Winter In Sapporo ( Part 1 )

(Above) On the bus reaching Sapporo

We took a express bus from Noboribetsu to Sapporo which lasted over one and a half hours and alighted at the JR Sapporo Train Station bus terminus.Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido Perfecture, Japan and is the 5th largest city there. It was a cold and snowy Sapporo that we were anticipating for our arrival there. When we arrived, it hadn't snowed yet and we thought we were abit early. However as we walked to our hotel, the first snowflakes came down and it was a very nice feeling, as if to greet us on our arrival. We thought Noboribetsu was cold but Sapporo was even colder. Gloves and scarfs plus cap were the order of the day as the chilly winds and cold air really made one numb with cold. It snowed very heavily on the second day we were there such that we had to wear our sunglasses to shield out the heavy snowflakes flying in our direction. It was abit difficult to navigate around as visibility wasn't very good and our hands were freezing each time we took out our gloves to take a shot or to read the map. (Above ) Me posing in front of our hotel - Keio Plaza Sapporo

We stayed at Keio Plaza Sapporo and the service there was impeccable. When we were told that there was an error in our hotel voucher instructions received by them, they apologized and immediately said they would upgrade our standard room. We were pleasantly surprised when the desk manager waved away the approaching porter and instead personally led us to the room.

(Above) Entrance corridor to the main room. Gayle is checking out the dressing table!

When we opened the room, we were overjoyed because they had upgraded our room at no extra cost to the executive corner suite on the 20th floor of the 21 storey hotel. It was a really luxurious room with a huge bathroom by Japanese standards and filled with branded toiletries like L'occitane , Shiseido and Kose .

Those who have been to Japan will really know this is really luxurious by Japanese standards, as compared to the cramped , minute hotel rooms common in Japan.

(Above) Gayle hopping around with joy at our very nice room

To add to that, we received 3 food vouchers for breakfasts and lunches at any of their hotel restaurants.

(Above and Below ) The luxurious washroom and toilet !

(Above) The Toto Washlet above. State of the art toilet bowl in our hotel room. We saw it at the TOTO showroom in Singapore when we were scouting around for a toilet bowl and were wondering when would we be able to try out one and we did in Japan. Priced at SGD$10 000 at that time. Sitting on a $10 000 toilet bowl is really shiok! Firstly, the seat has a warmer so especially in cold winters, it is just so comforting to sit on a warm seat. It has an automatic lid and is controlle via an infra red remote control mounted on the nearby wall.

It has a built in front and rear washer with warm water. One has to try that to know it's a nice guzzy feeling, a shiok feeling like someone scratching your back.

Our stay in Sapporo was a joyful one especially with the hotel staff so helpful and polite. We were lucky to meet Cho, a Chinese guest relations officer at the hotel who helped us translate from Mandarin to Japanese when we wanted to ask the hotel staff for information. We will most probably look for a stay in Keio Plaza if we go back to Japan.

(Above and below) We had a good continental breakfast buffet spread each morning. There was also the traditional Japanese breakfast on offer too but I guess, nothing beats ham, sausages, bacon and sunny side up eggs for breakfast! Below, you can see a card stand which is used to indicate that this table is taken when we are out to get our food from the buffet table. When you have finished and are leaving, just place the name card stand face down to indicate to the staff to clear the table and that the seat is vacant for the next guests. Quite a good system instead of our Singapore system of putting bags and tissue packs to 'chope' a table.

(Below) One thing that is good about Sapporo and Japan in general is that their malls are underground and air conditioned at a comfortable temperature. This is really a boon for shopping in comfort, away from the harsh cold of the winter. The malls are connected to each other and stretches a few kilometres. At the supermarket! Our first stop to look at all the food on display.

(Above) What to eat for lunch ? A difficult decision to make in Sapporo with so many offerings
(Below) what to eat for dessert - Hokkaido ice cream !

(Above and Below) - Mind You ! These are cakes sold in the supermarket and not at some high end pastry cafes. Look at the workmanship, flair and quality of the cakes ! We ended up eating lots of cakes for dessert in Japan.
(Above) Sweets galore ! Just pick your cup, fill it with sweets and weigh it at the cashier.

(Below) Gayle posing in front of one of the underground malls 0 Fashion Walk which is linked to JR Sapporo station.

(Above) In front of Tokyu Departmental store, something very much like Tangs and Isetan combined.

(Above) 3 Coins, a budget store that sells high quality and wide array of products from fashion items to household items. Very crowded during lunch time and after office hours.

(Above) Gayle at the FANCL Store which has a corner booth that sells fresh fruit juice that have 'boosters' ingredient added to the juice to enhance skin complexion, eyes etc based on what you want to enhance. Quite cheap at 100 yen a cup.

(Above) Mother Garden and no this is not a shop selling motherly things ! It is a dog clothing botique selling winter coats, jumper suits, beds and other accessories for dogs and cats.
More on Sapporo in the next posting!