Hokkaido

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Hokkaido, Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu, Jouzantei

A November 2005 trip to Hokkaido by ariesgirl

Single room western styleMore Photos

My first visit to Hokkaido, Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu, and Jouzantei for hot springs and seafood

  • 12 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 30 photos

Hokkaido, Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu, JouzanteiBest of IgoUgo

Overview

I had a nice 7 day, one person, Hokkaido journey from Friday, November 11 to Thursday the 17h—including a brief stopover in Tokyo. I mainly wanted to enjoy the seafood, a real Japanese hot spring, see interesting local crafts, and buy chocolate. I fulfilled my wishes. I didn't plan the itinerary well, but I got what I wanted. I visited Sapporo, Otaru, Noboribetsu, and Jouzankei. I tried different types of accommodations and restaurants.
To see my photos, please see individual entries.

Quick Tips:

Do research on the Internet, or buy travel guide book beforehand.
But keep an eye on the seasonal promotions leaflets around tourist information centers, rail stations, hotels, etc.
I changed my plans because of the latest information and availability of certain rail tickets, coupons for restaurants...
Or, get the helpful service from tourist information centers. I told them I have X hours to spend there... and I got clear suggestions.

Best Way To Get Around:

Sapporo: Tourist bus and underground, however not a good idea after dark. Winter is very cold, so waiting at bus stops might not feel good.
Otaru: It is wonderful walking and cycling in Summer because there are many interesting shops and restaurants in some roads. In the winter, bus and taxi are the best way.
Noboribetsu? Train and then bus.
Jouzankei? Hotel shuttle bus from Sapporo rail station.

Jouzankei Millione (mansaikaku)Best of IgoUgo

Hotel

Snack on desk
It has a pick-up shuttle bus from and to Sapporo JR station. It has both Western style room and Traditional Japanese tatami room. Modern type, 13 stories (312 rooms), by a chain-hotel group specialized in hot spring hotels, complete with hot spring common bath pools, and also rock steam sessions. A pool is semi-outdoor as it is on a balcony (no window). Breakfast and dinner are mostly buffet. Some Japanese food (sushi/rice/miso-soup) but mostly Western & Chinese cuisine, because most customers are local Japanese (or those who know how to book over the internet reading Japanese). Location is over a cliff, overseeing the river and other hot springs hotels. If it is not the snowy season, you can walk down.

http://www.manseikaku-hotels.co.jp/.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Morinoki Backpacker HostelBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Morinoki hostel has lots of books & manga
This is a very nice hostel in residential area not too far from Commercial Street, full of restaurants on one end and the famous music-box shops on the other end (go down the slope and turn left). It has electronic toilet seats. The hostel is full of character and has thousands of books and Japanese manga (graphic novels). There is one Internet-ready computer. The owners are a Japanese couple. They also have a couple of cute little dogs. The owner teach Japanese. Book for a lesson! The rooms are a bit cold in winter but nice in spring and autumn. It's a family-run business with limited beds, so book early! It's environmentally friendly. See their website at www.otaru-morinoki.com.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Morinoki Backpacker Hostel
Aioi 4-15 Otaru Hokkaido JAPAN Hokkaido, Japan
+81 (134) 23-2175

Toyoko Inn Sapporo Station SouthBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Toyoko Inn: Sapporo Station South
THis is a very nice hotel chain. Small, but compact and considerate. Better equipped than most rooms in Las Vegas 3-star hotels.

It has everything I need. See photo.

Free internet in lobby.

Japanese breakfast inclusive. (hand-made rice-ball, miso-soup, coffee/tea.)

Convenient location: walking distance from rail station, though not easy to find the first time I went there after dark.

Do not go late for breakfast. Self-serve style, and only while it last.

Ther is a discount during winter months (October to early May).

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00059/.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Toyoko Inn Sapporo Station South
1-1-16,Kita 3-jo Nishi Chuou-ku Sapporo, Japan 060-0808
+81 (11) 222-1045

Toyoko Inn Sapporo HokudaiBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Toyoko Inn, Sapporo Station North"

I like Toyoko Inn's room (this is single room)
Located VERY NEAR to Sapporo station. It's very convenient. Again, this is a nice hotel chain. It's compact, and has everything I need. I rate it higher than most 3-star hotel rooms in Las Vegas.

Internet computers are in the lobby. Japanese breakfast includes rice-balls, miso-soup, and coffe/tea. Do not be late for breakfast because it is self-serve.

There is a winter discount, and you will receive a welcome gift if you book over the internet. A gift pack is also offered to female customers.

For more information, look on the webpage, http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00066/.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Toyoko Inn Sapporo Hokudai
4-22-7, Kita 8-jo Nishi Kita-ku Hokkaido, Japan
011-717-1045

Street Snack in Otaru SakaimachiBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Grilled hokaido king-crab legs & grilled scallop
There are lots of restaurants and snack shops along the famous Sakaimachi in Otaru. The road has many glass shops, glass workshops, music-box shops... and places to eat! There is also free food tasting in some cake shops, too.

I didn't have time to visit the seafood market, but there are some seafood shops on this street. Some establishments provide an on the spot barbecued snack, made to order. I had a dish of king crab legs, grilled, and a large scallop, grilled with shells.

There are many nice seafood restaurants, too, but I had too many snacks along the road, and could not eat any more. Next time, I will try the three-colour rice... there are also three types of seafood on cooked rice.

Otaru is famous for seafood.

Alternatively, you can also try the Sushi Shops Street ( Sushi-Ya Machi), which is near the covered shopping alley not too far from the rail station.

(By the way, I had already had preventive injections of hepatitis A and B before I went abroad.)
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Street Snack in Otaru Sakaimachi
Sakaimachi, Otaru Hokkaido, Japan

Kani Shogun, SapporoBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Boiled crab legs & crab leg sashimi
The group has many shops. I went to the original (hon-ten) in Sapporo.

Speciality: Crabs and Seafood. Only a little walk from Susukino Underground station. There is a food model outside the front of the shop. They also have an English menu available.

Once you have your shoes off, they seat you on a cushion on the tatami. It is not as expensive as the other crab restaurant nearest to the rail station. Credit cards are ok to use. The price range can go up a lot for larger sets of meals, for more people, or for seasonal whole crabs.

They put a porcelain pot on tables for the shells.

Reserve tables for large group. Open from 11am to 11pm.

http://www.kani-ya.co.jp/kani/tenpo/honten_s/frame1.html.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Kani Shogun, Sapporo
Chuo Ku, ¢E064-0804, Sapporo Hokkaido, Japan
+81 (011) 222-2588

Noboribetsu National Country ParkBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Noboribetsu Hotspring Hell Valley
Take a bus from Noboribetsu JR station. Get off at Hell Valley, or Dai-Ichi Tokimotokan Hotel.

This is a nice area to view the hot spring scenery, particularly in the winter when it is snowing. There was a strong smell of sulphur around the hot springs. Walk up the track for the opportunity to see more and have a look at the large hot spring lake.

There are two choices of routes, one is longer and one is shorter. There are maps and directions to help you out along the way.

Remember to go to the bathroom in the visitor center before embarking on the up-hill hiking.

After walking back to the hotel, walk down along the road and you will find many shops selling souvenirs and snacks. There is also a modern fortune-telling stall, with a large red king-of-hell statue with mechanic shows.

If you do not stay in the area with all of the hotels, please be warned that the buses back to the rail station does not run frequently after 3pm-4pm, and the roads on teh hills are too dark and too narrow to walk back.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Noboribetsu National Country Park
Noboribetsu Hokkaido, Japan

Sapporo Clock Tower ( Tokei Tai)Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

The Sapporo Clock Tower
The original clock tower was a school built in 1878, by pioneer Christian teachers, for the first classes of Japanese Christian students. The mechanical clock was made in the USA, by the Howard Company. Carefully moved to current location, it was renewed and strengthened with the new building by adding anti-earthquake sandwich layers.
The original site was very much nearby, too.

As an Important Cultural Property, it become a museum (plus shop). It is nostalgic, and made me admire the early pioneers in Hokkaido. The clock still functions, you can listen to the clock. There is a small admission fee.

This is near other attractions like the TV Tower and Nijou Crab Market. You can also reach it by hopping on the tourist bus. It is in a busy commercial area, surrounded by commercial buildings.

It has special platform on the side for tourists/visitors to take the I-have-been-there photos, so that you can frame the tower and yourself well. It is a nice reminder of good Japanese-USA relations, and a nice example of good respect to history.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Sapporo Clock Tower ( Tokei Tai)
North 1 West 2, Sapporo Hokkaido, Japan

Orugoru Dou Shops and MuseumsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Orugoru Dou. Otaru"

Inside Orgel Dou Main Hall- 2nd floor
There are various shops and museum of the Orugoru Dou (music box house). Most are on the Sakaimachi street.
There are thousands of music boxes in all formats, shapes, sizes and colours.

There are many wooden buildings. It is a romantic place to be for men to take their girlfriends or wives... or for parents to take their kids there. Just watch out, there are many glass items on music boxes, as Otaru is famous for art craft, too. There is a steam-operated clock tower in front of the main shop. Melodies of music boxes are mostly Japanese songs, and some famous Western classic melodies.

The main shop of Orgel has a workshop, allowing visitor to create their own music box. The basic package, plus extra items, having different price tags. I could not resist this place.

http://www.otaru-orgel.co.jp/en/access/access.html

You can take a bus or walk from Otaru JR station. One day in Otaru is not enough.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Orugoru Dou Shops and Museums
4-1 Sumiyoshicho, Otaru-shi Hokkaido, Japan

Rokuyi En (Six Meanings Garden)Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

souvenir ink stamp at entrance
This is a nice Japanese garden that was built in 1695. It is a listed cultural treasure and is 87,809.41 square meters. It's not a stone garden, but, for a poetic feel, a green garden with lakes, ponds, steams, and greenery, with over 6,000 trees. It is near the underground Komagomu station. The new entrance is at the other side of the old entrance, though. You will walk past nice shops anyway. It is nice for Autumn red-leave seasons, but not in early November (they are not yet red. Opening 9am to 5pm, and it's 300 yen to get in. Seniors pay 150 yen. Students wearing their uniform are free of charge. A group over 20 receives 20% off. See http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/kouen/park.cgi?id=72.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 17, 2006

Rokuyi En (Six Meanings Garden)
Komagomu 6-16-3, Bunkyo Ku Hokkaido, Japan

Sapporo Beer Garden & Beer FactoryBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Sapporo Beer Garden, Beer Factory"

Sapporo Factory Shopping Mall
When I originally went to visit the Sapporo Beer Museum and Garden, I was thinking about the free beer tasting.
http://www.sapporobeer.jp/english/guide/sapporo/
Hours: 9:00a.m. - 15:40p.m.
Holidays: December 29 - January 5.

I took the bus there, but there was an upgrade work going on and it was closed! While the restaurants were open, and Mongolian Goat Grill buffet was available, it was too early. So I got on bus to visit the original factory at another site. That site is called The Factory.
http://www.sapporo-factory.co.jp
Higashi 4 Chome, Kita 2 Jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo

A part is the old red brick building, with the black tall chimney, now used as a small exhibition of the beer-making process and some shops and restaurants. Next to it was the glass-dome, modern shopping mall. It was very nice, especially in winter when it was very cold outside. They already had the Christmas decorations, and it was only  November!
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by ariesgirl on February 24, 2006

Sapporo Beer Garden & Beer Factory
Kita 7-Jo Higashi 9-chome Higashi-ku, Sapporo Hokkaido, Japan
+81 11 731 4368

Noboribetsu Hotspring Day-Return at TaiichimotokanBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Noboribetsu map (upper part)
Took a Sunday JR train from Otaru to Noboribetsu. Took a bus to the hotel for a visit to the hot spring for the day—the most expensive hot spring at ¥20,000. Dai-Ichi Tokimotokan is a nice luxury hotel, next to the national park of hot springs: hell's valley. The hotel is the nearest to the source of hot spring than other hotels.

After taking off my shoes and using the locker, I took my free towel. The hot spring pools common area for females was extremely large. You need to shower and wash your hair before entering. There are lots of different pools, with seven different hot springs. Each one has a label explaining the healing properties. There are two outdoor pools with nice views of the hill. There is a hot and cold foot bath for stimulation.

It is free to use the sauna and steam room, too.
Note 1: day-visit hot spring = higaeri onsen.
Day-visit visitors entrance is near the car-park, not from front reception.
Note 2: The bus back to the JR rail station is almost 1 hour each after 4pm. Be careful.

About the Writer

ariesgirl
ariesgirl
Hong Kong, United Kingdom

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