7D Fabulous Hokkaido - Day 05

Day 05 itinerary started with the visit to Lake Toya... Lake Toya is considered as one of Hokkaido's three most impressive landscapes.. Tour members is given free time (around half an hour) to take photos.. There is a maple tree there too.. with a very nice red colour leaves..

Lake Toya

The maple tree at Lake Toya

After that, we continue our journey to Bear Ranch.. It is home of 180 bears, where you can enjoy by seeing them play and live together.. They are actually considered as wild bear but they won't come out and eat people.. The young bear can only eat biscuits while the elder bear will eat biscuits and apple.. Customer can buy apple and biscuits to feed them.. It's easy as 1,2,3.. Just aim accurately and throw it to their mouth.. The bear will even pray, waving and dancing for you to feed them.. They are lucky bear.. =)

Bear Ranch

In front of Bear Ranch, was the Mt. Showa.. It is still consider as a live volcano.. It is just not that it haven't explode.. From the mountain, you can see the smoke coming out from there.. Mt. Showa is considered as one of Japan's youngest mountains, which has risen from a flat wheat field to a current height of 290 metres between 1943 and 1945..

Mt. Showa

After this, we continue our journey to Noboribetsu and our next sightseeing spot is Jigokudani, which is also known as "Hell Valley". From there, we get to walk through the sulphurous valley and see boilling ponds and steaming streams.. The smell was really beh tahan because the sulphur smell is very strong.. If we smell more, I think will get cancer lo.. XD

Hell Valley

Next, we visited Shiraoi Ainu Village for a glimpse into the village's rich and unique history.. From the history, Ainu is the people who owns Hokkaido.. Before, Hokkaido is not part of Japan, but in the past, the Russians came to their province and stole their daily earnings (eg. fish,rice).. Then, this Japan came across and and protect them by the conditions of Hokkaido must become part of Japan.. Then the Ainu felt that it is better and safer, though they agreed on it.. At last, Japan did a village for memorable of Ainu people and the museum shows people of how they live during that decade..

Shiraoi Ainu Village



Cultural Performances by Ainu



The 100% Ainu people (the one and only one)

The last spot that we went is Hokkaido Jingu.. It is one of Japan's largest shrines steeped in nature and traditions.. If you are lucky enough, you may witness a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony..

Hokkaido Jingu

When it is sakura season, this place will looks very nice

The last but not least, we are back to our resort.. Tonight is the last night that we stay in hot spring resort.. And this resort is the best among all.. The onsen is the best.. because it is big enough with the indoor and outdoor hot spring.. It was really very nice.. Not to say, I had a good night sleep.. =)

My room in Noboribetsu (Noboribetsu Daini Meisutei)

The toilet (Noboribetsu Daini Meisutei)

7D Fabulous Hokkaido - Day 04

Day 04 itinerary is followed by Mt. Daisetsuzan.. Actually we wanted to visit this place the day before.. but due to the windy weather, so we arranged it today.. From here, we took a ropeway up to more than 1000m high up the mountain to ascend the magnificent mountain with a panaromic view of its surrounding landscape..

The Ropeway to Mt. Daisetsuzan

That is the mountain covered with snows

It's getting higher and higher

We reach the mountain

We are very lucky because when we get up the mountain, there are snows around! Normally, this season, is just to see maple leaves, but due to the previous weeks, it rained and the temperatures become 0 celcius and this is how the snows are there.. All the tour members are very delighted at this moment and photo shooting began once they arrived there.. =)

The view of mountain from the top

Red leaves on some of the trees

Does it looks like Christmas tree?

After about 1.5 hours up there, we headed to Otaru Canal to view the century of old stone warehouses that line both sides of the canal. The canal is skirted by cobblestone paths and lit by gaslights. Here is more on photo stop, as we just stop by there for around half and hour..

Otaru Canal

The clock tower at Otaru Music Box Museum

Then, we went for our lunch.. It was a yummy yummy lunch with the fresh seafood especially the big crab crab (pay at own expenses).. After lunch, we proceed to Otaru Music Box Museum to view the beautifully crafted music boxes. We get to enjoy an afternoon teaat "Silver Bell" where we will enjoy a piece of confectionary and a cup of drink, served in an exquisite porcelain cup that will be ours to keep as a momento..

Delicious ice-creams sold at Otaru (especially Melon favourite)

The stall selling ice-cream

This place sell a yummy-yummy custard puff & cream puff

At around 5.30 pm, we are back to our hot spring resort.. This resort is at around Jozankei area too.. It is another hot spring resort (we changed resort everyday).. But in this resort, I didn't try on the hot spring because I was busy chatting with the guide until late at night.. =)

My room, Tatami and bed (Shikanoyu Resort)

Tatami area (Shikanoyu Resort)

7D Fabulous Hokkaido - Day 03

Day 03 itinerary is where we headed to Sounkyo.. The journey from Sapporo to Sounkyo, you will need around 3 hours.. Along the journey, you can see the maple tree and the beautiful views of Hokkaido.. On the way, we actually stop at Asahikawa to visit the Ramen Valley where it savour the delicious ramen from 8 of Asahikawa's greatest ramen shops in one combined outlet.

Asahikawa Ramen Village

After this, we had ramen for our lunch and we proceeded to Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum to see how Japanese Sake is produced. It actually has 330-years-old history of brewing some of the best sakes in Japan. From there, customers get to sample on the different types of sakes too..

Main entrance to Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum

Nature drinkable water

Customer sampling the sakes

Along the journey

The next sightseeing spot is Hokkaido Ice Pavillion.. This is only available during this season of tour.. This Hokkaido Ice Pavillion is actually a place where offers a fantastic, magical and romantic experience inside a freezing, snowy and ice-covered world. The temperature was -20 celcius and i went in with a wet towel, and when i come out, the towel actually become ice stick.. =) there is a place where customer can press a button, and you will feel the temperature of -41 celsius.. it was really very very cold inside and i was freezing till i felt like my ears and nose was going to drop..

Hokkaido Ice Pavillion

After that, we headed to Jozankei, to see waterfalls.. There are two waterfalls there which is Shooting Star Falls and Silver River Falls. Here are where the scenic photo stops for each of the tourists to Hokkaido..

Shooting Star Falls, Jozankei

Silver River Falls, Jozankei

Around 45 minutes later, we are back to the hotel for check-in.. Today, we will be staying in a hot spring resort.. The hot spring is open for 24 hours.. But all the time, there are a lot of people there especially Japanese because they love onsen very much.. One day, they can go for 6 - 7 times including in the middle of the night.. That's why Japanese are fair and pretty.. But going to hot spring, you will need to be naked.. =)

My warm bed in a Tatami room (Sounkyo Choyotei Hotel)

My Tatami area in my room (Sounkyo Choyotei Hotel)

7D Fabulous Hokkaido - Day 01 & Day 02

Day 01 is actually the day at night that we board the flight and overnight. My flight is an overnight flight departing 2325 hrs. I will be reaching at Narita Airport (Tokyo) at 0725 hrs the next day (Japan is one hour ahead us). And from there I will need to transfer to another airport which is Haneda Airport (approx. 1 hour jouney) for my domestic flight to Chitose (Sapporo, Hokkaido) departing on 1100 hrs.

Day 02 itinerary started when i reach Chitose. Between, at domestic airport, the Japanese working for the airlines are damn slow on their work.. They took 45 minutes to print the boarding pass for 27 persons (which normally only need 20 minutes). My tour guide keep on scolding the airline staff and actually i know it beforehand of their slowing working style.. it is really very pek chek..

The Maple Tree in White Chocolate Factory

Views inside the White Chocolate Factory

Upon arrival, we actually visited White Chocolate Factory, a place where white chocolates are produced and this chocolate is very famous in Japan. One book of white chocolate (12 pieces) is actually around SGD10. This chocolate will actually melts in your mouth.. Taste deliciously.. =)

The differences of chocolates

The delicioussss white chocolates

Pig Town in White Chocolate Factory (Pig will come out at 3pm sharp)

After we had our lunch, we actually proceed to Sapporo Underground Shopping Centre as well as Odori Park.. If it is during winter period, we will see ice and snow all around in this Odori Park. The underground shopping centre is famous of it's Burberry Blue Label.. This can only get it in Japan.. and it is quite cheap cheap.. around JPY10000 - JPY20000 for a purse/handbag..

Around 6pm, we left and proceed for our dinner.. *During this period, the day are shorter and when it comes to 5pm, the sky actually become dark and at night arrive.. After the dinner, we proceed to Mt. Moiwa for a spectacular panaromic views of Sapporo City.. It was really very nice as the weather is windy and cool and the views was awesome!!

The Panaromic Views of Sapporo City from Mt. Moiwa

After Mt. Moiwa, we head back to our hotel and check-in.. I was very tired after the whole day non-stop and also the overnight flight, I actually went to bed at 9 plus (which is 8 pm here)..

Toilets in my room (Sapporo APA Hotel)

My room (Sapporo APA Hotel)

Tour Leading

Aloha! It's has been two weeks from the day I lead tour to Hokkaido, Japan. There are a lot of things to prepare before tour leading, eg. flight itinerary, airport call, check on the roaming list, check on the weather, etc... But while preparing all this, it is an experience as this is my first time of doing all this. But, right now if you ask me, i will be able to answer you of what to do...

Before this, really thank you to some of my friends and colleagues that helped and briefed me on do and don't while on tour, while doing check-in, their experiences when their "virgin" tour, etc.. Really thank you so much and I do learn a lot from you guys.. =)

While on tour, there are a lot of things to look out as I need to take care of all the tour member's needs and I couldn't afford to lose of them during on tour. So, i would have to do head count whenever we are at the destination before and after. This is a must! And actually, I am quite kan chiong for this first time.. *wink*

During on tour, I must be the one who walk lastly after all the tour member to ensure that they are not lost. But some of the members who like to take pictures beforehand will delay some times (although there is free time for them after the tour guide explain to them)..

Overall, this tour is very successful and no problem cropped up.. Luckily the tour guide of mine is a very nice and experienced person (a Hong Kong-ese lady), so we can clicked quite well.. +) Tipping was good (according to the tipping guide, no EXTRA).. so, on tour this is quite good cos I can earn and holiday for FREE!

random... (:

i've not been updating my blog for quite some time... quite busy the last 2 months.. a lot of things happened.. but cut long take short, everything is fine now.. back to normal life especially my job (has been the most stressful days).. *phew*

i m happy though that i will be leading a tour to hokkaido, japan departing this Friday.. when i get to know this, i was happy till keep on smiling and talk about this.. my sis even say i m 'sot'.. =) but due to this is my first time to lead tour, though i have to do a lot of researches and gain more product knowledge especially understanding the itinerary and have to learn on how to settle those unexpected problems that will occured during the tour... *i m trying to do it so..

currently, i've shifted to our new office which our new battle location for coming sales.. hope things go smoothly and soonest make me feel that this job is worth to continue.. hope to have the chances to lead more tours during end of the year either to taiwan or korea or vietnam or even other destination oso no problem.. ;)

will be updating when i m bac from japan (probably) on the 15th oct (touch down singapore) with lots of beautiful pictures of hokkaido during autumn period with cool and breezing weather there.. bought 1 adidas jacket as my pre-advanced birthday present from both my sisters and this jacket will be very useful during my trip in hokkaido.. thank you and i love it so much.. =)