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Saturday, 8 September 2018

Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu)


Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:

1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog
4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog
5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog
6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog
10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido

Itinerary Summary:

Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): 
Shikotsu Toya Silo Observatory→ Lake Toya → Jigokudani Hell Valley 

Today we check out hotel from Hakodate and drive to Noribetsu. It is time to pamper our body and recharge before end of the trip. We stop by Lake Toya in the middle to rest awhile. There are many famous lakes everywhere in Hokkaido and there are many hotels facing the lake view are specially built for foreigners. During summer, there will be fireworks festival in front of Lake Toya. If you stay in the hotel just facing the lake, then you are in the luck to enjoy the fireworks display in your hotel balcony. Due to time constraint, we have decided to stay in Noribetsu hotel as onsen hotel is a must in Hokkaido! What's more the onsen water is directly supplied from the nearby Jigokudani Hell Valley! Walk for few minutes and you get the see the valley which emits hot steam. To our surprise, the day when we check in is the last day of Jigokudani Hell Valley summer fireworks festival! Although we do not have the chance to enjoy in Lake Toya, this Noribetsu sure makes up for it! And it is free.. 😊


Shikotsu Toya Silo Observatory

Map Code: 321726732*66
Operating Hours: 8.30am - 6pm
Average Time Spent: 1 hour
Highlights: Pretty scenery
Suits: Sightseeing
Personal Star Rating: ★★★  (Worth to Visit)
Description & Tips:
👉An observatory that can get a panaromic view of Lake Toya, Mt. Usu and Mt. Showa Shinzan.
👉 There is a helicopter tour beside as well, for those tourists that want to go up the sky to view the lake view.
👉 A souvenir shop and cafe nearby as well. You can buy specialty products limited edition only from Lake Toya. An interesting fact of Hokkaido is that, whenever you reach one area, you can find limited edition products from the area only, it is so unique right!


Panoramic view



Lake Toya 

Map Code: 321731678*31
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 0.5 hour
Highlights: Pretty scenery
Suits: Sightseeing
Personal Star Rating: ★★  (Can Skip if Time Constraint)
Description & Tips:
👉 Registered as "UNESCO Global Geopark" for it's geographical mountains and lakes.
👉 Is the 3rd largest volcanic caldera lake in Japan after Lake Kussaro and Lake Shikotsu.
👉 Summer festival in the Lake Toya, with fireworks display! Stay in the onsen hotel facing Lake Toya grants you the advantage to view fireworks from you hotel's balcony.



Jigokudani Hell Valley


Map Code: 603288368*85 (Note: We only walk for 10 minutes from our Noribetsu Manseikaku hotel)
Operating Hours: 8am - 6pm
Average Time Spent: 1 hour
Highlights: Pretty scenery, Fireworks
Suits: Sightseeing
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★  (Recommended)
Description & Tips:
👉 Situated in Noribetsu, which is a famous area in Hokkaido for best onsen hotels. Thus, it is very famous among locals and especially tourists and travel agencies.
👉 An active volcanic crater created by eruption. It is the largest source of natural hot spring water for Noribetsu Onsen hotels. So use your chance to try the onsen in Noribetsu hotels, as the natural hot spring water is just from the vicinity of Hell Valley and different types of hot spring water has different kind of functions to pamper your body as well!
👉 Steams in Hell Valley has unbearable sulphur smell. Some may not be able to stay in this area long, that of course includes me, I am always weak, haha.. 
👉 Summer festivals which last only few days, with free show of Noribetsu's red and blue 'demons' dancing on the stage and lastly end the day with fireworks display!
👉 Had the chances to visit during day and night time of Hell Valley, go for both if you are free! Night time we only stay for the festival, but not venture inside the Hell Valley, you may do so if you are interested. Day time is certainly packed with tourists and often see many travel buses and tours here and there.






Sulphuric smell of steam




Lucky to view autumn like tree
Strolling along Noribetsu streets

Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:

1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog
4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog
5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog
6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog
10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido




⭐Follow me below:




💗 Author: Ng Mei Lian/ Adrian Yeoh Aun Hong
👉 Date: 22/7/2018 ~ 29/7/2018
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Location: Hokkaido, Japan

Wednesday, 5 September 2018

Day 5 (Hakodate)


Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:

1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog
4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog
5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog
6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog
10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido


Itinerary Summary:

Day 5 (Hakodate):
Hakodate Asaichi Morning Market → Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse → Motamachi Hachiman Zaka Slope→ Hakodate Orthodox Church → Hakodate Episcopal Church → Mt. Hakodate Ropeway 


As soon as we have finished our pre wedding photoshoot, we have travelled all the way to Hokkaido southern top called Hakodate. The car journey took us around 5 hours, which was a very long ride. Hakodate is a quaint neighbourhood perfect for leisure strolling. It is facing the bay area as well and has a famous red brick warehouse buildings that are good for sightseeing and shopping. Most importantly. there are many tourists and travel agencies come to Hakodate for Mt. Hakodate night view which has been awarded Michelin 3 Stars! For those seafood lovers, be sure you come to Hakodate! You get the freshest yet cheapest seafood in Hokkaido! 👍😍

Hakodate Asaichi Morning Market

Map Code: 86072374*58
Operating Hours: 5am - 2pm
Average Time Spent: 1.5 hours
Highlights: Seafoods, Local market
Suits: Sightseeing, Foodies, Seafood Lovers, Culture
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★  (Must Go)
Description & Tips:
👉 A local market which sells a wide varieties of seafood and local specialties.
👉 Famous for big raw seafood bowl, with an affordable price and generous amount of seafood provided for diners.
👉 In the middle of the market, there is one pond for us to catch live squid. The live squid just freshly caught will be cut into thin slices by the professional chef beside, and they will serve you the freshest sashimi on the spot! Not only you can enjoy the fun to catch live squid, you can taste the squid which is just freshly cut and served as well, double the fun!
👉 Take note that the morning market will close around noon time. Hence, it sure is a good thing to become the early bird to enjoy the market to the fullest!
Whole area of morning market

Self catch squid and live squid tasting


Luxury & fresh seafood don!




We are holding the real live snow crab on hands! It is heavy!

It directly melts the moment we put inside mouth, followed by sweet juices which spurt out to our mouth!

Shop's owner only cut the melon into slices and you can see the juices overflowing already!

Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse

Map Code: 86041644*74
Operating Hours: 9.30am - 7pm
Average Time Spent: 1.5 hours
Highlights: Pretty scenery, buildings, bayfront, souvenir shops, cafes
Suits: Sightseeing, Shopping, Romantic
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★  (Must Go)
Description & Tips:
👉 A row of red brick warehouse buildings in front of bay area. It was storehouse back then but now transforms into shopping stores which house a number of specialty shops that sell clothes, jewelries, cafes and etcetera.
👉 There is an ice cream booth that sells rose shaped ice cream as well! May try it as I think it is insta worthy! We not managed to try the rose shaped ice cream but will surely recommend to try because rose shaped ice cream is so cuteee right.
👉 Strolling in the surrounding of the warehouse area is like the feeling in Europe western country. The pace is slow and relaxing, together with the wind from the bay area, many photo spots opportunities right here!
👉 Good news for those Starbucks lovers, there is a Starbucks shop directly opposite the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse! Starbucks on the bay, a good idea! Plus I saw some Hokkaido or Hakodate limited edition Starbucks's mugs over there as well!
Purposely buy this for prewedding shooting purpose, but no chance to use.
At last we use it to take few shots here..

Here's the outcome..


Must take photo with Starbucks Coffee building around the world!

Whole row of red brick warehouse with the exception of one of the warehouse which is
shy of it's red color and covers itself with green color, but that's what makes it unique among the rest?

Red brick is always girl's favorite photo spot

Honey, I think I have distorted the wall.. Oops, I should have cut down on ice cream intake..

Love this beautiful building

I believe I can fly.. Smell the air of freedom during traveling


Love pretty night view


Motamachi Hachiman Zaka Slope

Map Code: 86041131*14 (Note: Or may park car in parking space near Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse and explore this area by foot, is walk-able distance!)
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 1 hour
Highlights: Pretty scenery, buildings, churches
Suits: Sightseeing, Romantic
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★  (Recommended)
Description & Tips:
👉 A hilly path or so called slope that links you through the little neighborhood area to the bay or port area.
👉 This famous slope is selected as Top.1 'Slope in Japan You Would Want to Visit for Sightseeing'.
👉 Go all the way to the top of the slope and take photo with the beautiful port view as background. Depends on the luck, most of the time you are required to queue. But you get people to help you take the photos as well, which is a good thing too!
👉 Surrounding of Motamachi area has a lot of little neighbourhood houses for you to leisurely strolling and taking photos with. There is even a small shrine for you to visit. The weather in Hakodate around the bay makes it breezy and comfortable enough to walk and have a look on the beautiful traditional Japan cafes and houses.
We left our footsteps here!

If I can slide down the road with this slope..

Most famous photo spot of Hachiman Zaka Slope



Beautiful neighbourhood

Small but well maintained shrine in the middle of neighbourhood


Overseas feeling, Harry Potter book?
Can spot many unique buildings in the neighborhood when strolling..

Hakodate Church 

Map Code: 86040206*41 (Note: Or may park car in parking space near Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse and explore this area by foot, is walk-able distance!)
Operating Hours: 10am - 4pm
Average Time Spent: 1.5 hour
Highlights: Pretty scenery, buildings, churches
Suits: Sightseeing, Romantic
Personal Star Rating: ★★★  (Worth to Visit)
Description & Tips:
👉 In the vicinity of Motamachi Hachiman Zaka Slope, there is signboard that leads you to few churches for sightseeing. Hakodate Orthodox Church is the Japan's 1st Russian church. This beautiful church also has bells that will ring at 5pm on every Saturday and Sunday. We walk around the Motamachi area and able to hear the bell ringing. This certainly makes this town to be beautiful and romantic. On top of this, the sound of bell is chosen as one of the 100 Best Soundscapes in Japan!



Perfect photo spot with this tree


Feel so Europe here..

Mt. Hakodate Ropeway

Map Code: 86041004*55
Operating Hours: 10am - 10pm, exception 10am - 9pm from mid October to late April
Average Time Spent: 2 hours
Highlights: Pretty scenery, night view
Suits: Sightseeing, Romantic
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★  (Must Go)
Description & Tips:

👉 Awarded as the Michelin Green Guide 3 Stars! Beautiful in day and especially night time!
👉 Ride the ropeway from the base of Mt. Hakodate to the top of the mountain for the magnificent observatory for night view.
👉 From the mountain, you can view Hakodate bay and neighbourhood areas. You can see airplanes flying through and touching Hokkaido as well! 
👉 The shape of the bay area makes it looks like Chanel (branded bag) shape, with two big C and buildings in the middle.
👉 The view keeps on changing from season to season. Everyday the view will change as well because it depends on the light that comes out from each houses and buildings.
👉 Come around evening time and stay till sunset and night falls, so you get to see day and night view from Mt. Hakodate. The later you come especially around evening/sunset time, there will be tons of travel buses that unload visitors and so on. You need to be early to book a good place to see the Chanel night view, else you can only manage to see crowds. Don't say I do not warn you, the place is crazily crowded!
👉 This is the most famous landmark attraction in Hakodate, so be prepared to queue everywhere!
👉 Remember to visit the souvenir shop inside as you get many Hakodate special limited edition snacks and souvenirs, most of them packed nicely with the Chanel night view as packaging!

Beautiful sunset on the mountain

Day view (most front view, we are early worms!)

Night view (most front view, have been standing here enduring the cold winds for 2 hours!)

Million dollar view memories



Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:

1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog
4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog
5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog
6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog
10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido




⭐Follow me below:




💗 Author: Ng Mei Lian/ Adrian Yeoh Aun Hong
👉 Date: 22/7/2018 ~ 29/7/2018
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Saturday, 1 September 2018

Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo)


Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:

1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog
4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog
5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog
6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog
10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido


Itinerary Summary:

Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo):
Otaru Canal → Otaru Old Town → Otaru Sakaimachi Shopping Street → Otaru Music Box Museum → Old Temiya Railway Track → Shiroi Koboito Park → Former Hokkaido Government Office 

It is the 2nd day of our pre wedding photoshoot in Hokkaido! The theme today is buildings. As our 1st day of pre wedding photoshoot already covered the outdoor scenery and flowers feeling, we would like to add in buildings and casual feeling for the 2nd day. We drive all the way from Furano to Sapporo, overnight over there and early morning depart to Otaru. It is a long way drive from Furano to Sapporo, it takes about 3.5 hours to Sapporo, and another 45 minutes to Otaru. Otaru is the Japanese movie "Love Letter" photoshooting place, and it gradually becomes popular ever since then. Now, Otaru is a town that crowded with tourists especially when it is just a short drive away from Sapporo city and you can get yourself the Japan feeling here, i.e. old town scenes, nice Japanese foods, cute souvenir shops, and etcetera. We also passby Shiroi Koboito Park/ White Chocolate Factory when we drive on the way to Sapporo. The place is a factory that produces the famous Japan souvenir snacks - White Chocolate! You can see this everywhere around Japan, not only Hokkaido! You get the chance to visit the factory here if you are in Hokkaido, sounds good right! It is decorated with beautiful outdoor garden and cafe as well. Oh yes forget to mention, we love strolling in Otaru so much that we have cancelled the initial plan to visit Sapporo city on last day of our trip and visit this Otaru town instead (p/s: Actually I can't forget all the nice ice cream and dessert shops here.. sweeth tooth girl 😃). Thus, I have combined all the Otaru's places that we have visited in both days for this blog post. Let's see today journey below.


Otaru Canal

Map Code: 493690589*33
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 0.5 hours
Highlights: Pretty scenery
Suits: Sightseeing
Personal Star Rating: ★★★ (Worth to Visit)
Description & Tips:
👉 A canal that runs in the middle of Otaru city, with the views of warehouse made of bricks along the canal, a long stretch of street beside the canal for tourists to stroll along, and Japanese street artist standing beside and drawing the canal view. That's practically the view of Otaru Canal!
👉 Heard a lot reviews on the night view of Otaru Canal is better than day view. Although day view you get a clearer photo, however night view in Otaru is different than day. When the day tour crowds left Otaru, it reverts back to the original Otaru with much more romance in the air when strolling along the street of Otaru Canal.
👉 Able to join the tour to ride the 'gondola' along the canal.
👉 There is one special kind of transportation around this area which you can see. It is human trishaw ride, i.e. muscular Japan man will take you roaming the Otaru city and their speed is very fast! I watch it from online tv show before, really impressed, especially the weather is hot and they need to run around the city carrying the heavy trishaw.
Boat ride along the canal

Strolling along the canal

Whole row of unique warehouse view

Famous tourist spot

Street designer spotted


Otaru Old Town

Map Code: 493690589*33 (Note: It actually is map code for Otaru Canal, we use this map code to reach Otaru city, park the car and just start to explore those famous streets in Otaru by walking!)
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 2 hours
Highlights: Pretty scenery, Japan houses, Traditional, Vintage, Culture
Suits: Sightseeing, Cultural
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★ (Must Go)
Description & Tips:
👉Few rows of streets all stretched in the vicinity of Otaru Canal, super crowded with tourists. There are many souvenir shops, dessert shops, eateries be it restaurants, cafes, street foods.
👉 Have the chance to enjoy summer festivals in Otaru, with parades marching through Otaru street, which makes it very lively. There are quite a number of summer festivals and booths all around Hokkaido, such as Sapporo. One of them is beer festival in Sapporo (we do not get the chance to explore thou). For those interested, may google for more details when planning your trip.
👉 Very beautiful town as we explore by foots, we get to see different kinds of shops, indulge in Japan culture such as glass making etcetera.
👉 Remember to try matcha ice cream in a shop called Sa wa wa. The store is fully green in color, thus is quite hard to miss it! There are two types of ice cream sold over there, one is light matcha, another is thick matcha. It is just like the Japanese curry which has spiciness level 1 to 10, here we have light and strong intensity of matcha flavour ice cream as well! It is so so nice that I back to buy again, nicest matcha ice cream that I have ever tried before! 💚Drooling.. 😋





Human trishaw


Very nice matcha ice cream! Must try if you are green tea lovers!


At last bought lovely souvenir for US from Hokkaido!


Otaru Sakaimachi Shopping Street

Map Code: 493690589*33 (Note: It actually is map code for Otaru Canal, we use this map code to reach Otaru city, park the car and just start to explore those famous streets in Otaru by walking!)
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 2 hours
Highlights: Japan houses, Traditional, Vintage, Culture, Dessert, Souvenirs
Suits: Sightseeing, Cultural, Foodies
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★ (Must Go)
Description & Tips:
👉 Taste those famous snacks and cookies in dessert shops. Note that for those famous snacks which we can buy from airport, we actually have the chance to test the taste in those shop branches in Otaru! It is very exciting and really assists you a lot when you choose what kind of snacks to buy as souvenirs! You can ONLY get this in Otaru, no where else in Hokkaido for this kind of free tasting! And there are generous with their samples! 
👉 There are many foods on both rows of streets around the Sakaimachi area, be it live seafoods, Otaru's famous sushi shops, Hokkaido's famous sweet corn, Otaru's famous rainbow and green tea ice cream etcetera.
👉 For those sweet tooth lovers, remember to go to dessert stores such as LeTao, Ginnokane, Rokkatei, and Kitakaro. When you visit LeTao which is just located at this Sakaimachi Marchen street, you can sit the lift and go to the top floor for observatory to look out the Otaru street as well as the port view. There is a nostalgic bell for you to ring as well. Not to mention you can have high tea on 2nd floor of LeTao shop as well, but the queue is crazy. In LeTao, must buy the cheese cookies, it is so so nice and I get addicted after the free testing 😂. There is limited edition puff as well which can sold out very fast, so grab it before sold out! It is so delicious, puff skin is crunchy, inside is soft and melted with foamy cream. In a short time, you will eat finish the whole puff without realizing!
👉 There is one Snoopy theme cafe in this street as well, and same theory applies, be prepared for the crazy queue. The cafe is on 2nd floor and souvenir shops at 1st floor. For those snoopy lovers, you must come here and try those 'kawaiiii' snoopy style dishes!
👉 Remember to try rainbow ice cream, it is top.1 ice cream in Otaru! Choose the 7 flavors of ice cream so you can try all famous ice cream flavors at once! The 7 flavors are lavender, milk, chocolate, melon, green tea, strawberry, and grape! Have to plan tactics when eat this, 1st is choose the photo spot, then buy ice cream, then faster rush to the designated photo spot, quick shot on you with the ice cream, selfie, wefie etcetera, then faster bite your ice cream. By this time, is already melted and stained your hands, trust me.. It is the messiest ice cream that we have ate so far, and of course heaviest! 😅


Otaru Sakaimachi Street view from LeTao's observatory

Otaru Sakaimachi Street view from LeTao's observatory


Snoopy shop and cafe 2-in-1!

Limited time mow mow pie!


Crunchy outside, creamy inside!






Famous 7 layers rainbow ice cream, must try in Otaru!


Otaru Music Box Museum


Map Code: 493690589*33 (Note: It actually is map code for Otaru Canal, we use this map code to reach Otaru city, park the car and just start to explore those famous streets in Otaru by walking!)
Operating Hours: 9am - 6pm
Average Time Spent: 1.5 hour
Highlights: Souvenirs, Specialty Shop
Suits: Sightseeing, Shopping
Personal Star Rating: ★★★★★ (Must Go)
Description & Tips:
👉 There are two music box museums side by side, one is the most famous and largest in scale (3 storey), you will not missed it as they are many crowds going to the direction, and there is one steam clock tower in front of the museum. Another one is a smaller shop in scale (2 storey) just situated beside, and you can see small statues of Mickey and Minnie, as well as Totoro outside. 
👉 The 3 storey shop is named Otaru Music Box Museum Main Building and the 2 storey shop is named Toy Store (梦之音) from the Google map. The Main Building sells a wide varietiesssss of music boxes, so much till you will be spoilt of choice, can you imagine they sell sushi style of music box as well? 😂 Haha, so creative, you got to venture around and dig the treasure in this shop to get your souvenirs back! 😍 The Toy Store (梦之音) mostly sells cute cartoon characters music box and those Japanese anime characters.
👉 The steam clock tower outside the Main Building will chimed and played music every 15 minutes! There will be people standing outside to watch the steam clock tower performance. Join the crowd if you are there as well. Although it is just a short moment of music playing and chiming, it is a special sight especially you are in the middle of Japanese feeling town and everything surrounding you feels so nostalgic and romantic!

Exterior look of music museum building

Beautiful shop packed with tourists
Look alike the long long dog in cartoon 'Secret Life of Pet' xD



Steam clock tower outside the building

Fluffy bearssssss!



Old Temiya Railway Track

Map Code: 493690589*33 (Note: It actually is map code for Otaru Canal, we use this map code to reach Otaru city, park the car and just start to explore those famous streets in Otaru by walking!)
Operating Hours: 24 hours
Average Time Spent: 0.5 hour
Highlights: Historical
Suits: Sightseeing, History
Personal Star Rating: ★★ (Can Skip if Time Constraint)
Description & Tips:
👉 An old railway line that connects Otaru to Sapporo. Now it has been left there as part of the historical sightseeing place. Besides the track, there are houses everywhere. May come if you have extra time and pose as many photos as you like here as this place is usually vacant unlike other Otaru streets! 

Shiroi Koboito Park

Map Code: 9602235*82
Operating Hours: 9am - 6pm
Average Time Spent: 2 hours
Highlights: Souvenirs, Specialty Shop, Cute garden
Suits: Sightseeing, Shopping
Personal Star Rating: ★★ (Can Skip if Time Constraint)
Description & Tips:
👉 Shiroi Koboito is the famous white chocolate cookies that you can see everywhere in Japan. In Hokkaido here, you can see the factory that manufactures this nice white chocolate cookies. A very good time spent with family and kids.
👉 There are outdoor english style gardens, cute little candy houses, and cafes for you to strolling around and take photos. The colorful exterior design of building reminds us of those France style building. Inside the building there are souvenir shops which are very crowded with tourists. In the middle of the shops, there is a long red staircase which manyyyy people are queuing to take photo as it feels like from one of the princess story.
👉 May join the factory tour if you are interested to see how they manufacture Shiroi Koboito. At the end of the tour, you can DIY  your very own personalized cookies as well!




Former Hokkaido Government Office

Map Code: 9522361*47
Operating Hours: 8.45am - 5.30pm
Average Time Spent: 0.5 hour
Highlights: Landmark, History
Suits: Sightseeing, History, Culture
Personal Star Rating: ★★ (Can Skip if Time Constraint)
Description & Tips:
👉 A red brick style of building that portrays the Hokkaido history exhibition to public.
👉 The striking red color of building makes it stands out be it in what season, especially the winter season. You can have different kind of photo feeling when you visit here in different season.

Credit to dreamstime


Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:

1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog
3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog
4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog
5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog
6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog
9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog
10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido




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💗 Author: Ng Mei Lian/ Adrian Yeoh Aun Hong
👉 Date: 22/7/2018 ~ 29/7/2018
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Location: Hokkaido, Japan
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