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Family Trip - Hokkaido - Autumn 2018
Hokkaido's Autumn Foliage: An Affordable Escape for Everyone
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Hokkaido's fall foliage without breaking the bank. This comprehensive package includes everything you need for an unforgettable trip, all for under 20,000 baht.
Your package covers:
- Round-trip airfare
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Car rental
- Fuel costs
- Highway tolls
- Cable car rides
- Insurance, and more!
This trip was a dream come true for me: taking my parents on a trip to Japan with the whole family (even though I myself have been to Japan almost ten times, including three trips to Hokkaido). The trip lasted six days and four nights, from the evening of October 30, 2018, to November 4, 2018. However, there was one major condition: my parents couldn't walk much. Therefore, we had to rent a car and park as close to the tourist spots as possible, regardless of the expensive parking fees. My parents couldn't walk much anymore, as they were both nearly 70 years old. There were five family members: my parents, me, my younger brother, and my younger sister. Therefore, the rental car had to be a large SUV with eight seats and three rows (ideally, only 5-6 people should sit in the car, and the back row should be folded down for luggage).
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Expense Breakdown: Why the Trip Cost Less Than 20,000 Baht per Person
Before reviewing the itinerary and sharing more photos, let's break down the expenses to understand how we managed to keep the cost below 20,000 Baht per person.
1. AirAsia X flight ticket price = 42,500 baht
2. Hotel cost for the first night at Granvillage Toya Daiwa Ryokan Annex, including dinner and breakfast:
- 2.1 Room for 2 people (Mother and younger sister): 4,498 Baht
- 2.2 Room for 3 people (Father, me, and younger brother): 6,800 Baht
3. Accommodation cost for nights 2-3 (2 nights) in an apartment for 5-6 people on Agoda Homes: 6,265 Baht.
4. Hotel Cost for Night 4 at Wing International Chitose Hotel
4.1 Room for 2 people (Mother and younger sister) = 3,105 Baht
4.2 bedrooms for 3 people (father, me, and younger brother) = 4,143 baht
5. Car rental fee (www2.tocoo.jp/en): 24,000 yen = 7,104 baht
5.1 Tocoo website booking fee (option fees): 5,400 yen = 1,598 baht
6. Car insurance premium = 6,000 yen = 1,776 baht.
7. In-flight meal cost = 750 THB
The cost of shipping the bag is 1,200 baht.
9. Sim2Fly SIM card internet cost = 399 Baht
10. Travel insurance premium = 2,575 baht
11. Exchange 56,000 yen for the central fund* = 16,600 baht**
Total expenses: 99,313 baht. Average cost per person: 19,862 baht for a group of 5.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
* Exchange rate: 1 yen = 0.296 baht
The total cost of the trip was 56,000 yen, which was converted to 16,600 baht. This covered all shared expenses, including food for 6 days and 4 nights, 5,772 yen for diesel fuel, approximately 5,000 yen for expressway tolls, 6,000 yen for the Ropeway cable car (1,200 yen per person), and miscellaneous expenses such as beer, wine, and snacks. The funds were used efficiently and did not exceed the budget. (There was a small amount of change left over, but I used it to buy coffee from a vending machine at the airport.)
This section does not include individual spending on personal items or luxury goods, as these were not part of the shared expenses.
Note: The original text contained a placeholder for additional information, which has been omitted in the translation.
Here is another review of my trip to Hokkaido in 2016, where I went all out.
**9 Days and 8 Nights of Well-Planned Travel with Great Food and a Rental Car for Only 40,000 Baht!**
https://pantip.com/topic/35776500
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Family Trip to Hokkaido in Autumn 2018
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Stay tuned for a review of the travel plan with various details. All photos were taken with a Fuji X-A2 camera + Fujinon XF 35 - f 1.4 lens and an iPhone 6 Plus camera. No editing or color adjustments were made. Most of the photos in this trip will be from the mobile phone camera because we had to make time. 555
Day 1: October 30, 2018 Departing from Don Mueang to Chitose on a flight from 11:55 PM to 8:10 AM +1 (October 31, 2018)
Day Two: October 31, 2018
(Note: The journey on the previous night is counted as Day One to avoid confusion regarding the number of days.)
Upon arrival at the airport around 8:10 AM, you will pick up your rental car.
We rented a car through the website http://www2.tocoo.jp/en, which is a platform that aggregates various car rental companies. The prices are cheaper than booking directly, and they offer various package options, such as including an ETC card or the HEP (Hokkaido Express Plan) package. However, there is a booking fee calculated based on the number of days the car is rented. After comparing prices, it was still cheaper than booking directly with the companies. I chose to rent a car from Nikku Rental Car New Chitose Airport, which does not have a counter at the airport (a bit inconvenient, but not too difficult. Just call them when you arrive at the designated meeting point, and they will send a van to pick you up. The contract is signed and the car is picked up at the outlet, which is about 3 km away, a 15-20 minute drive). This company only accepts cash, so be sure to have it ready. If you want to pay by credit card, you must pay the full amount at the time of booking through the website. You can cancel your reservation.
Translation:
We opted for the "New Car: Multilingual voice GPS & 8-seater & snow tire & 4WD" package with the ETC Device + ETC Card (HEP) option. The car we received was a Mitsubishi DELICA, which runs on diesel and is very fuel-efficient.
The car's odometer reading upon receipt was 2161, confirming that it was indeed a new vehicle.
Communication channels include Line, WhatsApp, and Tel, which are very convenient. In case of an accident or for route inquiries, you can also use these channels. If they are available, they will respond.
After signing the contract, the staff will take you to inspect the car for any scratches or dents. They will also teach you how to use the GPS and set the language to English. It's very easy to use, just enter the phone number or Mapcode of your destination (Mapcode can be found at www.japanmapcode.com). I found the Mapcode and phone numbers of various places in advance while I was still in Thailand. When I wanted to drive somewhere, I just opened my notebook and entered the information, saving me time searching.
Embarking on a journey as meticulously planned, the first destination is Hell Valley (Jigokudani @ Noboribetsu).
Translation:
We arrived at 11:30 AM at my favorite spot, a valley filled with sulfur ash and constantly spewing underground smoke. Mapcode: 603 287 235*11. Parking fee was 500 yen. Due to the rain, we had to wait in the car (and later in the souvenir shop, which had a heater, food and drinks, and nearby restrooms). Admission was free!
The area offers various walking trails and tourist attractions, with their corresponding Mapcodes listed below.
Foot Bath at Oyunuma: Mapcode 603 287 856*36
Taisho Jigoku Hot Spring Mud Pond: Mapcode 603 288 875*28
After arriving around 13:00, we drove out to find lunch nearby before continuing our journey to our first night's accommodation at Lake Toya.
After finishing the meal, set the GPS to the hotel.
Granvillage Toya Daiwa Ryokan Annex
Mapcode: 321 518 533*00
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%88%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%AD?source=feedtext&xts%5B0%5D=68.ARC6BrpIeM4c1-xqLyR4KATqm8s3PRnW4aU3crXHRTD8zlg4MGgbXvd9JYSmeFOX0mpOVzHDM4il4bCoDeyj3ckwR2Ooy88c289jM107miKT7X4WgIfe4zjwD8DCTEx06nYJIAEaonzqSdb1GjAHNNLI6C0f06TG9DFMzPjp_6Pvfizptcw&tn=%2ANK-R
This lakeside hotel offers unobstructed panoramic views of Lake Toya. Across the lake, Mount Yotei, resembling a miniature Mount Fuji, stands majestically. At 8:45 PM, a spectacular fireworks display illuminates the lake, captivating onlookers. The fireworks display is seasonal, occurring from April to October.
The room will be in a Japanese style, with a small table and a sofa for relaxing. When it's time to eat, a housekeeper will come up and make the bed for you.
Before dinner, we relaxed in the onsen to unwind from our journey. Then, we donned yukatas and headed to the lobby for dinner (included in the room rate). The meal consisted of grilled Genghis Khan lamb on small brass pans, one per person, with self-service rice and drinks. It was delicious and plentiful, leaving us all with full bellies.
Translation:
Look how delicious it is! Our family enjoyed it to the fullest. We scheduled our dinner time for 6:00 PM.
The first day of feasting and revelry passed in a blur. That night, they slept like the dead, each snoring so loudly that no one could hear the other.
November 1, 2018
Upon waking up, guests descend to the B1 floor for bathing facilities, which include shared shower rooms and separate onsen baths for men and women. It's important to note that guest rooms do not have en-suite bathrooms or toilets. Each floor has a shared sink area and separate male and female restrooms, which are sufficiently spacious to avoid congestion. Bathing is only available on the B1 floor. After showering, guests can enjoy breakfast, which is included in the room rate. This is a great value-for-money option. During check-in, staff will schedule times for dinner and breakfast. Guests are required to be present at the designated times. We scheduled our breakfast for 8:00 AM.
Unlimited refills of steamed rice, tea, and soup are available. Additionally, breakfast includes a variety of coffee options from a coffee machine.
After finishing their meal, they got dressed and packed their belongings before heading out for a leisurely stroll along the lakeside behind the hotel. The weather was a pleasant 8 degrees Celsius, and they took the opportunity to capture some stunning photographs.
A quick photo op before continuing on to the Usuzan Ropeway (Mapcode 321 433 524*52) to see the Showa Shinzan volcano. However, we decided against taking the cable car, opting instead to take photos of the volcano from the outside and purchase souvenirs.
Mom is addicted to social media, lol. Especially on the day of the government lottery draw, everyone was checking the results there. They were looking at their dreams, the license plate numbers of the cars they rented, the electricity meter numbers... they even compiled all the statistics, lol.
I personally enjoy cracking eggs.
Enjoy shopping and use the restroom before we continue to Fukidashi Park, which I believe has some of the most beautiful fall foliage in Hokkaido. (In 2016, I visited this park during the peak of autumn colors, and it was truly stunning. You can find photos from that trip in my previous reviews, linked above.)
Continue to Fukidashi Park: Mapcode 385 674 775 * 74 (approximately 49 kilometers, 1 hour drive). The route offers scenic views of Mount Yotei. Upon arrival at Fukidashi Park, enjoy a well-deserved lunch break. The cost of lunch will be covered by the group fund.
After lunch, we went out to take photos. Unfortunately, the area around the spring stream and the pond, which is usually full of beautiful red leaves, had almost all of its leaves fallen. We walked to take photos on the suspension bridge and then walked around the garden on the other side near the parking lot. There were still more beautiful red leaves there.
This garden is located in the parking lot, where the red leaves are still beautiful, with only a few fallen leaves.
After taking photos in the beautiful garden with red leaves, we set off for our accommodation in Otaru at around 3:00 PM. The drive was approximately 70 kilometers and took almost 2 hours. We arrived just before dark, as it gets dark around 5:00 PM this time of year. We had booked an apartment through Agoda Homes, which had a bedroom with four beds (two bunk beds) and a living room with two sofa beds (accommodating up to six people). Picture from the website
Great value for money!
This apartment offers a small kitchen where you can cook simple meals. For two nights, the price is only 6,265 baht. However, there is no parking available on-site. You will need to park in a building 300 meters away that charges 1,000 yen per day. (Please note that there are regular parkers in the parking lot next to the apartment, so please do not park there.) You can book the apartment through the link below. Highly recommended!
6-minute walk from station, Wi-Fi router provided - Otaru, Japan
The owner of this apartment is responsive on the Agoda app. Feel free to ask questions without hesitation.
Apartment: Mapcode 164 719 794*30, Parking: Mapcode 164 719 681*44
This apartment is fully equipped with kitchen utensils, including cups, bowls, spoons, knives, chopsticks, pans, pots, microwave, refrigerator, etc. It also has a vacuum cleaner, washing machine (which we didn't use), washing powder, and dishwashing liquid. The bathroom has a small bathtub that you can soak in, and the hot water works very well. There is air conditioning for the summer and a heater for the winter. The heater is located next to the sofa, and you need to leave the bedroom door open to allow the heat to spread to the bedroom, which may take some time to warm up the entire room. Another thing is that there is Pocket Wifi available for use, and you can take it out of the house. Don't forget to return it to its original location. After arriving at the room, putting our luggage away, and taking a shower, we drove to the supermarket to buy fresh food for dinner. (The supermarket we went to is similar to Lotus's market in Thailand, it has everything, but I recommend going to the supermarket in the basement of Nagasakiya department store, which is located at the intersection opposite Otaru Station, or opposite Dormy Hotel at the intersection. The supermarket here looks a little smaller, but the products are much cheaper. It's the cheapest supermarket I've ever seen in Japan.)
After returning to our accommodation, we prepared a simple meal. My brother (Dr. Sahaphop, a true fan of marine fish) had brought curry paste from Thailand. We bought fish and vegetables to make the curry, eggs for omelets, and rice to cook. We also brought semi-prepared chili paste from Thailand, which only required water to be added to create a delicious dip. We enjoyed it with the hot omelets. It was amazing! We also added some ready-made food items. We weren't trying to be frugal or overly economical; we just wanted to cater to our parents' preferences. They are getting older, and Japanese cuisine doesn't quite suit their palates like Thai food. (We bought fresh ingredients for about 1,000 baht, which was enough for 3 meals!)
November 2, 2018
Translation:
Waking up early, I showered and got dressed. Around 8:30 AM, I walked from my apartment to the Otaru Fish Market, located next to JR Otaru Station. The walk took about 6 minutes. Upon arriving at the market, I entered Takeda, a restaurant I had visited two years prior. (I was particularly fond of their three-color rice bowl, featuring crab meat, sea urchin, and salmon roe.) Unfortunately, the other members of my group were not fans of raw seafood. To my delight, I enjoyed the dish all to myself without anyone competing for a bite.
My favorite menu item is number 8, which costs 2,300 yen. It has become 100-300 yen more expensive than it was several years ago.
After breakfast, we took the children for a walk. The first stop was the Otaru train station to use the restroom. One of the great things about Japan is that there are restrooms everywhere, including convenience stores like 7-11, Lawson, and Family Mart, train stations, rest stops, and so on. This is one of the charms of the convenience of traveling in Japan.
I stopped by a Yakult vendor and bought a bottle for 86 yen. It's more expensive than in Thailand.
After taking a picture of the bell in front of the station, we walked from Otaru Station to the Otaru Canal, a distance of about 800 meters. My mother's legs were already aching.
Let's hold hands and walk together (where will the inheritance go?)
The father found his favorite car, the new Camry model that just arrived in Thailand.
Translation:
English:
We have arrived at Otaru Canal.
Must-take photos at this iconic spot.
The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.
After taking photos to our heart's content, we took my parents to sit and wait at the Family Mart behind the LAOX building. This was because walking back to the parking lot near our accommodation would have been too much for them, as it was almost 1 kilometer away. So I decided to let them wait at the Family Mart while I walked to get the car and pick them up. We then planned to go see the dam at Jozankei Dam: Mapcode 708 814 819*33. We were hoping to see some beautiful leaves or even some snow. On the way, we passed the first reservoir, which had a beautiful atmosphere. There were not many cars or tourists driving by. This spot was shady and there were still some red leaves left, which was nice. We drove about 38 kilometers, which took about 45 minutes, along the mountain valley road. ***The road from Otaru to Jozankei Dam is very scenic.
The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.
Halfway through the journey, we encountered thick piles of snow on the side of the road. Even though it was a sunny day, there was still snow remaining. My mother, who was experiencing snow for the first time, was overjoyed and asked to get out and touch it. I couldn't help but laugh at her excitement.
A 20-minute drive will take you to the Jozankei Dam, which is unremarkable. The scenic beauty lies along the route, not at the destination. (The dam would be stunning during the autumn foliage season.)
Seeing nothing, we took photos and headed back to the Tenguyama Ropeway: Mapcode 164 657 042*33 to enjoy a panoramic view of Otaru from above. The cable car costs 1200 yen per person. At the top station, there is a shrine with a large-eyed, long-nosed Tengu deity where you can pray for good fortune.
The photo below shows the colorful foliage covering the entire mountain in Otaru City.
A view of Otaru Bay.
The mother must have prayed for lucky numbers.
After a day of sightseeing, we went shopping at a mall near Otaru Station. Parking was available for 300 yen per hour. After shopping, we returned to our accommodation, where my brother and sister prepared dinner. I was tired from driving all day, so I took a relaxing bath. After dinner, we watched the online TV series "Blood Is Thicker Than Water".
Who Killed Prasit? Why Was Prasit Killed?
November 3, 2018
Translation:
Waking up around 8:00 AM, I showered and got dressed. My younger brother and sister prepared shrimp congee from the fresh ingredients leftover from yesterday's shopping. We packed our belongings, cleaned the kitchen, and washed the dishes before checking out at 10:00 AM. We then drove towards Sapporo.
Set your GPS to the Old City Hall (Mapcode 9 522 361*47). Arrive around 11:00 AM and park your car across the street from the City Hall. There is a coin-operated parking meter that charges 300 yen per hour, with a maximum parking time of one hour. If you exceed the time limit, you must re-insert a parking ticket for another hour. This parking location is convenient for your mother, as she only needs to cross the street to reach the City Hall. Take some photos of the beautiful colored leaves while you are there.
After taking photos, we drove a short distance to go shopping and have lunch at Sapporo JR Tower. We chose to park in the basement of the ASTY45 building, which is opposite Sapporo Station. The parking fee is only 100 yen per hour, and you can park for a long time without having to return to top up the fee every hour like on the street earlier. In the basement of Sapporo JR Tower, there are many shops selling food, clothes, snacks, and more. We walked around until we were tired.
After finishing shopping around 3 pm, I set the GPS to the last night's hotel, Wing International Chitose Hotel (Mapcode 113 857 508*00), to drop everyone off first. Then, I will drive the rental car back alone (as the rental car company will not return it to the hotel, they can only drop it off at the airport).
After checking in and settling my parents in the hotel, I set the GPS using the phone number 0123452345 to navigate to the ENEOS gas station near the airport before returning the rental car. We need to fill up the tank before returning the car.
After refueling, keep the receipt. The car rental company may ask to see where you refueled. Once you have refueled, set the GPS to the car rental office phone number as per the rental agreement. The phone number is 0144518655. Head to the outlet where you picked up the car on the first day. After returning the rental car, the company will have a van to take you to the airport.
The car's mileage at the time of return was 2633, indicating a total driven distance of 472 kilometers for this trip.
Upon arriving at the airport around 6 pm, I decided to grab dinner before heading home. Since I was already at the airport, I took the opportunity to visit the onsen. The onsen is located on the 5th floor in the OASIS Park zone. The entrance fee is 1,500 yen, and it includes access to a relaxation room, indoor onsen baths, and outdoor onsen baths. Between 6 pm and 7 pm, the onsen tends to be crowded as people stop by to relax after work before heading home.
This airport has everything I could ever need. It boasts a museum, restaurants, a ramen alley featuring all the famous ramen shops in Hokkaido, and souvenir shops open until 8pm. The shops on the 2nd floor of the Domestic Terminal are a treasure trove of Hokkaido's most popular stores, restaurants, and souvenirs. You can even find fresh, well-packaged food here to take home on your flight.
Shoe turning point
At the counter, staff will be available to assist you, collect payment, and provide you with the key.
Translation:
English:
Note: As the provided text is empty, there is nothing to translate.
Please provide the text you would like me to translate, and I will do my best to deliver an accurate and natural-sounding translation in English.
They received one relief bag.
We then undressed, holding only a small towel, and entered the indoor onsen bathhouse. After showering, we immersed ourselves in the onsen. Once our body temperature had adjusted, I went outside to the open-air bath. I walked around naked the whole time, so there was no need to be shy. There were regular hot springs and Jacuzzi-style whirlpools both inside and outside. The air outside was cold, so soaking in the warm water was very comfortable. I especially liked the whirlpool bath outside, as it felt like a back massage. After soaking, I showered again and got dressed in the locker room before going out for dinner in the area in front of the onsen.
Today's special is only 1200 yen, and other menu items are even cheaper. Water and tea are self-service.
He decided to take another dip in the onsen before returning home, as it was his last night. He soaked until almost 8 pm, then showered and changed. He went down to B1 to buy a JR train ticket to Chitose Station, which was two stations away and took only 7 minutes. He used Google Maps to check the route and train schedule, including the next train and its arrival time. The fare was only 350 yen.
Do not board the train car marked "U seat" as these seats are reserved for passengers with assigned seating.
Upon exiting Chitose Station, the hotel is conveniently located just 300 meters away.
Upon entering the room, I fell asleep comfortably after brushing my teeth. I slept soundly, probably due to fatigue and the relaxing onsen soak.
Day Six: November 4, 2018
The morning started with a slight chill in the air. It was time for the shuttle bus to take us to the airport, as per the schedule. The first bus departed at 6:25 AM and was free of charge, but we had to be on time. The bus ride took about 20 minutes, and we arrived at the airport around 7:00 AM. The bus dropped off passengers at the Domestic terminal first before heading to the International terminal. Upon arrival at the airport, we checked in at the AirAsia X counter to drop off our luggage. We then waited until 7:30 AM, when the airport staff opened the gate for the security check. The security check took quite a long time, and this has been the case in all three of my trips back to Thailand through this airport. It is advisable to arrive early and join the queue as soon as possible to avoid waiting for an hour. After clearing security, we had to go through immigration again before proceeding to the boarding gate. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 9:40 AM, but there was a slight delay of about 20 minutes. This is considered normal, so it was not a major inconvenience.
The review is complete. I hope it will be helpful for friends who are planning to travel to Hokkaido on a budget. It is definitely possible to travel comfortably and affordably with a car if you plan well.
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