< Day 1 > Sapporo – Noboribetsu   Welcome to Hokkaido! On arrival at Sapporo New Chitose Airport proceed to “DONAN” bus counter, which is located on the left of the exit to purchase your bus ticket to Noboribetsu-onsen (hot spring resort) and the ticket cost JYE1,330. Wait for the “DONAN” bus at bus stop No. 4. The relaxing and comfortable journey from New Chitose Airport to Noboribetsu-onsen bus station would take approximately 1 hour 10 minutes. “DONAN” Bus schedules: 10:35 a.m. 11:50 a.m. 2:20 p.m. ( 1 June to 19 October ) 3:40 p.m. (Please note that the bus schedule is subject to change) On arrival at the bus station in Noboribetsu-onsen you can proceed to the hotel for check-in and walk around the town. The people are friendly and obliging. They will try their best to assist you, even though some of them speak only very little English. Suggested hotel: Noboribetsu Grand Hotel. It is just opposite the bus station and it is just a 3 minutes walk from the bus station. Tel: 0143-84-2101 www.nobogura.co.jp Suggested sightseeing spot: You can take a 5 minutes walk to the Aerial tramway, which will take you up to the Bear Mountain (elevation 550 meters) where the Bear Park and the Yukara Village (Ainu Kotan Village) are situated. Here you can see about 200 bears of different ages and sizes. You can also see a Bear Show, Duck Race, and Brown Bear Museum. At the Yukara Village you can see how the Ainu who are the original inhabitants of Hokkaido and Northern Japan live. You can also have a close look at the way traditional textiles and handicrafts are made by watching the demonstrations. A ten minutes walk from the hotel will also take you to the 12ha Jigoku-dani (Hell Valley). It is a remain of a live volcano. Steam and boiling water pour out at many places along the valley, which smells of sulphur. What ever it is you must never miss the onsen, which is the hot spring in the hotel has its own. Public bath can also be found in the town. This is a must for all visitors. Suggested food: Noboribetsu has a variety of foods. You can find ramen (noodles) shops and seafood restaurants selling fresh horse-hair crab, shrimps, clams, salmon and codfish all over Noboribetsu. Ramen with tea (oocha) cost around JYE950 only. Souvenirs: As you take a stroll around the town you can find all kinds of souvenirs and traditional cakes shops selling cod roe that is most famous in Japan, dried salmon, fleshy shiitake mushrooms and the ñdemonî goods. < Day 2 > Noboribetsu-Otaru-Sapporo After a hearty breakfast you are ready to explore the other town of Hokkaido. This morning you can either take the CHUO express bus, which depart from the bus station opposite the Noboribetsu Grand Hotel to Sapporo at JYE1,900 or by the limited express train to Otaru via Sapporro, which depart from the JR Noboribetsu station and it cost JYE4,480. CHUO bus schedule: Depart Noboribetsu-onsen bus station at 10:30 a.m. Arrive Sapporo station at 12:11 p.m.     JR Limited Express: Depart JR Noboribetsu station at 09:28 a.m. Arrive Sapporo station at 10:33 a.m. At Sapporo station you need to take an express train to JR Otaru station and it takes 42 minutes. For those who take the CHUO bus, you need to buy an additional express train ticket from Sapporo to Otaru and it cost JYE620. The best way of seeing Otaru is to buy the JYE750 1-day pass for the Sansaku bus that goes round the town stopping at the various tourist spot with announcements in Japanese and English. The ticket can be purchased from the Hokkaido Chuo Bus Otaru Station Terminal, which is located outside JR Otaru station. A one-day trip is recommended. Suggested sightseeing spot: Otaru Museum Otaru Unga (Canal) is the symbol of Otaru. Along the canal stand stone-made warehouses that recall the city’s prosperity in the past. Here food is of no problem, as there are many western and local restaurants, especially ramen and sushi shop. For those who like to try the rickshaw’s tour, it is available for 2 people at JYE8,000 for a 30 minutes ride round the canal area. Kitaichi Glass Emporium. Here you can see how glass blower does his work. It is also a long established glassware shop that displays the total charm of glassware, which has an impressive German style exterior. Otaru Orgel Emporium. The biggest store is specializing in orgels and musical boxes. Suggested food: Sushi, ramen, local delicacies, western food and wine bars and coffee shops. Souvenirs: Glassware and musical boxes. They even have one of the biggest 100YEN shops. At the end of the day, take the express train from Otaru station back to Sapporo. The fare is only JYE620 On arrival in Sapporo check into one of the many hotels available depending on your budget. Suggested hotel: Sapporo Grand Hotel. It is conveniently located and about 10 minutes walk from the JR Sapporo station. Suggested food: You won’t go hungry in Sapporo. There is plenty of fast food restaurants, “Eat and drink as much as you can restaurants, seafood, local and western restaurant. Ramen is popular in Sapporo and you can visit Ramen Alley in Susukino, where 16 well known Ramen restaurants are competing with each other over tastes. < Day 3> Sapporo   Suggested sightseeing spot: Recommended that you take a walk to visit the places of interest, as they are all within walking distant. Clock Tower constructed in 1878 is a symbol of Sapporo. The Former Hokkaido Government Building also known as “Red Brick”, was constructed in 1888 and modeled after the Massachusetts State House. Botanical Gardens, which was opened in 1886, is Japan’s first modern botanical garden. It is nearby the “Red Brick”. Odori Park is an oasis at the city center. It is decorated with fountains, sculptures and flowerbeds. This is the site of the Sapporo Snow Festival, which is held yearly in February. Sapporo Beer Museum. To visit this museum you take the City Bus Kan 88, Factory Line from Sapporo City area or Odori area to Sapporo Beer Garden Bus Stop. Here you will be given a guided tour of the brick Beer Museum that includes the history of Sapporo beer as well as its brewing process. At the end of the tour participants will be offered a taste of Sapporo Beer or soft drinks. If you have extra time do visit the Nijo Fish Market, where all sorts of delicacies that represent Hokkaido are available. Sushi is popular here. Recommended that you purchase a 1-day pass known as the City Bus Kan 88, Factory Line, which cost JYE750. It is a loop line operating in the city center at 15 minutes interval. With this pass it is convenient to access to Nijo Fish Market, Sapporo Factory Shopping Mall, Sapporo Beer Garden, etc from Odori. Shopping: Plenty of departmental stores, boutique and shops. If you have the time, you are recommended to visit the Sapporo Factory Shopping Mall. Return: Take the Airport Express trains (JYE1,040) from Sapporo Station to New Chitose Airport for your Japan Airlines flight. Note: It is recommended to stay a night in Otaru and see how romantic the town is at night. City Guide Map & More Information * Sapporo city * Otaru city