Amazing Hokkaido

Summer is the best time to visit Hokkaido...especially for those who are "allergic" to coldness like me. This was our family trip last month, from 18~21 July.First time for me and the kids, as my husband is a Hokkaido Univ. graduate.

After reaching Shin-Chitose Airport, we rent ed a Toyota Vitz car from Toyota rent-a-car and drove about 2 hours up north to Asahikawa.

Extensive meadows and farms, decorated with beautiful flowers along the way..it was a breathtaking view.

The next day we visited Asahiyama Zoo, the most popular zoo located northenmost in Japan. Why is it so popular?

Since 2004 the zoo bears a new concept; it is the animals that watch you, not you watching the animal. As in the pic, the cages/aquarium are designed in a way that the animals can have as different and natural as possible view of the srrounding. You can stand side by side to a leopard or below it and watch penguins fly. This way it allows the animals to relax even in the limited environment.

The zoo has many repeaters, most are adults with a total of 3 million visitors peryear. And it was I yang beriya-iya nak pergi zoo ni, not the children...heheh

Then, we drove down heading for Furano, which is famous for its summer lavenders. We stopped at a few places like Biei on the way, quenching thirst with lavender ice-cream and visit smaller flower farms. The pictures below were taken at Farm Tomita, Naka Furano.

We reached Furano at about 4pm. Farm Tomita, is a must-see if you want to enjoy the beautiful lavenders and the local products like musk melon and sweet corn.

Man.. the corn is super sweet I have never tasted one before.The fresh corn is picked early in the morning and boiled for a short time to maintain its sweetness. Furano is also famous for its white corn. We'll talk about it later.

We then head for Sapporo to meet a Malaysian student. Malam tu kami lepak kat rumah dia..kira sewalah jugak.At least at a much better rate than hotel. Very nice orang Muar.

The next day was a trip to Hokkaido Univ., my husband's alma mater. Cantiknya.. tak macam Kyushu Univ (old campus). Many people come over just to rest by the pond,main2 dengan itik or jog around.

Sapporo city is bigger than I thought. Sapporo ekimae is spacious dan gah. Since we had to return the car later in the evening, kami x ke mana, but to Odori Koen, near Sapporo tower and then pergi Ichiba (wet market) untuk beli & makan ketam. 

Ketamnya memang la besar. So big that my daughter did not dare getting any near to them.We bought 3, two for our Japanese friends and one for us. Mahal betul, about 20000yen and that's nearly RM600! Takpelah sekali sekala.

The trip to Hokkaido though short, was very nice. And if you want to get around in Hokkaido, renting a car would be the correct choice.