Japan - Dec 2016: Hakodate

We drove from Noboribetsu to Hakodate. The plan was to stop for strawberry and apple picking on the way. But when we reached the farm area, we saw that all the apple trees and strawberry fields were empty, and found out from one of the farmers that we were 1 month late! All the fruits have been harvested already. We could only buy apples and apple juice.

So we drove on to Hakodate, about 200 km away. When we left Noboribetsu, we were on snow-covered roads but the weather was still pretty good.

We even got excited when it started to snow while we were at a pee-stop.

Then as we drove further, it began to snow heavily. Quite a nerve-wrecking experience driving in the snow. 

Because of the weather, we couldn't go to the Onuma Park where we were supposed to be able to do ice-fishing and ride snowmobiles on the frozen lake. We did managed to get a really good meal at Kurobeko Yakiniku.

We were relieved when we finally arrive at our hotel - Dormy Inn Express Hakodate Goryukaku. It was a simple business hotel conveniently located. More importantly, it had a laundry room, and served free ramen for supper!

After we settled down and rested for a bit, we headed out for dinner at a highly-rated seafood restaurant - Hakodata Seafood Kaikobo. 

When we stepped in, the restaurant manager actually told us that the restaurant was full. Apparently it's a really popular restaurant and requires booking way in advance. But we gave a pathetic look, and I think the fact that we spoke English (and not Mandarin maybe) and had a brood of children, they actually made room for us and gave us 2 private rooms. The food was good, but pricey.

The plan for the next day was to go to Hakodate Fish Market. But just after we parked, it started to rain, and we decided that's not good weather for walking around in the fish market. So we decided to go to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse.

It wasn't a fantastic shopping mall. But there was a Lego play area, which the kids enjoyed tremendously.

And they also sold postcards and stamps, and had an old school mailbox. So I got Nadine to write a card to send home. She decided to write to Tita. She was so excited when the mail arrived!

The rain finally subsided, and we quickly made our way to the fish market.

We didn't walk too much because of the cold and drizzle. Went into a restaurant for lunch, and then had to do a part 2 of going to McDonald's again, for the kids.

Because of the rain, we couldn't go up to Mount Hakodate too. The cable cars were suspended and there was no way to go up. Night view up there was supposed to be fantastic. Ah well ....

So we headed back to the hotel. But instead of resting in, our family decided to go for a tram ride. We took all the way to Hakodate Station, bought some snacks, and went back to the hotel.

By the time we got back to the hotel, it was snowing again. Aunty Wendy and I decided to be adventurous and headed out into the snow, to go to the convenience store nearby. It was quite fun actually to be in that heavy snow. Not something we can ever experience back home!

Everything was covered in white within 15 min.

Snow-covered roads, rooftops and cars the next day.

We then saw in the news that this was another snowstorm, and the airport in Sapporo was once again grounded. Thank God we got out of Sapporo before another snowstorm!

Japan - Dec 2016: Noboribetsu

After 4 days in Sapporo, we moved down south to Noboribetsu, for our ryokan and onsen experience.

We stayed at the Kashoutei Hanaya Ryokan, and we all got a Japanese room - for the authentic tatami, mattress on the floor experience.

After checking in, the first thing that we did was to go to the onsen, except for Nadine, who refused to join us. Even Aaron was gungho enough to try!

It was quite an experience showering in the communal bath (men and women are in separate areas thankfully). But it was so misty in there due to the high temperature that after a while, it didn't bother us. The onsen took more getting used to. It was so hot we had to ease ourselves in very very slowly. And I lasted only 15 min. Felt like I was being cooked.

The highlight after the onsen was the kaiseki-style dinner. It was such an elaborate dinner, and every dish was so exquisitely prepared and decorated. Even the children's meal was so sumptuous!

Stopped taking individual dish photos after this .... more interested in eating!

Initially, we were wondering if we'd be full as all the dishes had such small portions. But by the end of dinner, we were so stuffed!

And the next morning, breakfast was equally sumptuous!

After breakfast, we headed out to Jigokudani - Hell Valley. It lies just above Noboribetsu Onsen and has hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activities. It is the main source of Noboribetsu's hot spring waters.

I'm always amused by how Nadine likes to read sign boards and maps.

Next, we went to the Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura, a history theme park highlighting the Edo Period.

We got to take photos with Samurais and Ninjas ...

learnt a bit of history about the Edo Period ...

took scenic photos

played games from the Edo Period ...

watched cultural performances that showcased life during the Edo Period ...

and received cookies from a Santa Cat, which was so random!

Both kids and adults enjoyed the park.

Back at the ryokan, we went to the onsen again, to warm ourselves after a cold day out. This time, Nadine agreed to try. It was quite an experience bathing together with her at the public bath, and dipping into the onsen together! Great mother-daughter bonding!

After onsen, it was another sumptuous kaiseki-style dinner.

We loved our ryokan-onsen experience. Next time we come back to Japan, we will definitely try again!

A farewell photo in front of the ryokan on the morning of our departure. Think the hotel staff that took this photo for us was shivering from the cold, that's why the photo turned out blur!

Japan - Dec 2016: Sapporo

We had a wintery and snowy holiday last December with the Gans and Gong Gong KK.

The weekend before we were due to fly off, there was a major snowstorm in Hokkaido, so bad that flights were cancelled and people were stuck at the airport. Thank God the weather cleared up by the time we flew in.

11 pc of luggage for 10 people!

The first of many snowy white roads we saw in Sapporo

Ready for the winter holiday!

Walking out from the hotel - Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo - on the first night in search of dinner. Some parts of the road was icy and slippery. Had to be very careful as we walked.

The kids enjoying every bit of the wintery weather and the soft snow.

Our first dinner was quite unremarkable. We decided to go to a sushi restaurant but they had only sushi and nothing else. No rice, no noodles. So the kids only ate tamago sushi and chawanmushi. Obviously it wasn't enough for them, especially the 3 growing Gan boys. We had to supplement their dinner with snacks from the Daimaru supermarket after that! We decided we had to do better for the rest of the holiday!

We sort of knew we probably would not be skiing very much. So there was no need to stay in a ski resort. Instead, we stayed in a hotel in Sapporo, and took a 50-min bus ride to the Sapporo Teine Highland Ski Park for the first 2 days.

Killing time on the 50-min ride to the ski park - play tic tac toe!

Group photo just after we alighted from the bus!

I decided that I'd take ski lesson this time round, with Ethan, since Aunty Wendy and Gong Gong KK volunteered to look after Aaron and Nadine, who both did not want to take lessons. 

The lessons were good and fun, but I realised that I did not have the guts for skiing. Just couldn't stomach the high speed of going down the slope. I'd rather fall! So I guess that's all the skiing I'd ever do!

Meanwhile, Daddy was trying to remember how to ski again

and the kids were having a whale of a time playing with snow, burying Gong Gong KK, and sledding  down the gentle slope at the kids' park.

The kids' park even as an escalator to bring the kids to the top of the slope!

On the first night, we'd seen long queues at the buffet restaurants. While attracted by the very economical prices, we were to tired and hungry to queue. But we decided to try 2 different buffet restaurants for the next 2 nights. The spread of food was not huge, but the quality of food was very good, and we definitely would not be able to get this quality of buffet food at such good prices! 

Christmas lights outside Daimaru

The next day, we went back to the ski park, and I decided that I would stay and play with the kids, rather than attempt to ski again.

Aunty Wendy gamely doing the snow-angel with Nadine

Our snowman

And Daddy had a much better run this time round.

The red scoop that Aaron was holding - he spotted it at the ski shop the 1st day we were there, and immediately asked Daddy to buy it. Daddy said to him, "I don't event know what's that!" And Aaron's brilliant reply, "I can use this to make snowballs!" How did he figure that out?!

Another brilliant Aaron moment - previous evening at the ski resort, while waiting for the last bus to take us back to the city, Aaron needed to go to the loo. Daddy had to rush him to the loo and back. And they couldn't run because the road was icy and slippery. Next evening, I told Daddy to take Aaron to the loo before we go to the bus stop. Daddy insisted that it's not necessary coz Aaron had just gone 15 min before. Then at the bus stop, Aaron came up to Daddy and said very carefully, "Daddy, do you think there's time for you to bring me to the toilet?" And gave a very I'm-so-sorry-but-I-hope-you'll-say-yes look. We all burst out laughing, and Daddy had to rush Aaron to the loo, once again. Thankfully both evenings, they made it back just as the bus was pulling up.

4th day in Sapporo - a day of feasting!

We took a nice walk from our hotel went to the Nijo Fish Market. 

The streets were beautifully covered with fresh snow.

The moment we got there, we decided to go into a restaurant for early lunch, to beat the lunch crowd.

Aaron eyeing the fish roe rice bowl. We were really surprised that he liked it so much!

The kids enjoying their lunch. The 2 eldest kids of the Gan and Lee family preferred to save their stomachs for McDonald's.

 

The adults with our yummilicious salmon/seafood rice bowls.

That's just part 1 of our feast. Part 2, we walked along the fish market for more food!

Oysters and tuna

Scallops

It was quite a fun experience crowding around a heater to eat in the cold!

And then, after the adults were satisfied, it was the kids' turn to be pleased. McDonald's!

On the way to McDonald's, we saw these Hello Kitty barrier supports! What a cute decoration for an otherwise boring and dull construction site! Trust the Japanese to be creative that way!

After all that food, we were really stuffed. So much so that for dinner, we decided to just buy some food from 7Eleven and bring back to our hotel room to eat! Have to say that the 7Eleven bento sets were good!