Heaven in Hadyai

We have been driving to Hadyai for numerous times now. Why Hadyai? If you love cheap shopping, cheap massage and cheap seafood, Hadyai is the place.  

What we enjoyed here with lots walking and bargaining after shopping, go for a massage and relax yourself before indulge in Thai Food.

If you are driving, as you reach Changlun Kedah; look for a corner coffee shop that can help you to fill up your embarkation form, the new rulling TP2 forms and purchase car insurance.  Bring along your original car registration card.  If you are not the owner and the car belong to your company, do have an authorization letter from your company or owner of the car with copy of car registration card.

You will have your passport stamp at Bukit Kayu Hitam. Then owner of the car will have to proceed to another different counter to get a form fill up before you can proceed with your journey.  The forms are suppose to return to immigration as you exit Thailand.

As for hotel, we prefer Centara as its location at town centre with lots of shopping and food around.  You can also try Regency or Mayflower Hotel.  Nearby there is also a small market where you can purchase glutinous rice dumpling, dried stuff eg. dried shrimp and some foodstuff like cashew nuts.

As for Thai massage, we prefer to patron Hadyai Central Hotel, clean and comfortable environment which cost you THB300 for 2 hours.  If you prefer Oil massage, it will be THB700 for 2 hours.  Be generous to pay some tipping to your masseur.

Food wise, Restaurant Kan Eng is a good choice. Just two shops away, try the stall with sesame glutinous rice ball in ginger syrup soup.  If you love to explore, we normally will have seafood in Songkla,  a restaurant by the name of Sujinda along the Samila Beach.

Shopping at Kim Yoong Market, you will find lots of clothing, shoes etc.  There is a shop just selling Zebra brand product. You can actually walk to Kim Yoong Market that what we usually did but will take a tuk-tuk back after shopping.  Tuk-Tuk will cost you THB20 per person.

For us, a 4 days 3 nights was good enough to rejuvenate.  However, do note not to travel to Hadyai during Malaysia School Holidays or worst still Public Holidays because you will be stucked for hours at immigration and also on the highway. So plan your journey wisely.

 

 

Self Drive 11 Days 9 Nights Hokkaido

Planning your own trip is never easy especially if you have not been to the country before.  It takes more of your time but is worth because as you google you learn.  Looking at 8 days 5/6 nights of Hokkaido tour which cost about RM8k per person charged by tour company, we have decided to go on our own.  The end results, we covered more places in more days but cheaper by at least RM1500 - RM2000 per person depending on the place you stay and food you eat.

We explored Furano, Biel, Otaru, Lake Toya, Hakodate, Noboribetsu and Sapporo.

Kamifurano Farm, Furano

Hell Valley, Noboribetsu

Best Green Tea Ice Cream, Otaru

Our detailed itinerary as below.  We took Thai Airway with 1 stop in Bangkok.

Itinerary Summary

Day No	Day	Date	Itinerary
1	Sat	19/8	Fly to Chittose Airport, Hokkaido via BKK
2	Sun	20/8	Chittose/Furano/Biei/Tomamu
3	Mon	21/8	Tomamu
4	Tues	22/8	Tomamu/Otaru
5	Wed	23/8	Otaru/Lake Toya
6	Thurs	24/8	Lake Toya/Hakodate
7	Fri	25/8	Hakodate
8	Sat	26/8	Hakodate/Noboribetsu
9	Sun	27/8	Noboribetsu/Sapporo
10	Mon	28/8	Sapporo
11	Tues	29/8	Fly from Chittose Airport back to KL via BKK

Car Rental

Range Toyota Wish/Honda Stream (5pax) but upgraded to Mitsubishi Delica Basic Rental Fee JPY70k, Compensation Coverage JPY14040, Tocoo Additional Support Fee JPY10800, HEP (Hokkaido Expressway Pass) 10 days JPY9300 (unlimited used of highway/toll) Total JPY104,140 Approx.RM4100.

Record: Diesel used JPY11885 Approx RM470, Mileage 1300km

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 19 Aug Sat KL – Chittose (1 stop in BKK)

7pm Check in KLIA 

Day 2 & 3 20 & 21 Aug Sun/Mon

Stay B606 Naka Tomamu Alpha Village, Shimukappu, Hokkaido 079 2204

Collect Key Alpha Front Desk 81(0167) 57-2311

Hotel: 81 (0167) 58 1111 1bedroom western 7 beds 1 bathroom

Host: Masaharu 81 805 115 0142

Pick up rent (foc) blanket from front desk

http://goo.gl/maps/GwMuhCxT4LN2

http://www.snowtomamu.jp/summer/en/activity/

Day 2 20 Aug Sun  Chittose – Furano – Biei – Tomamu (Stay: Naka Tomamu Alpha Village)

8.30 am Arrive Chittose Airport

10.30 am  Collect Car, look for signage for car rental, then enquire at information counter for car rental/misc

12.30 pm Reach Furano for Lunch (airport to Tomita Farm approx 2 hrs 15 mins)

Visit: Furano Cheese Factory 9am-5pm, Furana Winery 9am-4.30 pm Grape Juice, Tomita Farm (8.30am – 5pm), Tomita Melon House (9am – 5pm) is Next to Tomita Farm, Kamifurano Farm 9am -6pm), Blue Pond, Shikisai-no-oka garden (8.30am – 6pm)

Note: only visited Tomita, Kamifurano, Blue Pond. Did not try any of meal below except lavender ice cream at Tomita Farm

Meal Guide

• Furano Cheese Factory – Pizza JPY1900 Verdict: Good
• Masaya (Terpanyaki)11-15 Hinodemachi Furano 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5-9.30pm, Range JPY1k-2k
• Furano Delice Café (Cheese cake, Macaron) 076-0017 Furano Shi, SHimogorya 2156-1 10am
• Farm Tomita (Lunch/Lavender ice cream JPY300, Melon ice cream JPY250) Verdict Lavender ice cream: Good
• Yuiga Doxon (Venison curry & homemade smoked sausage, pork topping tender) Furano Shi, Honodemachi 11-8

Day 3 21 Aug Mon Tomamu (Stay: Naka Tomamu Alpha Village)

Visit: Unkai Terrace (JPY1,900/pax) Either Day 3 or Day 4 (best do it day 3 if gondola not operating, still got chance on Day 4) Shuttle bus from The Tower starts 4.25am)

Mina Mina Beach – Biggest Wave indoor pool in Japan, sauna 6-9am, 3-11pm (Last 10pm), Open air bath surrounded by forest

Water on the Chapel – tour at certain hour, ours was 8pm

Access for Unkai Terrace

Located in the Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU.
Please use the shuttle bus from [RISONARE Tomamu] or [The TOWER].
(About 5 to 10 minutes you will arrive at the [Resort center])

Open Hour : [JUN 1 - AUG 31] 5:00 - 8:00(Last ride up)

Recommended Spot: Cloud Walk. Best Time: Dawn to morning. You will see before you a vast panorama of the ever-changing Unkai (Sea of Clouds) and the mountains of Hidaka and Tokachi. Chances are 50-50. Come during the early morning hours to see the Unkai! After a 13 minute ride on the gondola, an astonishing sight appears before your eyes: mountain peaks above a white sea of clouds.

Note: Unfortunately bad weather, gondola not operating on our Day 4 before check out

Meal Guide Tomamu

• Ninipuri at Village Alpha (buffet western/jap – Lunch/dinner) Good view of forest, 30% disc coupon collect at front desk)
• Menya Miyabi at Hoshino Resort 1F (Ramen place) – verdict: food ok

Day 4 OTARU 22 Aug Tues (Tomamu to Otaru 2 hrs 20 mins)

Stay 4-40 Aioi Chou, Otaru 0134 24 0200

Apartment Name: Wellness Suitenguu 2bedrooms jap/western, 5pax, 1bathroom

Check in 3 pm, Check out 11 am

Message host arrival time/coordinate key exchange (manager: Yoshida san)

+81 90 7650 6168 2 bedroom 1 bath, 1 double, 2 single, common area 1 single

Sapporo direction on route 5 abt 10 min, turn left at hanaziniyuji-gai intersection, go to end of street. Route 5, turn to Suitengu Shrine at Hanazonojyugijai traffic light, straight way go to Suitengutorri (gateway at entrance to Sintoshrine. Please go under the torri, u see Suitenguu steps, go up a landing,Otarusei Koukai church on left apartment on right, pale yellow 4 storey elevator building

Visit: Otaru Canal (night. Cruise JPY1500 day,JPY1800 nite), Sankaku Fish Market Otaru, Saikamachi Street (Music Box Museum, Kitachi Glass gallery, Letao for sweets, café, observatory at Marchen Square, Orgel Emporium, street food etc,  Nikka Wisky Distillery 9am-5pm, 7-6 Kurokawa-cho, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun,Hokkaido 046-0003  35 mins away in Yoichi). Yamamoto Orchard at Yoichi –fruits picking JPY1100 9am-5pm, 1102-5 Noborimachi Yoichi cho, Yoichi gun. 

Meal Guide

• Ajidokoro Takeda in Sankaku Fish Market, near Otaru Station, 3-10-6 Inaho, Otaru 7am-4pm
• Jap Maccha Sweets Sa Wa Wa Powder green tea bracken rice or green tea ice cream Verdict: Very Good
• Masazushi (signature Ika Somen (Squid sashimi, Sushi) 047-0031 Hokkaido, Otaru-shi, Ironai, 1 Chome 1-2-1 (map code 493 690 5020 11am – 4pm, 5-10pm, Opposite otaru canal, 15 mins from Otaru station
• Yabuhan Soba (highly recommend Soba) – Close on Tuesday Otaru Sobaya Yabuhan, Willow tree landmark) Shizuya Street 2-19-14 Inaho, Otaru Tel 81 134 33 1212 11am-8.30pm (LO) break 4-4.30pm
• Topi – Otaru, (reasonable sushi bar) 6-4 Minatomachi, Otaru shi)
• Uomasa 2-5-11 Inaho, Otaru-shi,  12:00‐14:00, 16:00‐21:30 closed: Sundays Phone:  +81 134 22 0456. Verdict: fresh sashimi, gud sushi
• Uoshin (Fresh sushi) 12-2pm, 6-9.30 pm , 2-5-11 Inaho Otaru 0134 22 0456
• Kamaei No Kamaboko– Fish Cake Shop at 3-7 Sakaimachi for delicious fish cakes 9am-7pm

Day 5 LAKE TOYA 23 Aug Wed (Otaru to Lake Toya 1.5 - 2 hours)

Stay Toyako-Cho, Hokkaido 049-5721

Check in 3 pm, check out 11 am

Self Check in , Lock Box

Host Yas, 2 bedroom jap & western, 1 bath, Watch sunrise/summer nite fireworks from kitchen, lake toya from window, 1 min walk to lake toya

Google map took us to route (country road, not highway) thru kiroro mountain mo mou san, nice view

Visit Sobetsu Fruits Village, Depends on season peach, plum, grapes, apples JPY680 pick your own fruits or Takashina Fruit Farm, 362 Takino, Sobetsu, Usu, Lake Toya 3^rd largest volcanic caldera lake of Japan, Ropeway JPY1500 to Mt Usuzan to view lake toya and Mt Showa Shinzan, 8.15am up, last 5.45 pm down. 

Meal Guide at Lake Toya

• Lake Hill Farm (Pizza, Cream Puff, Ice Cream or Gelato) 9am – 6pm ,127 Hanawa, Abuta gun, Toyako Cho 049 5724 Tel+81 142 83 3376 Verdict: Loved the creamy milky ice cream
• Sendoan At Wakasaimo Main Store 2^nd Flr (for nest hotate) raw or fried hotate w curry 11am – 7pm (LO 6.30pm) Map code 321 518 607) Verdict: Food was ok, 1^st Flr (kawaii cakes)
• Boyotei (Crab fry rice, breaded scallop, hamburger steak) 36-12 Toyako Onsen, Abuta-gun, Toyako Cho 049 5721 Tel: 81 142 75 2311. Close 4pm (LO 3.30 pm)

Day 6 & 7 HAKODATE 24 -25 Aug Thurs (Lake Toya to Hakodate 2 hrs - 2 hrs 30 mins)

Stay 801, 8^th Flr, Maison President, 16-5 Toyokawa-Cho, Hakodate City

Check in 3 pm Check out sharp 10am

Pin Door will be given, Map Code 86 042 482*21

Msg Host 8190 9755 3338, 2bedrooms, 5beds,jap& western

Brown 8 Storey Apartment, Seiko Mart Nx Door, Entrance behind Seiko Mart, red vending machine at entrance, entrance on other side of tram street

Meal Guide

• Lucky Pierrot Hamburger shop (Chinese fried chicken burger w drinks, fries JYP65), Bay or Ekimae or Motomachi area quie few shops around 10am – 12.30am (sat till 1.30am)Verdict: recommended shrimp burger, Chinese fried chicken burger, even pork and beef)
• Jusco – buy whole Hokkaido Melon at JPY830 Verdict juicy sweet, much cheaper than buying at market

Day 7 25 Aug Fri Hakodate

Visit: Hadodate Morning Market (hv brunch) 5am-12noon or some 3pm for various live seafood, Fort Goryokaku Tower eye view of Hakodate, Lake Onuma 40 mins from CBD, nature lake and MT komagatar, lunch cruise 30 mins boat tour every 40mins JPY1100 or cycling, Red Brickwarehouse shopping/dining 9.30am-7pm), Russian Orthodox Church, Chinese Memorial Hall @ Motomachi foot of Mt Hakodate,  Mt Hakodate – Ropeway Gondola for before and after sunset Hokodate view

Meal Guide

• Hakodate Noodle Kitchen Ajisai, Kurenai Shop, Hakodate bay (adjacent to La Vista hotel (shio ramen & Gyozas) 12-7 Toyokawa Cho 11 am – 3pm (LO), 5-10 pm (LO) Parking1st hr free parking at La Vista (not so sure) if bill above JPY1500 Verdict: Good
• Hasegawa Convenience store – Yakitori Bento serves pork, chicken. Hakodate Centrist 2-chome, No 14, 16 (1.5km from Goryokaku)
• Shinmonya, Honcho Hakodate (Char Siew Don only lunch). 69m fr Goyokaku Koemmae 11.30am -2pm, 5-10.30 pm Tel 0138 84 5265
• Sabo Kikuizumi traditional jap café at Motomachi 14-5 Hakodate 10am-5pm

Day 8 NOBORIBETSU 26 Aug Sat(Hakodate to Noboribetsu 2.5 - 3 hrs)

059-0642 Hokkaido, Shiraoi District – 2 bedrooms jap, 7pax

Shiraoi, Takeura, 111, Check in 3 pm, Check out 11 am

Host Himawari 81 80 3292 373, Insert into Car GPS 0144 87 3688

Visit Hell Valley for geyser, hotspring footbath,  Cape Chikyu – best for sunset at Muroran 25 mins from Noboribetsu, Shiraoi Ainu Village entract JPY800, Parking JPY300, aborigine of Hokkaido, 30 min folkdances start 10.15am hourly, Noboribetsu Date Judaimura, a theme village built to showcase the Edo era: ninja shows, samurai theatre, ghost house, ninja maze, restaurants and shopping.

Meal Guide

• Izumi Tei (Soba Noodle Shop, Tempura shrimp).  6-16-3 Saiwaicho, Noboribetsu 059-0002, Hokkaido Verdict: Good, no lunch break
• Sobadokorofukuan (hot/cold soba) duck, tempura shrimp, Oyaka chicken, 20 mins fr Hell Valley, 30 Noboribetsuonsencho
• Kita no Lamptei (BBQ Seafood & Beef), 116-12, Takeura, Shiraoi gun, Shiraoi cho 11.30 am – 10pm

DAY 9 & 10 SAPPORO 27-28 Aug (Noboribetsu to Sapporo (1 hrs 35 mins or 2 hrs)

Odorihigashi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, 2 bedrooms western 1 bath

Hokkaido Prefecture 060-0041, Near Sapporo TV Tower

Check in 3 pm, Check out 10am, Enter yourself

Host Yasu/Aki +81 90 97 505984 Ikeda

Garbage by 8.30am on collection day only

Meal Guide

• Sushidokoro Keiran restaurant run by marine product shop for seafood at Sapporo Nijo market
•  Robata Ohiso Restaurant at Nijo market frequented by Msian/Taiwanese/South Korean
•  Matsuo Genghis Khan, Matsujin in front Sapporo Station (jingisukan BBQ – Lamb), 4-1-1 Kita 3 Jonishi Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido – Here marinated lamb (book in advance at Sapporo Beer  Museum
• Sapporo Beer Garden JPY4k all you can eat and drink (Genghis khan marinated lamb, seafood limited but not meat, freshly brewed beer), 9-2-10 Kita 7-Jo Higashi, Higashi-ku, Sapporo 065-0007, Hokkaido
•   Shirakaba Sansou 白樺山荘 (Miso Ramen) & Shumai aka fried ala gyoza, 2-1 Kita 5-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo Esta 10F, Ramen Kyowakoku (Ramen Republic), Sapporo 060-0005
• Sapporo’s Central Wholesale Market (Jyogai Ichiba)  (Buy Live Crab), 21-2-3 Kita 11-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0011, Hokkaido
• Umi-e (Japanese hotpot aka nabemono) – 8 outlets in town, 3 Minami 6-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, New Olympia Bldg. 1 & 2 F, Sapporo 064-0806  
•  Japanese Buffet Dining Den (All you can eat/drink buffet/bbq/shabu), 5 Chome, Minami 5-Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Asil Sapporo 3F, Sapporo 064-0805
• Hokkaido Jyogai Market or any Supermarket  yubari melon JPY300 (RM13) per slice  or JPY800 few chunks
•  Hanamaru(Sushi), Nishi 14, Minami 25, Chuoh-ku, Sapposo-shi, Hokkaido 064-0925TEL：011-512-8003 or JR Tower Stellar Place, Nishi 2, Kita 5, Chuoh-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido 060-0005, TEL：011-209-5330
• Gatsubo (scallop, grilled oysters buy 8 free 2 for JPY870/RM3.50 per piece), In a bldg nx to Lawson, Minami 4, 6 –jo, Nishi, Chuo Ku Sapporo 086 0806
• Hokai Shabu2 , kita 2 jo– JPY1950 per person (pork/lamb) 5 – 11.30pm Verdict: Good
• Seafood Buffet Nanda All You Can Eat (Plenty seafood/meats/sashimi) JPY5100, 2 Minami 5 Jo Nishi, Chuo-ku | B2F Cyber City building Verdict: Good
• Kinotoya cheese tart at Sapporo station Verdict: Very good
• Rokkatei Jungu Chaya branch at Maruyama Park/Jinngu Shrine for hangan sama (red bean paste filling in pounding steamed rice JPY100 each)

Visit Sapporo Factory shopping mall, Hokkaido University best for autumn landscape), Beer Museum, Odori Park, Clock Tower, Susukino night life district, Tanukijoji famous shopping street, Shrine at Maruyama Park (free 1^st hr parking), Shiroi Koibita Park (chocolates, theme garden, ample underground parking, 2pm puppet show), Nijo Market 7am-6pm for Urikura donburi, sea urchin & Salmon roe), Sapporo Wholesale Central market 7am – 3pm), Moerenuma Park  top mountain for nice sunset but steep, big glass pyramid, & beautiful landscape, Mt Okura observatory, winter Olympic museum), Mt Moiwa JPY1700 ropeway night best view, Mitsui outlet park Sapporo kitahiroshima 10am – 8 pm

29 Aug Tues

8.00 am Return car

8.30 am Check in Chittose Airport

10.30 am Flight home sweet home

Car Rental in Hokkaido

For our self drive 9 nights in Hokkaido, we rented a car from Tocoo website  and chosen a Wish/Stream for our group of 5 person.  We were immediately charged a mandatory Tocoo Additional Support fees of JPY10800. 

We booked the Hokkaido Expressway Pass as we will be travelling around Hokkaido. With the HEP, you will enjoy unlimited use of Hokkaido's Expressways, for one fixed price, no matter how far you travel by expressway in Hokkaido.  Hokkaido is huge, about 300km from New Chitose Airport to Hakodate. By using the expressways, travelling times can be shortened.

HEP may only be used by visitors who have foreign nationality.  In order to use the pass,you must present a non-Japanese passport.

Example of tolls:

New Chitose Airport to Otaru one way cost JPY2,220 (77.6 km) or New Chitose Airport to Asahikawa will cost JPY4730 (164.5 km)

We were delighted to be allocated with Mitsubishi Delica upon pick up the car.  We were fetched from airport to their office which was about 10 minutes away. For 10 days, we were charged JPY84,040 and we also ordered Hokkaido Express Pass (HEP) which cost JPY9300. Total Spent on car rental was JPY104,140 approximately RM4k.  

It was indeed a comfortable car and we only spent about on JPY4532