Takikawa Children science center

Takikawa Children Science Center (滝川博物館 こども科学館)  is a local science center meant for the children in the city of Takikawa. It is actually more than just for children. We saw a large collection of dinosaur skeletons!! This is by far the only one we managed to visit.

There is another area to take note! They would have animated presentation with a physical globe to explain how the plates moved and how country like Hawaii was created,etc.  The only disadvantage is that all in Japanese and the adult needed to be able to recognise the geographical positions to know what are the countries presented.

You can consider buying annual pass as it is really not much difference from a day ticket. The children's annual pass is the same price as a day ticket.

As it was a weekday when we visited, we had the whole science center to ourselves and the staff came specially to inform us when they have shows or experiments. They asked if we could speak in Japanese or they would try their best to explain in English and I felt touched by this gesture and attitude. They even slow down in speaking for me to translate to my children.

Website : http://www.city.takikawa.hokkaido.jp/260kyouiku/05bijyutsu/k-museum.html
Only in Japanese

Direction :
From JR Takikawa station, facing the road turn right to  Central bus terminal  ( 中央バスターミナル)
There are a few buses that passes thru.

・【歌志内線】（赤平昭和・宮下町行き） 

　・【滝川美唄線】【滝川奈井江線】（奈井江高校・美唄駅前行き）

　　　→＜開発局前＞Kaihatsukyokumae alight, walk for 5 mins. 


　・【滝芦線】【砂芦線】（芦別行き）

　　　→＜文化センタ ー入口＞ Buka Centa Iriguchi ( Cultural Center entrance) alight , walk for 10 mins. 

Please remember to check the bus timetable to and fro to ensure that you are able to travel back. Frequency was every 45 mins.
We took the bus to Cultural Center Entrance and really walked in the snow to the science center.

The bus stop that you will alight in a metal shelter with wild grass around. Cross the road, you will see Softbank ( Telco shop , the return bus stop is right in front of Softbank), Petrol kiosk right in front. Bikkuri Donkey Takigawa びっくりドンキー 滝川店 ( family restaurant in brown ) will just be on the right of the kiosk.

Cross the road towards Bikkuri Donkey Takigawa びっくりドンキー 滝川店 , follow the pavement. You will walk pass Tsutaya Movie Rental , Tsuruha Drug store and also (公)滝川市立高等看護学院 further down. After about 5 mins, you will see signboard to turn right. First thing that would catch your eye is 滝川市こども科学館分館 which is standing at the corner before turning right.  Walk to the next traffic light, turn left. It is the second building which is behind a small park.


Something to note. When you stepped out of train station, this seemed to be a deserted town, the first mall you will see with a bowling pin is very run down. This mall has its glorious period long ago. Now Daiso is in it! So if you have time to spare while waiting for bus or train, you can cross over the road.

This is the mall : http://nationalmaclord.web.fc2.com/annex/shop/seiyu/takikawa.html


If you are travelling between Sapporo and Asahikawa, this can be a stop over for the children.  Or you can stay over in Asahikawa and plan a day for it too.

　 

Otaru Canal and Otaru aquarium

Otaru is famous for the scenic port city and Otaru canal just 10 minutes away from the Otaru station.
Otaru can be a day trip with morning market, aquarium and trip to canal too.

Start the day early and give yourself a treat to fresh seafood and then visit Otaru Aquarium before visiting Otaru Canal.

Otaru Aquarium ends early at 4pm during winter and at 5pm for the rest of the year.
Website: http://otaru-aq.jp/page-2236/

If you are going during Winter, 2-4pm will be a good time to see sunset. After sunset, it will be difficult to take nice photos. It can be a slow walk from Otaru station to Minami Otaru station. There are museums, cafes and interesting shops along the stretch of old houses.

The walking map for Otaru can be found here:
http://otaru.gr.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/280319_en.pdf
https://www.city.otaru.lg.jp/sisei_tokei/otaru/foreigner/otaru-map.html

Walking down from Otaru station, there is an interesting bread shop with long history along the way. A small bread shop near North Pacific Bank, just at the traffic light towards Miyakodori shopping street. If you are looking for chinese food, there is an authentic chinese restaurant HAO restaurant.

Without kids or night off, looking for pubs, there is one just next to Otaru Furukawa. It has band performance during the weekend. An interesting cafe/pub/shop to explore. There is a ice cream lamp in front of the shop and half of the shop is a concept retail store. We love the toilet.... for this, you have to check it out yourself to know why!! Kekekeke!

There are a few hotels to consider if you are planning to stay in Otaru.

• Ginrinso 
• Hotel Sonia which is facing the canal
• Otaru Furukawa , Japanese style hotel facing canal

Old railway track 

Otaru Canal

Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE

Noboribetsu is famous for Bear Park, Marine Park and Onsen resort. I chose Marine Park NIXE as it is one of the only two themed parks that have Penguin march. Asahiyama Zoo only has during mid winter while Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE is able to see all year round except days when it is too hot.

The first thing you will notice of this park when you are near Noboribetsu station, is the castle! It is a walking distant from the JR station.

Though it is not a big park, just by following the show schedules, you will spend a whole full day there. I will go again as it is very fun and interesting!! Just note that the crowds in the park are mostly from Taiwan and therefore, in their brief explanations, you will hear some simple chinese.  During penguin march in the morning at 11am, they even have staff with English information standing near the trainer who is explaining in Japanese.

Website: http://www.nixe.co.jp/
English language available

Direction, At JR Noboribetsu station, turn right till you see the signboard to turn left or walk towards the castle. Just follow the wall till there are signboards to turn right and to the main entrance. Walking will take 5-10mins.

Kids below 5 are free.

We had a special gift from the dolphin show as the staff actually came running to me and asked if I was keen to watch the dolphin rehearsal! Please note, there are two groups of dolphins performing : Hourglass dolphins and Bottlenose dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins only perform at 1.30pm show, the rest of the shows are by hourglass dolphins.We missed the 1.30pm as we went lunch and the rehearsal was by bottlenose dolphins! We were so lucky! More information : http://www.nixe.co.jp/iruka-show/

Iconic Castle 

Fur seals and baby seal

 Penguin march 

 

Penguin March 

 Penguin March 

Baby penguin enjoying the parade 

Dolphin show

Sardine illumination show

 Dancing dolphins

Chitose Aquarium

Chitose Aquarium also know as Chitose Salmon hometown aquarium. This is a newly renovated aquarium with a shopping mall ( Chitose Salmon Park) within the same car park area. The shopping mall has free outdoor and indoor playground with a public food court.

Chitose Aquarium is a first and largest aquarium that is built directly in the river of Chitose where they first started the campaign to breed salmon after the quantity declined near to extinct. It is a great learning experience as they showcase not only different salmon species, there are other Japanese fish species on display. The Indian waterwheel will collect the salmon mid Dec to calculate the quantity and prepare for winter. As for 2015, the event is held on 12th Dec 2015.  Near to the entrance to tunnel to view the salmon in Chitose river, there is both Japanese and English videos introduction about how they breed salmons, chinese subtitles are included. 

Website: http://chitose-aq.jp/

English translation done by goggle and English pdf file available. 

Directions: JR Chitose station,  from East exit ( from platform on the left, after escalator the door in front ). Walk straight to the traffic light turn right and walk till Surplus,a mini mart. Do note that you will pass a kindergarten with Anpanman characters on your left at the next traffic junction before you reach Surplus.  Turn left either at the kindergarten or Surplus , you will see Pizza hut, BBQ restaurants. Then you will see 和平, a famous ramen store. If you ask for direction for this ramen store, you will get discount coupon for the aquarium.
Walking down you will see a caterer ( there is a huge vertical banner with big wordings and price), check out their bento as they are cheap and delicious!!! They are open till 5pm.
Further, you will see 3 trunk like public toilets and a huge safety road park; then a plot of land with show houses. Salmon Park Mall will be the first building you see before aquarium comes in sight.  Chitose aquarium is just right on the right, nearer to you.  Approximately 10mins.

If you are planning to buy vegetables, please plan Chitose Aquarium as one of the last days as in the Chitose Salmon Park has a store at the back of the mall selling vegetables very cheaply and fresh from farm nearby! Purple carrot is 100yen for 4-5 pieces!!

Wineglass display for salmon roes

 Mini Indian Waterwheel to show how the actual one in the river works

The park with 3 trunk like toilet. It is a traffic park