I spent Christmas with Santa: SIN-NGO-CTS-ITM/KIX-SIN

[SilverChris]

Wow, NGO sure gets a lot of A330s

[milehighj]

Until I read a rare TR from milehighj

Random comments + photos..

.. and saw this photo..



.. I was under the impression that KIX was the only airport in Japan built on an island in the middle of the sea.


Ever since his TR, I've been wanting to fly into NGO.

Great TR!!

[9V-SIA]

Hokkaido

Thanks for the report so far

Question: are your family all taking business class? Trying to figure out why there is a split for lounge access.

Wife and I flew J. Kids in Y.

Wow, NGO sure gets a lot of A330s

That's what I thought too!

Great TR!!

Thanks! This TR would not have been written without your picture!

Getting To Hokkaido From SIN

This year would be my fourth winter holiday in Hokkaido since 2000.

SIN-CTS by chartered SQ flights would be the fastest.

I have never been able to take these because of scheduling conflicts.

But friends who have said they paid a small premium for upgrade to J class.


I prefer SIN-KIX-CTS. Pre GFC, I could choose SQ/NH, NH or JL. Then NH and JL stopped flying SIN-KIX.


I avoided TYO because it often meant SIN-NRT/HND-CTS.

Transferring airport is too much hassle for me but I see possibilities now that HND has direct flights from SIN.


I would never have considered SIN-NGO-CTS but for the travel agents recommendation


The other option I considered was SIN-HKG-CTS by CX.

But it meant an overnight stay in HKG to catch the morning flight to CTS.

[jjpb3]

Thanks. Debut TR for my new LX5

And a fine debut it is.

Enjoying the TR very much so far...

[Nick C]

TR looking good 9V-SIA!

Any guest appearances by Santa?

[Pinkfloyd]

Excellent work 9V-SIA!

[9V-JKL]

What an excellent start to 2011. A 9V-SIA TR

[9V-SIA]

And a fine debut it is.

Enjoying the TR very much so far...

You... got.... my.... snow!

TR looking good 9V-SIA!

Any guest appearances by Santa?

Ho ho ho...

Excellent work 9V-SIA!

What an excellent start to 2011. A 9V-SIA TR

Belated Happy New Year, guys!

Ground Transportation

Coming directly from SIN, you arrive in CTS around lunch time.

Bearing in mind you've been served your SQ breakfast early ( before arrival to NGO, KIX or TYO ) , and it takes

at least one ( Sapporo ) to two hours ( Niseko & Rusutsu ) to get to your destination,

it's better to eat something at CTS before hopping on the coach.


This Mos Burger, located on the right immediately after you leave CTS Baggage Claim, has been a favourite of my kids.

There are outlets serving bento boxes too for the adults.



Those of you who have been following my posts know that I'm mildly claustrophobic so I prefer wide body, twin-aisled transport.

And my travel agent L knows that. It's on my profile.

So I was going to scold L for putting me on an NH 738 when I got back.

Until I saw our coach...for 10 PAXs plus guide. At our stop for lunch.



"You ask for twin aisle, Mr 9V-SIA"



Somehow reminds me of Executive Economy on the A345..



Thank you L.

[Jumbojet Lover]

Nice trip report! I actually flew the exact same route last December - SIN-NGO-CTS then CTS-ITM and KIX-SIN. Albeit in Y.

I wondered why SQ doesn't fly to CTS seasonally, the A330s could work...

[Kyo]

This TR will take time, though shorter than Oslo..

Such a tease!

Enjoying this TR... will totally put finishing touches on Oslo then start on my 2011 TR... which if all going well should be within this new decade..

[kapitan]

I was on an A333 to Seoul and sat at 11A and 11B was occupied by the missus (only one)..... no kids in tow this time.... same like you, the IFE became stuck while the safety demostration was going onboard prior to take off from SIN.....



Fortunately, it was prior take off, and best thing is the IFS noticed it and reset the system after the demo before we took off....

[9V-SIA]

Nice trip report! I actually flew the exact same route last December - SIN-NGO-CTS then CTS-ITM and KIX-SIN. Albeit in Y.

I wondered why SQ doesn't fly to CTS seasonally, the A330s could work...

Thanks. I would love SQ to fly to CTS. Fill the cargo hold with Hokkaido produce. SO FRESH!!!

Anything you can add to this TR please feel free to do so..

Such a tease!

Enjoying this TR... will totally put finishing touches on Oslo then start on my 2011 TR... which if all going well should be within this new decade..

I was on an A333 to Seoul and sat at 11A and 11B was occupied by the missus (only one)..... no kids in tow this time.... same like you, the IFE became stuck while the safety demostration was going onboard prior to take off from SIN.....

Was it the same plane? 9V-STC?


This trip went from 5 days Rusutsu/3 days Osaka to 3 days Hokkaido/5 days Osaka 48 hours before departure.

I let my TA handle the changes so I got:

• first night by Lake Shikotsu
  
• second & third nights in Sapporo
  
• then in Osaka.. we were on "own time, own target"

But before we check in, lunch at Restaurant Bibi followed by a visit to Rera Outlet Mall.

This is my first "Guided Tour" holiday ever, preferring "Free & Easy"


Restaurant Bibi

Even in the cold light of winter, I could see this place had it's charm.

I liked the building...



.. with a river out back..



.. and a ( frozen ) pond at the front. Can you see 3 fishy swimming under the ice? Brrrr..



The scene at lunch. Ready...



Get set..



GO! I dropped my camera and tucked in.



Apart from the very excellent beef, we got fantastic pork & chicken. Fabulous meal!

I feel any discussion of food must include quality of produce, as well as price.

I remember well a $1.99 steak I had in San Francisco that tasted like.. well.. $1.99.

Rera Outlet Mall

After a truly fabulous lunch, we were brought to this mall.



It was too cold for me but the others bought heaps. True Blue Singaporeans!



Why do they have an open air mall in freezing Hokkaido?

Our guide T explained to us that this is low season in Hokkaido.

Peak tourist season is Summer!

It was getting late and we were getting tired so it was time to check in at Lake Shikotsu...

[9V-SIA]

Lake Shikotsu

Shikotsuko Mizu-no-uta

It was dark by the time we reached our hotel so no exterior pictures.

The hotel has 3 blocks.

Left = Reception, fireplace plus rooms

Middle = Our Rooms

Right = Restaurants

Interestingly, restaurant is not connected to rest of the hotel

Access is via covered outdoor walkway ( that horizontal white curvy line )



Outside the entrance, this owl greeted us.

Fukuro, Japanese for owl, is a symbol for luck ( fuk=good fortune. Like in Chinese! )



The Reception

To the right of the white sofa is a stage where a harpist plays in the evening



The Fireplace



Fireplace from Mezzanine level. Marshmallows provided after dinner for roasting. Kids obliged..



Entrance to our Room.

• Note massage chair in the corner.
  
• White door leads to private outdoor onsen

View of room from white door

• Behind the window lies the bathroom: double basins & separate rooms for shower & loo
• Too many steps in the room to navigate in the middle of the night
• TV has no English channels. Only Japanese

Dinner

Dinner was advertised as Healthy Buffet.

Actually only starter & dessert was buffet. We had to choose fish or beef for our main.

Next picture is dedicated to jhm and phaleesy



The rest of the pictures are more me..

Chiraishi sushi



Choux pastry..



Fruits in a cup..



Fruits on a plate..

[FSJZ]

Great TR so far, 9V-SIA! I will be posting mine soon too!

[9V-JKL]

I see your stalker again