Obihiro Night!

by Kazu

I really felt the producing power of the land and the ocean of Tokachi Subprefectural area, having steamed oysters, grilled pork and chicken skewers. God blessed Tokachi area. 

The grilled pork and onion skewers were typical and popular in Hokkaido. Grilled pork ricebowl of Obihiro is very famous. The recipe of the sauce is different from restaurant to restaurant but the basic is the same.

 

Japanese Bistro " Zen" in Obihiro!

by Kazu

It was about two years ago when I took the Hawaiian Educational Delegation to Obihiro. I took the two of them, Mitchell and Michael to a Japanese bistro near the railway station after our arrival. The name of the bistro was "Zen".

Remembering the supper with the  friends from Hawaii , I took my wife to the bistro for dinner. Sliced pickled and smoked radish topped with cream cheese was so nice as a starter that the delegation head,  the Educational Superintendent of the State of Hawaii loved it. 

The fresh sushi-grade raw milt of cod  with citrus soy-sauce struck my heart strings so much. Later, I heard the bistro was for high-end consumers. 

 

Dusk to night in Obihiro!

by Kazu

We really enjoyed the magic hour in Obihiro City on that day. We bought and used "Hokkaido Love!" Pass that enabled us to romp around in Hokkaido by train for six days, in order to visit Obihiro and Kushiro this time.

As we bought the pass before January 27, we could use the pass in spite of the countermeasures  against the pandemic of covid-19 conducted in Hokkaido.

We went out to the downtown of Obihiro to savor the cuisine sourced locally. Some people were in the building of Obihiro station but it was very calm on that day.

 

Dusk in Obihiro City!

by Kazu 

This is my second routine jogging course in Obihiro City. From Hokkaido Hotel on the west side of the railway station of Obihiro through Obihiro Zoo and Park, residential area and back to the hotel. 

Before healing my body in the hotspring spa of the hotel, I jogged around in the twilight. The citizens seemed to be coming home and a few people were walking their dogs.

The spine of Hokkaido Island, Hidaka Mountain Range made the beautiful skyline on the west. We came through the mountain range from Sapporo. It was very fine and nice on that day.

 

"Diamond Dust" in Hokkaido Hotel!

by Kazu

The afternoon tea set of cafe Diamond Dust in Hokkaido Hotel was appropriate for us after having lunch in "Takumi" the buckwheat noodle restaurant in Obihiro. 

The food material was sourced locally in Tokachi Subprefectural Area. The cake was real patisserie's signature dish in the cafe. After checking in, I headed to Obihiro Zoo for jogging.

 

Hokkaido Hotel in Obihiro !

by Kazu

The name of the cafe in Hokkaido Hotel was "Diamond Dust" that could be seen early in the morning in cold winter. The moist in the air frozens up and shines in the air. 

An old coach was displayed in the foyer of Hokkaido Hotel that had been used decades ago. The classical old taste fit to the foyer and made fascinating atmosphere there. 

 

Obihiro Shrine!

by Kazu

My wife makes a point of dropping by the local shrines and getting the original stamp of each shrine. We stopped by Obihiro Shrine to pray for the prosperity of Hokkaido including Obihiro City on that day. 

We went back to the railway station near the bus terminal from Obihiro Shrine. The logo of Hokkaido Love! was on the other side of this shuttle bus which connected the city and the airport in the adjacent village Nakasatsuni.

Before checking in, we spent half an hour in

the cafe near the entrance of Hokkaido Hotel on the southern side of the railway station. The courtyard of the hotel was so nice to see from the cafe.

 

The Buckwheat Noodle Restaurant in Obihiro!

by Kazu

As we lost our favorite backwheat noodle restaurant in Shimizu, Tokachi Subprefectural Area because the master chef of the eatery passed away, we explored to one of the most popular backwheat noodle restaurant in Obihiro just after our arrival at Obihiro Railway Station.  

kTo make the long story short, we were so satisfied with the quality of the backwheat noodle served to our table and really enjoyed the taste of the noodle and tempra rice-bowl accompanied with the noodle soup.

The Japanese tatami floor may be a little bit too tough for disabled but the cuisine of the restaurant was worthwhile.

 

Hokkaido Love! Train Trip to Obihiro!

by Kazu

As we had to woke up and leave Sapporo early in the morning on that day, we did quick bite on the platform Sapporo Railway Station. We had typical buckwheat noodle soup at the counter of the noodle bar. It was so fine and the snow field reflected the sunshine so nicely.

We were heading to Obihiro City, using "Hokkaido Love!" Railway Pass valid for six days. The local railway that connected the central part of Yubari City and this station was abolished decades ago. 

Yubari City had been full-flourished with coal mines and its high quality coal for decades. They were defeated by the cheeper imported coal. Some explosion occurred in the shift and adit.  The population in the former coal- mine area is shrinking so rapidly. 

 

Hokkaido Love! Luxury Bus by Fighters!

 

by Kazu

The ceremony of "Hokkaido Love!" bus debut was conducted in the snow fall.  The CEO of Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, the CEO of Hokkaido Bus andthe Vice Governor of Hokkaido Shunsuke Tsuchiya appeared from the luxury bus.

Many peo will be carried around in Hokkaido and I hope the days of cruising with this bus will be carried out in the not-so-distant future. The ballpark and other facilities pertinent to the park will open next March, 2023.

The bus has the rest room and a wine cellar on the back side of the bus. Normally, the drivers of the bus unlike to deal with the washroom but in case of drinking wine in the bus, they will have to do that.