Spring in Hokkaido
Furano Mountains
Spring is here, temperatures are no longer in the freezing range, even at night and everything is starting to come to life. Spring in Hokkaido is amazing with the cherry blossoms blooming and the weather is cool and sunny. We just came off of the golden week holidays, and took a drive to the nearby town of Furano to visit one of my students (actually say goodbye). She will be leaving next week for a one year stay along the Gold Coast of Australia. She is doing this for two purposes, one for the adventure and two for the chance to improve here English speaking ability. Good Luck Nana you will be missed.
Nana’s parents have a cafe located next to the Anpan Man shop in Furano, Anpan man is a famous cartoon character in Japan. We took our children to the Anpan Shop and ate lunch at the Onigiri Slow Life Cafe. We were lucky and were treated to Free soft serve ice cream from Nana’s cafe. Thanks and it was delicious. My kids were especially happy!
After the visit to the cafe and lunch we took a trip to the Furano Cheese and Pizza factory. We got to try samples of the cheese they made there from fresh Hokkaido milk. The cheese was similar to brie, and was soft with a light rhind. There was even squid ink cheese which I braved and tried…. Not to bad, tasted like regular cheese, but had a black coating on it. I don’t know about you but black is a color that is just not that appetizing to look at.
My Boys
After visiting the cheese factory we tried some of the freshly made soft serve and all add a double scoop of Cheese flavor and Grape. The Cheese flavor scoop was the best I ever tasted, it was like cheesecake flavored ice cream Yummmmm! The grape was also delicious. After the visit to the cheese factory we headed back home.
The next day we took another road trip, this time we headed for a 2 hour drive to a nearby town called Sunagawa. There is a huge park for children that we wanted to take the kids to. After arriving we learned that just the adults had to pay to get in. Thanks for telling us in advance, of course know one is going to turn around and head back home, so we forked out the $5 each to get in.
Inside the park was a giant 5 story pyramid with rope swings, trampolines, slides that came down 3 stories and many other attractions. The kids had a great time racing around chasing each other and trying out all of the attractions in the pyramid. Next it was outside to see a re-creation of the leaning tower of Pisa, and Stonehenge. Spring in Hokkaido weather was just perfect for the visit.
There were giant mazes, large hills to roll down, obstacle courses, park golf (similar to putt putt). and many other fun things to do for the children. All of this set on a hill overlooking the town down below. We all had a great time, and I was wore out after all of the walking and stair climbing that we did.
Anpan Man Shop
After the park we headed for a KaiTen sushi restaurant back in Asahikawa were we ate dinner. Kaiten Sushi is the type of restaurant where the sushi is on small saucers that travel around the restaurant on a conveyor belt, and when you see something you like, you grab it. You are charged by the number of saucers that you have on your table when you are finished.
Furano Cheese Factory
After the restaurant we headed home for a well deserved rest. Spring in Hokkaido is just amazing, the tourists are in abundance and you kind of feel proud to know that they are here only for a visit but, I get to enjoy it 24/7 365 days a year. I cannot say it enough, I am so lucky and thankful to the universe to have the opportunity to live in paradise.
I have found my home, and will remain here until my spirit decides this shell it lives in is no longer habitable. Take Care my friends, and come visit.
You live in Japan…
How often do you get kanchoed there?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kancho
It is an early summer in Japan but in Hokkaido, still spring cherry blossoms are still not blooming and trees are still bare.
You got a nice trip.^_^
Nice pictures. It’s summer here in our country though sometimes it’s raining. But I love the weather now. Not so cold but not so hot too. Enjoy!
Japan is amazing country. I visited it couple of times and every time found something new. So, enjoy your visit!
WOW I love sushi mmmmmmm and the spring is my favorite season of the year.
As a english teacher it happens more than you would prefer. Just another quirky thing that is unique to Japan.
Nice pictures. It’s summer here in our country though sometimes it’s raining. But I love the weather now. Not so cold but not so hot too. Enjoy!
It is the last week of February and I see some signs of spring in my hometown in Virginia. I see a few early buds on the trees and a few early spring flowers are starting to bud out of the ground. We are 6 weeks from leaves on the trees and one month from calendar Spring. But maybe a few weeks from Spring fever with real signs of Spring.
That’s a very intressting blog. I really would like to visit Hokkaido, but isn’t it a bit dangerous there too? Tell me about that please.
And btw: Really great photos!
Spring in Hokkaido is amazing with the cherry blossoms blooming and the weather is cool and sunny.
Wow ! what a fantastic post. Spring is my most heatedly touched weather, I like it most.
more than it if i get to pass this time on moors i feel very lucky……
One thing that i learned from this post is that do everything with enjoy. Thanks.
How often do you get kanchoed there?That’s a very intressting blog. I really would like to visit Hokkaido, but isn’t it a bit dangerous there too? Tell me
Wow ! what a fantastic post. Spring is my most heatedly touched weather, I like it most.
more than it if i get to pass this time on moors i feel very lucky……
feel very lucky to experience spring in your country..
hope you can add more post regarding this matter.. thanks
I see some signs of spring in my hometown in Virginia. I see a few early buds on the trees and a few early spring flowers are starting to bud out of the ground. We are 6 weeks from leaves on the trees and one month from calendar Spring.
It seems very beautiful and so close to nature. it such really a nice place for holiday. It would be a awesome experience. Thanks to share it.
Nice pictures. It’s summer here in our country though sometimes it’s raining. But I love the weather now. Not so cold but not so hot too. Enjoy!
How often do you get kanchoed there?That’s a very intressting blog. I really would like to visit Hokkaido, but isn’t it a bit dangerous there too? Tell me
Nice, I like it with the girl in the background! Spring brings about nice colourful shots, and blooming flowers!
I have never been to Hokkaido.
Please help me out.
1. Where are the popular drives? I want to see fields of flowers, lakes, visit local cheap hot springs and baths, national parks and if possible drive along the reef.
2. What kind of flowers can I expect to see during may in Hokkaido?
Spring in Hokkaido is amazing with the cherry blossoms blooming and the weather is cool and sunny.It seems to be beautiful
It seems very beautiful and so close to nature. it such really a nice place for holiday. It would be a awesome experience. Thanks to share it.
Drive to Lake Toya, you will come across a very big wooden log house on your left in the middle of nowhere. Stop there for a toilet break…the toilet cost over 100 million Yen to build and it is free. Next door, have a mushroom soup for 100 Yen. Then visit Lake Toya, go up to the Windsor Hotel where the famous G8 summit was held and have a coffee on the last floor. You might wanna stay in a hotel somewhere around there or drive to nearby Noboribetsu Onsen. The next day head to the Sea of Japan, Shakotan has very beautiful coastal scenery.
You won’t find many flowers in May unfortunately. The famous flower fields are best visited at the end of July.
The cherryblossoms will start blooming and are best to be seen in Shizunai…but it is a long drive and not that amazing compared to Honshu.
I suggest you to drive to Lake Shikotsuko, go to the hot springs there in Marukoma, right on the lake. You can go there without staying at the hotel.
Regards,muni
Its my dream to visit there. I had heard many time about that place and see it in picture and videos. I must be go there once in my life.
You are right that is the nice place for adventure and improve the communication skills in English language. It will be a Awesome experience.
that’s a really beautiful place.It really explain natural nature who made all over world.
It really attracted me.And I would like to say I want to go there in one time.
You won’t find many flowers in May unfortunately. The famous flower fields are best visited at the end of July.
The kids had a great time racing around chasing each other and trying out all of the attractions in the pyramid. Next it was outside to see a re-creation of the leaning tower of Pisa, and Stonehenge.Spring in Hokkaido weather was just perfect for the visit.
I have never been to Hokkaido.
Please help me out.
1. Where are the popular drives? I want to see fields of flowers, lakes, visit local cheap hot springs and baths, national parks and if possible drive along the reef.
2. What kind of flowers can I expect to see during may in Hokkaido?
Those mountains look beautiful. And teh 2 kids seem nice enough but they dont look japanse much.