Advice on Honeymoon - Hokkaido

[hanabiwaiwai]

hi mabel... i have tried wearing sports shoes in winter (in south korea) and i really regret doing so... it was really cold.. so when i went hokkaido, i brought the boots, really make a difference. coz if you feet are cold, the whole body will feel cold as well.

 

[bluey]

hi puppylove888,
I prefer to stay in shinjuku area.

hi waiwai,

how u find shinjuku washington?

 

[hanabiwaiwai]

bluey... the room is rather small... but it is okie since we only use the room to bath and sleep

 

[vanillasky]

naughtyangel,
u shooting ur wedding photo in winter??? I thought abt it before but thought that it will be too cold for shooting... can share with me more details on your photoshoot? thanks!

 

[naughtyangel]

vanillasky,
I made arrangement with a bridal studio in hakkaido. Estimated length of stay there will preferbably be abt 10 days. Once reach hakkaido, will rush to bridal studio to select the gown. 2nd day will go F&E. Its will allow time for the studio to do alteration to my gown. 3rd day will have to go for fitting again. 4th or 5th day will have the photoshoot. After that, give allowance of 1-2 days for them to prepare the photos for view n selections.

 

[vanillasky]

Oh but is it only studio shots or will have outdoor? It's too cold for outdoor shots in gown isnt it?? Can you PM me and share with me more?? thanks!!

 

[naughtyangel]

I will only be doing outdoor shots coz i think the scenery there should be beautiful. Hopefully it will be snowing that day. Whats PM and how do i do it or is there any software that i ve to download??

 

[vanillasky]

Hi naughtyangel,

PM is private message. U click on my nick and it will have a link to send me private message. Better not discuss here since this thread is for Hokkaido travel...

Hope u can share with me more as I had intention of doing the same thing but had always thought it is almost quite impossible to shoot in the snow...

 

[naughtyangel]

hi vanillasky, i tried but it says that you dont accept PM. You might 1 2 go to http://www.singaporebrides.com/forumboard/messages/7/539373.html?1192685117 where i have some postings there

 

[vanillasky]

hmmm...I enabled it leh... K will go over to check it out, thank you!

 

[celinetan]

Dear brides to be,

I have a 2 person Chan Brothers holiday package East Hokkiado Romance for 2008 6th Feb to 12th Feb travelling by ANA morning flight.

It has been paid with deposit of 1.6k Each pax is paying $2425, inclusive of airport taxes, package & flight. No other costs to be added. Anyone interested in this package, please do drop me a msg here and I will get bk to u on the details. As my bf & I had some communication breakdown, I cannot bear to see the deposit forfeited for nothing.

So, anyone considering your honey moon in Hokkaido 2008, it will be snowing. Pls do consider.

Thank you

Regards,
Celine Tan

 

[jeslin70]

Any one book from this package:
http://www.fch.com.sg/ with the 8 days Hokkaido Wonderland? This package inculde 1 day at Osaka, 5 days at Hokkaido and last day at Tokyo Disneyland.

Any ideas which agency can I book from? The 4 big agencies - SA, Chan and CTC don't have this package? Pls advice.

 

[mzlt7879]

Hi Jeslin70, I aso considered this 8days Hokkaido wonderland package...when are u tinking of flying.. I believe you can go to other agencies like Jetabout holidays, Airrelated etc which carries ANA packages.

Hi All,
Anyone visited Hokkaido in July period?

 

[pingluvhao]

No, i went to Hokkaido in feb, Winter at Hokkaido! Nice !

 

[momiji]

I think the http://www.fch.com.sg ANA 8 days Hokkaido Wonderland is not good.

Day 1: Fly to Tokyo -> Osaka (waste time right? should fly direct to Osaka)

Day 3: Osaka -> Chitose -> Sou-betsu -> Noboribetsu -> Sapporo (this is too rushing and waste a lot of time travelling. Travelling from Noboribetsu to Sapporo on a bus takes 2 hours)

Day 4: Sapporo -> Otaru -> Sounkyo (also quite rush)

Day 5: Sounkyo -> Fox Farm -> Mt. Iou -> Lake Akan (a lot of time spent on travelling...lake akan is quite far)

Basically I feel that package tour for Hokkaido usually wants to cover too many places in a day. If you like to leisurely enjoy every place, then its better to go free and easy.

Its better to spend at least 1 whole day in each place such as Noboribetsu, Sapporo, Otaru etc.

I am going Hokkaido, free and easy, in July period.

 

[momiji]

jeslin70, the list of travel agents that you can book that package is on this website
http://www.fch.com.sg/htm/agent.htm

 

[pingluvhao]

Ya, package tour abit rush, i went on package too, no time to shop T.T

 

[mzlt7879]

hey moniji, u gg in July too...I already booked my package w CTC..not gg for the ANA 8days wonderland cos same reason. Too rush... hopefully e CTC one is less rush cos i plan to shop around if there is chance and time..

 

[libragal80]

Hi all,
We also just back from hokkaido during Feb..We book the ANA package central hokkaido trip..

 

[momiji]

Hi May, yup...I am also going to Hokkaido in July. Which package from CTC did you book? How much does it cost? I decided to go free & easy because they don't have a package that goes to every place that I want to. I bought JAL air tickets and 5 days JR Hokkaido pass.

I encounter problems when planning for the hokkaido trip because its difficult to find travel agency that offers free and easy package to hokkaido, especially when I want to choose the hotels that I want to stay. It takes a lot of effort to do the planning because have to book my own hotels, check the train and bus timings etc. But at least I have control over my time at every place.

 

[mzlt7879]

Hi Momiji, I took the 7days Wondrous Hokkaido package...2.5k+ .. hw much u spent? Booked ur hotels already?
Leave u my email in case u wan to contact me directly [email protected]

 

[momiji]

Hi May, I went to take a look at the 7days Wondrous Hokkaido package that you booked. It is better than the ANA 8days wonderland...seems not that rush. I like your Day 2 stay at Lake Toya, can see the fireworks. Think the 2.5k+ doesn't include admission fee to those attractions. so you may have to note that Noboribetsu Date Jidai Mura got admission fee of ¥2,900, ishiya chocolate factory got admission fee of ¥600 etc

I am going there for 9 days...spent 1.2k on the JAL air tickets and 5 days JR pass. For hotels, I book directly via the hotel website because cheaper. I book those that are near the JR station for convenience...should cost around $900 per person.

 

[andylyf]

Just came back from Hokkaido for my honeymoon. Went with ANA. Cost me about $2.5k/pax. The $2.5k includes everything... airport tax, admission to all attractions e.g bear ranch, ishiya factory..etc. Stay at Lake Toya. The fireworks is open to public, they fire off near the lake, so u can stay in hotel room and get a nice view. And the trip includes all meals. Breakfast + lunch + dinner. Even at ramen village, each of us are given cash / vouchers for our ramen lunch.

Last of all, the tour leader who is with us is great n helpful

 

[andylyf]

sorry... we went with SA.. not ANA.. typo

 

[momiji]

Hi andylyf, how many days is your trip? $2.5k that includes everything seems very worth it. Can share on the places you went to and which hotels you stay in? All meals at restaurants? Sorry for the many qns because i am interested to break down the costs...

 

[andylyf]

This is the tour package me n my wife took up
7 days trip

http://www.satours.com/tour_group_detail.asp?tour_id=48

 

[andylyf]

i think its more exp cause we went during the sch holidays....

 

[momiji]

thanks. i think some of the places i will be going are not in those tour packages...such as i will be spending 2 days in hakodate, 1 day in a hot spring resort in noboribetsu that costs ¥42,000 per night for 2 persons.

 

[rara]

Â¥42,000! Wow... Did you get one of those with in-room onsen tub? Which hotel is it? Sekisuitei? Manseikaku? Noboribetsu is a must-go. Since you're staying the night you can take your time to explore the place and soak your money's worth at night.

 

[momiji]

hi rara, its not those with in-room onsen tub. how i wish i can have that..hehe...

i was considering mahoroba and dai-ichi takimotokan. in the end, i chose dai-ichi...i want to have the in-room dining like what we usually see in japan hour. that's why its so expensive. haha...

anyway, i only splurge on 1 night. the rest of the trip will stay in cheap hotels. some hotels offer as much as 50% discount if you book early. e.g. i book a hotel in sapporo near the station at ¥4,500 per person per night, usually its ¥9,000

 

[rara]

hmm... i see. they always serve a spread when you dine in-room! I went on a JTB day package to Lake Toya for just ¥5900 including JR tickets from Sapporo to Toya + onsen (open-air overlooking Lake Toya) and in-room lunch at the hotel. Damn shiok. just look at the meat in the crab.

You'll definitely have a good time!

 

[momiji]

wow...looks so delicious! yum yum! the JTB package is great...they didnt tell me got this day package

rara, can share with me which restaurant(s) are "must-try" in sapporo and hakodate?

 

[rara]

dun have specific restaurants but when you're in Sapporo go to any of the beer gardens (Kirin, Sapporo or Asahi) and eat their genghis khan buffet!

 

[momiji]

yup, i am going to the Sapporo Bier Garten! Looks very delicious!

 

[ohoh]

Momiji, what hotel you book in Sapporo? The price so good?

 

[mzlt7879]

Hi Momiji, hmm thanks for highlighting that to me, i will go check out if admission tickets are inclusive. I suppose it is cos they didnt mention tat we need to pay for those. But still check in case...

Hi Andylyf...is SA gd in terms of hotels/food? I was comparing btw SA/ANA and CTC then..

Hi Rara..u seem veri familiar with the places..e food looks so tasty. I was also hoping to get a room with inroom Onsen tub but my agency told me that they dun hv ...

Welcome more information...so excited..!!

 

[momiji]

Hi winwin, it is Hotel Crest Sapporo. When I first check out the hotel, there wasn't any promotion. It happened to start the promotion when I was trying to book the hotel last month. The 50% discount is only applicable if you stay in the hotel during Apr to Sep 08.

Hi May, think its always good to be certain.

I welcome more information too, esp from those who have been there! Any nice restaurants or nice places to go?

 

[ohoh]

Momiji, when are you going to Hokkaido?
I am going there in July too. 9th to 19th. F&E

 

[momiji]

winwin, I am going there from 17 to 26 July. F&E too.

Which hotel(s) are you staying in? How are the hotel rates?

 

[ohoh]

ooo...we just kinda missed each other.

I found my hotels on japanican.com
You can go there and take a look. I am going to Sapporo, Otaru, Toyako, Noboribetsu and Furano.

I am going on JAL as well. Taking their 3D2N Sapporo air + hotel package

 

[momiji]

Thanks for the website.

My friend recommended travel.rakuten.co.jp. However, I checked each hotel website for their rates instead.

I am also going to those places you mentioned. I will be going to Biei, Asahikawa and Hakodate as well.

 

[ohoh]

wow. 9 days you can cover so many places?
Can share how you are doing it?
We decided not to travel all the way to Hakodate.
We giving Asahikawa a miss too cos too tight, although I would love to visit it.
Ya, I may be going to Biei too if time permits.

 

[nat_bleu]

hi andylyf!!

I'll b going to Hokkaido with SA next Sat (26 Apr) but they can't gimme the list of hotels till 3 days before departure. Do u still rem the names of the hotels? Any pics to share?

Btw, I was also told that the avg temp at Sapporo is 15deg. I think Mar was colder rite? But did u have to wear thermal wear? Bec I really hate to wear tat.

Haha. And they say must be totally naked in the onsen. True? Can wear bikini? Can share ur onsen experience?

Sorry for asking so much qns. =)

 

[momiji]

Hi winwin, I don't know your itinerary but I think you might have time to go to Asahikawa. For me, I will go to Asahikawa for 1 day and stay there for 1 night. The next morning, I will travel from Asahikawa to Biei (46 min by JR) and Furano. Biei and Furano is very near (16 min by JR), so I think you can go there too.

Hi Nattie, it is the onsen etiquette to be totally naked. You have to clean yourself first before going into the water. If you have long hair, better tie it up and not let it touch the water. You can bring a small towel to enhance your privacy while outside of the water. Once you enter the water, keep the towel out of the water.

 

[ohoh]

Hi Momiji

I am going to
1st to 3rd day - Sapporo 2.5 days (day trip to Otaru)
4th day - Toyako 1 day
5th to 7th day - Norboribetsu 3 days (day trip to Muroran)
8th to 9th day - Furano 2 days

 

[momiji]

Hi winwin, if you spend 1 day less in Noboribetsu or Furano, you can make time for Asahikawa...think should be possible to slot in 1 day for Asahikawa.

 

[ohoh]

Actually whats the main attraction at Asahikawa?
For Noboribetsu, the timing is already very toght bcos of the places we wanted to go.
Furano wise, same thing...

 

[momiji]

Hi winwin, you can visit the following website for more information on Asahikawa. http://www.asahikawa-daisetsu.info/e/kankou/amuzment.html

The usual places that tourists go to are Asahiyama Zoo, Otokoyama Sake Brewing Museum and the Ramen Village.

 

[ohoh]

I think we will give it a miss since we have planned the accommodations aldy.

Thanks anyway

 

[mzlt7879]

Hey momiji/winwin...I am gg during the same period as u both but I am on a package tour. U guys seem veri familiar with the places..so nice... Hope the hotels that CTC is giving us is gd (",)