This was my first time booking a one-day tour with Klook, and overall, the itinerary was completed smoothly, and we visited several spots.
Our group only had 4 people. The official website stated that 6 people were required for the tour to proceed, so it was a pleasant surprise that it still departed. That's a big plus.
Hōheikyō Gorge
This stop was closed, so we couldn't visit it, which was a bit of a shame.
Jozankei Onsen
We visited quite early in the season, so most of the trees were bare, and the cherry blossoms hadn't bloomed yet. The scenery was a bit ordinary. The overall feeling was somewhat similar to the hot spring areas like Guguan in Taichung.
However, the footbath area was quite nice, clean, and comfortable, offering a good spot to relax. If you didn't bring a towel, there's a vending machine (300 JPY) available to purchase one.
There's a good apple pie shop nearby (pictured), within walking distance, which was a small highlight.
Lake Toya
This was probably the most worthwhile place on the trip. The lake view is beautiful, and you can also see Mount Yotei. Walking along the lakeside was very pleasant.
However, the stopover time wasn't very long, so it would be a bit rushed if you also wanted to take a boat ride.
Food options were also limited. We ended up buying convenience store items and eating them by the lake, which was actually quite enjoyable.
Showa Shinzan
This part felt more like a typical tourist group destination. Showa Shinzan itself isn't very large and can be explored quickly, with most of the surrounding shops selling souvenirs.
The view from the Usuzan Ropeway was decent, but if you're looking for scenic views, I'd recommend taking the Sapporo Mt. Moiwa Ropeway instead.
The Bear Ranch felt more like a standard tourist attraction, and personally, I didn't find it very appealing. Overall, it was just a walk-around, look-around kind of activity.
Meisui Park
We were originally supposed to visit "Fukidashi Park" at the foot of Mount Yotei, but on the day, we were actually taken to "Meisui Fureai Park" in Chitose (pictured).
Initially, I was a bit taken aback because the location was different from what I expected. However, since the distance was too far to change back, this part of the itinerary ended early, which somewhat affected the overall experience.
I booked this tour because I wanted to see Mount Yotei and Lake Toya, and since the distance was quite far and I'm not very comfortable driving, I chose a one-day tour.
Overall, the itinerary seemed to include many stops, and we did visit quite a few places, but the actual experience felt a bit rushed. The time spent at each location wasn't very long, and some places felt more like a "been there, done that" kind of visit.
If you want to casually see a few sights and avoid planning your own transportation, this type of tour is quite convenient. However, if you have specific expectations for certain attractions, I would recommend arranging them separately for a better experience.
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