Hokkaido Winter 2013 北海道冬季之旅 - Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival (Hyoubaku Matsuri) 層雲峡温泉氷瀑まつり

Visited 07.02.2013
Year 2013: 19.01.2013 - 31.03.2013
Year 2014: 18.01.2013 - 30.03.2013

There are numerous events/festivals held all across Hokkaido during the winter season, with varying duration - over a weekend, a couple of weeks, one month etc. Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival is one of the longest running event in winter, over a period of 2.5 months. Venue is just opposite the main onsen town and is about 5 mins walk from Sounkyo Kankou Hotel (which we stayed in during this trip).

Remember... 
Wind was growling fiercely that night, but that did not deter us from making the trip down to participate in this festival. We did all we could to keep ourselves warm - protected by 4 layers of clothing, 2 layers of gloves, 2 layers of socks, multiple heat packs and mask. Unfortunately, the walk from our hotel to the event venue was downwind and we had to force our way, step by step, through the strong, chilly winds. Eventually took us longer to reach the event venue. Was an unforgettable experience indeed.

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Highlights:

- This is not exactly a frozen waterfall like what its name suggested. The huge ice structures were formed by pouring water from Ishikari River repeatedly onto the wooden structures/supports, whereby the water freezes to become ice in the cold weather. The entire venue is also beautifully lighted up by colourful lights in the night. This event is a major highlight of Sounkyo Onsen in winter, therefore not to be missed if you are staying overnight here.

- Ice tunnel -

- Ice domes, cones and armchairs -

- A shrine set up in the event venue -

- Ice in various forms, shapes and sizes can be found here. Explore the ice tunnel while watching out for the icicles hanging above your head, pop your head into the ice domes, admire the ice cones, test out the ice furniture, etc. There is a ice shrine constructed in the event venue; instead of tossing coins into a well, make a wish and stick your coins onto the ice walls in the shrine!

- A postcard and discount voucher (100 yen) for amazake (non alcoholic drink made from fermented rice) are issued upon entrance. There is an instant photo taking booth, which gives out thumb-sized photo printed on a event commemorative card free of charge (making it a good souvenir to bring back home). If you are pleased with the photos taken, you can purchase the larger sized photos instead. A tentage with stalls selling souvenirs, food and drinks is also erected in the event venue - a pit stop to head down to warm your bodies near the heaters provided and shelter yourself temporarily from the cold winds.

- There are also fireworks performance at 2030 hrs that last for 10 - 15 mins, on stipulated dates. A great way to end the tour before heading back to the hotel!

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Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival 層雲峡温泉氷瀑まつり
Admission fee = 100 yen
Sounkyo Tourism Association: http://www.sounkyo.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sounkyo.onsen

View Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival in a larger map

Hokkaido Winter 2013 北海道冬季之旅 - Sounkyo Kankou Hotel 層雲峡観光ホテル

Stayed 07.02.2013 (1 day)
Booked through Japanican.

- Booked western style twin rooms, inclusive of both breakfast and dinner, at 12,600 yen/room (~ 90 SGD/pax). Found the price relatively cheap for a hot spring hotel. Hotel is divided into two annexes - the more luxurious Japanese style rooms are found in Shiki (四季) while the other guest rooms are housed in Saika (花彩), the main building. Rooms that were assigned to us were unusually spacious (even after we opened up two luggage fully), especially for the price we were paying for.

- Location of hotel is about 3 - 5 minutes walk from Sounkyo Onsen bus terminal, tourist centre and main onsen town (whereby you can find Seicomart convenience store, several eateries and ropeway to Mt Kurodake). Did not have time to visit the main onsen town and nearby attractions (Waterfall of Ginga and Meteor, Oobako and Kobako gorges) as we arrived at the hotel in the late evening and left for Asahikawa early next day. The venue for the annual Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival is also about 5 mins walk from the hotel.

- There are two separate communal bathhouses for men and women. Bathouses are closed at midmight, for thirty minutes, to prepare for opposite gender usage. Do note that for one of their bathhouses, its indoor and outdoor sections are not connected i.e. one will need to dress up to shuffle between the indoor and outdoor hot spring facilities.

- Both breakfast and dinner were buffet style, offering quite a decent spread of Western and Japanese cuisine. Seafood items such as the ever popular crab legs and scallops, miso hot pot (packed with ingredients that you are free to pick/choose), steak and tempura were available during dinner. Had soup curry (one of the signature dishes from Sapporo) for the very first time too during breakfast.

Side note: Restaurant was very packed (and noisy) during our day of visit as the hotel was hosting a huge overseas tour group. Unfortunately, the crowd did make the overall dinning experience seemed more hectic.

Top: spotted a Sika deer outside our window; Bottom: 1 hour bus ride to Asahikawa Washington Hotel

- Utilised the free shuttle bus service provided by hotel to transfer to Asahikawa.
From Asahikawa Washington Hotel > Sounkyo Kankou Hotel: 1400 hrs
From Sounkyo Kankou Hotel > Asahikawa Washington Hotel: 1000 hrs
Do note that phone/email reservation is required at least 1 day before your stay. Did reconfirm my reservation with the front desk on the night of my stay.

Conclusion: Will definitely come back to Sounkyo on a different season to visit Mt Kurodake and other beautiful natural landscapes of waterfalls and gorges. Affordable room rates for this hotel will definitely attract many budget travellers. Hot spring facility is definitely not the best I've been to but reasonably good for the price. Personally, I will want to try out other accommodation options (hopefully a quieter/less crowded one) on my next visit to Sounkyo.

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Sounkyo Kankou Hotel 層雲峡観光ホテル
〒078-1701 北海道上川郡上川町字層雲峡
http://www.sounkyo-kankou.co.jp/en/

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Hokkaido Winter 2013 北海道冬季之旅 - Ryuhyo Express Okhotsk no kaze 流氷特急オホーツクの風

Travelled 07.02.2013

Abashiri JR Station (1417 hrs) > Kamikawa JR Station (1710 hrs)
Fee = 3,880 yen + 2,810 yen for reserved seats = 6,690 yen

Train is only in operation during the winter season (in conjunction with drift ice sightseeing from February to early March). This North Rainbow Express train makes one round trip per day along Sekihoku main line, commuting between Sapporo and Abashiri JR Stations.

Took the connecting Twinkle Bus Sounkyo-go from Kamikawa JR Station to Sounkyo Onsen
Fee = 500 yen
Twinkle Bus Sounkyo-go (2014 edition): http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/pdf/e/ml201311.pdf

Highlights:

- There are a total of five carriages in this train. What is unique about this train is that third/middle carriage is divided into two tiers - the top deck comprises of passenger seats, while the bottom deck has a cafe and lounge for passengers to hang around over a cup of coffee and snacks or do some itinerary planning with the travel guide books provided. An autograph book is also placed in the lounge for passengers to pen down their thoughts on board the train. Original souvenirs such as quartz watches, stickers, files, pins and postcards are all designed for and only sold on board this seasonal train. Some of which come with a new design every year, thus elevating its exclusivity!

- Bottom left: beautiful postmark for Ryuhyo Express Okhotsk no kaze; Bottom right: autograph book -

- Passengers are issued with boarding certificates (in the form of postcards) by the train conductor after tickets are verified. Write a message at the back of the card, purchase postage stamp (70 yen to send back to Singapore) from the cafe counter and drop your postcard into this exclusive wooden post box found in the lounge! All mails sent from this train will be stamped with a postmark that is specially designed and dedicated to this train.

- Transformed from last to first train carriage in Engaru JR Station -

- When the train pulled into Engaru JR Station (遠軽駅), was puzzled to see all passengers automatically stood up and rotated their seats 180 degree to face the opposite direction. Of course, we had to follow suit (follow what the Romans do when in Rome) and eventually realised that train would move in the reverse direction after this train station. Searched for its location on online maps and discovered that in Engaru JR Station, all trains continuing the journey would have to travel in the opposite direction and divert to the adjacent track. Due to this switchback mode, the train carriage which we were seated in was "upgraded" from the last to the utmost front compartment! Got the chance to be in the driver's seat for a moment to admire the snowy scenery ahead of us. An unexpected surprise indeed.

Location of Engaru JR Station:

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Commemorative stamps: 

Hokkaido Winter 2013 北海道冬季之旅 - Day 5 Itinerary: Abashiri 網走, Sounkyo 層雲峡

Day 5 - 07.02.2013 (Thu)

Breakfast: Hotel Route Inn Abashiri

Abashiri JR Station > Lake Abashiri
via taxi. Fee = ~1,500 yen

Visited "Discover the New Northern Continent! Attaka Abashiri" - Lake Abashiri Winter Festival

Lunch: Cafeteria in event venue.

Lake Abashiri > Abashiri JR Station
via taxi.

Abashiri JR Station (1417 hrs) > Kamikawa JR Station (1710 hrs)
via Ryuhyo Express Okhotsk no kaze. Day #2 usage of 4 day flexible Hokkaido Rail Pass.

Kamikawa JR Station (1715 hrs) > Sounkyo Kanko Hotel (1800 hrs)
via Twinkle Bus Sounkyo-go. Fee = 500 yen

Check in: Sounkyo Kankou Hotel

Dinner: Sounkyo Kankou Hotel

Visited 38th Sounkyo Hyoubaku Matsuri (Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival).

- End of Day 5 -