Travel Notes | Who doesn’t love Hokkaido?

Speaking of Hokkaido, probably nine out of ten people go to Hokkaido for the first time for the purpose of "going to Hokkaido to see the snow in winter."

So why didn’t I choose to go during the snow season?

Because air tickets are cheap.

But it also allowed me to appreciate the unique beauty of Hokkaido.

The colorful hills of the four seasons

Otaru Canal

Biei Blue Pond

Only later did I realize when it was time to book accommodation. When I went there, Japan was hosting the Rugby World Cup, and hotel prices had skyrocketed.

I don’t understand this kind of sport where a group of old men jostle around to score a ball. I didn’t expect the Japanese also play Rugby?

Back to business.

This trip to Hokkaido was scheduled for 5 days, and then I flew to Tokyo to eat, shop and shop for 10 days. We’ll save the decadent guide to eating, shopping and shopping in Tokyo until next time.

schedule?

We stayed in Sapporo during the 5 days in Hokkaido. Otaru is very close to Sapporo and can be reached in half an hour by JR line, so we arranged a one-day trip to Otaru . Another day we went to Furano and Biei with a local guide.

where to live?

The hotel I booked this time was Tokyu Stay Sapporo. The room was really small.

The advantage is that the hotel is new, clean and within a five-minute walk from Odori Station .

In fact, Sapporo is not big. If you live in Odori, you can walk to both Sapporo Station and Susukino , and they are all connected underground. Although it was still in late summer and early autumn when we went this time, there was already a tourist attraction in Hokkaido. A little bit of a feeling that winter is coming. I'm afraid of the cold and wander around underground every day, so I miss a lot of shopping opportunities, but it makes my husband's wallet happy.

something delicious?

1. Garaku Soup Curry: The famous Hokkaido Soup Curry is a five-minute walk from the hotel. I dropped off my luggage and went there on the first day in Sapporo.

The style of the store is very un-Japanese and very American.

I ordered vegetable soup curry.

My husband chose shabushabu.

The curry taste is very strong. I feel that the one my husband ordered is more delicious with meat and he ate it all with the soup.

Pork belly slices shabushabu

Vegetable Soup Curry

There is another restaurant opposite this Garaku Soup Curry, called Treasure by Garaku, but I heard that this restaurant has better reviews. I asked the hotel about delicious food nearby, and the front desk also recommended this restaurant!

2. Suage + soup curry: The night I returned to Sapporo from Furano, I went to eat the equally famous Suage. In Susukino, I ordered chicken.

It tastes good too. If we had to choose only one restaurant, my husband and I unanimously voted for Garaku. I felt that the curry taste was richer and that the rice was more delicious.

3. Hanamaru Sushi(Nemuro Flower Sushi)

This store is located on the 6th floor of Stellar in Sapporo Station, and is crowded with people.

I watched a lot of YouTube before going to Hokkaido. This store appeared in almost all YouTubers' videos. My husband's hair stylist from Sapporo in Sydney also mentioned it, so we had high hopes and queued like crazy for two hours.

It was hard to eat it! Well, not bad. After waiting in line for so long, I’d better eat more.

4. LeTAO: When I was waiting in line to eat sushi, I bought a cheese cake from Daimaru next door and took it back to the hotel to eat. After eating it, I said two words: buy it! It is the taste of happiness.

5. Kantaro Sushi : Right next to Otaru Canal , I chose it casually on the day I went to Otaru.

The price is affordable and super delicious. I love the grilled halibut. I really feel what it means to melt in your mouth. It is a very cost-effective restaurant. recommend!

6. Kushitori: There are chain stores all over the streets of Sapporo. We randomly walked into one in Susukino one day. The beef skewers were delicious!

The chicken is inferior in comparison. Promise me, I will definitely orderhot sakeand some skewers of beef, okay?

Because it tasted so good, I accidentally drank a few more drinks and wandered back to the hotel in the evening.

7. Teshiki Ramen: When you come to Japan, you must eat ramen seriously. This shop is located on the ramen street of Susukino, a small alley filled with more than a dozen ramen shops, each with its own characteristics.

We struggled for a long time and chose this ramen shop with good reviews on TripAdvisor and Dianping.

When I went there, the store had just opened, and the boss was busy in the store coolly. He was handsome.

Fish soy sauce ramen

Miso Char Siu Ramen

I love all ramen with grilled barbecued pork! When the boss sets up a small stand and grills barbecued pork in front of you, the aroma fills the room. At that time, you feel like you can eat two bowls by yourself!

8. BARISTART COFFEE: Interlude of a coffee shop that I think is the best in Sapporo.

We ran to this shop to buy coffee on the morning of the start of Rugby. Unexpectedly, the door was lined up with Australian fans and friends who had come from as far away as Australia to watch the game.

Because the first game happened to be Australia vs. Fiji, those days in Sapporo felt like I was still on the streets of Sydney, and my ears were filled with Australian English at all times.

“G’day, mate!”

As we all know, Australian coffee is world-renowned. Well, the coffee that Australian friends love is of course good coffee.

However, the store is very small and there is almost no place to sit, so you can only take it away.

What to do in Hokkaido?

1. Otaru

On the second day after arriving in Hokkaido, we took the JR line from Sapporo Station to Otaru.

It only takes half an hour to drive from Sapporo to Otaru. We spent a whole day in Otaru and felt that Otaru is really cute and charming!

Otaru is not big. After leaving the station and walking along the main road for 10 minutes, you will find the Otaru Canal.

Walking on the stone road beside the canal and admiring the slowly flowing canal and the retro warehouse opposite, it feels like you are in Europe.

The stone warehouses along the canal still retain their former appearance and are now used directly as restaurants. You can enjoy delicious food on the side of the canal and take in the panoramic view.

It seems that the Otaru attractions recommended in the travel guide don't even have to look for it. They appear right in front of you while strolling around.

Sakaimachi Street in Otaru is the main area to experience Otaru handicrafts. The handmade glassware is so cute and exquisite that you can't help but scream like a marmot when you see it.

It’s not just handicrafts, there are delicious food all along Sakaimachi Street, and there is also a two-story LeTAO, which not only satisfies your shopping desires but also treats your stomach.

2. Furano Tomita Farm

Farm Tomita in Furano is about two hours drive from Sapporo. Compared with Shikisai-no-Oka in Biei, Farm Tomita is smaller but more delicate and cute. When we went to Farm Tomita, we had already passed the lavender field. Time has passed, but this does not affect its beauty.

The lazy sunshine is shining on you, buying a lavender ice cream, and walking in the flower field licking the ice cream, it feels very beautiful just thinking about it.

Even the little motorcycles on the farm are all lavender purple. Do you think they are cute or not~

However, my favorite is actually the cantaloupe next door to Tomita Farm!

There are the freshest cantaloupe, honeydew ice cream, and cantaloupe-flavored puff bread cookies. Just looking at them makes you greedy.

I felt that all the cantaloupe I had eaten before was in vain. It was the first time I ate such a sweet and juicy cantaloupe. I don’t know how to describe this piece of melon with my pale vocabulary. It was just happiness melted in my mouthfeeling!

I also tried the cantaloupe biscuits and bread. They were both delicious but nothing special compared to the fresh cantaloupe. If it hadn't been too cold, I really wanted to buy half a cantaloupe filled with ice cream and eat it in my arms.

Remember Furano’s cantaloupe, you must try it if you come this season!

3. The hills of Biei Shikisai

After visiting Tomita Farm, we came to Shikisai Hills. Compared with Tomita Farm, this place is much more open and has richer layers. The rolling hills are so beautiful to take pictures with.

Unfortunately, the sky was clear when we first arrived, but it suddenly started raining while we were walking around. We hurried back to the car and missed the steaming potato croquettes that I heard were delicious.

Tomita Farm and Shikisai Mound do not require tickets. If you go there, you can buy snacks such as ice cream and potato pancakes to try, because the guide said that the income of the farm and flower fields mainly depends on this. The key is It tastes very good too!

4. Biei Blue Pond

Aoiike in Biei Town became famous because of the default desktop of MAC. We walked through the woods and walked to it. Indeed,it was a painting.

It is said that the reason why the water of Aoike is blue is that a large amount of aluminum-containing water flows in from the nearby hot springs, and then reflects the blue color of the sky evenly. The sulfur and lime components contained in the hot springs bleach the stones and sand on the river bottom, making the water look clearer.

The blue pond will show various colors according to the subtle changes in the environment.

You never know what it will look like at the next moment, and that may be its charm.

5. Sapporo Okayama Zoo (Maruyama Zoo)

This zoo is located in Sapporo City, connected to Hokkaido Shrine and Okayama Park . It can be reached by taking the subway from Odori Koen Station to Okayama Koen Station and walking.

There is a Mall opposite the subway station. Fill your stomach with a bowl of hot udon before visiting the park and zoo.

The supermarket in this mall is also very convenient. We bought delicious seasonal pumpkin bread there.

On the way to the zoo, you will pass through Okayama Park, which is like Sapporo's natural oxygen bar. Before coming here, I didn't know that there was such a big forest-like park in Sapporo.

However, it feels like the temperature here is quite a bit lower, so be sure to bring an extra coat if you come here. This is the day when I was shivering in the cold wind with a runny nose in Sapporo.

I feel like this is also very suitable for family travel. The zoo is very cute and we saw many Japanese parents bringing their children to play.

Watching monkeys at the zoo, it suddenly rained, and then when it was about to clear up, I saw monkeys and a rainbow.

In my impression, Hokkaido is always snow-capped, romantic and beautiful, but this trip to Hokkaido took me to appreciate another side of Hokkaido. It turns out that Hokkaido is not only the white snow season, Hokkaido in late summer and early autumn is even more beautiful and colorful.

Having just returned from Hokkaido, I can’t wait to arrange my next trip to Hokkaido. This coming winter, come with me to see the snow in Hokkaido.