Owlicious: 2017 - 18 days Japan -D4 Furano, Tomita Farm and Ashikagawa

7th Oct, Saturday

After 2 days experience with the train.

1. Must be very punctual

2. Always double check the train schedule at each station.

( I will take a photo of the train schedule, in case I need to change my train time schedule due to whichever reason)

3 for bigger station, the walk from Shinkansen to local train platform can be quite a distance, especially with a luggage. (hence, keeping the luggage as small is a great idea)

(Thanks to Lai Peng who shared this with me, though I was planning that too)

4. Trains are always clean , even the local trains

5 They always remind you to keep your volume down, hence very quiet, very comfortable.

( We should practice that in ours too, it makes a very comfy environment for all)

6. No smoking, except for certain car

7. Before an announcement, a smoothing music will wake you up, especially good for longer trip where most people will take a little nap .

8 I love that they always remind commuters to keep volume low and no smoking in many cars, making the whole journey very pleasant and comfortable.very impressive.

After a good night rest, I was ready for my new new day. I grab a simple breakfast from a 7-11 to enjoy onboard the train, of course . I love visiting their local convenience shop when oversea. There is always something to surprise me.

From Takikawa to Naka-Furano via Furano are local trains, no reservation is needed. This is low season hence lots of space.

Lilac 1 - Sapporo to Takikawa

some views along the way .

The train felt a little stuffy hence I opened the window a little. WOW!! Love the cool air that rushes in and it was easier to take photos too. As I was alone on the 4-seater and nobody behind the seats. I felt good to leave it open for the rest of my journey. I noticed most people kept their windows closed.

purple !!!

autumn is showing

I will have one hour at Furano before I catch the next available train to Naka-Furano., though it's only a mere 10 minutes ride. I had planned to cycle around Furano. The rental shop is just outside the station and only ¥200/hr! But the bicycle look too big for me, I have no confidence hence I choose to walk and explore.
As it was quite early most shops are not open but I enjoyed myself.

Furano station

I supposed many Japanese are still in good favor to visit a photo studio. I noticed quite a number in my trip.
We used to visit such studio about once a year to take family shot, but it must have been at least 30 years or more since I visited one. We will take our own and developed it.

Most shops decorate for Halloween, very interesting.

Since I skipped my bicycle rental, I just walked as where I feel good. I passed by this temple place. There was nobody at that moment, but it was very well taken care of, The place was clean and many flowers and plants around.

it was not open yet. :((

Very unique building structure. I did a google search and translation. It say Poppo bridge. ポッポブリッジ

I passed by a supermarket, popped in and grab something to eat and drink

about ¥760, I think

this is great

I met her and her hubby on board the train. They are from Malaysia. We sat outside the station and eat our food together, exchanging our plans for the day and more. Very nice loving couple.

outside the station

We arrived Naka-furano at about 10am. The young couple took a taxi and offered to give me a ride as we were all going to Tomita farm. It cost ¥650.

TOMITA FARM

Spider Flower

Mealy Sage

African Marigold

I have a pink sleeve?
( was hoping to send them this photo, we forgot to exchange our numbers)

more photos...

I met the couple again , I invited them to stroll back to the station since we have much time, they agreed happily. As we strolled our way to the train station we discovered the honeydew farm and enjoyed this very sweet fruit . . . It is much sweeter and not as crunchy as those we used to eat back at home. I love the texture better.

we stopped for a honey dew, very sweet indeed!!!

and come upon another flower place .......

more . . .

Across the station, there is a supermart . . .

a little snack and a lip gross

love the PURPLE sign boards

At Biei, we went separate ways. They go look for trees that appeared in some famous show while I went for a onsen. (saw it on google map)

The onsen place has so many owls displays too. The uncle(owner) actually showed them to me.

I have a wonderful experience at this onsen. The obasan could tell I am not local, they showed me how to use the onsen. They showed me that I should clean with a towel, then go for the onsen. I brought my big towel but forgotten my smaller one. One obasan offer me a small towel and soap too. I left my bag in the locker, no lock. I was a little worry as all my monies and passport were inside. For a start, I tried to face the locker while in the onsen, after a while I believe they are all honest people and enjoy my onsen comfortably. Infact, another tried to tell me she has knee pain and we actually built a little conversation with her fluent Japanese and action and my very broken Japanese and action. Hahaha, most of them are very friendly. I had a good time. After I finished my cleaning, I noticed the earlier obasan actually left a cute cutting plastic for me. I think it should be for wrapping my wet towel. I was very touch.Thank you Japan, you have very warming people. A little gesture can brighten my day undoubtedly.

see the loop ?

Biei station

I left for Asahikawa around 4.30pm, I did a little walking at Aeon and had my buffet dinner there. This is the worst meal I had in Japan. The varieties is quite comfortable, but the Sushi chef had a really black and long face, very unfriendly and unwelcoming. The beef were too hard to eat. The two items I wanted to enjoy is out. I should have insist to go back to the restaurant I had patronised yesterday. :(( BIG mistake I made.

SAPPORO – NAKAFURANO – BIBAUSHI - BIEI – ASAHIKAWA - SAPPORO

Sapporo	Takikawa	Furano	Naka-Furano	Bibaushi	Biei	Asahikawa	Sapporo
0635 LTD. EXP LILAC 1	0727/0733 JR Nemuro Line	0842/0959 JR Furano Line for ASAHIKAWA	1006(211)
			1152 1348	1210 1407(19)	1415/1419	1301/1400 1455/	1525(213) 1555(243)
				1407 1615	1623/1629 1738/1739	1655 1702(47)
				LTD. EXP LILAC 40 LTD. EXP KAMUI 42 LTD. EXP LILAC 48		1800 1830 *2200	1925 1955 2325

the reserved ordinary seat of Kamui is called “U seat”. It has better seat with some equipment. But it is a sort of Reserved Ordinary seat. So even Japan Rail Pass Ordinary can be used to take this seat. U seat also have the power outlet

Reserved seat of Lilac - But only reserved seat on car #1 equips power outlet.

Cost of train

Sapporo - Naka-furano ¥4460

Naka-furano - Biei ¥540

Biei - Asahikawa ¥540

Biei - Sapporo ¥2490

I had done almost everything to schedule, but skipped the part at Bibaushi for the other flowers farm.

While shopping at Asahikawa I tried the buffet dinner. This is totally unenjoyable. I should have insist to go back to the restaurant I had tried yesterday. Since it is not the right season for the flowers, I am still very happy with the findings. The weather was beautiful this day.