Japan Diaries 4: Day 342


Day 342: October 9, 2022

Sunday – 10.8-10 Family Road Trip D2

Our view from Room 818 of Dormy Inn Tomakomai
Our view from Room 818 of Dormy Inn Tomakomai

Breakfast time!
Breakfast time!

Itadakemasu!
Itadakemasu! šŸ™

Bye for now, Dormy Inn Tomakomai
Bye for now, Dormy Inn Tomakomai


It's a beautiful Sunday! Today marked the second day of our multi-day road trip adventure.  Our journey unfolded with a delightful breakfast at Dormy Inn Tomakomai, setting the perfect tone for the day.

Tarumaezan Shrine torii gate
Tarumaezan Shrine torii gate 

Tarumaezan Shrine
Tarumaezan Shrine

The initial leg of our expedition led us to the heart of Tomakomai City (č‹«å°ē‰§åø‚), where our first stop, the Tarumaezan Shrine, awaited. In its serene surroundings, we offered prayers and paid our respects, embracing the spiritual essence of the place. 

Tomakomai Midorigaoka Park
Tomakomai Midorigaoka Park

Midorigaoka Park Observation Deck
Midorigaoka Park Observation Deck

The view from Midorigaoka Park Observation Deck
The view from Midorigaoka Park Observation Deck


Following this soulful beginning, we embarked on a short drive to Tomakomai Midorigaoka Park, where my daughter gleefully played in the playground while we eagerly awaited the opening of the Midorigaoka Observation Deck. The panoramic view of the city from atop the deck was simply breathtaking, creating lasting memories for my daughter and me.

Tomakomai Pokemon mamhole cover
Tomakomai Pokemon manhole cover

Idemitsu Culture Park
Idemitsu Culture Park

We then parked our car at Tomakomai City General Gymnasium and strolled to the Idemitsu Culture Park's southern clearing, capturing the whimsical Tomakomai Pokemon manhole cover or simply Tomakomai Pokefuta through our lens. 

Mir Spacecraft Museum
Mir Spacecraft Museum

The Mir Spacecraft
The Mir Spacecraft

Tomakomai City Technology Center
Tomakomai City Technology Center

Trying out one of the interactive displays in Tomakomai City Technology Center
Trying out one of the interactive displays in Tomakomai City Technology Center

C11 133
The preserved C11 133 train outside the Tomakomai City Technology Center

The Mir Spacecraft Museum and the Tomakomai City Technology Center were our next destinations, offering a fascinating blend of history and technology. The interactive displays at the technology center added an extra layer of enjoyment to our visit.

Tomakomai City
Driving around Tomakomai City

Mega Don Quijote Tomakomai
Mega Don Quijote Tomakomai

Mega Don Quijote Tomakomai
Shopping time

2nd Street Tomakomai
2nd Street Tomakomai

Before leaving the city, we ventured to Mega Don Quijote Tomakomai and 2nd Street Tomakomai, indulging in a shopping spree for both ingredients and winter clothing. 

Shiraoi manhole cover
Shiraoi manhole cover

Shiraoi Hachiman Shrine torii gate
Shiraoi Hachiman Shrine torii gate

Shiraoi Hachiman Shrine
Shiraoi Hachiman Shrine

Sendai Domain Shiraoi Jinya Museum
Sendai Domain Shiraoi Jinya Museum

Sendai Domain Shiraoi Jinya Museum
How I wish I could wear one of these

Our next stop was Shiraoi (ē™½č€ē”ŗ), a town in the Iburi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, where we paid our respects at the Shiraoi Hachiman Shrine and delved into the rich history at Sendai Domain Shiraoi Jinya Museum.

Kani Goten
Kani Goten

Continuing our journey, we made a brief stop at Kani Goten, a seafood market with a distinctive giant bear atop its roof, creating a picturesque scene. 

Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe
Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe

Noboribetsu Pokemon manhole cover
Noboribetsu Pokemon manhole cover

Our next destination was Noboribetsu City (ē™»åˆ„åø‚), we first headed to the Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, where we managed found our second Pokemon manhole cover for the day. The Noboribetsu Pokemon manhole cover features Vulpix and Bewear.

The Noboribetsu Red Demon (ē™»åˆ„ę±ć‚¤ćƒ³ć‚æćƒ¼å‰ ꭓčæŽé¬¼åƒ)
The Noboribetsu Red Demon (ē™»åˆ„ę±ć‚¤ćƒ³ć‚æćƒ¼å‰ ꭓčæŽé¬¼åƒ)

Some of the demons near Jigokudani
Some of the demons near Jigokudani

Noboribetsu Jigokudani
Noboribetsu Jigokudani

Team Nicerio visits Noboribetsu Jigokudani
Team Nicerio visits Noboribetsu Jigokudani

The walkway going to Iron Spring Pond (é‰„ę³‰ę± )
The walkway going to Iron Spring Pond (é‰„ę³‰ę± )


Oyunuma Pond
Oyunuma Pond

Okunoyu
Okunoyu

Welcome Demons
Noboribetsu's Welcome Demons

The highlight of the day awaited us at Jigokudani or Hell Valley, where we marveled at the natural wonders of Oyunuma PondOkunoyu, and the Welcome Demons. The rain accompanied us as we bid farewell to Noboribetsu City, knowing that our final destination, Muroran City (å®¤č˜­åø‚), awaited.

Saying good bye to Noboribetsu's Red Demon before leaving the city
Saying goodbye to Noboribetsu's Red Demon before leaving the city

Filled up Ruru's tank before continuing on to Muroran City
Filled up Ruru's tank before continuing on to Muroran City

Mega Don Quijote Muroran
Mega Don Quijote Muroran

New KitKat Flavor - Nescafe Gold
New KitKat Flavor - Nescafe Gold

APA Hotel Muroran
APA Hotel Muroran

Upon reaching Muroran, we secured a parking space near our night's haven, the APA Hotel Muroran. After that, we checked in our rooms. Yup, you read that right! We were actually booked for 2 rooms as Ella was considered an adult hence she was counted as one guest. Thankfully, my wife was able to book the rooms at a discounted price. After bringing our bags into the room we went to the nearby Mega Don Quixote Muroran, which offered us the chance for one last shopping spree before retiring for the night.

APA Hotel Muroran
APA Hotel Muroran lobby

APA Hotel Muroran room 706 and 707
APA Hotel Muroran rooms 706 and 707, our rooms for the night.

Inside our room in APA Hotel Muroran
Inside Room 706

The view from one of our rooms
The view from one of our rooms

Today's journey unfolded like a well-scripted tale, allowing us to explore Tomakomai City and visit two other cities and a charming town. See you tomorrow for the next part of our road trip!

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Week 49
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 49
Japan Diaries 4: Day 341
Tarumaezan Shrine
Tomakomai Midorigaoka Park

Tomakomai City Technology Center
Mir Spacecraft Museum
Shiraoi Hachiman Shrine
Sendai Domain Shiraoi Jinya Museum
Jigokudani
/ Noboribetsu Hell Valley
Oyunuma Pond
Okunoyu Pond

Comments

  1. I want to read your article about that place in Noboribetsu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You mean the Jigokudani? In a few more day it will be published. Please do come check it out.

      Delete

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