GINGA & RYUSEI NO TAKI, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

銀河・流星の滝 . 긴가&유성 폭포 . 银河-流星瀑布


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


After travelling for about 30 mins from the Ice Pavilion, we reached the Ginga no Taki or Ginga Waterfall 銀河の滝 (also known as Milky Way Falls) and Ryusei no Taki or Ryusei Waterfall 流星の滝 (also known as Shooting Stars Falls). The waterfalls have frozen but they were still a pretty sight.

Gift shop and a restroom here

Map of other waterfalls in the Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Area

 

We spotted a wild deer!
Mom said not to go near as they're untamed and untrained

      Address:  〒078-1701 北海道上川郡上川町
      Tel:         01658-2-1211 (上川町役場)
      Direction: 30 mins by car/taxi from JR Kamikawa Station 上川駅



Overnight at Sounkyo Kanko Hotel 層雲峡観光ホテル

About 20 mins away from the falls, we stayed the night at Sounkyo Kanko Hotel 層雲峡観光ホテル, and Mr Tour Guide said the hotel has a good onsen. Mom asked if I wanted to try the onsen, and I said no because I will be burnt!

      Address: 〒078-1797 北海道上川郡上川町層雲峡温泉
      Tel:        01658-5-3101

View from the room

Had loads of fun playing with the room gate

 



Dinner was a buffet with many many different kinds of food, and our table was completely covered with food. I spent the time waiting for my grandparents and Mom to finish their dinner by spooking the fishes in the fish tank beside the table. And yes, we wore our yutaka for dinner.

I really liked this hotel because it had a games arcade on Level 1, and there were also shows and performances put by the hotel staff after dinner! All of us sat on a big mat in our yutaka, and I enjoyed the show.


Magic show ... performed by a hotel intern

Taiko performance ... by the guest relations officers

Comedic skit ... by the front desk officers

Photo-op time!
Mom said all the actors are males, even those playing the female parts

 

Notes from Mom

 

According to the info board at the falls, the Ginga and Ryusei Waterfalls are also nicknamed as the "Couple Waterfalls", with the Ryusei Waterfall the male waterfall, and Ginga the female waterfall. These 2 falls are also listed as one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls.

 

Worth a visit to soak in the grandeur of the falls in the Sounkyo Gorge.

 

 

Read about our next stop - Hokkaido Shrine.
Read about our previous stop - Ice Pavilion.

ICE PAVILION, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

アイスパビリオン . 아이스 파빌리온 . 冰之美术馆

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


It was very very (x 100) cold inside the Hokkaido Ice Pavilion, and after spending 15 mins inside, I think I became frozen... like ice.

 

Most of the uncles and aunties tried the "ice towel" experiment where the wet towel freezes and becomes solid once it was brought inside the Pavilion.
The temperature inside the Pavilion is minus 20 degrees celsius!




















I chose to do the "Magic Colour" experiment.
First, I used the magic markers to colour my picture.

Then the uncle placed half of my picture near the heater, and the colour on that half disappeared! But when I went inside the pavilion, the colours came back again.
Wow, it's magic!

 

Before we went into the actual chamber, all of us had to put on the jackets and gloves that were provided, in addition to the jackets that we were already wearing. Mom said she felt like Humpty Dumpty.

 

Inside, I was shivering a lot from the cold so I did not really see what was in the pavilion. It was also very slippery although rugs were placed on the floor.














We watched with amazement as some of the brave uncles and aunties went to experience the temperature of minus 41 degree celsius. One push of the button, and a strong wind blew for 10 seconds to bring the temperature down to -41 in that corner!
Mr Tour Guide said minus 41 degree celsius was the lowest temperature ever recorded in Hokkaido.



When we came out, we collected a cup of hot tea and a cookie to warm ourselves up (it was provided free of charge). I went to look at the sea angel exhibit whilst Mom spotted an interesting gadget.


To warm up and not fog the spectacles

Sea Angel

And the hot roasted sweet potatoes were a big hit!

Opening Hours:  8.30am - 5.30pm
                        Open throughout
Address:           〒078-1733 北海道上川郡上川町栄町40 番地
Tel:                   01658-2-2233
Ticketing: Adult     900 yen (discounted price)
               Student 550 yen (discounted price)
               Child     200 yen (discounted price)
               Free for kids 3 years old and below
Direction: 3 mins by taxi from JR Kamikawa Station 上川駅


Notes from Mom

The Ice Pavilion is enroute our journey from Biei 美瑛町 to Sounkyo 層雲峡 where we spent the night.

If the intent is to insert a break for the kids during the long road trip, and to keep them engaged in some activity of interest, this could possibly be considered as an option.

However, personally, I would much rather give this man-made attraction a miss, and instead, soak myself in the astounding natural scenery that surrounds us.


Read about our next stop - Ginga & Ryusei no Taki.
Read about our previous stop - Farm Tomita.