Hokkaido International Outdoor Club (HIOC)

Monday, January 14, 2013

Kiritappu Wetland Trip

Kiritappu, East Hokkaido

On the weekend of Jan 12 - 13 of 2013 I was invited to visit small town call Kiritappu in Eastern Hokkaido on the coast.
This part of Hokkaido doesn't get much snow in winter but what it lacks in snow in makes up in charm, wildlife and nature .

The Kiritappu Wetlands is a area of marsh lands that is home to deer and many types of wild birds and flowers.
All year round you can visit there and can enjoy many actives such has guide nature walks, fishing, horse riding, mountain biking on the beach and in winter cross country skiing and there are some very good places to stay at like Pension Porch and Kiritappu Cape Campgrund . There many great look out points like Cape Kiritappu and visit to the Kiritappu Shitsugen Center is a must.

If you have a chance I strongly recommend you visit KIRITAPPU and you can enjoy one of Hokkaido,s magical places and I'm sure you will fall in love with the place as much as I did .


Kiritappu Wetland Trust: Kiritappu Shitsugen

Kiritappu Wetland: Kiritappu Shitsugen

Wild deer, Kiritappu Wetland: Kiritappu Shitsugen

Kiritappu Wetland: Kiritappu Shitsugen

Pension Pouch & Kiritappu Wetland information center

Kiritappu Wetland in summer

Kiritappu beach

Pension Porch, Kiritappu

Dinner at Pension Porch, Kiritappu

Biwase Lookout Point

Wild flower season in Kiritappu

Summer

Winter

Kiritappu wetland from Biwase Lookout point

Biwase Lookout point

Hokkaido Horse, Kiritappu

Cape Kiritappu

Cape Kiritappu in summer

Cape Kiritappu

View from Kiritappu Shitsugen Center

Wild deer at Kiritappu Shitsugen Center

Hokkaido Eagle (O-Washi) at Kiritappu Shitsugen Center

Japanese Crane at Kiritappu Shitsugen Center

View from Kiritappu Shitsugen Center

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Furano Ski Trip & Xmas Party 2012

On Dec 22 - 23 H.I.O.C did Furano ski & Xmas Party Trip.

After leaving Sapporo early, we arrived at our cottage in Furano around 11 am.

We got to the Furano ski area and we all decided to get a 4 hour ticket.
Snow was good but the weather was a little cold and cloudy but not bad at all .

After skiing and snowboarding we took a warm onsen (hot spring bath) at the Prince Hotel and some members check out the Ice bar before heading back to our cottage.

Back at the cottage we cooked and prepared and set out the cottage for our Christmas party.
Once that was done we sat down and enjoyed a great meal and a few glasses of warm mulled wine and some good beers.

After the meal it was time to give present and there is nly one way to do that in Japan. Have a bing-go game.

The next after a good night sleep and a good breakfast all felt good for another few hours of skiing and snowboarding.

We decided to try the other side of the Furano ski area and got some good runs in before heading back to Sapporo.

IT WAS A GREAT TRIP !

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Zenibako Hike

Past Trip # 6

Date: October 2012

Did a hike to Mt Zenibako which is small peak which sits at foot of the Teine mountain range which looks of Sapporo city.
This was an easy hike which took about about minutes to reach to top. This hike was perfect for our inexperience member and also fun for our more experience. A good club hike