Beer museum and many more in Naebo

Visit Beer museum to understand the history and have a taste of beer. It is an interesting experience.  The pictures will say it all.

 

Please note that there is Ario Mall which is a family shopping mall just next to it. You can visit Akachanhonpo the one stop baby items supermart.

From JR Naebo 苗穂 station, you can also visit JR train depot museum
Website: http://www.jrh-zaidan.or.jp/business/page01.html
In Japanese.

It is free but it is not always open. It is only open every second and fourth Saturday every month. From May to August, it is opened every first , second and fourth Saturday.

Another factory that you might be keen will be Snow brand milk factory and history museum. This has needed to make reservation before hand. You can ask your hotel to make reservation for you as only telecommunication reservation is allowed.
Website: http://www.meg-snow.com/fun/factory/sapporo.html
Map to the factory : http://www.meg-snow.com/fun/factory/p-sapporo.html

Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade

Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade is a very long stretch of traditional shopping lane with very long history from Meiji era. It is approximately 1 km and so long that each section is divided by roads that connect the city. 

Though you will find many tourism shops around, there are interesting shops in every section. 

Daiso Sapporo Central : 北海道札幌市中央区南二条西２丁目富樫ビル１Ｆ

If you are looking for Daiso, walk towards Tanukikoji 2 or Tanuki covered shopping street 2. You will pass by a pet shop on the right, an owl pancake shop with real living owls just next to the Pachinko and ABC mart that sells shoes. At the traffic light towards Tanuki street 1, before crossing the road, turn left, you will see Daiso logo at the next junction. 

Susukino

Susukino is the never sleeping town where you can find good food, ramen museum, 24 hours shopping mall and hotels.

This is one of the important area in Sapporo City can be either be reached by walking from Sapporo station or subway.

In Winter, it will be filled with Singaporeans that you will feel at home!! Wahahahahaha!!
Especially for us who stay in apartment surrounded by Japanese, it is quite warm to feel in the midst of Singlish.

If you are looking for the snow crab, there is a moving 3D snow crab signboard which you will not miss in Susukino. Please note that there is another new branch near Sapporo station.

Furano Lavender

Furano famous for lavender in end July and also the expensive melon!

If you travelling period does not meet the full bloom of lavender, they have a greenhouse for you to visit.

During end of July every year, they have will different decoration to attract vistors again and again. There will also be food fair while you are walking in the area.

There is a few farms that you can visit if you have time. We spent the whole day just in one farm area!
Website: http://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/
English available.
The English map : http://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/farm/

Direction: http://www.farm-tomita.co.jp/en/access/
In English and map is available.
Please take note that there is a special train " Norokko" from Furano station and early reservation is highly recommended, alight at the second stop : Lavender Farm Station.

Recommendation: Furano is also famous for factory visits, during July, you can board their day tour bus to visit the factories. A trip to Biel is also in one of the day tour if you are not driving.

If you are driving, you can actually even travel to see Blue pond, patchwork road and paroname road in Biel.

Please also take note that in January to April, Furano is a ski area too. You can also visit the hot spring resorts in Furano.

Asahiyama Zoo

Asahiyama Zoo

I came to know this zoo from a movie with the same title. It showed about how Asahiyama zoo was about to end operation due to finance in red and how the staff actually sat down and discussed, rebuilt  and redeveloped the whole zoo with interesting 360 degree view concept as what they are now. It was later awarded as Japan Number One zoo with such concept and after that many zoos and aquariums started to use the same display concept too.

I love the penguin enclosure as the penguins can stand just next to you just separated by an transparent acrylic wall. They also have a step up platform for the kids to view without the obstraction of the wall. This is also a very huge range of different types of penguins. The staff are around if you need to ask questions too. Simple English is still ok for most.

Every animal enclosure, there will bond to have surprises. With 800 animals and more ( due to new borns) , 150 specimens.  The hippo was also swimming just next to us on ground floor and when we went to basement, you can see how hippo moved around and had fun!

Website : http://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/
English site available.

3 things you must know of Asahiyama Zoo 

1.  Asahiyama Zoo has its own train called " Asahiyama Zoo Go - 旭山動物園号" which only operates during a certain time and month.  Book the reserved seats the first thing you reach Japan or Hokkaido as this is in high demand for both locals and tourists.
   
   Website and pictures of the train :http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/travel/asahiyamazoo/
   In Japanese
   Operation day and time : http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/travel/asahiyamazoo/access.html
   In Japanese
   
2. Penguin Parade also known as Penguin March which usually start from mid Dec till end of March when there is constant heavy snow. Standing in the midst of snowing or thick snow, it can be challenging for kids but an amazing life experience.  This is very well known in Japan. If your travelling period does not fall within this period, you might want to consider Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe ( Information can be found in a post titled the same).
   
3. Different season to Asahiyama Zoo will encounter different experience and it is worth going more than just once. 

Direction: Take JR to Asahigawa station - 旭川駅. Just outside of the train station, the bus stop to Asahiyama Zoo is right near the entrance.  ( Do not note the Train station is ASAHIKAWA and the zoo is ASAHIYAMA)

Bus lane 6 with bus number: 旭山動物園線41・42・47番

This is the map where you can find the bus lane and other attractions that you can visit on bus. 

http://www.asahikawa-denkikidou.jp/h27%20bus%20information.pdf

This is taken from the zoo website on how to reach destination:  http://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/generalinformation/d053767.html

Tickets : Adults' ticket is 820yen each, while kids below 16 are free ( secondary school students and below are free). It is worth buying the annual pass if you intended to return for at least a second time. 

Recommendation: I would suggest a 3 days 2 night trip to Asahiyama Zoo during winter. Plan the arrival day to go Asahikawa Ramen village and then zoo on the second day morning. It can be a whole day event or half a day after penguin march, then follow by other attractions. 3rd day can be either Asahikawa's attractions or a step over Takikawa Science centre on the way back to Sapporo. 

Below are photos taken in end July.