楊雅雯's Reviews Page 10/17

Hakodate Station is a major transportation hub in Hakodate, and for many people visiting Hokkaido, Hakodate is their first stop. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants near the station, making the area very convenient. The famous Hakodate Morning Market is right next door, so after getting off the train, it's just a short walk to enjoy seafood and browse the market. There are also quite a few souvenir shops inside and outside the station, making it easy to buy Hokkaido snacks and local specialties.

You can also take the streetcar to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses, Motomachi, or Mount Hakodate, so transportation is quite convenient.

Overall, Hakodate Station isn't just a place to catch a train; it's also a convenient starting point for exploring Hakodate.

One of Hakodate's most iconic attractions is the historic Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse complex. A row of red brick warehouses lines the bay, and the red brick buildings against the blue sky and ocean create the romantic atmosphere of a Hokkaido port city. It's just a short walk from the streetcar stop, so it's very convenient to get to.

There are many unique little shops, souvenir shops, and gift shops inside the warehouses. The products are all thoughtfully designed, and it's easy to lose track of time while browsing. This is a great place to slow down, take pictures of the red brick buildings, look out at the ocean, and browse the shops, then stop somewhere for a bite when you get tired. If you visit Hakodate, I highly recommend setting aside an afternoon here. Without the pressure of a packed schedule, you can take your time walking around and enjoy Hakodate's unique waterfront charm.

Hakodate has a lot of character. Strolling slowly along the harbor, you can see the red brick warehouses, the port, and historic streetscapes. The strong international atmosphere makes it hard to stop taking pictures.

The best places to shop in the bay area are Bay Hakodate and Kanemori Yobutsukan. They have everything from local gifts and fragrances to sundries and cute little items, as well as a Sapporo Drug Store. You really do end up buying more and more, so it's very convenient if you're looking for Hokkaido souvenirs! Don't miss Hakodate's popular food spots either, such as Lucky Pierrot burgers and Hasegawa Store's yakitori bento. Lucky Pierrot can get pretty crowded, so you may have to wait for a table. As for the taste, that depends on your personal preference!

The Hakodate Bay Area isn't just for sightseeing. You can shop, eat, and buy souvenirs all in one place. It's perfect for spending half a day walking around and browsing at a relaxed pace. If you like retro streetscapes and little shops, you really shouldn't miss this area.

Asahikawa isn't just for shopping and eating ramen. I also highly recommend visiting the museum to learn about a different side of Hokkaido's history and culture.

Although the Asahikawa City Museum isn't very large, with only one floor above ground and one below, it has more to see than expected. On the first floor, you can see scenes of traditional Ainu life and the tools they used, giving you a more concrete understanding of Ainu culture. The basement focuses on Hokkaido's natural environment and settlement history, with many animal specimens and historical artifacts on display. It isn't tiring to walk through and is also a good place to take your time.

It happened to be drizzling the day we visited, which was a little disappointing at first, but then we realized that an indoor attraction like this is perfect for a rainy day. Without having to walk too much, you can learn about Ainu culture, Hokkaido's natural environment, and its settlement history all at once. If it happens to rain while you're in Asahikawa, this is a good backup plan.

I was actually a little nervous before checking in because quite a few of the reviews online weren't very good, so I had already prepared myself for the worst. But once we actually stayed there, I felt it wasn't as bad as the reviews said, and overall, it was fairly acceptable to me.

We stayed in a double room with two twin beds and a large Japanese-style room, so it was quite spacious. The room had heating and air conditioning, as well as extra comforters, so it wouldn't be cold at all if you came in winter.

The unfortunate thing about the room was that the soundproofing was really just average, and we could hear some noise from outside. However, it wasn't enough to affect our sleep.

The restaurant, on the other hand, left a good impression on me! The dining area was very spacious, with tatami mats and wooden tables and chairs, and the seating was quite comfortable. There were plenty of food options and a good variety of ingredients. Most importantly, they offered several kinds of sake to sample for free, so you could enjoy a little drink with your meal. It really felt like staying at a Hokkaido inn.

When you come to Sounkyo, the most important thing is, of course, the hot springs!

Choyotei has both indoor and open-air hot springs. Soaking in the piping-hot water was incredibly relaxing. This is exactly what staying at a hot spring inn in Sounkyo is all about.

Accommodations really come down to personal preference. Online reviews can be useful, but you won't know whether a place suits you until you've stayed there yourself.

Oh my gosh! The vivid blue before my eyes was so beautiful it left me speechless!! It felt like stepping right into a computer wallpaper, so dreamy it almost didn't seem real.

The clear blue water and reflections of the dead trees created mesmerizing layers of blue in the sunlight. It looked beautiful no matter how I photographed it.

No wonder it's packed with people every day—everyone comes to see the legendary “Blue Pond” with their own eyes.

Although it was absolutely overflowing with visitors that day, the moment I saw the view, I still thought—it was worth it!

On the way to Biei, we unexpectedly came across the "Hill of Atoms," surrounded by Hokkaido's natural beauty. The hillside is covered with colorful flowers that change with the seasons, and the wide-open Hokkaido scenery makes it really photogenic.

It's also a free attraction, with free parking and restrooms, so there's no admission fee to worry about. It's definitely worth stopping by for a walk if you're passing through!

It takes about 20 minutes to stroll around the entire grounds, so you don't need to set aside much time to enjoy the fields of flowers and natural scenery. ATV rentals are also available for an additional fee if you want to explore further, but just walking around is honestly enough!

Some areas are only accessible by ATV, but for us, walking along the hillside, taking photos, and enjoying the Hokkaido breeze was already very satisfying.

Coming to Furano, I didn't expect to find the fun-filled Miyama Pass Art Park tucked away amid beautiful views of the Tokachi mountain range!

It's not just a place to enjoy the scenery; it also has a trick art museum, a Ferris wheel, glass etching experiences, and other attractions. Doing these activities surrounded by mountain views creates an unexpected contrast that's pretty interesting!

My favorite part was looking out over the Furano landscape from up high, with the distant mountains and vast scenery all in view. The scenery alone makes it worth visiting.

But I have to say, the attractions here really aren't cheap...

Trick Art Museum: JPY 1,300

Ferris wheel: JPY 600

Glass etching experience: JPY 500

Grilled lamb (Jingisukan): about JPY 1,500

Add drinks, and before you know it, the total comes to over JPY 5,000. It hurt my wallet a little, but overall, I still think it's worth visiting at least once.

On this trip to Hokkaido, we unexpectedly discovered a small attraction we really liked!

This park in Nakafurano actually has a large parking lot by the entrance, but we ended up entering from halfway up the hill by chance and found a different view than expected.

There is no admission fee here; you only have to pay extra to ride the ski lift. The lift keeps moving without coming to a complete stop, so if it's your first time, you need to pay a little attention to the speed when getting on and off. We rode from halfway up the hill down to the bottom, then back up to the halfway point.

It was my first time riding this kind of lift with my feet dangling in the air, and I was honestly a little scared at first. I held on tighter, but once I slowly got used to it, it was a lot of fun! The view looking down at the flower fields from the lift was especially unique, and the cool breeze felt so refreshing. Both the adults and kids really enjoyed the experience.

Also, this isn't one of Furano's most popular attractions, so there weren't many visitors when we went. The whole place felt very relaxed, and we didn't have to keep squeezing through crowds, which was really nice.

The highest point of the lift is halfway up the hill. From there, you can look out over the streets of Nakafurano, with Hokkaido's mountains in the distance. The scenery is beautiful, without too many noisy crowds. Riding the lift, feeling the breeze, and looking at the flower fields and mountain views unexpectedly made this one of our favorite stops on our Hokkaido trip.

When visiting Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido, I recommend taking the Kurodake Ropeway up the mountain! Instead of making a strenuous climb, you can ride the ropeway up and then transfer to the chairlift to easily ascend Kurodake, taking in magnificent views of the mountains, forests, and Sounkyo along the way.

It's really accessible for people who don't hike often, letting you enjoy the alpine scenery of Daisetsuzan with hardly any effort.

The most delightful surprise was the ride up on the ropeway and chairlift—the journey itself was a feast for the eyes.

Hokkaido's mountain scenery is truly beautiful. Looking out over Sounkyo from above, the vast and spectacular views made me want to keep taking photos.

You can easily get close to nature without testing your stamina, so this spot is well worth adding to your Hokkaido itinerary!