Wakkanai Wakaranai... Round 2.

[Kagetsu]

So with leave approved, I'm heading back to Japan, with what will be a scheduled two weeks in the middle of January. I suspect getting to Wakkanai will be half the fun at that time of the year, but will be well worth it.

My plan is to spend as much time around the Northern/Eastern areas of Hokkaido as I can with a little time for the south.

There was however, one thing I'd like to do, and that's where I need a little help. I want to take the ferry over to Sakhalin. Getting a Visa is no major issue, but the requirements for it, mean I need to organise a tour, or at least an authenticated reason for going there. It'll litterally be drop in and leave, but there's no point in going half assed about it.

Has anybody actually done it, or in fact, done it in the middle of winter with the ice flows? I have no doubt the trip will be worth it (really enjoyed it last year) but a little help might be necessary for this one. ^_~

[bolt_krank]

Average annual temp. 7 deg....
Nice

[Greji]

Average annual temp. 7 deg....
Nice

That's on the sunny days which occur on January the 5th and the 1st of April. The rest of the time it is colder then a well digger's asshole.....

You won't need the ferry at that time you can walk over.

[bolt_krank]

Remember the navel's the one on top....

[Kagetsu]

Well my flights been booked... So I'm in the planning stages now.

At this stage, my plan is to arrive in Hokkaido on the 19th of January (will be in Japan 25th of December onwards though), and spend seven days there...

The hope is to start in Sapporo, arriving in the morning, explore a little during that time, and move on the next morning to Wakkanai, spend a full day there renting a car and driving around, going around the east, and through the cape (apparently there's a semi active volcano somewhere nearby), then the next day head onwards to Abashiri and eventually all down the east coast side... with the remaining two days getting back to Sapporo, using the train network, which appears to be quite solid at first glance.

My question is that hoping someone can help me... The trains, do they run in Winter? There's no doubt there'll be a lot of snow, but I can't help but remember the stream of trains delayed by snow when viewing the Yamanote screens.

Actually, add an extra day for Wakkanai (need to head to Sakhalin for a day).

[Bucky]

I lived in Mombetsu for a year in the mid seventies. Colder that shit, man.

[GuyJean]

.. My question is that hoping someone can help me... The trains, do they run in Winter? There's no doubt there'll be a lot of snow, but I can't help but remember the stream of trains delayed by snow when viewing the Yamanote screens...

The city folk can't handle the snow. This is Hokkaido you're talking about. It's like asking if they drive cars in Canada since it's so.. north...

I think the only thing that should delay trains up there is suicides.

GJ

[GuyJean]

I lived in Mombetsu for a year in the mid seventies. Colder that shit, man.

I think everywhere was colder than shit in the seventies.

GJ

[dimwit]

Pussies. Spend a winter in Winnepeg and we'll talk about cold.

[Charles]

My question is that hoping someone can help me... The trains, do they run in Winter? There's no doubt there'll be a lot of snow, but I can't help but remember the stream of trains delayed by snow when viewing the Yamanote screens.

I would suggest you just rent a car:

[Kagetsu]

I'd prefer this. ^_~

EDIT: For those who don't know what it is, it's the Hilux used to drive to the North pole.