Stevie Wong: Holiday

[TRAVEL]: Our Smooth Ride from Sapporo City to New Chitose Airport

Hokkaido Friday, April 18, 2025

How we got there comfortably, stress-free, and on time

Travel days can feel chaotic, especially when you're heading to the airport in a foreign country. But our journey from Sapporo's Susukino area to New Chitose Airport turned out to be surprisingly smooth with a little surprise and we owe it all to one comfy, on-time airport limousine bus.

If you're staying around Susukino, here’s exactly how we got to the airport without dragging luggage across train stations or dealing with transfers. Plus, I’ve included some helpful airport tips at the end to make your departure even easier!

The Airport Bus from Susukino: A Hidden Gem

Instead of taking the train (which often requires a transfer and a lot of walking with luggage), we opted for either the Chuo Bus or Hokuto Koutsu Bus airport limousine service, highly recommended for travelers who value ease and comfort. Check this for bus schedules.

Here's how it works:

• Departure Point: Find Susukino Station– It’s centrally located & super easy to find.
• Bus Name: Airport Limousine Bus / Chuo Bus
• Cost: Around ¥1,300 per person , payment is available in cash or credit cards
• Travel Time: About 70–90 minutes, depending on traffic
• Tickets: Can be purchased by on the spot
• Luggage: The driver stores large suitcases underneath

The bus was clean, warm, and quiet such a peaceful goodbye to snowy Sapporo.

Hot tip: Get to the bus stop at least 30–40 minutes early, especially during peak travel seasons the queue can get tremendously long. You wouldn’t want to gamble on missing flights right?

Why We Loved the Bus over the Train

• No stairs, transfers, or ticket machines

• Door-to-door convenience if your hotel is nearby

• Scenic ride through the countryside before reaching the airport

• No stress about missing the train schedule

If you’ve got luggage, trust me this is the smoothest way to go.

Verdict

Our decision to take the airport limousine bus from Susukino to New Chitose Airport was such a win. It was warm, direct, and effortless, especially after a chilly Sapporo stay.

If you're planning your return from Hokkaido, I highly recommend ditching the train stress and just hopping on the bus. It gave us one last relaxing moment to soak in the snowy views—and honestly, that’s the kind of travel energy we love ✨

Our smooth ride to the airport 🚌❄️

Instead of dragging our luggage through stations, we took the comfy airport limousine bus from Susukino straight to New Chitose Airport. So, easy, warm, and stress-free!

Saved us time and our energy 😌

📍Tip: If you’re flying out from Sapporo, this bus is a game changer.

Love, Stevie

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / YouTube

Share |

[TRAVEL]: Sapporo Streetcar (札幌市電 tram) Service - Things you need to know for first timer

Hokkaido Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The Sapporo Streetcar 札幌市電, also known as the "shiden," is a convenient and scenic way to explore Sapporo, Hokkaido. This tram system forms a loop around the city's central and western districts, making it an accessible mode of transportation for both tourists and locals. With its retro charm and modern convenience, the streetcar allows passengers to experience Sapporo from a unique perspective while offering easy access to various touristy attractions, shopping areas, and local eateries.

Navigating the Sapporo Streetcar is fairly simple, especially if you have a map or a navigation app to guide you. The trams operate at regular intervals, ensuring that passengers don’t have to wait too long for their ride. While they can get crowded, particularly during rush hours and peak tourist seasons, the Japanese are well-accustomed to packed public transport. If you find yourself in a full tram, simply squeeze in and follow the unspoken etiquette of making space for others. However if you're lucky you can also get an empty tram like mine and you can get seats right by the window to enjoy the view throughout the ride.

The tram gives off a retro vibe

Fares and Passes

As of 2025, a single ride on the streetcar costs ¥230 for adults and ¥120 for children. For unlimited rides within a 24-hour period, consider purchasing the One-Day Streetcar Pass, priced at ¥500 for adults and ¥250 for children. You can even pay for Sapporo’s tram with cash but you’ll need to pay upon disembarkation and there are no change machines on the tram, so ensure you have the exact fare.

The SAPICA card, a prepaid IC card, is also accepted on the streetcar, subway, and local buses. The card costs ¥2,000, with ¥1,500 available for fare use and a refundable ¥500 deposit. SAPICA cards can be purchased at subway stations, commuter pass sales offices, and bus terminals.

Areas Covered and Tourist Information

The streetcar's loop encompasses 21 stops, connecting key areas such as:

• Nishi 4 Chome: Located near the Odori Shopping District, it's a hub for shopping and dining.

• Ropeway Iriguchi: This stop provides access to the Mount Moiwa Ropeway, offering panoramic city views.

• Chuo Toshokan Mae: Adjacent to the Sapporo Chuo Library, ideal for those interested in local literature and architecture.

• Nakajima Koen Dori: Close to Nakajima Park, a serene spot featuring a Japanese garden, pond, and the historic Hoheikan building.

• Susukino: Sapporo's entertainment district, renowned for its vibrant nightlife, restaurants, and the famous Ramen Alley.

Tips for First-Time Visitors to Sapporo

1. Utilize Public Transportation: Sapporo's public transit, including the streetcar and subway, is efficient and tourist-friendly. Consider getting a prepaid IC card like SAPICA for seamless travel.

2. Explore Seasonal Attractions: If visiting in winter, don't miss the Sapporo Snow Festival, showcasing massive snow sculptures. In warmer months, festivals and events highlight local culture and cuisine.

3. Experience Local Cuisine: Indulge in Sapporo's culinary delights, such as miso ramen, fresh seafood, and jingisukan (grilled mutton). Visiting the Nijo Market offers a taste of local seafood delicacies.

4. Visit Historical Sites: Explore landmarks like the Former Hokkaido Government Office and the Sapporo Clock Tower to delve into the city's history.

5. Enjoy Natural Landscapes: Take advantage of Sapporo's parks and nearby mountains. The Mount Moiwa Ropeway offers stunning city views, especially at night.

Don't forget to ring the bell to get off the tram, to notify the driver that you're hopping off on the next stop

Operation Hours and Frequency

Trams operate daily from around 6:00 AM to approximately 11:00 PM.

During daytime hours, services run at intervals of roughly 7 to 8 minutes, with increased frequency during weekday peak periods.

Hop on the Sapporo Streetcar for a ride that blends historical charm with modern convenience, making it a delightful way to explore the city while experiencing local daily life. Sapporo is a compact and walkable city, with bright, clean underground passageways that offer decent shopping, so the tram isn’t a necessity for getting around.

However, if you’ve got time to spare, why not take a scenic ride to the end of the line and back to Susukino? Incorporating the streetcar into your travel plans allows for a relaxed and enjoyable way to soak in the city’s diverse attractions while adding a touch of nostalgia to your journey.

Love, Stevie

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / YouTube

Share |

[Travel]: Enchanted Jewel Changi Singapore

Changi Friday, April 19, 2019

Walking into the land of tomorrow, Singapore never fails to bring in new attraction and travel destinations for both its people and the world. No wonder they've been awarded the best airport for 7 consecutive years, now they got waterfall and indoor garden to please you. Similar to their tagline of Jewel Changi which is "Where the world meets Singapore and Singapore the place meets the world" #SeeJewel , they've indeed created another one stop entertainment destination with tons of attraction, food and shopping destination to explore.

Located at Changi which is accessible directly through Changi airport terminal 1 arrival hall you can enter into an enchanted garden filled with a mezmerizing waterfall vortex which simply brings awe. I was happy to get the opportunity to attend their previewing before their official opening date which is on 17 April 2019. Although I was among the first batch of people to witness this new beautiful iconic landmark in Singapore but it was actually quite pack inside Jewel. Once you arrive there you can already feel the overflowing excitement of the visitors all eager to explore and enjoy this new entertainment destination. Now long flight transit won't be boring because you don't need to go all the way to the city to do your shopping, you can find almost everything at Jewel !

In this post I'l l be sharing some of the shots I took at the previewing however by the time you read this post Jewel Changi is already opened for public, you guys who are planning to visit Singapore definitely go check it out! Catch the world's highest indoor waterfall here as well as five story garden with 900 trees and 60,000 shrubs at the Shiseido Forest Valley.

This is at the lower ground so once the waterfall hits the ground you can actually see it from beneath.

crowded

How to get to Jewel Changi?

Check out this link to find out various ways of transport you can find to reach this new iconic destination in Singapore. Basically if your at Changi airport you can easily access to Jewel, you'll have to follow the sign and you will find it in no time :)
Address:

Jewel Changi Airport

78 Airport Boulevard

Singapore 819666

Spot anything? A rainbow is caught on my camera, as the natural light hits the light it creates the reflection.

Hope you enjoy this post, I'll see you on my next one :)

Love, Stevie

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / YouTube

Share |

Genting Resort World - One stop family destination

genting Wednesday, April 03, 2019

Last month, I got the chance to visit Genting Resort World after a very long time. The last time I remembered going there was when I was in my Primary school years, thinking back it was indeed a very long time ago. Thus I was very excited to be going this trip but as many of you might have known the process of getting there was a bit chaotic and dramatic after our flight canceled but that would be another long story to retell. Long story short we finally made it to Genting all safe and sound. So now let me take you along with me on my stay at Genting Resort World.

I remembered Genting Resort World used to have two theme park one indoor and outdoor but currently their outdoor theme park is under construction but one thing I realized about Genting Resort World is they've changed and expanded a lot. Now we can find lots of restaurants from different delicacies on mostly every floor. First stop was checking into our hotel at Theme Park Hotel which was located adjacent to Sky Avenue where all the main shopping mall and entertainment areas are located.

After checking in we moved on to our lunch place which was at The Laughing Fish which is a fish and chip chain from London. This is their first outlet in Asia outside London, they serve various kind of fish and chips and you can really share one portion for two or three if you're not a big eater like me. The portion was huge, just look at the picture below and you can imagine how big it was. We came in the late Afternoon but the place is already filled with some customers but in the evening it gets even more crowded. The restaurant has two areas, one is outdoor and the other indoor. They even have long bench outside for take outs which tend to be fully occupied in the evening.

Food Menus

Drink Menus

After lunch we headed to the Skytropolis Funland this is the indoor theme park area which I remembered going when I was a kid, but the whole area kind of changed a bit but it still got the vibe of the one I visited. As someone who's not into rides, I just enjoy looking around but here you can ride various thrilling rides which will make your adrenaline rushes. However they took us to try out this VR Game Center called The Void. To be honest at first I worry if it's going to be scary but it was super fun! Never thought I would be enjoying it but its so exciting and fun, the game we got to try was Wreck it ralph and Star Wars. First before entering the game area we had to register and put on the suit too. The suit and helmet was so heavy but you can adjust it to your needs. Trust me if you visit Genting this place is something you shouldn't miss. The experience is extremely fun!!

Ended day one with a huge feast of seafood party at Highland restaurant which is a nice place to chill and enjoy the night. They even have an outdoor area but it can get a little bit colder at night as the fog thickens up since Genting is located in highland.

Starting off day two with breakfast at Jom Makan which is the halal foodcourt at Sky Avenue level 4. There were a lot of food selections and you can even try local desserts such as Ice Kacang or Cendol to finish off your breakfast or meal.

If you’re an early bird, take advantage of the ‘Jom Sarapan’ breakfast set for only RM13.90 . Choose from the choices: Economy Nasi Lemak or Fried Noodles with rice. All sets come with White Coffee. This offer is valid from 9 am - 11 am

Here's my Breakfast menu, Nasi Lemak their sauce is amazing !

Now let me take you along with me on all the other entertainment places and fun activities you can enjoy during your stay in Genting. Aside from Skytropolis Funland there's Adventure land where you can find Zombie Outbreak, Jurassic Park, Ripley’s Believe it or not, Jurassic Research Centre and other arcade games.

Next we're asked to try out Zip Line but as you know your girl has fear for heights so I passed. But look at those brave souls who went on the ride. Just looking at it makes my adrenaline rushes ! I wonder how would it feel to actually be on the zip line since you're only holding on to a single wire :D for you guys thrill seeker you better try this out.

This is currently the show they're hosting at the main atrium to watch SkySymphony Show – Jungle Jam, Ocean Groove where they got this beautifully designed lights and music for the show. The show is being played several times a day! You'll need to check on the schedule to not miss out the whole show.

Zombie Outbreak - It's more like a haunted house where we have to step in and walk around the area with Zombies roaming around. Guess what all three of us wasn't up to for the tension so we decided to have a quick shot on the outside and ran.. The decor and props was so on point ! Can't imagine how scary the inside will look. Horror is indeed not my thing.

Jurassic Research Centre - Here you'll get to experience the Jurassic park vibe with lots of different dinosaurs species :) It was fun to experience but at the end of the park there's one area that is thrilling and cause Adeline rush hahaha or its just us with vain hearts.

After the fun activities we stopped by this Medan Selera Foodcourt which sells various Malaysian delicacies :p Everything looks so tempting and I opt for some char kwetiau since I had Nasi lemak already for breakfast. They have huge selections of food and drinks, their portion is also huge you can share! Mostly the menu cost for about RM 15-20. There are five outlets dine in customers can choose from Rice & Spice, Noodles, Laksa, Western Asian and Crispy Chips outlets. They also have a separate outlet for drinks, quick bites, fruits and desserts.

We also went for a movie at Bona Cinemas Imax. Can you guess the movie we're watching? It's Captain Marvel !!! So happy since I haven't got a chance to watch it yet so I'm very happy that our movie is that. Have you seen it? What o you think of the movie, well I actually find the first half to be bit long and boring but I do understand they're actually giving us a background story of Captain Marvel but towards the middle to end I really enjoyed it.

After it we went to Ripley's Believe It or Not! It was interesting to find so many unique findings here, everyone should try to enter it at least once you'll be fascinated with what you'll find inside. It is an interactive museum so you'll get to experience it yourself. It opens everyday 10 am -10 pm. The ticket for entrance fee is RM 22 adult and RM 18 child.

Then let's hop on to the cable car this is definitely another highlight of this trip :) why? because this was my first time riding cable car and my first attempt was the glass floor >.< Can you imagine how panic and anxious I was at first? But I try to keep calm and self hypnotizing myself telling me that its okey, you won't fall hahahaha.. Well it didn't really work but my friend got even more scared then I was so I was trying to keep calm so she won't be more terrified and here you go I managed to pull it off with a picture sitting on the glass floor. It was indeed a thrilling experience for me, cable car attraction should be on your list if you visit Genting cause you'll get to see the aerial beauty of the whole place but do go on sunny days. When its too foggy then all you can see is only clouds. A single trip from Awana Station to the final stop SkyAvenue takes about 10 min. Awana Station is also linked with premium outlets where you can shop your favorite brand at discounted price. You can also stop by the Chin Swee station at no extra cost and explore the Chin Swee Caves Temple and its scenic surroundings. Remember that your ticket can take you up from Awana station to the final stop or vice versa without any additional cost. The cost is RM 9 per ride for standard ticket and RM 15 for glass floor.

After strolling around the Chin Swee Caves Temple we headed back to SkyAvenue to go back to our hotel to freshen up and get ready for dinner before our final party night out.

The view of our hotel from above!

The view was worth it! Well the cable car / gondola is actually quite steady and not as shaky and I imagined it to be.

This was our dinner location at Motorino Pizza which is a restaurant specilizes in Italian food where they serve their pizza with Wood Fire cooking method. They're located at SkyAvenue level 1. Currently they''re having a special deal for family treat which is only RM 98. The Family Feast includes :

-Choice of two appetisers (Caesar Salad/ Chicken Meatball)
-Choice of one pizza
-Choice of one pasta
-Carbonated drinks or tea for 4 pax (choice of Coke, Light Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, Tonic Water, Soda Water, Earl Grey, Green Tea and English Breakfast Tea)

On our last night we went for a little night out with the whole gang to try out Zouk Genting. Here at Zouk Genting smoking inside the area is allowed thus it was all hazy but since I can't stay long in smoking room I decided to call it off a night after staying for a while. For those who love to party or drink you can enjoy their special drink sets too.

For those who wanna grab a quick breakfast you can drop by Eatopia which is a self service corner where you can pick up your breakfast and take it back to your room to eat or you can also enjoy breakfast at the park close by the hotel. This is a very interesting concept cause usually hotel do have breakfast buffet service but this one is unique and will give you the freedom to choose what breakfast you want to have.

This park is just on the other side of our hotel and it's only a few minute walk

You can even do your own self check-out through the self check-out kiosks to save time queueing for the reception when it's packed (Genting Resort World is mostly full in occupancy all year round because it's just a great place for gateway with both friends and families).

Till next time Genting! It has been a pleasant stay, so happy to create new memories and explore new places at Genting Resort World. It's definitely a one stop entertainment gateway where you can Eat, Play and Relax while discovering the different charms of Genting waiting to be unveiled.

For more information, visit www.rwgenting.com
*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Resorts World Genting.

Love, Stevie

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / YouTube