NEW CHITOSE AIRPORT, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

新千歳空港ターミナルビル . 신치토세 공항 터미널 빌딩 . 新千岁机场候机大楼


(A sightseeing stop in the Hong Thai Travel 7D Hokkaido Package Tour, my first packaged tour experience.)


Mom felt that the New Chitose Airport 新千歳空港 was almost an attraction in itself, so we decided to blog about it. Today, we are on our way home to Singapore, with a short transit at Narita Airport in Tokyo.

After we arrived at the airport, Mr Tour Guide had us check-in our bags first before we went to explore the airport terminal. We had a lot a lot of bags!

 

Other than gift shops, several of the famous Hokkaido sweets and savouries were also sold here. And I ate many of the samples too.

Kitakarou ... earlier spotted in Otaru

Kinotoya きのとや - famous for its cheese tarts



Kinotoya Milk Pudding

Best consumed immediately

Besides food, the airport also has 3 attractions that anyone can visit, all located on Level 3 of the airport terminal.

 

Steiff Nature World シュタイフ ネイチャーワールド is a themed musem with an interesting collection of teddy bears and plush toys.
     Opening hours: 10am - 6pm
     Tel:                 0123-45-8510
     Fees: Adults 600円 / 13-18 years old 400円 / 4-12 years old 300円 / Free for
              kids aged 3 and below

Doraemon Waku Waku Sky Park ドラえもん わくわくスカイパーク seemed like a lot of fun with 5 different zones like the workshop, activities and game zone, play area, comics and anime area, as well as a photo studio, cafe and gift shop.
They even have an annual pass for this park!
     Opening hours: 10am - 6pm
     Tel:                 0123-46-3355
     Fees: Adults 600円 / 13-18 years old 400円 / 4-12 years old 300円 / Free for
              kids aged 3 and below
              Additional fees apply for the Park Zone パークゾーン

Royce' Chocolate World ロイス'チョコレートの世界 was the only place that we had time to see. There was an exhibition about chocolate and the company Royce, but we missed the chocolate production process showcase. There was also the Royce gift shop, which Mom said had more variety compared to the one in Singapore.
     Opening hours: 10am - 5pm
     Tel:                 0120-612-453
     Fees:               Free
 



Rest area opposite Royce Chocolate World

Soon, it was time for us to board our plane home.
I had lots of fun in Hokkaido, and I hope you enjoyed reading about my trip. Mom and I are looking forward to coming back to Hokkaido again!


Mom's Notes

• Free wifi is available in the airport. Check with the information counter for the network and password
• If you plan to visit the attractions within the airport, you'll probably need to cater for at least 1.5 hours of playtime
• Have on hand foldable carriers to stock up on last minute buys ... and there's plenty!

 

Read about our previous stop - Asahi Beer Factory.

ASAHI BEER FACTORY, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

アサヒビール北海道工場 . 아사히 맥주 홋카이도 공장 . 朝日啤酒工厂


(A sightseeing stop in the Hong Thai Travel 7D Hokkaido Package Tour, my first packaged tour experience.)


Hmm ... Asahi Beer Factory visit? At 6 years old, I know that beer is something that only the adults drink. But Mr Tour Guide promised that there will be something for me too. I wonder what?

We started the tour with a video about how beer is produced (and I think Mom dozed off a little, hee). Then we toured the exhibition and the factory showcase.

(Mom's Notes: No photography is permitted during the tour, but details of the tour can be found here - in Japanese only.)

But all I could remember was the last part where the adults drank some Asahi beer (it's free!). As for me, I had some Asahi apple juice (it's free too!). We also had some tasty crackers to go with our drinks. The adults could also try other Asahi drinks other than the beer, like cold tea etc.

(Mom's Notes: Beer sampling session is limited to 20 mins only, and up to 3 glasses per person. Pregnant ladies, children, and those who are driving are not permitted to consume alcohol.)

Beer sample straight from the tap



Mom said this is a famous Japanese actor and singer.
Do you know who this is?



After the tour, we crossed the road to the drugstore, as some aunties said that some of the medical supplies are cheaper in Japan. Mom bought a charcoal toothbrush (we did not have it in Singapore then) and some toothpaste for me.

 

     Address:  〒003-0022 北海道札幌市白石区南郷通4南1-1

     Tel:         011-863-3515

     Direction: 7 mins walk from Shiroishi Station 白石駅 or the Nango 7-chome

                    Station 南郷7丁目駅 on the Touzai Line 東西線 (map)

 

     Operating Hours: 0930 - 1500 hours

     Duration:            About 75 mins

     Cost:                 Free, but advanced registration is required

                             (click here; registration in Japanese only)

 

Read about our next stop - New Chitose Airport.
Read about our previous stop - Otaru.

OTARU CITY, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

小樽 . 오타루

(A sightseeing stop in the Hong Thai Travel 7D Hokkaido Package Tour, my first packaged tour experience.)


About 1 hour away from Sapporo is the small town of Otaru 小樽. Mr. Tour Guide said the city is famous for its canal, music box and glassware, and he led us on a walking tour along Sakaimachi 堺町, starting from the Venezia Art Museum 北一ヴェネツィア美術館.

Venezia Art Museum

Ice-cream shop next to the museum. Melon and cherry blossom flavours!

Inside, I saw a huge gondola, and many glassware. Mom told me to not touch anything!

As we walked along the street, we saw many shops selling cakes and sweets, and some even gave us free samples to try, which were very tasty.

Everything for 1050 yen only!

Mr Tour Guide pointed out this interesting restaurant called 北一ホール to us, run by the famous glass company Kitaichi Glass 北一硝子, which is decorated and lighted up with 167 kerosene lamps inside. Grandma went in to have a look, and she said she can't possibly have coffee here when the smell of kerosene is very strong.



Their retail store next door

40 mins later, we reached the Marchen Crossroads メルヘン交差点 which had nearby, the Otaru Music Box Museum 小樽オルゴール堂 with its Steam Clock, the LeTao ルタオ sweets and cakes outlets, and the Silverbell Cafe 銀の鐘 1号店 that sells limited edition (unique to Otaru) Hello Kitty Otaru items.



Inside the Music Box Museum cum Store



Inside the Music Box Museum cum Store

Hello Kitty Otaru cup set for sale. Or, buy a coffee and get a Hello Kitty mug free.
Mom's Notes: Coffee is relatively pricier, and I did not think the mug quality and workmanship were good.

LeTao Plus - very catching colours!

LeTao Pathos

Mom spotted a small and quaint toy store tucked away up a slope and off we went! It felt like a toy treasure maze inside.




















Tea break time!
I shared a soft ice-cream with Mom at a cafe on the second level of the shop called Rokkatei 六花亭. There were not many things to eat at the cafe, and not many seats too. We bought sweets, cookies and cakes from the shop at level 1, as well as from the shop Kitakarou 北菓楼 which was just next door. I was very happy that Mom bought my favourite Baumkuchen バームクーヘン, and Grandma said they were not as sweet as the ones in Singapore, which was a good thing.

(Mom's Notes: There are plenty of food samples made available in-store, so try them before buying!)

After dinner, all of us took photos at the famous Otaru Canal 小樽運河.
It was so cold that I ran back into the coach after we took the photos. Brrr ...

The Tourist Centre is just next to the canal

Dinner @ Aburiyaki Ungasouko 北海あぶりやき 運河倉庫

     Address: 北海道小樽市港町5-4 渋澤C号倉庫
     Tel: 0134-25-8810
     Operating Hours: 11:00 - 14:30 / 17:00 - 21:00
     Directions: 10 mins walk from Otaru Station 小樽駅
     Estimated cost per person: 3,500円 - 4,000円

It's a BBQ dinner tonight, and the restaurant 北海あぶりやき 運河倉庫 gave us an apron to wear to keep our clothes clean. Grandma said the seafood was very fresh! After we finished dinner, Mom sprayed something on my clothes to get rid of the smell. It was fun helping Mom spray that on her clothes.

For 4 persons

Grand Park Otaru Hotel グランドパーク小樽

We stayed one night at the Grand Park Otaru グランドパーク小樽, and it was directly connected to Wing Bay Otaru shopping mall next door.

There was little time for us to walk around, so Mom and I only managed to check out Aeon and Daiso. But at least I've got my doughnuts for supper!



Wish we had this in Singapore!

6 doh-balls set

View from the room

View from the room

Breakfast area

For an English or Chinese brochure on Otaru - click here

Read about our next stop - Asahi Beer Factory.
Read about our previous stop - Shiroi Koibito Park.