Hokkaido Day 3

Started the day with eggs on toast breakfast, prepared by yvan and xiaoyu. 

Our itineary for today is covering the touristy places in furano: tomita farm; tomita melon house; alpaca farm; shirogane blue pond and shirogane waterfall

We were unlucky at first, when it started drizzling. Thank goodness, after about an hour, the sky started to clear and we got good weather with blue sky and white clouds. 

The honey dew at tomita melon house was not bad, but not as good as the one we ate yesterday. 

We had lunch at this restaurant that is also a jap version of mama shop, selling old school sweets and tidbits at very affordable prices. 

The name of the restaurant, 第一食堂.

After lunch, I got into a small accident. I drove down the slope but it was actually a kerb and "BOOM" all of us heard this very loud sound, and unfortunately the car was slightly damaged. :( 

Luckily I purchased double protection insurance, and I do not need to pay extra for the damages. Purchase insurance really very important!

Xiaoyu found a drive route at furano, where there are identified view points to see the best view of furano. One of them has the Alpaca Farm. Yuanze and Yuanyi had alot of fun feeding the alpacas. 

Shirogane Blue Pond, and Yuanze felt that the pond is not blue at all. 

Our final destination for the day, Shirogane Waterfall. 

Dinner was at a restaurant that is 3 min walk away from our airbnb. The name of the restaurant is 风见鸡. Hahahaha. Although the name is funny, the food is very nice, and it is run by a couple. Husband do the cooking in the kitchen, wife do the service. Luckily we were there early, a few minutes later a queue started to form and those at the back have to write their names on a reservation list. 

Yuan Ze approves the pizza. 

That's it for Day 3!

Hokkaido Day 2

Checked out of Air Terminal Hotel, we went back to Lawson Convenience Store to stock up sweets and tidbits for the road trip. 

For the road trip, I booked a rental car from Toyota. Can pick up at the airport, and Toyota has an office at Keio Plaza Sapporo Hotel, the hotel that we are staying at Sapporo, so is very convenient. 

Upon reaching the Toyota counter at the airport, I was shocked that there are many people waiting. I realised they are waiting for a shuttle bus to bring them to the rental office that is near the airport (about 10 min bus ride). 

I was worried about how long it will take to get the car, as we are meeting xiaoyu and yvan. But my worries were not necessary, because we are talking about Japan efficiency here. 

The moment we reach the rental office, my queue number was called. Then the counter staff did the necessary procedure, and then another guy lead me to the rental car and help me put in the ETC card (something like a cashcard to go pass tolls on the expressways), and then tell me even when return the car got scratches also nvm because I purchased car insurance. All this took about 15 minutes. Omg. I am amazed. 

Our toyota prius, white in colour, very nice to drive. Also very new, I guess this is a 3 year old car.

First destination was at Takinoue Park, where we met up with xiaoyu and yvan. Is a nice place to start our hokkaido trip! Nice scenery, greenery, suspension bridges, flowing rivers, flowers. 

 

Our next destination is lunch, at this cosy restaurant called Fisherman Brothers. They sell very nice burgers. 

And then we ate the sweetest and juiciest honeydew ever, at this small shop at Yubari. 

Our last destination for today, before we check in our airbnb at Furano, is Ningle Terrace. A forest with small wooden shophouses that sell handicraft and souvenirs. It looks more magical in the evening when they turn on the fairy lights. 

Our first airbnb of the trip is a single storey house, well equipped with almost everything, except for a TV. hahahahahaha. 

Since the kitchen was so well equipped, we decided to go to the nearby supermarket and buy food to cook for dinner. Xiaoyu had mala seasoning and bak kut teh soup pack with her. 

So we bought veggies, daikon, uni, instant rice (omg kudos to the japanese who invented this), sushi and soba. 

The kids ate sushi and soba, whereas the adults ate mala xiang guo and super peppery bak kut teh soup with no bak kut. 

And we ended off dinner with sweet grapes and strawberries. 

Hokkaido Day 1

We are going to Hokkaido! 

This is our first time flying by All Nippon Airways (ANA). At first I was abit apprehensive, but after hearing from friends and watching youtube reviews, it seems that ANA is quite a good airline. 

And indeed, ANA is really not bad. I like the ample leg space, and the quality of the inflight meals. 

We are also very lucky to board the pokemon themed ANA plane from Singapore to Tokyo. 

The only downside of taking ANA is the very short connecting time for us at Haneda Airport. 

We only have 1 hour 25 minutes, to clear customs, collect our luggage, take the free shuttle bus from one terminal to another terminal, check in our luggage again, and board the domestic flight to Hokkaido. 

Luckily li gor (my aunt) told me to prepare the immigration QR codes beforehand, and I did, and also luckily the airport staff is so nice, the moment she saw us travelling with young kids, she straight away let us jump the queue. If not for this, I will think that we would have missed the domestic flight. 

When we reach New Chitose Airport, it was already close to 11 pm, and all restaurants are closed. Luckily there is a Lawson convenience store, so I told darling to buy cup noodles for dinner. 

Our accomodation is at Air Terminal Hotel, which is at New Chitose Airport. 

And the moment we got our keys at the check-in counter, the hotel staff turned off the lights at the counter and are preparing to off work. I cannot imagine if we reach there 5 minutes later. 

Air Terminal Hotel is very well equipped, although the room is small and simple, but it has everything. Provides breakfast as well, and also complimentary access to the onsen at New Chitose Airport. Can consider staying here if you arrive late at the airport, or if you need to board an early flight the next day. 

That's it for Day 1!