Before we enter the Departure Hall, the entire group took turns to each take a photo with our guide, Michelle. Short of getting her autograph, the people around probably thought she was some celebrity.
It is not surprising that we loved her. She is an amazing tour guide, the best I've ever met I believe.
Michelle never stops talking. And that is meant as a huge compliment. She has so much knowledge and stories to share - about the local culture, history, things to do and buy, newest trends and products, and personal funny experiences. A tour guide is one of the key factors for choosing to go with Chan Brothers rather than exploring Hokkaido on my own. And Michelle really made it very worthwhile.
Michelle is extremely thoughtful and experienced. Her wealth of experience meant that even before I pose a question, she would already say some people have asked her this and that, and she would answer the question. She is extremely detailed when she explains the itinerary, the next activity, about the hotel etc, so we are always mentally prepared on what to expect. That is very reassuring and made sure we did not have to deal with surprises. She not only remembers everyone's name, but what we like and want to buy. She will make the extra effort to look out for something that we want.
I am most impressed by the amount of effort she puts into her 'props', maps, and daily hotel information slips. As she explains the next attraction, she has A3 print outs of the name of the attraction (so we know the spelling, or if we did not catch her pronunciation), and sometimes include photos and images to make it interesting. She also printed simplified maps, and a list of great ramen stalls for us. Daily, before we check into the hotel, she would write clearly on a slip the time and location for dinner and breakfast, whether there is wifi, her room number if we need to look for her, etc.
In every way, she exceeds my expectation of a tour guide and she will be the reason why I will go back to Chan Brothers in future because I know they select their guides very carefully.
- Activities: Shopping at Chitose Airport, flight from Chitose to Haneda, Shopping at Lalaport Toyosu Tokyo, Shopping at Haneda International Airport.
- Cost: 367¥ crab and cheese fish cake, 105¥ vacuum plastic bag, 160¥ cream puff, 180¥ salmon onigiri, 150¥ green tea, and frankly too much more that I don't want to put it down.
Most of our group went to the famous ramen street at Susukino. Not that we had enough of ramen, but we haven't had much of sashimi and sushi. So we headed straight to the reccommended sushi restaurant at the cross junction of Susukino.
We requested for a seat by the counter so we had full view of the sushi chef preparing our food.
Since we haven't spent much on ourselves so far, we ordered generously. Everything - the tuna sashimi platter, salmon sushi, premium eel sushi (anago), and sushi platter - was extremely delicious! The otoro (premium tuna belly) was a real shocker, Bun and I both agreed it was the star of our lunch.
This 5,833¥ lunch, which works out to be approximately S$92.70, I think is the most value for money item we spent on for this entire trip.
- Activities: 4-hour drive to Sapporo, Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade, Susukino, Odori Park, Mitsui Outlet Park, Mountain Okurayama
- Cost: 10,000¥ tips for Michelle and driver, 2,200¥ biscuit and noodles, 5,833¥ sushi lunch, 5,498¥ souvenir from pharmacy, 580¥ ramen at outlet park, 270¥ chocolate and vanilla soft cream.
- Accommodation: Sapporo Excel Hotel Tokyu is just 10 mins walk away from Susukino where the ramen street is (great for supper), but we were exhausted by the time we checked in. The room and bathroom are spacious and new. I was particularly impressed by their toiletries and iron.
- Highlight: The Ski Jumping Stadium at Mount Okurayama was more grand than we imagined.
When our guide Michelle mentioned a foot sand spa, I was thrilled.
Known as Lake Swan, the water seeping through the beach edge was hot because there is a spring beneath. It must be at least 42 degrees because I could hardly put my feet down into the water.
Amazingly, when we took just three steps deeper into the water, it was cool enough to stand in! So we could in theory have one foot in hot water and the other cold at the same time.
Another reason why this lake left a deep impression is because it is known to be home to a Loch Ness Monster. Some students and teachers witnessed it and now, there's a huge Loch Ness Monster (which looks like a blue dinosaur) guarding the souvenir store.
We didn't see the swans today because it was too warm. But I'm sure it must be a sight to have them around.
- Activities: Okhotsk Lavender Farm, Lake Saroma, Lake Notoro, Abashiri Prison, Akan National Park, Lake Kusharo, sand spa, Mount Sulphur, Lake Mashu.
- Cost: 3,060¥ souvenirs, 150¥ bottle of oolong tea, 120¥ canned coffee, 350¥ peach soft cream, 525¥ milk cookies, 1050¥ lavender cream, 1360¥ potato farm, 120¥ cup noodles.
- Accommodation: Remote Hotel Gozensui is just next to the Ainu Village where there is a row of souvenir shops. Rooms are spacious and in traditional tatami style. The bathroom is small but we didnt mind since we take all our baths at the onsen.
- Highlight: Bearing the fire torch in the mass ritual walk to the Ainu Village was pretty memorable.
We had the best meals today so far. The ramen at Asahikawa comes close, but the lunch and dinner set we had were lush!
At lunch, there was steamed scallop, miso soup, salmon and scallop sushi, deep fried scallop, and pork sukiyaki.
Our guide Michelle told me it will get better and it is true!
The dinner spread included crab tofu, grilled salmon, deep fried chicken, kaninabe (crab hotpot), crab dumping, soft cream, and the famous snow crab!
Not sure if it can get better than this. Perhaps the sashimi Michelle mentioned this morning.
- Activities: Ishikari River (Shooting Star Fall and Silver Fall), Tokkari (Seal) Centre, Okhotsk Tower, Sea Ice Museum, Mochi workshop
- Accommodation: The room in the Mombetsu Prince Hotel is just about the same size as the Crescent Asahikawa Hotel. The key differences are the food and the onsen. Food at Mombetsu is amazing, we had the best lunch, dinner and breakfast at this hotel. The onsen is a little smaller than the rest, but the facility is new.
- Cost: 100¥ chewing gum, 120¥ canned coffee 3,400¥ wasabi squid cracker and other snacks
- Highlight: The spotted saseme seals are so cute! And I have never touched one before.
Fields of purple that looked absolutely gorgeous from far. Besides lavender, there were rainbow fields of other flowers which were bright red, yellow, pink, silver and more!
The views were lovely, from the first Lavender farm Tomita to the third. Tomita is the biggest in Furano and had a lovely And touching story to back up its popularity. Ask me the next time you see me.
- Activities: Farm Tomita, two other flower farms, Otokoyama Sakae Brewery Museum
- Hotel: Crescent Asahikawa Hotel 6/10 compact room and smart use of space in the bathroom. Great location, less than 10 minutes walk to main shopping street with supermarkets, restaurants, famous ramen stalls, malls, Muji, Daiso and more. No English channels on TV.
- Cost: Lavender soft cream 250¥, 150¥ to sample their award-winning sake, scallop ramen 1,200¥, gyoza 450¥, McPork 120¥, snacks and chocolate milk 620¥
- Highlight: Best meal so far at Ichikura Ramen Restaurant. Gyoza was the best I've eaten! Juicy meat wrapped in perfectly pan-fried soft skin, accompanied by light vinegar with diced garlic.
I couldn't wait. Once we dropped off our luggage in the room, I jumped into my Yutaka and grabbed my towels.
The corner of the room as I entered had shelves of baskets. I placed my Yutaka and undergarments in one and covered them with my red towel.
With my small face towel in hand, I walked through two sliding doors to the main bath room. On the right side are two rows of bathing cubicles. These doorless cubicles have walls just tall enough to cover you when you sit on the stool provided. In front of the mirror, there are complimentary shampoo, conditioner, shampoo and facial wash.
After a relatively quick shower, I walked over to find more than three indoor baths and an outdoor one. Besides a couple of ladies showering, I saw only one other elderly lady heading out to the outdoor pool.
I randomly picked an indoor bath and dipped my feet in. The water was pleasantly warm and not to hot.
During the five to ten minutes I was there, a few ladies walked in to shower. My shyness forced my eyes to stay on the wall with flowers and accompanying Japanese names I can hardly read.
Walking out to the outdoor bath required a bit of courage. It was not so much the hotel opposite with windows that made me wonder if someone could see me naked, but the coldness. I took our guide Michelle's advice to only head out after a few minutes in the indoor bath, so fortunately the cold wind felt pretty welcoming.
After getting dressed, there were hairdryers, bottles of moisuturiser, combs, and other facial products available for use.
This 30-minutes experience was amazing! And I believe I'm hooked.
- Activities: Shiroi Koibito Park (white chocolate factory), Otaru canal, Otaru Orgel Doi (music box museum), Sakaimachihondori St.
- Accommodation: Hotel Milione - extremely spacious Japanese style tatammi room with separate toilet, bathroom, and wash basin. 8/10 just because it has a great Onsen with the best shower and after-bath products.
- Cost: Snacks, 840¥ cheese cake set, 180¥ cream puff
- Highlight: Cheese cake and silk cream puff at Otaru LeTAO and Bei Guo Lou (in Kanji) respectively were excellent recommendations by our guide Michelle.
I can't remember if I have taken ANA, it is likely this is my first. But it's definitely not the first time I'm on a flight with several babies.
Bun and I were mentally prepared to hear a symphony of babies crying, especially during take off and landing. To our surprise, that did not happen.
Just a row behind us is a toddler who must have been just slightly less than a year old, but we didn't even realise she was there until we were disembarking.
I must figure out their secret. How do they have such well-behaved kids?
By the way, it is refreshing to be on a package tour. We were greeted at Changi Airport by a Chan Brother's staff and were handed our e-ticket, immigration card, customs declaration form etc. I felt being well taken care of, which is a pleasant change from my usual adventurous DIY trips.
- Cost: S$1.80 iced green tea at Changi, 380¥ sandwich from Haneda Airport Starbucks
- Highlight: Meal on board ANA was really pretty, looked much better than it actually tasted
