July itinerary in Japan

Summary of July itinerary in Japan (Hokkaido) From Saturday, July 2 to Monday, July 4, I traveled to Hokkaido (Kushiro and Akkeshi). On this trip, I was able to eat more seasonal seafood and local cuisine than on any previous trip. I was also able to enjoy the great national parks at Lake Akan and the Kushiro Marshland, as well as the wonderful flora and fauna, including nationally protected species like the marimo and the Japanese (tancho) crane. Even in early July, when it was extremely hot in Japan, the temperatures in Kushiro and Akkeshi were 5 to 10°C cooler than in Honshu, making it the perfect summer vacation. I strongly recommend this itinerary for July in Japan. Here is a summary of the trip and some notes. Table of contents 1.”100 best of local dishes” and “Local dishes loved by the nation” by this itinerary in Japan 2. Seasonal “PRIDE FISH” by this itinerary in Japan 3. Travel precautions for the itinerary in Japan 4. Travel in a light style 5. July 2 (Saturday) Day 1 6. July 3 (Sunday) Day 2 7. July 4 (Monday) Day 3 Again, each time, this itinerary was also created withread moreSummary of July itinerary in Japan (Hokkaido)

13Aug, 20222022年8月14日

July itinerary in Japan local cuisine

July itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

July itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido Meal edition) (Monday, July 4th) Table of contents 1. Ramen Maruhira 2. Restaurant Izumiya 3. Restaurant Tancho 1. Ramen Maruhira On the last day of my trip, I had Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen for breakfast at Kushiro’s most popular ramen restaurant, Ramen Maruhira. Ramen Maruhira has been in business since 1959. It is located in a residential area outside of downtown Kushiro Station, Suehiro-cho, and Kushiro Fisherman’s Wharf MOO. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is a restaurant for breakfast and lunch. I took a cab to Ramen Maruhira, and when I arrived at 9:25 a.m., the restaurant was already open and there were four customers. It seemed to open a little earlier than 9:30. Ramen Maruhira offers only shoyu ramen and shio ramen. However, there are three sizes available: regular, large, and extra-large. The prices are Yen 700, Yen 800, and Yen 900, respectively. There is no beer or other alcoholic beverages, probably because the restaurant is not open at night. I ordered the regular shoyu ramen. Some of the regular customers ordered shio ramen. Ramen Maruhira’s soy sauce ramen looked ordinary, but when I drankread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

09Aug, 20222022年8月14日

Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan July itinerary in Japan

July itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido)

By ninjakotan

July itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido) (Monday, July 4th) Table of contents 1. Kushiro Shitsugen (Kushiro Marshland) 2. Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve 1. Kushiro Shitsugen (Kushiro Marshland) On the last day of my trip to Kushiro and Akkeshi, I went to Kushiro Marshland by “Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go“. The Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go I used is as follows. Depart Kushiro Station at 11:06, arrive at Kushiro Shitsugen Station at 11:32, Fare Yen 440 The “Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go” has unreserved seats in Car No. 1 and reserved seats in Cars No. 2 to 4. Cars No. 2 to 4 are observation cars with large windows, so you can fully enjoy the view of Kushiro Marshland. The observation car (reserved seat) costs Yen 530 in addition to the fare, but it is worth it. There are two types of seats in the observation car (reserved seats): box seats and bench seats for two. Bench seats are located on the right side of the train in the direction of travel, at right angles to the window, so they offer a better view of the scenery. However, it is the box seats that offer the best view of Kushiro Marshland. Box seats areread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 3 (Hokkaido)

05Aug, 20222022年8月14日

Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan July itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

July itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

July itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido Meal edition) (Sunday, July 3) Table of Contents 1. Oyster Bar Pitresk (Conchiglie) 2. Charcoal Grill Aburiya (Conchiglie) 3. Azumaya Kawakita Branch 1. Oyster Bar Pitresk (Conchiglie) After finishing sightseeing in Akkeshi in the morning, I had raw oysters at Oyster Bar Pitresk in the Akkeshi Taste Terminal “Conchiglie” while drinking Akkeshi Whiskey. It is an alternative to a waiting bar before lunch. “Oysters from Akkeshi” (season: May-August, December-February) are Hokkaido’s summer “PRIDE FISH” as selected by Japan Fisheries Co-operative. The year-round low sea water temperature in Akkeshi makes it possible to ship oysters year-round. There is an island called Oyster Island (officially Benten Island) in Lake Akkeshi where oysters are cultivated. “Oysters from Akkeshi” are actually delicious from fall to winter when the meat becomes plump and tasty, but since Akkeshi is the only area where oysters can be eaten in summer, it is chosen as the “PRIDE FISH” of summer. The whisky produced at the Akkeshi Distillery is also a specialty of Akkeshi. Akkeshi Distillery started distilling whisky in October 2016 with a strong desire to “make whisky like Islay malt using traditional Scottish methods. Two years after theread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

03Aug, 20222022年8月14日

Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan July itinerary in Japan

July itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido)

By ninjakotan

July itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido) (Sunday, July 3) Table of Contents 1. Kokutaiji Temple 2. Akkeshi Shrine 3. Shogyoji Temple 4. Akkeshi Taste Terminal, Conchiglie 5. Akkeshi-Ohashi Bridge 6. Lupin the Third Wrapping Train 7. Flower Clock and Kushiro Sunset 1. Kokutaiji Temple I headed from Kushiro City to Akkeshi-cho to fully enjoy sightseeing in Akkeshi on July 3 (Sun.). I used the following transportation to Akkeishi-cho. Depart Kushiro Station at 8:18, Nemuro Line “bound for Nemuro Station”, arrive at Akkeshi Station at 9:11, Fare Yen 1,130 After arriving at Akkeshi Station, I immediately changed to a bus and headed for Kokutaiji Temple. The transportation I used was as follows. Depart Akkeshi station at 9:15, Kokutaiji line, arrive at Kokutaiji Temple at 9:22, Fare Yen 170 Kokutaiji Temple was built by the Edo Shogunate in 1804 and is one of the three official temples in Ezo. The other two are Usu Zenkoji Temple (Date City) and Samani Tojuin Temple (Samani Town). The three official temples in Ezo were intended to provide funeral rites for Japanese who died in Ezo (present-day Hokkaido) and to propagate Buddhism to the Ainu people. They were also meant as aread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 2 (Hokkaido)

28Jul, 20222022年8月14日

July itinerary in Japan local cuisine the season of fish and shellfish

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

By ninjakotan

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido Meal edition) (Saturday, July 2) Table of contents 1. Local cuisine Nabekyu 2. Izakaya Buu 3. Tsubu-yaki Kadoya 1. Local cuisine Nabekyu Our first meal on this trip to Hokkaido was at NabeKyu, a local restaurant in Lake Akan. I entered the restaurant just before 11:20 a.m., but it was already more than half full. It is a very popular restaurant. My main goal at “Nabekyu” was sashimi of Lake Akan’s specialty, Hime-masu (kokanee), which is only available from May to July. However, in 2022, the Hime-masu fishing season ended a few weeks in May, and no sashimi was offered. It was a pity because I visited Lake Akan with the top priority of Hime-masu sashimi. However, grilled Hime-masu was on the menu, so I ordered it. The grilled salted Hime-masu had a very elegant taste and was very easy to eat. As I wrote in my BLOG on July 24th, Hime-masu is a landlocked form of Sockeye Salmon. In the Ainu language, it is called kapacep. It is native to Lake Akan and Lake Chimikeppu (Abashiri County, Hokkaido). Since I was unable to try the sashimi of Hime-masu, I orderedread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido Meal edition)

24Jul, 20222022年8月14日

Itinerary Ideas itinerary in Japan July itinerary in Japan

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido)

By ninjakotan

July itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido) (Saturday, July 2) Table of Contents 1. Ainu Kotan 2. Lake Akan Cruise 3. Ainu Theater 4. Nusamai Bridge １. Ainu Kotan I traveled to Kushiro City and Akkeshi City in Hokkaido for three days and two nights from July 2 (Sat) to 4 (Mon). Of course, we also delivered our luggage and enjoyed “luggage-free travel” on this trip. Flights from Haneda Airport to Kushiro Airport are as follows Depart Haneda Airport at 8:05, JAL541, arrive at Kushiro Airport at 9:40 Kushiro Airport is nicknamed “Tancho Kushiro Airport”. It is named after the red-crowned cranes that breed in the Kushiro Marshlands and other areas around Kushiro. A crane monument is placed at the bus stop after arriving at Kushiro Airport. I took a bus from Kushiro Airport to Lake Akan. The bus I used is as follows. Depart Kushiro Airport at 10:00, Airport Liner No.1, arrive at Akanko Onsen at 11:15, Fare Yen 2,190 It takes 45 minutes (about 20 km) from Kushiro Airport to Kushiro Station. On the other hand, the distance from Kushiro Airport to Lake Akan is 55 km, more than twice the distance from Kushiro Station, butread moreJuly itinerary in Japan Day 1 (Hokkaido)