Honeymoon in Japan (Hokkaido) Pt 1

Oops!!Its August already!! I was supposed to update my honeymoon holidays in Japan months ago! But I felt so lazy trying to reselect my photos and going nuts trying to put my name on the chosen photos while trying to make it look posh-er... But things do change for the better. I found my umpph today and here I am, trying to recall my memories and inserting these pictures here. While searching through the photos that my hubby and I had taken, I felt so 'Japan - sick'!! I just miss those awesome fresh seafood!! The cold weather!! The delicacies!! The technology!! and of course the services and smiles from people over there!!

We joined Apple Tour (which is well known for their Japan Tours) so we have to fly all the way to KLIA to meet the other tour members. Our tour leader is Kenro-san! He is the funniest tour leader ever.

Our tour consists of 8D 6N trip, which means we wasted a night on board!! After the tour ended, we stayed for another 6D 5N and travel around Tokyo and Osaka with our local friend.

Now for Day 2, we had an overnight on the aeroplane and arrived at Kansai Airport in Osaka the next day. Then we board another local flight to Chitose Airport (Hokkaido). We arrived in Hokkaido around 2pm and it was snowing lightly!! I'm shivering! It was really cold!!But the sight of snow flakes falling down washed away all the tiredness from lack of sleep!

We board our tour bus to our first destination! We were excited already! Our first place to visit was Jigokudani (Hell Valley) at the Noboribetsu Hot Spring.

The Hell Valley is so called because columns of steam incessantly rise from the numerous fissures in the rocks. It also produce a strong smell of ammonia like stench. As the weather is freaking cold and snowing, the whole area was surrounded by snow flakes.

 
 
 
Just 10 minutes drive from Hell Valley, we checked in to the Noboribetsu Mahoroba Hotel. We were welcomed by the staff lined up at the hotel entrance. They greeted us with huge smiles and lovely voices singing "Irashaimasu"! Then helping us with our luggages and holding the lift doors for us to enter makes us felt like we are VIPS!!
 

Noboribetsu Hot Spring is the most famous Spa Town in Hokkaido. This is our room, it is very Japanese and well equiped with futon, tatami, yukata and all other necessities.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We had the most scrumptious, devil-licious, awesome buffet dinner at the hotel's restaurant. The choices range from sashimis, Hokkaido most famous crab, locally grown vegetables, all kinds of potatoes, Japanese noodles, miso soups, meat, fruits, desserts, ice creams and many many more!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After a heavy dinner, we walked around the shopping area near the hotel. There are a lot of shops selling local souvenirs and some items which only can be bought in these shops. Hubby and I had such a great time walking along the alley, and you can imagine how romantic it was, with only street lights and some music from local shops. The funniest thing happened was that our umbrella turned inside out by the strong winds while we were walking back to the hotel.

After walking and allowing our food to digest in our stomach, we went back to our room and get changed into yukata. Where we went??? Of course to the Hot Spring!! No photos were allowed unfortunately! I had a wonderful time dipping inside the hot water and busily jumping from one tub to another. I would not want to miss out any of the hot spring as different tubs has different benefits for our body. There's only one word I can use to describe the feeling... "Awww!!!" All my pain and tiredness just steamed away from my body. It was a Great Experience!
 
Day 3, we checked out from the hotel after a buffet breakfast. We went to Bear Ranch, where we saw unique species of Japan bears and racoons. The place was Okay except for the smell from the animals dumpings. We bought some apples to feed the bears and racoons.
 

This is the Bear Ranch. We bought some local products here. Hokkaido is well known for Horse Oil products.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Then we take a ropeway to Mt Uzusan.

 

We walked for about 30 minutes to reach the top. It was snowing lightly but the wind was strong.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After Mt Uzusan, we stopped by at Lake Toya. Then, we went to White Isle Niseko Snow Mobile Park. It was an experience that we will never forget. Although we had to pay 10,000 yen for the snowmobile and equipments, it was all worth it.
 

We arrived at Sapporo city at dinner time. We drove by Sapporo Tower and then to a shabu shabu restaurant where we ordered our Kobe Beef.

We checked in at Sapporo Novotel Hotel. It is a modern concept hotel with well equiped amenities and the room are very spacy.

Day 4, we venture into Otaru, another part of Sapporo. Back then, Otaru was renown as the "foreign country in the north" by the Japan people and they thought they need a passport to get there. First of all, we reached the White Chocolate Factory ( Shiroi Koibito) which are well known for its white chocolate products such as the White Chocolate Tiramisu.

You can find all of their delicious products here inside the White Chocolate Factory. Freshly baked daily!~ Their white chocolate tiramisu is to die for!!

This is Otaru Canal, a short and narrow but the most remarkable of the past & most beautiful spot for picture especially during night time. Otaru Canal also appear frequently in Japanese Movies for its romantic view at night.

We also visited Otaru Handicraft Street which are very famous for their glass handicraft shops, music box shops, museum, art gallery, the soft cream, northern dessert, cheesecakes, souvenirs, scallops and seafood and many more!

At the Music Box Shop (Otaru Orgel). You can find all sorts of melodies in various music box. You also can build your own music box. Very Special and Unique shop. Only available in Japan. All made in Japan.

Big, Fresh and cook on the spot Scallops!!! 500 yen for each!! Delicious!!!

LeTAO bakes melt-in-the-mouth cheesecakes!! The texture is soft and light, it's Awesome!!

We also dropped by at Asahi Beer Factory on the way back to Sapporo Town. Free flow of beer. Smooth dry beer, anyone?

Hokkaido's Former Government Building, the Odori Park is one of the Sapporo's landmark.

In the evening time, we arrived at Tanukikoji underground shopping street. Tanukikoji begins from Street 1 till Street 7, with shops and cafes on both sides. It also has a lot of Pachinko ( similar to slot machines) and Games Outlets. We bought most of our souvenirs here as it was slightly cheaper.

On Day 5, which is also our last day in Hokkaido, we were brought to The Hokkaido Jingu Shinto Shrine, The Olympic Ski Jump at the Okurayama and later on to Rera Chitose Factory Outlet Mall.

This is The Hokkaido Jingu Shinto Shrine. It was established through an imperial edict of the Meiji Emperor on 1st September, 1869, Hokkaido Jingu is the enshrined home of both the pioneer and guardian deities of Hokkaido.

Sacred places are typically marked with a shimenawa (special plaited rope) and shime (strips of white paper).

Next, we visited The Olympic Ski Jump at the Okurayama where it was used for ski jumping during the Winter Olympic Games in 1972. The slope will be covered by thick snow during winter season.

For lunch, we were brought to have seafood lunch where we enjoy Hokkaido King Crab.

Our last station was to Rera Chitose Factory Outlet Mall. This is the place where you can shop for famous branded items ranging from handbags, clothings and accessories at a price you can't reject.

After dinner at a Chinese Restaurant here, we board a domestic flight at Chitose to Tokyo.

Bye!Bye! Hokkaido!!