Italian Family Restaurant Bokka in Date City and Kitafunaoka Station !

by Kazu

We had pasta lunch in one of the most popular restaurant in Date City "Bokka" . I chose clam carbonara spaghetti topped with cheddar cheese. The counter table of the restaurant was more comfortable than expected. 

After that, we dropped by the Kitafunaoka Coffee Roaster House near Kitafunaoka Train Station. But the narrow space in the cafe was filled up with the tourists from overseas. My wife checked up the vacancy of the seat but one of them let their kid stand on the counter table facing the window and Eruption Gulf. So we gave up to have a cup of coffee there on that day.                                                                                 

It was cloudy on that day and the ocean was not shining with the bright  sunshine. Suddenly, an announcement was made under the sky that many train transportation were canceled because of the heavy rainfall in Hakodate and Sapporo City.     k

 

Date Shinto Shrine Decoration !

by Kazu

The facade of Date Shito Shrine was also decorated with beautiful parasols colored with pale pink and blue that gave us the images of cool water and winds. The monument near the gate was also decorated subtly with glass pots and figures of Shimaenaga bird the symbol bird of Hokkaido.

The aged stone lantern was sent from the entrepreneurs of the city who contributed to the development of the city. The origin of the pioneers were from Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Date Samurai Dynasty ruled the northern part of the main island of Japan and some of them came to Hokkaido and developed the area.

They founded the basic organization of the city and infrastructures to make the region the Shangrila on this globe.
 

Date City Shinto Shrine !

by Kazu

Mt Yotei was wearing white drapes again on that day. We were so looking forward to staying in Hotel Setsu Niseko on the long holidays in July even though I had to have surgical operation to cure anal fistula and avoid soaking my body in the comfy hot spring spa. 

We visited the Shinto Shrine in Date City to get the memorial stamp. My wife loves to collect the red stamps provided by each Shinto shrine everywhere in Japan. The decoration of the hand-washing fountain near the gate of the shrine was made of beautiful umbrellas and wind bells.

 

The Wind Power and Data Center !

by Kazu

we visited Tokoro Wind-power Farm on the hill top of Tokoro Town in Kitami City where Curling Stadiums were keeping to nurture the curlers like "Loco Solare" that won the silver medals in Olympic Game held in winter season.

The blades of the windmill and the shafts were so huge and they have the sensors to catch the silhouette of the flying birds such as Steller's Sea Eagle and White-tailed Eagle and warning horn to fend off the birds.

The next day, we visited the data center built in my hometown Kitami City named "Argo Kitami Techno Center". It is still continuing to accommodate the computers and has vacant space to bring in the computers to be cooled down with liquid cooling systems.

 

The Residue of the Bio Gas !

by Kazu

In order to avoid explosion of the bio gas created in the facility of Ubetsu Town, the extra gas must be burnt on the ground like in the oil rigs overseas. After the fermentation process, such quality natural fertilizer is created as residue.

The manager of the facility recommended us to bring back the quality natural fertilizer but all of us could not accept his recommendation to avoid the contamination of the air in the bus.

These are the package of the quality natural fertilizer created in the facility. The farmers and the citizens who love to raise flowers in their gardens are happy to have them to pursue their hobby but even near the facility, the possibility of brown bear attack exists actually.

 

Bio Gas System from Czech !

by Kazu

The bio gas facility in Yubetsu bought the unit from Czech. Twice a year, the technicians of Czech should be invited to the facility and check up the mechanical systems. I've never heard of the names "TEDOM" "Gunter" before but I learned the names.

The bio gas power factory provides electricity to the ranches of Okhotsk Area, I heard but I am not sure the price of the electricity.  It may be sold Hokkaido Electric Power Company headquartered in Sapporo. 

This is the huge plastic and fiber bag to contain the bio gas from the fermented cow dungs. Almost no smell in the gas house. The livestock breeding industry may be shrinking but have the possibility to keep the owners and workers.  

 

The Bio Gas Factory in Yuubetsu Town !

by Kazu

We visited the Bio Gas Power Factory in Yubetsu Town. The cow dungs in Okhotsk Area are collected in the facility and go through the process of fermentation. As a result, flammable gas such as methane is created and used in the area.

The straw-cutting machine is used to cut the cow dungs because the fiber of the straws prevent the cow dungs from flowing smoothly in the pipe under the ground. The smell was terrible in this area but after the process of fermentation, almost no smell I felt.

The cow dungs were bought in the huge tank as crude oil is stored in the industrial complex in Japan. The bio gas facility also creates quality fertilizer as a residue as well. I heard that approximately four billion Japanese Yen was poured into this facility.