Day 5 - Otaru to Asahikawa

We checked out of last night's hotel, the Hilton Otaru which had the BEST SMALL bathroom I have ever come across.

First stop, Sakai-no-Sato about 150 km away, was a flower farm which had fields aswarth with colourful species. The place seemed exactly as in the many posters of Hokkaido that you see in travel agencies.

Then to Farm Tomita for more blue bands of colour, especially Lavender. Everyone was caught in the heavy Sunday traffic jams to these places. Farm Tomita extracts lavender essential oil and produces soaps, fragrances, etc. Had lunch here.

The next few destinations on the itinerary were not good choices, but a new optional from Lance - Zerobu no Oka - was very pretty. It was also another flower farm. There were quads to drive for a fee.

Then a slight detour to a side road which was very straight and went up and down a few hills hence its name Jet Coaster Road.


















Then on to the Asahikawa Grand Hotel which was a block away from the City's pedestrian shopping street(see map). We walked its one km length all the way to the JR Ashikawa Station, and back, having dinner in one of the side street restaurants.

These photos were taken by Leonard and Eileen (in one of the the photos), two mates in our Tour Group. All my shots didn't come out as my camera was accidentally mis-set between dial setting stops. All shots were thus not properly exposed nor saved. Sigh...


Please click here to continue driving in Hokkaido.