Japan - Day 12

Our target: Date Jidai Mura (Edo Wonderland), in Noboribetsu

In the morning our hotel arranged for a private car to pick us to Date Jidai Mura (Edo Wonderland). This reproduction of a Feudal-Era village is the closest you can get to taking a time machine back to the last days of the Edo Period.

Shops, restaurants, theaters, the downtown, and a samurai district are built as they were of yore, staffed by people dressed in period clothing.


This samurai is no match for me.


We fought 3 rounds due to his old age, I let him win.


Mum wanted to taste the art of sword fighting too.



See Ninja warriors fighting in a trick mansion, local merchants hawking their wares, Edo-Era tenements with life-size models, and courtesans performing in this Disney re-creation of how Japan might have looked when the shogun reigned.


This ninja specialties is throwing darts.










To commemorate the day forever, must take pictures with this group of ninja.

Ninja are spies dressed all in black, who moved quickly and sometimes used throwing stars and other weapons to defeat their enemies. They could also use “ninjutsu,” the techniques of intelligence collection and deception unique to the ninja.


The Maneki Neko also known as Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Money cat or Fortune Cat is a common Japanese sculpture, often made of porcelain or ceramic, which is believed to bring good luck to the owner.






There are regular shows on the streets of the park featuring old-time street performances and Oiran processions. Oiran were Edo-era prostitutes for the rich.








(Look so real)










Although shows are in Japanese, the various attractions are fun for the whole family. She's real alright.










Showing ninja fighting skills.




I find that I do have the look of a Shogun. A handsome Shogun somemore.




An oiran (courtesan) had a high status and was an icon for commoners in the Edo period. The world of a courtesan can be experienced in the Historical Culture Theater, where the audience takes part as well. Be sure to enjoy the gorgeous dance and dazzling performance of the beautiful courtesan


Had our lunch here inside Edo Wonderland.



Was about 2:30pm by the time we went back our hotel. Check out, took train to our next destination, Hakodate.

Hakodate is Hokkaido's third largest city, located at the island's southern tip.


Reached Hakodate already 6:30pm.


Lucky our hotel was situated just across the train station. After check in, we quickly took a bus to Mount Hakodate. From there, we took cable car to the top.

Mount Hakodate (Hakodateyama) is a 334 meter high, wooded mountain at the southern end of the peninsula on which much of central Hakodate is located. On clear days and nights, the view of Hakodate from the mountain is spectacular.


Nice.....tomorrow we're be having "live" seafood.
Stay tune....

Japan - Day 11

Wake up very early as we intended to take the first train out.


Our room is right at the end.


Yessss.....it is cold today, surprising.




Mum prepared herself coffee for the long journey ahead.


"The Gang of Four" are ready to move out.


Left hostel at 6:00am sharp.


The whole place is covered with mist.




Si buay beng...wearing slipper.









That's our train station. If you miss your train, you're gonna to wait for few hours for the next train. Here, we took train to Furnao main station and then transfered to another train back to Sapporo, from there we took another train to Noboribetsu.


Journey was long but we enjoyed every minute of it.


(Taken during our train route. There's a gigantic statue of Guanyin)

Arrived NOBORIBETSU as known as Hell Valley about 4 hours later.

Our hotel, Noboribetsu Spa Hotel Mahoroba is the most expensive stay in this trip. More than SGD200.00 per each person per night. It is worth it because it include 31 kinds of onsen (Japanese hotspring) , buffet dinner as well as the theme park. The vast majority of tourists are drawn to the 11 types of water found in the local hot springs.

Noboribetsu-onsen is one of Hokkaido's best-known hot springs, and is surrounded by virgin forest 200 meters above sea level. It has over 10 kinds of water, containing minerals such as hydrogen sulfide, salt, and iron. The quality of these minerals means the spa ranks among the world's most exceptional hot springs.


(After checking in, first we paid a visit to HELL VALLEY)


(It's not far from our hotel, only 10 minutes walking)



(Entrance of Hell Valley)



Hell Valley was a crater which diameter is 450 meter and 110,000 sq. meter vast. The surface of the slope is red-brown. Some yellow-gray fissures blow the volcanic gas of strong sulfur smell. This makes the whole place smell strongly of sulfur, and gives it an image of hell.

The valley produces 3,000 liters of hot water a day.


















(Brother in law & sis)












Damn it! Out of 11 days in Japan, it rain 7 days.


Visit Japan, required to bring 2 things; Umbrella and raincoat.
















Take a short break at 7-11.



Went back to hotel for our onsen session.


(Take short rest before proceeding to onsen)

We can enjoy various kinds of hot springs in one place. As the men's and women's baths are regularly switched, we have an opportunity to try all 31 of them! (No camera are allow inside onsen, thus no pictures)

In the hotel, there are 31 types of hot baths are which was located at basement 1 and 2.

At basement, B1
1)Open-sky bath (iron-rich spring)
2)Open-sky bath (sulphur spring)
3)Family bath
4)Bubble bath
5)Massaging shower spa
6)Cypress bath
7)"Sleep bath"
8)Sulphur spring bath
9)Sauna
10) water bath
11)Low-temperature bath
12)Aluminium bath
13)Salt bath
14)Jacuzzi
15)Large bath

At Basement 2
1)Water bath
2)Sauna
3)Low-temperature bath
4)Sulphur spring bath
5)Jacuzzi
6)"Sleep bath"
7)Massaging shower spa
8)Vibrating bath
9)Cypress bath
10)Salt bath
11)Alum bath
12) Cypress open-sky bath
13)Open-sky bath (alum spring)
14)Open-sky bath (iron-rich spring)
15)Open-sky bath (sulphur spring))
16)Family bath

The mineral water is piped directly from the nearby valley. The murky waters, steam rising so thick I could barely see my own feet floating in front of me.


6:30pm, it's dinner time.

Dinner buffet is a selection of Japanese, Western and Chinese dishes. Very sumptuous indeed.


Hotel requested us to wear their robe “Kimono” for dinner.


Oh yeah, my brother-in law and I went for massage in the hotel. Yess....we're were massaged by pure pedigree Jap gals. Hehehe