Doraemon Sky Park

Doraemon Waku Waku Sky Park is situated in New Chitose Airport. It can be a good place to visit during heavy snow as there are malls, food court, restaurants and Smile Road that is connecting domestic and international terminals.

In Smile Road, you can view Royce Chocolate World with a complete robotic line in chocolate making and a kitchen with additional handmade items. Steiff Nature World ( http://www.new-chitose-airport.jp/en/steiff/ ) which featured a zoo of stuffed toys. Doreamon Waku Waku Sky Park is not to be missed as it consists free playground, cafe, workshop, library, shop and Amuseument Zone which need admission fees.

Rusutsu Resort

17th Mar 2016

Every resort has its own slogon to create attraction. I decided on Rusutsu Resort as it is the biggest ski resort in Hokkaido.  It has many ski trails , themed attraction and a very big traditional carousel which is suitable for family with young kids.

On top of these, the resort has free shuttle bus from Sapporo, near JR Sapporo station. 

It is also one of the few ski resorts that open in late November, ready for ski class and ski course.  They have free shuttle to another part of the resort for expert skier too.

They provide rental ski items, tub, ski wear, ski boots, accessories and you can just rent and hassle free.

Comparing Niseko, Niseko is very commercialised and crowded with foreigners, while Rusutsu is more family oriented. Even if you are on budget, there is another wing that has economical rooms, large canteen area and even has mini convenient store just outside the hotel.

My recommendation is 2 days 1 night if you just want the kids to play indoor. Longer stay if you plan to go ski or sleigh ( known as sori if you want to rent ).  Peak season is in Jan and Feb when all the ski courses are ready and open.

We have fun even though we stay most of the time indoor.

Singing tree at the lobby

Double deck Carousel

Buffet breaksfast ( western breakfast available too)

Singing choir clock

Landscape in the day

Illuminated park

Night scenery

Overview of the resort

The top waiting to be thick snow for ski

Live band

Lake Akan & crane watching

3rd March 2016

I decided to stay in Lake Akan with a host and glad that I did!

https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/1985385?s=FFITO8Ip

The lady speaks English and provides Japanese breakfast, provides pick up services from JR Kushiro station with extra charges.

I love and enjoy their company, learned a lot about Lake Akan.
Night falls early and the host even tried to explain why he was driving slowly and when we asked questions, they were patient to explain and share with us.

When we reached Lake Akan in the evening, we saw wild deers, fox crossing the road! This was really excitement that I couldn't pen down. With thick snow fall, just playing in the snow was a really a good experience.

They were helpful as they even checked where we could go for crane watching. If I were to follow what I have found in the websites, I might have found none!  We saw about 40 cranes and it was informed that at the observation center , there was only 3!!

Our trip will not be so fulfilled with them as a host.

In Lake Akan:
Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center in Lake Akan is a must go to understand the wild animals and nature.

Ainu village can be a good stroll especially sunset, it has winter wonderland ambience.

Jan - Mar, this is a peak season where you can try fish on ice, ice activities.
May-Aug, summer activites and walking around the Lake Akan is a must.


My recommendation is to stay 2-3 nights to walk along the Lake or even drive out to see any wild animals.  Then stay 1 night in Kushiro to explore the fish market and Children's museum which is situated near JR Kushiro station.

A summary of photos taken

29 Feb 2016

Sharing some photos before I follow my schedule and post more details and what I recommend.

Early heavy snow in November

 

It is another scenery in the night.

Ishiya White lovers' Chocolate Factory in the night

Crane watching

Crane watching

Rusutsu Resort at night. When night skiing season is open, this is really beautiful .

White Illumination at Odori

Ishiya White lover's Chocolate Factory in the day

Zoo package with bus timetable and zoo map

Koufuku station : Must go to be always blessed

Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE Penguin March

Sapporo Museum : Elephant vs Mammoth

Takikawa Children science center

Noboribetsu Marine Park NIXE  Hourglass dolphin performance

 

 

Where to shop for baby or kids' items

27th Feb 2016

It is always a must to know where to buy daily needs like diaper, formula milk, baby weaning food, etc.

I like going to Japan as you can travel lighter as there are shops and super markets nearby that can be easily access. Just prepare first and second day's requirement, the rest just buy there.

For emergency case, you can visit the big department store, children department, they usually sell Anpanman design Genki brand in 1 or 2 pieces pack, price at 100-200 yen each pack.

Alternative you can visit super market near where you stay. Places like Aeon and Co-op can be found easily.

The most popular One Stop Children Store will be Akachan Honpo. Everything you need can be found. They even have their own diaper pack which has more pieces than super market and that also means cheaper.

Akachan Honpo belongs to 7Eleven group and therefore 7Eleven house branded items can be found too. They are usually easily access near train or subway stations.

What I like to buy from Akachan Honpo :
Children wear
Formula milk
Fruit juice
Hotcake flour
Jelly made from fruit
Instant noddle meant for kids
Diapers
Baby bread that are suitable for 6 month old and above ( no colouring, no preservative, no artificial flavours etc)
Baby health snack
Weaning food related items
Winter snow boots and wear
Summer wear
Toilet training pants ( these are good and really good, comparing those you get from Singapore or China)
and the list goes on.

So where to find Akachan Honpo?
In Sapporo,
if you visit Sapporo Beer Museum in Naebo, it is situated inside Ario next to it.
Address:：〒065-8518 北海道札幌市東区北7条東9-2-20「アリオ札幌」イトーヨーカドー2F

Or you can go to Shinsapporo Duo2, just next to JR Shin Sapporo station
Address : 〒004-0052 北海道札幌市厚別区厚別中央2条5-6-3「新さっぽろアークシティ デュオ-2」3F

 

For other parts of Japan, you can search here: 

http://www.akachan.jp/store/

The other One stop store is Nishimatsuya. Personally in my own opinion, without public transportation, the outlets are not easily accessible compared to Akachan Honpo. The shop space are allocated more on clothes than food but price is more affortable. 

There is an outlet near Nango juhachi chome which is 1 bus stop away. This is near the supermarket from the apartment. 

Address : 北海道札幌市清田区北野6条2丁目14番2

The other outlets : 

https://www.24028.jp/tenpo/

The last one is well known overseas Big brand: Baby"R"Us!

There is one next to Sapporo Beer Museum 

Scroll to the last store below : 

http://www2.toysrus.co.jp/store/en/hokkaido.html#hokkaido

The other outlets are : http://www2.toysrus.co.jp/store/en/

I hope you will have an easier trip with these information!

Must Bring !!

This is a must bring when going to anywhere in Japan. Not many foreigners know or are aware but this is the best gift you can get for your kids to remember the trip.

PLEASE Remember to bring a A4 size blank note book! If you forget, you can get in 100yen shops. Blank ones without lines will be better.

You can find stamps in JR station, subway station, museums, zoo, aquarium, malls, airport, tourism customer service ,etc,etc....... Some even have seasonal stamps !!

If you can't find, ask the staff for Kinen Sutampu ( 記念スタンプ), they will guide you the location.

Common pass or package to grab

19th Feb 2016

There are many passes and package known to the locals but not the foreigners. Please ask the staff or tourist spot for where you can purchase them.

Unlimited day pass

In all subway, you can purchase unlimited day ticket for 840yen for a day or Donichika ticket 530yen for weekend or public holiday.

If you need to transfer to a bus or tram after subway, please purchase at the ticketing machine. Look  for transfer, it is about 100-150 yen cheaper per ticket.

JR Hokkaido Pass

It is available in 4 types : 3 days, 5days, 7 days and 4 flexible days .
Information can be found here : http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/railpass/rail01.html

Bus package

Please check out at the bus terminal if there is any package to destination. In Obihiro, I got a zoo package for Obihiro Zoo with 2 ways bus at only 500 yen.  2 ways fare to zoo is already 420yen.

Free Resort Bus

If you have intention of going to Ski resort, Resort like Rusutsu Resort , Tomamu Resort have free shuttle bus.

Rusutsu Resort pick up is at 8:30am, just in front of the Sapporo station, after Hokkaido Bank. Exact location : Kamori Building 3, Kita 4 Nishi4, Chuo-ku, Sapporo

Tomamu Resort pick up is at JR Tomamu station.