Sounkaku Grand Hotel （層雲閣グランドホテル）②｜Hot Spring

When you come to Sounkyo Gorge （層雲峡）, you should enjoy hot spring!

Today's hotel is "Sounkaku Grand Hotel （層雲閣グランドホテル）"↓

Towels are prepared to be in the basket in guest rooms. I love this service!

Let's go!

You can choose hotter bath, and tepid one in the indoor area. I personally love  to take tepid one for a long time!

The indoor one is good, but the outdoor one is much much better!

The mineral water is mildly alkaline, and makes our skin younger and more beautiful!!!

I took it twice; last night and early this morning!

How soothing it is!

Look at the abundant mineral hot water!!

As it is surrounded with the forest, my stress was instantly gone!!!

When you come to the same hotel in the winter time, the scenery is like this↓

It is covered with snow, and you can completely relax!!!

The water is not hot, and you can enjoy taking it for a long time!! Perfect!!!

Ishikari river is by the hotel. I love the nature!!

Actually this hotel is famous for its hot spring as well as a special optional tour! Are you interested in the tour? 

To be continued...............

■Hotel Information

・Meals→★

・Optional Tour→★

■Where is "Sounkaku Grand Hotel （層雲閣グランドホテル）"?

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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!

Ginga & Ryusei Waterfalls （銀河・流星の滝）| Ice Climbing | Daisetsuzan National Park

Sounkyo is a hot spring resort nestled in the Soun Gorge （層雲峡） of the Daisetsuzan National Park （大雪山国立公園）.
This national park has two famous waterfalls; Ginga Waterfall (銀河の滝)(120m), literally "Galaxy Waterfalls", which is a series of thin, silvery rivulets cascading down the mountainside, and Ryusei Waterfall (流星の滝)(90m), literally "Shooting Star Waterfalls", which is a powerful fall seemingly bursting out of solid rock.

First, we went to Ryusei waterfall. No No No!! This is Ryusei ice fall!!! Amazing, isn't it?

Next we walked along Ishikari River （石狩川） to go to the wife waterfall.

We've arrived at Ginga Waterfall. Wow! Wow! Wow!

Can you find four people on the ice fall????

They are enjoying ice climbing!!! How exciting!!

 Water seems running down below the thick ice.....

I hope I will challenge ice climbing next time!!!

(If you are interested in the twin waterfalls in different seasons, please refer to my other post→★)

■Where are Ginga Waterfall & Ryusei Waterfall?

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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!

Machinosushiya Siki Hanamaru（町のすし家 四季 花まる）| Sushi Bar | Susukino

If you want to eat sushi at reasonable prices in Susukino （すすきの）, how about "Machinosushiya Siki Hanamaru（町のすし家　四季　花まる）"?

My guest wanted to eat something local, we ordered Hokkaido fish mainly.......

■Cod Soft Roe
This one can be eaten during the winter time only! How creamy it is!!
When I explained about what it is to my guest, he was a little bit surprised! Hahaha!

■Sea Urchin
He really wanted to eat it before coming to Japan. Sea urchin caught off Hokkaido is very tasty!!

■Jumbo Shrimp
This is the most popular local prawn in Hokkaido! How big ans sweet!!

■Ootoro （Tuna)
It was melt instantly after we put it in our mouth!! Amazing!! Ootoro （大トロ） is my favorite!!

■Abalone
This is Hokkaido abalone. We ordered what we want to eat only, right?? Hahaha!

■Sakhalin Surf Clam
He had never eaten it, but when he tried it, we smiled and smiled. I really recommend this Hokkaido clam!

■Whelk
He had also never tried it, but he loves it very much now!! We really enjoyed its texture and sweetness.

■Yellowtail
Winter remained us of yellowtail!! Do you agree with us?

■Conger
It was very fluffy and yummy x 2!!

■Salmon Roe
Salmon is one of the most popular and delicious fish in Hokkaido. Do you want to try it, too? (Of course!!!)

■Cod Roe
He had never seen it, and we ordered it. Well, well, well, we tried male and female roe this time!!

We had a wonderful time today!!

I really recommend this reasonable sushi bar in Susukino.

■Where is "Machinosushiya Siki Hanamaru（町のすし家　四季　花まる）"?

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!

55th Asahikawa Winter Festival （旭川冬まつり）

I went to the "55th Asahikawa Winter Festival （旭川冬まつり）" with my tour guests from Hawaii.
The main snow statue this year is "Transformers （トランスフォーマー）", 20m high and 130m wide, one of the biggest snow statues in the world!

The venue is not too big and too small. I love this festival!

 Well, well, well, I'll show you some of my favorite sections.

The main snow statue has 100-meter slides on the side.
One of them is a straight one↓ and

the other one is a curved one like this↓
We really enjoyed it!!!

Look at the stage! Akira Nishikino （スター★錦野旦） was a main guest the day. Wow! Wow! Wow!

This is one of the popular corners in the festival. You can make a mini snowman.

So cute, aren't they?

Among middle sized snow statues, I love

this one （対決！ゆるキャラ サッカーワールドカップ）↓ and

Monsters, Inc.↓
How elaborate they are!

I also love the small statues!

JR Mini Train （JRミニ列車） is popular among kids.

Of course free of charge!!!

I enjoyed tubing several times. Yoo-hoo!!!
(Of course free of charge!!!)

Do you know snowscoot? It is the fusion of riding a bike and snowboarding. As I love snow sports, I was so excited!!
(Of course free of charge!!)

Snow rifting is also recommendable! How thrilling the sharp turns are!!!

Last but not least, we enjoyed Winter Marchais （冬マルシェ）, a food corner.

My guests and I had a wonderful time in Asahikawal!!

The festival is held from Feb. 6th to 11th.

■Where is the venue of the 55th Asahikawa Winter Festival （旭川冬まつり）?

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!