2014 Jan Hokkaido;Japan - Day 3

8 Jan 2014 - Hokkaido ; Noboribetsu 

Noboribetsu (登別) - Hell Valley (Jigokudani 地獄谷); Edo Theme Park (Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura 登別伊達時代村)

Sapporo - Sapporo Kani-Honke (Crab dinner )

Like I had mentioned in my last post, I did my homework on the discount tickets of JR Hokkaido since I'm not getting the JR pass. There is this discount ticket name - <S Ticket Four> - from Sapporo Station to Noboribetsu station for 4 person which cost 7,880 yen (one way), but you are able to use it as round trip for 2 person (so is like 3,940 for 2 way ). If you don't get the discount ticket, one way ticket will be 3,850 yen (round trip will be 7,700 yen) which is almost the same price as the round way ticket of the <S Ticket Four> !! So is better to read up more before heading over to avoid spending which you can save and spend it on somewhere or something else..  [ Read more on the discount ticket here - http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/pticket/index.html]

And I downloaded the time schedule of the JR train while I was doing my itinerary [you can find it there - http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/index.html - current schedule is till 31 Mar 2014] so I know when there is train leaving Sapporo Station for Noboribetsu station. I just had to make sure that I can get the rest to reach there before the train leave. Okay, so with enough rest from last night, we were able to leave the hotel as planned. While I was busy getting the ticket at the counter, the rest were buying breakfast so we can eat on the train. Whole train journey was around 1 hr 20 min (express train ; if is local train will take 1 hr 45 min), and it arrival at Noboribetsu station as per the schedule stated (not even 1 min late !!)

Noboribetsu (登別)

How to go - JR Noboribetsu station

From New Chitose Airport - 50 min (express train)

From Sapporo station - 1 hr 20 min (express train) ; 1 hr 45 min (local train)

From Hakodate station - 2 hr 30 min (express train)

[There are bus too, you can read about in below website*]
*Website - http://www.noboribetsu-spa.jp/?page_id=1471&lang=en

Noboribetsu in southwestern Hokkaido is the location of the Noboribetsu-onsen, Karurusu-onsen, Shin-Noboribetsu-onsen hot springs, and has a rich variety of scenery including forests, lakes and marshes. It has been designated a part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. 

Train that brought us to Noboribetsu Station 

The Noboribetsu-onsen is one of Hokkaido's best-known hot springs, and is surrounded by a virgin forest 200 meters above sea level. It has 9 different kinds of water, containing minerals such as hydrogen sulfide, salt and iron. The quality of these minerals results in the spa being ranked among the world's most exceptional hot springs. The most impressive scene at the hot spring is the Jigoku Valley (hell valley), where yellowy gray volcanic gas seeps from the surface of the rocks. This makes the whole place smell strongly of sulfur, and gives it an image like that of hell. The valley is a 450-meter diameter mouth of a volcano, which produces 3,000 liters of hot water per min. 

[Cut and paste from - http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/hokkaido/noboribetu.html]

Welcome to Noboribetsu ! 

We took the Donan Bus (which is located right outside of the train station) to Noboribetsu Onsen ( final bus stop). As I was unable to find the bus schedule online, I gave each place more time in advance in case it got delay because of waiting time (of the bus) and travelling time.    

the time schedule of Donan bus and map of the Donan bus route in front of the train station

After 20 min bus trip, we arrival at Noboribetsu Onsen (final bus stop). We went into an informational centre to make sure we walk the correct route toward Jigokundani. They told us it will take about 5 min walk, but because of the ice, it took us 15 min (of course we were also looking around while walking toward it) 

Noboribetsu (登別) - Hell Valley (Jigokudani 地獄谷)

Jigokudani or "Hell Valley" is a spectacular, appropriately named valley just above the town of Noboribetsu Onsen, which displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity. it is a main source of Noboribetsu's hot spring waters. 

From the valley, there are attractive walking trails through the wooded hills above Noboribetsu. If you follow them for about 20 ~ 30 min, you will get to Oyunuma, a sulfurous pond with a surface temperature if 50 degree celsius and a small, even hotter, mud pond nearby *

*(but I didn't go over there as there are too many snow and it made it too difficult to go ahead, so we just look around near the entrance)

[cut and paste from - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6751.html ]

Seeing this, we knew we had reached !! 

The most popular view of this place

We had our lunch at one of the onsen hotel before heading to our next destination as we were not sure if the food there will be good (they rather to eat at a hotel). Then we headed to the bus stop to take the Donan bus to Edo Theme Park.

Noboribetsu (登別) - Edo Theme Park (Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura 登別伊達時代村)

Address : 53-1 Naka-Noboribetsu-cho, Noboribetsu
Phone : 0143-83-3311
Open : 11am - 4pm (Winter) ; 11am - 5pm (summer)

Fee : Adults - 2,900 yen
         Children - 1,500 yen (ages 6-12)
         Seniors - 2,100 yen (over 65 year old)

Official Website - http://www.edo-trip.jp/lng_english/
How to go - by Donan Bus (about 180 to 200 yen) , take to Noboribetsu Jidaimura bus stop or Sanai Byoin Mae bus stop

Noboribetsu date Jidaimura 

Entrance of Noboribetsu date Jidaimura 

Street of the old Edo period cover with snow

nice view !! 

As it was snowing heavy and heavy, we decided to head to the JR station earlier than planned but because there were very limited bus trip, we had no chance but to wait by the bus stop (out in the cold!). Luckily there is the bus schedule listed on the bus stop, we don't had to blindly wait for the bus. And the bus arrival as per schedule. But when we reached the train station, we noticed that we will have to wait some more as the next JR train back to Sapporo will be coming in an hrs later.

I actually planned a crab buffer for tonight's dinner, but they don't think that will eat much, last min asked me to change to another place. So I suggest that we go back to the old restaurant that I went 4 years ago, if not, I don't think we will have dinner that night !

Sapporo - Sapporo Kani-Honke (Crab dinner )

Address : 1-18 2-chome Kitasanjyo-Nishi Chuouku Sapporo Hokkaido 060-0003
Tel : 81-11-222-0018
Open : 11.30am - 10pm (closed on 31 Dec & 1 Jan)
How to go : 5 min walk from the south exit of "JR train Sapporo" Station OR from the 13 exit of "Subway Sapporo"

Official website - http://www.kani-honke.jp/e/ (where you can find the menu and address)

Kani-Honke

Kani Honke - part 1 of dinner 

Kani Honke - part 2 of dinner

After we told them how many people we had, we were asked to remove our shoes and take the lift up to select level. They will also check which language suited us and they will send someone that is able to speak that language. They leaded us to a room where all of us were able to sit together (the last time I was here, they also leaded us to room (I had around 5 people)). We ordered a set and added some ala-carte sides. And after 4 years, the place still look the same and the standard of the foods were just too wonderful. Felts so happy after all those food, even if I was so full and felt so bloated but it worth it !!

Starting said let me do the planning where to do, but in the end they asked me to change again !!!! 

IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHY DO YOU STILL ASK ME TO DO THE PLANNING !!!! 

OMG , I was so angry but I can't show. I have no chance but to go along with the change of itinerary