| Summary | I tried to go Hokkaido for the first time in 8 years since we are not being
allowed to go abroad until fall at least. Though I considered the eastern, northern and southern part of Hokkaido for the destination. I prefered around Biei to other destinations however I have been there several times. Then I added the Shakotan Peninsula for the destionations, staying in Otaru. |
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| Campaign | I have always planed travels originally these days. Because packaged tours were expensive and I am not able to go what I want. Of course, to refrain from any business dinner and night life thrives, always to move alone. Don't stop by at Sapporo both on the way and way back. Nowadays, I recieved some email from airlines that I have got on and dive centers that I have dived. They promoted to fly with them and buy now dive later. I am supporting Japanese companies that related transport, tourism indusry and hotel business what I can. To keep them to be bought by Chinese or other foreign firms. |
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| Itinerary | I chose the flight from Kansai to Sin-Chitose by Peach, since direct flight from Kansai to Asahikawa and Kansai via Haneda were expensive. From the Shin-Chitose Airport to Sapporo by JR or bus, From Sapporo to Asahikawa by express bus. I compared to stay in Asahikawa and in Biei or Furano. There are many affordable hotel in Asahikawa, so I selected to stay in Asahikawa. I took a day trip to Biei from Asahikawa every day, four days in Biei, Furano and Hokuryu. After that, I move to Otaru, then I went to Shakotan. Next day, going back home. |
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| No sunflower | After finishing to book the flight, I planed the itinerary in detail. I found an article that said the Sunflower Festival was cancelled this year. I thought it might be not crowded with people, but I found out they didn't plant seeds this year. I suddenly changed the plan to visit Hokuryu, and added one day to visit Shakotan. |
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| Change again | Though there was no chance to see sunflowes in Hokuryu, I came across the information of sunflowe garden in Sunagawa. I tried to stop by that when I moved from Asahikawa to Otaru. |
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| Asahikawa | I arrived at the Shin-Chitose Airport around noon, then headed to the Sapporo
Station by JR. Next I got on the express bus bound for Asahikawa. I stayed in Asahikawa four nights, and going around Biei and Furano three days. But I gave up to go to Furano, since lavender season was over and not good weather. I planed to go to the Biei Staion by JR or bus, then rented a bycile and went around. I stayed the Y's Hotel Asahikawa Eki-mae, which was just in front of the staition, new, clean and affordable price, though rooms was not so large. |
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| First day in Biei | I got to the Biei Station by train, then rented a bicycle. I have
not decided where to go. So I wandered "Shin-ei-no-Oka","Shikisai-no-Oka","Panoramic-road","San-ai-no-Oka" and "Kanno Farm". |
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| Second day in Biei | It was rainning in the morning, and stoped around noon. I departed to Biei in the afternoon, and wandered around patchwork hills area by bicycle. The scenery was not so beautiful, since no sun shine made it not vivid but dull colors. |
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| Third day in Biei | The only sunny day in Biei according to the weather forecast, I visited the Shirahige Waterfalls in the morning and the Shirogane Blue Pond. Then came back to the Biei Staition by bus, wandered around patchwork hills area by bicycle same as yesterday. It was cloudy until noon actually, and getting sunny later in the day. |
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| Shirahige Waterfalls | However I was able to get there through the specifical road for bicycles. I went there by bus departing from the Asahikawa Bus Terminal. |
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| Another pond looks blue | I walked from the Shirahige Waterfalls to the Shirogane Blue Pond
through the Shirakaba Esplanade. Because there were few buses and it took about one hour on foot. I found out a small blue pond looked like a reservoir while I headed the Blue Pond. |
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| Shirogane Blue Pond | After dropping once, about one hour took me the Shirogane Blue Pond. Though it was cloudy, the pond was sutunning in blue. The Biei Rever has blue color even in the Biei Town area. |
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| Hills in Biei | Moving to the Biei Station from the Blue Pond by bus, taking photos in Biei hills with sunlight. | ||
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| To Otaru via Sunagawa |
I happened to know there was a sunflower field in Sunagawa. I got a information that sunflowers were in full bloom before I was departing. As Sunagawa located on the way to Otaru from Asahikawa, I decieded to give it a try. I got off a bus at Sunagawa-Yoshino, headed to the sunflower field by walk. Unfortunately, the sunflowers had already withered just as expected. Since there were few buses, I went to the Oasis Park in Sunagawa on foot. After that, I got on the local train boud for Iwamizawa in the Sunagawa Station. Then I change the trains in the Iwamizawa Staion bound for Otaru. |
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| To Shakotan from Otaru | I thought about to stay one night in Shakotan, but it might be hard to
stay in Ryokan alone in high season. So I chose to stay two nights in Otaru, and to take a day trip on both days. Purchasing "Guranburu Shiribesi Free Ticket" : two days free ticket for \3,800 |
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| First day at Shakotan |
On first day, I went to Bikuni where final stop of the bus as holiday schedules. I went to the observatory in the Cape Ogon. Then wait for the next bus bound for the Cape Kamui. I had just about one hour in the Cape Kamui, to got on the next bus. After the Cape Kamui, I went to the Shimamui Beach by bus. |
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| Cape Kamui |
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| Sighting of bears |
I planed to take much time in the Cape Shakotan area, since it is so spacious
to walk around. I found a signboard saying "keep out" near the light house in the Cape Shakotan. I was able to be only around the Shimamui Beach through the tunnel. I had much time and nowher to go, just killing time. It couldn't be helped, I tryed to visit eastern promenade area next day. I told it to the tourist information desk while the bus took a quick break. They told me that we were prohibited to enter all eastern area from the Cape Shakotan Lighthouse. I reserched the matter by internet. I found out there was a sighting of bears five days before, so after that entry was strictly prohibited around there. |
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| Shimamui Beach |
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| Secon day at Shakotan | There was nowhere to go around the Cape Shakotan area. I chose not first bus but second bus departed at 9. Then I visited only the Cape Kamui, so I had enough time to walk around: three and a half hours. I chanced upon a tour getting on a small and looking up the cape from sea surfave. But I was told there was a risk to pour sea water on my camera. So I gave up to take part in the tour, and walked to a village downward for over one hour. It was past 5:30p.m when a bus arrived at the Otaru Terminal. I walked to the city center, but almost shops closed at 6p.m. |
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| Walking from the cape to sea shore and retruned around Yobetu. |
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| Otaru | The Otaru Canal, Lamps in the Otaru station, Furins: wind bell and the
Kitaichi Hall. stayed just one night in TRIFITO Hotel looked like tasteful. |
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| Back to home | I went to the city center before check out, though every shot was opening
at 10. So I came back to the hotel and checked out, then returned there and walked around. After that, I headed to the Otaru Station, moved to the Shin Chitose Airport by train. Returned the Kansai Aioport at evening. |
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| After the travel |
I heard an anouncement saying name of the station "New Chitose Airport"
in the train . I felt something strange with that. No one felt same as me. |
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