Mt.Youtei in Shiribeshi!

by Kazu

This is not the famous symbol of Japan Mt. Fuji but is called Ezo Fuji (Mt.Fuji in Hokkaido).Its real name is Mt.Youtei and it has the beautiful shape of Konide.It is 1,898m high. The hillside is crumbled again and again and the landslides occurred many times. 

 It shows  variety of countenances in each season and time and produces the water of high quality at the foot of itself. Many people visit  Kyougoku Town and adjacent towns and villages bring the quality water to their home and restaurant to make the delicious coffee. Kyougoku Town is known as the place to produce the quality water that is bottled and sold.

It has four trails to reach the summit and various kinds of creatures can be seen on each trail. The season of trekking has already begun but the weather is very comfortable, not so hot and humid this year compared to average.  

Many hot spring spas are around the mountain including Niseko ski resort. Only one hour drive from Sapporo City can bring you to another world. Everybody loves this area Shiribeshi that also has the beautiful coastline and delicious sea food.
Details are at http://www.shiribeshi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/srk/en/index.htm
Have a nice weekend!

The best BBQ restaurant on the globe!

 This gentleman is running the restaurant that is providing the most delicious Japanese "YAKINIKU" BBQ meat on this globe, I think.
He had been working for the telecommunications company NTT in Japan and quited the lucrative position to seek for the best Japanese Yakiniku BBQ taste that could satisfy himself and the people on this globe.
His wife passed away a few years ago and he was not born in Iwamizawa City but he decided to devote himself to satisfy the citizens of Iwamizawa and adjacent cities.

He is not seeking for the benefit more than for making ends meet and very happy to see the people eating yakiniku happily and to have a chat and beer with the people.
 He strolled around the world seeking for the best meat that can be provided to the folks with average income. As a result, the restaurant is buying in the beef from Shiretoko area that was listed on the World Heritage of UNESCO, the lamb from Hidaka Area that produces excellent racing horses. I can not say that the restaurant is squeaky clean and some people say the table and menu are greasy but the taste of the grilled meat is superb.

The horumon, intestinal part of beef and pork are bought in depending on the market price from the most competitive supplier at the moment.  My colleagues were also surprised at the taste of the meat provided in this yakiniku restaurant. I guarantee that everybody is satisfied by the taste.

The name of the restaurant is Ganko-matsu Horumon.Ganko means "stubborn", matsu means pine tree and may be the name sake of the name of the owner who is very stubborn to select the meat to provide. The address of the restaurant is 6-jo Nishi 1 chome, Iwamizawa City, Soraqchi sub-prefectural area, Hokkaido. Without trying the restaurant, I could not be entitled to talk about yakiniku. Please try it! 

 

Teshio River in Kamikawa!

by Gen

Thank you very much for the laissez-faire in contributing photos with words to this English blog site.

This time, I would like to introduce Teshio River that is delivering the God's bless to the people in Kamikawa sub-prfectural area as well as Rumoi and Soya sub-prefectural area.
This photo was taken in Otoineppu Village in Kamikawa sub-prefectural area. 

It shows  a variety of countenances on its face as time and seasons go by.The photo on the right was taken in Nakagawa Town in Kamikawa. Strolling around in Hokkaido including Kamikawa gives the tourists irresistible impression and unforgettable recollection.














The photo on the left was taken at the border of Nayoro City and Bifuka Town in Kamikawa.  The length of the river is 256km and the fourth longest in Japan but the square measure of the river is 5,590 square kilo meters and the 10th largest in Japan because it has only a few tributaries.

The general of winter makes the river have such a icy countenance and the sounds made by floating ice plates are intriguing.

Have a great weekend in Kamikawa! 

The beginning of the week and the MVP of the month!

by Regional Policy Division
   Local Policy Planning Division,
   Sorachi Sub-prefectural Office, Hokkaido   Government

This is the photo of the main street in the premises of Hokkaido University. What a beautiful day!

Thank you very much for attention to this official English blog site and the contributions of words and photos!

We are very sorry for delaying the announcement of the MVP of the month, June.

The MVP of June is ??????????????????

Alan from the United States ! Thank you again, Alan, for giving us very interesting photos and comments. We will send you the coupon issued by JCB credit card company in Japan. Would you mind if we asked you to email us where we should send the coupon worth of 3,000 Japanese yen  as the present for the winner?  The moment we get the address to send the coupon, we will send the coupon by snail mail.   Thank you again for cooperation to increase the traffic of this blog!

Besides, we are very sorry for delaying to send the present to the winner of the quiz, Andy.

We will purchase the same kind of coupon issued by JCB this weekend and send you right away!

We welcome the photos of beautiful , wonderful, delicious, eyeball-popping, moving or attractive scenery, cuisine and items with some comments to post on this blog.

Please cut out your favorite scenery etc. with the camera of your mobile phone and send it to 

ikeda.kazuaki@pref.hokkaido.lg.jp

We will post the quiz of the month for July next week after contemplating what should be the present for the winner of the quiz.

Please do not shy away! We really appreciate the contributions of photos with words to introduce on this blog.  

Sora-puchi Kid's Camp!

by Kazu

This photo was taken at the lookout of Maruka Highland in Takikawa City.
The hills are covered with fog but some very calm uphill battles are fought by small kids at the hillside of the highland.

There are many kids who say "I want to play outside ! It's my dream!" In Japan, approximately 200,000 kids are fighting against the obstinate disease that is difficult to cure. Sora-puchi Kids Camp is where the children with obstinate disease can spend their time in nature comfortably. Encountering with new friends and experiences, strong bond with fellow soldiers to fight against the obstinate disease produce vim and vigor to keep on living and make the dream of their future.The entity running this camping system is eager to make the dreams come true with the dream camp that can be realized in cooperation with people. 

"Sora-puchi" means " the river with waterfall" in the language of indigenous people in Hokkaido, AINU. The name of the city Takikawa is the namesake of this Sora-puchi in the meaning. Taki means waterfall and kawa means river in Japanese.
For the the kids with cancer in their infancy, or with heart disease, Sora-puchi camp has the medical facilities in its premises and provides the service to support the kids with obstinate disease to enjoy camping. The kids and their family may forget about their disease in the nature and can spend their time with smiles.

Sora-puchi Kids Camp gives a good support and the place to the kids around the clock in order to make good memories, wonderful friends, power to live and hopes.
From the lookout above the camp, Mt. Pinneshiri and Mt.Shokanbetsu can be seen in fine weather.

This is the facilities and premises of Sora-puchi Kid's Camp.Already some kids have come in. I hope the kids fight a good fight and enjoy their stay in this camp that can exist with the goodwill of the people in Takikawa City and other area on this globe including the business sectors..

Please find the kids fighting and enjoying their stay at  http://wwww.solaputi.jp/index.html

But it is in Japanese. Sorry for negligence of Japanese people.

Naie Town "Bunka" Hall!

by Kazu

When I visited Naie Town for the round table meeting between Sorachi Sub-prefectural Office of Hokkaido Government and the key persons exerting their efforts to revitalize the town including the mayor Mr.Kita, I was so surprised at what I had not expected to see.

It was in the building of Naie Culture Hall. It is not this object of baroque piano.  

It is given  the city by a private company headquartered in Naie Town.

Yes! What surprised me so much was "Victoire de Samothrace" that I saw in the Louvre, in English "Winged Victory", for Japanese "Goddess of Victory, Nike", should I say? The colour is different but the shape is the same as the original in the Louvre. I was so encouraged to face the challenges that Sorachi sub-prefectural area is facing, to make it to get over them and solve the problems that annoy the people in this area. I did not expected to see the sculpture again but it inspired me so much.  "Obstacles are existing for us to get over! " The words will never be obsolete. Let's win the uphill battle!

  

Michelin's Guide Book recommended!

by Chiseko

The Japanese SOBA (buckwheat noodle) restauant in Naie Town got "Bib Gourmand" in le Guide Rouge (Red Guide) of Bibendum.
The name is Karamatsu-en" which means "larch park" in Japanese.

The restaurant is on the roadside of Route 12. Going from Iwamizawa to Asahikawa, it is easily found on the right of Route 12.

The noodle sold in the restaurant is made from the buckwheat raised in Urausu Town without agricultural chemicals.

Rice crackers flavoured with shrimp powder are very popular as souvenirs for friends.

Dried noodles and fresh noodles made of "Botan buckwheat" are sold at the cashier.

Sora-soba topped with grilled pheasant and sliced-raddish tempura with mushroom is composed of the produce and products sourced locally in Sorachi, and is very popular in this restaurant.

Tomatoes and pork produced in Naie Town are boiled to make this "Tomato Soba".
Japanese gallete is for side order.

Tempura Donburi(rice bowl) and cold buckwheat noodle soup were my lunch on the day. The restaurant has two kinds of sauce flavour. One is spicy and another is comparatively sweet for soba soup.Open: Friday to Wednesday 1100-20:00(March -October). 11:00-19:30(November-February.) Close: Thursday, the beginning of the year. 

Tel:0125-65-4571  

http://www.karamatsu.co.jp/