Driving in Hokkaido - Days 1 & 2

It was a sure thing after our visit last year that we would visit Japan again, so PRIME Travel and Tours . being good though not cheap; so we dropped in to check out their offers.

Offers? They didn't have offers. Just holiday packages, and excellent service. The packages were very good too.

After 10 minutes listening to Helen and we decided to join their 8Days 7Nights Fragrance of Lavender fly-drive tour of Hokkaido.

We were provided with a comprehensive 'manual' which detailed the daily itineraries, complete with maps and photographs; details of flights, accomodations, places of interest along the planned routes (as well as off the planned routes), do's and dont's on driving in Japan, and the use of Japanese public baths. Even included simple Speak Japanese lesson notes. We also had bus schedules, train schedules, and airport plans as we were extending our stay in Tokyo after the drive in Hokkaido.


Three - yes, three - guides for our compact tour group of 6 cars ie 14 people. Lance and Meng saw us through Changi Airport check-in in minutes. We met Yuki later. Everyone went about free and easy, there was no "everybody together here now, please".


At Narita Airport , we had a quick bite standing-up Japanese style, of course. And instant ramen of course.


Then onto another plane to Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. We had to collect our luggage and check them in. Strange that there was no forward transfer of luggage.



Arrived at about 8pm local time.

First night's accomodation was the Mitsui Urban Hotel located in the airport building; at one end. That was great, considering the time of arrival.

First meet up with our guides in the lobby. Received our room keys and breakfast vouchers. Put luggage in room and down to Dining Room for dinner for just our group.

Here's Penny very quickly into her yukata.





According to the sign on the bedside table, you had to pay for any of the extras listed!


Here's a view from our room of part of the airport carpark, and construction works or rather assembly of airport extension.

Now, if we do it this sand-less way in Singapore, wouldn't it be great? and those silly sand suppliers in Indonesia can go use their sand to build sand castles.





After brekky, we were issued a nice pouch bag containing car keys, a handphone (with advanced features that you don't come acrosss at home), phone accessories to charge in room and car, and an ICU card. LMY (Lance, Meng, Yuki) taught us how to use the handphone, including taking photos and sending them to the Hokkaido tourism authoriy, in a 'feedback and incentives' scheme. Then, checked out and trolleyed luggage to our waiting cars from Toyota Rent A Car.

The car rental nice ladies familiarised us with our cars and taught us how to use the in-car GPS. Then, we were on our way!

Being the most senior in the group, we drove out the carpark last. Those youngsters took to new cars and gadgetry so much quicker than us! Ours was a Prius with number plate 161.

This may be old hat to those using GPS in their cars, but for others, and to recap our hits and misses, it's ABC using the GPS thingy.

Just key in the MapCode - a 9-character (numeric) - id for the target, like a sort of address. Thing is: we had to remember the button pressing response sequence as everything was in Japanese!

Had to allow the thing a few seconds to find its way from the stars. But we did it, made it, and the road ahead is shown in blue on-screen. So, unto the breech!



First target destination was Lake Shikotsu in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park.

Stuck in a CD ("bring some in case you find the drive boring" we were advised) and we soon reached the Lake.

GPS LadyVoice kept us company, coming on 600m and 10m before a required left or right turn, preceded by a 'ding' and two dings respectively.

Followed by a few words after the turn which we like to believe were words of praise, like well done!

They've got this queer bent-post thing with some road signs. Here, it must be to allow room to turn a huge spanner!








Japanese signs have been very carefully translated into English. That's why they remain unchanged despite the millions of feedback received. Anyhow, that's what I think. My navigator has different views of course.

But back to this very clean, very modern park restroom (they're called 'toilets' in Hokkaido).

Click on photo to enlarge it and you'll find that the urinal in the Gents has been too well positioned for ventilation.








Please click here to continue driving in Hokkaido.