Hokkaido ramen is, of course, a favorite among locals and visitors.  However, not all ramen shops are created equal. While any bowl of hot soup noodle can warm you up during the wintry season, a truly satisfying ramen experience is one that you can taste the shop owners’ pride in their craft.  This is where Ueno-san of Irito Ramen truly delivers.  Not satisfied with serving just any run-of-the-mill bowl of noodle, Ueno’san concocted his own recipes for his three styles of ramen: pork soup, curry and salt flavor (commonly called shio ramen). Each bowl of noodle strikes the perfect balance of taste and thickness that is appropriate for that particular style.  The soup base has the distinctive flavor of one that has taken pride and patient to make.  The noodle used is also Ueno-san’s own recipe which he commissions a local noodle maker to produce for him.  The noodle has a thicker body and a wonderful firmness that allows just the right amount of soup to adhere to it; ensuring each mouthful to be ramen nirvana.

Dining out isn’t just about the food;  as important as the food are the atmosphere and the service.  It is such a treat when I find a restaurant that is superb in all three areas.  Yamamomij is one such restaurant.  Located right here in the farming town of Date, they take full advantage of the access to the freshest meats, seafoods and vegetables.  The fresh ingredients shines through in the wide range of dishes served.  From the flavorful yakitori to the fresh sweetness of the sashimi and the refreshing crunchiness of the pan pan chicken salad.  While you enjoy the sumptuous food, classic jazz is played to create a stylish mood with the blend of taste and cool rhythm.  Last but definitely not least, the customer oriented approach of the staff which is the hallmark of the Japanese service industry is well demonstrated here.

Maybe it’s the beautiful sceneries; or perhaps the inspiringly abundance of nature; whatever the reason, I have come across many very talented musicians here in Hokkaido.  And you will find many of them at Kanzy Acoustic Bar in Date.  Whether you are in the mood for a jam session, or simply to enjoy others melody making, you will surely have a good time at Kanzy’s.  Besides being an incredible singer and guitarist, Kanzy’s down-to-earth style makes him seem like an old friend after 10 minutes.  His gregarious nature is also shared among his regular customers; who not only will make you feel right at home, but will also impress you with their musical skills.

http://www.kanzy.jp/top.html

One of the best things about living in Hokkaido is the endless number of outdoor activities.  One of the most famous for us Date city locals is the trek to the Nyoro Nyoro Ice Cave.  Every winter, as spring water drips off the icicles formed on the cave roof onto the floor, icicles grow from the floor up to towards their twins from the top.  Eventually, tops and bottoms will meet to form ice columns.  This spectacle attracts many hikers from around Hokkaido who brave the winter cold and trek about 40 minutes to the caves for the chance to see nature’s “glass” maker at work.  While most hikers visit the cave during the day, we recently took advantage of the near full moon for a nighttime trek to the cave.  The night’s veil gave this wondrous sight an added sense of mystery.

Near the ski resort of Rusutsu, we discovered a wonderful place for great pizza and fun for the kids. Using only the best local ingredients, the gourmet pizzas of Fukurou no Mori from their brick oven is something special. The cheeses are selected from the best that Hokkaido has to offer and one can really taste the freshness of the ingredients since most of them are from farms located minutes away. Even though pizza is certainly an adopted favorite here in Hokkaido, the availability of extremely fresh ingredients make it a must try when visiting Hokkaido.

Now, if some the best pizza you will ever taste isn’t enough of a draw for the kids you are traveling with, no worries! The second floor of this restaurant is almost fully dedicated for their entertainment. The playground with it’s fort and swing set will keep your little ones happy as much as the delicious food does for you!

A family business in the truest sense, Holiday Market Toya and her sister shop, Mem House, are treasure troves of trinkets and memorabilia.  You will find items for everything from your coffee table to your kitchen table; your closet to your nightstand; and for your children as well as  your pets!  Managed and run by three lovely sisters along with their parents, walking around the shops is like visiting the family’s comfortable living room with a definite tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.

www.holidaymarket-toya.com

Bocca is a company here in Date that makes excellent diary product such as milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt drinks and deserts.  They also operate 2 restaurants (one in Date and one in Sapporo) and a diary farm.  While the restaurants serve some of the best Japanese pasta around and is a favorite among the locals, a visit to the diary farm with it’s showcase style milking parlor is a must.  The farm is located on the hillside in this farming community.  The buildings and the surrounding is so quaint and inviting that it’s reminiscent of a small diary farm somewhere in Europe.  Besides the chance to see the diary cows up close, the best is to enjoy the delicious ice cream while watching the cows being milked in the glass enclosed parlor down below.  Seeing firsthand where the milk for the ice cream comes from makes for an interesting and educational experience for visitors of all ages.

The natural lake side beauty of Toyako inspires many families to establish their homes and businesess here.  Often, the two are combined.  Chaihana is one of the best example of these.  Owned and run by a husband and wife team , Chaihana combines the beauty of a quaint old farm house with bohemian chic and offers a genuine taste of Nepalese curry.  Having been brought up in the area, the couple travelled extensively throughout Asia and decided to bring the flavorful spices of the Nepalese curry back with them to Hokkaido.  Combining the Nepalese flavor with Hokkaido fresh ingredients (much of which they grow themselves) against the backdrop of a traditional Japanese farm house, the result is a must try dining experience.  The atmosphere here is so unique that the local artistic crowd often gathers here for everything from music and dance performances to photography show.

Food wise, the owner applies the same attention to quality and detail.  After sampling numerous options,  only the ingredients that meet the owner’s high standard are selected to become part of the menu and baked goods.  On the menu is also a number of organic teas and coffees.  In additional to bread and other baked good, Gauche also serve light lunches using local organic produce.