Our necessity in winter

Hi☆ Do you know what this machine is? This is our necessity...it's snowplow! Let's start up the engine!　He is Mr.Ishida. (He pulled up the weeds in summer:))

WOW! Lot of snows are flying!!:-O

He continued walking...

So beautiful:)

The snows were taken away!

Talking of Japanese winter...

Hello!

I don't know why, Japanese people eat mandarin orange in winter. I got mandarin orange from Ms.Saimu:) (tourist information staff)

Talking of Japanese winter, Japanese people like to eat mandarin with family at ※Kotatsu.

※Kotatsu...Table with an electric heater attached to the underside. This table has Futon (Japanese blanket) so, when you come in the Kotatsu, you will feel warm and comfortable.

Kotatsu↓↓

Udon and Earthen pot

It's cold in these days.

I have recommended food in cold season.

The name is ... "Nabeyaki-Udon".

I think Udon is quite famous food all over the world because when I stayed in foreign country, I saw Udon at many places. Not only at Japanese restaurant but also at supermarket.

However, have you ever try Udon with small earthen pot?

Usually, when we enjoy Udon, we eat it with the bowl, but "Nabeyaki-Udon" is different.

Please look at this photo...↓↓

I ate this "Nabeyaki-Udon"at "Misono-ice cream". (This restaurant is located on Miyako-shopping street. It takes less than 5 minutes from Otaru station by walk.)

You might thought it's interesting because this is "Ice cream shop".

"Misono-ice cream" is a first ice cream shop in Hokkaido.

Ice cream have been really popular sweet for a long time in Hokkaido.

But Hokkaido becomes really cold in winter so, the master of "Misono-ice cream" has started serving not only ice cream but also winter menus.

Among these menus, this "Nabeyaki-Udon" became so famous.

You can enjoy some kinds of veges with it.

It's so hot but sooooo yummy!!!

I'd like you to try "Nabeyaki-Udon"!!!

Pretty snowman

Hello, how are ya? There are not so much snow this year but somebody (probably tourist from foreign country) has left really cute snowman in front of our tourist information. His eyes and hands were made from nut(?) and twigs. He is cute, isn't he???

Tasting Party! ♯2 ~Sushi~

Hi!!

I'll give you great information to eat delicious SUSHI in Otaru.

I've posted about the cream puff event before and a Sushi event will be held at the same time.(11/12/2010~19/12/2010)

This is precious chance because you can enjoy eight kinds of sushi for 1,000 yen during this event at six sushi restaurants.

【Sushi restaurant list】

Nakaichi, Iso sushi, Tatsumi sushi, Fuji sushi, Kitano ryouba, Fuku sushi

"Tatsumi sushi" joined the tasting party and we could try some of their sushi.

These sushi were only 1,000 yen though every sushi was sooooo nice.

The master of "Tatsumi sushi" said at the tasting party, "I don't want to lose to Sushi train. Everyone might think Japanese sushi restaurant's sushi must be expensive. That's why, I wanted to change their opinion into 'The price of sushi is reasonable moreover delicious.' We did our best."

Each six restaurants have four same kinds of sushi and other four sushi will be respective features. (Tuna, abalone, sea urchin and so on.)

Every sushi restaurant is located on Skaimachi street. (It takes about 20 minutes on foot from Otaru station.)

We're looking forward to seeing you with delicious SUSHI!!!

Tasting Party!♯1~Cream puff~

Hello☆ I joined a tasting party yesterday!! This party was held at ..."LeTAO"! :) ↓↓

It was snowy day yesterday, but many people gathered.

This tasting party was held for Bloggers in Otaru.

Actually, some cake shops and Sushi restaurants will have special menu for a Christmas event named "Otaru Long Christmas".

These cake shops will bake wonderful cream puffs during 11/12/2010~19/12/2010.

【Cake shop list】

LeTAO, Otaru Amatou, Yukijirushi parlor, Kitakarou, Gin no kane

We could have a talk with confectioners face to face. I'll show you some cream puffs.

【LeTAO】 6 tastes cream puffs...1,000 yen

You can enjoy 6 kinds of tastes with this cream puff.

Plain cream, chocolate, pistachio, sesame, cheese and caramel

【LeTAO】 Swan puff...210 yen

This is quite filling puff and shaped like swan! It's cute, isn't it?

【Amatou】 Cookie puff...260 yen

This puff has rare cream, bean paste. Amatou has a popular menu, named "Cream Zenzai".

Cream zenzai is a Japanese sweet which has bean paste, soft serve ice cream and sweet rice cake.

【Amatou】 Christmas fruit puff...1,000 yen

You can enjoy many kinds of fruits.

Not only fruits but also macadamia nuts and almond covered with sweet.

【Gin no kane】 Otaru long long puff...800 yen

This 'Long' puff is baked for Otaru 'Long' Christmas.

It has 5 taste. Custard cream, caramel, chocolate, strawberry and Camembert cheese.

I will post about tasting party of Sushi next time.

I couldn't show you other 2 puffs baked by 【Yukijirushi parlor】and 【Kitakarou】 but their puffs also must be beautiful so...

PLEASE COME TO OTARU TO ENJOY CHRISTMAS SWEETS !!!

Floating glass tree

Hi, how are you ?? I'll show you rare Christmas tree today. Please look at this photo↓

It's lovely, isn't is??

Actually this Christmas tree is made from floating glass.

We are holding a event now, that's named "Otaru long Christmas".

This floating glass tree is one of features at this event.

You can see it at Canal plaza.

"Otaru long Christmas" is quite important event for us and another event "Otaru snow light path" is also special for us.

We float about 300 "floating glass" on the Otaru canal during "Otaru snow light path".

This floating glass tree is made from those floating glass.

When "Otaru snow light path" is held next february, these floating glass will be used for the event.

Please come to Otaru to see it!! :)

Illumination at Otaru station

Hi!! Otaru station is in Christmas mood as well. When you come to Otaru, you will take a train from New Chitose airport to Otaru station and you will see Christmas illumination at Otaru station first in Otaru. Platforms in Otaru station are located on the first floor in British English. (second floor in American:)) So, when you arrive at Otaru station, you will see beautiful illumination on stairs.

After going through a gate, you will see a big Christmas tree.

We display glass works of Otaru glass studios.

I'll introduce illuminations of Canal plaza next time.

See you :)

Message tree in Canal plaza

There is a big Christmas tree in Canal plaza which is 4 meters in height.

Please look at this Christmas tree well.

Actually, there are many small trees on big tree.

We sell these small trees 500 yen each and you can lease your messages with these trees.

Message tree

This small tree has a message card.

We will display every message after this event every year.

Please come to leave your massage and complete big

message Christmas tree!!

Santa "Bunko"

Canal Plaza is in Christmas mood now.

You can enjoy Christmas illumination at Canal plaza.

"Bunko"(a statue of dog in front of Canal plaza) dressed up for Christmas.

Ms.Yoshida made clothes of Santa.

Um...he looks proud:-)

"Rakugo" and "Soba"

Hello, how are you?

I enjoyed traditional Japanese culture yesterday:)

Have you ever heard "Rakugo"??

We write, "落語" in the Chinese character(Kanji).

"Rakugo" is a kind of Japanese traditional entertainment.

We see the man who is sitting on the special stage and he tells us funny stories by playing various people and gestures.

Usually he wears "Kimono" when he do "Rakugo".

He is a comedian in English.

We call him "Rakugoka" in Japanese.

There are many "Rakugoka" in Japan and we can enjoy "Rakugo" on TV too.

I got a chance to enjoy "Rakugo" and "Soba" at a time in Otaru.

The Soba restaurant's name is "Yabuhan".

This event is held every year at "Yabuhan".

This Soba resturant has really old and wonderful atmosphere.

It takes 5 minutes from Otaru station by walk.

So, I decided to visit there after work with Ms.Yamamoto.

Sometime it might be difficult to understand for young people even if they are Japanese people because "Rakugoka" uses expression of old times.

ButI really enjoyed his stories.

In addition this soba was made with seaweeds that's why it looks green a little.

Everybody enjoyed Japanese Sake together.

Ticket

Goods for lovers of railroad

This is a postcard and admission ticket of Otaru museum.

They sell a lots of postcards in the Otaru museum.

Look at this ticket:)

It's like a real train ticket.

If you take a train in Japan, you'll see very similar ticket to this.

I found really lovely straps for mobile phone.

Do you know what kinds of miniatures these straps have?

①Handle

②Strap

③Hat for stationmaster

④Driving wheel

⑤Punch

⑥Signal light

(①～⑤ are 735 yen each. ⑥ is 1,050 yen.)

I found cool wristwatches.

(525 yen each)

These dials are similar to "Shinkansen" (bullet train).

Would you like them??:)

New shop at Otaru station

I posted about remodeling of Otaru station before.

One new shop "Kiosk" was completed 5 days ago and a view from our tourist information of Otaru station was changed. ↓

If you forget to get souvenirs in Otaru, you'll be able to get many kinds of stuffs at this shop.

Glass products, Otaru's sweets, lunch, Otaru's alcohol and so on.

I'll show you again when I find changes of Otaru station.

See you soon:)

Otaru saunter ♯5～Otaru museum～

After having a lunch, we visited "Otaru museum". We took a bus from the bus stop in front of "Otaru aquarium". It takes about 20 minutes to reach. We enjoyed a view of the sea.

This is a entrance of Museum.

There is a real steam locomotive right after coming in.

I took this photo wearing former costume of station attendant.

Good atmosphere...

Many plates...

There are explanations of Otaru's railroad not only in Japanese but also in English and Russian.

You can enjoy planetarium and studying about mysterious of chemistry.

There are exhibitions of railroad outside too.

I'm excited!!

You can experience to get on this steam locomotive in summer.

Some staffs were maintaining steam locomotive on that day.

Do you know what this woody one is?

Actually this is a snow blower.

The steam locomotive runs pushing this snow blower in winter.

I found a interesting manhole.

Usually we see sea otter's sculpture on Otaru's manhole but we saw steam locomotive's sculpture only in museum.

Otaru had the third oldest railroad in Japan.

That's why, there is a museum of railroad.

In addition, Otaru still keep the line as it is. (It's named "Temiya" railway. It takes only 5 minutes from Otaru station.)

Nowadays, it's one of stroll courses.

I'll show you some interesting goods of railroad.