We rarely visit Japan in summer due to heat and humidity.  However, the main goal of this trip is to visit lavender farms and other summer flowers in Biei/Furano, where we have stayed 5 or 6 times in Spring and Autumn before. This was also our 11th visit to Hokkaido, excluding 5 ski trips.

7-day Itin – Sapporo > Shakotan Peninsula > Toya-ko > Shikotsu-ko via Muroran > Biei/Furano > Sapporo.  Rental car was picked up and returned in Sapporo.

Sapporo

checked in Sapporo hotel almost at 6pm and headed to local izakaya connected by underground walkway beneath the Sapporo station.  This izakaya imports most seafood from Nemuro in the far eastern corner of Hokkaido, where Akeshi oysters and other shellfish are famous. 

On next morning, picked up rental car and drove to Shakotan Peninsula, dropped by Otaru Shukutsu for a break.

Shakotan Peninsula

Second visit since 2008.  Due to quite heavy road traffic (on Sat) from Otaru, we arrived after 12 noon and had to queue for parking space.

Queued up for the only restaurant in Shimamui-kaikan serving uni (sea-urchin) while in season.  Due to local tourist groups ferried in by coaches, the queue was long and took almost 90 min before we were served.  (When we visited in Oct 2008, uni was out of season and there were a few diners).

After lunch we descended down to the rocky beach in about 15-20min.

Nikka Yoichi Distillery

Dropped by this local whisky distillery in Yoichi while driving en route to Toya-ko onsen hotel.

===>  Part 2  ===>