Day 7: 10 July 07 (Shiretoko)
Drive from Abashiri to Shiretoko
*** Check in at Iruka Hotel, Utoro (Highly Recommended)
1 night stay at Iruka Hotel (9450yen/pax)
They say you might chance upon dophins if you're lucky, it's a great dolphin-watching spot, that's how the name of the Hotel came about.
If you can't see any dolphins, you will still get the see the very very special "Cloe-ne", an angelic-looking creature that lives in the freezer of Iruka Hotel. You can only see it when you go ice-diving and they have kindly show us this cutie, without having to go for an ice-diving trip during winter.
I thought the mascot of Utoro is a fictional character... now i know it's real....
Outdoor Onsen with Gorgeous view of the sea.
From Abashiri, take road 244 until Shari town, then onto road 334 which will lead you to Utoro – Hotel is on the way reaching Utoro. (Abashiri - Utoro about 80 kms).
Highlights:
Kamuikka FallsPretty sight! with sea gulls frollicking in the sea breeze and perching on the cliff side.
We also get to see deers as you take a little stroll to the viewing point.
Furepe Falls -
Treak cancelled due to weather.. (Sad.)
Supposed to be an "onsen" waterfall, the one of the few outdoor onsen that allows you to bath with clothes on and mixed (males and females).
Shiretoko-go-koSupposed to bear able to have bear-sightings if we're "lucky"...but, due to weather... I guess the bears are hibernating in their warm and comfortable den, tucked snugly against the cuddy, fuzzy bodies of their mother bear.
We only managed to visit 2 or 4 of the 5 "ko" due to the wet weather, and perhaps some "bear sightings", the autheorities have closed off the route to the last 2/3 "ko".
The lake looks mystical against the greyish-white skies and slightly misty air. I could imagine it would have been even more spectacular against the backdrop of sunny blue skies with the calm, pristine waters reflecting the beauty surrounding it. Perhaps, if we're lucky... we could even chance upon the baby bear and its family in the distance.
** Dinner @ Iruka Sumptuous. Check this out!
Day 8: 11 July 07 (Shiretoko-Mashu-Kussharo)* Breaksfast at Iruka
Off we go... to catch the sunrise at the pass. However, due to the heavy fog at the mountain top, we catch any sunrise. But we were happy that at least we didn't pay to take the tour coach..and we didn't have to brave a walk out against the chill... And of course, I thought misty mountain passes is quite a sight too! Mystical, mysterious and magical! Ah Q spirit helps at times... :)
* Lunch @ ... Wagyu Sashimi Don. Yummy!
I have never tried wagyu sashimi...this is my first. AND it's quite good! I can still remember the the sweetness as I chew on the tender, smooth wagyu slices...
Highlights:
*Sunrise at Shiretoko Pass- Check the weather and season beofre you go.. We were driving so we tried our luck.
*
Shiretoko peninsula cruise- SHouls be beautiful, i imagine... however, we had a drive through the mysterious passes instead.
*
Mashuko, Kussharoko, Bihoro Pass, Io-zan Another mystical sight... it's known for it misty atmosphere...
Before we reach Akanko town, we drop by to try the Best soft-serv and the natuaral "ashi - onsen". You just got to dig a pitch huge enough for your feet, and soak in the steamy hot puddle. Quite hot, so go to do it slow.
But once you adapt to the warm water, it's quite heavenly in such cold weather.
* 1 night stay at Minshuku Kiri (3160yen/pax)
At night, we were invited to Hoshina-San's party! Nice cosy log house, joyous laughter of kids and warm hospitality made our short stay at Akanko memorable.
Day 9: 12 July 07 (Akanko)
Highlights:
*Akanko, Onneto
*Minshuku Kiri, then to Wu-san (at Kushiro)
Day 10: 13 July 07 (Akanko-Kushiro)
Kushiro Shitsugen 2000 Car Drop-off
*1 night stay with Wu-san
A nice guy with little words. Despite his busy schedule, he still squeezed out time to bring us out for dinner...
Day 11: 14 July 07 (Kushiro-Tokyo)
1020 Depart Kushiro
Highlights:
Shopping – Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku Prada flagship store Burberry Blue label…after much search we finally found the store in the wet wet weather. However, much to my disappointment, the series (bags) wasn’t quite to my taste. Disappointed.
Day 12: 15 July 07 (Tokyo-Singapore)
Highlights:
Yoyogi park Harajuku Freak Show - But didn’t go due to wet weather…
1515 Leave Tokyo
1645 Narita Airport
1815 Depart Narita
~ The End~
Scaling the Great Walls at Badaling
We continued our tour to Jiu Fen, the village with famous local delicacies, as featured on Wu Zhong Xian's "Shi Zhi Lu Kou". The most unforgetable dish that I tried - Ru Rou Fan. Simple but utterly yumilicious! The Ru Rou (Braised minced pork) simply melts in your mouth! Urgh...! Talking about it makes me drool...
We continued our trip to Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village (九族文化村） featuring traditional songs and dance performances, and houses some thrilling rides.
And continued towards National Palace Museum (故宫博物馆)。After a sumptutous lunch at 海霸王, we proceeded to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall (台湾民主纪念馆) for a tour.
Sunset from the Observatory tower
After dinner was another round of shopping at Ximenting (西门町).