Hello again for another review for episode 2 of the trip
-No Plan- Backpack solo travel .."Hokkaido".. [On the day the leaves change color]

For the first part, you can go to the link below.


-No Plan- Backpack solo travel .."Hokkaido".. [On the day the leaves change color] 9 days where to go with the remaining money (xxxx) Episode 1
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For this episode 2, I will not go into much detail about the journey.
Because I have written in the first episode about walking this time by backpacking alone without a travel plan.
There is no program schedule in advance. Let's see how I travel in Hokkaido without any language.

=== Day 5 of the journey ===

Today, I was fortunate to receive an invitation from the admin of the Hokkaido Fan Club page to join them on a car trip. I eagerly accepted the invitation, and we arranged to meet at the train station at 8:00 AM. Our destination is Lake Shikotsu, with the possibility of stopping at other interesting tourist spots along the way (although I'm not sure what those might be yet).

Shortly after departing from the train station, we drove past an Ainu village. Catching sight of the changing leaves, we decided to stop by for a closer look. We were not disappointed. Despite its small size, the village offered a beautiful display of autumn foliage. We couldn't resist snapping some photos and updating our page.

The Ainu village appears to be a newly constructed replica, and it is likely not popular among tourists. During my visit, I did not encounter any other tourists, unlike other attractions. Additionally, the constant sound of rock blasting in the area may deter visitors. In the short time I spent taking photographs, there were over 20 instances of rock blasting.

A short drive from the Ainu house, there is a viewpoint overlooking the dam crest. The name of the dam is not written in English, but it is easy to spot.

The scenic route to Lake Shikotsu boasts numerous attractions, as evidenced by the abundance of tourist spots marked on the map. A three-day, two-night trip would barely suffice to explore them all. However, given our one-day trip constraint, we opted to visit roadside attractions. Even these roadside gems proved to be both plentiful and breathtaking, especially for those who appreciate the vibrant hues of autumn foliage. One such roadside attraction that captivated many tourists was the Rarumanai Falls. This petite waterfall is a must-see, not only for its cascading waters but also for the stunning display of fall foliage that surrounds it.

After leaving the waterfall, we arrived at Lake Shikotsu, located in southern Hokkaido.
It is the second deepest lake in Japan. During the autumn foliage season, the roads around the lake are lined with colorful leaves, especially in October.
In addition, the lake is a famous hot spring resort in Japan, making it another popular destination.

The area surrounding the lake offers a scenic cycling route, perfect for a leisurely bike ride if time permits.

This location also boasts a tourist service center. Upon arrival, you can grab a bite to eat before exploring further. Additionally, the area features an aquarium and an onsen, all conveniently located in the same vicinity.

While driving, I came across a roadside sign that appeared to indicate a tourist attraction. Having some time to spare, I decided to turn the car around and investigate. The journey was not without its challenges, as I encountered dead ends and took a few wrong turns. However, these unexpected detours added to the charm of the adventure.

A day in Hokkaido passes by very quickly. As mentioned earlier, it gets dark around 4 pm in Hokkaido. Although the sightseeing time per day is not much, it is still worth it. ... ... In the late afternoon, it was time to return to my accommodation (Sapporo). I would like to mention the accommodation briefly, as I haven't talked about it much before. My accommodation in Sapporo was a hostel (shared room) with 4 beds in one room. I had booked it in advance from the Expedia website (https://www.expedia.co.th/). I booked it together with my flight tickets, which gave me a discount. You can also check out Expedia's accommodation booking promotions at http://bit.ly/ExpJPatbg4. Personally, this was my first time staying in a hostel. I must say that I loved it and will definitely look for opportunities to stay like this again. The price was affordable (over 500 baht) and it was located in the city center, close to all public transportation. I forgot to mention that the accommodation I booked was called Khaosan Sapporo Hostel. Here are some pictures for you to see.

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The living room is the main space for guests to relax, work, play games, or socialize. It can even be used as a dining area. I personally spend more time in the living room than in my bedroom. The best part is that the hostel provides free computers and Wi-Fi access.

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Adjacent to the living room is the kitchen. As I mentioned earlier, I lost a significant amount of money, which forced me to completely change my eating habits. The kitchen has become my hero, as I rely on it to cook my own meals every day. Most of the time, it's instant noodles... hahaha.

The bedroom is located on the 4th floor, accessible by elevator. It features a bunk bed that can accommodate four guests. The occupants change daily, providing an opportunity to meet new people. As I stay here every night, I sometimes have the pleasure of sharing the room with female companions. (This is my favorite part.)

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Early on the 6th, I woke up early and went to Sapporo Station to travel to Sounkyo Town.
I took the JR train to Asahikawa Station and then a bus to Sounkyo Town, which required several transfers.
So I had to leave early in the morning. Then I took the Sounkyo Ropeway to Mount Kurodake, which is 1984 meters above sea level.
And from the information I saw last night, the leaves here change color as beautifully as anywhere else, especially on the way up the ropeway
and the walking path to the top of Mount Kurodake.

Today, due to the long journey, I had to switch to the JR train instead of the local train as I have been doing in the past. However, the ticket price was quite expensive, so I bought a round-trip ticket to get a small discount. I tried to calculate from the journey that if I bought a tourist ticket according to the internet or book recommendations, such as a 7-day or 5-day ticket, I thought it was not worth it because I only traveled to Hokkaido and did not cross to other regions. Using local trains is much more economical, except for long journeys like today.

However, the weather did not cooperate. After arriving in Asahikawa by train, I walked out to catch the bus at the station. The bus stop was right outside the train station, which was very convenient. I looked at the signs for a while, confused, but I was able to understand with the help of sign language that I needed to take bus number 7 to get to Sounkyo. The weather that day was terrible, much colder than any other day I had experienced, and it was raining to boot. But I had come so far, so I decided not to let it ruin my trip. Let's go!

After a bus ride of approximately one and a half hours, we arrived at our destination. The bus dropped us off at the tourist service center, which is also the starting point for the cable car. The building is located a short distance behind the center. However, the rain showed no signs of stopping, making us hesitant to take our cameras out of our bags.

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To avoid wasting time, I purchased tickets for the cable car ride up the mountain, which required two transfers. However, to reach the summit, I had to hike further. I enjoy hiking, so the rain didn't bother me. Upon arrival, purchasing tickets was simple; I simply paid the required amount.

"In a blink of an eye, my heart shattered." The image I had in mind of the cable car ride being surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage, perhaps even more stunning than any other day, crumbled like the image of "the leaves falling away completely."

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The second cable car is closed for maintenance, so passengers are not allowed to board. This has caused some frustration among visitors, who feel that they have paid a high price for the first cable car ticket only to be unable to continue their journey.

Despite the misfortune, a glimmer of luck shone through.
It was my first encounter with snow, the season's first snowfall following a brief spell of rain.
Seizing the opportunity, I captured a photograph of myself as a memento.

One last shot before putting the camera away and heading back, with a slight disappointment.
It's a long way to come by car, but it's a life's profit to see the snow (very naive). This is the life and taste of travel.
Some disappointments, some successes, mixed together. Let's talk about it again tomorrow.

=== Good morning of the journey on day 7. ====

The likely cause is yesterday's heavy rain, which soaked me through, and the unexpected encounter with snow. The weather was quite cold, and the long journey left me feeling a bit exhausted. As a result, I woke up late today. I decided to do some work in the morning and then take a leisurely stroll around Sapporo city.

=== Odori Park ===

Odori Park, located in the heart of Sapporo, divides the city into north and south sections. The east side of Odori Park is home to the 150-meter-tall Sapporo TV Tower, which offers stunning views of the park and surrounding city from its observation deck.

The Odori Park is conveniently located near the Odori Subway Station. It is also within walking distance from JR Sapporo Station and is easily accessible from nearby accommodations by train or on foot. Personally, I opted for the latter, taking a leisurely stroll while soaking in the atmosphere. Today's focus is on relaxation.

=== Former Hokkaido Government Office Building (Red Brick Government Building) ===

Strolling along the path, we stumbled upon Hokkaido University, a place we had already visited on our first day. Today, as we wandered around, we found ourselves here again. Since we were passing by, we decided to capture some photos from the same angle as before. After several days, the leaves should have turned yellow... And as you can see, we were not disappointed to stop by again. The ginkgo tree-lined avenue within Hokkaido University is a sight to behold. For our return journey, please refer to the first part of the writing.

As dusk settles, take a leisurely stroll along Tanukikoji Shopping Street, a historic shopping district with roots dating back to the pioneering era.
This haven for bargain hunters offers a wide array of Hokkaido souvenirs, sure to delight even the most discerning shopper. A must-visit destination for any trip to Sapporo.
However, due to budgetary constraints, I must reluctantly forgo the temptation to indulge in retail therapy.

Embark on a journey to Noboribetsu, a town nestled amidst breathtaking natural landscapes and towering mountains. Accessible via the JR Noboribetsu Station, followed by a scenic bus ride, Noboribetsu offers a tranquil escape into the heart of Hokkaido's wilderness. Immerse yourself in the renowned Noboribetsu Onsen, renowned for its therapeutic hot springs, and witness the mesmerizing spectacle of autumn foliage painting the hillsides in vibrant hues.

The journey begins from the same place as always.

Upon arrival, walk to the back of the station to catch a bus to Noboribetsu Onsen, which takes approximately 20 minutes.

Today seems unusually quiet, as I am the only one who got off the train. I can't help but wonder why Hokkaido, despite having visited many cities, seems so quiet.

Upon arrival, the bus will drop us off at the tourist information center. We decided to take a look around, hoping to find something useful. In the end, we obtained a travel map for Noboribetsu, which proved to be quite helpful. Although we couldn't read the text, the images were clear enough for us to understand.

Jigokudani, also known as Hell Valley, is a natural hot spring located in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. The valley is characterized by its bubbling mud pools and sulfurous fumes, a result of geothermal activity. A network of wooden walkways allows visitors to safely explore the otherworldly landscape.

Nature Trail and Oyunumagawa Natural Foot Bath, a short walk away.

The plan was to take a cable car to the top of the lake, which is a volcanic crater surrounded by colorful foliage. However, the cable car was closed for maintenance. Although it was another disappointment, the trip was still worthwhile.

=== Day 9: The Final Day and Last Meal in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan ===

Due to today being my travel day back to Thailand, for safety reasons, I have refrained from going outside the city or traveling far.
Due to the limited remaining budget (as far as I can see), if I were to take a taxi or train, I might miss my flight.
So I decided to stay at my accommodation and take the opportunity to say goodbye to my familiar friends. We may use sign language, but we understand each other.
And this is my last meal.

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Thank you to everyone who visited, thank you for all the comments, thank you to everyone for following my backpacking journey.
Thank you expedia ( https://www.expedia.co.th/) for booking your travel tickets this time.

For the first review, you can go to this link ..
And you can update and follow my travel story on the Fanpage below.
https://www.facebook.com/saphipae/
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Last but not least, my trip to Hokkaido this time was very impressive.
It's another challenging and exciting backpacking trip, whether it's the first long trip without a language.
There is no preparation for the trip, the money must be lost, I have to rely on instant noodles for many meals.
It's fun to travel like this and it's not as difficult as I thought anyone can go alone If I can go
If I have the chance, I will definitely go back again.
"If we dare to travel"
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See you again on the next trip soon.