1) Finally going back to Japan after 18 years (I lost count, could be longer)
2) Will be seeing, touching and playing with snow for the 1st time in my life (that's why I'm Mountain Tortoise)
Now for the facts:
1) 8 day/6 nights trip. Flight on 13th although is at night but considered as 1 day :p
2) total cost approx S$4800 for adults, inclusive of most meals
3) 4 adult and 2 children with our own minibus, guide and driver
4) cost include 3 nights stay at ski resort + 1 day ski lessons
5) no direct flight. Flying to Haneda airport in Tokyo, then another flight to Chitose, Sapporo.
6) booked through Prime Travels at Hong Leong Building.
Review of my ANA flight:
My flight was on ANA at 9.55pm, overnight flight. Didn't enjoy the flight. For someone tall like me, my knees were already touching the seat in front, and the backrest couldn't recline. The seat can slide in and out, but with my knees already touching the front, why would I want to slide it out. So the whole night was spent sitting pretty upright trying to sleep. When I couldn't, I would be watching movies.
Touchdown at Haneda airport in Tokyo and clearance at immigration, although there was a queue, was a breeze. We had to collect our luggage and take a feeder bus to the domestic terminal for our flight to Chitose airport. Short ride, no hassle.
Haneda airport was nicely decorated and had many shops selling stuff but we resisted as this was only the beginning of the trip.
Flight to Chitose was only about an hour, not too bad. But we were already quite tired from the lack of sleep on the flight.
Upon arrival at Chitose, we were greeted by our ever courteous guide and driver. Upon us stepping out of the airport to get to the minibus, the kids... All right, ME... went ooh-ing and ah-ing... Why? See the picture below
... My 1st experience with snow. I had to leave the luggage behind and take a picture for posterity... My very 1st picture of snow :D
Throughout the journey, I couldn't help clicking away on my camera.
The journey took quite long as the driver was driving slowly due to the road conditions. But what greeted us at the destination for lunch made us forget our fatigue and hunger.
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| The restaurant |
See why? The children... Ok, ME... Went berserk with the snow and couldn't wait to feel it and make a snow ball to throw.
Tip 1: make sure you do not make a snow ball with your bare hands, unless you don't mind cold and wet hands
Tip 2: make sure you wear WATERPROOF gloves when making a snow ball, unless you don't mind cold and wet hands
Tip 3: make sure you invest in a good pair of ANTI-SLIP, WATERPROOF walking shoes, unless you don't mind slipping and falling and you don't mind cold and wet feet
Tip 4: make sure you have high cut shoes with your pants covering snugly over your shoes as snow can get into shoes and wet your socks, unless you don't mind cold and wet feet
Tip 5: when making snow angels, make sure you are wearing WATERPROOF clothing too, unless you don't mind feeling cold and wet.
Ooh, it's really such a pretty sight. We were stuck outside in the gardens of the restaurant for 10 minutes, while the ever patient guide was waiting patiently, at the entrance freezing his butt off, for us.
Once we had enough, ok it's never enough, we went into the restaurant and was greeted by a comfortable gush of warm air. A nice respite from the negative temperature outside. Lunch was BBQ, specialty being wagyu. Name of restaurant, Wagyu Loghouse BIBI.
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| Inside the restaurant |
Their beef was yummy. We ordered extra portions of beef which was happily gobbled down.
At the back of the restaurant there was a stream where geese and ducks were frolicking with their offsprings. Such a beautiful sight. Ooh, I'm so loving Hokkaido. Couldn't get out there as the snow was fresh and thick and didn't want to risk being buried.
After a sumptuous lunch (the 1st of many), we were supposed to proceed to our hotel in Noboribetsu, but of course, the snow, the darned snow, had to distract us and we ended up spending a good 10-15 minutes playing again.
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| The grounds of the restaurant |
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| The grounds of the restaurant |
Well... After the post lunch play, en route to Noboribetsu, we stopped at Lake Shikotsu to take in the sights. However, it seemed more like we were engulfed by the strong and cold winds that only the guide and myself made a dash to the lakeside, took a quick picture and went back briskly to the bus. The others, especially the kids were stuck halfway playing with snow in the chilling wind, and since it was so cold, we went back into the bus and off to our next destination.
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| Road leading to Lake Shikotsu |
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| Lake Shikotsu |
Next stop, Shiraoi Ainu Museum, also called Porotokotan. It is one of Hokkaido's better Ainu Museums. Ainu (the indigenous people in Hokkaido) culture and lifestyle is shown to visitors in an outdoor reproduction of a small Ainu village and inside a conventional museum building. Several performances, such as traditional Ainu dances, are held fairly regularly throughout the day.
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| Ainu houses on the right side |
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| A lake at the Ainu Village |
We were here for a short while to look at one of the traditional houses and off we went as fatigue was setting in. We finally arrived at the Noboribetsu Mahoroba hotel. A hotel with their own hot springs.
We stayed in the Japanese styled tatami room with a beautiful view of the mountain slope and it was snowing heavily.
We settled quickly and dinner was sumptuous. The dishes in the picture are just a part of the whole set meal.
I had more than a set. Helped the kids finish their leftovers too haha.
After dinner, when we returned to the room, it was transformed. The beddings were laid out for us.
Took a short rest before going to soak in the onsen (hot spring). As I was a newbie at this, did some research on etiquette at the onsen. Here's Onsen101:
1) normally the men and women go to their own separate area
2) you go into the pools stark naked, no swim wear, underwear or shorts
3) you place your slippers and clothes into the basket provided in the change area.
4) the small towel provided may be used to cover your privates when walking around. They are supposed to be used to clean off your perspiration when you are in the pool
5) shower clean before you enter the pools. You shower sitting down on the stools and be careful that your neighbour does not get your recycled water
6) after showering, you can go soak in the mineral pools. They are normally in different temperatures, the norm is to soak the lower temperture 1st and progressing to higher temperatures
7) do not wash or soak your little towel in the pool, place it on your head or by the side
8) relax and enjoy
As I've been once to a Korean bath, I thought it would be the same, but they had slight differences. Firstly, instead of a male tending the changing room in Korea, it's an obasan (elderly lady) here. I was pulling down my undies when suddenly an obasan walked across me sweeping the floor, I immediately pulled it back up. In Rome, do what the Romans do, so I looked around to see what the other Japanese males were doing, but they were nonchalantly flaunting their family jewels. Sigh, I waited for the obasan to be gone before I stripped haha.
The moment I entered the shower and pool area, it was all misty due to the steam. I could hardly see and I just followed behind an elderly Japanese man who had entered together with me. Went to shower and after washing clean, I followed another Japanese to see where he would start his soaking. We meandered through various pools and suddenly, I was hit by the cold winter air. I was wet and obviously freezing and realised I'm out at the outdoor pool. I spied a pool and immediately stepped in. Mistake. It was hot with a capital H, at least to me. I endured and after awhile, it felt good... shiok... shiokadoo.
It felt so different, but nice to be soaking outdoors with the cold winter air on your face. It was very very misty and I couldn't make out who was around, what pool was where, etc. after about 10 minutes, I decided to move indoors. Ooh, standing up was the difficult part, so reluctant to leave the nice warm watery environment like a baby in the womb, haha. But moving indoors was nice too. There were various pools with different minerals. Didn't know what was what, as the signs were written in a combination of Chinese and Japanese characters. Nevertheless, I went from pool to pool to absorb as much minerals as possible.
After spending about an hour in the onsen, I decided to return to the room. Although I was a little sleepy, I decided to go and take a walk around the neighbourhood.
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| Small stretch of road with shops and restaurants |
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| One of the shops |
The night air was chilly and was snowing lightly. The night air was a nice contrast to the hot springs. A really good experience. Got melancholic and was thoughtful about a few things:
1) 1st night of stay in this beautiful place of Hokkaido
2) 1st time in a Japanese onsen
3) 1st time seeing and playing with snow in my whole life
4) 1st walk alone in Japan... haha I'm so boliao
After about 10 minutes I returned to the room to enjoy the comforts of Japanese sleeping culture.
Good night everyone, good night Noboribetsu.
(Note: I have friends asking me what camera I've been using to take such beautiful pictures of my travels. For the record, they were taken by my trusty HTC One X)
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