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.

Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade

Looking for a shopping place in Sapporo? You should not miss out Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade. It's Sapporo's oldest shopping area built in the late 1800's. So some shops have been in business for more than 100 years dee!

It consists of a long street that runs all the way from West 1 at the Soseigawa River Park to West 7, which is closed to vehicle traffic and covered by an awning.

Every block is intersected by a north to south running road with vehicle traffic, controlled by a traffic light and zebra crossing for pedestrians.

Tanuki Koji is super popular for groups of tourists as there are many souvenir shops selling Hokkaido delicacies and locally made gift items at every block. So no doubt my tour guide will sure bring us here also la since its a one stop shopping house. Everyday you can see many buses dropping off groups of tourists which will then spend hours shopping and eating throughout the arcade

Dunno what's the shop name..but our tour guide brought us here to buy most of our souvenirs. Price wise..hmm..I find airport cheaper la actually to be honest :-P. But compared to outside shop, here is still much cheaper

What shops do they have here?
1) Pachinko - It's the famous Japanese's mixture of slot machine and pinball. You can checkout here or here for more details.

Pachinko

2) Hotel in here too.

Richmond Hotel

Website: http://richmondhotel.jp/en/sapporo-odori/
From the link looks like not bad too. Can consider staying here since you can shop till you drop and go back sleep :-P

3) More Hokkaido souvenir and delicacies shops

4) Ramen shop! And got Ippudo ramen!

Ippudo Ramen

Let see the pricing: JPY850 which is about RM26+, almost the same price like here also

Yumm...a bowl of hot ramen during winter is superbly delicious and so warm!

5) And guess what I spotted in here too? My fav MOS burger!

What's on the Mos menu?

6) Don Quijote department store, which is a discount chain store that has over 160 locations throughout Japan and it carries wide range of products from basic groceries to electronics and clothing. The store is well known in Japan as Donki. This store open till very late hours (to 3 to 5am, or even 24 hours too)

There is an entrance here to the Chikaho underground walkway, from which you can walk to Odori Subway station in about 3 minutes or Sapporo Station in about 7 minutes. In fact, with the covered awning it’s possible to shop the entire area from Sapporo Station, through the Chikaho underground walkway to Poletown and Aurora Town, and into Tanuki Koji without ever being exposed to the elements. This is a great bonus in Sapporo’s snowy winter.

Spot the Poletown walkway entrance at the far away opposite?

See there is another Pole town entrance here that is sheltered too

And another entrance outside too

How to get here?
Address: 3, Minami3-jonishi, Chuo-ku Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, 060-0063
Via Public transport: 
5 minutes walk from Odori Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line (N07), Tozai Line (T09), or Toho Line (H08)

Opening Hours: Varies according to the shop / facility
Website: http://www.tanukikoji.or.jp/

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

Shiroi Koibito Park (Ishiya Chocolate Factory)

Remember I mentioned about the White Lover biscuits in my shopping haul post earlier here before? Now you get a chance also to visit the factory itself - Ishiya Chocolate Factory to see how they produced it. Okla....I din even visit the factory production area that time. Wtf..coz it's heavy snow storm that boyfie and me got lost outside wandering around the park before we finally found the entrance hall.

First thing, see how heavy the snow that day. Can't barely see the "Ishiya Chocolate Factory" sign

Heavy snow covered all the chairs in the park

Anyway, the park is really like a small fantasy kiddie land..so lovely. I think kiddies will love here so much. The park here is called "Shiroi Koibito Park" which is actually a theme park by Ishiya, a local chocolate company.

The company’s flagship product is the Shiroi Koibito cookie, which consists of two thin butter cookies and a layer of white chocolate in between. It is one of the most famous souvenirs from Hokkaido.

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Luv the little hut here..if it's not because snowing I will sure climb up and check out :-P

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Barely can open my eyes in here

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Upon entering the entrance to the factory hall

 Then I spot this..

They are so nice provide rental umbrellas for their customers too..really such a nice service

You will see this large mansion staircase..this staircase really reminds me of those prince or princess series?

On the right (ur direction still facing this staircase), there is a take out counter.

Recommended to try their Shiroi Koibito soft ice cream (JPY300). The added unpasteurized milk produces a light, refreshing taste.

There are also some specialty ice cream like below:

Next to this take out counter is where you can buy various range of White Lover 白い恋人
products...the ones at the displayed one are specialty products which you can get it from here only.

I don't think the specialty products able to last that long..since it's fresh. So it's better you consume during ur trip only

Various range of White Lover 白い恋人 
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On the left side (with ur direction still facing the staircase which I mentioned just now), there is candy making area which also sell varieties of candies. 

Want big lollipop?

 The candy making in progress

Then...TADA...the end product after the making...

Wondering what else to see here some more?
There is a "Toy Museum" at second floor open for visitors where has plenty of antique toys I supposed put on display, they look ancient but precious.

Before spamming more toys photo...force Boyfie to take with Astro boy

Okla...spamming more toys photos now...
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I have those hello kitties family too!! Will post in my collection soon

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How to get here:
Address: Miyanosawa 2-jo 2-chome, Nishi-ku, Sapporo
Tel: 011-666-1481
Opening Hours: 9:00～18:00 (Last admittance: 17:00 , shop closing time: 19:00)
Closed: Open throughout the year
Admission fees: JPY600 (Adults)/JPY200 (Kids)
Website: http://www.shiroikoibitopark.jp/english/

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