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....

Tokyo: Asakusa Kannon Temple (Senso-ji) - 24 Dec 2018

金龍山浅草寺 (Kinryū-zan Sensō-ji) in Asakusa, is Tokyo's oldest temple.

Tokyo Skytree seems a stone-throw away

Tokyo: Good Food

Steak:
16 June 2019

Cafe Aaliya (16 Jun 2019):
Super popular french toast cafe in Shinjuku.  Good siphon coffee too.

Unagi:
23 Dec 2018 - 12F of Tokyu-Hands Ginza building.  Serves good grilled chicken as well for those in a group who does not take unagi.

Ramen:
Hokkaido ramen in Shibuya (Dec 2015)

 
Izakaya:
Dined at Japanese restaurant HIKARI-YA in Dec 2015. Take the Tozai Line and alight at Kiba station. Exit 4a to Fukagawa Gallery Plaza.

Chanced upon 3 cute chaps dressed for commercial shots near the restaurant.  One of them couldn't resist the attention from on-lookers and fidgeted haha.

Tokyo: Ukai Toriyama @ Takao

This is an awesome restaurant located at the far end of Tokyo - Takao, with an extensive 20,000 m² garden featuring lush greenery, streams and huts with traditional Japanese Sukiya-zukuri architecture.  It offers seasonal cuisine in private standalone huts. You can enjoy the garden's cherry blossoms in spring and fireflies in summer.

The restaurant offers free shuttle bus service every 20 minutes to-and-fro the Takaosanguchi train station between 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Each trip takes about 10 minutes.  See Post on "Tokyo: Hiking @ Mount Takao" on how to get to Takaosanguchi from Tokyo.

Bottom left "stove" is the traditional Japanese "kama" for cooking rice

Charcoal-grilled Chicken Cuisine

Private hut for four diners with a view of the garden

Traditional Irori Fireplace