Uniqlo and other shops within the ramen village vicinity before heading back to the hotel.
[[Day 4 & 5 lodging: Yuyu pippu hot spring inn, Dinner + breakfast 150480Y/$342]]
Day 6 - Zerubu/Shikisha Garden - Aoiike - Shirahige Fall - Tomita Farm
- Hotel Naturwalk Furano
Our first stop was Zerubu-no-Oka garden. It has about 30 different types of flowers.
I walked around the garden, and also climbed up to the observation decks to have a spectacular colouful view of the garden.
Panoramic Flower Garden - shikisai-no-oka
It is an immense fifteen hectares of flower gardens, and is one of the Hokkaido Summer Flowers 'poster' picture.
The massive garden's colourful and carefully manicured rows and patterns of the myraids blossom of flowers was captivating.
Hokkaido is well known for its honey dew. We bought a slice of the honey dew from Garden's food stand. I do not dislike honey dew, but it was not one of my favourite fruits. A bite into honey dew made me an immediate convert <<only for Hokkaido honeydew 😙>> as it was incredibly sweet and juicy. When we stopped at a roadside cafe for a break, I ordered a honeydew juice. We also bought a honey-dew melon to eat in the evening too 😋
Shirogane Blue Pond (Aoiike)
For the past few days of driving, the road has been rather deserted. However while driving to Shirogane Blue Pond, there were more cars on the road than usual.
The pond was created to stop the mudflow from Mt. Tokachi to Biel. The color of the pond varies from emerald, cobalt blue and turquoise. The trees in the water are larch and silver birch. The park was crowded as we walked along the path beside the pond. <<There was a long queue of vehicles jammed along the road to get into the car park . How fortunate of us to arrival earlier😊>>
Shirahige Falls
The falls' means "white beard waterfall" in Japanese. Water cascades through gaps in the cliff forming numerous flows down into the rivers, akin to "white beard".
Farm Tomita
It is one of the famous and photographed spot in Hokkaido for its lavender display. The garden has many types of flower fields too.
The scenery was pretty and picturesque and the weather was hot and sunny. After a brief walk around the garden, I took shelter at one of the several food outlets and also shopped at the souvenir shop.
We checked into Hotel Naturwalk Furano in late afternoon <<I had a nice soak in the onsen before dinner>> We had the honeydew after dinner, it was as tasty, sweet and juicy. <<We decided that we would buy honey-dew to bring back home 😋>>.
Day 7 - Kanayama Dam - Rokugo Forest - Shopping
<<We got into a driving routine of Flo&Jo alternate as drivers, listening to songs (and occasional singing by the others), chatting, and making required stops at petrol station/malls 😌>>
Lake Kanayama Dam - We drove across the top of the embankment, and visited the dam's museum rooftop for a panoramic view of Lake Kanayama.
We continued our driving to the Rokugo Forest - the central filming location for the TV drama "From the Northern Country" (Kita no Kuni Kara), Goro's Stone House, the Furano Jam Garden - Kyohsai Farm, the Anpanman shop, Furano Orgel Doh - Music Box shop and the Furano Cheese Factory.
We also drove to the Rokugo Viewing Platform for another enjoyable viewing of Lavendar fields
Buying Melons
We passed by a few Honeydew melon stalls when we set-off in the morning. We stopped at one of the stalls to check the prices and the types of melons.
We made our purchases before we returned to the hotel <<It was worth the luggage space and weight to carry two melons back home 😍>>. We also bought another one to eat in the evening. We requested the hotel staff to help slice the melon.<<We offered her a slice and were pleasantly surprised that she accepted it >>
[[Day 6 & 7 Lodging: Hotel Naturwald Furano, 22m2, 2 single beds, Breakfast included , 135854Y/$310]]
Day 8 - Sapporo - Shiroi Kobito Park - Sapporo City Centre
We made our way to Sapporo. We visited the Shiroi Kobito Park, had the famous Shiroi Kobito ice cream, viewed the cookies manufacturing process from the gallery and had a walk in the park.
We drove by Sapporo Beer Garden building, shopped at Ario Sapporo and then check into the hotel beside Sapporo Station.
In the evening, we walked around the city centre and the malls at Sapporo station. I had a nice Onsen bath after returning to the hotel. <<Back to my usual a single room to myself 😊>>
Day 9 - Hiyoriyama Lighthouse - Otaru
Hiyoriyama lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in Hokkaido built in 1883, and rebuilt in 1953 from its wooden structure to its present concrete building.
Otaru
We walked along Sakamachi Hondori Street visiting the music box museum, and trying out the various snacks.
We arrived in Sapporo in late evening.
[[Day 8 & 9 Lodging: Route Inn Sapporo Ekimae Kitaguchi,12m2 single bed room non smoking,80800Y/$178]]
Day 10 - Sapporo - Tokyo
We check-out of the hotel, went shopping, returned the car and then to the airport to take our flight to Tokyo. Upon arrival in Tokyo, I checked into the airport hotel for a night while the rest took the connecting flight home.
Thoughts
I was happy to have done the self-driving Hokkaido holiday, covering many of the popular attractions.
I appreciated the great effort in planning the itinerary and booking the hotels << thanks for last two nights of single room 😉>>
Although I joined in (first time) as part of their regular travel group, I have no disagreement or awkward/excluded moments. <<I also tried to give benefit of doubts of best effort by others, be as participative and present, and I believe they did too 😊>>. Relatively 'in sync' with their travel pattern, I enjoyed discovering the vastness and beauty of Hokkaido on this road trip.
Thank You - my Hokkaido travel partners.
Post Trip - Tokyo
It was past midnight when I checked into Haneda Airport Hotel. I had my fill of junk food after checking in. ( Family Mart is beside the hotel)
Before the afternoon flight, I took a train to Kanagawa for lunch and shopping.
Pre-trip - Tokyo
Spent four days before flying to New Chitose, Hokkaido.
Shopping, walking and eating - Shibuya, Ginza, Shinjuku.
Tokyo Station, Tsukji market, Harajuku.
💖😊