Kitami Hollow Shining !

by Kazu

It was a pity that we could not explore the east coast of Hokkaido Island during my stay that time but we could enjoy our stay and remembering my younger days in the hollow amply.

The graveyard seemed to be well-maintained. Actually, a senior gentleman was trimming the trees and lawn at the peak of the hillside early in the morning. The stone stairs at the center of graveyard looked a little bit damaged but each tombstone seemed to be polished every spring, summer and autumn.

I heard that some families closed their tomb and the bones were put in the common bone house in the graveyard. There is a collective bone house in the graveyard but a new one is under construction at the foot of the stone stairs.

 

Midorigaoka Graveyard in Kitami City !

by Kazu

This graveyard is located at the northern end of Kitami Hollow. The whole city can be seen from there. It was developed before my birth. I used to visit there to catch beetles with scissors early in the morning during my infancy.

Tokoro River made this hollow. There was a hydrogen mine on the upper side of the river and produced tons of hydrogen every week but it was abolished. The waste water should be treated even now and my office contributes to the treating cycle by giving the grant in cooperation with the central government.

Of course, the river water is used for drink, so the quality of the water should be well-checked continuously. Different from the scenery that I had seen from the peak of the graveyard half century ago, Kouei Town at the foot of this hill was rebuilt and well-organized for the citizens. Jogging around the area, I was remembering my grade school days.  

 

The Time of Eggs "Tamago no Jikan" in Kitami City !

by Kazu

The design of the artificial lake park is so nice with the view of natural scenery and artificial building and objects. If it had a hot spring spa, much more people would visit there frequently, I think.

This omelet plate topped with the special tomato sauce made of the miracle tomato raised in the farm that one of my friends runs is much more delicious than I expected. They sell the pasta and the special tomato sauce too. 

Once they minimized the menu but this time I am struck by the taste and variety of dishes this time. My friend from the grade school cooks them but I can't believe that he memorized all the recipe of the dishes, to be honest. Actually, he said that he forgot some of the recipe sometimes. Please check up and try the small restaurant at https://tamagonojikan.okhotsk-tomato.com/

 

Artificial Lake Tomisato in Kitami City !

by Kazu

Tomioka Lake was made by building a dam between Nikoro Area and Ainonai Area in Kitami City. A camping site is beside the lake. No hot spring spa is near the lake but the calm and peaceful circumstances allure the citizens in the city.  

A much more popular camping site on the top of the southern hill is near the graveyard on the opposite side of Kitami Hollow. The views of the city from there seems to be so nice particularly in the evening. 

The administrative office of the camping site and boat house are facing the artificial lake and seem to be able to accommodate some campers to cook during rainfall. The autumnal foliage in this area must be so beautiful. 

 

The Public Camping Site in Kitami City !

by Kazu

The Green Center of my hometown Kitami City accommodates a variety of plants from the southern regions of Japan and other countries.I am not sure it has banana trees and other fruit trees or not but it may be tough for them because no honey bees inside the greenhouse. Artificial pollination must be tough for the staff of the facility. 

The bright sky was typical northern pale blue holding white and gray clouds spreading extensively. So far, the trail to the Stone Garden adjacent to the Green Center seemed to be well-maintained but the budget for the maintenance must be cut down gradually in the future.     

I've never seen other jogger and walker in The Stone Garden but it also seemed to be well-maintained and trimmed. The municipality of Kitami has to get the financial situation better. Many people outside and inside the city are giving goo helping hands for that but the way in front of them seemed to be tough to go through.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

The Forest Museum in Kitami City !

by Kazu

The Tree Museum Trail on the backside of The Green Center in my hometown Kitami City has a variety of plants beside the path and this withered dead tree is now playing the role of the residence for the creatures in the forest.

Some trunks of fallen trees were left on the ground. They seemed to have made up the great view of prospering and declining. Fortunately, no brown bears have not been found around the forest but considering the current moves of brown bears on this island found here and there, no body can't assure that they do not exist there.  

This photo is like a piece of oil paint, isn't it ? The fallen leaves on the ground made the  natural fertilizer and baits for the insects and bacteria. the aroma of pine trees and spruces created the sacred atmosphere under the green leaves.

 

Mia Angela to Engaru Roadside Station !

by Kazu

Grilled red beef with truffle sauce in Mia Angela may be one of the most our favorite in Hokkaido. The beef is from Furano Area at the center of the island. My wife and I prefer red beef to fatty marble ones, to be honest. 

The Italian ristorante kindly provided us with so nice sweet and sour cheese cake with ice cream topped with strawberry sauce. Chocolate amuse on the white plate created so nice contrast with the cake and cream.

On the next day, we headed to my hometown Kitami City to polish the tombstone and worship. On our way to Kitami, we dropped by the roadside station in Engaru Town and had curry rice casserole and Thai gappao in the cafe on the second floor.