Hokkaido is now completely covered in snow. As the weather gets colder, Hokkaido's seafood, such as crab, becomes more delicious! Southern Hokkaido is also famous as a treasure trove of seafood. The LOVELOVE Hokkaido Bingo Stamp Rally, which began in August 2022, is now in its second half. If you're in Hokkaido, why not enter the bingo contest by stamping at each spot? Get your hands on some delicious Hokkaido food in a lottery!

Domingo will introduce a model route for collecting stamps while having fun traveling in southern Hokkaido. Traveling with us again this time will be Snow Miku's pet character, "Rabbit Yukine"!

We will introduce a two-day, one-night model route for "Go with Rabbit Yukine! LOVE LOVE Hokkaido Bingo Stamp Rally Trip: Hakodate and Southern Hokkaido Edition." Enjoy Hakodate, which is full of fun things to do!

This time we start from Okadama Airport. Before boarding the plane to Hakodate, let's participate in the Bingo Stamp Rally. Scan the QR code with your smartphone to access the official website. Once you enter your name and password, you're ready to participate! Now it's time to board the plane and head for Hakodate Airport! The Bingo Stamp Rally is convenient because you can get stamps based on your location after checking in, so you don't have to go through the trouble of looking for a stamp stand.

[Approx. 40 minutes by plane from Okadama Airport to Hakodate Airport]

After a 40-minute flight from Okadama Airport, we arrived at Hakodate Airport, the southern gateway. Here we got the first stamp, "Airport." From here, we took a shuttle bus to Hakodate city using the "Let's go, Japan! Hokkaido Love! Hokkaido Discount" benefit.

This "Let's go to Japan! Hokkaido Love! Hokkaido Discount" offers a bus ticket that can be used when you arrive at the airport to those who make a reservation 7 days before boarding (Special 7). The bus discount is 50%, so you can use the shuttle bus to Hakodate Station for 250 yen instead of 500 yen per adult! Tickets can be obtained at the check-in counter at the departure airport, so head there first after getting off the plane.

[20 minutes by shuttle bus from Hakodate Airport to JR Hakodate Station]

10:00 JR Hakodate Station (stamp available)

Once you arrive at Hakodate Station, you can get the Station B stamp, so make sure to get it. It's also a good idea to buy a one-day tram pass at the tourist information center in front of the station to use later. Hakodate Station was just renovated in 2016. In front of the station, there are many places perfect for taking commemorative photos, such as a monument depicting a parent and child and a large gate symbolizing the Shinsengumi.

[About 5 minutes walk from JR Hakodate Station]

When you arrive in Hakodate, the first thing you should do is go and try some delicious seafood. A five-minute walk from the station will bring you to Hakodate Morning Market, a marketplace that represents the city. Hakodate Morning Market is a marketplace with around 250 stores. As the name Morning Market suggests, it opens early in the morning. Enjoy the lively atmosphere as you wander around the market. You can also see the large crabs and freshly caught fish, and choose souvenirs.

Now that we've had a look around the morning market, it's almost time for lunch. Of course, when you think of a morning market, you can't miss colorful seafood bowls topped with plenty of delicious toppings. In Hakodate Morning Market, there are many restaurants perfect for lunch gathered in Donburi Yokocho. There are a wide variety of seafood bowls with overflowing toppings, so be sure to find one that suits your taste.

Once you've filled your stomach, it's time to hop on the city tram and head for Goryokaku.

[About 20 minutes by tram from Hakodate Station to Goryokaku Park, then about 15 minutes on foot]

We have arrived at Goryokaku, one of Hakodate's famous sites! It is also famous as a historic fortress that was the site of the Boshin War. In winter, when you can enjoy the scenery in peace, we recommend viewing it from Goryokaku Tower. Goryokaku, as seen from the second floor observation deck, is covered in snow, creating a mysterious atmosphere. The star-shaped formations that emerge from the snowy landscape are a must-see! On a clear day, you can also see Mount Hakodate and the Tsugaru Strait.

Goryokaku Park

■Address: 44 Goryokaku-cho, Hakodate City ■Opening hours: April to October 5:00 to 19:00 / November to March 5:00 to 18:00 (Hakodate Magistrate's Office: April to October 9:00 to 18:00 / November to March 9:00 to 17:00 *Last admission 15 minutes before closing) *Last admission is 15 minutes before closing. Admission fee: Free within the park (fees apply for some facilities) See details of "Goryokaku Park" on Domingo

Goryokaku Tower

■Address: 43-9 Goryokakucho, Hakodate City ■ Business hours: 9:00-18:00 *Currently operating on reduced hours as of December 27, 2022 ■Admission fee: 900 yen for adults / 680 yen for junior and senior high school students / 450 yen for elementary school students (group discounts available) See details of "Goryokaku Tower" on Domingo

After enjoying the history and scenery of Goryokaku, your trip to Hakodate continues. Next up, cute animals await!

[About 15 minutes on foot from Goryokaku Park, about 15 minutes by tram from "Goryokaku Koen-mae" on the Hakodate tram, and about 5 minutes on foot from "Aoyagi-cho" on the Hakodate tram]

We have arrived at the animal facility in Hakodate Park. The zoo is free to enter and is the perfect place to stop by during your stroll through the park. This is where you can get your third stamp of the day. All the animals living at this zoo are rescued. They all live leisurely lives, and just watching them is soothing. Inside the zoo, there are a variety of interesting things to see, such as a deer antler helmet that lets you feel like a deer, a helmet that lets you pretend to be a chicken, and trivia that will make you exclaim, "Wow!"

[About 7 minutes walk from Hakodate Park Zoo]

About a 7-minute walk from Hakodate Park, Mount Hakodate will arrive as it gradually gets dark. Around 4 p.m. in winter is the magic hour. The city lights and the beautiful gradation of the sky combine to create a fantastical landscape. The air is particularly clear in winter, making the city lights look beautiful, so enjoy the million-dollar night view to your heart's content. After enjoying the beautiful night view, head to your lodging for the night.

Hakodate Mountain Observatory (Hakodate Mountain Ropeway)

■Location: 44 Hakodateyama, Hakodate City ■ Ropeway operating hours: Normal: April 25th (Monday) - October 15th (Saturday) 10:00 - 22:00, October 16th (Sunday) - April 24th (Monday) 10:00 - 21:00 New Year's Eve: December 31st 10:00 - January 1st 2023 1:00 (last upbound boarding 0:30) *This may be subject to change. Please check the official website for details. ■ Admission fee: Free for the observation deck and the mountaintop parking lot ■ Ropeway fare Round trip: Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,500 yen / Children 700 yen One way: Adults (junior high school students and above) 1,000 yen / Children 500 yen See details of "Hakodateyama Observatory" on Domingo

[About 8 minutes walk from Mt. Hakodate, then about 10 minutes by tram from "Horaichou" Hakodate tram to "Hakodate Ekimae"]

It's a 5-minute walk from Hakodate Station. We've arrived at our lodging for the night, Hotel WBF Hakodate Umikami no Yu! The hot spring here is a strong sodium chloride spring with plenty of iron, which flows directly from the source. In addition to the large public bath, there is also an open-air bath, where you can relax while feeling the breeze of Hakodate. You'll feel warm for a long time after you get out of the bath, helping to ease the fatigue of your travels!

After a bath and feeling hungry, we headed to Hakodate Hikari no Yatai Daimon Yokocho, located about a 5-minute walk from the hotel, to start our night in Hakodate.

[5 minutes walk from WBF Hakodate Umikami no Yu]

Ramen, yakitori, Chinese food, sushi, and many other shops are lined up in food stalls, and delicious smells waft from all around. Enjoy a night in Hakodate while chatting about your travels at Daimon Yokocho, the largest food stall village in the country.

The second day begins with breakfast at the hotel! Your stomach will be completely satisfied after a breakfast filled with seafood. After checking out, head to Hakodate Station. Today, you will head north by train.

[From JR Hakodate Station, take the Hokuto No. 7 Express for about 28 minutes to JR Onuma Koen Station, then walk for about 4 minutes]

We have arrived at Onuma Park, with its beautiful, refreshing scenery! Onuma Quasi-National Park is a "recommended" park in the LOVELOVE Hokkaido Bingo Stamp Rally, so be sure to get a stamp when you arrive. Onuma Quasi-National Park is quite large. Enjoy visiting the floating islands, trekking, bird watching, and whatever else you like!

Onuma Quasi-National Park

■Location: Onumacho, Nanaecho, Kameda-gun, Onuma Quasi-National Park ■ Admission fee: Free (charges apply for rowboats and sightseeing boats) See details of "Onuma Quasi-National Park" on Domingo

[About 1 minute walk from Onuma Quasi-National Park]

Once you've had your fill and are full of energy, head off to find a delicious Onuma lunch. At Mori Shoten, you can enjoy the owner's delicious curry. Inside the shop, which has a natural feel and feels the warmth of wood, you can feel the warmth of the wood stove.

With the soft aroma of spices wafting through the air, Mori Shoten's specialty "Atka mackerel curry" is brought to you! The fluffy fried fish is topped with a thick tartar sauce that goes perfectly with the slightly spicy curry. There are plenty of other items on the menu, so why not enjoy your lunch with some sweet sake, recommended for the winter season?

[About 1 minute walk from Mori Shoten]

Leaving Mori Shoten, it's just a one-minute walk to Numa no Ie, a famous Onuma dango shop! If you come to Onuma, you can't miss this Onuma dango. When you think of dango, you probably imagine something on a skewer, but the appearance of the dango, which is filled with many small dango pieces, is said to be modeled after the islands floating on the lake.

You can choose from two types of Onuma Dango at Numaie: bean paste and soy sauce, or sesame and soy sauce. They have such an elegant taste that you could eat as many as you like. From here, we board the train for another 30 minutes. Our journey continues as we savor our delicious dango.

[Approximately 26 minutes by local train from JR Onuma Koen Station to JR Mori Station]

With the coastline beside us, we finally arrived at Mori Station. We came here to buy Mori's specialty squid rice to eat on our way back! As soon as we left the station, Shibata Shoten was on the left and you can buy Morimachi's specialty squid rice. When you put the squid, which has been softly boiled in a sweet and spicy sauce, and the glutinous rice, into your mouth, a juicy and gentle flavor spreads throughout your mouth. We resisted the urge to eat the squid rice right away and headed to Yakumo Town to meet the bears!

[From JR Mori Station, take the Hokuto 13 Express for about 21 minutes to JR Yakumo Station, then walk for about 8 minutes]

An eight-minute walk from Yakumo Station leads to the Yakumo Town Local History Museum and Wood Carved Bear Museum. Here you can get a "Museum, Art Gallery, and Museum" stamp. In the past, wooden carved bears were one of the most famous souvenirs in Hokkaido, and could be seen everywhere.

Here in Yakumo Town, the birthplace of wooden bear carvings, there are many works on display, from impressive large bear carvings to cute bear carvings. You can learn all about the charm of bear carvings, which have a long history as a folk craft!

Yakumo Town Local History Museum and Wood Carving Bear Museum

■Address: 15444 Suehirocho, Yakumo-cho, Futami-gun ■ Business hours: 9:00-16:30 ■Closed on Mondays, public holidays, December 29th to January 5th ■ Admission fee: Free See details of "Yakumo Town Local History Museum / Wood Carving Bear Museum" on Domingo

Before we knew it, the sun was setting and it was time to leave southern Hokkaido behind. We headed for Sapporo, munching on squid rice and talking about our travel memories.

[Approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes from JR Yakumo Station to JR Sapporo Station on the Hokuto 15 Express]

The last stop on the stamp rally is Sapporo Station. Get the "Station A" stamp. This concludes our model itinerary for southern Hokkaido. Southern Hokkaido is blessed with seafood, hot springs, and scenic spots, and is full of sights to see. The stamp rally is a great opportunity to visit many different places. We have introduced such a model route. Enter with the stamps you collected in this stamp rally for a chance to win some great prizes!