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Not sure how many times I have to repeat (pls don't find me long-winded) but if you haven't read my previous post, click the below links to direct you straight:
- 1st stop: Hakodate
- 2nd stop: Niseko Village
- 3rd stop: Otaru
Let's head straight into our 1st stop.
HOKKAIDO SHRINE
Visiting Japan without a trip to a shrine is like you have never been there (at least for me). So here we are at Hokkaido Shrine in Sapporo. The Shinto shrine was established to commemorate this prefecture's founding, which has become an essential part of Hokkaido's cultural and spiritual life. The shrine is located in Maruyama Park, known for the viewing of cherry blossoms and fall foliage.
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| The Main Hall |
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| The Washing Area before entering the shrine |
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| Make a wish and hang them on the wooden rack |
The tour guide told us to try Yaki-Mochi here before leaving Hokkaido Shrine. A decent size like a tau sar piah, made from buckwheat flour and red bean paste as the fillings. A little toasty on the outside and sticky with every bite. Free tea for customers with every purchase. How thoughtful.
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| Rokkatei Jingu Chaya at Hokkaido Shrine |
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| Yaki-Mochi a.k.a Toasted Rice Cake |
I literally saw lots of visitors taking TikTok videos, doing vlogs, and taking photos in this snowy vibe. Irresistible I know because I do that too. But I do take a look at the main hall and its surroundings, and also buy new amulets. Yes, I can't resist buying new Japanese amulets (or Omamori) every time I visit a shrine. My husband's car has different amulets from different Japanese shrines, and also from Taiwan too. Just for his safety on the road.
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| The sunshine doesn't take away the cold |
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| The Torii view at Hokkaido Shrine |
ASAHIKAWA RAMEN VILLAGE
Instead of raining cats and dogs, I called it snowing powders and flakes. The village is covered with snow and unsure what it looks like in its original state. Anyway, this weather definitely calls for hot piping ramen. However, some ramen shops were either or full house. There weren't much choices left in that block of shops.
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| I see snow road |
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| Japan cars must have good tyres to drive on snowy and wet days |
Eventually, we settled for a random shop that had at least seats for 2 (bar seating is better than nothing). And I don't know what I'm ordering but looks like I got myself a bowl of intestines/organs ramen. Haha... my saviour will be the gyoza. I love gyoza very much, especially those with lacy bottoms.
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| Asahikawa Soy Horumen |
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| Gyoza |
WINTER ASAHIYAMA ZOO
Although it is just another zoo on any other day, it is so different during winter time. Now the entire zoo is covered with snow, I'm also walking in the snow to see the animals. What an experience in our lifetime. Given that thick amount of snow, we did a snow angel despite the cold.
Hotel Taisetsu Sounkyo for our one-night stay with dinner and breakfast. Guess what? Our very first time staying in a Japanese-style room with the tatami futon. It felt like sleeping on a thin mattress during my kiddo days but of course, this tatami futon is better and thicker. When we went out for dinner after checking in, the staff came to lay out the bed for us. That is very nice gesture.
The thing about Japan's hotels is that they don't have much international programs/movies but at some hotels, you can buy a tv card at the vending machine outside the room corridor. So that you won't feel lost watching their local programs without even knowing what they said (if you are willing to spend). Oh by the way, their tv card comes with adult movies (on top of international programs/movies) for some hotels (or all? not sure though). So buy with care if you have kids along.
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| Staying in a Japanese-style room |
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| Hotel buffet dinner was actually good. |
Have you ever seen a frozen waterfall? Now you do. At -18°C, struggling to take a video and even a photo. My spectacles is fogging up and messy hair. Surprisingly the little stream is still flowing with water. No doubt anytime will froze if the temperature goes further down.
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| The frozen Ginga Falls |
Honestly, I would love visiting shrines because of the Torii Gates. Such a beautiful sight. Also staying in Japanese-style room especially in hotels or ryokan, preferred those with personal onsen in the room (if there is one). Other than that, the Ramen Village and Zoo will be out of my itinerary if I were to visit Hokkaido again.
Hope you have enjoyed my Hokkaido posts so far. Stay tune for more!
Disclaimer: All the above were paid by the writer. Not a sponsored post. All reviews are based on the writer's preference and taste buds and do not represent anyone other than herself.