Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 51

Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 51

Weekend 51: October 22-23, 2022

Day 355: October 22, 2022

Saturday - "10.22-23" Family Road Trip D1

It's another weekend. It has been two weeks since our last family road trip. Since there was still no snow, we decided to head out and explore new places. 

Off to another road trip
Off to another road trip

Driving through Route 98 going to our first destination
Driving through Route 98 going to our first destination


For this week's road trip, we drove eastwards from Rumoi City to our first stop, the town of Higashikawa (東川町). We plan to visit Daisetzusan National Park and then hike Asahidake which is Hokkaido's highest peak. 

Higashikawa manhole cover
Higashikawa manhole cover

The mini-park behind Centopure II
The mini-park behind Centopure II

Higashikawa Shrine
Higashikawa Shrine

Route 1160 to Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway Station
Route 1160 to Sanroku Station to ride the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway

Inside Sanroku Station while waiting for the ropeway
Inside Sanroku Station while waiting for the ropeway

Before leaving Higashikawa, we visited Higashikawa Shrine in the town center. We paid respects and offered some prayers before driving to the Sanroku Station of the Daisetzusan Asahidake Ropeway which was about a 35-minute drive. 


Boarding the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway
Boarding the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway


The ropeway ride to Sugatami Station takes another 10 minutes and costs 2,200 yen each for me and my wife and 1500 yen for Ella. 

Outside Sugatami Station
Outside Sugatami Station

Upon reaching Sugatami Station, the safety officer briefed everyone about the hiking trail and weather conditions of Daisetzusan National Park and Asahidake. According to him, the visibility going to the peak is low and there is a high possibility that the weather would turn bad sometime around noon. However, he said that it's safe to stroll around the Kamuimintara Walking Course.

We did the Kamuimintara Walking Course Hike (Strolling Course)
We did the Kamuimintara Walking Course

Although we were fully equipped for the 2-3 hour hike up Asahidake, I didn't want to risk it. I discussed it with my wife and we just decided that we will just do the Kamuimintara Walking Course which takes around 1 - 2 hours depending on how many stops one makes. Of course, we stayed longer than expected and took a hundred photos. 

Boarding the ropeway at Sugatami Station going down the mountain
Boarding the ropeway at Sugatami Station going down the mountain

I had ramen at Sugatami Restaurant
I had ramen at Sugatami Restaurant

Katsu-curry of Sugatami Restaurant
Katsu-curry of Sugatami Restaurant

Driving back to Higashikawa town proper via Route 1160
Driving back to Higashikawa town proper via Route 1160

We rode the ropeway back down the mountain to the Sanroku Station. Before leaving, we decided to eat a late lunch at Sugatami Restaurant

From there, we drove back to Higashikawa to visit the following places: 


Centopure II (Higashikawa Complex Exchange Facility)
Centopure II (Higashikawa Complex Exchange Facility)

🍀Centopure II (Higashikawa Complex Exchange Facility) 


After taking the photo of the Higashikawa Pokemon manhole cover at Centopure II, we left Higashikawa and then went to the nearby town of Higashikagura (東神楽町). 

Higashikagura manhole cover
Higashikagura manhole cover

These are the places that we visited in Higashikagura:

Higashikagura Shrine
Higashikagura Shrine

The foliage in Higashikagura Shrine grounds is very beautiful
The foliage in Higashikagura Shrine grounds is very beautiful


Ice Factory Tamura Farm Clover
Ice Factory Tamura Farm Clover

My wife and daughter enjoyed the gelato that they ordered
My wife and daughter enjoyed the gelato and soft cream that they ordered


Since it was still early to end the first day of our road trip. I urged my wife that we drive to the town of Biei (美瑛町) to visit the famed Shirogane Blue Pond instead of visiting it tomorrow.


Shirogane Blue Pond
Shirogane Blue Pond

Biei Roadside Station "Shirogane Biruke"
Biei Roadside Station "Shirogane Biruke"

Biei Roadside Station "Oka no Kura"
Biei Roadside Station "Oka no Kura"

She agreed and we got Shirogane Blue Pond at around 4:30 PM which turned out to be a blessing as the tourists were already heading home one by one leaving the whole place for us by 5PM. After leaving, we made brief stops at Biei Roadside Station "Shirogane Biruke" and Biei Roadside Station "Oka no Kura". They were both closed by the time we arrived, regardless, we got the digital roadside station stamp of each place instead. 

Toyoko Inn Asahikawa-eki Higashiguchi
Toyoko Inn Asahikawa-eki Higashiguchi

Home for the day - Room 1017
Our home for the day - Room 1017

It was around 5:20 PM when we decided to drive to Asahikawa City (旭川市) to check in at Toyoko Inn Asahikawa-eki Higashiguchi which is our accommodation for the day. It started raining halfway through our trip. Thankfully, it turned into a drizzle by the time we arrived in Asahikawa City. 

My wife and I walked to AEON Mall Asahikawa Ekimae to buy food
My wife and I walked to AEON Mall Asahikawa Ekimae to buy food 

We bought the Halloween Special Flavor Frappucino from Starbucks
We bought the Halloween Special Flavor Frappucino from Starbucks

We bought the Halloween Special Flavor Frappucino of Starbucks

We also bought some food from the grocery
We also bought some food from the grocery

After checking in, my wife and I did a quick grocery shopping at the nearby AEON Mall Asahikawa Ekimae to buy dinner which we ate in the hotel room. After which, we spent the remainder of the night resting and preparing for the 2nd day of our road trip. 


Day 356: October 23, 2022

Sunday - "10.22-23" Family Roadtrip D2

We woke up to a cold rainy morning here in Asahikawa City (旭川市). To make matters worse, the weather forecast states that it will rain the whole day too. I had no choice but to alter our itinerary for the day. Thankfully, we visited Shirogane Blue Pond yesterday instead of the original plan to visit it today. 

A beautiful view from our room in Toyoko Inn Asahikawa-eki Higashiguchi
A beautiful view from our room in Toyoko Inn Asahikawa-eki Higashiguchi

Coffee time before checking out
Coffee time before checking out

Checked out and ready to go to our first destination
Checked out and ready to go to our first destination


That's why we decided to chill in our hotel room a little longer. We checked out of Toyoko Inn around 10 AM. From Toyoko Inn Asahikawa-eki Higashiguchi we visited the following places in Asahikawa City:


2nd Street Asahikawa Toko shop
2nd Street Asahikawa Toko shop

☆ 2nd Street Asahikawa Toko shop

Shopping at 2nd Street Nagayama Kanjo Shop
2nd Street Nagayama Kanjo Shop

Shopping at 2nd Street Nagayama Kanjo Shop
Shopping at 2nd Street Nagayama Kanjo Shop

☆ 2nd Street Nagayama Kanjo Shop

Lunch at Yoshinoya
Lunch at Yoshinoya along National Route 39

Lunch at Yoshinoya Asahikawa

Before leaving Asahikawa City, we had lunch at Yoshinoya along National Route 39.

Driving to Chippubetsu via Route 12
Driving to Chippubetsu via Route 12

Chippubetsu Bell Arch
Chippubetsu Bell Arch

Chippubetsu manhole cover
Chippubetsu manhole cover

From Asahikawa City, we then drove to the town of Chippubetsu (秩父別町) for some "Ella Time". We visited the following places in Chippubetsu:

Chippubetsu JR Station
Chippubetsu JR Station

🔔 Chippubetsu JR Station






Until next time, Kid's Square Chikkuru!
Until next time, Kid's Square Chikkuru!

Ella and I played at Kid's Square Chikkuru until its closing time, 6 PM. It was fun playing with Ella, as it reminded me of my carefree youth and the fun play brought me before the stress of adulting hit me square in the face. We got home at around 8PM, officially wrapping up our "10.22-23" Family Road Trip.

t's time to leave Chippubetsu and drive back to Rumoi City
It's time to leave Chippubetsu and drive back to Rumoi City

Overall, it's another weekend well spent. We visited two new towns (Higashikawa and Higashikagura) and revisited Asahikawa City and the towns of Biei and Chippubetsu. We're all looking forward to next weekend, as it's a special day for the family, as we will celebrate my wife's birthday. See you guys!

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