Arrival hall of Narita Airport
Hurray, we finally reached Narita airport 成田国际机场 on time. There was a minor hiccup at the immigration check point as our pretty tour leader led us to the wrong queue which was for Japanese and Japan PR only. 
No wonder not even a single foreigner at the queue except us. Well, she apologized later and apparently this is her first time at Narita airport 
No wonder not even a single foreigner at the queue except us. Well, she apologized later and apparently this is her first time at Narita airport 
We were greeted by our tour guide, Low-san at the arrival hall and then transit by bus to Haneda Airport 羽田机场 for a transit flight to Hokkaido. It took another 1 hour plus to reach Haneda Airport. Our transit flight was 1330 hours and we have pretty of time in hand to check out the airport after checked-in .
Haneda airport (HND) opened in 1931 and was an international airport then. After completion of Narita Airport, it took over most of the Japan international air traffic and now Haneda airport handles domestic air traffic only.
Haneda Airport, a few storey high building with lower ground connected to JR system. This was an international airport before.
Haneda Airport, a few storey high building with lower ground connected to JR system. This was an international airport before.
The departure hall of Haneda Airport.
Low-san had suggested we have our lunch at the airport. It will be too late if we waited till we reached Hokkaido. Since the tour fare covered all meals, he will pay each person ¥1,200 for the lunch. I guessed fair enough. I shared a sushi benton with my sis which costs ¥880 and 3 pieces peach pudding as dessert of ¥660…and the total was only ¥1,540. Hey, we got extra of ¥860. Not bad for the first day 
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. What made me wonder is why MAS did not serve any breakfast in the flight. They only served you a cold potato sandwich and no coffee and tea being offered too. Is it because too early? Or fuel cost eating up the industry profit and got to cut cost. But one thing should be thankful is no increase in fuel surcharge after our PM announced the outrageous increase of 78sen in petrol price on 4 June 2008.
Benton sold at Haneda Airport. Nice, isn’t it?
The peach pudding. The other two already inside our stomach…
Cute Japanese wear for kid. Spotted in one of the store at Haneda Airport.
Colourful plane spotted at the airport.
Another 1 hour plus to reach Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. By the time we left the airport, it was 3pm already. Nice weather and no rain 
. We went straight to the Chitose RERA outlet Mall, 10 minutes from the airport. Basically what you do at the outlet mall is shopping. Branded goods at discounted prices. You can find stores like Addidas, Timberland, Hush Puppies, Coach etc.
. We went straight to the Chitose RERA outlet Mall, 10 minutes from the airport. Basically what you do at the outlet mall is shopping. Branded goods at discounted prices. You can find stores like Addidas, Timberland, Hush Puppies, Coach etc.Official site (Chinese): http://www.outlet-rera.com/foreigin/china/infomation.html
Inside the Mall.
Couldn’t find anything I like but my sis bought a shirt and a pant for her little boss at the OshKosh outlet. Both added up to about RM60. Definitely cheaper in Malaysia. We are given about 1½ hour to explore here. It is a big place and definitely couldn’t exploring every shop within those short hours. So “focus” is the key word here. Better still, do some homework and target your shopping outlet.
Next was Sapporo 札幌市. I couldn’t remember how long it took but definitely more than half an hour to reach Sapporo. Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido and well known for hosting the 1972 Winter Olympics, the very first held in Asia.
Our next tour spot is Tanukikoji shopping arcade 狸小路 and Susukino 薄野. Tanukikoji is a large shopping arcade in Hokkaido extends for 7 blocks from Block 1 to Block 7. You wouldn’t get lost here, just a simple one straight way. You even could exit to the underground street at Block 4 for more stores. They sell all kinds of things here and price is very reasonable.
A very big balloon toy hanging on the ceiling. My sis likes this toy and wanted to bring home .. 
must be joking, where to put such a big balloon…
must be joking, where to put such a big balloon… My target is the drugstore 药妆店 at Block 3. We have given 1½ hours to shop here. But by the time Low-san had shown us the places selling local delights, toilets, exit to Underground Street, half an hour had gone, hurry up please 
. I need more time to shop. In Japanese drugstores, they sell varieties of skincare products even include KOSE range. In Malaysia, they are counter products but in Japan they are not that “high class” as you see in Malaysia, they even offered discounted price or promotional package. Either way is cheaper than Malaysia. Don’t get it wrong, I am not interested in their medicine at all. Hehe… 
The one with red colour signage, you will get 5% tax waived for purchases above ¥5,000 and above. All goods in Japan are sold plus 5% tax.
. I need more time to shop. In Japanese drugstores, they sell varieties of skincare products even include KOSE range. In Malaysia, they are counter products but in Japan they are not that “high class” as you see in Malaysia, they even offered discounted price or promotional package. Either way is cheaper than Malaysia. Don’t get it wrong, I am not interested in their medicine at all. Hehe… 
The one with red colour signage, you will get 5% tax waived for purchases above ¥5,000 and above. All goods in Japan are sold plus 5% tax.By the time we finished our shopping at the 2 drugstores at Block 3, it’s time to rush back 
to meet the other members. And we are yet to buy any local delights yet….Arghh….fortunate the other members are still busy buying, even after we have finished ours, some of them still queuing up for payment …what a tiring day 
and it’s just the first day only.
to meet the other members. And we are yet to buy any local delights yet….Arghh….fortunate the other members are still busy buying, even after we have finished ours, some of them still queuing up for payment …what a tiring day 
and it’s just the first day only.
The shop selling all kinds of local delights that offer 10% discount plus no tax for AppleHolidays tourist (that’s what Low-san told us lah). The shop is so small and packed with tourists. I think most of Taiwanese tourists also stopped here.
Non-stop shopping after set foot in Hokkaido. It looks like a shopping trip to me than sightseeing. In fact, I don’t think we went to Susukino at all 
Why?! He just briefly shows us the place while passing by in the bus. Susukino is the main nightlife in Sapporo with pubs, restaurant and ramen shops. I think it's enough of shopping for a day.
Why?! He just briefly shows us the place while passing by in the bus. Susukino is the main nightlife in Sapporo with pubs, restaurant and ramen shops. I think it's enough of shopping for a day.Dinenr time. BBQ buffet dinner for the first night. I don’t really like pork (they call 豚肉 in Japan). But in Hokkaido, don’t miss it. It tastes fantastic and I miss it already. Malaysia no match at all.
After dinner, we travel to Sapporo APA and Resort Hotel for overnight. A quiet place with nothing much outside the hotel. They have hot spring facilities in the hotel though. But I don’t think anyone went for it as everyone is dead tired. Bear in mind, no bell boy service in all Japan hotels, so mind your own luggage.
18 July 2008
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