JP EN FR 简体中文 繁體中文 Richer living through mindfulness of the traditional Japanese seasons Discovering a richer life in the traditional seasons of Japan Place × Season × Time=Unforgettable experiencesThrilling experiences born of the right place Discovering the hidden stories in everyday lifeUntold stories from just around the corner in Japan Unique brand stories combining tradition with revolutionRevolutionary traditionalism: Brand stories like no other Interviews with the people of the momentMeetings with the women and men who make Japan tick Weaving a lifestyle from Japanese sensibilities and aestheticsBring the Japanese sense of beauty into your life Online salons led by individual hostsThought-provoking discussion led by fascinating figures Premium Japan Members has released the 18th release in the XNUMX Solar Terms series "Akkeshi Single Blended Japanese Whisky Winter Solstice." "Akkeshi Single Blended Japanese Whisky Toji" is made not only from malt but also from grain all of which is produced at the Akkeshi Distillery the grain is made using Akkeshi Distillery's unique "single pot still grain" which is made from 100% Hokkaido-produced ingredients Pot still at Akkeshi Distillery (manufactured by Forsyth "Single pot still grain malt" refers to grain malt distilled using a pot still this requires higher technical skills and costs more than grain whisky distilled using a continuous still but it is a relatively "loud" liquor among grain whiskies known as "silent spirits," with a richer By blending malt malt distilled in Akkeshi with Akkeshi Distillery's unique "single pot still grain malt" in an exquisite combination a blended whisky that truly embodies the northern land was born Why not try enjoying the exquisite flavors produced in the naturally rich northern regions In addition to informing you of the latest information via newsletter we also plan to inform you of exclusive events and give away special gifts there is an abundance of seasonal ingredients that we can't wait to try Hokkaido's must-try seafood becomes even more delicious from autumn to winter Plan what you want to eat in advance and fully enjoy Hokkaido's gourmet food Hokkaido is a famous producing region for autumn salmon when salmon return to the rivers where they were born to spawn they are called "autumn salmon." and female salmon are full of delicious eggs in their bellies is undoubtedly a must-try gourmet food on an autumn trip to Hokkaido about 90% of domestically produced autumn salmon is caught here in Hokkaido is known as one of Japan's top producing regions The premium salmon caught there is branded as "Raou." we cannot overlook "ikura," with its popping texture and rich A "salmon and ikura donburi" (rice bowl) is a special treat that is unique to Hokkaido called "the fish of the gods" by the Ainu people you'll regret it if you don't eat it Oysters are called “milk of the sea” not only because of their milky white appearance but also because they contain so many nutrients Kushiro and Akkeshi in the eastern part of Hokkaido are famous for their delicious oysters Akkeshi is famous for being the only place in Japan where fresh delicious oysters are available year-round but the best time to eat them is from December to February oyster maturation is controlled by taking advantage of the oyster's property of “slow growth in low water temperature Oysters that have grown slowly in the cold sea taking in nutrients slowly and deliberately Oyster lovers are sure to be impressed by these delicacies Conchiglie,” a Michi-no-Eki where you can enjoy an oyster bar and all-you-can-eat oysters You can enjoy plump and juicy oysters to your heart's content is a popular event that attracts more than 20,000 visitors each year as well as enjoy seafood purchased on the site and grilled over charcoal on the spot There are also events such as catching oysters and clams "The 'shishamo' you always eat isn't actually shishamo" what is commonly eaten is a substitute fish called capelin true shishamo is a rare fish that can only be caught on the Pacific coast of Hokkaido in the entire world Among the famous production areas is Mukawa Town hanging the caught shishamo to dry under the eaves known as "sudare-boshi," is an autumn tradition during the fishing season The taste is also significantly different from capelin True shishamo is originally a plump fish with a rich fat content Even the males without eggs have firm flesh and a rich flavor The females with eggs offer a fluffy texture and a gentle sweetness Since the taste differs between males and females it's recommended to try both and compare Shishamo is usually not eaten raw because it spoils easily you can enjoy it as sashimi or sushi for a limited time Fresh shishamo can only be eaten raw during the fishing season from October to November The sushi made with fatty male shishamo is especially popular fans visit not only from within Hokkaido but from all over the country This very rare shishamo sushi is a must-try for food enthusiasts cod milt (shirako) is often considered a bit pricey when eaten at izakayas or Japanese restaurants in Honshu where shirako is called "tachi," the milt of Pacific cod is known as "ma-dachi," and the milt of Alaska pollock is called "suke-dachi." Suke-dachi dishes like "tachi tempura" and "tachi ponzu" (shirako with ponzu sauce) appear on izakaya menus and become popular seasonal delicacies Served with grated daikon and green onions they make an irresistible accompaniment to drinks The plump texture and rich flavor are sure to get you hooked bringing with it crisp air and the promise of bountiful harvests there's one seasonal delicacy that truly captures the essence of this time of year swims to the eastern part of Hokkaido to fatten up in preparation for spawning This is why sanma caught in eastern Hokkaido is exceptionally large and incredibly fatty Hanasaki Port in Nemuro boasts the highest annual catch of sanma in Japan Nemuro's proximity to the fishing grounds in the Okhotsk Sea allows for same-day fishing trips ensuring that the sanma is incredibly fresh This "day-trip sanma" is so fresh that it stands upright when placed on a cutting board earning it the nickname "ippon-dachi sanma" (literally the freshness of sanma is truly highlighted providing a truly unforgettable taste of the season Another popular dish is the "Nemuro sanma roll sushi," where fatty Nemuro sanma is wrapped in mineral-rich Nemuro-grown saomae kelp no discussion of sanma is complete without mentioning grilled sanma It's a perfect pairing with grated daikon radish and soy sauce Indulge in the flavors of autumn with this delectable treat you can grill and eat all the “Charcoal Grilled Sanma” you want The “Nemuro Sanma Festival” is such a dreamy event along with a “catching the saury” contest attracts many visitors from adults to children The festival is held over two days in mid-September every year Why don't you try sanma in season in the best sanma town in Japan ©2022-2025 Hokkaido Tourism Organization Event Gourmet Autumn in Hokkaido is not only a time to enjoy the autumn leaves but also a time to enjoy gourmet foods made from delicious ingredients from the sea and mountains we will introduce 27 events held in various parts of Hokkaido where you can enjoy gourmet foods that are the pride of the town 1 "The 32nd Nemuro Samma Festival" where you can grill and eat fresh samma on the spot (Nemuro City) This is a "samma-filled" event unique to Nemuro which has the largest catch of samma in Japan At the "Kishibe Robata Corner," the centerpiece of the festival that attracts many visitors every year visitors can grill fresh Nemuro saury on a charcoal grill and eat them as they are a "product festival" will be held at the festival site where visitors can enjoy a wide variety of local specialties and dishes that are the pride of the local mothers on the beach Date and Time: Saturday, October 5, 12:00-19:00 / Sunday, October 6, 8:30-14:30 Venue: Nemuro Port Special Site (Honmachi 5-chome, Nemuro City)For details and map information of the 32nd Nemuro Samma Festival, click here. 2 "Saroma Great Harvest Festival" featuring scallops and other delicacies from the sea and mountains (Saroma Town) This festival is held to give thanks for the year's harvest and to enjoy Saroma's marine and mountain products to the fullest The festival features a large selection of Saroma's specialty gourmet foods including scallops from Lake Saroma and special sales of meat Fresh seafood and meat grilled on the spot are exquisite there will be stage events and a raffle with great prizes Date and Time: Sunday, October 6, from 10:00 a.m. Venue: Toyo Tires Saroma Test Course (Nishitomi, Saroma-machi, Tokoro-gun)For more information about the "Saroma Harvest Festival" and map information, click here. 3 Enjoy the bounty of the Sea of Okhotsk with autumn salmon and scallops at "Well-Being Festa 2024" (Edasai Town) This is an event where visitors can taste the autumn of Okhotsk with a focus on Edasai-cho's specialty products and sales of marine and agricultural products The salmon catching contest and scallop peeling contest held in a giant pool are also popular every year Visitors can enjoy the harvest and appetite of autumn with Edasaki-cho's prized seafood and marine products Date and time: Sunday, October 6, 10:00-14:00 Venue: Special venue at Roadside Station Marine Island Okajima (1978-13 Okajima, Edasaki-cho, Edasaki-gun)For details and map information of "Well-Being Festa 2024", please visit 4 "Hakodate Squid Festival" (Hakodate City) where Hakodate's specialty squid is served in a variety of dishes This is an event where visitors can enjoy Hakodate's specialty various Hakodate's specialty squid dishes are sold the menu is determined by the squid fishing conditions on the day of the festival so you will have to wait until you get there to enjoy it The venue is within walking distance from Hakodate Station so visitors can easily enjoy the event as part of their Hakodate sightseeing tour Date and Time: Sunday, October 6, 10:00-15:00 Venue: Hakodate Green Plaza Block B (10-62 Shofu-cho, Hakodate)For details and map information on the Hakodate Squid Festival 5 "51st Ikeda Town Autumn Wine Festival" (Ikeda Town) An event where visitors can enjoy wine and Hokkaido beef there will be a beverage corner with Tokachi wines and special grape juices as well as a taste corner with powerful grilled whole Ikeda-cho beef and kitchen car stalls and the entire venue will be filled with the tastes of autumn Date and Time: Sunday, October 6, 10:00 - 14:00 (last admission at 13:30) Admission: Adults 8,000 yen / Junior and senior high school students 6,000 yen / Elementary school students 5,000 yen / Preschool children free Venue: Event plaza next to the wine castle (83-4 Kiyomi, Ikeda-cho, Nakagawa-gun)For details and map information of the 51st Ikeda-cho Autumn Wine Festival, click here. 6 Chance to get new buckwheat noodles and new rice "The 25th Shintotsukawa Taste Festival" (Shintotsukawa Town) This event is the best place to enjoy the seasonal tastes of Shin Totsukawa Town A special mushroom hot pot with plenty of beech mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms and freshly boiled soba noodles will be on sale there will be a tasting corner for new Yumepirika rice and a fun raffle for a bale of new rice and local specialties Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024, 10:00-14:00 Venue: Plaza in front of the Rural Environment Improvement Center Miraie (306-2, Aza-Chuo, Shintotsukawa-cho, Kabato-gun)Click here for details and map information of the 25th Shintotsukawa Ajiwaku Festival 7 "Tokachi Shimizu Garlic Meat Festival" (Shimizu Town) where you can taste garlic and barbecued meat the largest amount of garlic shipped in Hokkaido This festival features garlic and barbecued meat in Shimizu Town which boasts the largest shipment of garlic in Hokkaido Visitors can enjoy barbequed meat and garlic at the festival site where there are also kitchen cars and tents selling garlic-based delicacies Catching garlic is also a popular attraction Date and time: Saturday, October 5, 10:00-15:00 Fee: Tokachi-wakamegyu BBQ set ticket 1,500 yen in advance / 1,800 yen at the door Venue: Hokuren Shimizu Sugar Factory Plaza (Kita 2-jo, Shimizu-machi, Kamikawa-gun)For more information about the "Tokachi Shimizu Garlic Meat Festival" and map information, click here. 8 "Shimamaki Autumn Flavor Festival" (Shimamaki Village): Don't miss the limited quantity of salmon roe bowls An autumn gourmet event held in Shimamaki Village The event is held at the mountain village square next to the roadside station "Yotteke where a limited number of salmon roe bowls will be sold and gourmet stalls will be set up to offer a taste of local delicacies and the autumn event will conclude with a fireworks display Date and time: Saturday, October 5, 12:00 - 18:30 Venue：Yamamura Plaza (Shimamaki Village, Shimamaki County, Shimamaki Prefecture, Senbai)For more information on the Shimamaki Autumn Taste Festival and map information, please visit Fishery and Big Products Festival" (Date City) In addition to the city's specialty products this food festival gathers together delicious foods from nearby areas The festival features a variety of Date's specialties including a corner for barbecued Japanese black beef and a corner selling agricultural and marine products There will be more delicious gourmet foods than you can eat so it is recommended that you attend the festival with an empty stomach Date and Time: Sunday, October 6, 10:00-14:00 (food and drink sales 9:00-16:00) Venue: General Park Date Rekishi no Mori Lawn (34 Matsugae-cho, Date City)For details and map information on the "2024 DADATE Agriculture, Fishery and Big Products Festival", click here. 10 "Shiribeshi Autumn Food Festival at Rural Park Fruit Park Niki" with a large selection of sweets and local sake (Niki Town) Gourmet foods sold at the venue will include various tastes of Shiribeshi there will also be stage events featuring characters Date and time: October 5 (Sat.) - 6 (Sun.), 10:00 - 15:30 Venue: Rural Park Fruit Park Niki (16-121 Higashimachi, Niki-machi, Yoichi-gun)For details and map information of "Shiribeshi Autumn Food Festival at Rural Park Fruit Park Niki 11 Enjoy fresh vegetables and Wagyu beef from Makubetsu "47th Makubetsu Industrial Festival" (Makubetsu Town) One of the two major autumn festivals in Makubetsu Town the "Makubetsu Industrial Festival" is an event that brings together a large variety of specialty products to pray for a good harvest and sales of specialty products from Kaisei Town a city with which the town has an exchange relationship there will also be games for visitors to participate in Date: Sunday, October 6, 10:00-14:20 Venue: Special venue in front of Makubetsu Centennial Hall (180-1 Senju, Makubetsu-cho, Nakagawa-gun)For details and map information of the "47th Makubetsu Industrial Festival 12 Collaboration of tastes beyond the town "Chikiokomatsuri 2024 in Noboribetsu" (Noboribetsu City) A food event featuring local specialties from each region is held in Noboribetsu by the Regional Development Cooperation Team of Noboribetsu City and the West Iburi region The event will feature a collaboration of local delicacies such as all-you-can-stuff vegetables from Sobetsu and shakes made with Toyoura strawberries and Noboribetsu milk There will also be workshops for children to enjoy Date: Sunday, October 6, 10:00-16:00 Venue: Noboribetsu City Tourism Exchange Center Nupuru (1-4-9 Noboribetsu Minatomachi, Noboribetsu City)Click here for details and map information of "Chiki-Oko Festival 2024 in Noboribetsu 13 "41st Kaminokuni-cho Industrial Festival" with a salmon catching corner for children (Kaminokuni-cho) This is a festival where you can enjoy the taste of autumn in Kaminokuni-cho From a food and drink corner where the women's club of the fishermen's cooperative sells salmon chanchanyaki and nori bento to an all-you-can-stuffed-mein corner where you can enjoy the taste of fall at home and time service of locally grown vegetables and fresh fish there will be elaborate events such as catching salmon for elementary school children and younger Date and time: Sunday, October 6, 10:00-14:00 Venue: Kaminokuni-cho Town Hall parking lot (100 Odome, Kaminokuni-cho, Hiyama-gun)Click here for details and map information of the "41st Kaminokuni-cho Industrial Festival 14 "The 49th Good Food Shintoku Snow Festival" (Shintoku Town) where all-you-can-stuff fresh local vegetables are very popular A gourmet event in Shintoku Town where visitors can enjoy charcoal-grilled meat purchased at the venue under the autumn sky Fruits from Higashine City in Yamagata Prefecture perfect for taking home and for dessert after the barbeque The annual all-you-can-stuff vegetables such as pumpkins and carrots are especially popular Date and time: Sunday, October 6, 10:00-14:00 Venue: Kusoku Athletic Park (3 Kusoku Asahi-machi Higashi, Shintoku-cho, Kamikawa-gun)Click here for details and map information of the "49th Shintoku Great Snow Festival. 15 Three events in Kitami combine and power up "Kitami Autumn Festival - Okhotsk Marche 2024-" (Kitami City) Three events held in Kitami City in autumn will be combined and powered up as "Kitami Autumn Festival - Okhotsk Marche 2024-" Visitors can enjoy a variety of local gourmet foods made from Kitami and Okhotsk ingredients as well as local beers and cocktails from around the world and throughout Japan and many stage events held every day will enliven the event 16 The 31st Monbetsu Gourmet Festival (Monbetsu City): Crab scallops and other delicacies of Monbetsu The largest taste event in Monbetsu City facing the Sea of Okhotsk is back for the first time in five years including freshly harvested local seafood such as crab BBQ sets will be available for rent as part of the Robata experience allowing visitors to taste what they have purchased on the spot making it a great family leisure weekend event Date/Time: Sunday, October 13, 10:00-16:00 Fee: 1,000 yen per set for robata experience (stove, net, charcoal, igniter, table, chairs, seasonings, etc.) Venue: Event plaza in the Galya area (Monbetsu Ocean Park)For more information about the 31st Monbetsu Gourmet Festival and map information, please visit 17 Rice Festival "4th Rankoshi New Rice Festival" (Rangetsu Town) This festival is full of rice-related events There is a big sale of rice at a special price a big lottery to win new rice and hotel accommodation coupons a rock-paper-scissors tournament with the winner receiving a bale of new rice stalls of local stores and kitchen cars will line the venue Date：October 12 (Sat.)～13 (Sun.) 10:00-14:00 Venue: Rankoshi-cho Mountain Village Development Center (258, Rankoshi-cho, Isoya-gun)For details and map information of the "4th Rankoshi New Rice Festival", please visit 18 "Matsumae Gourmet Fest" (Matsumae Town) a large gathering of gourmet foods from Matsumae Town and its sister cities This food event is held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the current Matsumae Town after the merger and the 40th anniversary of the sister city/friendship city relationship Local delicacies from Matsumae and its sister cities Date City (former town of Yanagawa) in Fukushima Prefecture and friendship city Hikone City in Shiga Prefecture as well as city collaboration gourmet sister city products will be on sale there will be a large gathering of local characters and a commemorative photo session Date and time: Saturday, October 12, 11:00-15:00 Venue: Matsumae Town Center (30 Shinmei Aza, Matsumae-cho)Click here for details and map information of "Matsumae Gourmet Fest. 19 "Tomakomai Fishing Port Hokki Festival" (Tomakomai City) which boasts Japan's largest catch of hokki-gai and enjoy Tomakomai's pride in hokki-gai through sales of hokki-gai and dishes using hokki-gai as well as stage events related to hokki-gai Date and time: October 20 (Sun.) Venue: Tomakomai West Port Fishing Port Area Quay (1-1-13 Shiomi-machi, Tomakomai City)For more information on the Tomakomai Fishing Port Hokki Festival and map information, click here. Play and Enjoy Shihoro's Autumn "The 22nd Shihoro Harvest Festival" (Shihoro Town) This festival allows visitors to enjoy autumn with Shihoro's gourmet foods and attractions In addition to the "Shihoro Aji Market" selling juicy Shihoro beef cut steaks oshiruko (sweet red-bean soup) and udon noodles there will be food-related events such as bagging potatoes and onions and the "Eat and Weigh Pittanko Game Date: Sunday, October 20, 10:00-13:30 Venue: Shihoro Rural Sports Park (171-49, Mukanishi-Hachisen, Shihoro, Kawato-gun)For details and map information of the "22nd Shihoro Harvest Festival", click here. 21 "Sarabetsu Great Harvest Festival" offering rare Sarabetsu Wagyu beef (Sarabetsu Village) An event that brings together all the delicious tastes of Sarabetsu Village In addition to tasting rare Sarabetsu Wagyu beef grown in the blessed nature of vast Tokachi you can't miss the food corner where a large pot of food local agricultural products and local menus are sold The festival also features a variety of elaborate events each year including a stage event that adds to the excitement of the event Date: October 20 (Sun.) Venue: Furusato Kan (189-1 Sarabetsu, Sarabetsu-mura, Kasai-gun)For details and map information of "Sarabetsu Great Harvest Festival", click here. 22 "~Autumn Fukagawa Rice Carnival ~Komechi New Rice & Soba Festa 2024" (Fukagawa City) where the seasonal tastes of Fukagawa gather This event features a variety of Fukagawa's seasonal foods such as new rice and new buckwheat noodles In addition to offering gourmet foods made from a wide variety of agricultural and livestock products the festival will also include stage events that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike Date/Time：October 20 (Sun.) 11:00-14:30 Venue: Ikigai Bunka Center (3-3-15 Nishimachi, Fukagawa City)For more details and map information on "KOMETSUCHI Shinmai & Soba Festa 2024" click here. 23 Sweet lovers gather for "Anko Festival 2024 in Kenbuchi a village of picture books" (Kenbuchi Town) A sweets event using freshly picked azuki beans azuki beans produced in the town are transformed into various sweets such as dumplings This is an event not to be missed by those with a sweet tooth Date and Time: Saturday, October 19, 10:00-15:00 Venue: Kenbuchi Town Center (37-1 Naka-machi, Kenbuchi Town)Click here for details and map information of "Anko Festival 2024" in Kenbuchi, the village of picture books. 24 Taste the many varieties of Fukagawa apples at "Fukagawa Apple Festa 2024" (Fukagawa City) A variety of Fukagawa-grown apples of different varieties will be available for two days Each variety has its own unique appearance and taste and you may be able to find your favorite variety or an apple that you can only taste here visitors who answer all questions correctly will receive processed products made from Fukagawa-grown fruit Date and time: October 26 (Sat.) - 27 (Sun.), 9:00-13:00 Venue: Roadside Station, Rice Land Fukagawa (59-7 Hirozato, Otoe-cho, Fukagawa City)Click here for details and map information of "Fukagawa Apple Festa 2024 where you can taste fresh oysters from Atsugishi-cho over a charcoal fire (Atsugishi-cho) This festival attracts many tourists from inside and outside of Hokkaido every year and is a unique event in the town of oysters visitors can also rent out grilling equipment and enjoy the seafood they buy on the spot this is an event where children and adults alike can enjoy autumn food to the fullest Date and time: Saturday, November 16 - Sunday, November 17, 9:00 - 15:00 Venue: Konohi Park (6-9, Bendou, Atsugishi-cho, Atsugishi-gun)For more information about the 62nd Akkeshi Oyster Festival and map information, click here. 26 "The 43rd Hokuto City Mohechi Salmon Festival" (Hokuto City) where you can see up-close the salmon coming upstream This festival is held along the Moheji River where you can watch the salmon run upstream The festival features annual salmon-related events such as "catching salmon," which is exciting whether you participate or just watch and sales of fresh seafood and salmon hot pots Date/Time: Sunday, November 3 Venue: Lower Mohechi River bank (2-3 Mohechi, Hokuto City)Click here for details and map information of the 43rd Hokuto City Mohechi Salmon Festival. 27 "Rakuichi Rakuza Morimachi Shoku KING Market 2024" featuring specialties from the mountains and sea of Morimachi (Morimachi) This is an annual event held in Morimachi in southern Hokkaido where local products are gathered This year's event will be the last of a total of four scheduled at different times and locations and processed foods from Morimachi will be on sale Date and time: Sunday, November 3, 9:00-12:00 Venue: Community Revitalization Plaza (Kiyosumi-cho, Mori-machi, Kayabe-gun)Click here for details and map information of "Rakuichi Rakuza Morimachi Food KING Market 2024". All information is current as of the publication of this article in October 2024 Please check the official website for details why don't you tell more people about your great activities in Hokkaido You can post your activities and ideas to Domingo and you will also have a chance to be selected by Domingo to be featured in articles and on the street visions of Sapporo If you are new to Domingo, click here to get started Expanding the circle of exchange in Minami-ku a community market created by students together with the local community [Updated for 2025] A complete guide to accessing Daiwa House Premist Dome (Sapporo Dome) and nearby hotels Enjoy seasonal spring gourmet food and Golden Week 10 recommended events in Hokkaido [May 2025] 5 recommended events in Sapporo [May 2nd - 6th 5 easy-to-participate social good events in Hokkaido [May 2025] [2025 Edition] 16 Flower Events in Hokkaido: Cherry blossoms Seasonal “news” of Hokkaido can be checked by category You can check the information of your “town” in one place Events” held throughout the province are easy to find and can be saved This page has been automatically translated by Google Translate service paragraph publishing ltd.   Copyright © 2025 all rights reserved.   Website by Acora One Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Hokkaido--A distillery has produced a whiskey that is available only in this town as a “thank you” for the community’s support and its bountiful nature operated by Tokyo-based food material importer Kenten Co. has won plaudits at home and abroad for its whiskies and the hot-selling products are often difficult to obtain Its Kaki no Komoriuta (Oyster’s lullaby) may be even tougher to come by the beverage is a blend of malt whiskies from Akkeshi and the Scottish island of Islay Located in the eastern part of Japan’s northernmost prefecture and facing the Pacific Ocean Akkeshi is known for its cool and humid summers as well as sea fog The distillery uses water filtered through a peat layer to produce whiskey Kenten President Keiichi Toita decided to make malt whiskey in Akkeshi because the town’s environment is similar to that of Islay one of the world’s largest production areas for Scotch The company entered the whiskey-production business in autumn 2016 and began selling its Akkeshi New Born series in 2018 it started selling whiskey aged for at least three years According to the company and the town office all 10,000 bottles of Boshu whiskey the distillery released in May were quickly bought up around Japan It was also sold in limited quantities in Akkeshi where customers formed lines outside shops in the early hours of the release date Kaki no Komoriuta was created to show gratitude to the things that made it possible for the distillery to produce whiskey: the town’s nature-rich environment and local fans The spirit has been sold in glasses at hotels restaurants and elsewhere in the town since Nov In addition to straight and on-the-rocks servings the distillery recommends enjoying the whiskey in highballs Sake brewery re-creates Japan's first domestic gin from 1812 Niigata sake brewers turn to whisky to help bolster business Confusion over what constitutes real Japanese whiskey settled Northernmost main island in Japan aims to rival U.S Cow excrement tapped by town in Hokkaido for CO2-free power Algae that killed off marine life in Hokkaido from Russia Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission A sweet aroma wafts through the air as unblended malt whisky gushed from a storage cask at Hokkaido's Akkeshi Distillery in the freezing rural north of Japan last December The distillery is just one of a growing number of craft distilleries that have sprung up recently around the nation their products drawing parallels with more established giants such as Suntory and Nikka which have become renowned for the unique profiles of their Japanese whisky utilizes large puncheon barrels made of Mongolian oak Its whisky is distinctive for its citrus notes and the briny aroma the company says is derived from the sea fog that rolls through the area "Japan takes craftsmanship seriously," said Katsuyuki Tatsuzaki "We want to protect the tradition and always have superior products." similar to the cool and damp conditions of the Scottish whisky hotspot of Islay one of the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands located off the west coast of the country chose the marshy seaside setting with its rich peat deposits The company wanted to produce liquor with the same smoky profile of Islay whisky -- considered a central character in Islay malts -- derived from their production in close proximity to peat marshes which brought in equipment from distillation equipment supplier Forsyths in Scotland already has about 1,200 casks to age their product the company uses water that passes through a peat layer a vatted blend of nonpeated malts matured for 5-14 months in bourbon casks "Foundations 2," a vatted blend of peated malts matured for 8-17 months jumped on the craft whisky bandwagon in 2016 the company plans to begin operating a new whisky distillery in Ishioka which can produce about 120,000 liters of whisky per year -- an approximately 12-fold increase on the current amount of spirits the company makes Around 40 percent of the barley used as raw ingredients for its whisky -- some 80 tons -- will be procured from within the city's boundaries and there will even be a distillery tour available for tourists "We are very particular about using local raw ingredients We want many tourists to visit our distillery," said company vice president Toshiyuki Kiuchi several craft distilleries have come online including the Yuza Distillery (by Kinryu Co. Nagahama Distillery (by Nagahama Roman Beer) in Nagahama and Mars Tsunuki Distillery (by Hombo Shuzo Co. which went into a tailspin in the early 2000s began a turnaround in 2008 with the renewed popularity of highballs a beverage quite distinct from typical whisky and soda mixes because of the attention paid to quality Whisky even gained a foothold in popular culture when the TV drama series "Massan," a fictionalized account of the lives of Masataka Taketsuru and his Scottish wife Jessie Cowan aired on public broadcaster NHK from September 2014 until March 2015 The program depicted Taketsuru's struggles to start the Nikka Whisky Distilling Co According to the Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association about 137,000 kiloliters of whisky -- more than enough to fill the Tokyo Dome baseball stadium -- was shipped out domestically in 2017 Whisky exports were worth about 13.64 billion yen ($125 million) in 2017 more than an 11-fold increase over 10 years previous the Japanese whisky boom was so meteoric that leading producer Suntory Holdings Ltd announced last year that it would discontinue selling two premium brands due to shortages fueled by global demand for the award-winning spirits Japan's wide variety of climates help it produce smooth and elaborate whisky brands that are catching the eye of overseas drinkers Even craft distilleries are winning international awards normally reserved for well-established whisky breweries a single malt produced by a tiny distillery in Saitama's Chichibu has won global accolades and a slew of awards making a name for itself as one of Japan's premium craft whiskies Experts say the long maturation periods and large investment required to produce whisky "The high praise is a result of effort," said whisky critic Mamoru Tsuchiya They should take advantage of this opportunity." To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible image: An enigmatic jumping bristletail from Hokkaido was found to have important evolutionary characteristics in insect reproductive behavior Japan—Insects account for 75% of all animal species while the remaining 1% consist of primitive groups collectively known as Apterygota Jumping bristletails are a subgroup of Apterygota that are approximately 15 mm long They feed on green algae that grow on land and inhabit damp shaded environments such as moistened rock faces and tree bark It is hypothesized that the ancestors of terrestrial insects initially fed on algae that advanced onto land simultaneously Jumping bristletails retained many primitive traits providing significant insights into early insect evolution Approximately 75 years ago, Halomachilis kojimai (Japanese name: kojima-ishinomi) was described in Akkeshi this genus has been considered not inhabiting Japan researchers collected numerous specimens of jumping bristletails identified as the same species and clarified their taxonomy The findings revealed that this species belongs to the genus Petrobiellus Silvestri which is endemic to the Far East and includes only a few known species A detailed examination confirmed that this species exhibits unique characteristics contributing to the understanding of innovations in mating behavior essential for the evolutionary transition of insects to terrestrial life Sugadaira Research Station, Mountain Science Center, University of Tsukuba 10.11646/zootaxa.5543.3.10 What are Halomachilis akkesiensis and Halomachilis kojimai described from Hokkaido are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system Copyright © 2025 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) says the 84-year-old ramen shop owner as she gently nudges three shrimps into a precise line on top of a bowl of salty ramen noodles There is a poster of the Hanasaki railway line right next to her in the tiny shop at Cape Ochiishi in Eastern Hokkaido It shows the tiny red train passing over the green plain that drops off into the Pacific Ocean.  The Hanasaki line runs just some 200 meters away from the ramen shop through the tiny hamlet of Ochiishi More Ezo deer than cars seem to make use of the road As the railway line continues towards Kushiro it runs precariously close to the coast.  sunshine and blue skies gave way to thick fog that turned the windswept place into a blasted heath where Macbeth might have met the three witches.  There is no other passenger waiting at Ochiishi station and the waiting room chairs feature colorful cushions embroidered with the station name The train only passes every two to four hours – nine times per day The Hanasaki (blooming flower) train operated by JR Hokkaido connects the port towns of Kushiro and Nemuro in Eastern Hokkaido the 134.4 kilometer long line celebrates its 100th birthday.  it transported not only passengers but also kelp the single carriage transports mainly train enthusiasts who want to visit the most eastern station of Japan retired travelers with plenty of time on their hands and some locals on a short dash to the next town.  Passenger numbers on the Hanasaki line have been declining for some time: From around 2.000 people per day in 1975 to less than 200 now Dwindling user numbers are a common problem in the countryside on Japan’s Northern Island.  The JR Hokkaido railway company has repeatedly warned it will not be able to support half of the train lines that are currently operating as it is "difficult to maintain on its own," as the company puts it politely.  In 2018 JR Hokkaido was about to pull the plug on the train but the city of Nemuro stepped in and drummed up support for its only rail connection Nemuro collected almost ￥300 million JPY (about $2.74 million USD) through Japan's tax donation program Furusato Nōzei (hometown tax) that allows all Japanese taxpayers to support a regional municipality of their choice and help local governments fund regional projects and revitalization.  The initial goal was to collect ￥33 million JPY (a little over $300,000 USD) in the fiscal year of 2018 But the project turned out to be surprisingly popular with more than 20.000 donors contributing to save one of Japan's most scenic train lines that gives passengers the feeling that they are traveling to the end of the world.    the Nemuro Municipal Government raised over ￥50 million JPY ($455,000 USD) through crowdfunding in order to continue the Hanasaki Line The city will also use the money to fund "first train trips" for kindergarten and nursery school children hoping that the experience will foster a love for the special train among the youngsters "We want to ensure the continuation of the train line in the future by having children who have never been on a train before hold tickets in their hands and experience a train journey while gazing at the scenery out the windows," explains the Nemuro Municipal Government.  Nemuro faces the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean and Japan´s easternmost train station sits halfway between the two oceans Seagulls scream as they fly over the eastern terminus of the Hanasaki line so a single side platform is all that is here.  Nemuro station proudly exhibits historic photos of the Hanasaki line posters and a PR video featuring the train journey.  As the train makes its way westward towards Kushiro A red fox trots quietly around horses in a paddock black and white cows are resting under trees the scenery changes again as the Hanasaki line gets closer to Akkeshi The train runs right through the remote Bekanbeushi Marsh and the air starts to smell of sea and kelp the train rumbles along the shore of Lake Akkeshi a brackish water that does not freeze in winter.  Once it passes through the tunnel at Beppo Station the view from the carriage windows becomes urban again She has no intention of getting on the train she is still writing down the train timetable on a white sheet of paper fallen out of time like the Hanasaki line.  Find Agnes Tandler's observations and discoveries about Hokkaido and other parts of the Japanese archipelago here, on JAPAN Forward You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp Akkeshi Town in Eastern Hokkaido is a town famous for oysters One great place to try the local oysters in Akkeshi is Kakiba who also owns an oyster farm called Kakikin you can savor the local brand of oysters known as “Kakiemon” Nakajima expertly opens and prepares the oysters whose large lobes and succulent flesh are a culinary treat whether served fresh Other unique oyster dishes you can enjoy at the bar include oyster pizza and oyster gratin Kakiba is located right next to an oyster cultivation site and you can enjoy a view of the ocean and the Akkeshi Bridge at dusk while lounging in the bar’s cozy interior It’s also a great place to meet and interact with the local patrons and other oyster lovers Website: https://kakikin.com/kakiba/ (Website available only in Japanese) Phone: +81-153-52-5277 (Japanese language only https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ticket/railpass/index.html https://japanbyjapan.com/blog/travelling-within-hokkaido *Information is correct as of January 2019 Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent Hokkaido — Old fishing nets have been reworked into nylon randoseru schoolbags by a bag manufacturer in Toyooka The manufacturer has donated some of the randoseru to Akkeshi where the used fishing nets were collected The town of Akkeshi will present the donated bags to 13 children who will enter elementary school in April this year and hopes that the children will take an interest in marine environmental protection together with their parents branded “school backpack UMI,” are being manufactured by bag maker Yuri in Toyooka They have been on sale nationwide since November last year The product is part of a project by Tokyo-based general incorporated association “Alliance for the Blue,” which promotes the creation of products that contribute to protection of the marine environment About 65% of the bags are made of nylon fabric created from pelletized fishing nets which are collected from fishermen on the east coast of Hokkaido by a fishing net manufacturer and retailer in Akkeshi In addition to being environmentally friendly more water-resistant and lighter than ordinary schoolbags At a gifting ceremony held at Akkeshi’s town hall on Dec Yuri President Shozaburo Yuri said: “After being processed by a number of different businesses waste fishing nets collected in Akkeshi were turned into schoolbags We thought that the children of Akkeshi should be the first to use them.” The deputy mayor of the town said “I hope that this will be an opportunity for the children and adults of Akkeshi to face environmental issues with newfound enthusiasm.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun These days, there's no shortage of hype around Japanese whisky, but identifying the best brands can be a little trickier than expected, especially if you're just getting started on your foray into whiskies from Japan. As a relatively new market there are only a handful of well-known producers with new distilleries of varying quality frequently appearing to make the most of the increased reputation demand modern Japanese whiskies are strongly influenced by Scotch following similar production methods and pursuing similar taste profiles a factor that can make identifying great Japanese whisky trickier is the rarity of many of its bottles this doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get a whisky that's worth what you pay for it As a whisky-lover with a long career in the high-end bar industry and a passion for popping my head into whisky stores and bars throughout my travels I've been fortunate enough to try a wide range of brands and learn much about the history – and possible future – of whisky in Japan is my personal selection of those worth keeping an eye out for if you're looking to delve deeper into the world of Japanese whisky a Japanese whisky brand hailing from Yamanashi Prefecture near the base of the famous Mount Fuji the brand only offers a single whisky — a blended expression — and it might not be considered a true Japanese whisky in the near future Sensei is a bit of a strange brand in the sense that it's produced by a spirits distributor so it's hard to pin down a lot of specific details about the whisky itself so its blend likely includes whiskies that have been shipped over from distilleries in Scotland before being finished and aged in Japan some of the industry's major players have banded together to create an industry-standard so certain expressions will no longer be labeled as Japanese whisky unless all the components come from Japan including bottles from some of the industry's biggest players Sensei is a perfectly serviceable dram that draws inspiration from the region elegantly balancing malt and grain characteristics It opens delicately with aromas of fresh apple and orange blossom and some flowery undertones that culminate in a floral Aging in Mizunara oak barrels offers a unique flavor; however the whisky's youth means it's not as smooth as it could be it's better used in conjunction with a light mixer Togouchi is a relatively new brand produced by the Sakurao Distillery in Japan's Hiroshima region While they do produce Japanese whisky that meets the new naming conventions many of its blends consist of important malt and grain whiskies from Scotland and Canada which are then aged and finished at Sakurao despite mostly being made from imported whiskies Sakurao's influence shouldn't be understated This is due to the fact its whiskies are matured in a particularly unique location – an underground cellar dug under a forested mountain known as the Togouchi Tunnel The temperatures in Hiroshima can swing from hot to almost freezing over the year but the Tunnel maintains a relatively cool and consistent internal climate that's ideal for smooth maturation The whiskies are also diluted down to bottling strength with pristine spring water drawn from mountains in the nearby Sandankyo gorge The result is a range of whiskies that are heavy on vanilla and sweet orchard fruits the expressions do vary in style thanks to Sakurao's creative barrel-aging techniques and you'll find variations aged in ex-sherry and bourbon casks Although its single malt is the best true Japanese whisky among its selection most of the offerings are uniquely delicious in their own way Akkeshi is yet another relative newcomer to the Japanese whisky scene but the artisanal distiller has been making waves since it hit the market the Akkeshi Distillery is the second distillery to make its home on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido – we'll cover the first a bit later What sets Akkeshi apart from the rest is its dedication to making smoky whiskies akin to the powerfully peaty drams from the Scottish island of Islay a style that's somewhat overlooked in Japan despite the fact most Japanese whiskies are inspired by Scotch The coastal location lends itself excellently to the style with the nearby ocean providing maritime notes of brine and peat smoke and some have taken to calling Akkeshi "Little Lagavulin" due to its similarities to one of Islay's most famous distilleries the distillery has imported some of its barley from Scotland but they're making efforts to switch solely to locally sourced ingredients Although Akkeshi's whiskies still fly under the radar, its limited production and renowned quality mean they don't come cheap, but they're a must-try for any connoisseur with the cash to spare. The whiskies' rich malt and earthy peat characteristics are notable from the get-go with soft vanilla and zingy citrus coming forth with every sip but we suggest adding a splash of water to reduce the initial alcohol heat because Akkeshi tends to bottle its whiskies at a higher proof than usual Okayama is a brand that shares some similarities with Kujira in the sense that despite being a somewhat newcomer to the whisky world it's produced by a company with plenty of distilling experience Although the Miyashita Distillery only unveiled Okayama in 2011 the company started out its life as a brewer of sake over a hundred years ago and its fine craftsmanship and attention to detail are certainly noticeable in its newer venture the distillery attempted to distill its own beer in one of its shochu stills and age it in American oak casks and while this new product somewhat unsurprisingly failed to take off it was this spirit of invention that led them down the path to whisky Okayama offers two distinct expressions — Single Malt and Triple Cask it's remarkably approachable and boasts heaps of tropical fruit aromas and flavors it uses a combination of German and Japanese barley in its mash bill the Triple Cask contains one hundred percent locally-grown barley and is aged in ex-sherry toastier profile that's heavier on the caramel While Okayama whiskies aren't impossible to source they are on the expensive side due to limited availability and growing reputation Following the theme of historic spirits companies that have recently jumped on the Japanese whisky trend the Asaka distillery was launched in 2015 by Sasanokawa Shuzo a corporation that's been making shochu and sake for over 250 years The initial release from the Yamazakura brand aptly named "The First," came out in 2020 and has been followed by a small but mighty range of expressions the company has been making whisky since 1946 its spirits were often collaborations with foreign distilleries and made using imported ingredients It's worth noting that Yamazakura's whiskies are relatively young a fact that's probably not a shock given the age of the distillery but what is surprising is just how good they are despite this Whether it's down to the experience of the distillers or the addition of extremely pure snowmelt water taken from the surrounding Fukushima region there's something that makes Yamazakura stand out While the Yamazakura range isn't entirely homogeneous the expressions are known for delicate aromas and palates with flourishes of elderflower and orchard fruits and often hints of iodine reminiscent of coastally distilled Scotches Kaiyō whisky is currently produced by a blending house rather than a distillery meaning they're yet to produce a distillate of its own but that's not to say they aren't producing some fantastic drams The secret is all in its maturation and finishing processes Kaiyō is known for its dedication to using Japanese Mizunara oak casks for aging — we've mentioned them briefly already but we've yet to discuss what makes them so special Without diving too deep into the technical aspects of barrel-aging the chemical composition of Mizunara oak means it imparts a uniquely sweet and spicy element to the whisky with tropical notes of coconut and a sandalwood-like fragrance The oak trees themselves take hundreds of years to reach a suitable size for barrel-making and the wood grain is particularly fragile meaning the barrels must be handmade by highly experienced coopers these factors make Mizunara casks the rarest Kaiyō whiskies spend the final three months out at sea undergoing changes in temperature and air pressure which the company insists awakens flavors that have lain dormant since the earliest stages of maturation Whether or not the deliciously smooth whisky disembarking from that voyage can thank its time at sea for its remarkable quality might be up for debate but the premium drinking experience Kaiyō whiskies offers definitely isn't Japan's Mars Shinshu distillery was known for being the southernmost distillery in the country when it was renowned for the shochu it had been producing since 1909 the company received its whisky license under advice from Kiichiro Iwai Iwai is notable due to the fact he was the mentor of a man named Masataka Taketsuru – if you're familiar with the name then you'll know him as the "father of Japanese whisky," and the first Japanese distiller to apprentice in Scotland eventually bringing invaluable whisky-making techniques back home and launching the industry as we know it Iwai was the one who sent him in the first place the Mars distillery became Japan's highest after it was moved in pursuit of the perfect whisky-making climate and it found a new home in the Nagano Prefecture a region known for its snowmelt-fed aquifers and year-round cool temperatures Mars whiskies are some of the most desirable around ranging from powerful single malts to bourbon-inspired What they have in common is a deep complexity that's balanced out with a well-rounded character is a particularly special whisky brand whose name pays homage to its unique home — the subtropical Ryukyu archipelago that trails for 700 miles southwest off the tip of the mainland the region's sole distillery which began operations over 140 years ago Despite its lengthy history of producing traditional Japanese spirits it was only in 2018 that the distillery began experimenting with whisky production opting for a style that embraces its roots Kujira's range consists of one-hundred-percent grain whiskies with a mash bill of carefully selected Indica rice that's then fermented using a unique mold for fermentation known as black koji where the region's consistently hot and humid climate accelerates the maturation process Kujira's whiskies are heavy on the oak and caramel flavors and are known for tropical fruit characteristics that are reflective of the distillery's location you'll discover richer elements of dried fruits with most editions costing upwards of a hundred dollars per bottle they're an excellent choice for anyone wanting to explore the true potential of the style You've probably noticed a theme so far — many of these Japanese brands are pretty young by whisky standards, despite some being launched by extremely well-established spirit-makers. The same can't be said for Nikka one of two whisky producers that revolutionized Japanese whisky in the mid-20th century and have both dominated the market ever since do you remember our friend Masataka Taketsuru from earlier Nikka was the company he launched after leaving his previous employer and setting out to make it on his own every bottle of Nikka has a bit of Japanese whisky history inside The story of Ichiro's Malt is one of rebirth beginning with master distiller Ichiro Akuto's ancestors who were making spirits in the Japanese countryside over three centuries ago Ichiro's grandfather opened the Hanyu Distillery to produce malt whisky but the business went bust in the nineties Ichiro managed to salvage the distillery's remaining casks which he began to bottle and release Ichiro's releases didn't make much of an impact that is until he launched The Playing Card Series a collection of 54 single barrel expressions The reception of this collection was unbelievable and if you're familiar with the world of rare whisky you'll know these whiskies are considered holy grails with individual bottles costing around five figures and full sets auctioning just shy of a million dollars The success of this series inspired Ichiro to launch his own distillery is one of the most highly regarded and desirable whisky selections in the world The attention to detail at Chichibu is unparalleled and daily nose and taste testing for quality assurance They're also the only distillery on the planet to use fermentation tanks made entirely from Mizunara oak giving the whiskies a notably fruity profile The distillery produces both single malts and blends that are phenomenal additions to any whisky collection if you can find and afford them Placing Suntory in the number one spot might seem a little obvious but it's hard for any Japanese whisky brand to compete with their scale working at Yamazaki — Japan's first malt whisky distillery — where he helped launch Japanese whisky as we know it today Suntory has only gone from strength to strength since building two additional whisky distilleries — Hakushi and Chita – and purchasing the entirety of the famous American whiskey company Suntory was still affected by the whisky boom that depleted stocks in recent years meaning that the prices of age statement bottles are on the high side but the good news is that not only are these being replenished the company also still managed to release plenty of excellent non-age statement offerings in varying styles introducing many to the world of Japanese whisky Suntory's whiskies vary widely in style depending on which distilleries they come from, with each producing single malts — like the famous Yamazaki 12 –  and some expressions consisting of blends from a combination of each location's distillate Suntory has a whisky for every taste preference and if the current production trend continues we should see some of the prices for more mature whiskies start to drop in the future the above rankings are based on my personal experiences with each of the brands While I can't claim to have tried every whisky that each brand offers I've sampled enough to make reasonable assessments of each brands' offerings my line of work has put me in touch with some of the whisky industry's most experienced and knowledgeable people and I've spent many hours conversing on the subject of whisky learning which are highly regarded among the foremost connoisseurs while the quality of the whisky is the leading factor in my ranking decisions I've also factored in availability and affordability Event Hokkaido hosts a variety of unique autumn events in food we will introduce 10 recommended events in November to enjoy the end of autumn in Hokkaido Food and Film Festival "HOKKAIDO FOOD FILM FESTIVAL" (Sapporo) Image credit: HOKKAIDO FOOD FILM FESTIVAL a festival to watch delicious films and enjoy delicious food will be held for the first time after a pre-event held in March Selected food films from Hokkaido and around the world will be screened at several movie theaters and facilities in Sapporo under the title of "Sapporo Food Bar," one drink and snacks will be offered for 1,000 yen (excluding tax) upon showing your digital passport at participating stores visitors will be able to taste gourmet food related to the film and boxed lunches specially made for the screening creating a new sensation of tasting both the film and food at the same time ■Date and Time: Friday, November 22 - Sunday, November 24 Venue: East 1-chome Theater Facility (1-10 Odori Higashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo), etc.For details and map information of HOKKAIDO FOOD FILM FESTIVAL 2 Gorgeous artists gather at ESCON FIELD HOKKAIDO "HOKKAIDO LIVE FIELD" (Kitahiroshima City) A live event to be held at ESCON FIELD HOKKAIDO have been announced as the first artists to perform The powerful performance at ESCON FIELD will enliven the event the festival will be held under the title of "Grand Voyage Special Week," with a variety of entertainment events over two weeks Date and Time: November 23 (Sat.) Concert begins at 15:00 / Doors open at 13:00 Price: Stand Seats A: 5,000 yen - Arena: 10,000 yen Venue: ESCON Field HOKKAIDO (F Village 1, Kitahiroshima City)For more information about HOKKAIDO LIVE FIELD and map information, click here. 3 The 62nd AKKESHI OYSTER MATSURI (Atsukishi Town) where you can grill and taste fresh oysters on the spot This popular annual festival is held in Atsugishi-cho Many tourists from inside and outside of the prefecture gather at the venue to enjoy oysters and visitors can enjoy grilling the seafood they buy on the spot over a charcoal fire gourmet foods such as snacks and sweets that go well with alcoholic beverages are also sold There are also attractions such as catching scallions allowing both children and adults to enjoy autumn food to the fullest Date and time: Saturday, November 16-Sunday, November 17, 9:00-15:00 Venue: Konohi Park (6-9, Bendou, Atsugishi-cho, Atsugishi-gun)For details and map information of the 62nd Akkeshi Oyster Festival, click here. 4 Experience the world of popular manga "Blue Period Exhibition in Sapporo" (Sapporo) (Image credit: Blue Period Exhibition in Sapporo) This is an exhibition event of "Blue Period," a popular youth manga in which the main character is fascinated by the world of art and aims to go to art college Visitors can experience the world of the manga through an exhibition of paintings from the manga and an immersive theater The goods store attached to the event will also sell exclusive goods only available at the venue the concurrent "SAPPORO MANGA PARK" will introduce works by manga artists associated with Sapporo in Hokkaido and a manga library where visitors can browse freely 5 "Secondhand Clothing Store Pop-up Event [Dream closet party]" where cute sundries and secondhand clothes are gathered (Sapporo) a pop-up event will be held at "vintage clothing store Strawberry Closet" opened in Atsubetsu-ku It will feature products from "Nijiroponic," a popular general merchandise store in the Kanto and Kansai regions Date and time: Saturday, November 2 - Monday, November 4, 11:00-19:00 Venue: Strawberry Closet (1F, Million Court 3, 4-7-18, Atsubetsu Chuo 2-jo, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo)Click here for details and map information of "vintage clothing store pop-up event [Dream closet party]". 6 "Samani Local Products Fair" (Samani Town) a large gathering of seafood and mountain products from Samani This is a sales event featuring freshly caught seafood and mountain products unique to the town of Samani in Hidaka In addition to the sale of seasonal delicacies there will be various events such as a raffle with rice cakes to win gorgeous prizes there will be attractions such as all-you-can-stuff potatoes and snow crab scooping Date and time: Sunday, November 10, 10:00-13:30 Venue: Parking lot in front of the Central Community Center (1-21 Odori, Samani-cho, Samani-gun)For more details and map information on the "Samani Local Products Fair" click here 7 Exchange event "Little Doto @ Sapporo" to tell the "Ima" of East Hokkaido "Little Doto @ Sapporo Finding your role locally - From Sapporo to East Hokkaido Image credit: General Incorporated Association Dot-Doto Little Doto," an exchange-type event to convey the "present state of Doto" was held in Sapporo by "Dot Doto," an organization that works with local governments in Doto and the revitalization of the Doto region Guests will include people who are actually active in Dot-Doto visitors will be able to get a real feel for life in Dot-Doto Participants can also enjoy drinks and light refreshments while conversing with those they like and interacting with other participants Date: Saturday, November 16, 16:00-18:30 Venue: HOKKAIDO xStation01 (JR55 SAPPORO Building, Kita 5-jo Nishi 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo)Little Doto @ Sapporo Finding your role locally - From Sapporo to East Hokkaido. From local to new frontier. ～ Click here for more details and map information of "Little Doto". 8 Chitose Rooted Citizens' Participatory Musical "The 4th Performance <Each Morning>" (Chitose City) Chitose Citizens' Musical is a musical with a story rooted in the city of Chitose created with the participation of the citizens of Chitose and their friends The script is also original to Chitose City and the story focuses on the lives of "nameless city dwellers" by researching the historical facts of the city as much as possible This "Each Morning" is the third production and the first contemporary drama Date & Time: November 9 (Sat) 18:00- / 10 (Sun) 13:00-, 17:00- *Doors open 30 minutes prior to the opening. Venue: Chitose Shimin Bunka Center (2-2-11 Hokuei, Chitose City)For details and map information of "The 4th Performance <each morning>", click here. 9 "Oil Exhibition," unique works by research students studying oil painting (Sapporo) Image credit: Hokkaido University of Education Iwamizawa An exhibition of works by the oil painting laboratory of the Hokkaido University of Education Iwamizawa The exhibition will feature works by 17 students studying oil painting in Iwamizawa Talk events will be held on November 23 (Sat) and December 1 (Sun) during the exhibition period to explain the works Dates and times: November 22 (Fri.) - December 4 (Wed.), 12:00 - 20:00 Closed: Tuesdays ■Venue: Hokkaido University of Education Arts & Sports Culture Complex HUG (Sapporo Soft Stone Storehouse, 2-4, Kita 1-jo Higashi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo)For more information about the "Oil Exhibition" and map information 10 Why don't you look for pine trees in the autumn forest Chiisana Sail 17th Nature Observation Meeting "Kita no Matsu ni Chumoku (Image credit: Little Free Library & Museum Chiisana Sail) Participants will focus on various pine species unique to Hokkaido and while holding a classification sheet in their hands they will search for northern pine trees as if playing a game Parents and children are welcome to participate in this observation event so everyone from young children to adults can enjoy it Date and time: Saturday, November 23, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Venue: Midoriba Park parking lot (1-53-1 Yamate-cho, Kitahiroshima City)For details and map information on "Chiisana Sail 17th Nature Observation Meeting <Kitano Matsu ni Chumoku~ku! >" for details and map information. If you're a Hokkaido resident and want to spread the word about your great activities in Hokkaido Domingo is a free and easy way for anyone to submit an event in just 5 minutes Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tokyo So far, the fallen soldiers include: Suntory Shirokaku, Nikka 12, Nikka Coffey Grain and Coffey Malt, Kirin Fuji Sanroku Tarujuku 50° and Suntory’s cute little 350ml bottles of Chita and Kakubin Nikka’s range of aged single malts will be replaced with NAS (no-age statements) If you haven’t heard of some of these it’s because they were made for the Japanese market unless you’re traveling to Japan shortly it might be a long wait until you have another chance to see or taste them It was only a few years ago when the world discovered Japanese whiskey; indeed it wasn’t long ago that Japan discovered Japanese whiskey Although the first distillery was established in 1923 its wasn’t until the ‘70s and ‘80s that it began to really get traction in the Japanese market Subsequent international accolades have contributed to Japanese whisky’s meteoric global boom Whisky Magazine picked Nikka’s 10-Year Yoichi as its ‘Best of the Best’ blended whisky Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible hailed Suntory’s Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 as the ‘World Whisky of the Year’ facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us National Report Hokkaido—Exhibiting traits of a serial killer an elusive and cunning bear has continued to terrorize a dairy region in eastern Hokkaido this summer the bear has attacked 65 grazing dairy cattle over the past four years Experts estimate the predator is a 10-year-old male brown bear measuring a relatively large 2 meters tall and weighing 300 kilograms It has also shown signs of above-average intelligence The bear only attacks at night when detection is much more difficult OSO18 has been seen in the wild by humans just once OSO18 shows no signs of ending its bovine-butchery spree three dairy cows were attacked at a ranch in the Arekinai district here DNA tests on brown bear hair samples found at the attack sites and other information since 2019 indicate that OSO18 was the culprit for most of the killings OSO18’s footprints were found after its first known attack in July 2019 when a cow was killed at a ranch in the Osotsubetsu district here The bear’s name is derived from a part of the district’s name It was one of 28 cattle killed by OSO18 in 2019 Most of the incidents have occurred between June and September Farmers in the area generally allow cattle to stay in pastures even at night during the summer months but that has made them easy targets for the brown bear The bear is attacking cattle mainly for food The victims’ intestines have been eaten from their sliced-open backs according to the Shibecha town office’s agriculture and forestry division OSO18 also appears to kill for no practical purpose “OSO18 seems to be fixated on cattle intestines,” a town official said “But it sometimes kills and leaves the carcass without eating it.” Brown bears have a habit of hiding food in the ground for later consumption Shibecha town officials set up box-shaped iron cages containing food in several locations to trap the bear But security camera footage showed OSO18 shunning the snares Ranch operators have also set up devices that emit sound and light signals to chase away approaching predators The bear’s midnight-to-dawn hunting period when it can go unseen underscores its cautious nature A ranch worker around the site of the first attack in July 2019 is believed to be the only person who has seen OSO18 The area where the attacks are concentrated is dotted with ranches nestled in mountain forests Ambushing and killing OSO18 is difficult because the bear can move extensively Ranch operators are struggling to come up with measures to prevent further attacks Local dairy farmers have entrusted 1,700 of their cows to the Akkeshi municipal ranch where the animals can graze in three pastures covering about 1,000 hectares After four cows were mauled to death at the ranch in July and August last year about 800 cattle were temporarily placed in cowsheds the ranch in May this year used state subsidies and other means to set up electric fences in about 10 locations where bear attacks have occurred such as removing undergrowth to prevent electric leakage We can’t fully enclose all areas because we have a limited number of staff,” he said There have been no bear attacks at the ranch so far this summer “We can’t feel safe yet because OSO18 is elusive,” Sakurai continued “Municipal officials and experts are taking action to capture it all we can do is devote ourselves to defense and believe there will be no damage.” Shibecha and Akkeshi town officials have stepped up efforts to trace OSO18’s travel route Taking advantage of the brown bear’s habit of rubbing its back against trees the officials have set up “hair traps” by stringing barbed wire around trees to collect samples When they learn where and how OSO18 travels they can decide where to place snares and take other countermeasures Dog-killing bear ‘RT’ killed after 4 years of terror in Hokkaido town Brown bears spotted in Hokkaido in the middle of winter Rampant Yezo deer have been causing major problems in Hokkaido with the animals eating farmers' crops and causing traffic accidents following years of unchecked population growth and a lack of local government assistance according to experts and local community members indigenous to Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido and a decrease in the number of deer hunters have contributed to a population explosion having previously been in danger of extinction during the Meiji era (1868-1912) Sharp increases in the deer population during the 1990s prompted the Hokkaido prefectural government to begin strengthening efforts to cull them since around fiscal 2010 But problems emerged over the illegal dumping of the slaughtered animals' unwanted carcasses and organs The hunters responsible for shooting them complain about a lack of government assistance The Yezo deer population peaked at an estimated 770,000 in fiscal 2011 and had been on a downward trend but it has since rebounded and has grown in recent years Damage caused by wildlife to the agriculture forestry and fisheries industries in Hokkaido totaled 5.45 billion yen ($40.40 million) in fiscal 2021 with deer accounting for more than 80 percent of the total causing 4.48 billion yen worth of destruction Over 70 percent of the damage caused by deer in Japan's agricultural industry occurs in Hokkaido the prefectures with the largest amount of deer-related destruction outside of Hokkaido are saw approximately 210 million yen in damage less than one-twentieth of the amount of Hokkaido the number of traffic accidents involving deer in Hokkaido reached a record of 4,475 the number of deer in Greater Sapporo has also increased in addition to the eastern part of Hokkaido," said Hiromasa Igota associate professor of game animal management science at Rakuno Gakuen University in Ebetsu Sapporo is the capital of the island prefecture The erection of fences to prevent deer from entering agricultural fields to feed alongside hunting to curtail their numbers are the only measures available for mitigating damage to farm products and preventing traffic accidents The hunting of Yezo deer is permitted during designated periods in certain locations "licensed hunters" can be commissioned by local governments A prefectural government official said Hokkaido has "produced some good results," with about 110,000 deer killed by licensed hunters in fiscal 2021 to address the excess numbers more than 100 were found in the town of Akkeshi Authorities believe that in all of the cases the deer were hunted elsewhere and dumped in the locations after being slaughtered Hunters are required to bury or take the butchered remains of the animals with them There is a risk of luring brown bears to national forests where much of the illegal dumping occurs Although the prefectural police often conduct investigations to find the culprits they are often unable to determine who carried out the activities since the deer are killed and slaughtered deep in the woods who has hunted deer in the town of Ikeda for 35 years and heads the local branch of a hunters' association in Hokkaido "Support from the prefectural government is inadequate processing the rest of its remains at prefectural facilities An average 100-kg deer will produce around 60 kg of remains The prefectural government set up four free-of-charge deer processing stations on a trial basis in 2011 Although they saw more than 200 people using their services while open "The stations were originally funded by a government grant it is difficult for us to continue operating them," said the prefectural official But Misaka is hopeful the situation will improve with additional government support "Illegal dumping will likely decrease if low-cost disposal areas become more easily available," he said Spots Cherry Blossom・Autumn Leaves there are many spots where you can enjoy barbecues and outdoor activities with the cherry blossoms and you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing at your leisure with your family and friends we will introduce 8 cherry blossom and flower viewing spots near Obihiro and Kushiro that are perfect for this coming season There are also places where you can see late-blooming cherry blossoms so you can enjoy the cherry blossoms for a long period of time by combining them with other areas This park is loved by many as the latest cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan At the Cherry Blossom Festival held every May you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing while watching local performing arts and other events There is a management building with a shop A campsite surrounded by a forest that is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring It is equipped with bungalows and a barbecue area that can accommodate up to 60 people There is a mountain stream nearby where you can fish and splash around in the water so you can enjoy outdoor activities in addition to cherry blossom viewing The adjacent "Fureai no Mori" is a scenic spot that has been selected as one of the Otobetsu New Eight Views and the autumn leaves are also spectacular was built as if it were embraced by Cape Barasan The grounds of Kokutai-ji Temple are one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Hokkaido the old cherry tree with the most intensely colored flowers is the one that blooms and has long branches that spread out in all directions this park has over a thousand Siberian cherry trees (Ooyamazakura) making it a famous cherry blossom viewing spot In addition to Siberian cherry trees and Yaezakura trees It is also the venue for Akkeshi's signature events such as the Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival in the spring and the Oyster Festival in the fall located on a small hill near the Tokachi Ohashi Bridge is a popular spot for cherry blossoms in spring you can also see the pretty and delicate lily of the valley flowers The park is surrounded by nature and is home to wild birds and Hokkaido squirrels This park is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Obihiro City and is beautiful with cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn leaves in the fall You can also see a rich variety of wildlife There is also a Wildflower Garden where you can observe about 380 species of plants native to Tokachi and an 8-hectare lawn area called Green Park where you can enjoy a sense of openness that you can't experience in the city located on a hill overlooking Shimizu city including beautiful cherry blossoms in spring There is also a park golf course with a spectacular view of the Tokachi Plain and the park is bustling with people who come to experience a variety of outdoor activities [7 minutes walk from Sapporo Station] Enjoy hot springs A comfortable stay at the 605-room "Sapporo Hotel by Granbell" "So cute it's unfair" - Feel the healing power of a sleeping miniature horse [Information on the early opening on April 25th] Sapporo Odori's newest attraction Floor details and highlights of "4PLA" opening in summer 2025 A hotel in the center of Sapporo with a superb sauna and large public bath Experience the warmth that is unique to Hokkaido at "Danyuki Sapporo" [2025 Edition] 7 recommended cherry blossom spots in the Kitami and eastern Hokkaido areas Enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the great outdoors Nature / Nemuro City Best time to visit is from late May to early June Yuluri and Moyuluri Island Seabird Breeding Site Sambomaster All-Party Victory VICTORY25 &quot;All-Party Victory Parade Tour ~Winning Road~&quot; Nakashibetsu Bird Watching 2025 ~Enjoy meeting cute summer birds~ The 76th Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival The 44th Kushiro Town Cherry Blossom Festival Dance block party &quot;SHIRETOKO SOUL EXPERIENCE&quot; outdoor camping Camping is a classic outdoor activity to enjoy the magnificent nature of Hokkaido you can enjoy an extraordinary experience in the scenery of each of the four seasons we will introduce 23 campgrounds near Kushiro and in the Nemuro area including campgrounds where you can also enjoy hot springs and lakeside campgrounds with spectacular views Kushiro Yamahana Park Auto Campground is located in a large 570-hectare park that stretches to the west of Kushiro Marshland Facilities include spacious and private tent sites and Kushiro City Fureai Horse Park are located adjacent to the park offering a full range of leisure facilities A campground in an area where tourist facilities such as a roadside station are gathered There are athletic facilities and a railroad museum The adjacent 36-hole park golf course is also popular There is also a menu of hands-on activities such as "woodcraft" to make a red-crowned crane clip and "potato digging" at a farm in the fall This campground with full facilities is surrounded by forest and is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring where you can spend a quiet and relaxing time in the rich nature Nearby is a mountain stream where you can fish and play in the water selected as one of Otobetsu's eight new scenic spots for its magnificent autumn foliage This campground is located on the shores of Lake Tatsukotake It is a great place for marshland exploration where you can observe marshland flora and fauna Visitors can also enjoy walking along the wooden path around the lakeside With private deck sites overlooking the lake this campground is a safe place for beginners to spend time and other activities are also nearby and can be enjoyed in combination with camping This campground is equipped with grass-lined tent sites a nearby animal house where you can meet small animals walking trails where you can spend time among plants and nature making it a fun place for the whole family which looks like a cow when viewed from above has a campground as well as playground equipment and hands-on facilities where visitors can experience ice cream and sausage making This campground is adjacent to a fun "sunayu" (sand bath) where you can quickly create your own outdoor bath by digging in the sand visitors can enjoy playing in the water and canoeing while camping in summer There are many hot springs of different qualities in the vicinity making it a perfect base for visiting hot springs This is an auto campground with a great view of Kunashiri Island on a clear day as well as a cooking building and restrooms A quiet campground dotted with trees and grass The log cottage-style footbaths with covered natural hot spring baths in the grounds are spacious and relaxing The campground is also close to the Lake Akan hot spring resort area making it easy to take a day trip and enjoy sightseeing at Lake Akan This campground is located in a park on a small hill near the city center In addition to free sites in a soft grass area including auto sites with a power supply for a more private feel Nearby there is a roadside station with a direct sales shop and a walking trail where wild birds can be observed The Tsuru-no-sato Camping Field is attractive for its large grass field (about the size of five soccer fields) and convenient accessibility Although adjacent to Kushiro Marshlands National Park it is also close to Tsurui Hot Springs and downtown Tsurui Village making it easy to get in touch with nature in Tsurui Village The Tsuru-no-sato Camping Field offers camping all year round Nijibetsu Auto Campsite is a well-equipped campground with a cooking building and flush toilets as well as a barbecue house It is also recommended as a base for sightseeing in East Hokkaido beautiful green lawn with a comfortable feeling of openness and is bordered by a small slope and the campground is surrounded by a pleasant breeze and is also a good place to see stars it is also a convenient base for touring the popular East Hokkaido area for riders This campground is located on the lakeside of the Wakoto Peninsula which is attached to the south side of Lake Kussharo you can pitch your tent close to the edge of the surf There is also a free outdoor hot spring near the campground which attracts many repeat visitors and locals This campground is located at the southernmost tip of Hamanaka Town on the Kiritappu Peninsula and is surrounded by the sea on all sides creating a fantastic atmosphere as a veil of mist covers the magnificent cape landscape Visitors can enjoy camping in a rich natural setting while fully appreciating the view of the cape surrounded by flowers A campground where you can enjoy a different atmosphere from everyday life in a quiet place surrounded by nature It is also possible to stay for consecutive nights A small river and a large open space make it a perfect campsite for children this campground is surrounded by deep forest and full of wild nature Other than the cooking facilities and restrooms allowing you to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest Each tent site has a fire pit where you can warm yourself by the fire and enjoy the unique time that passes in the forest at night Near the campground is a hidden hot spring surrounded by the calm Notsuke Bay and quiet forests bungalows with the gentle scent of wood and free tent sites are available so that you can enjoy outdoor life as you wish you can see colorful flowers such as skunk cabbages and Japanese rosebushes A campground on a hill with the best view of the sea auto sites and free sites facing the Sea of Okhotsk A selection of rental items is also available where you can enjoy Hokkaido's unique fishing depending on the time of year Especially popular are pink salmon and chum salmon fishing which lasts from August to October each year The campground is located in Nakashibetsu Midorigaoka Forest Park It is a 30-minute walk from the city center and there is an open space and playground equipment in the center of the site Most of the park is an unspoiled natural forest and a variety of trees can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons Tangji Motomura Campground is located about 1 km from National Highway 391 along the lakeside It borders the shore of Lake Tangji and is a scenic spot suitable for experiencing the great nature All information is current as of April 2024 The 21 recommended campgrounds in the Goshi area near Lake Toya Family-oriented camps with a variety of fun activities and Kamikawa Area: 22 Campgrounds Recommended for the Year 2024 Camping in contact with nature and animals Recommended 13 campsites near Hidaka and Erimo The 21 recommended campsites in the suburbs of Rumoi and Soya area for 2024 Camping to enjoy the ocean and spectacular views all around The 20 best campgrounds in the Tokachi area near Obihiro Camping to see the star-filled sky from the vast land A red tide that devastated marine life off the northernmost main island of Hokkaido apparently was caused by algae drifting from Russia on an ocean current The scourge triggered wholesale deaths of salmon and sea urchins resulting in damages totaling 7.6 billion yen ($67 million) to the local fishing industry The figure is expected to rise further in the days and weeks ahead Researchers with Hokkaido University suggested that phytoplankton which has proliferated since mid-September a researcher specializing in environmental dynamic analysis an associate professor of marine chemistry and their colleagues took samples of water in Akkeshi Bay in eastern Hokkaido for analysis using a university training ship between Oct They observed the red tide drifting in strips and measured things like the concentration of salt water temperature and direction of the tide at around 30 locations between 2 kilometers and 20 km offshore The readings of salt concentration and water temperature pointed to characteristics of the cold Kuril Current The Kuril Current makes its way down to the coast of Hokkaido and the northeastern Tohoku region after flowing south along the Kuril Islands from Russia Its salt density and water temperature are lower than those of the Black Current which flows north from the East China Sea to make it to Japan’s southern coast Researchers also estimated the volume of phytoplankton in waters off Hokkaido from images taken by the Global Change Observation Shikisai satellite operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) They found that a high density of phytoplankton existed to northeast of Etorofu one of the islands in the Northern Territories whose ownership is disputed between Japan and Russia Water with high concentrations of phytoplankton that arrived close to the eastern tip of Hokkaido on Sept 16 proliferated there even more before spreading along the coast from the Nemuro and Hidaka areas on Oct Studies by the Hokkaido Research Organization’s Fisheries Research Department the University of Tokyo’s graduate school and other research institutes showed that the devastation to Hokkaido's seafood resources caused by red tide was triggered by Karenia Selliformis a variety of phytoplankton which can multiply profusely even in relatively low temperatures “It has yet to be determined exactly where Karenia Selliformis first occurred but it is highly likely that it flowed south from the Russian coast through the Kuril Current,” Iida said we hope to discover the mechanism of the red tide that formed in cold waters so we can predict when the next red tide will occur.” The Hokkaido prefectural government announced Oct 21 that its estimate for damage to the local seafood industry as of Oct up markedly from 4.6 billion yen as of Oct Prefectural officials said 21,300 salmon perished resulting in a loss of about 55 million yen in fishing revenue Losses from deaths of about 2,300 tons of sea urchins The figure is expected to rise further as fisheries officials are still trying to assess damages in the Hidaka area (This story was compiled from reports by Shigehito Nakazawa and Yuta Kayaba.) Japan to build new icebreaker for researching Arctic region Coast guard flies laser-equipped plane to expand Japan’s territory Russian man reportedly swims to Hokkaido to defect to Japan GOHAN LAB/ Spring roll with fish and celery: Wrap them all to fuse the aroma inside the crispy wrapper Study: Migration to Ryukyu isles from Taiwan was no accident Stunning vista at Fukutsu beaches recalls Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flats A small town on the eastern coast of Hokkaido has seen a proliferation of rare wild sea otters giving it hopes of becoming a tourist hot spot at a time when the endangered marine mammal has been vanishing from Japanese aquariums "I would love to come here again," said Satoshi Ishizuka who was visiting Cape Kiritappu in Hamanaka from Kanagawa Prefecture on an evening in mid-August while he excitedly watched an otter swimming with its head up duck behind some rocks Sea otters can be observed year-round at the cape even as their numbers dwindle significantly at aquariums due to international trade restrictions and aging populations The tourist industry is especially thrilled The manager of the Kawamura Ryokan inn in Hamanaka said there has been an increase in people coming with high-end cameras to photograph the otters head of the sales management department at a travel agency in the city of Kitami in Hokkaido's Okhotsk region "I would like to propose an attractive travel plan for people such as eating oysters from Akkeshi (in the northern main island's Kushiro region) and stopping by Cape Kiritappu to see the sea otters." who published a photobook of sea otters around the cape speculates that sea otters in the Northern Territories -- as Japan calls four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido that Tokyo claims -- have expanded their habitat and since been witnessed in Hamanaka two females and one male otter were confirmed there but a fifth otter was born in April this year "Breeding is not so easy because the pups are sometimes bitten to death by male otters that aren't their father I hope we can increase the number of offspring somehow," said Kataoka Trade in wild sea otters is restricted as they have seen their populations reduced due to overhunting for their fur According to the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums there were 122 sea otters at 28 facilities around the country only six sea otters are being raised at four aquariums; Adventure World (Wakayama Prefecture) Marine World Uminonakamichi (Fukuoka Prefecture) and Suma Aqua Life Park Kobe (Hyogo Prefecture) if breeding of sea otters at Cape Kiritappu begins to threaten the local fishing industry with sea otters eating copious amounts of seafood the otters could be captured and sent to aquariums gave an example of the Environment Ministry transferring captured harbor seals to various aquariums in and after 2016 due to damage to the fishing industry at Cape Erimo at the southern tip of Hokkaido "If there are more sea otters and they are captured aquariums might be willing to accept them," said Okada While an official of the Hamanaka Fisheries Cooperative admitted to "worry" about wide-scale damage "We would like to explore their utilization as a tourist resource while considering their coexistence with fishermen," said a Hamanaka town official Event various flowers begin to bloom beautifully and the season for outdoor activities and leisure begins Here are 10 recommended events to be held in Hokkaido in the refreshing month of May Image source: Hokkaido Matsumae Tourism and Products Association Image source: Tanaka Memorial Theatre Foundation Image source: Takikawa Tourism Association Image source: Hiroo Town Tourism Association Image source: NPO Okhotsk Ozora Town Tourism Association Would you like to share the wonderful activities of those of you who are active in Hokkaido with more people Posting an event on Domingo takes just 5 minutes and is free and easy for anyone to do Not only can you widely disseminate your activities and ideas but you also have the chance to be selected by Domingo to be featured in articles and on street visions in Sapporo If you're a beginner, you can easily get started here By Yuta Nagatani / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer one large brown bear has attacked and killed grazing dairy cattle in the towns of Shibecha and Akkeshi in eastern Hokkaido By evading traps and hunting for prey under the cover of night Oso 18 is posing a serious threat to areas where dairy farming is an important industry head of the Shibecha branch of the Hokkaido Hunting Public Service Corporation urged other hunters to keep their senses sharp as they drove into the Shibecha mountains to follow traces of Oso 18 The attacks on cattle believed to be done by the bear began in the Osotsubetsu district of Shibecha in July 2019 when a free-range cow was found with its back torn apart Analysis of footprints estimated that a male bear over 10 years old about 2 meters in length and weighing more than 300 kilograms Since its footprints were as large as 18 centimeters in width and found in the Osotsubetsu district Since Oso 18 is cautious and can be found at various places Goto and other hunters spent about four hours scouring the mountains with rifles Brown bears are larger than Asiatic black bears found in Honshu and the Shikoku region They sometimes prey on Yezo sika deer and seldom attack cattle Oso 18 is thought to be highly intelligent and has learned how to evade hunters The bear only focuses on cows grazing from midnight to dawn staying away from barns as well as other houses or buildings It is believed to move through streams or forests Oso 18 does not have the habit of burying its catch in the soil and returning to the place later Although it has attacked cattle in areas stretching more than 30 kilometers in a straight line there has been only one reported sighting of what appears to be the bear Footage from a security camera shows the bear walking past a bait-laden trap placed by town officials in Shibecha and acts like it can read people’s minds,” said a vexed Takumi Miyazawa chief of the town’s agriculture and forestry division Ranches are taking measures to cope with the situation the Akkeshi municipal ranch installed electric fences around an area with a circumference of 23 kilometers that includes the place where four dairy cows were attacked last year It covers only about ¼ of the farm’s total area said they have no choice but to take all possible measures According to the DNA analysis of hair and other samples collected at the site where cows were attacked no brown bears other than Oso 18 appear to be attacking cattle The Hokkaido prefectural brown bear control office believes there would be no more damage if Oso 18 was eliminated.The office believes it is appropriate to get rid of the animal since the local dairy industry has been affected as they are unable to put cattle out to pasture “I want to get rid of the bear before it goes into hibernation this winter otherwise second or third Oso 18 might emerge” Goto said brown bears used to be eliminated in spring after their hibernation But the practice was done away with in 1990 in the face of growing sentiment that a symbol of majestic nature should be protected The population of brown bears has recovered since then there was an estimated 6,600 to 19,300 brown bears in 2020 this has led to an increase in the number of cases where brown bears have come near human dwellings a record 14 people died or were injured after brown bear attacks Four of them sustained minor or serious injuries in Sapporo’s urban districts The damage to agriculture has also worsened an increase of about 50% over the past 10 years Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Event Cherry Blossom・Autumn Leaves Spring finally arrives in Hokkaido from late April to May and moss phlox are all in full bloom at the same time and events and festivals related to these beautiful flowers are held all over the prefecture From famous cherry blossom festivals to little-known events we will introduce flower-related events and festivals in Hokkaido that are recommended for sightseeing and Golden Week outings At the Matsumae Sakura Festival held in Matsumae Town approximately 10,000 cherry trees bloom in a variety of colors for a month Enjoy the exquisite contrast with Matsumae Castle and take part in a stamp rally around the old trees and famous sites as well as the special appeal of the nighttime illuminations There will also be food stalls offering gourmet food and shooting galleries as well as stage events featuring performances and music Come experience a cherry blossom feast woven together by history and nature A gourmet festival using local ingredients will be held against the backdrop of a golden rapeseed field You can tour the spectacular rapeseed scenery which has been selected as one of the "100 Most Moving Moments in Hokkaido," on a special "Nanoka Bus" or "Nanoka Taxi." In addition confectionery shops in the city will be selling limited edition rapeseed sweets The Tulip Fair is held at Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park Approximately 700,000 tulips of about 200 varieties bloom in full glory you can enjoy various events and experience digging up your favorite tulips and taking them home Hiraoka Park's plum grove is home to about 1,200 plum trees and is bustling with nearly 100,000 visitors during the flowering season You can also enjoy special shops such as "Hiraoka Umehonpo," which sells limited-edition plum-related products It's the perfect opportunity to feel the arrival of spring while tasting the popular "plum soft serve ice cream," which can only be enjoyed during the plum blossom season The Nanohana Sanpo event is held in Abira Town Hokkaido's leading rapeseed flower viewing spot The spectacular yellow rapeseed flower fields spread out as far as the eye can see and includes a covered carriage pulled by a tractor through the rapeseed fields a walk along the Nanohana Promenade through fields that are normally off-limits Enjoy this special experience along with the beautiful scenery that symbolizes spring in Abira Town "Yushun Sakura Road," is a veritable "cherry blossom tunnel" with over 1,000 Siberian cherries lined up over 3km There is a food court where you can taste local produce making it a fun place for the whole family to enjoy The Hiroo Azalea Festival sees Omaruyama Forest Park dyed scarlet attracting visitors with its spectacular view of approximately 12,000 Ezoyama Azalea trees You can enjoy the rich flavors of Hiroo Town to your heart's content including grilling and tasting local seafood at the free barbecue corner and purchasing seafood clam chowder There are also stage events for children and candy handed out making this an especially recommended event for families The Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival will be held at Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park You can enjoy the beautiful contrast between the bright pink moss phlox hills that spread across 10 hectares and the blue sky A variety of events are scheduled to take place from May 3rd to 31st This event allows you to enjoy the fantastical scenery of cherry blossoms including the 300-year-old weeping cherry tree at Houki-ji Temple the cherry blossom tunnel at the site of the Matsumae clan's Tokiriji Jinya the rows of cherry trees along the Ono River the illuminated cherry blossoms attract visitors and you can also enjoy food stalls and BBQs using local ingredients There are also stage events and a festival day that children can enjoy adding color to spring in southern Hokkaido during which about 1,000 cherry trees of 17 varieties A special venue will be set up where you can enjoy a variety of events and workshops and children's festivals are also planned Please spend a special time feeling the arrival of spring under the illuminated rows of cherry trees you can enjoy Akkeshi's specialty seafood grilled over charcoal under the cherry blossoms including clam and oyster catching for children and you can also enjoy Akkeshi-exclusive whiskey highballs is one of Japan's most famous cherry blossom viewing spots stretching for about 7km in a straight line There will also be a program for families to enjoy including a pony petting experience and stalls selling local specialties This festival is held when the park is decorated with a carpet of moss phlox there are plenty of family-friendly events such as the "Phlox Marche" where you can experience food and markets and workshops you can enjoy the spectacular view of the moss phlox from the sky on the "Takinoue Moss Phlox Sky Cruise" helicopter tour The Sakura Festival is full of food and fun for friends and family to enjoy the arrival of spring there will also be woodworking experiences and seedling giveaways A variety of programs will be available at Palette Hills where approximately 2,000 cherry trees are in full bloom and even wonderful mini-live shows are planned 3 recommended weekend events in Sapporo [April 26th to April 29th Today's print edition Home Delivery In the Edo Period (1603-1868) and the years that followed Japan made strenuous efforts to bring together its patchwork of feudal regions into a strongly centralized state with a unified culture the nation now is one of the most homogenous in the world But there are a couple of places where this strongly mono-cultural model begins to fray where there is a somewhat different identity where there are still some traces of the indigenous Ainu people and their culture While recognizing these different ethnic areas could be problematic — leading to separatism for example — completely ignoring them is not an option so it is only fitting that efforts to acknowledge them are made Things and the World" at the National Museum of Japanese History — and from Feb 25 at the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka — should be viewed in these terms.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); the exhibition focuses on the Ainu not as a separate and independent culture but rather as symbiotic allies and auxiliaries of the Japanese The curation was built around the Ishuretsuzo who occupied the southern part of Hokkaido to defend the border In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Japanese version Japanese version the pair was instrumental in creating the twin dynasties of Suntory and Nikka Japanese whisky-makers are held in the highest regard around the world and are laden with awards demand is outstripping supply making collectors value quality Some of the rarest Japanese whiskies have fetched staggering prices in auction and to some extent many of them come from cult ‘silent’ distilleries that are no longer producing spirits such as Karuizawa and Hanyu Most of Karuizawa and Hanyu Ichiro’s bottles are now in the hands of private collectors and represent a significant investment and hence finding (and affording) them will be a tough one,” says Vaniitha Jaiin Blending is a key component of the craft of making whisky and the Japanese have mastered this craft believes Priyanka Blah “The process of ageing in rare Japanese oak casks like Mizunara makes some liquids even more desirable than others and largely unaffordable there has been a massive demand-supply issue where Japanese distilleries found themselves unable to keep up with global demand and we all know scarcity does wonders for desirability.”  These days countless Japanese whiskies have reached collector’s status fetching astronomical prices for a single bottle in some extreme cases “Karuizawa Sapphire Geisha one of the most sought after Japanese whiskies in the collectible and auction market recently went for USD 20,000,” confirms Vinayak Singh But not every whisky lover out there has that kind of money to drop on liquid gold That’s why we went straight to the experts in the industry to find out the best Japanese whiskies to buy and try right now Don’t expect a jolt of caffeine in this whisky by Masataka Taketsuru who studied the art of whisky production in Scotland and returned to Japan as a master blender and with a Scottish wife The “Coffey” in question refers to Aeneas Coffey who invented a more efficient column still in the early 19th century “This beautiful single grain whisky distilled to perfection has all the notes of vanilla and toffee that you look for Pair it with a nice cheese such as camembert or brie and you're all set for a cosy night in,” says Blah Hakushu 12 Year OldIf you like peated Scotch whiskies then this is one dram you ought to own says Singh Hakushu is owned by Suntory and is best-known for its respective 12 “The perfect way to serve this full-bodied sherried and smoky whisky is neat,” elaborates Singh Of course the 25-year will taste the best and cost the most Hibiki means harmony in Japanese which has certainly been achieved in this wonderful and iconic whisky “It’s a fantastic blend from Suntory and an incredibly well-rounded sipper with lovely notes of caramel and toffee While I would recommend drinking Hibiki 17 neat You can also have it on the rocks or with a dash of water to savour its long woody finish that will leave you with no doubt that Hibiki is one of the best blends out there,” says Jaiin Suntory has reportedly discontinued it in most markets leaving Japanese whisky fans aghast (limited quantities are still available) Yamazaki 12 Year OldThis distillery that started it all is still up and running making some of the best Japanese whiskies that will ever cross your lips palpable complexity and unmistakable character from every sip of the brand’s top vintages The 12 YO is quintessential Japanese whisky aged in a variety of casks “You simply cannot go wrong with the classic Yamazaki 12 The first widely marketed “Japanese Whisky” back in the 80s this bottle is testament to the masterfully crafted whiskies Suntory are known for releasing there’s tropical fruits and just a hint of peatiness that is easy to miss if you don’t pay attention that's really all you need,” says Blah Akkeshi New Born FoundationsAkkeshi distillery that produces this esoteric whisky is in Hoddaiko where the climate and terrain are similar to that of Islay and it's the only place in Japan where peat grows naturally So Akkeshi uses it in their barley smoking process Aged in sherry casks and other specially prepared casks for 13 to 30 months Akkeshi New Born Foundations is a beautiful whisky with suggestions of caramelized banana This blended whisky from globally renowned distiller Ichiro Akuto yields notes of toffee tropical fruit and tobacco with a spicy finish Among the label’s other veritable sippers include Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu ‘The Peated’ 2015 Cask Strength and Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu ‘On the Way’ Single Malt The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast Japanese version Japanese version