Japanese Inn in Wakkanai City !

by Chis.

When we dropped by Obira Town on our way back to Sapporo City, we found this commemoration on the roadside. A line of words were on it. I can't understand the two characters on the last line but it says that "something" comes from the ocean where Sakhalin can be seen. I think "something" is a kind of bird that symbolizes the soul of the people on the aircraft of Korean Air that was shot down by the fighters of Soviet Union's Air Force.
Will that be forgotten by the people left behind ?  

The paddy fields have not been cultivated in Numata Town. The most delicious supreme grade of rice crops are raised in this area but the start of cultivation has to be delayed this year because of the heavy snow they have in past winter.

The seedlings were raised in the greenhouses in Numata Town.

Have you ever heard of "Oyako-don" which is the rice bowl topped with sauteed chicken, onion and egg flavored with broth and soy sauce. Oyako means parents and kids in Japanese.  But in Nishin Goten which means Herring Palace, serves the seafood Oyako-don which is the rice bowl topped with grilled herring and its roe flavored with broth and soy sauce.  It was the first time for me to have that ! I heard that herring swamped to the west coast of Hokkaido Island as it had many years ago. Is it the good sign for fishery?

This is the most northern MacDonald in Japan. Of course, the prices of hamburgers are the same as the ones in other places of Japan. But it is a pity that the shop doesn't have the special menu as the northern end shop in Japan.

This is the commemoration of nine Japanese ladies who had worked in the post office in Sakhalin until the army of Soviet Union conquered there after the end of World War . The words of the operating lady communicated before she suicide herself with her eight colleagues. They send the words, "Everybody, this is the last call. Good-bye, good-bye." They killed themselves for fear of being raped by the soldiers of Soviet Union because that is much more scary for them than being killed. Yes, they kept their heart and purity as well as the pride as Japanese ladies.

With many other miseries, World War Ⅱ ended. We must not let those sacrifices in vein.  We have to make the soul of casualties happier by showing them our efforts to make the world more comfortable to live without conflict and tragedies. Shall we change the far east and make it flourish to the level where nobody had not seen before?

"Hyousetsu no Mon" which means the gate of ice and snow is also heading to Sakhalin.

The centennial tower in Wakkanai City was covered with fog when we visited. It was built 100 years after the city had been established.

Every time we make a business trip to the north, we invariably drop by Sunagawa Service Area for a rest. The ice cream that got the first prize in Japan was sold at the stand set by Iwase Ranch in Sunagawa City. I love strawberry ice cream in the stand.

In retrospect, I forgot to post the photos of the inside of Japanese Inn Hanashin in Rebun Island. Just the dinner was introduced on this blog.

The inside was pretty comfortable for the road warriors and tourists.

Seagulls floating on the sea in the port could be seen from the Inn.

Walking around the port and watching the surface of the ocean could make me relaxed even in the business jaunt.

Is this the entrance of the sea for divers? Small boats can be moored and the staff can land from this small stairs ? I keep my fingers and toes crossed praying that DPRK agents would never enter from this stairs.

The restroom and powder room were so clean and functional.

Each guest room was so nice to lie down.

Japanese taste and twist were added to the details of the interiors.

The entrance of the bathes were so cute with the tapestry of the night scenery of the island, I think.

The corridor of the Inn was comparatively wide  and wheelchair could be used there.

As the plants Cyripedium named Rebun Atsumorisou are very popular and famous in Japan, one of the guestroom was named Atsumori in the Inn.

The name of Atsumori is the namesake of ancient beautiful samurai Tairano Atsumori who was killed by Mr. Naozane Kumagai who was the brave soldier in Genji Dynasty of samurai group. The shape of the flower seems to be similar to the cloth shield against arrows from the backside.

The names of flowers such as Trillium smallii and Dianthus are also used as the name of the guestrooms.

It was a long business jaunt to the north, away from my husband. I hope he accept all my demands and selfishness kindly after I arrived in our condo because I has been stressed by various kinds of demands and egoism? of the people in the world;)

Port Wkkanai !

by Chis.

Our team arrived in Port Wakkanai from the islands off shore of Wakkanai City. It was raining in the port. The ship of the coastguard seemed to be checked up and left in the rest. Normally the big holidays from the end of April to the beginning of May are the start of the bulk tourism in Hokkaido even in the coldness of the air but the ferry was not filled up with the passengers.

As the northern end of Hokkaido, Wakkanai City has an enough population but if the connection with the far east area of Russia including Sakhalin get stabler than now, the city will develop again by leaps and bounds, I think. Is the key energy ? a free trade zone invested by Japanese businesses ? Shall we make it far from the center of each country ? The service industry and manufacturing in Japan have many cutting edge to compete against the foreign businesses. That means the service receivers are so comfortable to be served by Japanese businesses.

The nearest big city is Asahikawa City but it is still hundreds km away from Wakkanai City. I am planning to invite people and money to Wakkanai City by whispering people in the city and in Tokyo.
If anybody could shoot me the idea to contribute to the development of Hokkaido and the far east of Russia, I would appreciate it so much !

After many years of conflict and distrust, we have to build up the real trust and stable good relationship between Hokkaido and the far east of Russia before the central government show the little compromise just for their alibi and getting vote in the election !

It is the last day of the big holidays in May in Japan.
Is it the time to change the world ?

Good-bye islands !

by Chis.

Our team left Rishiri Island for Rebun Island.
Seagulls showed us enough their ability to fly acrobatically to pick up snacks from the hands of the passengers.

I am not sure if the oil contained in the pieces of snacks is good for the stomach and health of the seagulls or not. But they seemed to like the snack "Kappa Ebisen", the shrimp-taste snack.

"Takechan Sushi" is one of the sushi restaurant that can serve Ramen noodle soup and sweets as well in the ferry terminal of Rebun Island. Salt taste ramen noodle soup is one of the big draw at lunch time. The restaurant is so popular with not only the tourists but also the citizens of the island.

Mt. Rishiri Fuji still could be seen clearly from the port of Rebun Island. It looks like the island floating in the air.

This is the dinner in Nature Inn Hanashin where we stayed in Rebun. Sesame curd, grilled Hokke fish ( a kind of cod?), see weed mozuku flavored with vinegar, sushi grade sliced fresh fish including squid, sauteed shrimp and vegetables, fried intestine of fish and so forth.

Next morning, Mt. Rishiri Fuji could be seen more clearly than the day before. Bright white peak was not covered with clouds.

I love hiking but I am not so courageous enough to try the mountain in winter.

Seagulls followed the ferry until the ship arrived at the port.

Rebun Island showed its gentle hillside and peak with white snow.

As opposed to the shape of Rebun Island, Rishiri Island showed as the sharp peak with beautiful shape of Konide.

I will visit these Islands again next year in my business jaunt but I may have to take my husband to there in coming summer to savor delicious sea urchin.

Until  then, good bye, islands!

Do you know Milpis ?

by Chis.

I think most of the people in Japan know and love Calpis, a kind of lactic acid drink that has been loved for years. But do you know Milpis on Rishiri Island ?

I think it is also a kind of lactic acid drink but I am not sure if stock breeding is conducted in the island. I have never seen cows there but the people need milk anyway.

This is the Milpis shop on Rishiri Island.
I assume that in order to keep the milk on the island, lactic acid might be the most useful tool not to waste the milk carried in the island.

The cap of the drink is normal and the same as the ones used for milk bottle.

Needless to  say, the bottles are the same as the ones used for milk.

Why such kind of lactic acid drink is produced on the island where stock breeding is not conducted and no milk is produced ?
I am so sorry if any stock breeder were on the island.

On our way from Oshidomari to Kutsugata on Rishiri Island, the sign of the shop could be found easily and it seemed that various kinds of souvenirs were sold in the same shop.

This house may be built with the money earned in the Milpis business. We call it "Milpis Mansion".

Though it is not so fine today and during this big holidays, our business jaunt to Rishiri and Rebun Island was blessed with fine weather.

Can you see the white moon in the sky?

Many migratory birds departed for the north after having an enough rest on the island.

The most famous Hokkaido confection White Lovers "Shiroi Koibito" uses the photo from this angle for its package design and advertisement.
The small lake Otadomari-numa is at the foot of the mountain.

This is not the pier for the  lake but I am not sure how the wooden deck has  been used for.
The cloud over the mountain started to change its countenances before sunset.

No boat, no canoe, no kayak existed on the lake on the day.
But the white Mt. Rishiri kept its surface white and pale blue. Do you think it is so nice to see the beautiful mountains from the boat on the lake, listening the sound of the winds ?

It is still cold in Hokkaido but a lot of hot spring spa absolutely ease the pain you feel with your body and mind, I think.
Hit the road and get the pleasure!

Tang Tang Mien "Rikyuu" in Sapporo City !

by Kazu

It is the counter and the kitchen of the specialty ramen restaurant "Rikyu" famous with Chinese Tang Tang Mien. The name of the restaurant is the namesake of the most famous Japanese tea ceremony master Mr. Rikyu Senno in ancient times but I am not sure  why the owner chose the name.

This is the poster that shows the flagship ramen noodle soup in this restaurant, tang tang mien. It says "a once -in-a-lifetime chance" and all of the hospitality in a bowl of ramen noodle soup.

The flavoring of Zahsai was a little bit light for me but so nice to have before and between sipping so hot and spicy ramen noodle soup.

The original flavoring of tang tang mien in the restaurant is based on soy sauce with fermented sesame paste and hot chili and the new version is based on the fermented soy beans paste with fermented sesame paste and hot chili. Fried chickens accompany with the noodle soup if you order the set menu.  

Red and white tang tang mien, dry tang tang mien without soup are also sold in this restaurant. You can chose the kind of the noodle, straight noodle or crinkly waved noodle.

You can order rice and boiled flavored eggs after eating up the noodle and leaving soup.Chaozu dumplings are also delicious and appropriate to wrap up the meal.

This is parkoh tang tang mien of original flavoring topped with fried spare rib. We remember the same kind of ramen noodle soup in the well-established ramen restaurant in Ginza Area of Tokyo, HASHIGO.

This is the new version of this restaurant flavored with fermented soy beans paste. Which would you try at first?
Both of them were so delicious and the spicy level can be chosen by yourself. Even if you made a mistake to chose appropriate level for you, it can be adjustable on the table. Please do not mind !
Address: Nishi 24 chome, Kita 1-jo, Chuo-ku,
Sapporo City. It is at the corner of the intersection.

Business Jaunt to the northern islands 3!

by Chis.

Beautiful Mt. Rishiri Fujib was still seen from Oshidomari Ferry Terminal.
It was a pity that I did not have enough time to visit the small lake called Himenuma that has a circumference of 1,000 m with deck walk. Walking around the pond may bring you the piece of mind. It was about 5 km from the terminal to the lake and it takes about 20 minutes to go around the lake.
On a fine day, the surface of the lake reflects the landscape including Mt. Rishiri Fuji and visitors can enjoy the couple of Mt. Rishiri Fuji and its reflection.
Kokanee, Carassius, Carp and Shrimp live in the lake.

The beautiful scenery of Oshidomari Bay and Rebun Island can be seen from Himenuma Lookout beside Coast Street that connects Oshidomari area and Himenuma.
   The lake can be seen at http://www.rishiritou.com/sight/himenuma.html

The ferry that connects Rishiri Island, Rebun Island and Wakkanai City has arrived at the port of Oshidomari.

Our team got on the ferry and left Rishiri Island. This is the photo from deck of the ferry.

Rebun Island started to be seen from the ferry. Different from Rishiri Island, it does not have any high mountains but the highest area of the island was covered with snow.

Rebun Island has the ragged coastline on the west and the gentle coastline on the east. The highest point of the island is the top of Mt. Rebun(dake) with the altitude of 490 meters.

About 3,000 people are living in the island that has the width of 8 km, the longitude of 29 km and the square measure of 82 square kilo meters.
　In summer, about 300 kinds of alpine plants bloom on the island despite the island does not have high mountain..

Mt. Rishiri Fuji could be seen clearly from Rebun Island on the day. My husband said that he was eager to visit again Rishiri Island and conquer the peak. The peak is only 1721 meters high but as the start point is at an altitude of almost zero meter, it takes a whole day to conquer the peak and return to the hotel.

Where will you visit on this weekend?
Please mind p's and q's on the road and drive your car safely !

Have a great trip and inspire yourself !

Business Jaunt to the northern islands 2 !

by Chis.

It was not so cold on Rishiri Island and white Mt. Rishiri Fuji could be seen clearly when I arrived on the island.
The symphony of the white mountain and the white clouds with bright blue sky was so beautiful that I failed to check the ground around me and I stumbled in Kutsugata Area of Rishiri Town. The ground is still pale brown but some buds of plants could be seen in the area. The pretty shape with "possibilities" may bring positive effect to the patients with neurosis.
The people living on this island said that it might be warmer than in Sapporo City, affected by Tsushima Warm Current.

Actually female dancers from Brazil got married with the fishermen in this island and settled in.

The people in Oshidomari Area of Rishiri Fuji Town can see the beautiful skyline of Mt. Rishiri Fuji as shown on the right. I think most of the people in Hokkaido need such mountain on the back in their hearts and houses.

One more working day is left before the second big weekend. Have you planned your next trip on this weekend?

I have itchy feet at the beginning of the season of tourism.
Culinary delights in Hokkaido are waiting for you !