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Archive for the 'Hokkaido' Category

3/20/2007

Hakodate, Hokkaido

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View from on top of Mount Hakodate

Hakodate (函館市; -shi) is a city and port located in Oshima, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.

As of 2004, the city has an estimated population of 299,737 and the density of 442.24 persons per km². The total area is 677.77 km². Hakodate’s size nearly doubled on December 1, 2004 when the neighboring municipalities of Toi, Esan, Todohokke and Minamikayabe were merged into it.

What’s there to Hakodate? Well, it’s a city so expect the usual city fares - buildings, streets, cars, traffic lights. However, Hakodate has a magnificent mountain called Mouth Hakodate that gives a spectacular view of the city. And of course, since Hakodate city is by the sea, you can expect the freshes of the freshes of seafoods incorporated as part of their daily cuisine.

Hakodate is one of the first Japanese harbor cities to be opened to international trade after the country’s era of isolation, Hakodate has experienced notable influence from overseas, and the foreign population’s former residential district called Motomachi and a Western style fort are among its main tourist attractions.

onuma-park.jpg

Onumo park is a quasi national park in Hakodate. It’s situated between Hakodate and Sapporo so it’s really a nice stopover if you’re going in between cities. The park is known for its picturesque sceneries with a lake dotted with islands. There’s even a majestic dormant volcano there too called Mount Komagatake.

Check out this link to find out about how you can get to Hakodate, Hokkaido.

Source: Japan Guide

Posted by The Expedited Writer in Hokkaido, Sapporo, Travelling in Japan | No Comments »

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3/10/2007

Sapporo Beer Museum

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Sapporo Beer

Dropping by to Sapporo and not going to the Sapporo Beer Museum is like going to Disneyland without entering the Sleeping Beauty Cinderella Castle. It’s one of the main attractions in Sapporo. The Museum was set up in 1987 on a Meiji Period red factory building, so it’s hard to miss it when you get there. The Sapporo Beer brewery is the oldest in Japan. Production started in 1877 and is still going strong till today. Ask any fella in the bar what Sapporo Beer is and s/he’ll say *burp*. They all know it.

The museum introduces the history of beer in Japan and the process of beer making. Tasting of various types of beer is possible at a small fee.

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Sapporo Beer Museum

How to get there?
You can get to the beer musuem by the “Loop 88 Factory Line” bus that stops among other places at Odori Station and in front of Seibu department store near Sapporo Station. Alternatively, it is a 20-30 minute walk from Sapporo Station.

Here are some trivias on Sapporo Beer and its brewery:

- In 2006, Sapporo announced they would be acquiring No. 3 Canadian brewer Sleeman in a $400-million all-cash deal.

- On July 1, 2003, Sapporo Breweries renamed Sapporo Holdings, Ltd. and became a pure holding company. Its brewing business operations were transferred to a newly established wholly-owned operating subsidiary “Sapporo Breweries Limited.” Sapporo Holdings’ major business units are Sapporo Breweries, Ltd. (beer, happoshu, wine, spirits, foods, etc.), Sapporo Beverage Co., Ltd. (soft drinks), Sapporo Lion, Ltd. (restaurants) and Yebisu Garden Place Co., Ltd. (real estate).

Source: Japan Guide


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3/6/2007

Ino’s Place, Sapporo

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Ino’s Place

If you’re visiting Sapporo, Hokkaido and are at loss with where to stay, I’d recommend Ino’s Place.It’s backpacker’s haven as the place is clean, friendly and warm. Oh and not to mention the price is pretty good too from $31 per night. On Yahoo! Travel, Ino’s place was rated 5 stars out of 5 too.

The location of this guesthouse makes it a great place as well as it is about 12 minutes away from the city center (7 Minutes by subway and 5 minutes of walk). Hey, if you’re backpacking, that’s like the walking to your neighbour’s house in Australia, Zone D.

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Reception Area

Accommodation at Ino’s Place includes:
- Good Location for sightseeing
- Helpful & English speaking Staff
- No Curfew
- Private Shower Rooms (24hrs Free)
- Fully Equipped Self-Catering Kitchen
- Laundry Facilities
- Central Heating
- TV Lounge
- Internet service
- Wired and Wireless(11b/g) LAN available
- Tourist Information
- Free coffee & tea
- Clean & Cozy Lounge Room
- Western style facilities
- VISA & Master Cards accepted

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Lounge Area

And we musn’t forget the type of rooms and rates:

- Dormitory bed 3,400 Yen
(co-ed room is available)

- Private room from 4,300 Yen/Person
Family/Group room 3,800 Yen/Person

- Special Rate for long-term stay.
(from 2,800 Yen/night)

- Supplemental heating charge
200 yen per night (nov.-Apr.)

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Dorm Rooms

So if you’re every visiting Sapporo and is looking for a place with great value and warmth (as well as meeting folks for all over the world), drop in to Ino’s Place.


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2/5/2007

Furano, Hokkaido

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Furano

Furano and Biei are two towns in central Hokkaido that is known for its picturesque rural landscape. In fact, it looks like some european country especially during June and April when the lilacs bloom. You get a sea of purple and pastel colors across vast fields - it’s breathtakingly beautiful. It reminds me of the time when my family and I took a took down the South Island of New Zealand during early summer. We passed by a river and across the river was a splash of purple …upon closer inspection, it was actually lilacs…seas and seas of them blooming on the side of the river banks. I will remember that scene till this day and I am sure if you ever visit Furano and Biei during that period, you would have that picturesque moment stuck in your head for the rest of your life. Never have you seen anything quite like it…it’s almost too dreamlike to be true :)

Besides watching flowers, you can also savor their wine, grape juice and cheeses as well as they have factories there that manufacture these things. What did I say abou this place about being almost european?

Check this site’s link out to learn more about Furano and Biei.

Posted by The Expedited Writer in Hokkaido, Tourist Attractions, Travelling in Japan | No Comments »

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1/23/2007

What to do in Otaro, Hokkaido?

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Otaro City

Otaru (小樽市; Otaru-shi) is a city by the sea about half an hour northwest of Sapporo, Hokkaido. Basically, Otaro a fishing village where the herring industry was the predominant industy before its fall starting of 1950’s. It has a beautiful canal area that reminds you of Venice and a Herring Mansion, which makes Otaro a very pleasant detour destination from the main city of Sapporo for those who wants to take a little trip into history off their other plans.

How to get there?
You can take the train from Sapporo using the JR Hakodate Main Line. The journey takes 30 minutes by rapid train (kaisoku) and 45 minutes by local train (futsu). The one way fare is 620 Yen.

OR

You can take the ferry at Niigata, Honshu which connects to the Otaru Port (18 hours, 6000 Yen in the 2nd class) and Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture (20 hours, 9000 Yen in the 2nd class). The ferry terminal is a 10 minute bus ride from Otaru-Chikko Station or a 30 minute bus ride or 10 minute taxi ride from Otaru Station.

The main attractions to look out for when you’re at Otaro is the Herring Mansion, Otaru City Museum, Otaru Canal, and Otaru Glass.

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Otaro Canal at Night

Apparently, one of Otaru’s sister city is Dunedin, New Zealand. That’s where my alma maters is….:) If Otaro is like Dunedin, then you should expect a quaint little town with a character of its own.

Source: Japan Guide, Wikipedia

Posted by The Expedited Writer in Hokkaido, Otaro, Travelling in Japan | 2 Comments »

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1/19/2007

Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan

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Daisetsuzan National Park

Daisetsuzan National Park (大雪山国立公園, Daisetsuzan Kokuritsu Kōen) or sometimes pronounced as Taisetsuzan is located in the mountainous center of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō. At 2267.64 square kilometers, Daisetsuzan is the largest national park in Japan.

You can view Hokkaido’s highest mountain, Mount Asahi and it’s not the only one there. Daisetsuzan consists of several groups of mountains, hot springs, volcanoes, lakes and forests. It is the ultimate hiker’s paradise.

These volcanic groups lie around a central highlands dominated by Mount Tomuraushi. The park is famous for its wildlife, including brown bears, its alpine meadows and remote backcountry. Daisetsuzan National Park also includes the hot spring resorts of Asahidake Onsen, Sounkyo Onsen and Tenninkyo Onsen.

Asahidake Onsen is a small village tucked in the park and is said to be a good place to start your park’s hike if you have limited time. It gives a perfect view of the park by itself. And if you would like to get away from the hustle and bustle, Tenninkyo Onsen is resort that is situated in a much more remote area where you can stay away from the city to regroup yourself for the coming week.

Source: Wikipedia; Lonely Planet

Posted by The Expedited Writer in Hokkaido, Tourist Attractions, Travelling in Japan | No Comments »

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1/3/2007

Sapporo Snow Festival


Every year, between February 6 and February 12, there will be a festival held in Japan, called the Sapporo Snow Festival.

Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan by population and third largest geographically. It is in this festival that you can momentarily enjoy the snow and forget how bitter the cold is while you’re engulf with beauty of snow expressionism. The origins of this festival started from a very humble beginning. It all started with 6 highschool kids back in 50’s in Odori Park building 6 statues. And when the big guys from Japan Self Defence Force saw how fun it was, they joined in a build their the biggest snow sculpture which turns this event into what is today, a big snow fest.

The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the largest winter events in Japan. Teams from outside Japan come to participate, and the festival is thought to be an opportunity for promoting international relations. About two million people come to see the enormous beautiful snow statues on display in Odori Park in central Sapporo, which is the main site of the festival.

Subject of the statues and snow sculpture varies from year to year but there is always a statue of a famous person built - I guess it’s just much more fun that way because who would just wanna see dolphins, elephants, whales and objects; the face of a recognizable person is almost always much more impressive…:) Just like in 2004, they built a statue of a well known Japanese baseball player, Hideki “Godzilla” Matsui who plays for the New York Yankees.

This event is a definite must see by all tourists and visitors from around Japan as it showcases some of the most excellent snow sculptures in the world.

Posted by The Expedited Writer in Hokkaido, Sapporo, Travelling in Japan | No Comments »

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10/2/2006

Bizarre Japan Tourist Attraction #11,349

Throughout Japan (and I imagine throughout the world), you’ll find roads that have some specially designed grooves or bumps that will make a loud noise when driven over and wake up drowsy drivers.

In Hokkaido, however, they’re going one step further and constructing “melody roads” - roads that have specially constructed grooves so that it makes a recognisable melody when driven over.

The Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute can be blamed for this. Grooves are carved into the road between 6 and 12mm apart. The closer the grooves are, the higher pitched the sound. Apparently, the plan is to carve melodies into the roads that have some significance to the locality. Oh dear.

Click here to hear a sound clip of one of Hokkaido’s Road Melodies.

Melody Roads in Hokkaido

Links:
Seihin-World
Dottocomu


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12/11/2004

Travel Japan - Visit Hokkaido

Hokkaidō (北海道) is the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands.

Generalities

Home to Japan’s aboriginal Ainu race, Hokkaido continues to represent the untamed wilderness with many great national parks. For many visitors the scenery resembles northern Europe, with rice paddies and concrete warrens replaced by rolling fields and faux-German cottages.

Regions

Alone among the main Japanese islands Hokkaido is not divided into multiple prefectures. Instead, there are four circuits, imaginatively named as follows:

  • Central Circuit, with capital Sapporo and much of the mountainous interior
  • Eastern Circuit, the largest and remotest part of the island
  • Northern Circuit, covering the northern peninsula
  • Southern Circuit, centered on Hakodate

Note that the Central Circuit is also sometimes referred to as the “western part” (西部 seibu) of Hokkaido.

Cities

  • Abashiri, northern fishing port home to Japan’s most infamous prison
  • Asahikawa, the coldest city in Japan (literally)
  • Hakodate, historical city and the capital of the short-lived Ezo Republic
  • Otaru, Hokkaido’s largest port
  • Sapporo, the capital and by far the largest city in Hokkaido

Other destinations

  • Niseko, trendy ski destination
  • Noboribetsu, Hokkaido’s largest hot spring resort

National Parks

  • Akan National Park, known for its mysterious lakes
  • Onuma Quasi-National Park, peaceful lake in southern Hokkaido
  • Shiretoko National Park, where bears roam in the wilderness and bathe in hot waterfalls
  • Daisetsuzan National Park, the Holy Grail of extreme hikers
  • Kushiro Marshlands National Park
  • Shikotsu-Toya National Park, two beautiful caldera lakes with rumbling volcanoes and mossy canyons
  • Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park, covering the small islands off the northern tip

Getting there

  • By plane

    Hokkaido’s sole international gateway of significance is Sapporo’s Chitose Airport. The route to Tokyo is, in terms of capacity and planes flown daily, the busiest in the world.

  • By train

    Hokkaido is linked to the Shinkansen high speed network, and night sleeper trains from Tokyo are also a popular option.

  • By ferry

    Ferries from Hakodate link to northern ports in Tohoku, including the Shimokita Peninsula.

Get around

Hokkaido is vast in size, so allow plenty of time to get around and don’t try to do too much if your time is limited. Many Japanese maps (including the generally excellent Japan Road Atlas) show Hokkaido with a larger scale than the rest of the country, which may make distances appear deceptively small.

The train network is (by Japanese standards) limited. Access to many of the more interesting sites will require either relying on infrequent and expensive buses, renting your own car, or trying your luck and hitchhiking.

See & Do

For most visitors Hokkaido’s many national parks are number one on the agenda, offering near-unlimited hiking opportunities.

Eat

Much of Hokkaido’s population lives by the sea, and consequently seafood figures heavily in Hokkaido fare. Check out the hairy crabs (毛蟹 kegani) and sushi.

More unexpectedly, Hokkaido produces most of Japan’s dairy products and particularly in the east you will run into many, umm, creative uses for them. Ever had cream cheese in your curry or butter in your noodle soup? In Hokkaido, you will.

Drink

Hokkaido is home to some of Japan’s finest sakes, the most famous of the bunch being Asahikawa’s Otokoyama (男山). Beer is also big in Hokkaido, the most famous brand being Sapporo Beer (naturally from Sapporo), but the many microbrews found in nearly every town are also worth sampling.

Sleep

Hokkaido is one of Japan’s best places for camping, but beware of the nighttime chill — even in the summer months you’ll need a good sleeping bag.

Many of Hokkaido’s cheaper accommodations slap on an extra fee for winter heating (冬期暖房 tōki danbō), as Japanese houses even here in the north are notoriously poorly insulated and chew up vast quantities of fuel when the temperatures fall. This shouldn’t be more than ¥500 or so.

(Source: Wikitravel)

Posted by Yves in Hokkaido | No Comments »

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