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!

Sakaimachi Main Street （堺町本通り） in Summer | Otaru

"Sakaimachi Main Street （堺町本通り）", a main street of Otaru city, is now decorated with a lot of summer features of Japan! Are you ready? Let's go!

Yes! Every shop along the street is decorated with wind-bells! Sounds very summer!!

The well in front of "Rishiriya （利尻屋）", a kelp shop, also has wind-bells!

"Sakaiya （さかい家）", a cafe, has wind-bells, too! The building was constructed in 1907, and designated as a Historic Landmark of Otaru City （小樽市指定歴史的建造物）.

Of course, "Kitakaro （北菓楼）", a confectionery shop, also has ones!

Look at the newly-wed couple in front of "Rokkatei （六花亭）"!

Otaru is a glass city. That's why its main street is decorated with glass wind-bells like this↓

"Kitaichi Glass （北一硝子）" is one of the biggest glassware shop and studio in Otaru.

This is "LeTAO （ルタオ）", my favorite chocolate shop.

In front of this confectionery shop, a wind-bell tree is installed only during the summer time! How beautiful it is!

Look at the cute wind-bell!! Is this the owner's choice? Hahaha!

When you'd like to go around Otaru, how about the "Otaru Stroller's Bus （おたる散策バス）"?

You can go almost everywhere in Otaru! The ticket per day is 750 yen.

But personally, I recommend ricksha or rickshaw （人力車）!

You can customize your own tour in Otaru! Enjoy!

■Where is "Sakaimachi Main Street （堺町本通り）"?

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!

IRODORI Field （彩りの畑）in Full Bloom | Farm Tomita （ファーム富田）| Naka-Furano

FARM TOMITA （ファーム富田） is one of Hokkaido’s premier flower farms. Originally a simple lavender farm, today the farm has expanded to include a number of large fields of various flower types, including Poppies, French Marigolds, and many more. 
Now "IRODORI Field （彩りの畑）" in the farm is in full bloom!

How beautiful the baby's breath is!

No admission fee, nor no parking lot fee in the farm! Perfect! Would you like to come here? (Of course!!)

Let's go to the "SAKIWAI Field （倖の畑）" in the same flower farm. The lavenders here are going to be in full bloom!

Lavender fragrance in this field is very comfortable!

How about the "HANABITO Field （花人の畑）", near the entrance? It was packed with visitors on that day!

Even in July, we can enjoy snow-capped mountains and flowers at the same time in Furano! You must love this wonderful town!

The field is like a rainbow, isn't it?

Last but not least, we enjoyed the "Autumn Field （秋の彩りの畑）".  I'm sure I'll be back next year, too!

When you come here, please enjoy Hokkaido melon and lavender soft ice cream! Yummy x 2!!

If you are interested in this flower field in other seasons, please refer to my other posts!
■Late May----→☆ (including lavender souvenir information)
■Early June---→☆ (including a snow-capped mountain pic)
■Mid July----→☆ (the best season)

■Where is Farm Tomita （ファーム富田）?

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!

Monthly Ice Cream (Made by MISSU HOUSE) on the Limited Express Trains of JR Hokkaido | July, 2012

When I use a limited express train here in Hokkaido, I always eat monthly ice cream sold on the train.

This time, I went to Sapporo from Kushiro. This is JR Kushiro Station↓ Here we go♪

We took the Limited Express Super Ozora!

It takes about four hours from Kushiro to Sapporo. How big Hokkaido is!

Voila!
This is my favorite ice cream!!! The monthly ice cream in July is.....................

Orange!!
When I use a limited train in Hokkaido, I always buy a monthly ice cream made by MISSU HOUSE, which is one of my favorite ice cram makers in Sapporo!
Hokkaido is famous for dairy products, and we can eat delicious ice cream here!

Do you wanna try it? Hahaha!
It is very creamy and dairy!!! I love it!

We've arrived in Sapporo!! 

I'm looking forward to eating the next monthly ice cream now! Hahaha!

■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!