Sapporo 5 Nights 6 Days Trip Day 3: Into the Beautiful Scenery of Furano and Biei
The third day of the Sapporo 5-night, 6-day trip was filled with exploring the beautiful regions of Furano and Biei. The journey, which began early in the morning, offered unforgettable memories with its colorful flower fields, mystical waterfalls, and delicious food.
Hotel Breakfast and Tour Start
The morning of the third day started with breakfast at the Richmond Hotel Ekimae, where we were staying. The breakfast, chosen from a menu, was as hearty as the day before. Drinks included water, milk, juice, tea, and coffee. My sister chose the toast set, and I opted for the Japanese set. The salmon sashimi and salmon were particularly not too salty and tasted great.
At 8:30 AM, we met our guide from Hokkaido Lab (Biei Tour) at Sapporo Station at the agreed time. After checking attendance, we boarded the bus. The guide emphasized the importance of remembering the bus number.
Richmond Hotel Ekimae Breakfast
Richmond Hotel Ekimae Breakfast
The morning of the third day began with breakfast at the Richmond Hotel. It was convenient to have breakfast included for all days except the first. The dining area was located to the right of the first-floor front desk, where we ordered from a menu. After finishing our meal, we flipped over a sign to indicate we were done.
Richmond Hotel Ekimae Breakfast
Richmond Hotel Ekimae Breakfast
Richmond Hotel Ekimae Breakfast
Drinks were self-service and included water, milk, grapefruit, apple, and orange juice, as well as tea and coffee.
Richmond Hotel Ekimae Breakfast
My sister chose the toast set, and I had the Japanese set. While the side dishes in the Japanese set were a bit salty, the salmon and salmon sashimi were delicious. The salmon sashimi, in particular, was impressively not salty at all.
We gathered at Sapporo Station around 8:30 AM. We spotted our guide wearing the uniform of Hokkaido Lab (Biei Tour), checked in, and boarded the bus. The guide advised us to remember the bus number, as the express bus companies are similar.
Furano Marche and Gourmet Exploration
It took about 2 hours to travel from Sapporo to Furano. The scenery outside the window, resembling green barley fields, was impressive. We arrived at Furano Marche around 10:30 AM, but it felt more like a rest stop similar to a supermarket, so we briefly looked around and moved on. Buttered potatoes, a processed food sold only at the Marche, were recommended as souvenirs, but I didn’t buy them to avoid making my bag too heavy.
Upon arriving at Furano, we immediately headed to ‘Masaya,’ a teppanyaki restaurant recommended by our guide for lunch. Despite arriving before opening hours, there was already a queue, but since there were many tables, we were seated right away.
Masaya
Masaya
Masaya
To order quickly, we placed our orders as soon as we sat down. We tasted the mini-sized salad and milk provided as a complimentary service and ordered a melon soda additionally.
Masaya
Masaya
I ordered ‘Omukare,’ a curry with an omelet on top, and my sister ordered ‘Yakisoba.’ The Omukare was a perfect harmony of soft eggs and curry, and the Yakisoba was also very delicious. All the meals on this trip were a success.
Sakyechae Hill: A Field of Colorful Flowers
After lunch, we arrived at our first destination, Sakyechae Hill. Our guide had already purchased the tickets, and we decided to try the ‘Pure White (White Corn)’ later, which could only be tasted here. To comfortably explore the vast area of about 45,000 pyeong, we used the tractor bus, which cost 500 yen per person.
Sakyechae Hill
Sakyechae Hill
Sakyechae Hill
Riding the tractor bus allowed us to enjoy the scenery comfortably while feeling the cool breeze. After a round trip, we tasted a light purple ice cream with a strong lavender scent. It tasted sweet, not floral, and was very enjoyable.
Sakyechae Hill
Sakyechae Hill
Afterward, we walked around and took photos in the beautiful flower fields. The lavender and the deep purple salvia flowers were particularly impressive. Despite the cloudy weather, the photos turned out beautifully.
Sakyechae Hill
Sakyechae Hill
Shiraito Falls and Seo-ui Lake: Mystical Natural Wonders
Our next destination was Shiraito Falls. The waterfall, viewed from a high vantage point, was a magnificent sight with its clear blue hue. It was a bit difficult to take photos due to the strong sunlight, but its beauty was breathtaking.
Shiraito Falls
Shiraito Falls
The stream on the opposite side of the waterfall was also clear and beautiful, leaving us in awe. Perhaps due to the excitement of the trip, everything seemed beautiful.
Shiraito Falls
Shiraito Falls
Seo-ui Lake, located a 5-minute drive from Shiraito Falls, had a mystical blue color due to mineral components like aluminum hydroxide. The upright birch trees created a majestic atmosphere. This lake was artificially created by Japan to prevent damage from active volcanoes.
Seo-ui Lake
Seo-ui Lake
Patchwork and Farm Tomita: Picturesque Landscapes
Located near Seo-ui Lake, Patchwork was a place we could leisurely explore in the cool weather. Here, we found the Seven Star Tree, famous for its appearance on the Seven Stars cigarette packaging, and other attractions. At first, it felt like an ordinary path, but the photos turned out very well.
Patchwork
Patchwork
Patchwork
Patchwork
At Farm Tomita, we enjoyed melon ice cream. It had a similar feel to Sakyechae Hill with its flower fields, but there were also photo opportunities with various objects, making it an enjoyable time.
Farm Tomita
Farm Tomita
Farm Tomita
Here, I made my first personal purchase of the trip in Japan, buying a handkerchief and a lavender soap set. The air freshener spray also had a pleasant scent, but I didn’t buy it as liquids can be cumbersome to carry.
Farm Tomita
Farm Tomita
Return to Sapporo and Dinner: Ippin Butadon
After a fulfilling day of activities, we returned to Sapporo Station, and it was already evening. We decided to try the famous butadon at ‘Ippin,’ located in Stellar Place at Sapporo Station. Despite arriving around 7:30 PM, there was a wait, but we were able to have our meal within an hour.
Stellar Place
Ippin
As expected from a popular restaurant among Korean tourists, there were Korean instructions available. We ordered the basic butadon, and we really appreciated being able to adjust the portions of meat and rice individually.
Ippin
Ippin
Ippin
The butadon was incredibly delicious, exceeding our expectations. After finishing the meat, we sprinkled the spicy furikake from the table onto the remaining rice. The rice itself was already seasoned, making it a truly satisfying meal. It was a shame we couldn’t try other dishes due to our schedule, but all the food on this trip was a success.
Ippin
Ippin
Ippin
The third day of the Sapporo 5-night, 6-day trip was a day filled with the beautiful nature of Furano and Biei, and delicious food. It was a precious experience that once again highlighted the convenience and efficiency of guided tours.
