Tag: travels

N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City

Last month, my university blockmates & I flew to Sydney, Australia. We spent a few days around Sydney & took day trips to Blue Mountains National Park & Hunter Valley Wine Region. I also flew to Brisbane to visit my relatives who were living there. While I was away, my friends visited Taronga Zoo & Manly area plus went on a day trip to Australia’s capital, Canberra.

Martin Place at night 😍

I will post a series of blogs about our Australia trip in the coming weeks, this blog being the first. This & the next post will be mainly about exploring Sydney by foot. We were in Australia towards the end of winter so the weather was just right. It was not too hot & not too cold; it was actually perfect for walking around the city.

I’m Free Walking Tours

One of Lonely Planet‘s recommended activities in Sydney is to join the I’m Free Walking Tour. This guided walking tour is conducted by knowledgeable & accommodating Sydney-siders who have the passion of sharing the history & culture of Sydney to the visitors. This tour doesn’t require a booking. Interested parties need to just show up in the meeting place at a certain time & look for the person wearing the green I’m Free shirt. The guides don’t ask for a fixed fee; they only ask for a donation at the end of each walking tour.

Our guide Adrian in front of the Queen Victoria Building

Sydney Free Walking Tours have 2 tours. The 1st walking tour is the Sydney Sights Tour. The guide will take you through Sydney’s history up to what it is now in the present. The walking tour will go around downtown Sydney passing by historical & iconic buildings & places. This tour happens everyday & starts 10:30 am & 2:30 pm from Town Hall Square. The meeting place is located along George St, between the Sydney Town Hall & St Andrew’s Cathedral.

The 2nd walking tour is The Rocks at 6 pm Tour. This walking tour focuses on the history & interesting facts about The Rocks District, Australia’s 1st European settlement. The guide will walk the guests through various pubs, lane ways & buildings & share the stories of past & present controversies of The Rocks. The hour happens everyday & starts at 6:00 pm in front of Cadman’s Cottage.

Our walking tour group with our guide in front of St. Andrew’s Cathedral

My friends & I took both tours on our first day in Sydney. We joined the afternoon sights tour followed by The Rocks evening tour. This walking tour is a must-do when visiting Sydney. The walking tours were fun & very informative. We knew a lot about Sydney – it’s history, controversies & interesting stories. Shout-out to Adrian & Justine for the amazing walking tours!

If you have questions about these walking tours, feel free to check their website for more information. They also have these walking tours in Melbourne so check them out. I guarantee you a fun walking tour around the city!

In case you missed it, I already shared how I applied for my Australian Tourist Visa. Check this post to know more about the application process.

Heritage Sites Visited

The 2 walking tours lasted for around 4 hours combined. We walked past a lot of heritage & modern places. Here are some of the heritage sites we visited.

Sydney Town Hall

The Sydney Town Hall is a historic civic building that houses the Sydney City Council chambers, offices, meeting & function halls. The town hall is located in the corner of George & Druitt Streets in Sydney.

St Andrew’s Cathedral

Located next to Sydney Town Hall is St Andrew’s Cathedral. If I remember it right, this is the oldest cathedral in Australia & is the seat of the Anglican Church of Australia This cathedral is located in the corner of George Street & Bathurst Street, Sydney.

Queen Victoria Building

The Queen Victoria Building, called by locals as QVB, is one of the iconic historical buildings in Sydney. This building was built in the late 1800s & was used as a marketplace. Since then, the building has undergone a number of restoration projects to preserve its Victorian heritage. Today, this building is a shopping center housing various specialty shops & restaurants.

Outside Queen Victoria Building

Make sure to look for the status of Queen Victoria & her favorite dog, Islay, right outside of the QVB. This beautiful building is bounded by George, Druitt, Market & York Streets.

Inside QVB

ANZAC War Memorial

Located a few blocks away from the QVB is the ANZAC War Memorial. This historic war monument was built in memory of the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps who fought during the World War 1. I was not able to take a photo of the war memorial because it was under renovation during our visit.

Hyde Park

The ANZAC War Memorial is located within a bigger parkland called Hyde Park. This park is located in the center of Sydney Central Business district & is the oldest park in Australia. Apart from the war memorial, make sure to look for the Archibald Fountain, the park’s centerpiece.

 Archibald Fountain – Hyde Park’s Centerpiece

St Mary’s Cathedral

Right across the Hyde Park is St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney. This cathedral church is the center of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney & the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney. This minor basilica is dedicated to the Patroness of Australia – Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians. The cathedral has one of the most beautiful heritage exteriors & interiors in Sydney.

Inside St. Mary’s Cathedral

Hyde Park Barracks

At the back of St Mary’s Cathedral is Hyde Park Barracks. This heritage-listed brick building was designed by Francis Greenway & served as a place to house convicts in the early days. The barracks building now serves as a museum. Visitors pay $12 entrance fee to enter the facility.

There are other notable buildings located near Hyde Park Barracks. These include St James Church, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Sydney Mint & the Sydney Hospital.

Macquarie Street

Sydney Mint located along Macquarie St

Macquarie Street is one, if not the most popular streets in Sydney. This street is named after Lachlan Macquarie, one of New South Wales’ first governors. This long stretch has the majority of the historical buildings & places in Sydney such as Hyde Park, Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney Mint, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Parliament of New South Wales, Sydney Hospital, State Library of New South Wales & the Royal Botanic Gardens. You need more than a day to explore everything that is located in this area. We passed by a few buildings during our walking tour.

Martin Place

Known as the Sydney’s Center of Business & Finance, Martin Place is slowly becoming a pop culture icon in Australia. Major financial institutions, businesses & offices such as the Reserve Bank of Australia, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac, Sydney GPO & US Embassy are located in this area.

This area is also popular to movie fanatics because The Matrix (1999) & Superman Returns (2006) filmed some scenes in this area.

Customs House

Customs House is a heritage building that used to house the headquarters of Australia’s customs & border protection office. This is located at Circular Quay, a few meters away from the harbor. Currently, the building is used for several events & functions plus as one of the many libraries of the City of Sydney.

Don’t miss the Sydney city center model located in the ground floor of the building. This model can be viewed through a glass floor.

The Rocks

Random lane way in The Rocks

The Rocks is a small historical Sydney suburb located in the southern shore of the Sydney Harbour, right before the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is one of Sydney’s first residential areas thus features very old but well-maintained houses. It also served as the government’s social housing settlement. The area now is characterized by restaurants, pubs & shops.

Inside one of the museums in The Rocks

This area had some of the most interesting controversies & stories about Sydney’s past. It will probably take me the whole day to share the story with all of you. If you are interested to know more about these controversies & stories, I recommend that you join I’m Free Walking Tours The Rocks Tour everyday at 6:00 pm. My friends & I joined this walking tour & oh boy, we knew a lot about the history of The Rocks.

Random street in The Rocks District

Cadman’s Cottage

Cadman’s Cottage is one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in The Rocks & in the whole of Sydney. The building housed various government agencies & offices from past until the 1970s. This building is now used as a tourist information center.

Heritage Sites Missed

Sad to say, I missed out a few notable heritage sites due to limited time in the city. These places include the University of Sydney, State Library of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens, New South Wales Parliament House & Art Gallery of New South Wales. Pretty major ones, eh? I know! These places are the reasons why I’d love to fly back to Sydney in the future.

This list is just half of the places we visited when we took the walking tour plus when we walked on our own. I know you’re wondering where the other iconic Sydney sites are. Don’t worry, it’ll be featured in the next post. Stay tuned!

Have you been to Sydney? What were your favorite heritage sites? The city is so beautiful & full of character, right? Share your thoughts in the comments below. You can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Feel free to connect with me via my social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.. If you haven’t liked or followed my Facebook page, check this link. You know what to do!

Druitt Street Sydney full of heritage buildings

In case you missed it, I already shared a detailed post about my first hostel in Sydney – The Pod Sydney. Head over to this post to know more about his contemporary minimalist hostel.

Thank you for reading. 🙂 Have a great day, mate! ✌️🇦🇺

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: How To Survive Low Cost Long Haul Economy Flights

Low cost airlines are starting to infiltrate the long haul flights market. These airlines offer basic & affordable fares to long haul destinations. Imagine paying ₱6,500 for a return flight from Manila to Sydney or paying around ₱2,800 for a return flight from Manila to Dubai. Super cheap, right? Yes, these fares are real. But as they say, you always get what you pay for. These tickets only include carry-on baggage & a pre-assigned seat. It doesn’t include check-in baggage, flight meal/s, insurance & in-flight entertainment. These options are always available for an additional cost; these can be availed up to few hours before the flight.

Recently flew with a low cost airline from Manila to Sydney

Recently, I had my first low cost long haul economy flight to & from Sydney, Australia. I paid ₱6,455.92 for a return flight from Manila (booked 8 months before the flight). I availed a few add-ons such as baggage, a flight meal & a comfortable front seat. I bought a seat because I initially don’t have an idea on how I will survive this close to 8-hour flight to Sydney with the seat assigned to me by the airline. The ticket with add-ons cost me ₱11,455.92. The flights surprisingly went well, even with the absence of in-flight entertainment. Legroom was alright; the service was also good.

Apart from my personal experiences, I also observed the people on the flights how they managed to conquer the 8-hour flight to & from Sydney. Here are some tips on how you can survive low cost long haul economy flights.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by a certain brand or company. I just used the photos I took in my recent low cost long haul flight.

Choose a red-eye flight

Flying a low cost long haul flight can be very difficult for first timers. Imagine doing nothing for 7 or 8 hours straight – no inflight entertainment, no food whatsoever. A tip to survive a low cost long haul flight is to choose a red-eye flight. Red-eye flights are those who leave late at night or wee hours in the morning. You won’t have any problems on how to endure the long flight because you will only sleep most of the time. Don’t forget to bring your own neck pillow, eye mask & blanket for a more comfortable sleep.

If the flight is a not full – you can always get the whole row of seats & sleep

Bring Personal Entertainment

What is there to do in the absence of in-flight entertainment? Simple. Bring a book to read throughout the flight. You can also stock up on movies in your personal electronic devices (laptops, tablets & phones). If you’re not into watching movies or reading books, make sure to have enough songs in your music player. Having these forms of distraction will help you kill time during the flight. Next thing you’ll know, you’re already on your final descent towards your destination.

Have Cash On Hand

Always make sure to bring cash when flying. There will be times when you want to buy something like a bottle of water or a cup of hot coffee. These items are always available for purchase during the flight. Also, please note that most airlines only accept cash payments of currencies from the country of origin & the country of destination. For example, the crew from Manila to Sydney flight will only accept Philippine Peso & Australian Dollar as the currencies of payment. Don’t expect the staff to accept Japanese Yen & Malaysian Ringgit.

Bring Your Own Food

Majority of low cost carriers in the world offer pre-paid in-flight meal. This means that passengers need to pre-order their meals at least 24 hours before the flight. Limited food options are available during the flight. However, the prices of these food are beyond the usual price. A good tip to get away with these expensive airplane food is to bring your own food. You can always bring a sandwich or two for your flight. Other options include chips, nuts & biscuits. Having these food on hand will save you loads of cash, plus you get to eat what you want or prefer.

Airline’s in-flight meal – bought this when I flew from Manila to Sydney; Brought my own food (sandwiches) when I flew from Sydney to Manila 😋

Bring Your Own Amenity Kit

Flying economy & flying low cost airlines give passengers limited facilities & services. Unlike full service airlines, low cost airlines do not provide amenity kits to fliers of low cost long haul routes. One thing you can do is to bring a small pouch with the necessary items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, small towel, skin moisturizer & hand sanitizer. Nothing beats the refreshed feeling after a long & tiring fight.

Move Around

Sitting for 7-12 hours in a plane can be very difficult. Also, the passengers’ bodies don’t have enough movement for a long time due to limited legroom & space. Passengers are allowed to walk around the plane as long as the other passengers are not disturbed. The simplest exercise one can do is to stand up in the aisle & do some stretching. Remember that the blood in our bodies needs to circulate – a few minutes of movement won’t hurt.

Boarding pass & passport for my recent low cost long haul flight; sorry I had to cover the name & bar code

Be Friendly

The last tip I can give on how to survive a long haul low cost economy flight is to be friendly to your co-passengers. There is a big chance that you will be seated next to a stranger inside the aircraft. You can always start a conversation by saying ‘hi’ or ‘hello.’ The next thing you’ll know, you already have someone to share ideas & experiences throughout the flight. I’ve heard stories of people who talked to their seatmates during the flight & ended up traveling together in a certain place.

This sums up the list of tips on how to conquer a low cost long haul economy flight. It may sound hard at first but I believe that the experience all boils down to how a person prepares for the flight. Regardless of ticket price & flight class, all passengers on board the flight (may it be from a low cost or full service airline) will reach the destination at the same time.

One advantages of flying a red-eye flight – you witness the beautiful sunrise from your airplane seat 🌅

Have you tried flying a low cost long haul economy flight? How was your experience? Are there other tips you can share with the other readers? Feel free to share them in the comments below. You can also send those tips via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect with me via my social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.. If you haven’t liked or followed my Facebook page, check this link. You know what to do!

If you want to know about the past Tuesday Tips I posted, check them out here. Thank you for reading & until the next set of Tuesday Tips!

4-Day Siargao Weekend: It’s All About Epic Tour Days & Crazy Party Nights

Siargao is a small island in Philippine Sea, located in the province of Surigao del Norte. This island is widely known for its big surfing waves & stunning nature views. It used to be popular only to foreign & local surfers & adventure seekers until the island was featured in a local film last December 2017. Boracay’s closure also led to more people diverting their planned vacations to this island. The increasing accessibility of Siargao these days is slowly transforming the island into a popular tourist destination. Hubs like Cebu, Manila & Clark are now connected to Siargao via a growing number of daily flights to the island.

My friend Geof at Sugba Lagoon

3 weeks ago, my friend Shiela & I flew to Siargao check out what this island has to offer. Friends told us that this island is beautiful & one of a kind. We didn’t put our hopes up & let the island surprise us. Let me share with you what happened in our 4 days in Siargao.

Beautiful view from Cloud 9’s Boardwalk

Plane Ticket

I’ve always wanted to go to Siargao but I can’t due to very expensive airfare. Last February 14, Cebu Pacific Air had a ₱143-base fare sale. Promo seats on the direct flights from Manila ran out fast. We had no choice but to get the tickets with a layover in Cebu.

Shiela & I paid ₱2,837.64 each for a return ticket from Manila to Siargao via Cebu. That’s 4 flights in total for less than ₱3,000. What a bargain! Check out the flight details below.

Shiela & I paid ₱5,675.28 for 2 people – that’s ₱2,837.64 each! Bargain.

Cebu Layover

Lechon Cebu for lunch ~ yum! 

We had a 4-hour layover in Cebu on our way to Siargao. Since there isn’t something to do in the airport plus my friends working there don’t have work, Shiela & I went to nearby Rico’s Lechon to have lunch. We had their famous Lechon Cebu (of course!) with rice, vegetables & a bottle of Tsingtao beer. Yes, that’s a bottle of beer for lunch! We headed back to the airport after eating to catch our connecting flight to Siargao.

Lunch at Rico’s Lechon near Mactan Cebu International Airport 

Accommodation

Had a nice stay in Bravo Beach Resort Siargao!

Accommodation choices in Siargao range from the most basic & simple dormitory beds to luxurious & spacious hotel rooms. We opted for the mixed one – simple & shared dormitory beds, but with a touch of luxury. We stayed for 4 days & 3 nights in Bravo Beach Resort Siargao. I made a separate post about our stay at the resort, head over to this link for more details.

Bravo’s surf bunk room – our room for 3 nights!

Getting Around Siargao

Another photo of the Cloud 9 Boardwalk – only ₱20 pesos to go here from GL

Getting around Siargao is very easy. The most popular way is by motorcycle. Daily rental rates range from ₱350 to ₱500. I will recommend this to people who will really go around the island for the whole day or for those who will explore the island by themselves. If you’ll only use the motorcycle for a few times, then best not to rent one. You can hop on a tricycle or motorcycle (locally known habal-habal) for ₱20 per person (during the day until around 10:00 pm; rates go higher from late night to after midnight – could go as high as up to ₱60 per person) to anywhere in General Luna. These tricycles & motorcycles are also available for rent; make sure to inquire how much the daily rental costs.

Inland & Island Tours

Just like any other place in the Philippines, Siargao also has island & inland tours offered to visitors. We only had limited days in the island so we opted for the locals say the best tour provider – Siargao’s Best – Tour Organizer. The company is owned & managed by Mr. Nicholas “Kuya Bebot” Salgado.

Sohoton Cove – the highlight of Package A

Kuya Bebot offers 2 group tours – Sohoton (Bucas Grande) & Tri-Island Tour (Package A) which costs ₱1,550 per person & Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour (Package B) which costs ₱1,500 per person. The tours are open both to private groups (minimum of 8) or to joiners. Rates include all transportation & boat fees, lunch, entrance & environmental fees, group cottages & paddle board or kayak rental in Sugba Lagoon. Call time in the morning is at 6:00 am at General Luna Public Market. Tour groups leave at exactly 7:00 am until 5:30 pm for Package A & around 4:00 pm for Package B.

Shiela & I took both group tours. We took the Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour on our 2nd day with my friend, Geof (plus his friends, now also our friends) who was also in Siargao that time. We took the Sohoton Cove & Tri-Island Tour on our 3rd day with some of the people we met on the 1st tour.

Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour

Sugba Lagoon 😍

Our group left the public market at 7:00 am & headed to the Port of Del Carmen by land. The land trip took about an hour. We then transferred to a small motor boat (small groups of 6 to 7 people) & took an hour trip to Sugba Lagoon. We spent 2.5 hours in Sugba Lagoon swimming, jumping from the diving board, paddling our boards & kayaking.

About to jump from the lagoon diving board

After a few hours in the lagoon, we took the boat back to the port, transferred to our van & drove by land to Magpupunko Tidal & Rock Pool. We had our lunch then enjoyed the rock pool afterwards. We left the place at 3:30 pm & got back in General Luna a few minutes past 4:00 pm. Check out the photos we took during the tour.

Magpupungko during low tide

Magpupungko Tidal & Rock Pool from my friend’s drone 😍

Another Magpupungko Rock Pool drone shot from our friend Wilson 😍

We were so happy we were one of the first ones to arrive at Sugba Lagoon, we had the place to ourselves. The tour was just right – not rushed & everything was provided. They served a lot of food for lunch plus they gave us enough time to enjoy both places.

Sohoton Cove & Tri-Island Tour

Inside Sohoton Cove – beautiful place! 😍

We left the public market at 7:00 am & took a 3-hour boat ride to Bucas Grande Island, Surigao del Norte. We first went to the jelly fish sanctuary in Blue Lagoon by paddle boat, then to Sohoton Cove by motorboat. We went inside Hagukan Cave, or also known as luminescent cave. We splashed the water inside the cave & it turned into electric blue / green color. Surreal. We headed to Magkuku-ob Cave next; hiked up a few meters & jump from a 5 meter cliff back to the lagoon! We went back to Sohoton’s small port / tour office & had lunch.

View from the paddle boat to Blue Lagoon 🤩

Hello Mr. Jellyfish!

We left Bucas Grande Island around 1:30 in the afternoon & took another 3-hour boat ride back to General Luna. We dropped by Naked Island (no nice photo of Naked Island – sorry), Guyam Island & Daku Island along the way. If I remember it right, we spent around 30 minutes on each island. The tour ended around 6:00 pm.

That’s me & Shiela at Blue Lagoon / Jellyfish Sanctuary

A normal 6-hour 3-island tour costs ₱1,000 per person. For paying a few hundreds more, we were able to visit Sohoton Cove which is undeniably beautiful. The 3-hour boat trip to & from Bucas Grande may be too long, but the trip was worth it.

Not so good weather when we were in Guyam Island

Guyam Island – the smallest of the 3 islands!

I strongly recommend Kuya Bebot’s island & inland tours. The activities are worth the price plus you’re well taken care of. Feel free to contact him in the numbers below:

Tour Company: Siargao’s Best
Contact Name: Mr. Nicholas “Kuya Bebot” Salgado
Contact Numbers: 09064595679 / 09309749974
Facebook Page: Siargao’s Best

Surfing at Cloud 9 Area

The famous Cloud 9 Boardwalk

A trip to Siargao will never be complete without surfing. The island has long been a destination for local & foreign surfers. Cloud 9 is the most famous wave in the Philippines & this surfing area is one, or if not the most visited areas in Siargao. An hour-long surfing lesson with a guide costs ₱500. I didn’t have the chance to surf due to hangover, but I promise to try it when I go back.

Look at those big waves!

Siargao Party Nights

Party people, make sure to read this. One of the many good things about Siargao is that parties are concentrated in only 1 or 2 bars per night. That means other bars do not have the crazy party on days where the party is held in another bar. We were there for 3 nights & we partied 3 straight nights – that’s for sure. The Saturday night party happened in Harana Surf Resort, the Sunday night party was in Bravo Beach Resort (our accommodation) & the Monday night parties were held at Loose Keys & Rum Bar.

Party night at Harana Surf Resort – one of the 3 crazy nights we had!

Don’t forget to ask your hotel / hostel reception where the party will be during your stay. Visitors should go party in Siargao at least for a night.

Siargao is a paradise – can’t wait to go back!

This sums up our 4 days & 3 nights in Siargao. Our schedule was full; we didn’t have time to “relax,” if you know what I mean. We were able to visit the popular places to go to plus we met a bunch of new & crazy people. I don’t have regrets spending a lot on the day tours & alcohol. It was a memorable trip. Every peso spent was worth it, super worth it. I look forward to going back to this paradise island, to finally try surfing in the big waves & to relax.

Meet the Siargao Squad – no complete photo so I added 2 group photos! 😉

Are you flying to Siargao in the coming weeks or months? I suggest you take the tours offered by Kuya Bebot. You’ll definitely have a great time. Don’t drink too much at night so that you’ll have enough energy the following day. Do you still have questions about our trip or about Siargao? Feel free to post them in the comments below. Alternatively, you can shoot me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

One last photo of Siargao! 🤩

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my friend Wilson for allowing me to use his Magpupungko Tidal & Rock Pool drone shots & one of our group photos above.

Thank you for reading & until the next post. ✌️ Safe travels wherever you’re going. 🙂

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & HTC U11. 

Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO TEINE RESORT & HOHEIKYO ONSEN – Recommended Day Trips From Sapporo City

After spending days around Sapporo & Otaru, my friend Shane & I decided to head out to check out 2 activities best done during Hokkaido winter – ski & relax in an onsen. Both activities can be done in nearby towns, not too far from Sapporo City. I will discuss our ski & onsen experience individually below.

Shane & I posing for a photo after our ski lesson

Just in case you missed it, I only spent less than ₱45,000 all in for this week-long Hokkaido trip. Check out this post to know more.

Ski Day at Sapporo Teine Resort

One of our agendas in flying to Hokkaido is to try to ski. Shane & I don’t know how to ski plus we haven’t tried it in our past trips. We initially planned to go to Niseko but schedule didn’t permit. We need at least 3 days & 2 nights in Niseko to fully enjoy the ski facilities there. This didn’t stop us from looking for a nearby ski resort in Sapporo. We checked out a few resorts & ended up choosing Sapporo Teine Ski Resort.

Sapporo Teine Ski Resort

Welcome to Sapporo Teine Ski Resort!

Sapporo Teine Ski Resort in Mount Teine is a medium-sized ski resort located about 30-40 minutes outside of Sapporo. This resort features a variety of ski trails from the easy ones to the Olympic advanced trails. This was the main venue of the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics. This resort is perfect for beginners because of its wide & gently sloping slopes.

View from the Olympia House

The ski resort has 2 main areas – the Olympia Zone & the Highland Zone. The Olympia Zone is the ski place for beginners; it is also the place to use for those who want to try sledding & tubing. The resort office, restaurant & equipment rental area are also located in this area. The Highland Zone is the place for those who want to try advanced trails & runs. This zone also offers scenic views of Sapporo City & the Ishikari Bay. We spent most of our time in the Olympia Zone.

Access

We went to the resort using public transportation. From Sapporo Station, we took the JR train to Teine Station for ¥260 one way. Then we transferred to the hourly local bus to Teine Highlands for ¥390 one way. Train ride to Teine Station took us around 15-20 minutes while the bus ride to Teine Highlands took us about 30 minutes.

Beautiful day to go skiing!

Ski Lesson

Went skiing downhill during the afternoon session

Shane & I are noobs in skiing so we took the one-day ski group lesson offered by the ski resort. The whole day ski lesson cost us ¥14,000 each, that’s around ₱7,000 per person. The rate includes 1.5 hours introduction & practices in the morning & another 1.5 hour downhill ski run from the highland zone to olympia zone. It also includes 2 ski instructors who will be with you throughout the lesson plus full equipment rental (ski gears & wear, beanie, gloves & goggles) & lift pass up to the highlands zone.

The spot where we played with the knee-deep snow pile 😍

The resort also offers a half-day lesson for those who don’t have time for a whole day trip. This lesson costs ¥11,000 (roughly ₱5,500) per person. The rate includes all equipment & gear rental. We opted for the whole day lessons because it’s just ¥3,000 more than the half day lesson. Their rates are the cheapest we saw in Sapporo; it was perfect for us beginners.

Lunch

Pork cutlet curry rice for lunch!

Lunch is not included in the ski lesson fee. We were given 1 hour break in between sessions to have lunch. We had pork cutlet curry with rice in the Olympia house restaurant for around ¥1,000. The meal servings were big, but just right after a very challenging morning ski lesson.

Ski Experience

The morning lesson started in the ‘beginner school grounds’ located in front of the olympia zone. The instructors taught us the basics of skiing. These basics include walking with the gear, sliding, turning left & right, controlling the speed & stopping. They also taught us ski gear techniques like fries or straight skiing & pizza for equipment control. They also taught us proper posture & focus while skiing.

With our instructors! Tiring but fun day learning how to ski.

The afternoon session was a lot easier because of the downhill slope. I fell a lot of times, but the whole experience was so fun. The instructors even let us experience lying down or falling & walking in a knee-deep powder snow pile. It was an expensive & very tiring lesson, but it was super worth it. Shane & I loved our first ski experience up to the point we want to fly back to Japan to try skiing in Niseko & Hakuba Alps.

View from the Olympia House; while waiting for our bus to the lesson area

Applying for a Japan tourist visa in the future? I got you covered. Check out these 4 steps on how you can get you tourist visa with no hassle.

Hoheikyo Onsen in Winter

Shane & I purposely placed our onsen day after our ski day. Our body muscles needed to rest after that tiring ski day. We decided to go to Yawaragi-no-Sato Hoheikyo Onsen or commonly known as just Hoheikyo Onsen to relax & also to experience onsen during winter.

Hoheikyo Onsen

The door to Hoheikyo Onsen

Hoheikyo Onsen is a popular traditional hot spring facility about an hour away by land from Sapporo City. It is located farther than the other famous town, Jozankei Onsen, which features indoor onsens & hotel / accommodation options. Hoheikyo Onsen features 1 outdoor bath & 3 indoor baths, with the outdoor bath being used alternately by men & women. Lucky me, the men were the ones using the outdoor bath when we visited. Men & women had their respective baths – not mixed of course.

Beautiful day outside Hoheikyo Onsen – the snow fell all day!

Access

That One Day Hot Spring Package was worth it!

Hoheikyo Onsen can be reached by an hourly public bus from Sapporo Station Bus Terminal. The trip takes about an hour & drops by a few bus stops in Jozankei. Shane & I took the public bus to & from Hoheikyo Onsen.
One way fare that time costs ¥640. Shane & I took advantage of the one day hot spring package offered by tourism association. It cost us ¥1,800 yen for a return bus ticket plus onsen entrance fee. Such a great deal; it saved us a few hundred yens.

Check out this link for the updated bus schedules & fares.

Onsen Fee

The door to the men’s onsen – phones are not allowed inside the spa area

Onsen fee costs ¥1,000 per person. That includes the small towel you use while inside the hot spring. You can also rent big towels for a few hundred yens. Our onsen fee is already included in the one day hot spring package we bought in the bus terminal.

Onsen Shokudo (Indian Restaurant)

Solid Indian food for late lunch 😋

Hoheikyo Onsen houses a famous Indian Restaurant. Shane read a lot of good reviews about this restaurant so we gave it a try. Shane & I shared in one order of curry & nann. The food was good & was reasonably priced, considering the location.

Click here for the updated food price list.

Winter Onsen Experience

Our winter onsen experience was very distinct & relaxing. It may be awkward at first to walk around naked but it was alright since I don’t know anyone else inside the onsen. I was lucky I was able to experience the outdoor bath. It was so relaxing to be in the outdoor onsen while the snow is falling. There isn’t much to do inside but to sit down, relax & think about things. This winter onsen experience was a perfect downtime after a few restless days in Sapporo. I look forward to visiting Hoheikyo Onsen when I fly back to Sapporo.

Thick piles of snow outside the onsen building

Looking for a place to stay in Sapporo? Check out The Stay Sapporo Guesthouse! Shane & I stayed in this property during this trip. Make sure to click this link to know more about our experience in The Stay Sapporo. This is a well-recommended accommodation in the city!

Amazing view of Hoheikyo Onsen building!

It is with a sad note that I am ending the Hokkaido Winter Series with this post. Thank you very much for joining us in our Sapporo & Otaru adventures. Also, thank you for reading my hostel of the day feature for The Stay Sapporo & my trip summary showing how I spent less than ₱45,000 all in for this trip. I may not have a definite date when I’ll be back in Japan but I hope to sort the next trip soon.

Random photo I took while on the bus back to Sapporo. Stunning details!

Have you tried skiing in Hokkaido or anywhere in the world? How was your experience? Have you been in an onsen? Was your experience memorable? Feel free to share your past experiences in the comments below. I am also looking for other places in Japan to discover. I’m done with the usual touristic route, I want to explore more of the traditional & regional places. Please send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for reading & I hope you enjoyed this Hokkaido Winter Series. See you in the next country or next island. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Hokkaido Winter Series: OTARU – An Afternoon In The Nearby Historical Harbor City

Over the last few weeks, I shared some details about our Sapporo trip last February. I explained to you how Shane & I managed to spend less than ₱45,000 each all in for a 7-day winter trip to Hokkaido, I also took you to the beautiful places to visit around Sapporo & I even shared to you some details about The Stay Sapporo – the hostel / guesthouse where we stayed in Sapporo. The Hokkaido Winter Series continues today! This time, I will take you to Otaru. Shane & I went there for an afternoon side trip right after having a king crab lunch at Nijo Market.

The iconic Otaru Canal – the buildings & their reflections in the water 😍

Know More About Otaru

Took this from the moving JR train – Ishikari Bay, Japan

Otaru is a port city located northwest of Sapporo facing Ishikari Bay. This city served as a fishing port & a major trading hub in the early days of Hokkaido colonization. This city has a number of notable attractions – a beautiful & famous canal, heritage buildings & warehouses & preserved mansions. Shane & I spent one whole afternoon in Otaru. Given the limited time, we were able to visit a number of interesting places plus experienced a long period of strong snowfall.

View from Minami-Otaru Station – the city is covered with snow! ❄

Otaru is 30-40 minutes away by train from Sapporo Station – 30 minutes by rapid train & 45 minutes by local train. Train fare costs as low as ¥640 per way. Super affordable! If you are travelling by car, Otaru is about 30 kilometers away & takes about 20-30 minutes via highway.

Some inches of snow along the streets of Otaru! ❄

Getting Around Otaru

Exploring Otaru is very easy. Majority of the attractions can be reached by foot from Otaru Station (or Minami-Otaru Station). Just like any other Japanese city, Otaru also has a tourist bus network that runs every 30 minutes to an hour. A day pass costs ¥750 while a one-time ride costs ¥220.

Walking – the best way to explore Otaru 🚶

What We Did In Otaru

Shane & I explored the city by foot. We started our journey in Minami-Otaru Station, walked along the Sakaimachi Street, then to the iconic Otaru Canal then back to Otaru Station. We also dropped by a few interesting places along the way. Please note that we skipped the museums, temples & mansions in this trip.

Walked Along Sakaimachi Street

Sakaimachi Street covered with snow

Upon arrival in Minami-Otaru Station, we walked to the other end of Sakaimachi Street. This street is the historiacal merchant street of Otaru. In the early days, this street served as the commercial base of trading & shipping companies. Almost all the ancient buildings have now been converted to museums, shops & restaurants.

Totally forgot what these are – super good freebie. Got these from one of the glass workshops & sake / whiskey shops. in Sakaimachi Street 👍

Otaru is also known as the center of glass production in Hokkaido; production started as early as the 1900s. A number of glass workshops are still present in Sakaimachi Street. The products displayed in these workshops are very beautiful but expensive!

More of Sakaimachi Street – it’s snowing! ❄

Ate Lavender Ice Cream

Lavender ice cream.. Yum! 😋

Lavender ice cream is a must-try when in Hokkaido. This flavor is very rare to find when in other parts of Japan. Shane & I stopped by a random ice cream shop in the end of Sakaimachi Street to buy this ice cream. A cone costs ¥320 – that’s half the price of the fair to Otaru. I enjoyed the ice cream & the lavender flavor even if the temperature was -3 degrees Celsius.

If you don’t fancy the lavender flavor, there are other ones to choose from! 🍦

Visited LeTAO stores

LeTAO’s main store located at the end of Sakaimachi Street

Otaru is the birthplace of the famous Japanese confectionery shop LeTAO. The store started in Otaru in 1998 & since then, it has been famous around the world for its Double Fromage Cheesecake. LeTAO has around 3-4 shops along Sakaimachi Street. All these shops offer free samples of their products. We tried few samples & we loved all of them. The cookies were super good.

Hoarded Royce Chocolates

It is only in Otaru where you can find Royce Chocolates in ordinary stores. Yes, they’re practically everywhere in the city. In other cities like Tokyo, Osaka & Nagoya, Royce Chocolates can only be bought in airports, specialty & pop-up stores.

Outside the shop where we bought Royce Chocolates. Beautiful place! 😍

Shane & I bought many Royce Chocolates in a random shop along Sakaimachi Street. We even got a sakuraberry-flavored chocolate bar. The prices of these chocolates in Otaru are the same in that of the airport shops. Interesting, eh?

Explored Otaru Canal

Otaru Canal in the afternoon

The highlight of our Otaru side trip is the Otaru Canal. This iconic canal was once the unloading area of goods & products (through smaller boats / ships) from large vessels that can’t go near the port. This goods transportation method eventually became obsolete when facilities became modern. Since then, the canal has been preserved into a tourist attraction. The warehouse & buildings along the canal are now restaurants, cafes & museums.

Otaru Canal at night. Look at the reflection in the water – stunning! 😍

Every February, the city celebrates the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. For 10 days, the city is decorated with light paths & small statues. The locals take part in this festival by putting out lanterns in their respective shops & residences. The festival happens almost the same time as the Sapporo Snow Festival to give the visitors the chance to enjoy both festivals.

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival – look at those floating lights in the water 😍

PS. Planning to apply for a Japan tourist visa soon? Know more how I managed to get approved twice – one single entry visa & one multiple visa – by clicking this link.

Experienced a strong & long period of snowfall in Otaru – what an experience!

Shane & I also passed by Otaru’s shopping street – Miyakodori Shopping Street – but almost all shops are closed. There are a lot more interesting places which we missed in Otaru. These places include the Yoichi Distillery (a famous distillery in a nearby town), the old but preserved Herring Mansion overlooking the Ishikari Bay, the Otaru Market, the different museums & parks. We didn’t have enough time; it was also snowing most of the time. If by any chance you’ll go to Otaru in the future, please allot at least one whole day here to explore as many places as you can. Also, go here hungry!

Random stream in Otaru – fully covered with snow plus some playing ducks! 🦆

I’d love to go back to Otaru, or Hokkaido in general, during summer. I’m sure Sapporo, Otaru & all other places look very different without the snow. I hope that happens really soon.

Have you been to Otaru in the past? How’s the city during spring, summer or autumn? Share your thoughts in the comments below. You can send me a private email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃 Watch out for my next post about Sapporo Teine Ski Resort & Hoheikyo Onsen!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.