u/koji_travel

Hi guys,

I used to visit Bangkok quite a lot around 2 years ago, but heading back next weekend with my partner for 3 days (Fri–Sun). Planning to stay at the Dusit Thani.

Looking for recommendations for:

* great restaurants / bars / cafes
* new openings from the last 1–2 years
* cool neighborhoods to explore
* rooftop bars, cocktail bars, jazz bars
* unique Bangkok-only experiences

Budget isn’t really an issue. We’re more into stylish / memorable places rather than ultra touristy checklist stuff.

Open to anything from street food to fine dining.

I’ve met some Japanese adults who told me they’ve never been to Hokkaido (despite traveling elsewhere in Asia; one said Hokkaido is too cold), so it made me wonder: how do Japanese people generally view Hokkaido as a vacation destination?

Is it considered a “must visit” domestic trip, or more of an occasional/special destination because of the distance and cost?

Hi everyone, just got back from a short Hokkaido trip and thought I’d do a quick chronological trip report.

Day 1 • SGN → HKG → CTS → Hakodate

• Flew Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong
• Tried the new Aria Suite product on Cathay
• Arrived at New Chitose Airport
• Took the JR Hokuto down to Hakodate
• Quick ramen near the station because we were starving
• Taxi to our hotel: La Vista Hakodate Bay
• First evening walk around the bay area and warehouse district
• Convenience store snack/drink run
• Late-night rooftop onsen session overlooking the harbor

Day 2 • Hakodate

• Massive breakfast at La Vista (unlimited ikura, sashimi, Hokkaido soft serve overload)
• Grabbed iced Americanos to-go at Komeda’s Coffee Hakodate Bay Area
• Got my first haircut in Japan at Barber Kiya
• Walked along the bay area
• Tried the rice crackers at Terakoyahonpo Hakodateten
• Rode the old Hakodate streetcars around town
• Walked up the Hachiman-Zaka Slope
• Checked out Hakodate Orthodox Church
• Tried squid ink soft serve at Hakodate Soft House
• Lunch at PEN RET CAFE (amazing food, pet-friendly, only opens one day a week)
• Walked down towards Sumiyoshi Fishing port
• Stopped for a soda at Umi-to-Glass
• Walked to Yachigashira Station at the end of the tram line
• Walked through Hakodate Park and got absolutely stunned by the cherry blossoms
• Taxi back to hotel for a quick onsen and to freshen up
• Dinner at Daimon Hitsujitei Matsukaze
• Tried lamb, venison, and bear jingisukan (bear meat was… very tough to chew)
• Drinks and parfaits at Bar Shares (the parfait was one of the highlights of the entire trip. All hail shine parfait culture in this part of Japan!)
• Taxi back to hotel
• Another rooftop onsen session before bed

Day 3 • Hakodate → Noboribetsu → Sapporo

• Breakfast at La Vista
• JR Hokuto from Hakodate to Noboribetsu
• Took taxis from/to Noboribetsu station
• Visited Noboribetsu Date Jidai Village
• Walked through Edo-style streets and watched samurai/ninja performances
• Mainly visited because of the similarities/connections people discuss with Ghost of Yōtei
• Continued onward to Sapporo by JR Hokuto
• Taxi to the newly opened InterContinental Sapporo and checked in
• Enjoyed evening champagne and canapés in the club lounge
• Evening walk around Sapporo
• Desserts/cafes/drinks

Day 4 • Sapporo

• Slow morning at InterContinental Sapporo
• Explored central Sapporo on foot
• Shopped at Human Made
• Coffee pick-me-up at NODE Cafe
• Vintage watch shopping

; got my first Rolex: a 1997 Air-King

• Taxi back to the Hotel
• Cocktails/drinks in the club lounge while watching the rain outside

Day 5 • Sapporo → Hong Kong → SGN

• Breakfast in the club lounge
• Hand-poured cafe at 可否茶館 大通店
• Checked out and took a taxi to Sapporo Station
• Took the Airport Express to CTS
• Still my favorite airport in Japan: LeTAO, Calbee, soft serve, Marusei Butter Sandwiches, Itoya…
• Flew Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong back to Vietnam
• Another overnight Regal Airport Hotel transit stay
• Final leg back to SGN

Final Thoughts

This trip reminded me why Hokkaido has such a different reputation from the rest of Japan.

It’s not about intensity. Tokyo overwhelms you. Kyoto impresses you. Osaka energizes you. Hokkaido quietly settles into you instead.

Hakodate especially felt incredibly cinematic. There’s a slightly faded, melancholic charm to the city that made it feel deeply human and lived-in.

And Noboribetsu added that weird little dose of theatrical old Japan energy in between.

Overall, this ended up becoming less of a “checklist sightseeing” trip and more of a mood-driven trip. The kind where you remember how places felt more than what you actually did.

Would absolutely return. Probably in autumn next time.

Happy to answer questions if anyone’s planning a similar route.