HOKKAIDO AUTUMN ITINERARY 9D8N : PLACES THAT YOU MUST VISIT (Day 1-4)
It's been long since I write about anything. But let me share something that's close to my heart, Hokkaido. Ever since I posted daily snippets of the trip on IG story, many have asked about this trip, eg. the budget, the itinerary. So if you are keen to find out more about an autumn trip in Hokkaido, where to go, where to stay, where to eat, please read this.Disclaimer: This trip was completed by my entire family of 8 adults and 2 toddlers. Transport was done via JR trains/metros in Sapporo and a rented mini bus (with a local Japanese driver) for the rest of the places. DAY 1 SIN-SAPPOROTo minimize disruption to our work, we picked red-eye flights that reach New Chitose Airport around noon. China Airlines has a flight that transits in Taipei Taoyuan and reaches New Chitose at 13.30 Since everyone will be tired that day, we stayed one night in Sapporo to recuperate before moving on to other cities. From New Chitose to Sapporo, JR trains take a shorter time 38min vs coach buses (1hr) so needless to say, we opted for JR trains. Recommended Hotel: Solaria Nishitetsu Sapporo (5min walk from JR Sapporo Station)We love this hotel as it is clean, sleek and chic. Rooms are typical Japanese hotel room sizes, rather cramp but still walkable after laying out luggages. Buffet breakfast was great, lots of local Hokkaido ingredients and an entire section on DIY Seafood Don. Dinner: Okushiba Soup Curry Ekimae I actually bookmarked so many other soup curry places but this happened to be the most convenient spot, right at the basement connected to the subway. It specializes in shrimp-based curry broth. Be prepared to queue. https://okushiba.net/soseiji/DAY 2 SAPPORO-FURANO-SOUNKYOBreakfast starts at 6.30am so it was great for early birds like us who have natural alarm clocks by our boys. Departed hotel at 8.15am to travel northeast wards to our end stop of the day, Sounkyo. Along the way, we stopped by these places:  Mikuni Railway Museum Torinuma ParkOne of the scenic spots in Furano for maple-viewing. Furano Cheese FactoryOur lunch pitstop where we queued for more than 30min just for the pizzas. Would suggest heading elsewhere for lunch and come here for shopping for dairy products instead. There was no sight of any production rooms that would allow us to see the cheese making process.                                            Biei River Shirahige Falls Hotel Taisetsu - Restaurant Inankur Meaning "Happiness" in Ainu language, the restaurant is probably the newest in this area as it just opening June 2022. Highly recommend the course dinner DAY 3 SOUNKYO - TOKACHIGAWA Mt Kurodake RopewayMomijidani Hike Approx 60min-hike to the ending point- Momijidaki Waterfalls. Only completed half as the hiking trails were not toddler-friendly.Lunch with a gorgeous view @Fratello Di Mikuni KamikawaAmuse Bouche from our 4-course lunch menuMikuni Pass Observation DeckMatsumi Great Bridgethe road with the highest point in HokkaidoTaushubetsu River BridgeHigashitaisetsu Nature CenterGreat place to learn about the biodiversity of the Taisetsu region. Many interactive booths that's fun for kids. Stay: Tokachigawa Daiichi Onsen Hotel DAY 4 TOKACHIGAWA-OBIHIRORyugetsu Sweetpia GardenOtofuke - Natsuzora Filming LocationButter Making @ Shintoku KyodogakushaMinatoyaWhen in Shintoku, eat sobaSahoro Bear Mountain Hokkaido's one and only uncaged bear enclosureYakiniku Dinner @ Daichi no TakumiPart 2 to be continued:DAY 5 OBIHIRO-LAKE SHIKOTSU DAY 6 LAKE SHIKOTSU-KUROMATSUNAIDAY 7 LAKE TOYA-JOZANKEI DAY 8 SAPPORO
