Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (9) - Tomamu Hoshino Resort 星野リゾート トマム

6th January 2013

The last destination of my trip, the Tomamu Hoshino Resort (星野リゾート トマム). Most of my friends joined this trip for this place. I knew this place from another friend who went to Hokkaido just for this Hoshino Resort, she went to Sapporo on Saturday morning flight, stayed for the night and return to Tokyo on Sunday night.Well, one of the reasons we chose 6th January to go there because that day was Sunday and was the last day of the winter holiday, the price was cheaper! if my memory serves me correctly, the accommodation for the night costs around 14000 yen per person, we stayed in double room. However, I think 14000 yen is not so expensive, considering the sumptuous dinner and breakfast thrown in with the package.

Since no normal train was available, we used express train to go to Tomamu from Obihiro. Tamamu Station is a small unmanned station. So surprise when we got out of the train's car and the Hoshino Resort's staff was waiting there to greet us. Well, I think the only people who will stop at this station are Hoshino Resort's guests, or staffs. It is a very remote place. The resort pick up bus services coinciding with the JR train schedules. The weather was not so good, the cold wind and strong snow fall made me felt chilly the whole time.

Hoshino Resort is a ski resort during winter. There are many things to do other than skiing. I tried the banana boat (on snow though), snow motor, etc. I forgot what is the name of the activities. Two of my friends initially wanted to try fishing (dig a small hole on the layer of ice and fish), however they back off after knowing that before reaching the lake, have to hike for 3 hours. Another reminder though, remember to bring money for those activities, all the snow activities are not free of charge. The person in charge of all the activities would bring us to take photographs with the Tamamu Twin Tower for every snow activities. Haha, the proof we have been there.

snow activity

Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (8) - Obihiro 帯広

4th January 2013

After canceled the hotel in Asahikawa, we checked the hotel in Obihiro, there were still many empty rooms in Obihiro. We found out that Hotel Nikko ホテル・ニッコー still have a lot of empty rooms and the price was not expensive. Hotel Nikko is considered grand in Japanese standard. So, we decided to book the rooms in Hotel Nikko Obihiro. The accommodation settled, next transport. There are two ways to go to Obihiro, by express train and bus. Express train ticket costs 6510 yen, while bus ticket is around 3500 yen. By the time we checked the bus schedule, the next available bus would depart after 1 hour. Luckily, after inquiry, there were still empty seats available. So, we quickly left the hotel and went to the Odori Bus Center 大通バスセンター to board the bus to Obihiro. Plus all of us, the bus was full, so lucky, no one left behind. We reached the bus center just in time, so dangerous, almost miss the bus. We paid for the ticket on the spot.

By the time we reached Obihiro, the day have turned dark. It was very cold in Obihiro. Luckily, the Hotel Nikko is very near to the train station (the bus station is very near to the train station). (>_<!)

We checked into the hotel and I felt that the room was so comfy. Hahaha, although not very big in Malaysian standard, I had, well, for a long time, to save money, stayed in business hotel and dormitory style room while traveling. Seeing that room made me felt better. (Still kind of sad because had to miss the Asahikawa Zoo)

double room in Hotel Nikko Obihiro (they even had USB charger for iPhone)

Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (7) - Half Day in Sapporo City

4th January 2013

Woke up early to take train to Asahikawa 旭川. I have always wanted to see the penguin parade in Asahikawa Zoo. However, my dream was dashed due to the snow storm, all the trains and buses bound for Asahikawa were stopped due to the bad weather. Initially, the notice in the train station stated that by 12 pm, the train may resume running. So, we had to think of a way to pass the time. Some decided to go shopping (there are many shopping places around the Sapporo Station). Some decided to just go back to the hotel and rest in the lobby area.

Me and two other friends decided to go to Sapporo TV Tower, well, the underground shopping arcade is quite useful. Since we had no interest to walk outside the main road with slippery surface, occasional snowing and strong wind, we decided to use the underground shopping arcade to go to TV Tower. The underground shopping arcade is very extensive and long. If one wants to save 200 yen, one can walk from the subway station in Sapporo Station to the nearest station to Susukino (a place where one can find restaurants, karaoke and red light establishments). My friend told me that she went to a 'information centre' in Susukino to ask directions to a restaurant, then only she knew that the 'information centre' is the 'information centre' for the ''red light establishments''. So, friends, please don't simply go to a 'information centre' to ask for directions, it might be not what you think it is. Hahaha.

Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (6) - Snowboarding in Niseko ニセコ

3rd January of 2013

Snow board day!

I am very bad in snowboarding. However, that was my last winter holiday in Japan, so I went to Niseko to play snowboard! Niseko is one of the famous snowboarding place in Japan, even a Malaysian company, YTL Coroperation owned a resort  called Niseko Village in Niseko. Me and my friends chose not to stay in Niseko because all the accommodations there are very expensive! The Japanese word for Niseko is ニセコ, in Katagana form, weird, so I google search the origin of the name, oh, it came from the Ainu language, an indigenous language from Hokkaido.

Kutchan Station (倶知安 くっちゃん - cute name)

Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (5) - Otaru One Day Trip

2nd January 2013

Otaru one day trip! Otaru 小樽 is famous for sushi and music box.

We took the normal train from Sapporo to Otaru. Since my visa was not the travel visa, I couldn't get the various discounts aimed for tourists. For every tickets, I had to pay full amount. The most expensive expense in this trip was the transport! Transport expenses alone cost more than half of my budget for this trip.

The train ride from Sapporo and Otaru was kinda enjoyable. Not many people were taking the train that day and we got seats. On the way to Otaru, the train passed by seasides and I could see people surfing. Oh my god! I felt cold for them. However, my friend told me that the surfers were wearing special suits that can retain heat inside their body.

around Otaru Station

Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (4)

1st January 2013

The first day of 2013, we decided to go to temple to pray. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Japanese will go to temple on the New Year's morning to pray. Actually, when Japanese still followed the Japanese calendar, their New Year was same with the Chinese New Year. However, when they started to follow the Gregorian Calendar, the New Year was synced  to 1st of January. 

Anyway, we went to a temple near a zoo. A lot of people were inside the train and most were heading to the temple. The train was not so crowded because we were quite late, people would normally go there as early as possible to pray. Actually, in Japan, JAL and ANA operate special flights to watch first sunrise of the year around Mt. Fuji on 1st of January. Although pricey, all seats were fully booked every year. Interesting!

After walked out from the train station, we could see volunteers or polices patrolling to control the crowd. There were too many people, so we were walking bumper to bumper to reach the temple. The view was breathtaking. The view was like a scene from a Korean drama, Hahahah!

went to a temple to pray in New Year

Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (3)

31st December 2012 - Sapporo 札幌

Since the weather forecast predicted that it would be a day with snow storm. We decided to go to the Chocolate Factory of Shiroi Koibito 白い恋人 because it was indoor. Other places were not so suitable because we were scared that we would be stuck in the middle of nowhere if the snow storm became serious.

We slept until very late since our only plan was to visit the chocolate factory. I was grateful that the hotel we were staying has a convenience store on the first floor, I just went to the shop and bought my breakfast. Another plus point was the hotel was very near to the train station!

Then, we took the train to go to Miyanosawa Station 宮の沢駅. The factory was just a few minutes walk from the train station. A lot of tourists were heading to the same direction, so we didn't have to look into the map to find our way, just follow the crowd. Actually, the signboards were very easy to follow.

After we reached the chocolate factory, we were awed by the cute decorations. So, we posed here and there to take photographs for quite some time, behaved like children. Then, we went inside the factory and bought tickets. We decided to join a biscuit decorating course for fun too.

the exterior of the Shiroi Koibito Chocolate Factory

Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (2) - Hakodate

29th December 2012 - Hakodate 函館

Met with my friends and went to the famous morning market in Hakodate. There are many shops selling seafood! Just looking at all those seafood made me hungry.

① A 4.68kg crab
② a whale meat shop
③ fish for a squid
④ squid statue!!

interesting, I wondered who translated the <这条鱼有味，不要尝味道>, it doesn't make sense, if from the literal meaning, it is "this fish is flavourful, don't taste it"!

Since my friends haven't had their breakfast, we went to a restaurant near the train station. There are a lot of delicious looking raw fish rice set. One ordered a set with squid (still alive)! The tentacles were moving! After he ate that, he said that he felt that the squid was trying to climb out from the throat, gross!

Winter Holiday in Hokkaido (1)

28th Dec 2012

In Japan, winter holiday is the peak season for travel. So, most are expensive. Before I go back to Malaysia, I really wanted to go to Hokkaido. So, when my friends planned to go there, I quickly said yes! First I wanted to take night flight on 28th Dec to Tokyo from Kitakyushu, then take the next morning earliest flight to Hakodate 函館 (our first stop in Hokkaido). However, after adding everything up, the flight alone costs more than 40k yen. After some calculations, I decided to take leave on 28th Dec and fly to Sapporo on 28th, I saved around 10k yen. 

Once I reached ShinChitose Airport 新千歳空港, I took train to Minami Chitose 南千歳, then express train to Hakodate. One thing I did not expect was it's so hot inside the train and the buildings, I actually sweated! The temperature differences between outdoor and indoor was too big! So, advice here, wear layer ed of clothes.

Anyway, I had my first ekiben 駅弁 (lunch box sold in train). Not as delicious as I thought, I think for storage purpose, they made the whole thing dry. I had to keep drinking tea to finish that lunch box.

minced crab lunch box sold on the express train from Sapporo to Hakodate
駅弁 (札幌↔函館)

Then, reached Hakodate on around 6pm. I checked into a business hotel called Hotel Plaza 函館プラザホテル. Before I checked in, the front desk actually called to ask whether I want Japanese or Western style breakfast. Then, when I got into the room, I felt so warm and touched. They wrote a hand written note asking me to take care of the health due to the heavy snow and all. I knew that the note was one of the copies that the hotel sent to everybody, the only differences is the name and place of origin. However, it is a hand written note! We don't really get that kind of notes anymore, the most are printed notes! I gave the hotel a 5.0 (full points) on the Rakuten review for service!

warmed by a hand written note!

For dinner, I bought onigiri from a convenience shop near the hotel. Ah, it's snowy all around and slippery. It's easier to walk on snow than icy road. 

29th Dec 2012

Woke up after receiving a SMS from my friend telling me that they reached Hakodate Airport. So, had my breakfast and checked out to meet them.

Good morning, Hakodate!

Day 1 & 2: Hakodate

Day 3: Chocolate Factory of Shiroi Koibito (Sapporo)

Day 4: New Year in Sapporo

Day 5: Otaru One Day Trip

Day 6: Snowboarding in Niseko

Day 7: Half day in Sapporo City

Day 7 & 8: Obihiro

Day 9 & 10: Tomamu Hoshino Resort