Dinner Buffet at Manseikaku Hotel, Noboribetsu

Previously:
Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley)

I have been to so many hotel's breakfast or dinner buffet from 5-star hotel to no-star hotel but this place is so far the biggest and the most choices available.  You can find a lot of local cuisine of Hokkaido (genghis khan, snowcrab leg, and so on), traditional Japanese food, things like make-your-own noodle, sashimi, tempura and many more) to the Western dishes as well.  There are great ranges of sweets and drinks too.  Honestly, if I want to list all the food names, this post will be way tooooo long.  Even pictures I've taken probably just covered half of them.  I was really surprised of how many food served in this dinner buffet.

By the way, when we check-in earlier in the afternoon, the lady asked us to choose the dinner time slot.  We chose 6.45pm, not too early and not too late.  Although the lady recommended to have dinner somewhere between 5 or 5.30 to avoid the crowd, but it was definitely too early to have dinner right!

When we arrived at the dining area, there were a lot of people already and most of them wearing Yukata including us. Very comfortable.  I was so overwhelmed by the food.

There was long queue for this tempura and roast section and had been going on for all night.  Never quite.  Apparently it was the most popular section.

Make-your-own Genghis Khan

Green tea tiramisu

This green tea tiramisu gone in a flash.  At first I saw it was still untouched then on the middle of my dinner I saw it was gone more than half.  By then I was ready to get on dessert.  It gone.. gone.. and they replaced with some other dessert.  So regretted that I didn't quick enough.

Kids only section

There is one area dedicated for kids only, so cute.  There are pasta, french fries, nugget and some other sweets and snacks.

I didn't know that this chocolate vending machine uses coins.  I promised my little one "if he eats quick (he usually eats very slow), I will give him some of these goodies.
He did eat very good that night.  When I about to take some, I found out that we need to pay some money.  Arrgggggghhh.. I explained to him and luckily he understood and didn't throw any tantrums to me.  Then of course I made another promise again.  I said to him I will get him some tomorrow when we have breakfast.  But this chocolate is not destined to be eaten by him for sure.  The next morning, while I was ready with some money in my pocket, that chocolate vending machine was gone.  Apparently, it is only for dinner.  Poor him..

There are a few vending machines inside the hotel

As I mentioned earlier, this hotel provides so much other facilities and fun things to do as well beside hot spring.  There are game room, gachapon, you even can shop for souvenirs too.

Games room

Souvenir shop

Different types of Gachapon (toy capsules)

We had a little bit of walk in the town that night.  Hunting some more demons and we found a few more such as the love and study demon.  It was so romantic and classic.  The traditional music of Noboribetsu is turned on every night through the town speakers.

Study Demon

Romantic Demons

Noboribetsu Manseikaku Hotel
21 Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribetsu


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Noboribetsu:
From Noboribetsu Back to Sapporo

Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley)

Previously:
Noboribetsu

It was around 1pm and we were looking for some nice lunch.  We spotted this ramen shop on the way to Jigokudani.  In that cold weather, it is always nice to have a bowl of warm noodle soup.  There were some customers inside already when we entered the shop, but wasn't full house.  We grabbed our seat on the bar.  And as usual ordered our dishes,  I felt a little weird since the beginning.  Japanese service is mostly friendly, but not with this shop.  The chef probably tired or something, he put on an irritating face all the time and there was also one old lady who help serving the noodle.

He quite quick though in making noodle, once we got our noodle, we didn't really care of his behavior and face anymore.  Because I was so hungry, I immediately slurped my hot noodle.  I was delicious.  After he served all the customers with their orders, he went out and changed the sign on the door to 'closed'.  It was only around 1.30pm.  Pretty early to close the shop, when lunch peak still around the corner.  Not for long, a few more customers came in and came in, and he rudely said that "closed, closed" with that irritating face on.

So a shamed, this shop actually makes a really good ramen.  So anyone who doesn't care of customer service can definitely try this shop.  Like me for example.

Two more Giant demons that we spotted just on the foot of Jigokudani

Noboribetsu Jigokudani is crater with boiling hot spring from volcanic steams and there is also a walking path to foot bath. We didn't go until foot bath because it takes about 2 km long and imagine walking back for another 2 km with a toddler, is a big NO NO.  But apparently what I see from the picture, it looks amazing, natural foot hot spring waterfall.

After we had walking along the walking track around the carter, the longing for an ice cream hit us.  Inside Information Center there is this Seventeen ice cream vending machine.  The three of us got one each, and we just sat there for awhile quitely enjoying our own ice cream.

Spotted this cute demon opposite the blow hole.  But I'm not so sure what's this for!

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Noboribetsu:
Dinner Buffet at Manseikaku Hotel, Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu

Previously:
Naruto Chicken, Otaru

From Otaru, we made our way to Noboribetsu.  We left pretty early in the morning (that's why we missed our plan for breakfast at Sankaku fish market for fresh seafood).  It took around 2 hours by train from Otaru.  We were looking forward for this onsen and bear town trip.

There is huge bear statue in front of Noboribetsu station

We need to catch a bus just outside the station to Noboribetsu Onsen town where we stayed for a night.  And it is where the tourist attractions are around.  From Hell Valley to Bear Park.  It only took about 15 minutes bus ride for 340¥.

Our hotel is located just opposite the bus stop, so it is very convenient.  The hotel it doesn't look that big but inside they have nearly everything.  Huge dining area, entertainment room, kids play area, onsen, and many more.

Kids playground

steam train toy

Bus terminal just opposite the hotel

There is town map in front of bus stop

Giant's stick - all around town

One more interesting thing in this town is about their Giant demons, there are 11 of them in 9 different places scattered around the town.  Start with red demon sits outside JR Noboribetsu Station.  It is like a great achievement every time we can spot one.  Not only the big scary demon, there are also cute demons that represent study, romance, health and so on.  How many can you find? a little tips: lots of them are in onsen town.

Demon for good health

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Noboribetsu:
Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley)

Naruto Chicken, Otaru

Previously:
Things To Do In Otaru

I heard so much about this fried chicken store in Otaru.  Many of customers mentioned that they need to wait on a long queue.  But in that evening, though the store still packed with heaps of customers but there wasn't any queue.  Lucky us...

Half chicken set 1,200¥, half chicken only 980¥

At first we ordered: half chicken set for myself, sushi and karaage set for my hubby, then extra karaage dish for my son.  I was so over possessive with my chicken and said to my husband that "I will finish it all by myself so if he wants to try some classic house deep fried chicken he better order for himself another piece" because I believed definitely it will not be enough.  So he went to ordered another just half cut of chicken.

When the dishes came in front of us.  I couldn't believe my eyes of how big the chicken was.  Of course at the end we couldn't finish them.  But we did take them home with us for our breakfast tomorrow.  We terribly terribly full after dinner but it was delicious though.

Look at how plump and fat the chicken is-so mouth watering

The chicken's golden-skin was flavorsome and crisp.  And you know it, when they use the good oil.  The meat was juicy and tender.  The first bite was great but after a few more bites, I kinda felt like it needed something maybe chili sauce or ended up we asked for mayonnaise.  Yes, chicken and mayo, they were good together especially if there is some sweet chili as well.  It would be even perfect.

Sushi and karaage set 2,200¥ served with Japanese potato salad and karaage side dish 700¥

Otaru beer 500¥

Then we had a nice walk around the most photographic side of the canal.  We couldn't get the nice shoot in the afternoon as so many tourists are also taking pictures.  Photo below is the canal very early in the morning.  We beat the crowd.  So which one is better guys, morning view or night view?

Naruto Honten
There are 2 locations, the main restaurant is near Jr Station.
3 Chome-16-13 Inaho, Otaru
Ph: +81 134 32 3280
Opening hours: 11am-9pm


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Hokkaido:
Noboribetsu

Things To do In Otaru

Previously:
Hotel Nord Otaru

In this small city, there are actually plenty things to do.  Our one day in Otaru was definitely not enough.  We didn't even cover half of "the most popular things to do in Otaru".  Next time if I visit Hokkaido again, I will surely stay in Otaru again and making sure to cover more.

This small city is more than just a canal town.  Although it is very touristy especially in day time but if you have a chance to spend the night, you will to see the beauty of this charming city.

Otaru Denuki-Koji

We had lunch here in Denuki-Koji is like a tiny Edo-style complex that has been using for restaurant purposes.  We had this fresh seafood don from one of local restaurant there.  In this small restaurant, there was only 2 people serving, a couple, the husband cuts the fish and decorates the dishes, while the wife prepares drinks and rice.  There are nice couple and paying attention in detail into their dishes.  The shop is very tiny though, we need to squeeze in when the busy lunch time. 

I had this salmon sashimi and salmon roe don for my lunch although I so wanted to try uni but there is none of combination that I like that have uni in it.  Of course if there is salmon sashimi, salmon roe and uni, that would be the best option for me.  Hiksss.....

They gave big chunk of salmon slices and heaps of roes.  Super fresh..

Sakaimachi Street

Next thing, we walked along the Sakaimachi street where most things happen here.  Shopping, food and snacks, souvenirs as well as museums to visit.

There are 4 LeTao shops all together.  We only got to visit 2 of them.  And here the first shop sells ice cream and cake.  The queue was quite long but we need to wait for our double formage cheesecake.  The cake was nice.  It was soft and cream and the same goes with the ice cream with a hint of cheese in it.

Cheese flavoured ice cream 350¥

Double formage cheesecake 410¥

Kitakaro and Rokkatei

Cake and snack house: from baumkuchen to biscuits.  Good for souvenirs as well

We really can't get enough of LeTao

Clock tower - Music will be running for around 15 minutes on the hour

Kitaichi Glass and Music Box Museum

I love this sushi section.  I want to take them all

Next trip plan (the one we missed): Studio Ghibli, Sushiya Dori, Kita No Aisu Ya San (unique flavors ice creams), Yamanaka Dairy Farm, Otaru Railway Museum and Sankaku market (famous for their cheap fresh seafood don).


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Otaru:
Naruto Chicken, Otaru