Hokkaido Summer 2012 北海道夏季之旅 - Noboribetsu JR Station 登别駅

Noboribetsu JR Station (H28), along Muroran main line.

Note: Similar to train stations in Furano and Biei, there are no lifts or elevators available in Noboribetsu JR Station. One will need to climb/descend the stairs of the overhead bridge to reach the opposite platform. Recommended to reach at least 15 mins prior train departure timing, especially if you are carrying bulky luggage.

Discounted train tickets:  
Between Sapporo and Noboribetsu, discount for group of 4 tickets purchased.
- Total fee = 7,880 yen (instead of 15,400 yen, ~50% discount), for unreserved seats.

JR Hokkaido: http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/pticket/index.html#04
Train timetable: http://www.hyperdia.com

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What's nearby?
(1) Bus stop:
NA, NB, NC and ND buses will make a stop at Noboribetsu Onsen. Bus fee = 330 yen.
- NA and NB buses will stop by Date Jidaimura (时代村) before going to Noboribetsu Onsen, therefore travelling time will be slightly longer.
- NC and ND buses go directly to Noboribetsu Onsen.

Donan bus timetable 
Departure timings from Noboribetsu JR Station: http://donanbus.co.jp/kougai/kougai_jikoku_pdf/n_34.pdf
Departure timings from Noboribetsu Onsen: http://donanbus.co.jp/kougai/kougai_jikoku_pdf/n_36.pdf

Do refer to Noboribetsu Tourist Association website for information on how to take the bus.
Noboribetsu Tourist Association: http://www.noboribetsu-spa.jp/?page_id=94&lang=en#acc

(2) Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE:

There are three theme parks in Noboribetsu - Bear Park, Date Jidaimura and Marine Park. Marine park is located less than 10 mins walk from the train station. Upon stepping out of the train station, look to your right and make your way towards this dark red coloured castle - that is Noboribetsu Marine Park.

Lockers are available for a nominal fee (depending on the size) in the train station. Upon arrival in the morning, you can lock your luggage in the train station and make your way first to the marine park.

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Remember...
To me, one of the joy derived from travelling on train is eating ekiben - a boxed meal with local specialties sold in train stations and on certain train services. These beautifully wrapped boxes are packed with sumptuous ingredients - seafood, meat and vegetable delicacies which are all freshly harvested from Hokkaido. A huge variety of ekibens, with different combinations of ingredients, are available - some make use of seasonal ingredients, while others are exclusively sold in certain train stations only, therefore you can never get tired of them. Do try one when you take the train next time (especially for longer train journeys).

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Commemorative stamps:  

Hokkaido Summer 2012 北海道夏季之旅 - Noboribetsu Grand Hotel 登別グランドホテル

Stayed 15.07.2012 (1 day)
Booked through Rakuten Travel

- Located in Noboribetsu hot spring town, a stone throw away from Noboribetsu Onsen bus terminal.

- Mode of transportation from Noboribetsu JR Station:
(1) Taxi: Approx 13 mins; fee = ~2,500 yen. Recommended if you are carrying large luggage and travelling in groups.
(2) Bus: take either Bus NC or ND and alight at Noboribetsu Onsen (N11). Bus NA and NB drop by Date Jidaimura (时代村) before going to Noboribetsu Onsen. Approx. 20 mins; fee = 330 yen.

- Booked a twin room for 27,000 yen, inclusive of 2 buffet style meals (dinner and breakfast). If you prefer non-smoking rooms, do remember to state your preference during hotel reservations.

- Hotel offers three different types of hot springs (out of the 9 available in Noboribetsu) - sulphur, sodium chloride and iron. There are two separate communal bathhouses for men and women. Each communal bathhouse has an indoor and an outdoor section and the designs are unique for each bathhouse. All bathhouses are closed between 0230 - 0330 hours in preparation for the alternate usage. Therefore, it is recommended to do your first soak upon check-in and another one in the morning, in order to fully utilise both facilities.
Note: you will need to pay a bathing fee of 150 yen per person upon checking out, regardless whether you use the communal bathroom facilities or not. This fee is typically not included in hotel room charges.

- Main shopping street, Gokuraku dori (极乐通商店街) is just 2 mins walk from the hotel. Another 10 - 15 mins walk to reach Jigokudani (Hell Valley, 地狱谷).

- Direct bus service (at a nominal fee) ferrying guests from Sapporo to the hotel is also available. However, reservation is required if you intend to use this service.
http://www.nobogura.co.jp/access/index.html

Recognition: Featured in Michelin Guide Hokkaido 2012.

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Noboribetsu Grand Hotel 登別グランドホテル
〒059-0592 北海道 登別市 登別温泉町154番地
http://www.nobogura.co.jp/english/

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Hokkaido Summer 2012 北海道夏季之旅 - Day 6 Itinerary: Noboribetsu 登别

Day 6 - 15.07.2012

Breakfast: Ekiben, bought from Sapporo JR Station.

Sapporo JR Station (0730 hrs) > Noboribetsu JR Station (0842 hrs)
via Muroran main line.
Fee = 7,880 yen for a set of 4 tickets.

Kept luggage in lockers available in Noboribetsu JR Station.
500 yen per large sized locker.

Noboribetsu JR Station > Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE
approx. 5 - 10 mins walk.
Fee = 2,400 yen

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Noboribetsu JR Station > Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
via taxi.
Fee = ~2,500 yen

Check in: Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Lunch: Tenho, ramen shop located along Gokuraku dori.

Covered Noboribetsu Onsen Walking Trails, took approx. 2 hrs:
(1) Jigokudani Loop Course, Tessen Pond.
(2) Oyunuma Observatory, a good view of Mt Hiyori and Oyunuma.
(3) Taisho Jigoku
(4) Oyunumagawa Natural Foot Bath

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Dinner: Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Night stroll to Jigokudani (Demon's Fire Trail) and Gokuraku dori.

- End of Day 6 -

Hokkaido Summer 2012 北海道夏季之旅 - Mt Moiwa 藻岩山

Visited 14.07.2012

Mt Moiwa is about 531 m above sea level. Observatory deck on the summit promises visitors a spectacular view of Sapporo city - both in the day and at night. Ropeway first ferries visitors to a mid station and two mini cable cars (unique in the sense that they moves on a track instead of hanging on a cable line) will tranfer visitors to the next station on the summit.

at 1830 hours

at 1840 hours

at 1900 hours

Personally I feel that the best time to visit Mt Moiwa should be in the late afternoon/early evening, just before sunset. Captured in front of your eyes, apart from the beautiful sunsets, is the transition from day to night whereby the city of Sapporo "brightens up" as the sky starts to darken - a phenomenonal experience that is beyond words to describe! This visit to Mt Moiwa was a great way to end our last night in Sapporo as well. It was also after this memorable experience that made us want to visit Mt Hakodate, which is named as the top three best night views in the world.

Note: It can also get a bit chilly on the summit in the night (even in summer), so do remember to bring additional clothing to protect yourself from the cold especially if you plan to stay outdoors to witness the transition of scenery.

Tip: Grab a 200 yen discount voucher from tourism information centre in Sapporo JR Station. Did notice that the discount vouchers were also available in the streetcar - placed near the driver's seat.

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Mt Moiwa 藻岩山
http://moiwa.sapporo-dc.co.jp/
Fee (for both ropeway and cable car) = 1,700 yen (1,500 yen with discount voucher)

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How to get there? 
- Susukino or Nihonyon chrome > Ropeway Iriguchi by Sapporo Streetcar; Fare = 170 yen per ride
- Look out for the free shuttle service bus, which ferries passengers to Mt Moiwa Ropeway Station.

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Commemorative stamp: 

Hokkaido Summer 2012 北海道夏季之旅 - Sapporo Beer Garden 札幌啤酒园

Visited 14.07.2012

Returned to Sapporo from Otaru and headed to Sapporo Beer Garden to settle for an early dinner. One of the goals of this trip was to try out Genghis Khan BBQ, a specialty of Hokkaido. Originally planned to patronise one of the recommended restaurants in Susukino but it was full house on the day of visit (13.07.2012). Sapporo Beer Garden houses a handful of BBQ restaurants within its premises - Garden Grill (the highest end among all), Lilac and Genghis Khan Hall. A beer museum is also located in this compound - for a better understanding on development of Sapporo Beer since it was introduced in 1877.

Took the subway and walked approx 10 mins before the distinctive and prominent red brick building and chimney came into sight. Decided on Lilac and chose an indoor table. Cautiously ordered only one serving of lamb marinated with salt (1,400 yen) and one serving of pork, just in case we did not like the strong smell of mutton (otherwise known as 羊骚味 in Chinese).

The meat was served with vegetables - beansprouts, cabbages and slices of pumpkin. A cube of lard was first used to "oil" the hotplate, before putting in the meat and vegetables. The cooked meat can be dipped into the sauce provided before eating.

Conclusion: We were totally blown away by the lamb meat which was very tender and juicy, and not a tint of mutton smell at all. In the end, we had to order another serving of lamb to satisfy our appetite! We were pretty sure that we will eat this again if we visit Hokkaido in future - thumbs up to Genghis Khan BBQ!

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Sapporo Beer Garden 札幌啤酒园 - Lilac
Opening hours: 1130 - 2130 hrs

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How to get there?
(1) Subway: Sapporo (H07) > Higashi Kuyakusayomae (H05) by subway via Toho line (blue). Approx 10 mins walk from subway station. Fee = 200 yen
(2) Bus: Take bus on Sapporo Beer Garden/Ario Line (188) on the north exit of Sapporo JR Station.
Frequency: every 30 mins on weekdays and every 20 mins on weekends and public holidays.
Fee = 200 yen
Location of bus stop: http://www.chuo-bus.co.jp/city_route/busstop/images/sapporo_annai_english.pdf
Timetable for Bus 188: http://www.chuo-bus.co.jp/city_route/course/common/images/pdf/sapporo_Q.pdf

Hokkaido Summer 2012 北海道夏季之旅 - Otaru JR Station 小樽駅

Otaru JR Station (S15), along Hakodate main line. 

What's nearby?

(1) Sankaku market (三角市场) - market is located on your left upon stepping out of the train station. Personally have not been to this market before.

(2) Old Temiya railway track (手宫线) - walk straight along Chuo dori after stepping out of the train station. You will notice a stretch of railway track that is not in service anymore. This is the formal Temiya line, part of the first railway line built in Hokkaido in 1880. Temiya line is a 2.8 km railway line which branches out from Minami-otaru JR Station. Train service was discontinued in 1985 due to low utilisation rates. Part of the railway track was retained and has evolved into a tourist attraction in Otaru. In winter, this is one of the venues for Otaru Snow Light Path Festival which is held for around 10 days in February every year.  

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(3) Otaru Canal (小樽运河) - walk straight along Chuo dori after stepping out of the train station. Undoubtedly the most popular and prominent landmark that everyone will associate Otaru with.  

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Commemorative stamp:

Hokkaido Summer 2012 北海道夏季之旅 - Otaru Canal 小樽运河

Visited 14.07.2012

Background: In the past, the bigger vessels will unload goods into smaller ships and this canal was formally used by these smaller ships to transport the goods to warehouses located at the sides of the canal. After WWII, modern docking facilities has totally eliminated the need for this canal and there were plans were put in place by the government to landfill this canal. However, this plan was not fully executed in the end due to astounding rejection voices raised by the locals to retain this canal - which has proven to be the right decision. The canal was subsequently restored to what we see today.

Now: Scenic pictures portraying the beauty of Otaru Canal have been published in numerous travel guide books or introduced in travelogues all over the world. This high level of publicity has attracted millions of visitors to Otaru every year (which ironically only has a population of less than 150,000) - to witness the beauty of this canal at different times of the day.

At the end of Sakaimachi Street, you will notice a small canal (with a handful ducks waddling leisurely in it) on your right. Follow this canal which will eventually lead you to the famous landmark in Otaru.

The most popular photo-taking spot to capture the entire canal has got to be at Asakusabashi (浅草桥), therefore makes this place the most crowded location on this stretch of the canal. While strolling along the sides of the canal, you can find many artists showcasing their artworks portraying Otaru Canal in their very own style and perspective. A tourist information centre is also located on Asakusabashi whereby you can inquire information about other attractions in Otaru, or write and send a postcard back home.

You can never say you have been to Otaru if you have not been to this canal.

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Otaru Canal 小樽运河
- Location of Asakusabashi

View Otaru Canal in a larger map

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Commemorative stamps:

- From Tourist Information Centre at Asakusabashi -

- From Tourist Information Centre located along Chuo dori -