Japan (Feb 2012) Day 4: Sounkyo (Part 1)
Took the 0830hrs Asahiyama Zoo special train from Sapporo to Asahikawa station, where I transferred to another train to get to Kamikawa station.
We were very lucky to be able to purchase the final 2 tickets on this special Zoo train for the day.
From Kamikawa station, we had to take a 30mins bus ride to Sounkyo onsen.
Today is officially the COLDEST day of my life!
It was -20 degrees celcius at Sounkyo onsen!! The strong winds & heavy snow didn't helped either.
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| Another snowy day... |
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| Asahiyama Zoo seasonal train. Runs between Sapporo and Asahikawa. |
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| I chatted with the lady seated next to me and she offered me paper to do origami and her daughter showed me the origami watch she made. |
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| At Asahikawa station waiting to board another train to Kamikawa station |
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| Taking bus ride (30mins) from Kamikawa station to Sounkyo Onsen bus terminal |
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| The walkway from our hotel to Sounkyo's main shops area. |
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| Sounkyo onsen bus terminal |
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| Looks cold? Yes it is! -17 degrees celcius in the day and -20 degrees celcius at night on this day! |
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| Convenience store at Sounkyo |
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| Had our ramen lunch here |
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| Since the staff don't understand English, and we don't really speak enough Japanese, so we ordered Miso Ramen since it's the only item on their handwritten Japanese menu that I could read. |
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| Our room |
Sounkaku Grand Hotel, 18000yen (includes buffet dinner & breakfast)
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| Natural fridge. Putting drinks next to the window = Very cold drinks! |
Hi..
ReplyDeletemay i ask if the Asahiyama Zoo special train from Sapporo to Asahikawa station can be purchased in advance or it has to be purchase on the day itself?
You can purchase in advanced when u arrive at Japan, but bear in mind that this is a popular train, so there is a chance that it will be sold out by the time you arrive in Japan to book it since the Japanese would have already started to book seats on this train before you even arrive in Japan.
DeleteHi, would like to find out which bus number u took to sounkyo hotel from kamikawa station? I happen to be staying as the same hotel as u in sounkyo,tried email the hotel on the direction to get to their hotel but no reply. Is it a walking distance from sounkyo onsen bus terminal to the hotel? Thanks in advance
ReplyDeleteIt is about 5mins-7mins walk from the place where we alighted at Sounkyo onsen's bus terminal to reach the hotel.
DeleteTheir bus timings changes every few months based on seasonal changes (I think), so here is the current bus schedule: http://www.dohokubus.com/pdf/16w-kamikawa.pdf