Hokkaido Travel Tips

I'm thinking since I do have plans to visit Hokkaido next time for a free and easy trip again, so I shall keep a post of all the useful download freebies and links so I can find it easily also next time :-)

Found this online and think it looks kwel to have an idea how far each access area in Hokkaido:

And for access in Sapporo:

If you are thinking to hire local travel tours while you are in Hokkaido, you can checkout the links below:

• Club Tourism YOKOSO Japan Tour: http://www.yokoso-japan.jp/en/depart_hokkaido.html
• Hokkaido Sightseeing: http://www.hokkaido-sightseeing.com/en/
• Private tour guide: http://kimi-tourguide.blogspot.com/p/need-tour-guide-in-hokkaido.html

Public transport for tourists in Otaru : 

• Part 1: http://www.city.otaru.lg.jp/sisei_tokei/otaru/foreigner/otaru-map.data/omote-en.pdf 
• Part 2: http://www.city.otaru.lg.jp/sisei_tokei/otaru/foreigner/otaru-map.data/ura-en.pdf

Freebies: Maps to download

• Otaru town map
• Central Sapporo map
• West part of Greater Sapporo map
• East part of Greater Sapporo map 

Up-to-date guide for Japan tourist by JNTO:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/pdf/viewer.html?file=tips/ukeire.pdf 

Useful apps to download:
1) The app provides videos for easy-to-understand information on “Simple way to get access at Wi-Fi spots”, “How to purchase discount tickets”, “Table manners for Japanese cuisine”, and more.
Enjoy periodically uploaded articles, such as “The Best Recommended Japanese Cosmetics”, “The History of Sushi”, and “Selecting Sake”, even if you’re not traveling in Japan.
To see online version: http://www.goodlucktripjapan.jp/zh/tokyo/ 
Download app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.goodlucktrip.goodlucktrip 
2) *Updated 6-Nov-2014* Need translator to bridge language gap? 
Get this free speech translation app:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/pdf/viewer.html?file=tips/FreeTranslationServices.pdf
3) *Updated 7-Nov-2014* The Ultimate Travel App. for Travel in Japan is now available!
Japan's "must-sees" recommended by guidebook editors, are categorized by theme for your searching pleasure.
Useful for gathering information before your trip and for searching new destinations during your travels.
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.mapple.digjapan
Iphone/Ipad: https://itunes.apple.com/app/digjapan!-travelers-guide/id930001009

Prepaid wireless data in Japan
http://lindatan878.blogspot.com/2014/04/prepaid-wireless-data-in-japan.html

Pocket wifi device
Rent a japan pocket wifi for a min of RM30 a day! You can online anywhere, anytime in Japan with X number of device connected to it. Checkout here:
http://www.beeemobile.com/#!rent--rate/cmvl 

*Updated 22-Sept-2014* Get Pocket Wifi from Wiyo Malaysia
Rent a pocket wifi at RM35/day from Wiyo Malaysia. And they offer pick-up/return at Publika Mont Kiara office or delivery by low cost courier service right to your door.
http://www.wiyo.my/

*Updated 6-Nov-2014* Comprehensive and informative Hokkaido travel guide by JNTO:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/pdf/viewer.html?file=regional/hokkaido/hokkaido.pdf

For the full itinerary of my Hokkaido trip, checkout here.

Otaru Canal

Famous Otaru Canal (小樽運河, Otaru Unga) is one of the famous attractions in Hokkaido that u shud not miss!

History info of this canal extracted from Sapporo Tour-guides website:

Its 1140m in length and 40m in width and was completed in 1923 after nine years of construction work. At first, the canal was crowded with barges carrying coal or marine products.

    Around that time, many stone warehouses were built to store these goods. But after the piers were built at Otaru Port, enabling goods to be carried directly from ships onto trucks, the canal fell into disuse and the water became stale and smelly.  

    At first, the city planned to fill in the entire canal and build a road over it. But citizens resisted the plan, and ten years later, in 1986, the city finally gave in and agreed to preserve the canal. Thanks to a citizens' movement, a part of the canal was beautifully restored in the 1980s instead of being landfilled, while the warehouses were transformed into museums, shops and restaurants.
    The canal makes for a pleasant stroll during the day, when artists present their works to passing tourists, and during the evenings when old fashioned gas lamps are lit and provide a romantic atmosphere. The canal also serves as the main site of the town's Snow Light Path Festival.

Stone warehouses

Winter night view at Otaru Canal

Too bad I was here only at night..so only got night view nia..

Us @Otaru Canal

I'm gonna spam you with more photos of us at the Otaru Canal here..nyek  nyek..since I super love the romantic atmosphere here
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Let me show you the surrounding scenery near the canal here
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Big Otaru Canal Map just right beside the canal

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How to get here?
The Otaru Canal is a ten minute walk or a two minute bus ride down the main road from Otaru Station.

For the full itinerary of my Hokkaido trip, checkout here.

Tanaka Shuzo Brewery 田中酒造 @Otaru

Founded in 1899, this old establishment brews sake in a stone warehouse that has an atmosphere reminiscent of the good old days of Otaru. The stone warehouse, built in 1905, is an historical building designated by the city. 

Tanaka Shuzo Brewery Kikko Gura

Outside compound of the brewery

Entrance to the brewery shop

The ground floor is the shop selling all different sake and wines and upstairs is the brewing area.

We first proceed to the upper level to checkout the brewing area. However, I failed to understand the whole thing as most of the display are written in Japanese -_-"'. So I shall just show you whatever photos I took in the brewing area and you figure it out urself ya..

Kenro san was explaining how they start the brewing process..kirikuru..dun understand

 Okay..move to see the brewing area..but no idea what each of it for

Okla..forget about the brewing area la..direct go to see the end product for sale la :-P

The sales ppl trying to explain what is each wine for and its benefits

I'm not standing in front when the lady was explaining since I was busy kepoing taking photos around.

So many varieties of wine..which one is good ah? Dun worry...their policy here is to use 100% local ingredients for their sake aka Japanese rice wine. Why are there several sake brewery in Otaru apart from this rite? Hokkaido is blessed with clean and tasty water and high quality rice available in here!

Anyway, for those who wondering which are the Otaru recommended alcohol brand, you can check the link below as its claimed to be the "official guarantee".
http://www.city.otaru.lg.jp.e.go.hp.transer.com/jigyo/sangyo/otarubrand/osumituki_brand/otaru_brand_itiran_sake.html
So, from the page it seems Tanaka Shuzo keeps the tradition of the Otaru refined sake “Takaragawa” using its advanced new technologies.

I bought one "beauty" wine from here..with the hope I look prettier like Japanese lady too? lolo

The shop gave us the 2 little wine cups for me to enjoy with the beauty wine

The benefits of these beauty wine..if you know how to read?

How to get here?
TANAKA SHUZO Brewery 田中酒造
Address: 2-2 Nobuka-cho Otaru-shi
Tel: 0134-21-2390
Business Hours: 9:00～18:00
It takes about 5 minutes on foot from JR Minamiotaru Station.
Website:http://www.tanakashuzo.com (Japanese)
Email: otarutsh@triton.ocn.ne.jp

For the full itinerary of my Hokkaido trip, checkout here.

Otaru Music Box Museum (Otaru Orgel Doh)

Wonder what are the attractions in Otaru shopping street aka Sakaimachi Street? Otaru Music Box Musuem is one of the must visit place!

Its one of the largest museum shops of music boxes, orgel, in Japan and it's located near the southern end of Sakaimachi Street. The beautiful century-old building, designated as one of historic landmarks of Otaru City, is full of music boxes in various sizes and types.

Otaru Music Box Museum

The beautiful century-old building, designated as one of historic landmarks of Otaru City, is full of music boxes in various sizes and types.

In front of the museum is the Steam Clock made by a Canadian clock maker. It was a gift from Vancouver to Otaru.The five steam chimes blow the melody every 15 minutes and the main steam whistles on the hour. This is a popular landmark for tourists. 

Steam Clock in front of Otaru Music Box Museum

Inside the museum:

To get a nice view of the place, you will need to go up 2nd level

Piano music box

Not sure what are these music box dee...

Merry-go-round music box

Unique swan music box

 
Ferris wheels music box

Lucky cat music box

This is the one I got as souvenir...lucky cat..will you bring me more luck and wealth? :-)

My lucky cat music box

They have a sticker below Made in Japan only

Mini steam clock replicas..really cute and a must buy as souvenir!

Or you can get the magnet too

My mini steam clock magnet

At Otaru Music Box Museum Hall Number 2, you can enjoy the sound of Aeolian Pipe Organs, an antique automatic pipe organ, built in England and the first of its kind introduced to Japan.

You can make “the only one music box in the world” at Handicraft Studio, You-Kobo. Variety of materials such as glass accessories as well as methods including fusing and sandblasting are available.

And only for Apple Vacations customers, you get 5% discount from a tagged price if you purchase any music box here...and if you do not plan to get anything here, if you return this card back, you get a special gift! 

Special Double Bonus Card only for Apple customers!

FREE GIFT - A nice unique snowflakes hand phone chain!

Price / Rate

• Admission Free 
• Music box making: About 1,500 - 2,500 yen (varies according to the parts you choose) *booking required

Opening Hours

• 9:00 - 18:00 
• 9:00 - 19:00 (Fridays and Saturdays in summer season) 
• Closed: No closing days

How to get here:

Address / Location : 1-2-3, Irifune, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, 047-0021

Telephone number: +81-134-22-1108

Fax number: +81-134-21-2531

Website: http://www.otaru-orgel.co.jp/english/e_main.html

Email: info@otaru-orgel.co.jp

Access / Public Transport

• 7 minutes walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station 
• 25 minutes walk from JR Otaru Station

For the full itinerary of my Hokkaido trip, checkout here.