Explore Hokkaido with our folding bicycles 2019 - Day 1

The plan to visit Hokkaido has eventually realised as we arrived at New Chitose Airport Terminal of Sapporo, Hokkaido on 26 April 2019 at about 9 in the morning and the temperature was pretty cold 5°C. We travelled via Air Asia and it took about 7 hours plus from Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.

The Japanese officials were efficient and fast in their ushering of tourists through the checkpoints such as thermal checking, customs and immigration. All went well without any hitch. We have officially landed and cleared for a holiday in Hokkaido.

The JR train tickets from the Airport to Sapporo Station with 5 stops in between. The fare as seen was 1,070¥ which I always divide it by 26 for Ringgit equivalent which was about RM41.00.

A traveller with a Brompton bicycle inside an Ikea Dimpa bag and her luggage in a Brompton "T" bag up in a JR train for a onward ride to Sapporo Station.

Next to Sapporo JR Station there is this big IT store at the annex which you can got your SIM card and other IT stuff. I ended purchasing IIJMIO SIM card and got the staff to install it for a fee.

At one of the several entrances of JR Tower after setting up our bicycles and were ready to pedal on the streets of Sapporo. 

Our next concern was to keep permission to keep some of our bicycle bags at the the last hotel which we will be coming back after our round of Hokkaido. Thanks to Relief Sapporo Hotel for allowing us to keep it at the hotel for 11 days before we back on a later date.

As we were passing by this shop I told myself to stop by and try the food. Somehow it had attracted my attention. It's called Kaisembaru Uonosuke located at GPS : 43.052629, 141.354161.

The lunch was good pick, the operators were friendly and most importantly the food was awesome. Our first meal in Sapporo.

It was back to Sapporo Train Station (JR Tower) for next stop at Otaru. Gradually we were getting the groove into buying train tickets from the vending machines.

Our next thing on the list was to get to Otaru. We have to be there as the accommodation for the night has been booked. The train ride from Sapporo Train Station to Otaru with a fare of 640¥ per person.

This effort of putting reading glasses for travellers to use while filling theirs forms at the writing counters is such a brilliant idea.

The distance between Sapporo and Otaru is only about 40km apart which is basically going westwards and along the Sea of Japan. The sea was slightly rough and windy.

Finally we arrived at Otaru Station and rode to Smile Hotel Otaru.

An accommodation that is lightly partitioned with sliding curtain instead of entrance door a double decker bed for two persons in a cubicle. Bathroom is on a shared basis. The place is quiet and clean.

These days it is easy to hunt for a good food with the help of Uncle Google and we managed to find this restaurant at a dark alley called 伊勢鮨壽司Isezushi.  We were lucky to get a slot as we did not make any prior reservation. It has no shop front, just a door and a simple signage but this joint is surely cosy in the inside. The GPS location is 43.200557, 140.995466.

Though we had some communication problem but we were able to convey our request for the food we wanted to try and enjoyed his art of making sushi and sashimi.

The seafood was fresh and delicious, meticulously prepared and presented. Of course not forgetting my "Biru" or beer.

A hectic day indeed for the first day of this Northern Japan adventure. Til then we see again in my next posting. Good night or in Japanese .... Oyasuminasai.