Sapporo

Odori park 

My 2nd stop is Sapporo, the fourth-largest city in Japan by population, and the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. One of the popular tourist attraction in Japan and known as the birth place of miso ramen. Sapporo also famed for fresh seafood, a lamb barbecue style dish called jingisukan (named for Genghis Khan), and soup curry. Yes it's a soup, it's liquid curry, something different right?! And i got chance to try all of those Sapporo specialty dishes. Happy :)

Soup Curry

Chirashi Don

Miso Ramen

Genghis Khan

In Sapporo Many historical building that very well maintained. And it become one of the point of interest in Sapporo. They also have parks, museum, zoo and some special events every season for tourists to enjoy.

They have a lot tourist attraction and i couldn't visit all for this trip. Too bad... definitely will come back to Sapporo.

Sapporo TV Tower

         

As you can see from this picture how tick the snow is there.

The events that i could catch up for the winter season are The German Christmas Market  and Sapporo White Illumination event in Odori park.

The German Christmas Market first opened to celebrate Sapporo and Munich 30th anniversary of sister city relations in 2002. The market are set up for about a month in Odori Park. There will be various shops such as food and goods vendors at the main venue. Visitors can savor German specialties such as mulled wine and roasted almonds while shopping around for cute Christmas decorations. (Source: Official Sapporo German Market Web)

The German Market gate

Inside the German market

According to the official web of the “Sapporo White Illumination” event. This event has started since 1981 when 1,000 light bulb were used to illuminate Odori Park 2-chome Plaza. Since then, the scale and contents have increased year by year, making this sight into a nationally acclaimed event.

At the Odori Park Site, the illuminated structures symbolize themes such as the starry skies and Christmas. Twinkling lights adorn along Sapporo Ekimae Dori to the north and south, Minami 1-jyo Dori to the east and west. 

The 34th Sapporo White Illumination.
View from top.
Taken from Sapporo TV tower.

How to stroll around in Sapporo? As like other city in Japan, it's very easy and convenient to walk around. Some of the tourist attractions are close each other so no need to take public transportation that often. Especially around TV Tower all the tourist attractions can be reached by walk. And underground the Sapporo TV tower are malls. So i think you need 1 day to just walk around Odori park area even more. 

To check the details of Sapporo public transportation, please click here.

Kaiseki Dinner

Traditional Multi-Course Japanese Dinner 

According to wikipedia In the present day, kaiseki is a type of art form that balances the taste, texture, appearance, and colors of food. To this end, only fresh seasonal ingredients are used and are prepared in ways that aim to enhance their flavor. Local ingredients are often included as well. Finished dishes are carefully presented on plates that are chosen to enhance both the appearance and the seasonal theme of the meal. Dishes are beautifully arranged and garnished, often with real leaves and flowers, as well as edible garnishes designed to resemble natural plants and animals. 

The Entrance of the Restaurant

Here are our Kaiseki order from appetizer to dessert. Enjoyyy... :)

I really enjoyed it. 

Our Kaiseki table

The appetizers and cawanmushi

And here is how they cook the gohan (white rice in Japanese). It's really cute, i want have one.

    

Lake Shikotsu

Marukoma Hot Spring Hotel

Surround view from our room

1st stop of our trip in Hokkaido, we stayed in Marukoma Onsen Ryokan which is home to the oldest hot spring facility in the Lake Shikotsu area. It built in 1915 and remained unchanged since it was established. Very old right, but don't worry they maintain the place very well. The inn really clean and comfortable, doesn't look old as it's age.

Their history wall

I booked the room with Kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese dinner) dinner and breakfast package. The room facing the lake, it was very beautiful, it was very quite, very big, and clean. I can hear the sound of the water from the lake from my room. I love it! feel so relax and refreshing.

And FYI, the room doesn't have a bathroom, there's only a toilet inside the room. We took a bath in public bath. It's normal in Japan if you stay in onsen ryokan. Unless you stay in a room with private onsen.

FYI, this inn has private onsen which can be rent by hour. Here private means not inside your room. They have separated onsen to be rent privately. If i'm not mistaken they have 2 private onsen. Which inside got private toilet and bathroom. So you go back to your room then can rest immediately. So gooooddd.. :)

The Marukoma Onsen has 2 types of onsen outdoor and indoor. The outdoor one they have 2, one is facing the lake, the other one attach together with the indoor but this one outside not under the roof. They have sauna as well. Very very recommended this place, some more here so quite not that crowded with the guests. As we went there with some colleagues and they tried another inn in another area they said the ryokans that they stayed a bit crowded i.e. around Lake Akan and Lake Toya.

The inn's backyard covered by the snow

Outside the inn at night

How to get there:

You can take bus or cab from Chitose new airport. If you take cab it will take around 31 minutes, if you take bus it will take 50 minutes. The bus only bring you till the Lake Shikotsu bus stop, you need to inform the inn what time you will arrive at the bus stop then they will pick you up.

Bus ticket: 1030Yen

Please check here for more details the access to Lake Shikotsu.

If your next destination from here is Sapporo, they have shuttle bus from the Inn direct to JR Sapporo station for 500Yen. It's very convenient.


And here is the highlight of the path to the Marukoma Inn. It's so breathtaking, so beautiful.