Try the Famous Hitsumabushi in Nagoya

Try the Famous Hitsumabushi in Nagoya

Nagoya

There are many famous dishes called “Nagoya Meshi” in Nagoya, and one of them is Hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし). In Japanese, Hitsumabushi means eel. I’ve always loved it when I was a kid.

名古屋にはいくつもの「名古屋めし」と呼ばれる名物料理がありますが、その中の一つにひつまぶしがあります。何を隠そう私はうなぎが大好物なのです。物心ついた時から大好きで、子どもの頃お寿司で一番最後に食べるのは決まってうなぎでした。

去年名古屋へ行ったのですが、ひつまぶしは外せない名古屋めしでした。ただ、うなぎは高いのです。おいそれと毎日食べられるような価格ではないのですが、そこは旅の楽しみ、食べずに帰るなんてできません。1杯目はそのままうなぎとご飯を楽しみます。

2杯目はのり・わさび・ねぎといった薬味を加えて、3杯目は出汁をかけていただきました。どの食べ方もおいしかったのですが、個人的には薬味を加えたうなぎご飯がとてもおいしく感じられました。なかなか食べられないからこそ更においしく感じたのかもしれません。

写真を見ていたら思い出してまた食べたくなってきました。うなきが苦手と言う方も中にはいらっしゃるかもしれませんが、とてもおいしいので、食べず嫌いなのであれば一度食べてみてほしいと思います。

The 71st Sapporo Snow Festival 第71 回さっぽろ雪まつり

The 71st Sapporo Snow Festival 第71 回さっぽろ雪まつり

Hokkaido Japan

We plan this trip a year ago since it is almost impossible to find places to stay during the festival. The snow festival starts in 1950 with some high school students built 6 snow statues in Odori Park (Sapporo’s central park). Now it features hundreds of snow and ice sculptures created by people from all over the world. The 71st annual Sapporo Snow Festival kicked off on 2/4/2020. It has 3 different locations in Sapporo. The main site is the Odori Site in Sapporo’s centrally located 1.5 kilometer long Odori Park. The 2nd is the Tsudome site for outdoor family-friendly activities and most of them are free. The last one is the Susukino Site, which has around 60 illuminated ice sculptures.

Sapporo snow festival is not the only winter festival in Hokkaido. You can also check Otaru Snow Light Path Festival and Asahikawa Winter Festival.

Odori Site 大通会場

On Display: 2/4/2020 – 2/11/2020 開催期間:2020.2.4 – 2.11
Venue: Nishi 1 chome – Nishi 12 chome 開催場所:大通公園 西1丁目~西12丁目

Gigantic snow and ice sculptures are on display at the Odori Park. There are less people attended the event this year due to the concerns over corona-virus. Most tourists are seen in masks during the snow festival.

All is One, shows the AInu worldview, the faith that all things are closely connected as ONE

the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 凱旋門賞

sffc-sapporo-snow-festival

Kotankoro Kamuy (Blakiston’s fish owl) ウポポイ(民族共生象徴空間

Lazienki Park’s Palace on the Isle and Chopin’s Statue

Odori Site 大通会場

Hikakin & Seikin ヒカキン& セイキン, popular Japanese YouTubers

Sazae-san and Winter Sports in Sapporo サザエさん一家, famous Japanese animations Sazae-san family

Cup Noodles and Rui Hachimura’s snow tunnel

People can even ride a small train through the “Cup Noodles and Rui Hachimura (八村 塁, a Japanese-Beninese professional basketball player)” snow tunnel sculpture.

SNOW MIKU 2020 – 雪ミク

Ensemble Stars!”- Eccentric snow party!

Hokkaido Food Park 北海道食の広場

Here is the Anpanman Snow Sculpture!

International Square

Tsudome Site つどーむ会場

On Display: 1/31/2020 – 2/11/2020  開催期間:2020.1.31 – 2.11
地下鉄東豊線「栄町駅」地下鉄出入口

We visit the Tsudome Site in the morning. Here you will find giant snow sliders and snow rafting area. Inside the dome there are lots food stalls. Next we headed to the next site of Susukino.

Susukino Site すすきの会場

On Display: 2/4/2020 – 2/11/2020 開催期間:2020.2.4 – 2.11
Venue: Nishi 4-chome Ave. between Minami 4 Jo-dori, and Minami 7 Jo-dori ( Ekimae-dori) 会場:南4条から南7条までの西4丁目線(札幌駅前通)

Susukino is also known as a red-light district in Sapporo. It’s only one subway stop from Odori Park.

sffc-susukino-ice-world

The World’s Largest Light Illumination”Kingdom of Light” at Huis Ten Bosch Park, Sasebo, Japan

The World’s Largest Light Illumination”Kingdom of Light” at Huis Ten Bosch Park, Sasebo, Japan

Japan Japan

Burj Khalifa | The World’s Tallest Building

Huis Ten Bosch is known as one of the biggest theme parks in Japan. In addition, this theme park is sort of a Dutch Disneyland, with the whole idea being a recreation of an old Dutch city.

Huis Ten Bosch holds “Kingdom of Light” as an illumination event every year. Their Christmas light extravaganza runs from November into March and has millions of Christmas lights. In other words, this is the best time to visit Huis Ten Bosch. If you are planning a trip to Kyushu around Christmas & New Year, you may want to visit this spectacular winter wonderland!

After research, I decide to take my family (2 aunts and my mom, average age 65+) to Kyushu for the New Year holidays. And, where else can you enjoy a classic new year eve celebration with music, fun and fireworks? Huis Ten Bosch come into my head. Not only this place is like an adult’s Disneyland, but also a memorable, family-fun way to celebrate an awesome year of fun.
Read more info about Huis Ten Bosch.

Huis Ten Bosch Entrance Gate

Waiting for the Canal Cruise

It can’t be Amsterdam without Canal tours

We arrive the park around 10pm and don’t have to wait in line for too long. The canal is covered with rainbow colors in the evening and when canal cruisers pass, illuminated fountains are sprayed. Meanwhile, the outside weather is about 1-2 celsius degree so it’s nice to stay inside.

Light and Fountain Canal

Light and Fountain Canal

Canal Cruise at Huis Ten Bosch

Visit the Dutch Village in Huis Ten Bosch

Japan’s Secret Dutch City

Japan’s Secret Dutch City

Good outdoor seating area to eat and enjoy the view.

Huis Ten Bosch at night

ハウステンボス

Huis Ten Bosch food court

Huis Ten Bosch Food Court

On New Year’s Eve, there is a live concert with DJs and Japanese artists at center stage, which leads up to a countdown to midnight and fireworks celebration. At midnight, 8000 fireworks launched into the air over the water. This is the largest New Year’s Eve fireworks in Western Japan.

Huis Ten Bosch New Year Countdown Fireworks

Huis Ten Bosch Countdown Fireworks

Huis Ten Bosch New Year Countdown Fireworks

Huis Ten Bosch New Year Countdown Fireworks

Huis Ten Bosch Countdown Fireworks

Huis Ten Bosch Countdown to Midnight

Huis Ten Bosch New Year Countdown Fireworks

New Year’s Eve Fireworks | Huis Ten Bosch

Bring your dogs! It’s a dog-friendly theme park!

Huis Ten Bosch Countdown Fireworks

Huis Ten Bosch New Year Countdown

The tower is the landmark of Huis Ten Bosch. It is beautifully lit at night.

tower city in  huis Ten Bosch

Tower City

Men-Ya Kaiko

Men-Ya Kaiko

Hokkaido Japan

Men-ya Kaiko 麺屋 開高

新千歳空港国内線ターミナルビル3Fラーメン道場
New Chitose Airport Domestic Terminal 3rd floor Ramen Dojo
+81 12-345-8787

Dinner

It’s located in the Hokkaido Ramen Dojo inside the New Chitose Airport. Ramen Dojo is an amazing street devoting to Ramen. There are various popular Hokkaido ramen restaurants along the street. I had the Tokachi Corn Cheese Ramen. The broth was overly salty to my liking. I left with half a bowl of ramen unfinished.

Tokachi Corn Cheese Ramen

men-ya-kaiko-ramen

men-ya-kaiko

Bar Cafe Soup Curry Zora

Bar Cafe Soup Curry Zora

Hokkaido Japan

BAR CAFE SOUP CURRY ZORA

北海道札幌市中央区南1条西7丁目12-5 (大通パークサイドビル 1階)
+81 11-231-4882

Lunch

Sapporo is famous as soup curry’s birthplace. Soup curry comes with vegetables, rice, and various toppings. You need to choose your dish, spice level, and rice size. The soup is basically similar to south East Asian curries. A thinner curry essentially. Leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy in your tummy and fills you up all nicely.

Chicken Leg Curry

The chicken is cooked really well. I can imagine this being very nice in winter, and understand why the locals love it.
bar-cafe-soup-curry_zora

Cheese Curry

soup-curry-zora

A Little Log Cafe Flower

A Little Log Cafe Flower

Hokkaido Japan

A Little Log Cafe Flower ちいさなログカフェ ふらわ

北海道富良野市山部中町 2-2
Yamabe Nakachou 2-2, Furano-shi, Furano, Hokkaido
+81 90-6876-8118

Lunch

Omelette Curry Rice (Omu-curry) is a dish poured curry sauce over an omelette and is famous as a local cuisine in Furano. This restaurant is a little wooden cabin located on route 38 in Yamabe. Interior had a very homely feel. The curry rice was excellent and the omelette was silky smooth too. This was a really hearty meal using local fresh produce and great especially on a windy or cold day.

富良野オムカレー

a-little-log-cafe_flower

alittle-log-cafe-flower

Dessert

a-little-log_cafe-flower

Sweets Cafe Sabor

Sweets Cafe Sabor

Hokkaido Japan

Sweets Cafe Sabor スイーツカフェ サボール

北海道富良野市倖町 13-1
13-1 Saiwaicho, Furano, Hokkaido
+81 167-22-1001
www.furano.ne.jp/marche/sabor.asp

Afternoon Tea

The café is very cute. You can buy pastries at the bakery and eat inside. We always visit this shop after shopped at the Furano Marche. I like their roll cake the most. First time to try cream puffs. The puff has a nice crisp on the outer layer with smooth Hokkaido cream filling. Good with milk or coffee.

Cream Puff

sweets-cafe-sabor

Haskap Berry Cream Puff

sweets-cafe_sabor

Farm Tomita

Farm Tomita

Hokkaido Japan

Farm Tomita ファーム富田

北海道空知郡中富良野町基線北15号
15 Kisenkita, Sorachi-gun, Nakafurano-cho, Hokkaido
+81 16-739-3939
www.farm-tomita.co.jp

Lavender Madness

Even though its summer but people were wearing jacket and scarf. You know what would be the fun thing to do in cold weather? Ice cream! We ate lavender ice cream, lavender cheese cake, drank lavender coffee, and bought anything related to lavender.

Lavender soft-serve ice cream

Taste minty and sweet with plenty lavender fragrance
farm-tomita-ice-cream

farm-tomita-flowers

Lavender-Flavored Furano Snowmelt Cheese Cake

farm_tomita-cake

Auberge de Tefutefu

Auberge de Tefutefu

Hokkaido Japan

Auberge de Tefutefu オーベルジュてふてふ

北海道上川郡美瑛町美沢双葉
Misawa Futaba, Kamikawa-gun, Biei-cho 071-0236, Hokkaido
+81 16-692-5137
tefutefu.com

Dinner

The facility and green surrounding given us a expression of homestay. The dinner was beautifully presented with combination of modern Japanese and french gourmet. The owner Kent Shiraishi is a professional photographer. You may be familiar with his work “Blue Pond” (iOS default home screen). We learnt to see Biei and Furano through the eyes of photographer, which was such an amazing experience.

tefutefu-diningroom

tefutefu-rabbit

Appetizer

tefutefu-appertize

Hairy crab & sea urchin

tefutefu-uni

Sashimi

chutoro, scallop, spot shrimp & flatfish
tefutefu-sashimi

Salad

tefutefu-salad

Vegetable Fondue

tefutefu-fondue

Dessert

homemade ice cream with Biei milk
tefutefu-dessert

Breakfast

tefutefu_breakfast

tefutefu-breakfast

tefutefu-fruit

La Laiterie Ferme Biei

La Laiterie Ferme Biei

Hokkaido Japan

La Laiterie Ferme Biei 美瑛ファーム|美瑛放牧酪農場

北海道上川郡美瑛町字新星平和5235
071-0473 Kamikawa District
+81 166-68-6777
www.biei-farm.co.jp

Ice Cream

The weather is grey and rainy today in Biei. We need a little sweet treat to bright the day. La Laiterie Ferme Biei is a beautiful dairy farm. In is also not far from the famous scenic spot “Shikisai no Oka” (Four Seasons Hill). It takes only about 20 minutes by bike.
The view is great here. We see lots cows eating grass outside which allow you to get really up close.

biei_la_laiterie-ferme

la-laiterie_ferme_biei

Soft Cream

The most popular products of the store are made from the cow’s milk such as yogurt, soft serve ice cream, and milk pudding. I like their original milk flavor ice cream. They produces ice cream with reputation for exceptionally high quality by using very simple and fresh ingredients. The high milk fat in Hokkaido milk makes the ice cream taste so creamy and rich.

lalaiterie-ferme-biei

Milk Pudding

The milk pudding is also creamy and not so sweet.
ferme-biei-ice-cream

Daimaru

Daimaru

Hokkaido Japan

Daimaru だいまる 大丸

北海道上川郡美瑛町中町 1-7-2
1 Chome-7-2 Nakamachi, Biei, Kamikawa District, Hokkaido
+81 166-92-3114

Lunch

Daimaru is a family style restaurant. People come here for their cutlet curry and curry udon. They also made pretty good fried chicken and churros.

Curry Udon カレーうどん

daimaru-udon-set

Chicken Karaage

daimaru-fried-chicken

Gyoza

daimaru-gyoza

Churro

daimaru-churro

Bi.Blé Boulangerie

Bi.Blé Boulangerie

Hokkaido Japan

Bi.Blé Boulangerie ビブレ

北海道上川郡美瑛町字北瑛第2北瑛小麦の丘(旧北瑛小学校)
Hokuei Komugi no Oka, Aza-Hokuei Dai-2, Biei-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
(former Hokuei Elementary School)
+81 16-692-8100
bi-ble.jp/boulangerie

Bakery

We drove by and bought some breads for take-out. A wonderful selection of French breads. Their bread tasted very light but good aroma of yeast.
bible-bakery

bi-ble

Croissant

bi-ble-croissant

bi-ble_bread