Life advice: You must visit Hokkaido in winter.
A winter trip to Hokkaido has always been on my travel bucket list, and I finally made it happen this year! The main purposes of this trip were skiing + hot springs + penguin watching.
[Sapporo]
➡️Recommended attractions:
1. Odori Park
2. Sapporo Clock Tower
3. Tanukikoji Shopping Street
4. Shiroi Koibito Park: 800 yen to visit the museum
➡️Shopping malls:
1. Near JR Sapporo Station: Daimaru, Stellar Place, Tokyu Department Store
2. Near Odori Park: Mitsukoshi, Parco, Marui Imai
➡️Food:
1. Sumibiyakiniku Shintan: Yakiniku restaurant, reservations required.
2. Kaitenzushi Triton (Kita 8 Jo Kosei Branch): Conveyor belt sushi restaurant, only on-site queuing available, long wait times.
3. Sumibi Izakaya: Random find, tastes pretty good, across the street from JR Sapporo Station North Exit.
4. Yamaen-ya Ramen: Self-service ordering
➡️Hotels:
1. Sapporo Keihan Ex Hotel: 5-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station North Exit, convenience store downstairs.
2. Sapporo Emmsia Hotel: 15 minutes from JR Sapporo Station, 7-Eleven downstairs, hotel has hot springs.
[Otaru]
➡️Recommended attractions:
1. Otaru Canal
2. Otaru Shopping Street: Hello Kitty, Snoopy, Music Box Museum
3. Otaru Aquarium: Penguin walks and dolphin shows
4. Mount Tengu: Remember to check the official website for operating hours before going.
5. Funamizaka: This view is really average
➡️Food:
1. Sankaku Market: Takeda Fresh Fish Shop, Eien Hanten Shokudo, it's quite small inside, with only a few seafood shops.
2. Masazushi (Main Branch): Made reservations for omakase in advance
3. LeTAO (Desserts)
4. Uniya: Signature dish is sea urchin rice bowl
5. Kaisen Shokudo Sawazaki Suisan (Branch 3)
6. Menya Unga
➡️Hotels:
Grand Park Otaru: The hotel is opposite JR Otaru Station, and there is a Don Quijote nearby. The hotel also has hot springs.
[Lake Toya]
➡️Food:
1. Soup Curry mog mog Hot Flavor
2. Menya Arashi
3. Seven-Eleven with the black label
➡️Hotels:
The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa
[Noboribetsu]
➡️Recommended attractions:
1. Noboribetsu Bear Park: Free shuttle bus from Dai-ichi Takimotokan Hotel, tickets are cheaper at the Noboribetsu Tourist Information Center than buying them on-site. Features include the dried fish cable car and bear performances.
2. Jigokudani (Hell Valley)
➡️Food:
1. Noboribetsu Onsen Market
2. Sugiyōhōen: Honeycomb ice cream
3. Ramen Tenho
4. Rakunoukan: Milk, pudding
➡️Hotels:
Dai-ichi Takimotokan