Mt. Yotei early in the morning in October !

by Kazu

We make a point of keeping the window uncovered when we stay in the hotels of Hirafu Area of Kutchan Town and Niseko Town. Almost every time we stay there, we can see such beautiful scenery from the room we stay.  

Mt. Yotei has shown us a variety of countenances against the backdrop of the blue, grey, white orange and yellow sky. Sometimes with the white cloud ocean at the foot of it, Mt Yotei towers up there.

The sun was rising up from the hillside of the mountain early in the morning on that day. The downtown of Kutchan and the lower area at the foot of the mountain were covered with white cloud.

 

Our First Dinner in"Ki Niseko !

by Kazu

Followed by "Salad Niseko Worth" sourced locally, the starter played the role of appetizer amply. It tickled my stomach so much. It made the most of the original taste of the ingredients.

A slice of rainbow trout and "Maitake" mushroom were covered with rice powder and deep-fried. I thought I should take off the cover of fried rice powder because it was a little bit too thick for us.  

The fried Nyokki made of potato with cheese and tomato sauce seemed to be pan-fried. The main dish was grilled M. Cross pork produced in Eniwa City. The level of grilling was so impressed and draw the best of the original taste. 

 

My Lunch and Dinner on a certain day !

by Kazu

I recommend a well-established sushi bar "Makoto Sushi" in Iwanai Town. We had a beautiful traditional sushi lunch there on that day. Coming back from the western coastline of Hokkaido, we saw Mt. Yotei covered with clouds. 

The name of the cloud that covers the peak of the mountain is "Kasagumo" which means the cloud shaped like an umbrella. The dinner course in the restaurant "Kumo" of hotel Skye Niseko  is the namesake of this cloud.   

But we chose the dinner course in the restaurant "Ann" of  Hotel "Ki Niseko"  for the first time on that day. The starter of the dinner course on that day was pickled veggies,  meatloaf, processed pacific saury, a slice of baguette. The chef seemed to be from overseas.  

The Wine Bar "Tokoharu" in Sapporo !

by Kazu

I joined the association of the members of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly who lives in Souen Area of Sapporo during the session of the assembly and the officers of the prefectural government. The son of one member runs this wine bar "Tokoharu" in Sapporo.

We get together about four times a year mainly in this wine bar. The former Vice Governor of Hokkaido Prefectural Government brought some Japanese sake for the small party.  

Bottles of Japanese sake brought us a twist to the taste of the dinner. Special Japanese sake doesn't need years of time to mature. 

The corn soup was flavored with foie gras. A sip of the soup must convince you of the high degrees of skill accumulated in the chef's life.

The chicken roasted must make you happy and satisfied. Please find the wine bar Tokoharu 常春 which means always spring in Japanese.  The sorbet made of apple and tomato wrapped up the meeting on that day. The conversation and culinary delights inspired me so much but something cold was left in my mind. 

 

Jewelry Box Lunch in Sushi Bar Katou, Hotel Setsu Niseko !

by Kazu

We were so impressed and inspired by boiled shrimp, salmon roe, small fish and caviar decorated with fried carrot shaped like a maple leaf, crab meat and a variety of components processed carefully and nicely.

This is the entrance of the Sushi Bar "蟹鮨　加藤 INORI" in Hotel Setsu雪 Niseko". Reservation is required to have meal there. Limited spaces were well-designed and polished.

The hidden place for adults was designed mainly for high-end people from overseas as well as inland of Japan. The landscape including Mt. Yotei entertains and satisfy the guests so much.

 

Special Lunch in Sushi Bar Katou, Hotel Setsu Niseko !

by Kazu

This is the heartfelt lunch box with the chef's signature. The seasoned chef Mr. Toru Tayasu who accumulated his experience and shining awards in Europe. His experiences and skill crystallized in this lunch box.

As they say, it was like a jewelry box with culinary delights. Each square cup of the lunch box looked so shining and yummy. We saw the art of the food created by the chef Mr. Toru Tayasu. 

 

Niseko Station and Sushi Bar Katou !ｌ

by Kazu

The railway station in Niseko Town was decorated for Halloween with many huge orange pumpkins. I am not sure the price of the pumpkins but anyway, it must be tough to carry such many pumpkins to this place from the veggie field.

We chose "Shushi Bar Katou" in "Hotel Setsu Niseko" we loved. We'd never used the sushi bar during our stay in the hotel or other hotel in Niseko before. We were a little bit thrilled in our first use of the sushi bar.  

This is the lunch package of the sushi bar. It is posted as "蟹鮨　加藤INORI" on the official web site of Hotel Setsu Niseko. The lunch costed approximately forty US $ per person. Seasoned and experienced chef Mr. Toru Tayasu creates happiest time for the guests. 

 

The Railway Station in Niseko !

by Kazu

Frequently, we stayed in Hotel "Ki" Niseko and enjoyed the landscape from the window of the hotel so much. I've posted the photos of Mt. Yotei from this angle so many times.

As we can not be far away from Sapporo City due to our responsibility required in the current posts. Two hour-drive seems to be allowed in our obligation. The area is very convenient place for us to relax and refresh ourselves. 

We dropped by the railway station in Niseko Town to drop off my wife who would enjoy the short train trip to Kutchan Town. I would pick her up at the railway station in Kutchan. My wife loves to take the train for the local life.  

 

Morning Gift in Niseko !

by Kazu

Mt. Yotei with the backdrop of  sunrise could be seen from the room we stayed in "Ki Niseko". The sea of clouds covered the plain at the foot of the mountains around Niseko Area.  

The spectacular landscape was the gift of the deities for early birds. Before the season of white and cold snow, we really enjoyed the landscape of the area that could rarely be seen in winter.

I jogged into the sea of the clouds, I mean the lower area  at the foot of the mountains. "Izumi Kyou" area might be the border of the clouds level and above. The road allowed the fog to drift above.

 

The Climax of the Fire Dance Show !

by Kazu

At the end of the fireworks show in Niseko Hanazono, the object of the flame got bigger and played up with the shouts of the indigenous performers Ainu. 

The swinging objects made of the optical fibers on the ground gave good background for the stage in the nature. It was like the performance in cosmos.

It was like a sendoff event to say goodbye to the summer and green season. Soon white snow will cover the mountains, hillsides, plain, houses, veggie fields, paddy fields, ranch and everything. The letter of Us moving in the air that were the illumination of the lifts continued to carry the dream of the people.