Port Town Walks in Hokkaido with Rui Yoshida

The first installment of bar poet Rui Yoshida's tour of Hokkaido's port towns! We isited Otaru! The first episode aired on New Year's Day! Not bothering to visit tourist attractions or famous restaurants, he wanders around Otaru looking for the best restaurants that Otaru residents frequent.... Accompanying Rui Yoshida is HBC announcer Kanako Muroya! They have one thing in common: they both love to drink... What kind of fun encounters will they have? Let's start their visit to Otaru.

Hakodate, a popular sightseeing spot in Hokkaido. Welcome! The morning market is filled with cheerful voices from the morning, and bar poet and foodie Rui Yoshida and Kanako Muroya, visit the market. In addition to fresh seafood, they enjoy Japanese sweets from a long-established mochi store that has been in business for over 100 years and the chewy texture made by the fourth generation owner is irresistible. Then they visit a custom-made musical instrument store and are fascinated by the sound of a handmade guitar, which is rare in Hokkaido. At a certain tavern, Ana Muroya was surprised. What? The fish is grilled whole! What kind of grilled fish can only be found here, where a mysterious way of serving food brings delicious taste and excitement? Then, we went to a Spanish restaurant in a Japanese-style building made of "Taisho era glass," whose unique distortion is somehow nostalgic. We tucked into seasonal dishes that went well with the wine. The conversation is lively and tipsy!

This time, bar poet Rui Yoshida wanders around the "iron town" of Muroran. Accompanying him is HBC announcer Kanako Muroya. Having traveled to Otaru and Hakodate, the two are in perfect synch. The two first headed for a fun spot unique to the iron town. They tried their hand at making "bolters," dolls made of bolts, screws, and other metal objects with rich expressions! Muroran is famous for "Curry Ramen" and "Muroran Yakitori" which is eaten with a dash of garlic powder, but the Muroran-style "Katsu-don" (pork cutlet served on top of a bowl of rice) was a little different! Even Rui was surprised to see the steam rising from the katsudon... We also went on a night cruise with a souvenir of yakitori.... The fantastic night view of the factories is also a wonderful memory of the "Iron Town". The conclusion of the day is alcohol.... At a beer garden to enjoy the short summer season, we were impressed by the unique drinking style of the season! Rediscover the charm of Muroran!

This time, we go to Mashike, a town known for its "excellent sake"! Mashike Town prospered as a "herring town" and was called " the place of one thousand koku of herring" in its heyday. In those days, the nets and merchants lavishly poured their wealth into mansions, and many historic buildings still remain today. Rui and Muroya visited this nostalgic port town, and the first thing that struck them when they got off at Mashike Station, the terminus of the JR Rumoi Line, was the fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan. They tucked into fresh, clear, sweet shrimp and other original delicacies of Mashike. In the orchards located away from the harbor, you will taste the delicious fruits produced by the natural environment of Mount Shokanbetsu. And speaking of Mashike, the famous sake "Kunimare". A visit to the sake brewery is a must. The sake produced in the harsh natural environment of Mashike has a deep "dry" taste that can not be imitated.

This time, bar poet Rui Yoshida wanders around Kushiro, a town known for its fishing industry. Rui and Muroya first headed for the Kushiro Marshlands. Surrounded by the magnificent scenery and thrilled by the sounds of Yezo deer and birds, they first enjoyed the great nature of the eastern part of Hokkaido! After taking in the delicious air, they decided that they needed to fill their stomachs, so they went to a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant headquartered in Kushiro. They casually entered the restaurant, but were excited by the amazing nigiri (hand-rolled sushi) and the amazing portions. In addition, you can enjoy Kushiro's local sake, which is a must for sake lovers. You will also find a "food crane game machine," unique to Kushiro! Kushiro's Robata is the best place to spend the night. A place called "Mom's", is a favorite of the locals. Both Rui and Ana Muroya were surprised to find that all-you-can-eat snacks were available for only 1,000 yen.

In summer, visitors can enjoy picking cherries and grapes in the orchards, and freshly landed seafood. But even in winter, there are many attractions that can only be experienced in the harsh cold. Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whiskey, was one of those who were attracted to this region, closely resembling the cool climate of Scotland. At the Nikka Whisky's Yoichi distillery, you can find a lineup of rare whiskies, including a single cask of malt whiskey matured for 25 years, a glowing amber color, and both Rui and Ana Muroya were simply intoxicated by its mellow taste.... They found a place where salmon, crab, scallops, herring, even potatoes and carrots were smoked in the cold air. After tasting the smoked fish, they felt the urge to drink again. An izakaya full of human kindness that boasted of its home-style dishes, such as sea urchin and chives with egg, and offers more than 20 kinds of cocktails.