Eat corn butter ramen, minced pork miso dumplings, and karaage at New Chitose Ramen Alley
17:45–20:50 Flight back to Incheon Airport
But as always, reality didn’t go quite as planned.
Morning at Odori Park
Feeling completely exhausted on the final day, we decided to skip our plan to visit Nijo Market and start the morning slowly instead. Our baby woke up a little after 8 AM, and my tired husband finally dragged himself out of bed. After packing, we struggled toward Sapporo Station with heavy luggage, especially since my husband had bought five bottles of alcohol!
We stored our luggage at one of Sapporo Station’s many coin lockers and then headed toward Odori Park to find the famous udon shop my husband had been dreaming about.
At Odori Park, we took a moment to relax. The late summer scenery was full of blooming flowers, and our baby ran happily across the grassy fields. Soft-serve ice cream made from Hokkaido milk and sweet Hokkaido corn are must-tries at Odori Park!
However, the udon shop we were aiming for was closed (Sunday holiday). Disappointed, we headed back toward the station and found another small udon shop in the basement of a nearby building.
We ordered curry udon and tempura sets. Our baby enjoyed the udon, cheering up again. However, because the restaurant allowed indoor smoking, we had to leave immediately after finishing our meal.
We bought JR train tickets and took the 12:47 train to New Chitose Airport. The airport felt like a giant shopping mall, filled with restaurants, supermarkets, and souvenir shops. Coincidentally, there were special performances celebrating Aviation Day, and our baby started dancing to the music, charming everyone around him.
The Airport Food Crisis
We made a major mistake: Thinking we could eat after going through security, we skipped lunch at the airport mall.
However, at New Chitose Airport, all the restaurants close by 4 PM because the final flights of the day depart around 5 PM! By the time we finished check-in, every restaurant had already closed. Desperately, we searched for something at the lounge, but there were only drinks available — no food.
In-Flight Meal Struggles
Since our baby hadn’t eaten properly, we planned to feed him during the flight. Unfortunately, in-flight meals had to be reserved at least 72 hours in advance, which we hadn’t done.
In the end, we paid extra for an instant cup noodle, cooled it down carefully, and fed it to our baby right there in our cramped airplane seats. Although it was tough, I was relieved that he at least managed to fill his tummy.
After eating, he quickly fell asleep in my arms, finally giving us a moment of rest.
As we ascended, we caught a breathtaking view of Lake Toya — the lake we had failed to see properly from the ground due to heavy rain — and once again, I felt a pang of regret.
Arrival at Incheon Airport
Our flight landed earlier than scheduled, around 17:45. Although it took some time to retrieve our luggage, everything else went smoothly, and we made it home safely.
We unpacked just a little before finally collapsing into bed after midnight.
Reflections on the Trip
Our journey through Hokkaido was a mixture of joy and exhaustion. Traveling with a 22-month-old brought many challenges, but the time spent together as a family was truly precious.
Next time, I hope to plan a more relaxing itinerary — one that allows us to savor Hokkaido’s beauty without rushing.
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