As promised, here’s my first blog entry detailing my Japan trip with Rachel, Mark and Meiyen. Mark can write and speak fluently in Japanese. He has been to Japan 5 times and his wife, Meiyen, 4 times. I been to Tokyo once when I was in primary school. Rachel is going there for the first time in her life.
The itinerary for the entire trip was planned by Mark, including transportation, the booking of the hotels and cars rental. I was tasked with photo-taking and recording video. Mark is also the main driver when we are on the road and I am the back-up. Rachel and Meiyen’s roles were to sleep at the back of the car and to constantly whine about the coldness.
We departed from Changi Airport at around 1am, on board a SQ flight bound for Kansai Airport in Japan.
![Rachel writing her diary while on board our SQ flight Rachel writing her diary while on board our SQ flight](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3496/3294565435_bcfdc3bc2f_o.jpg)
![Mark and Meiyen - pardon Marks stupid expression Mark and Meiyen - pardon Marks stupid expression](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3495/3294566559_7032c05cc1_o.jpg)
![My Western airplane meal My Western airplane meal](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3295390616_03dd1ac7d6_o.jpg)
![Rachels Japanese plane meal Rachels Japanese plane meal](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3294565767_2635d58093_o.jpg)
![Sunrise from our plane window view Sunrise from our plane window view](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3295391212_0996f27c53_o.jpg)
![From another angle, showing the wing tip From another angle, showing the wing tip](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3406/3295389776_5c55ea6d3a_o.jpg)
![nearing Kansai nearing Kansai](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3295390128_0ca56258b9_o.jpg)
![Touch down in Kawaii land! Touch down in Kawaii land!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/3294565315_f09d3e5b2d_o.jpg)
Upon reaching our destination, we were to take an internal transfer flight to Hokkaido from Kansai, following a 4 hours interval where we can have lunch and do a wee bit of shopping.
![Kansai Airport Kansai Airport](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3295389366_42d771f4a6_o.jpg)
![Checking-in for our ANA transfer flight Checking-in for our ANA transfer flight](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3295390542_faff1cdaec_o.jpg)
![Nicely packaged mochi Nicely packaged mochi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3502/3295390032_2f28d29d4f_o.jpg)
![Cutesy chick-shaped chocolates Cutesy chick-shaped chocolates](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/3294565253_3c169c51d9_o.jpg)
![Meiyen trying to steal some Hello Kitty toys Meiyen trying to steal some Hello Kitty toys](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3660/3295389608_b7e9e6acff_o.jpg)
![Studio Ghibi toys! Studio Ghibi toys!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3295390708_d441709939_o.jpg)
![Rachel loves Totoro! Rachel loves Totoro!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3294567385_7edebf38cc_o.jpg)
![Lots of cigarette brands in Japan - and they can be bought from vending machines Lots of cigarette brands in Japan - and they can be bought from vending machines](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3651/3294565663_d21acef4d1_o.jpg)
![The first place Mark went to in Japan... The first place Mark went to in Japan...](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3294565545_9f84d566d8_o.jpg)
![Something not available at the MacDonalds restaurants in Singapore Something not available at the MacDonalds restaurants in Singapore](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3295390336_97eb70835e_o.jpg)
![Waiting for lunch Waiting for lunch](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3295389678_87641465be_o.jpg)
![Rachels first meal in Japan... looks yucky hor? Rachels first meal in Japan... looks yucky hor?](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/3294565821_3569fc90fb_o.jpg)
![Alvinologys first meal in Japan Alvinologys first meal in Japan](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3294566369_23ba64d214_o.jpg)
![Mark and Meiyens first meal in Japan Mark and Meiyens first meal in Japan](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3294567225_72b2816ff5_o.jpg)
There’s no pictures of us on the ANA flight as it was a very short two hours flight. Plus all of us dozed off completely thoughout as we were really tired. In any case, we found ourselves in Hokkaido already when we woke up! First thing when we got to Hokkaido was to take a shuttle bus service to the car rental centre where our rented car – a Nissan Wingroad was waiting for us.
Oh… btw, Rachel, Meiyen and Mark saw snow for the first time in their lives upon stepping out of the airport doors.
![Enquiring on the car rental Enquiring on the car rental](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3295391058_47b140994f_o.jpg)
![Rachels first time seeing snow Rachels first time seeing snow](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3295390242_4a0ec71ef8_o.jpg)
![They are happy to see snow now... but will dread it for the next week They are happy to see snow now... but will dread it for the next week](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3295390890_7f2817a161_o.jpg)
![On board the shuttle bus to the car rental centre from the airport On board the shuttle bus to the car rental centre from the airport](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3294565495_f9532f37a3_o.jpg)
![At the car rental centre At the car rental centre](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/3295390860_7db3d9fbf0_o.jpg)
![A can of nice, hot coffee to warm me up A can of nice, hot coffee to warm me up](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3295391142_b481aeb998_o.jpg)
![snow everywhere... snow everywhere...](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3323/3295390414_e30970c7f7_o.jpg)
![Inspecting our rented car Inspecting our rented car](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3658/3294565887_3f1a6b2bd3_o.jpg)
![Loading all our barang barang Loading all our barang barang](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3295391186_96386d9085_o.jpg)
![Guy rental guy teaching us how to set and use the GPS Guy rental guy teaching us how to set and use the GPS](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3295390444_3d4e9268f3_o.jpg)
The drive to our hotel from the car rental centre took around 7 hours in total. We stopped at a rest stop after being on the road for about 4 hours for a short break and some snack. The GPS somehow led us to a sealed road upon reaching the hotel… we have to take a long detour as a result.
![Mark on the wheels Mark on the wheels](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3405/3294566747_3b1d249e67_o.jpg)
![Rachel and Meiyen in the back seat Rachel and Meiyen in the back seat](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3295390182_48a7645284_o.jpg)
![First time driving in snow First time driving in snow](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3295391088_6574d3a15f_o.jpg)
![another picture another picture](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3294566273_2a0751bb40_o.jpg)
![At our first rest stop after driving like 4 hours straight At our first rest stop after driving like 4 hours straight](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3295391448_2ae1a0b05e_o.jpg)
![Coffee break at the rest stop Coffee break at the rest stop](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3295391250_e08cdec6aa_o.jpg)
![Street vagabond eating an onigiri Street vagabond eating an onigiri](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3294567113_a7509df422_o.jpg)
![Checking-in our first hotel in Hokkaido Checking-in our first hotel in Hokkaido](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3500/3295390152_062084be72_o.jpg)
![Rachel warming her at an electronic fireplace at the hotel lobby Rachel warming her at an electronic fireplace at the hotel lobby](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3436/3294566229_2710ca2244_o.jpg)
By the time we reached our hotel, it was already very late by Hokkaido’s standard during winter times (around 6.30pm). We were worried none of the eateries will be open and we may be left hungry for the night. Hence upon unloading our luggages, we immediately took the car and drove to the nearby town centre to find food. The only place still open was a CO-OP supermarket. Sushi and sashimi were all on 50% discount as it was after 7pm – we went on a crazy sweep, buying lots of these for our first dinner in Hokkaido. 🙂
![Our futons Our futons](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3294566201_daeb028b0d_o.jpg)
![Going crazy at the supermarket Going crazy at the supermarket](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3294565291_2fd7ac7b97_o.jpg)
![Sushi and sashimi are all 50% off after 7pm! Sushi and sashimi are all 50% off after 7pm!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3294565587_f227caa22b_o.jpg)
![Our luxurious dinner Our luxurious dinner](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3295390210_0ffdae1605_o.jpg)
![Dinner time! Dinner time!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3295390302_b1ed7fce2f_o.jpg)
![Assorted sushi Assorted sushi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3294566109_37eda6575e_o.jpg)
![More sushi More sushi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/3294567333_b85206b7d5_o.jpg)
![Salmon sashimi Salmon sashimi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3294567431_736261b1fc_o.jpg)
![Tuna and swordfish sashimi Tuna and swordfish sashimi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3294566777_f87633824c_o.jpg)
![Ebi sashimi Ebi sashimi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3294565705_8820b97338_o.jpg)
![Mutant strawberry Mutant strawberry](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3294565143_fd39c81723_o.jpg)
![Hersheys desert Hersheys desert](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3295390764_f68522668e_o.jpg)
![Very nice grapes ice cream Very nice blueberry ice cream](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3295390930_8e9b7a9969_o.jpg)
That’s it for now. We turned ourselves in rather early for the first night, having spend almost 36 hours travelling without much sleep. Look out for my next blog entry on day 2 of our trip.
Day 1 – Kansai Airport, Hokkaido
Day 3 – Asahikawa, Asahiyama Zoo
Day 4 – Sledding, Shiroi Koibito, Crab Buffet
Day 5 – The 60th Sapporo Snow Festival
Day 6 – Staying with the Asai, Shōnan
Day 8 – Shibuya and Akihabara, Tokyo
Day 12 – Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and Dotonbori
Day 13 – Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge and Mt. Rokko
Technorati Tags: hokkaido travel, hokkaido, japan travel, alvinology goes to japan, mark tan, hua meiyen, rachel chan, onigiri, nissan wingroad, kansai airport, changi airport, sq flight, ana flight, ebi sashimi, tuna sashimi, salmon sashimi, sushi, ebi sashimi, mcpork, airplane meals, studio ghibli, hello kitty, hershey ice cream, mutant strawberry, futons
so that explains your extra tyre
Hi,
I love the pictures of your trip. How did you plan the places you were going to visit? I have been checking http://www.japan-i.jp which is quite good but if you have other recommendations I would be glad to hear from you.
Thanks,
N.