Japan Hokkaido Day 7

7th day - 17 Jan 2017

Breakfast; New Akan Hotel

Can you see how much I love the congee there? 😆

Mitsui Factory Outlet

It was all about shopping and walking around on this day. A long 4 hours journey to the Mitsui Outlet Park, Sapporo but I was not as eager for shopping as much as for filling up my stomach! I was craving for Japanese food that is not part of a buffet. We decided on a restaurant with a Japanese Italian combo.

The pasta set comes with a salad and the drink bar. At first, we asked the waitress what drink options do we have. To our surprise, we have a free flow of drinks at the corner and there was a nice variety to choose from. There are different kinds of tea which we serve in small cute pottery and cup. The ice coffee and fruit juice were great as well. We ordered the carbonara and creamy cod roe and squid pasta. The salad whets your appetite with its tangy citrus sauce. The pasta is al dente and rich in taste, greatly satisfying to the tastebud. We added on the toast with avocado and cheese and it was warm and crispy. The total cost for the meal was ¥3496, which is quite reasonable for restaurant standards!

The mall has big brands like Lego, Nike, Crocs, Gap, Fossil, and Under Amour. These are the few brands I can remember seeing. There is an Under Amour sports underwear (free size ¥1026) which I bought and it is seamless and great with those sports leggings. We walked to the new extension and found a shop which sells Japanese sweets, snack and coffee. A staff was distributing complimentary coffee samples of their best seller and my bf wanted to have one. Seeing that I only have about 15 minutes left, I told my bf to take a seat instead while I go do my fast shopping! He is so troublesome sometimes hahaha :x. 

I went into this shop which sells accessories and bags. I believe the shop name is called Heartland. What attracted me was the Anello sling bag ( ¥2160) which comes in 3 colours. There are many fake Anello bags out there but this should be genuine since I'm buying it in Japan. I think a real Anello has a statement like this printed on the front; "Created to improve life. Good for all seasons". It is printed on my Legato Largo bag that I bought on Qoo10 as well. Both are really good for all seasons due to the lightweight and waterproof material used. Plus, you would not face the problem of those artificial leather peeling off after a certain amount of time.

So anyway, I had to decide quickly and I chose the red one. Bringing it to the staff, I asked whether there was a new one. Unfortunately, I think she said that she only have 1 piece each. So I checked and paid for it. When she thanked me for my purchase, I replied "Arigato". She laughed and had the surprised face that I actually spoke Japanese to her lol. 

狸小路

The next shopping destination is a long stretch of street called 狸小路. From number 1 to 7, there are tons of things to see, although 7 looked kind of old and empty. We were there to buy our food goodies with an additional 9% discount at this one shop. We walked down the lane first instead while everyone bought their food souvenirs. When we were back, the shop was packed with people from a Chinese tour group, there was barely space to move about. Anyway, we did not want to purchase much from Hokkaido, and we did not get any from this shop, if not there would be too much baggage when we transfer to Tokyo.

We saw a DDR machine as we walked inside the arcade! But someone was playing and someone was waiting to play. If not, we would have tried and sweat buckets inside our jacket. There was a level below the arcade, but along the stairs, a sign was displayed. It was confusing because we couldn't understand it fully. So I went downstairs to see if I saw any males around. Then I realized it was a neoprint area meant mainly for females, but the males can tag along with their female friend or girlfriend. Interesting concept.

I saw this round container at another UFO machine game store. It has many pieces of paper flying around and we were supposed to put our hand in and grab one to claim a prize. It was ¥100 per try so we each tried it once. I got a minion kids stamp, and so did he! Lol I guess that is the most common price to receive.

Along the street, there is a two storey pet shop and all the cute little kittens and puppies were in those display cubes. They were all so cute and fluffy! Their storefront shows a picture of a pug/bulldog but there wasn't any of my favorite type of dog in the store :(. In Singapore, we seldom get to see baby dogs and cats in pet shops.

Tokyo Dome Hotel;

We took the bus back to Tokyo Dome Hotel, before we returned here to have dinner. It was planned this way so that it was more convenient for other tour members with boxes of souvenirs to leave them in the hotel first. Our ordered items were also delivered to the hotel and we were to collect from our tour guide. Our food items were nicely packed in a box and sealed up for check in.


Dinner; Unagi

At 6pm, we met at the lobby and our tour guide walked us back to 狸小路 and made sure we remembered the landmarks and direction back. In Sapporo, the snow was almost like ice and the ground was blackened by the pollution of the vehicles. It was a winding and difficult walk because it was really slippery. And then I started to really appreciate the snow in other parts of Hokkaido.

Bf requested for Shallen to bring us to a Unagi place but it was quite a long walk from 狸小路. All I remembered was that this shop is located at the building with the Coca Cola lights and directly under this Bishi Bashi signboard. I assume that is not the bishi bashi at the arcade haha.

This restaurant is small and traditional, specializing only in grilled unagi/eel dishes. To ensure all customers have a good experience, they want people to limit movement other than visiting the restroom. Do we agree to these terms? Of course we do! We have walked a long way for you.

We sat at the area where no footwear was allowed. We could sit in the traditional style or put our legs in the space under the table. Beside us, I noticed how a Japanese lady sat the traditional Seiza way while the Japanese gentleman sat the usual way. In my mind, I was wondering whether gender differences came into play. The menu is all about grilled unagi, just different in the amount of eel and the type of presentation. I love unagi, which is why my bf wanted me to have a real authentic experience although he himself is not a fan of any fish, or seafood with tiny bones like fish.

The first bite into the eel is smooth and flavourful. It has plenty of the 'fish meat' texture instead of all 'slimy skin' texture. Then I ate the other piece, which was the other half of the eel. There were so many tiny bones (a lot more than I have ever eaten) and it starts to be a little too prickly at the throat. The bones were chew-able and edible I supposed, but the experience of eating it was greatly reduced. I took away all those obvious bones sticking out but there was still a great amount left. I swallowed the rice at the end to ensure all bones get pushed down properly. Otherwise, the first half of the unagi is really delicious and well grilled! (total ¥5151 with tax)

After dinner, we had a large Macdonald's fries at ¥320 :P. And it does not stop here. We went to the takoyaki shop along 狸小路 as I was craving for some takoballs! They did not allow us to sit in if we only ordered one portion so we had to take away. The takoyaki (¥500) are piping hot, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They also have red pickled ginger in the takoyaki batter which is quite different from the Singapore ones.

Daiso

And the next part of my whole day was the most exciting! There is a DAISO somewhere along number 2 or 3 and it has 5 whole levels!! I thought 100 yen shops would have more presence in Japan than Daiso but Daiso is really conveniently located in different areas of Tokyo. In Singapore, all single Daiso items are S$2 but in Japan, it is not always ¥100. Certain items are ¥200, ¥300 or ¥500 depending on the type of product and quality.

I was shopping excitedly until they announced they were closing at 9pm. I quickly glanced through the levels and went down to pay. They have an area for customers to wrap and pack their items themselves. We saw a Singapore Kopitiam along the way back but it was closed on a Tuesday! I wonder how authentic the food is.

The walk back was long and slippery. But I enjoyed how we held onto each other tightly as we made our way back gingerly <3. We didn't have to walk back according to the landmarks because my 'google map' used his google map and found a more direct way!

Our Hokkaido time was official ending. 

 Thank you Chan Brothers for their great itinerary and service! 

Japan Hokkaido Day 6

6th day - 16 Jan 2017

Breakfast; Shiretoko Grand Hotel Kitakobushi 

Breakfast included thick congee, more corn soup and the best black coffee of all hotels so far! Dessert is also necessary for breakfast hehe.

Oshinkoshin Falls;

We had short 15 minutes visit of the Oshinkoshin Falls from a distance. Due to winter weather, I think snow has piled up and we were unable to walk up. The toilet nearby was also surrounded with heaps of snow and nobody could access it due to the blocked entrance. On the opposite side of the road, the scenery is delightful as well.

Our tour guide, Shallen, started to introduce the Hokkaido products that her company sold at a more competitive price. We got to sample the scallop snacks, tiramisu chocolate, wasabi ika and pistachio. They also recommended items like the blood circulation stick-on, gold T bar face lifter and cleaning water beads. Our total from this purchase is ¥43000. We never really saw all these products at the places we went so might as well buy from them at a cheaper price. 

The beauty bar was an item I considered for awhile because it is so expensive. But after using it for two weeks now, I always feel more rejuvenated after utilizing it around my eye area. Shallen warned others about purchasing the fakes online as they could pose as electrical hazards. Decided to just buy it to prevent more wrinkles from appearing!

Mt Lou; 硫黄山

The journey to get close to Mt Lou was my most challenging walk ever 😣. The snow had piled up and even though other visitors have paved a route, I walked with difficulty. The ground was uneven and I threaded unsteadily with full concentration on the ground. It was too tough for my small sized feet. With the strong wind blowing at the face, it was also best to keep my head down, lest the snow goes into my eyes. Everybody walked the same path because there was no other way haha. It was so cold that my camera froze and my bf's phone restarted itself.

On top, the sulphuric smell reminded me of century eggs. When the smoke flew into my face, it was a bit choking. Otherwise, it was quite tolerable and interesting to see nature in action. Back to the flat ground, I had a hard boiled egg at the store (¥100). The eggs are cooked by the natural heat produced by Mt Lou and it only has a slight sulphuric taste. 

Lunch; Lake Kussharo

Our lunch was at the food place along Lake Kussharo, the lake where you get to see many swans and ducks. The meal that day was steamboat style, featuring our add on 1.6kg crab (¥16000), just for the two of us! The tour leader suggested that 2 groups of couple can share a crab if it was too much. But it was just nice! And we ate to our heart's content :D. But we were slowpokes in eating since there were only two people digging into that one large crab. Not much time for us to get beautiful pictures at the lake.
 

The crab was very fresh, only prepared moments before we arrived. The pincers of the crab could be eating as sashimi, but it does not taste great. We cut up the crab in its raw form before we placed it in the pot. It is important not to overcook the crab, otherwise, it might stick to the shell and does not come off as one thick piece of delicacy. The meat is extremely juicy, tender and chewy. We also ordered two Mudan big prawns (¥1500 each) which were supposed to be eaten raw. The flesh is thick and slightly crunchy, with a sweet seafood aftertaste. I cannot believe how much I love prawn sashimi! The original meal without the extra seafood would not have been satisfying at all. Bits of seafood splattered here and there but the mess was all worth it.

We gathered for a group photo by the lake and we got our driver to be the photographer. The strong wind was howling and blowing away, I could not even keep my hair in place. 

New Akan Hotel; Lake Akan 

We reached New Akan Hotel earlier at about 3.30pm as we were heading for some ice fishing! Walked a distance to Lake Akan, listened to the instructions, and proceeded to test our fishing skill. One foldable chair and mini fishing rod were provided for us. Thankfully, the fishing took place in a covered tent and we were protected from the cold. 

Unhooking the lock, the line of the fishing rod will drop down fast into the ice hole. Once it stops, you lock it back and start to slowly turn the reel, hoping the fish gets attracted to the lure. No gloves are allowed when you handle the fishing rod. I think we only fished for 15 minutes before they close! Nope, we did not managed to catch any fish. 

Fish Tempura;

We were given vouchers to claim our fish tempura at the store nearby. I am guessing the fish they used is the Shishamo, the fish with many eggs at the stomach. Omg, it was the best fish tempura we have ever eaten! 😋 Tempura wise, it is perfectly fried and makes you wanting more. It does not have any fishy smell as well.

The night was falling as we explored the shopping area nearby. The shops were mostly selling wood-crafted art pieces and daily items. This was the place where my bf almost drowned in snow. We were standing outside the shop when I heard a sound and pulled him closer in. Then, a large pile of snow came falling onto the ground. Had he stood a little towards the outside, the accumulated snow on the shop front canopy would have dropped all over him! So dangerous leh.

There was also this dog who came smelling my bf's leg and walked away, and then sat outside the convenient store. When other people wanted to go into the store, it would politely move away and then go back to the same position again. We were wondering whether it was a stray dog but it was wearing a collar tag. The staff of the shop came out to pat and talk to the dog, and it was so obedient. Then, this old lady came walking out of the door and it jumped on her so happily. It was then that we realized this cute little dog was waiting patiently for its owner :D.

Dinner; New Akan Hotel

Everyone got a tatami room that day because there is no standard room in this hotel. They have 3 designs of yukata and they were so comfortable. They even provide a Nintendo playstation, which we realized later that it requires payment to be able to play. There was also a dryer at the far end in which your clothes can be dried in between two hot plates. I do not think it works very well as my underwear was not even half dried.

More hairy crab legs for dinner! I like this buffet place as well because the ambience was great. They have the pumpkin tempura and pizza which I kept on refilling my plate with. Japanese pizza are so yummy, with a thin and crispy crust. The terayaki chicken here is also tender and flavourful. Desserts wise, everything is awesome, especially the crispy fruit tarts and grape juice jelly. They have special tea like jasmine-oolong, rose-collagen and yuzu, which I very much love.

Onsen; 

The onsen is opened 24 hours and we went at about 10.30pm. They have a special garden onsen which requires us to wear their swim suit or overalls to enter. However, when I wanted to go in at about 11am, it closed! The sauna was also closed at the same time. This was the shortest onsen session. 

Tried the massage chairs (¥100 per 10 mins) outside instead and it was great with my sore back muscles.