Readme before you journey
Autumn Road Trip in Hokkaido 2019 (Sapporo - Furano - Hakodate -Otaru)
We had the opportunity to travel to Japan before it was hit by the typhoon Hagibis in early October. Therefore, we will show you some of the beautiful places. This was our first time driving in Japan for 3 days. Then, we would go to Kiroro Resort for another 2 nights following the Fanday movie which will be written separately, if you are interested, please click ทริปใบไม้เปลี่ยนสีที่ คิโรโระ รีสอร์ท Autumn @Kiroro Resort
Road trip in Hokkaido 2019 detail as below;
Day 1: Furano & Sapporo
Day 2: Hakodate City
Day 3: Hakodate & Otaru City
Day 4&5: Kiroro Resort
Let's get our trip started from...
Don Muang Airport, Bangkok >>> New Chitose, Sapporo.
Before flying, what must have is the Pocket WiFi because we are going to use a lot of internet.
This trip, we chose Samuirai Packet WiFi which we could order online and picked up at at Don Mueang Airport, located at Terminal 1, first Floor, at Gate 6, next to Starbucks Coffee.
It opens daily, 24 hours a day, the starting price is only 150 THB/day. Check out here for more details Samurai WIFI
This trip, we chose to fly late at night because we wanted to arrive there early and start the journey right away. We took a direct flight with Air Asia at 23.55 pm and reached New Chitose Airport, Sapporo at 9.30 am the next morning. There were a lot of people at the airport. It is highly recommended to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours in advance because the queue was very long and our flight were full. Thai people just love traveling ^. ^
Now, Air Asia has a promotional price for a direct flight to Sapporo. It starts with 4,xxx THB. If you are planning to travel to Hokkaido, you can check out the fare here Air Asia บินตรง Sapporo
Day 1: New Chitose Airport >> Furano >> Sapporo
Once arriving at New Chitose Airport, we immediately picked up the reserved car which we have chosen to book with Times Car. After checking the booking documents, a staff took us to pick up the car by taking their bus, which was around 5-10 minutes from the airport.
*Actually, I think that each company is not very different. We can choose according to the promotion and pick the most convenient location when returning it. You may compare prices and choose accordingly.
Our rental car for 4 days and 3 nights is approximately 7,xxx THB. We also bought the expressway package at a rate of 6,300 JPY, or about 2,xxx THB, which is considered very expensive. But because Hokkaido is huge and we take with us many bags, also, each tourist attraction is quite far apart, and at some areas it is not possible to take the JR train, so we chose to drive ourselves.
After finishing checking and taking the car, let's start our trip.
On the way, you can see that the leaves on both sides of the road started to change color. If coming from mid October to November, these leaves should completely change colors.
Destination 1: Farm Tomita, Furano
We left the airport around 11 am. It took us about 2 hours to reach Farm Tomita , Furano from the airport.
Furano is a city famous for its colorful flower fields, especially lavender fields which October is yet its season. However, there were other flowers such as Sunflower, Salvia and Cosmos for us to enjoy throughout the season. Therefore, if anyone is coming during the autumn season, you can also get to enjoy the beauty of the flower fields.
Farm Tomita opens to visitors for free. There's no entrance fee and we could freely walk around and enjoy the field.
There's a coffee shop near the flower fields and souvenir shop selling products made from various flowers too.
If you get to come here, don't forget to try Melon Soft Cream. It smelled so good and very delicious.
Farm Tomita, Furano
Opening hours: Daily, around 09.00-17.00, according to the season
Admission fee: Free
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/4dSjiCtwtxo3XEmAA
More details: https://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/
Destination 2: Nakafurano Municipal Lavender Garden
This place is not far from Tomita Farm at all, actually, it's only about 3 minutes drive. It's located on the main road. At Nakafurano Municipal Lavender Garden, we can see the colorful flower garden on the steps which is very beautiful. If taking the JR train, it is about 700 meters from Nakafurano Station or about 10 minutes walk.
There is a sightseeing lift service up to see the view of the flower garden on Mt. Hokusei. It costs around 400 JPY for adults and 200 JPY for children but we didn't go up because it was already closed when we arrived. Therefore, we were just taking photos of the flower garden. The flowers were yet fully bloomed, but it's beautiful nonetheless, just like the Tomita Farm.
We went at a time that not the Lavender Season, most of the flowers are salvia and other seasonal flowers which are also compatibly very beautiful.
Nakafurano Municipal Lavender Garden
Opening hours: Daily, around 09.00-18.00
Admission fee: Free, except taking the sightseeing lift service to view the flower garden on Mt. Hokusei
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/4dSjiCtwtxo3XEmAA
More details: http://bit.ly/33QIzHm
Destination 3: Flower Garden with Panoramic View at Shikisai no Oka
Shikisai no Oka is a flower garden where we can enjoy it in panoramic view. It is located at Biei, about 20 minutes away from Furano.
There's no admission fee at Shikisai no Oka which opens from 09.00-17.00. We can either walk around ourselves or take about 15 minutes cart to tour around the garden and get up on Mt. Daisetsu, for this service, it's 500 JPY fee for adults.
We would get to see beautiful flower view. This place is quite large and famous at Biei.
Shikisai no Oka
Opening hours: Daily, 09.00-17.00
Admission fee: Free, except if you want to get up on a cart to enjoy the view
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/giQ3fP9N1pxdHNdy6
More details: https://www.shikisainooka.jp/en/
Destination 4 : Aoiike Blue Pond or Shirogane Blue Pond
Aoiike Blue Pond of Beie is a natural pond with a beautiful blue color. It was formed from the hot spring minerals of Shirogane Onsen. It is another popular tourist spot that tourists like to come to capture the beautiful atmosphere. It is recommend to reach here before 5 pm, otherwise, it'd be dark already just like when we reached. At 5 pm, there's already almost no sunlight.
Aoiike Blue Pond opens 24 hours. Parking is free and we have to walk from there to the pond.
Photo credit: www.japan-guide.com
Since we arrived here at 5.30 pm when it's already dark, we couldn't take any pictures, so sad. T.T If we come in the daytime, we would get lots of beautiful photos.
Aoiike Blue Pond / Shirogane Blue Pond
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours
Admission fee: Free
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Wese1Si7ENjbp4Cc6
More details: https://www.talonjapan.com/aoiike-blue-pond/
Destination 5: Sapporo TV Tower
We drove back to stay at Sapporo so that we could do some shopping and travel for Hakodate early morning. From the Blue Pond to our hotel was about 2.30 hours.
For our first night, we stayed at Ascent Inn Sapporo. It is a hotel in Sapporo city, which is next to the Higashi-Sapporo subway station, only 1 minute walk away.
We finished unpacking stuff at about 9.20 pm and then we went out to take photos with the Sapporo TV Tower, a tall tower next to the Odori Park in the middle of the city of Sapporo. This is another important landmark of Hokkaido.
Sapporo TV Tower is open for enjoying the beautiful view of this park and the city in 360 degree from the observation deck, which is about 90 meters high. There's also other floor open for the sky restaurant service at a height of about 23 meters.
Photo credit: tv-tower.co.jp
Sapporo TV Tower
Admission fee: 720 JPY for adults and children aged 3-5 years old started at 100 JPY
Opening hours: 9.00 - 22.00 (end of April to mid October)
More details: https://www.tv-tower.co.jp/en/
Destination 6: Street Market at Tanukikoji, a Shopping Paradise
Tanukikoji street market is a large shopping area with a roof covering up to 1 kilometer long. It is 100 years old but is still very clean and looks great. It has many shops, including food, souvenirs and Don Quijote store that girls must visit. Of course, it has no less than 200 stores, and the area is divided into 7 blocks.
Shopper lovers must not miss, enjoy ^.^
My favorite shop is Don Quijote and I stayed here until 11.30 pm and went back before the last train of subway.
Street Market at Tanukikoji
Opening hours: Daily
Transportation:
- Subway Namboku Line, Toho Line, Tozai Line and get off at "Odori Station" and walk about 5 minutes
- Subway Namboku Line, get off at "Susukino", and walk about 3 minutes
More details: http://bit.ly/2Pe15po
Day 2: Hakodate City
We checked out at 9 am to drive from Sapporo to Hakodate as it's quite far, about 3.30 hours. We had our breakfast at 7-11 convenient store, the food was delicious and not expensive...
Along the way, there's a resting area (Usuzan), the view was so beautiful.
It was raining a bit that morning, we were lucky to see mist on the mountain. I have to say that this view along the way was truly beautiful.
The scenery on the way to Hakodate was so nice. I can say that it was a very enjoyable way to drive :) Before reaching our destination, we came across all type of the weather conditions, including clear sky, drizzling rain and mist .... Listening to music while driving was truly an enjoyable experience.
We reached Hakodate at around 3.30 pm and started to travel right away. Our first attraction was Fort Goryokaku.
Destination 1: Fort Goryokaku
Fort Goryokaku, also known as the "5-pointed star fort" is a tourist attraction of Hakodate that everyone must visit. It is 150 years old.
The Goryokaku Tower is next to the fort. It is also another popular spot for tourists visiting Fort Goryokaku to enjoy the viewpoint. This tower is 107 meters high when including the lightning rod and 90 meters without it. At this tower, you can get a clear 360-degree view of the five-pointed star fort, Mount Hakodate Tsugaru Strait, and the Yokokatsu Mountains as well.
The admission fee is 900 JYP per person (elevator fee) when going up to see the view.
Fort Goryokaku
Opening hours: Daily
- 8:00 to 19:00 (April to late October)
- 9:00 to 18:00 (late October to late April)
Admission fee: 900 JPY/person
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/T8YF6taqd85DcKDd6
More details: https://www.hakodate.travel/en/top7/goryokaku
Destination 2 : Mt. Hakodate Observatory
The Mt.Hakodate Observatory is another highlight of Hakodate city because it received a 3-star rating from the Michelin Green Guide Japan as a beautiful view of the top 10 views in Japan, especially at night. If anyone fails to come see the city view at night, it is like you are yet reached this city.
We must take a cable car of Hakodate Ropeway up to the summit for 3-5 minutes. The round trip ticket for adults is 1,500 JPY / person. It is highly recommended to get here before 6 pm because there are a lot of people. If you reach here early, you can choose a spot to fully enjoy taking photos. If seeing fog when reaching here, do not yet feel bad, just wait a while and the fog will gradually disappear.
When we were up, there were such a thick fog...but we waited...with hope.
Soon, the fog disappeared and the beauty was vivid to everyone.
Mt. Hakodate Observatory
Opening hours: Daily
- April 25 - October 15; 10:00 am - 9:45 pm
- October 16 - April 24; 10:00 am - 8:45 pm
Admission fee: 1,500 JPY/person
Parking fee: Free
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/w9ncE8fQPhrNoiH89
More details: https://www.hakodate.travel/en/top7/night-view
Destination 3: Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
After watching the night scenery, we stopped by for a dinner at the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, which is located on the riverside of Hakodate Bay in Hakodate, and built in 1909.
The red brick warehouse here is known as a shopping center, restaurants, and a spot for tourists to come to eat and shop. There are about 50 restaurants, 7 warehouses and gift shops that open from 9:30 am - 7:00 pm but the restaurants will open a little later than this.
Food price was not expensive with good taste and staff spoke English too ^. ^
Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
Opening hours: Daily 9:30 am - 7:00 pm
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/dFnDsrgk8V2qXCbt6
More details: https://www.hakodate.travel/en/sightseeing_spots/historic-building/kanemori-red-brick-warehouse
After the food, we went back to the accommodation. Tonight we stayed at Smile Hotel which was near to the train station. There is a parking lot and we can also walk to have breakfast at Hakodate Fresh Market, about 500 meters away. (It was actually a small hotel, we chose here because it's near the morning market within walking distance and had a parking lot).
Day 3: Hakodate to Otaru City
Destination 1: Hakodate Morning Market (Hakodate-Asaichi)
We started our breakfast by walking to the fresh market that sells seafood. The Hakodate Morning Market is open from 5 am to 2 pm every day and it is also not far from the JR Hakodate Station, about 2 minutes walk.
Hakodate Morning Market is a place to shop and buy fresh seafood. And the recommended menu to try is Seafood Rice Bowl which is so fresh and delicious. it is not expensive too. It costs around 2,200 JPY per person. or about 700 THB. Some dish is cheaper than this, depending on which topping you want.
You can find both rice bowls shops and seafood restaurants, with lots of choices! Just walk in any shop you like as the price is quite similar.
Here is the restaurant we chose, Kikuyo Shokudou.
Hakodate Morning Market (Hakodate-Asaichi
Opening hours: Daily
- Jan. -Apr. / 6:00a.m.-2:00p.m.
- May-Dec. / 5:00a.m.-2:00p.m.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Z5NEdiezgUcn33Nq9
More details: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5353.html
Destination 2: Hachiman-Zaka Slope
Before leaving Hakodate to Otaru, we stopped by to take photos at Hachiman-Zaka Slope. It is a hill that slopes down to the sea below where we can overlook to the sea. It is a view of Hakodate Port. This slope is not far from Jujigai Station, about 600 meters.
This place is beautiful during leaves changing color in the Autumn. Too bad that we came here too early, the leaves just started to change color and not yet in full. Please be careful when taking photos, as this road has cars running all the time.
Houses along this road are so cute : )
After that, we left for Otaru.
Hachiman-Zaka Slope
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/rf9KxqWPLxvvRjZE8
Destination 3: Otaru Canal
We drove from Hakodate to Otaru which took about 4 hours. It is a bit far, but because we wanted to stay at Kiroro Resort tomorrow and returned the car in the morning. After that, we wished to take the Shuttle Bus of the hotel to Kiroro Resort.
Otaru Canal is regarded as an important tourist spot of Otaru city. This canal is located in the center of Otaru and open to visitors for free, 24 hours. It is not difficult to get here. It is about 10 minutes walk from Otaru Station. For those who drive, there is parking lot nearby but with a parking fee. We parked at a restaurant opposite to the canal as we dined there so we didn't have to pay for the parking.
In the evening, many people came out for walking and taking pictures. In addition, along the canal there are many shops and restaurants for tourists to try seafood as well as local food.
Otaru Canal
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/K8CNczk5bvRdeuJK6
Transportation: 10 minutes walk from Otaru Station
That's it, our 3 days road trip during Autumn in Hokkaido 2019. We also have the second episode review as we stayed at Kiroro Resort for another 2 nights and took the Gondola to enjoy leaves changing color.
For our next episode, please click >> Autumm @Kiroro Resort
See you guys again in our next trip... we will find some more interesting places to share and if you guys have any recommendation, please share with us.
Bye for now ^ ^
For our other reviews, please click https://th.readme.me/id/ReviewPapai
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ReviewPapai
Monday, November 18, 2019 1:03 PM
