NINGLE TERRACE （ニングルテラス）| Shopping Road in the Forest | Furano

Ningle （ニングル） is the name of the dwarf that is believed by Ainu people to live in the forests in Hokkaido. Located in the Picnic Garden （ピクニックガーデン） adjacent to the Prince Hotel New Furano （新富良野プリンスホテル）, 15 log cabins in the forest are all shops selling various kinds of handicrafts.

Let's go!

Ningle Terrace （ニングルテラス） has been created using natural materials with timber buildings and plank walkways around the waterfalls and trees.

The forest gives off a wonderful scent with pine trees and the waterfall creating a peaceful atmosphere for wandering around or stopping at the cafe.

This is a notice, saying "two Ningle families are living in the forest. Please do not raise your voice, nor stare at Ningles. Please take a side glance of them."

Craft creators sit in each shop, displaying and making their products as you wander around.
I'll show you some of their art works.

■Stump-shaped candles

■Walnut & pine cone ornaments

■Snowman-shaped kaleidoscopes

■Leather crafts

■Peanut shell ornaments

■Snow crystal-shaped accessories

The "Chu Chu House （チュチュの家）", a cafe serves a range of products including......................

hot and cold drinks, apple pies, cakes, and

baked milk!

Let's enter it!

I recommend to come here during the winter time, too!

Voila!
I ordered a a Swiss roll and baked milk set!

Yummy x 2!!

Have you ever tried baked milk?
It is cold sweet milk. The baked part tastes like milk pudding! Amazing, isn't it?

Just for reference, when you come here during the winter time, the scenery changes like this↓

I love this romantic atmosphere!!

I really enjoyed this area from the bottom of my heart!!

■Where is "NINGLE TERRACE （ニングルテラス）"?

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■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?I'll guide you! Plz click here!

Mt. Kurodake （黒岳）in Winter | Sounkyo/ Daisetsuzan National Park （層雲峡・大雪山国立公園）

The greatest appeal of winter is fluffy powder snow. Today we went to Sounkyo/ Daisetsuzan National Park （層雲峡・大雪山国立公園） to enjoy the winter world!
This is Sounkyo Station （層雲峡駅）↓

Let's go to the 5th station of Mt. Kurodake （黒岳） first!!

Here we are. It takes only seven minutes from the first to the second ropeway station.
This is Kamuimintara （カムイミンタラ）, which means a "playground for gods" in Ainu language.

Wow! Wow! Wow! How beautiful it is!!!

The ski slopes on Mt. Kurodake (1,984 m) open when the first snow of the season falls in various parts of Hokkaido.

Surprisingly, we can enjoy skiing here for a long time; from November to May!!!

I personally recommend snow hiking in woods↓

The gears are available for rent at the Kurodake Station （黒岳駅） on the 5th station.

Just a few weeks ago, we enjoyed autumn leaves like this↓, but the time passes so quickly!!

In the summer time, we can enjoyed wonderful alpine planes on the mountain.

■Where is Mt. Kurodake （黒岳）?

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■Tour guide information■
Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!

Lake Kussharo （屈斜路湖）| Sand Bath （砂湯）| Akan National Park

Would you like to enjoy a big caldera lake and natural sand bath at the same time? If so, how about Lake Kussharo （屈斜路湖） located in the eastern part of Hokkaido?

This is Japan's largest and the world's second largest crater lake.

Kussyaro （屈斜路） means an outlet of the lake in Ainu language. It is connected with Kushiro River.

When you come here, please enjoy the natural sand bath!

Hot water is oozed out from the ground, and wherever you dig around here, you can enjoy hot spring for your feet!

The water is so hot that I recommend you to dig near the lake! It's very comfortable!!!

This lake has a legend, too. Like Nessie in Loch Ness, Kusshie （クッシー）, a monster, is believed to inhabit Lake Kussharo. Hahaha!

They sell Kusshie goods, such as cookies, key rings, and T-shirts and so on.

After enjoying foot bath, how about drinking hot spring?

You can be healthier from both inside and outside!

■Where is "Lake Kussharo （屈斜路湖）"?

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■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?I'll guide you! Plz click here!

HOTEL SHUPARO （ゆうばりホテルシューパロ）| All You Can Eat Yubari Melons （夕張メロン食べ放題）| Yubari

I had a dream that I could eat Yubari melons （夕張メロン） as many as possible, and my dream came true the other day!
We stayed "HOTEL SHUPARO （ゆうばりホテルシューパロ）" located in Yubari, serving "all-you-can-eat-Yubari melons" service from June to August!
(*Shuparo means the main stream of Yubari river in Ainu language.)

Look at the melon spirit with soda at a local convenience store! Yes! Yubari is a melon city.

Don't expect too much about the rooms. We came here to eat Yubari melons. Hahaha!

Before eating dinner, I enjoyed the hot spring.

It's not big, but I was so happy to occupy this space alone for a while!

This alkali natural hot spring relieved my fatigue, and made me really relax!

Voila!
This is a buffet venue!

I selected only what I wanted to eat this time! Hahaha!
These are pink shrimps caught off Hokkaido! Yummy x 2!!

How about queen crabs! We ate crabs as many as possible!!

Are you ready?
Here come Yubari melons!!!

At the first auction this year, two Yubari melons fetched one million yen!! The melons are unbelievably delicious!!

Actually I ate 24 pieces of Yubari melons, and my tour guests called me the "TV champion"!  I felt like I ate up all Yubari melons of my life!

Next morning, I walked along the street near the hotel. I love this peaceful atmosphere!

This street is named "Cinema Street". Yubari is not only a melon city, but also a movie city.  Actually, this city is a location for filming "Yellow Handkerchief （幸せの黄色いハンカチ）", a big hit movie in Japan, and has held the "Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival （ゆうばり国際ファンタスティック映画祭『ゆうばりファンタ』）" every year since 1990.

Buildings on the street have panels of famous movies. For example, this camera shop has a panel of "River of No Return （帰らざる河）".

 This izakaya restaurant has a panel of "Cleopatra （クレオパトラ）".

This normal house has a panel of "Rashomon （羅生門）" directored by Akira Kurosawa （黒澤　明）. Amazing, isn't it?

We really enjoyed this country town!!

■Where is "HOTEL SHUPARO （ゆうばりホテルシューパロ）"?

View Larger Map

■Tour guide information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!