Imakane travel guide and discussion

We visited the "Pirika Paleolithic Culture Museum," located right next to Kuapraza Pirika! It's a small museum, but it was an amazing experience that the kids absolutely loved. ① A Must-Challenge Quiz Where You Can Win a Real Stone First, we watched an easy-to-understand video about the Paleolithic artifacts of Pirika! Afterward, we participated in a quiz rally at the museum. It was a little challenging, but all the answers were written in the explanations! And, amazingly, if you answered all the questions correctly, you could win a "real excavated stone"! The kids' eyes lit up and they were completely focused! They worked hard, answered all the questions correctly, and received an agate! 💎 ② Free Fun! "Bow and Arrow & Fire-Making" Experience Here, you can enjoy authentic "bow and arrow" and "fire-making" experiences for free! The staff were incredibly friendly and kind, and the kids were thrilled to feel like they were in ancient times! ✨ We even managed to make a real fire during the fire-starting activity! 🔥 ③ Reading Corner & Museum Shop 📚 Book & Manga Corner: Related books and manga are available, and you can relax on benches. 🛍️ Shop: Even if you don't get the quiz questions right, you can still buy stones! My second son bought a raw jade stone! (It's a paradise for children who love stones!) With free admission, it's a fantastic hidden gem that's incredibly fun and stimulates intellectual curiosity! Besides the free activities, there are also paid activities, which is very reasonable. Definitely check it out! #ImakaneTown

On our trip to Southern Hokkaido, we stayed at Qua Plaza Pirika, a facility surrounded by lush nature! With its cozy, welcoming atmosphere, it’s a total hidden gem that I highly recommend for families with kids. Amazing Facilities That Kids Will Love! 🪲 Beetle House (Summer Only): The "Beetle House" right next door is only 100 yen per person! It’s all-you-can-touch, and my younger son loved it so much he spent two whole hours there lol. (They also have rare Hercules beetles on display, though you can’t touch those!) It’s a great place to learn to handle them gently. 📚 Kids & Manga Corner: There's a kids' corner with Legos, play kitchens, and picture books, plus a well-stocked manga and book section! My eldest son was so focused on his manga he kept reading even after we checked out 😂 🥐 Surprisingly Fancy! Free Breakfast Service: The breakfast included in our plan was described as a "light snack," but it was actually a spread with 3–4 types of bread, cup salads, and even soup—way more substantial than we expected! It was a great energy boost to start the day ✨ ♨️ The Reality of the Hot Springs & Rooms: There is an outdoor bath, but since it’s right in the heart of nature, there were quite a lot of bugs 💦 I almost cried when I couldn't get back inside because bugs were hanging out on the door lol. However, the indoor baths and relaxation areas were very comfortable ♨️ Our room didn't have a private toilet or bath, but the shared facilities were close by, so it wasn't an issue at all. 🧸 Proof of the Great Outdoors!? Apparently, wild bears were spotted nearby three times this summer, so we heard the loud booms of bear deterrents (blank shots) during the day. It really made us feel the raw nature of Hokkaido! 🍽️ The Famous "Pirika Dam Curry" & Satisfying Lunch: We had lunch at the onsite restaurant the next day! We ordered the famous "Pirika Dam Curry," pizza, and the chef’s special pasta. Everything was surprisingly delicious! The portions were huge, so we left feeling very full and happy 😋

Starting from Hakodate, we looped all the way around Southern Hokkaido! We just got back from an incredibly satisfying 8-day, 7-night trip loaded with breathtaking views, hot springs, and hands-on activities. It's packed with spots where everyone, from kids to adults, can have an absolute blast! 🗓️ 8-Day Itinerary Day 1: Arriving in Hakodate & Park Hopping Arrived at Hakodate Airport just before 10:00 AM! We kicked things off with some free play at Donan Shikinonomori Park & Dam Park. 🏨 Stay: Yunokawa Onsen - Hotel Hanabishi Day 2: Exploring the Nature-Rich Onuma Area Taking a stroll through Hachironuma Park & soaking in the great outdoors at Onuma Quasi-National Park! We even hit up the sightseeing and pedal boats! 🏨 Stay: Hakodate Onuma Prince Hotel Day 3: Heading Straight to Lake Toya & the Pacific Coast! Visited Lake Toya Fountain Park, hopped on a sightseeing boat, and landed on Nakajima Island! 🏨 Stay: Kojohama Onsen - Hotel Izumi Day 4: Scenic Views, Hands-on Experiences, and Ainu Culture Off to Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley) & the Bear Park. After trying our hand at fishing at Yamamoto Trout Farm, we learned about Ainu culture at Upopoy, then made a beeline for Pirika! 🏨 Stay: Kur Plaza Pirika Day 5: Playing All Day in Pirika & Yakumo Binge-reading manga at Kur Plaza Pirika and checking out the beetle house next door! Then we headed from the Pirika Paleolithic Culture Museum to have a blast at Funkawan Panorama Park. 🏨 Stay: Assabu Uzura Onsen Day 6: From the Sea of Japan Coast Back to Hakodate Enjoyed the "Sea Pool" in Otobe Town before heading back to Hakodate! In the evening, we took in the spectacular view from Goryokaku Tower. 🏨 Stay: Hotel MyStays Hakodate Goryokaku Day 7: A Full Day of Hakodate Fun Started the morning with some squid fishing at Hakodate Jiyu Market! Played an intense game of tag at Goryokaku Park, then chilled out at the Hakodate Library. We ended the day playing at the Tropical Botanical Garden and by the sea until evening! 🏨 Stay: Yunohama Hotel Day 8: Wrapping Up with the Best Breakfast Enjoyed a massive, luxurious breakfast at the hotel, checked out the Ainu culture exhibits and souvenir shops at Hakodate Airport, and caught our 10:00 AM flight home ✈️ I'll be sharing more about the spots we visited soon, so stay tuned for ideas! ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠