HOKKAIDO: DAY 2 (6 Jun 2019) - Lake Toya + Siro Observatory + Takahashi Farm / Milk Kobo + Misawa-san's Shibazakura + Cape Kamui + Cape Shimamui + Otaru Canal

Lake Toya + Siro Observatory

From the room at The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort, you can catch awesome views of Lake Toya, a volcanic caldera lake:

Lake Hill Farm on the way to Niseko:

Siro Observatory (map code 321 726 758) & Wisteria Flowers (Fuji-no-hana)

Takahashi Farm + Milk Kobo @ Niseko (MC 398 321 073)

Mishima-san's Shibazakura (Pink Moss) @ Kutchan
One of the top 3 places in Hokkaido to visit for Pink Moss.  Missed the full bloom around mid-May but still a spectacular view of Shibazakura with Mt Yotei as the backdrop. It is a private garden of Mishima-san who has kindly opened up his garden for public viewing.

Shakotan: Cape Kamui (MC 932 553 879)

Fog started moving in shortly after we reached the top.  It would have taken another 20 min to walk to the tip but fog was very heavy so we turned back.

Shakotan: Cape Shimamui (MC 932 747 229)

Otaru

Otaru Canal 

HOKKAIDO: DAY 1 @ Jigokudani & Lake Toya (5 Jun 2019)

Noboribetsu Jigokudani (map code 603 288 425)

This is a massive crater formed by the eruption of Mount Kuttara many years ago, leaving numerous hot steam & sulphurous volcanic pits and geysers. It is the main source of the hotspring waters in Noboribetsu. The 2 main ponds accessible by car are the Oyunuma and the Okunoyu. You can also walk along the Oyunuma River and enjoy a natural foot bath (ashiyu) along the way.

 

Oyunuma
Oyunuma pond is about 22m deep with surface temperature of 50 deg C and 130 Deg C at the bottom of the pond.

Oku-no-yu

Lake Toya

From Jigokudani, we drove across the mountain ranges via Route 2 towards Lake Toya (洞爺湖).  Spotted a deer which ventured out onto the road in the mountain.  Relieved when it managed to gallop back into the woods.

Resthouse along the fringe of Lake Toya with a nice flower field:

HOKKAIDO SELF-DRIVE (5 - 13 Jun 2019)

Full Itinerary as per google map extract below.  

Flew by ANA from Singapore to Chitose, via Narita.  Note that you've to pick up your baggages, leave the immigration of the international arrival hall and check in at the domestic flight counter.  Departed Singapore around 1 am and reached New Chitose airport around noon the same day.  About slightly more than 1 hour transit at Narita. 

Picked up the rental car (Toyota Sienta) from Nippon Rental Car Chitose branch on 5 June and returned the car on 10 June at its Sapporo Station Higashi branch. For the pick-up, go to the Nippon Rental Car counter when you come out from the airport immigration and a free shuttle will be arranged to bring you to its Chitose branch near the airport.

To use the car navigator, refer to the 'map code' (MC) booklet given by the car rental company and input the codes for the respective major places of interest that you would like to visit.

Took ramen & gyoza @ Aji-no-Daio (味の大王) Tomakomai main outlet located along route 36 near Nippon Rental Car Chitose branch.  Headed for Jigokudani @ Noboribetsu after the meal....