100 yen shops

Singaporeans love 100yen shops like Daiso and it is fun to visit these shops intentionally or bypassing. 

For Daiso Sapporo Central , it is a wonderful shopping time just in 1 huge daiso as this is the biggest outlet in whole Japan. 5 storeys filled with millions of items to be discovered and explored!

Daiso Sapporo Central : 北海道札幌市中央区南二条西２丁目富樫ビル１Ｆ
Take subway to Odori, walk towards 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. 

Daiso Sapporo Lucy : 北海道札幌市白石区栄通１８丁目５５５－２
This near the apartment.  Take subway to NANGO 18Chome Exit 3, turn left. 
This is toward the CO-OP Mall known as Lucy.
You will find KFC on your left before you cross the road to the mall. 

Many more here: http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp


 Can Do :

• JR Tower  Esta B2F

This outlet is easy to access from JR Sapporo station. The escalator from underpass leads directly to the store.  You can access from the food court on B1F, next to KFC.

• Susukino Lafiler 4F

Next to Subway Susukino station and Tokyu Inn  ( The busy district with brigh neon lights, CAN -DO logo will not be missed)

• JR Soen station

Situated just outside of JR Soen station 

• Miyanosawa Terminal Building 2F

If you are going to White lover's chocolate factory, this is a shorter and easier route. 

• In front of JR Kotoni 

It is situated just in front of the JR station 

Many more here : http://www.cando-web.co.jp/shopinfo/hokkaido.html



Seria : This store can usually find in AEON malls. 
Outlets at

•  Sapporo Factory 2F
• 北海道札幌市中央区南一条西２７丁目１−１
  マルヤマクラス　Ｂ１Ｆ  If you are walking to Maruyama Zoo, you will pass this and the Shrine before reaching the zoo
• 北海道札幌市厚別区厚別中央二条５−６−３
  デュオ２　Ｂ１Ｆ
  Just next to JR Shin Sapporo station, DUO2 is the building name 

Many more here : http://www.seria-group.com/shop/list.html?pref_code=01#lat=43.06461470000001,lng=141.3468074,zoom=12

When the weather is bad or you are too tired for a day trip, have a trip down to any outlet and have fun!!

Second hand store : 2nd Street where you find gem!

We came across this shop by chance and wondered if they have some of the items we need, so we visit the big store at Oyachi ( 大谷地）, just next to the subway station exit.

The location of the store:
http://www.2ndstreet.jp/shop/details?shopsId=30988
They have many shops spread around Hokkaido.
Near Coke Cola Factory in Sapporo, there is a small store there too.

You will be surprised by the quality and range of products. Brand New 4 wheel luggage at 8,990 yen. Okosh B'gosh brand new one piece at 450 yen with tag. Used but very new clothes for kids at 300 -700 yen.
Adult's clothes, shoes, accessories, winter items, snow board, ski boots.
Electric appliances that you can buy for the stay and sell back before you return home.
Toys that are brand new or in very good condition.
Hobby collection and collectibles too.

Check it out especially when they have promotion! I got a skirt tagged 4,500yen selling at 300 yen, a pullover 300 yen with 50% off and the list goes on.

It is also an eye opening how Japanese handle their items so well and good condition!

Surrounding of the Apartment

The below are photos of the surrounding of the apartment

Ramen store just next to Aeon supermarket, right at the cross junction

$700 Sapporo Apartment

29th January 2016

Yes $700 per month in Sapporo, Hokkaido, it is unbelievable but it happened!

I was exploring Airbnb when I came across this apartment and saw that there was no extra charges for additional person, kids are free, no cleaning fee, free wifi ( within apartment) and SGD$700 only for ONE MONTH!! Yes, in Singapore dollars!!

Located 7 mins walk from subway, we could also walk the other direction which has another subway station, a shopping mall with supermarket, Daiso, small shops, restaurants and even more shops down the lane. There is a direct bus just 2 stops away from this shopping mall  , the bus stop is just outside across the Y junction.
 
There is another bus stop which is opposite 7 eleven, small supermarket, ramen store just 3mins walk from the apartment if we are lazy to travel for that day.

The bus stop opposite Y junction which is further down , is situated next to a playground!! The kids could play and when time to board the bus, we all just ran to the bus stop. This bus stop could also go to Coke Cola factory directly! 

The airport bus stop is also near the ramen store , we actually got lost as it was dark when we arrived. The staff in the ramen actually helped us and then we realised that it was actually very easy !! 
Away from the tourist area, it was a good experience to stay like locals.  

 From the subway, we could travel down to JR Shin Sapporo station to transfer to many express trains without going to Sapporo station, making trips less rush, more time for a meal,etc. Sapporo station by rapid train is only 1 stop too.

At Shin Sapporo, there are restaurants, bus terminals, food stores, supermarket ( Aeon), Kid speciality store " Akachan Honpo", Seira " 100yen " shop, Science centre ( just next to aquarium), Aquarium ( Sunpizza Aquarium), 2 storey indoor playground ( Fantasy Kids Resort) with free wifi !!

A few stops by subway at OYACHI, there is a huge second store that you can explore too. I found a brand new cut tag Okosh B'kosh pull over at 450 yen with 20% off! Luggage at 8,990 yen if u need an extra one , ski equipment, etc. You can even buy rice cooker, kitchen appliances just for your stay before selling it back to the store.

For families who need more than 1 apartment, can discuss with the host as he has a few apartments in the same building. He speaks and write English. Please note that this is a whole apartment, host does not stay in Sapporo.

This is the link:  https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/4261221?guests=1&s=CLMudS15

We will definitely stay over again!!

Preparation

3rd Feb 2016

Preparation do not just means buying, packing clothes into luggages, get body ready for trip is important. For winter trip, there is always high chance of flu and cough due to sudden change in temperature, humidity and cold gust wind.

1 month before trip, I would prepare Huaishan ( 淮山/ 山药）with lily bud (百合）, wolfberry, lotus roots soup to strengthen and nourish lung. Once every week or fortnight till the beginning of trip.

When I reach there, I bought fruits as I read before the best way to get body to use to that place's temperature and humidity, is to eat their local fruits and vegetables.

At the same time, I brought honey and 罗汉果 in situation when kids are coughing or having dry throat.

The whole month everyone was healthy! The best health to be able to explore and learn more during the trip.

Overview experience of the budget trip

23rd January 2016

We are blessed and very blessed! Everyday is a blessing with surprises and learning experience!

We were told that there would be more rain than snow, but we had a few big snow and only 1 raining day that affected our plan. We reach Sapporo in autumn green and on the third day, it was snowing very heavily.
It was the first time kids saw snow, playing snow as we walking to the subway.

We were not able to reach our factory visit in time, the 7 mins walk turned out to be 30mins!!  Yet, it was a good very good experience! This is the huge snow that news had stated first huge snow in many many years.

There were days that it was supposed to rain or snow and it only started raining / snowing after we reached the train station.  There were when it only snowed heavily after sunset and we had the daytime to move around.

We managed to see how winter season was, we learned how to identify where to step on to prevent slipping; when to wear different types of winter wear; how to identify the temperature and broadcast weather for next few days. When the strong wind in the night chill and dropped below zero degree celsius , we were prepared for heavy snowing. We even had the opportunity to walk pass the carpark which was so covered and shoved with mountain of snow, stomp along the roadside with snow up to knee, see how mother nature's wonders, play snow war and did angels!

Though plan had to change due to closure and weather issue, we made full use each days even when we stayed in the apartment.  

We had the rare opportunity to watch dolphins practising during our trip to NIXE and it was only 3 of us!

We met very nice people like the cab driver who specially stopped his cab and came back to us to help us moved the luggages with us; the uncle who helped to push my luggages and passed to me so that I don't have to board and alight the train which was closing doors soon!  The ramen lady who gave us discount coupon for Chitose Aquarium, the bus terminal lady who shared the zoo package !

Due to budget, we visited supermarket frequently to grab meals but we have interesting meals and food tasting.

We also made a good decision to stay in this apartment!! Good location and easy access, cheap and comfortable! We will definitely go again!

Thankyou for the support!

19 January 2016

It was almost one month after I returned from the trip. With all the washing, packing, getting ready for a new school year and allowing my body to recover and relax, time seemed to have passed quickly.

Many friends were eager to know and read about my trip and have been asking about the updates.

Thankyou for your support!! It is really a big push factor to start blogging!!

Stay Tune!!!