After checking out from Shikotsu-ko hotel, headed to Minami-Furano in about 2 hours.
First lavender field in this visit, with view of Kanayama-ko.
Arrived at Furano after lunch. Headed to Lavender East, operated by Tomita farm.
Drove slightly uphill to visit this farm again.
6th stay in onsen hotel. Extended fireworks after dinner.
Dropped by Muroran – a seaport and coastal landscapes for the first time.
Arrived at Shikotsu-ko for 5th stay. Locals were having water sports along the Chitose stream and in the lake.
Picked a cosy onsen hotel on the lakeside with only 10 rooms. There are 2 rotenburo shared by the staying guests on a first-come-first-served basis. View from our room was serene with a green garden, lake and mountains beyond. The Italian dinner was very delicious and sourced from seasonal produce in Hokkaido.
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.
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.
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.
Dropped by this local whisky distillery in Yoichi while driving en route to Toya-ko onsen hotel.
The former warehouse was transformed into shops, cafes and restaurants on the harbourside.
Strolled back to hotel in Sakuragicho via the World Porters and Canal Park at dusk.
This is the end of our sakura and spring flower trip in Honshu and Hokkaido in 25 days.
Stayed in Yokohama for last 2 nights before returning home.
Though its name is long, literally it means a park on mount where harbour can be seen. We last visited in late Oct 2010 when autumn roses were blooming. It was more brilliant this time with about 1600 bushes and other spring flowers in full bloom.
after lunch we visited this park on the harbourside, with 1900 bushes in full bloom.
After checkout from Hatake onsen, I drove uphill to Fuji Shibazakura Park via Asakiri Kogen in about 1 hour.
With drizzles and rain clouds Mt Fuji was completely shrouded as if it had disappeared.
As it was chilly cold and less impressive than similar parks in Hokkaido – despite being reported as full bloom on its website few days earlier, we strolled around for 40 min, drove back to Mishima for lunch, returned car and took Shinkansen to Yokohama.
Delicious Unagi-don in Mishima old shop filled with locals. We were much warmer after lunch. My Tokyo friend was very jealous of it.
On the way back to Hatake onsen on the previous day, we dropped by Mishima Taisha. Did not visit the museum as we were cold so rather dipped into onsen asap.
Took Tokaido Shinkansen to Mishima and pick up car to visit Nishi-Izu (West Izu).
Day 1. Coastline along Izu Toi to Izu Heda
Day 2. Numazu
Day 3. Visit Hakone Open-air Museum
Day 4. Visit Fuji Shibazakura Park
dropped by famous local small sushi shop in Toi, which is famous for fresh fish caught in Suruga Bay. Nice and delicious sushi freshly prepared. Luckily we arrived earlier as late comers had to wait.
after lunch headed south towards Koibito-misaki (Cape of lovers) where Mt Fuji could be seen on clear days. Lucky to have Mt Fuji in blue sky as if it were floating on Suruga Bay. As rain clouds started to roll in we headed back north to Izu Heda. By the time we reached there an hour later Mt Fuji was barely visible.
Though this was our sixth stay in Izu onsen ryokan, it was our first taste of Takaashi-kani (Japanese spider crab) caught from the depths of Suruga Bay. Super delicious and highly recommended.
After checkout we abandoned plans for scenery in Nishi-Izu and headed north to seaside town of Numazu due to heavy rain for whole day. Stayed in Hatake onsen in Central Izu for 2 nights.
It has plenty of fish varieties and other sea creatures down to 300m+ below the Suruga Bay – one of the deepest sea troughs closest to Honshu.
On next morning drove uphill to Hakone Gora for this outdoor museum. After the passage of cold front day temperature was down to around 10C with occasional drizzles up there. Spent about 3 hours, including an indoor Picasso museum with plenty of his works. Other sculptures include Henry Moore and French, Italian, Japanese artists.
Returned to Tokyo by domestic flight from Hakodate for the first time. Stayed in Tokyo for the next few days during the 2nd half of the golden week. Afterwards, visited western Izu, Hakone Open-Air museum and Fuji Shibazakura Park by car while based in Izu for few days before returning to Yokohama.
Visited Yoyogi Park on a sunny morning. It was a surprise as we did not expect roses to be in full bloom so early during the golden week.
There was a long queue in Shinjuku with people dressed in costumes of Star Wars characters. Ah – it’s a promotion for a new episode Han Solo. Looks like there are many fans in Japan.
On next morning we strolled around in Akasaka – where we stayed. Dropped by the Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho, where it used to be Akasaka Prince Hotel. There was a nice garden outside the Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho. Roses were blooming as well.
Met up with local friend for cake and coffee. Spanish dinner for wife’s birthday !!
Visited a few spots including Trappistine Monastery, Onuma National Park before returning to Hakodate.
climbed 250 steps for sights as suggested by pamphlets from Hokuto town. New greens in the mountains around Shiriuchi machi and a row of pinky Naden sakura trees stretching towards the coast.
While this monastery can only be visited with appointment, we dropped by its shop selling delicious ice-cream and cookies.
Another historical sakura tree in Hokuto town
