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Itinerary in Hokkaido 2010/9/9 07:01
Hello,

I have planned 8 days in Hokkaido in beginning of October. can someone comment on my planned route?

Day 0. Arrive to Sapporo about 6 pm. Eat, sleep
Day 1. Renting a car. Driving to Oturo and back
Day 2. Driving to Lake Toya, then to Noboribetsu, go to onsen, return
Day 3. Spend a half-day in Sapporo, then drive to Sounkyo Spa, stay there
Day 4. Take a cable car up the mountain, hike, stay at the same place
Day 5. (is there any other place to go to in Daitsesuzan?) Some hiking in the morning, then drive to Abashiri. Night at Abashiri.
Day 6. Drive to Shiretoko, spend a day there, then drive to Akan, stay at Akanko
Day 7. Hike in Akan, then drive to Kushiro. Stay in Kushiro.
Day 8. Go to the Kushiro park,, fly out of Kushiro airport around 6 pm.

What should I change?
I am thinking about driving to Oturo and Toya because I think that it would be faster and more fun than waiting for buses. Is there anything esli in that area that I can easily reach with a car?

Is there any very nice, romantic, atmospheric onsen with a nice rotenburo somewhere? I don't mind going out of my way for it but just don't know where.
by anjulis (guest)  

... 2010/9/10 10:47
Otaru is as easy by train as it is by car, especially if you visit just Otaru's city center. If you go to more outlying sights, such as the herring mansion, then a car will be advantageous.

Day 2. Driving to Lake Toya, then to Noboribetsu, go to onsen, return

For the true enjoyment of the onsen, I recommend to stay overnight.

is there any other place to go to in Daitsesuzan?

Yes, lots of them. Mostly for hiking. But that would be from bases other than Sounkyo, many of which are quite distant from Sounkyo, e.g. Asahikdake Onsen, Tokachidake Onsen, Kogen Onsen, etc.

Day 6. Drive to Shiretoko, spend a day there, then drive to Akan, stay at Akanko

This does not make sense! You will be driving half the day. Consequently, you won't be able to spend a day in Shiretoko. Just half a day. I think you might be underestimating the distances.
by Uji rate this post as useful

Thank you 2010/9/10 13:03
Thank you for your answer.

If you go to more outlying sights, such as the herring mansion, then a car will be advantageous.

Where else can we go on our way or in Oturo?

For the true enjoyment of the onsen, I recommend to stay overnight.

expensive :-(. I plan for one expensive ryokan with onsen at Akanko, cannot really afford two.

Yes, lots of them. Mostly for hiking. But that would be from bases other than Sounkyo, many of which are quite distant from Sounkyo, e.g. Asahikdake Onsen, Tokachidake Onsen, Kogen Onsen, etc.

Considering that we will only have time for one, which one would you recommend? Are they all pretty much the same or anyone stands out? Driving for a couple of hours is not a problem.
Perhaps, one is on our way toward Abashiri?
Another option is to stay the first night on Sounkyo, go up the mountain in the morning, and later drive to another place and spend the night there. What do you think of that?

Day 6. Drive to Shiretoko, spend a day there, then drive to Akan, stay at Akanko

This does not make sense! You will be driving half the day. Consequently, you won't be able to spend a day in Shiretoko. Just half a day. I think you might be underestimating the distances.

How long will it take me to drive from Abashiri to Shiretoko? From Shiretoko to Akan?
What would you suggest instead?
I am wide open to suggestions, want to have absolutely the best experience and see all the best.
by anjulis (guest) rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/10 14:02
Where else can we go on our way or in Oturo?

Otaru? On your way there? The chocolate factory is somewhat along the way:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5307.html

Considering that we will only have time for one, which one would you recommend? Are they all pretty much the same or anyone stands out?

Sounkyo is the most developed and most touristy:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6777.html

Asahidake is less developed and I personally prefer it over Sounkyo:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6776.html

Tokachidake Onsen has some outstanding views from the bath of its (cheap and simple) ryokan and easy to more difficult hiking opportunities. It is further to the south, closer to Furano and centered around the Tokachidake massive as opposed to the Daisetsuzan massive. But it is also part of the Daisetsuzan National Park:
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo09/090916.html

And some of the best hiking can be found around Kogen Onsen, but it is very remote with access by unpaved road:
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo/080925.html

Considering your itinerary, Sounkyo is probably the best choice. You have a lot of distance to cover and not a lot of time. And Sounkyo is located along the way.

How long will it take me to drive from Abashiri to Shiretoko? From Shiretoko to Akan?

Sorry, I did not realize that you will be in Abashiri already at the beginning of the day. Abashiri to Shiretoko takes only about one hour. And Shiretoko to Akan about two. So, it is possible to visit Shiretoko on that day and have most of the day if you start early.
by Uji rate this post as useful

Stay in Abashiri? 2010/9/10 21:07
Are you planning to see anything in Abashiri? If yes, I'd just stop for the visit and then go on and spend the night in Shiretoko. If no, drive directly to Shiretoko. Shiretoko was, for me, the most beautiful place. It's really worth having a few hours to drive and walk around. I did exactly your route, but the other way round:
Kushiro to Akan
Akan to Shiretoko
Shiretoko to Sounkyo (and a short stop in Abashiri)
Souunkyo to Sapporo.
The only difference is that we spent 2 nights in each place.
I must say Hokkaido is really a place to see!
by Kali (guest) rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/11 06:51
Are you planning to see anything in Abashiri?

I do not really know. From the description there is not much to see there othere than a chance to spit in the Ohotsk Sea :-)
You've been there. Would you recommend visiting it?
If go directly to Shiretoko, then where to stay?

Shiretoko was, for me, the most beautiful place. It's really worth having a few hours to drive and walk around.

Do you remember the best places there?
Or, in other places as well. Anything super-great from your experience?
Any tips?

Where did you stay in Sounkyo?
by anjulis rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/11 07:06
And some of the best hiking can be found around Kogen Onsen

I cannot seem to find it on the map. Google map does not know it. Where do I find it? Is there a good Hokkaido in English map somewhere?

What if we drive to Tokachidake Onsen in the evening, spend half-day there, drive to Sounkyo, sleep, in the morning take a cable car and in the afternoon drive toward Abashiri? Is it better that spend all that time in Sounkyo (evening+full day+half day).

How long is the drive from Tokachidake to Suonkyo?
by anjulis rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/11 09:08
I do not really know. From the description there is not much to see there othere than a chance to spit in the Ohotsk Sea :-)

You can do that from the Shiretoko Peninsula, too. Abashiri has some interesting museums, but since your time is fiercely limited, I also recommend to skip Abashiri and head directly to Shiretoko.

About Abashiri's sights:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6865.html

If go directly to Shiretoko, then where to stay?

Utoro has a lot of accommodation. There is also a youth hostel further out into into the peninsula:
http://www.japanican.com/
http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/
http://www.youthhostel.or.jp/English/e_iwaobetsu.htm

And some of the best hiking can be found around Kogen Onsen

It is on the simplified map on the following page:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6779.html

And centered on the following Google map:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.623712,142.930284&spn=0.021932,0...

What if we drive to Tokachidake Onsen in the evening, spend half-day there, drive to Sounkyo, sleep, in the morning take a cable car and in the afternoon drive toward Abashiri? Is it better that spend all that time in Sounkyo (evening+full day+half day).

It is possible. A lot of driving. But your entire itinerary consists of a lot of driving. I think it would be much more interesting that 1.5 days in Sounkyo.

How long is the drive from Tokachidake to Suonkyo?

About 2 hours.
by Uji rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/13 03:37
Tokachidake Onsen has some outstanding views from the bath of its (cheap and simple) ryokan

I don't see anything cheap there. The only ryokan I see in internet is ryoankaku, at 20,000 yen per person. I saw a mention that there are 3 other places next to it but don't see their names or emails anywhere. Perhaps, it is all in Japanese?

I would love to stay there on one night 10/5 if I can find a reasonable price. Can you, perhaps, help with it? You know Japanese, right? I need 2 rooms, 4 people.
Thanks a lot.
by anjulis rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/13 08:13
I don't know where you get these outrageous rates from. The regular rates for the 6 tatami rooms are 9500 yen per person with two large meals:
http://www.ryounkaku.com/2nd.htm
by Uji rate this post as useful

ryonkaku 2010/9/13 10:37
I have called them, they told me 14500 per person with breakfast and dinner. It is too much.
Do you know of any other ryokans next to it?

(I don't understand why all those places do not translate their sites in English, they will get so many more customers).
by anjulis rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/13 14:21
Do you know of any other ryokans next to it?

There seems to be one nearby, but I think it is more expensive:
http://tokachidake.com/kamihoro/

I don't understand why all those places do not translate their sites in English, they will get so many more customers

There are many reasons. Some are just conservative and content with catering just to Japanese customers which cause no problems in terms of language and culture differences. Others are not confident with dealing with foreigners because of the language difference. Operating an English website implicitly means that service in English is offered at the ryokan, which might not be the case. Others used to have an English website but the response was not as good as hoped or it proved too tedious to maintain. Others are simply not aware of the potential of foreign customers. Possibly justified, because some regions barely get any foreign visitors, especially when compared to the number of Japanese travelers.
by Uji rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/17 02:46
Thank you. It looks like there is a nice niche with a lot of potential income - tranlating japanese websites to English :-)

I managed to get a better price at ryoankaku - turns out that "by default" they quote a price for a 10 tatami room, I had to specifically ask for 6 :-)
by anjulis rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/17 08:30
It is good to hear that you got a less expensive rate.

Thank you. It looks like there is a nice niche with a lot of potential income - tranlating japanese websites to English :-)

It is quite a big niche already. Note also that translation into English will only address a minority of foreign travelers. The ryokan should better translate their website also into Chinese and Korean to address the majority of foreign travelers. But many ryokan don't have the skill and/or budget for the creation and maintenance of a quadrilingual website.
by Uji rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/17 10:19
Actually, creating an additional language for a site that is already created is very easy and not expensive. I can, probably, do it for $800-1000. There are so many Chinese and Korean students here in New York who would be happy to translate texts.

Want to go into business together? 1000 ryokans at a $1000 each... :-)))
by anjulis (guest) rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/17 10:27
Using cheap, untrained labor, like students, to do the translation, is indeed a method, which some of the hundreds of ryokan targeting businesses use in order to lower their prices. Good luck with competing with them :)
by Uji rate this post as useful

... 2010/9/17 13:15
Since 4 out of every 5 places I see online have only Japanese version, I guess, those hundreds of businesses are not very succeful.
You don't really need a trained person to do a translation, you need an educated native-language speaker. Especially when text is as simple as hotel description and such. A japanese-american can eaily translate something to English and any Chinese student in the USA can take an English text and produce a chinese translation. Do you disagree?
by anjulis (guest) rate this post as useful

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