| Peak Season (Total price) | ¥80,000 per night ¥500,000 per week |
| Shoulder Season (Total price) | ¥70,000 per night ¥450,000 per week |
| Low Season (Total price) | ¥60,000 per night ¥400,000 per week |
| Arrival | 11:00 check-out 15:00 check-in |
| Contact | 0136-46-2566 http://rusutsuholiday.com/ |
| Wi-fi | Yes |
| Restaurant | No restaurant, but kitchen for use |
| Parking | Yes |
| Notes | Japanese farm house chalet, 5 rooms up to 10 people Dining area, laundry, 2 bathrooms, 2 toilets Transport & concierge services available |
| Location | Located in Rusutsu. 10 minute drive from Rusutsu ski resort. 〒048-1712 Hokkaido, Rusutsu, Toyooka, 327-1, 虻田 |
One of the luxurious bedrooms
Just a ten minute drive from award winning Rusutsu Ski Resort, in the Niseko region, you can find Rusutsu Holiday Chalet. This boutique, Japanese farm house has been renovated into gorgeous chalet with breathtaking views of Mt. Yotei. The chalet has been lovingly restored in an authentic Japanese style with all the modern comforts that will make your stay a unique experience. There are five bedrooms, a fully appointed kitchen with complimentary tea and coffee, laundry, dining area, living room with TV & games for entertainment, a tatami room plus two bathrooms.
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Views to wake up to
What makes Rusutsu Holiday Chalet so special is the attention to detail. Every room has a distinct Japanese feel, through ornaments, layout and wall hangings. There are fantastic views of Mt. Yotei from two of the bedrooms and from the luxury of the bath, and distant night views of the ski fields in Niseko. Rusutsu Holiday Chalet is run by Julien & Yi-Ching. This super friendly couple will make your stay enjoyable, and with their vast knowledge of the local area, are happy to help with any needs you may have. With the ski fields in winter plus being near Lake Toya for the summer, Rusutsu Holiday is the perfect place to spend in privacy with family or friends, in comfort!
| Dates | 1st weekend of June (3 days) |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 22:00 |
| Contact | kagai@academic.hokudai.ac.jp |
| Notes | Alcohol not permitted, no parking |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Sapporo station. Take the north exit from the station, head one block north. The university is on the left hand side 5 Chome Kita 8 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0808 |
International food festival
One of the cosplayers
Besides the International Food area, there are further stalls set up along the road. These stalls sell Japanese cuisine, and include games and events. There are student performances on stage, a rock festival, haunted house, and a cosplay event. Simply take a long stroll down the main road that runs through the campus and take in the sights and smells. The stalls run for a few hundred meters so there is a lot to see! The event starts during the first week of June and runs through the weekend. If you are in Sapporo around that time, make sure to put the Hokkaido University Festival into your schedule.
| Podcast time | Every Thursday from 10:00 |
| Contact | voicesinjapan@gmail.com |
| Website access | http://podcast.voicesinjapan.com |
| Notes | Podcast is in English |
Tune in
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The masters, Ben & Burke
The podcast is great for those living in Japan (or thinking about it), traveling to Japan, or even for anyone who wants to practice their English listening skills! The podcast can be accessed on their site http://podcast.voicesinjapan.com. For more information on Voices in Japan, you can access them at https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan, https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/, and on their instagram account https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/. So, to learn more about Japan and to get some perspective on its deep culture, take a listen to Voices in Japan!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1500 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 15:30 (LO 15:00) & 17:30 - 22:00 (LO 21:30) weekdays 11:30 - 22:00 (LO 21:30) Sat, Sun, Holiday |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-821-0044 Toyohira ward, Sapporo (main store) 011-213-1230 Central Sapporo location https://www.soupcurry-king.shop/index.html |
| Notes | Soup curry, English menu available Parking at Toyohira shop, No parking at Central Sapporo location, Non smoking |
| Location / Getting There | Toyohira store : From central Sapporo, take the subway to green line towards Makomanai. Get off at Minami-Hiragishi station, it's a 7-minute walk. 〒 062-0933, Hiei 3 岸 Hiragishi, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo City 1-1 Central store : Basement floor. It is a 5-minute walk from Odori or Susukino Station. 2 060-0062 Chuo-ku, Sapporo Minami 2 Jo Nishi 3-chome 13-4 Kataoka Building B1 |
Central Sapporo location
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Beef curry
Soup King curry offers the vegetable curry, crispy chicken leg curry (yum), pork curry, and seafood curry. But each soup curry store has its own additional dish. Soup Curry King has a beef curry, a beef tendon curry, and if you’re interested, they have a natto minced beef curry. Natto is made from soybeans, and is a pungent favorite for Japanese nationals. Spice levels range from one to ten, then jack, queen, king, and finally the joker (adding of death sauce to the curry). Rice comes with all curries. For a little extra yen, toppings can be added. Soup Curry King as an extra twelve toppings from eggs & bacon to quail & even jellyfish (why not try?). Beers, soft drink & lassis are on the drink menu.
| Admission | Free admission |
| Opening Hours | All day |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0139-42-2275 |
| Notes | Parking available 175 cars, Toilets, Wheelchair access & toilets. Matsumae Sakura Festival (late April-mid May) Matsumae Ajisa Festival (early August) |
| Location / Getting There | 6 hour drive from Sapporo or 2 hour bus ride from Hakadote, get off at "Matsujo Bus Stop", 7 minutes on foot. Matsujo, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido, Japan 049-1511 |
The extensive Matsumae Park
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The path running through the park
Besides the cherry blossoms the park has other flowers that bloom throughout the summer and spring. Camellias come out from April to May, dandelions & azaleas in mid-May. In early June, wisterias are in bloom, and from July you can see hydrangeas & roses in the park. There is a path that runs through all the way up to a second park at the back and to the base of the mountains. It is well worth a walk up as at the top you can enjoy great views looking over the whole of Matsumae Park and the Strait of Tsugaru. There are two festivals held in Matsumae park, the first is the Matsumae Sakura Festival which is held from late April to mid May. The second is the Matsumae Ajisa Festival in early August.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 - ¥2000 |
| Opening Hours | 19:00 - 7:00 Monday - Wednesday 19:00 - 8:00 Thursday - Saturday 11:30 - 14:30 & 18:30 - 1:00 Sundays & public holidays |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-562-5077 |
| Notes | Roast beef don & soup curry restaurant Seating 8 Secluded restaurant, smoking, no credit cards no wifi, no parking, open all night, Menu in English, Chinese & Korean |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Susukino, Sapporo. 3 minute walk, south from Susukino subway station, 2nd floor of Susukino Chuo Building Minami 6 Jonishi Chuo Ward Sapporo Hokkaido |
Chicken soup curry with vegetables
If you are in the entertainment district of Sapporo, and are looking for a late dinner, or one of those extremely late “grab a bite after a night out” scenarios, then Kuma-chan could answer those needs. It is a tiny, comfy restaurant settled in downtown Susukino. It is tucked away on the second floor on the main street, and can be found by its sign on the sidewalk. It is self run by the owner, and due to the small size, reservations are not possible. The menu is straight forward and comes in a few languages, so it is easy to order.
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Cozy Kuma-chan
Kuma-chan which translates to “little bear” has two main dishes on its menu. Roast Beef Donburi & soup curry. Donburi or ‘Don’ is a Japanese “rice bowl dish” consisting of either fish, meat, vegetables or other ingredients simmered together and served over rice. At Kuma-chan they have the Roast Beef Don which comes with raw egg, lettuce, and dried seaweed (nori). Mix it all together and enjoy! The roast beef for these dishes comes in 100, 150, 200 0r 300 grams. Kuma-chan also has soup curry. Take your pick of half a dozen soup curry dishes including chicken, vegetable, lamb or the Kuma-chan special. Topping are extra and the spice level ranges from one to seven. Rice comes with all soup curry bowls. Teas, juices, lassis, beer, and Zimas are on the drink menu.
