We would like to introduce the columns of two people who toured four Tongari towns while working and staying. This project was held at the Urakawa Tourist Association for about two weeks under the Furusato Working Holiday program sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

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While Urakawa had horses all over the town, Hiroo had many Santa Clauses as symbols. This is the symbol of the town! I thought it was nice that the town has something clear that differentiates it from other towns.

I visited Santa Land, which was designed to be enjoyable even outside of the Christmas season. I recommend the view from the second floor! In front of you, you can see the greenery, the town, and beyond that, the ocean.

The first floor was lined with many souvenirs and knick-knacks related to Santa, as well as ice cream and café drinks. How about purchasing those goods and drinks on the first floor, and then going on to the second floor for some relaxing time with a nice view?

Hiroo is also an area that focuses on dairy farming, so we stopped by Kikuchi Farm. There is a café attached to the farm, where we enjoyed gianduja-flavored gelato and a café latte. All the gelato I had in Hokkaido was very good, but this one was exceptional! Of course, the cafe latte made with milk from this place was also delicious. I wondered how fresh milk can make such a difference in a latte.

I was slightly disappointed because the Anno sweet potato-flavored gelato I wanted to try was too popular and sold out. I was also unable to purchase fresh milk! I would definitely like to come back to score those items next time! Since the gelato was so good, I tried the strawberry flavor at the Urakawa Tourist Association on a later day. I was told that these strawberries are produced in Urakawa. I also heard that their milk can be purchased at New Chitose Airport and Tokyo Kichijoji, so be sure to try it!

Lastly, I would like to introduce Hiroo’s specialty kelp noodles. These fresh noodles were purchased at Yamamoto Center. It looks like buckwheat soba noodles, but the kelp flavor was very strong and the noodles were fresh so they had a pleasant sticky, mochi-like texture. It’s a little different from the noodles I’ve ever had, but with a fresh taste and texture that I’m sure I will become addicted to! I would like to get this noodle again!

The town of Hiroo is full of charm and I now have many reasons to go back!

We would like to introduce the columns of two people who toured four Tongari towns while working and staying. This project was held at the Urakawa Tourist Association for about two weeks under the Furusato Working Holiday program sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

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Visiting Erimo　　 Kana Watanabe

The first place I visited was Lake Toyoniko, the place famous for the heart-shaped lake, and the image of the packaging of the famous snack “Shiroi Koibito”. It is actually hard to see the heart shape unless you look at it from above, but I could picture the heart shape by looking at where it is supposed to be the “dent” of the heart.

The lake is in the middle of a mountain, so it is so quiet. The only sound I could hear was that of animals. It is great to “forest bathe” in such a place. The water was so clear that I could see fish in the lake. Also, we witnessed the Japanese crayfish which is a certified endangered creature. In these days when American crayfish are everywhere, it is quite a valuable lake that has not been eroded by non-native species. I hope that more efforts will be continued to be made to preserve the ecosystem and protect the environment for this lake’s future.

Incidentally, on the way to the lake, we also encountered the Ezo red-legged frog (Rana pirica), which is found only in Hokkaido in Japan. The scientific name “pirica” comes from the Ainu word, meaning “beautiful”. The one I saw looked like just a toad, so there maybe some variety of the visual look of the frog.

We went to Isami Sushi for lunch. I ordered the lunch sushi set. So there were 2 more rolls on this plate but I could not wait to try them so ate them before I remembered to take picture.

It is just so special to have sushi at the counter. It certainly adds more “flavor” to the whole experience. Of course, everything is so delicious because this town is on the coast and they use as much local fresh ingredients as possible.


After the lunch, we made a quick stop at the local museum “Horoizumi” and Fisheries Museum. I have heard the kelp exhibit would blow me away, and it really did. Especially the size of the kelp was amazing. There were other interesting exhibits about Mitsuishi Kelp and other kelp world wide. I have never thought much of non-Japanese kelp since I had an image of kelp being Japan. I was shocked to learn that there are 115 different kind of kelps all over the world!

It was a beautiful day so we were able to see the kelp boats on the ocean as well as the local people spreading their kelp on beach to dry. Everytime we got out of the car, I was surrounded by the scent of kelp, which was really refreshing.

The last stop was the Cape Erimo and “Kazeno Yakata (The house of the wind)”. Here, you can see the Zenigata seals, the symbol of Erimo Town! Cape Erimo is one of the windiest areas in Japan, with wind speeds of 10 meters/second (22 miles/second) or more on over 260 days per year. You can experience the strong winds of Cape Erimo (25m/s or 56mph) in the museum’s wind tunnel exhibit, which I tried. The wind was so strong that I had the illusion that I could fly like a flying squirrel.

We were able to observe seals through the museum’s observation scopes. It is rumored that there are more than 100 seals forming a colony, but perhaps because of the high waves, it was difficult to see any seals lying on the rocks this time. I was only able to catch the moment it showed its face while swimming. I will definitely come back to catch them laying on the rocks. I will be back!

We would like to introduce the columns of two people who toured four Tongari towns while working and staying. This project was held at the Urakawa Tourist Association for about two weeks under the Furusato Working Holiday program sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

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Samani, the town of Mt. Apoi Geopark

Mt. Apoi is such an interesting mountain. It is located in the Hidaka mountain range and its elevetion is only 810.5 meters. What makes it amazing is that despite its low altitude of 810 meters, alpine plants are extremely diverse at Mt. Apoi. One reason is that the soil is formed of “peridotite,” a rock that contains many plant growth-inhibiting elements.

The second reason is that the mountain is only 3km way from the pacific ocean and due to the fog created by the ocean, the environment mimics high altitude mountains. The fog can block sunlights resulting in low temperature. The appearance of peridotite on the ground in its original state as it was in the mantle is very rare, even from a global perspective, and is therefore of particular interest.

At the visitor’s center, many different kind of peridotite are displayed. There are many peridotite, not only from the local area but also from all over the world, displayed with explanation.

I liked the Italian phlogopite-amphibole peridotite! Peridotite is formed mainly from three types of minerals: olivine, orthopyroxene, and monoclinic pyroxene. This olivine gemstone is the olive-colored peridot. Peridotite itself is slightly colored green. I have heard that peridotite is sometimes used in gravel-like areas throughout the town, so try to spot the greenish gravel!

Today’s lunch was at Kuina. This restaurant is made out of the repurposed old train. It was a very interesting atmosphere. I ordered Chamen. I have never heard of the item on mainland of Japan. It is almost like fried noodles with starchy sauce (ankake), but the noodle is ramen noodle. It was very satisfying and delicious.

Lastly, I purchased some Takomamma fish cakes from Marusan Kudo Shoten. There are variations such as plain, shrimp, and this time I bought the one with kelp. The term “takomamma” refers to octopus roe, and this fish cake is made from the roe of a willow octopus. It was very different from the regular fish cake, and the texture was new to me, but it tasted like white fish. It was delicious.

I also bought some root kelp as a souvenir to take home at the Samani Tourist Information Center. I heard that kelp tastes different depending on where it was caught. I will compare it with Urakawa’s! The packaging of kelp is supposedly the pattern of peridotite seen under a polarized light microscope. I liked the packaging a lot, and it was a big hit at home as well. Also, the tourist information center was located in the former Samani Station, which is still preserved as it was in the part of the station except for areas that are being used as stores!

Written by Kana Watanabe

We would like to introduce the columns of two people who toured four Tongari towns while working and staying. This project was held at the Urakawa Tourist Association for about two weeks under the Furusato Working Holiday program sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

My experience in Urakawa (2022.08.21-09.03)

・Masago

I stayed at Guest House Masago during my 2 weeks of Furusato Working Holiday. “FUN PLACE” explains it all for my Masago experience.
I enjoyed socializing with other guests including other working holiday students in the common space from the day 1.

I loved the welcoming feel of this place. Mr. Okubo, the owner, also owns a ramen shop and a public bath house. This Guest House Masago was originally a part of the public bath house. He is always thinking about the best for Urakawa. When he comes up with good ideas to make this town a better place, he will work on them and make them happen. He is that kind of person. He cares for his guests in the same matter. Even though it might end up being an unsuccessful trip, he took us to places to see Shimaenaga and fossils.

At his Ramen shop, I tried the most recommended item, Miso Curry Milk Ramen. Miso and curry? Milk Ramen?? I was very confused and not sure what to expect, but I guarantee, it was delicious. Mr. Okubo invented this milk ramen on his own and is continuing to evolve this dish. I heard Kimchi Ramen is also really good. He also owns a dumpling factory, and his dumplings are used at schools for school lunches. I tried Hidaka kelp dumplings. The kelp is mixed into the dough, which they make it from scratch, and I was able taste the Umami of the kelp really well. It was delicious.

At his public bath house, there are many kind of bath tubs! Rock bath, whirlpool bath, Medicinal bath and sauna. The medicinal bath changes every week with lavender, Yomogi (mugwort) etc. Mugwort has been a favorite medicinal herb in Japan for centuries. Since the bath is something we use daily, it was nice to have some changes here and there.

The other thing that delighted me was that the locals talk to us visitors so friendly and kindly. Their “good morning” and “good night” made us feel like we are welcomed and that we belong here. It was a wonderful environment.

・Pan Paka Pan 

The popular bakery, who has lots of fans inside and outside of the town, sells out most of their bread and baked goods by the afternoon. The bread is, of course, delicious, but the owner, Ms. Isai, is what the bakery makes so attractive.

About the bread, Shokupan, typical Japanese white bread, was way too delicious.The bread is almost too good to even put some jam on. It is so soft and fluffy, and the perfect amount of saltiness to it. 

Ms. Isai is particular about not only flour, but also salt. As for flour, she uses different flours depending on the yeast and ingredients. She is particular about using Hokkaido products and tries to use local ingredients as much as possible.

On the lunch menu, there is a soup set.  The bread is of course delicious but the soup is also very tasty. Her minestrone, made with tomato juice from Hamada Farm and other local vegetables,  is so heartwarming just like Ms. Isai’s warm personality.

At Pan Paka Pan, there are jam, juice, and some dessert that is made with Suzuakane summer strawberries from Kato Farm. I had the strawberry bavarois and strawberry smoothie. Both were really good. I could taste and feel the strawberries themselves with the strong flavor of strawberries, and I ended up having the strawberry smoothie 3 times during my stay.

There is an eat-in space at the bakery, and you can see the ocean from there. It is almost like the time passes much slower just in the bakery, and I enjoyed the atmosphere. I visited the bakery 4 times and I became such a big fan of Ms. Isai.

・Urakawa Yushun Village AERU

Urakawa Yushun Village AERU is a complex facility where you can stay, eat at restaurants, and experience horseback riding. I was able to visit retired racehorses and also got to see the actual winning ticket! At the restaurant, I tried curry with whelk. Whelk in curry? I was skeptical but it was actually really good. I think I am going to try making it when I return home! The restaurant had a nice open feel with glass walls. It was lunch time on a weekday, but it was quite crowded.

・Urakawa INN

There is a restaurant on the first floor of the Urakawa INN, and anyone can walk in to the restaurant. I had a cafe latte there and the cup was so cute! It was not so crowded and quiet, so it was a nice place to get some work done. They provide free Wi-Fi as well.

・Squid of Urakawa

I was lucky to experience the taste of freshly caught squid for my dinner, and the squid was just caught that afternoon. I had the image of squid = fishy, but I was amazed how delicious the squid can be when it is so fresh. I had heard so many times since I came here that those squid can be “crispy” or “crackling” because it is too fresh. I think I got to experience that as well. I think the squid was my most favorite food I had during this stay.

Written by　

Kana Watanabe

 

Urakawa Town has been making various projects to promote the creation of a relational population.
These include the Urakawa Life Experience Project, the Furusato Working Holiday Project, and the Telework Promotion Project.

Among those projects, we would like to introduce the columns of two people who toured four Tongari towns while working and staying. This project was held at the Urakawa Tourist Association for about two weeks under the Furusato Working Holiday program sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

In collaboration with Urakawa High School, the two participants were asked to assist the junior-year high school students in their integrated learning class (theme: Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs) and to interview restaurants in town. Here we share their reports on the Tongari Road area from non-residents’ perspectives.

*Furusato Working Holiday is a program for people from urban areas to stay in a rural area for a certain period of time, working and earning an income while experiencing the local lifestyle through interaction with local residents. Furusato generally means “hometown”. However, it is sometimes used as a rural area where the population is unbalanced because the young generation leaves for an urban area.

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Hiroo Column

~ My first experience visiting Hiroo, Hokkaido, coming from Tokyo! ~ (August 23, 2022)/strong>

Today, Mr. Nakagawa of the Urakawa Tourist Association took me to visit Hiroo Town for the first time!

I am a surfer who grew up in Shonan, the major surfing area in Japan. Being a surfer, I have heard of the name Hiroo and it sounded familiar to me, but I had never actually visited the area before. So I was looking forward to visiting Hiroo to see what was there.

As we drive through the sea line, I saw many people just park their cars and go into the ocean to surf. Some of them even had a camper! Now I have a new dream of taking a road trip in my own camper to surf at many locations in Hokkaido. What a luxurious life would that be if I can just forget about the noise of urban cities and enjoy my own quiet lifestyle and surfing. Hiroo is the perfect place for that.

The first stop in Hiroo was the Kikuchi Farm. At Kikuchi Farm, you can enjoy gelato and ice cream made from fresh raw milk from pasture raised cows, and a variety of dishes made from Brown Swiss and Holstein meats that have fulfilled their milking role.

I of course got the gelato (double size!).

I tried the pumpkin and cream gelato, and oh my, it was so yummy.

The pumpkin gelato retained the pumpkin’s flavor as well as its texture. I felt like I can eat this every day, it was so good.

The cream gelato was just so smooth and sweet from the fresh raw milk. I can just take in the feeling of “Ahhhh I am at a Farm, I am in Tokachi!”. Of course, I could eat this every day too.

At the restaurant, I was able to meet the owner Mr. Akira Kikuchi, a friend of Mr. Nakagawa. I was touched to learn how he cares about his cows. When you look at their menu or signs, you will see writing such as “I used the milk that our cows kindly shared with us” or “today’s meal was gracefully provided by ~name of the cow~”. It made me realize how we are “given” the lives of nature. I was filled with appreciation for those lives. His food tasted great because he does truly care about those cows, takes care of them with love, and never forget to appreciate their lives. That is why his food touches and moves visitors.

You can purchase fresh pasture-raised milk at Kikuchi Farm. Unfortunately, when I visited the Kikuchi Farm for the first time, it was sold out. I did get it in the later day though! I am already a repeat customer of Kikuchi Farm!!

It was my first time to have pasture-raised milk. It is thick but not fatty. It is sweet and delicious. So easy to drink!

I highly recommend for you to try this delicious pasture-raised cow’s milk.

After satisfying my belly, we headed to the Santa Land, the must see spot! I did not know but it is the only one Santa Land in Japan where the officials of Oslo, Norway actually certified Hiroo as an official Santa Land!

I was not able to witness this time but the Santa Land is also famous for Ezoyama Tsutuji (azalea). In June, you get to see approximately 12,000 red Ezoyama Tsutsuji azaleas blooming.

At the Santa Land, Mr. Santa will welcome you, and once you are inside the garden, you will be witnessing a beautifully crafted nature right in front of your eyes. It is just so beautiful just to walk about.

There is also a store inside Santa Land called Santa’s House, and I enjoyed looking at all the cute Santa goods there!

The light up illumination at night is also beautiful, and it makes you feel “I need to come back!!”

I am grateful for the warmth of the people of Hiroo, its history, culture, nature, food, and all the opportunities!

Written by Yuki Nagami

 

Urakawa Town has been making various projects to promote the creation of a relational population.
These include the Urakawa Life Experience Project, the Furusato Working Holiday Project, and the Telework Promotion Project.

Among those projects, we would like to introduce the columns of two people who toured four Tongari towns while working and staying. This project was held at the Urakawa Tourist Association for about two weeks under the Furusato Working Holiday program sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

In collaboration with Urakawa High School, the two participants were asked to assist the junior-year high school students in their integrated learning class (theme: Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs) and to interview restaurants in town. Here we share their reports on the Tongari Road area from non-residents’ perspectives.

*Furusato Working Holiday is a program for people from urban areas to stay in a rural area for a certain period of time, working and earning an income while experiencing the local lifestyle through interaction with local residents. Furusato generally means “hometown”. However, it is sometimes used as a rural area where the population is unbalanced because the young generation leaves for an urban area.

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Erimo Column

~ My first experience visiting Erimo, Hokkaido, coming from Tokyo! ~ (August 29, 2022)

Today, Mr. Nakagawa of the Urakawa Tourist Association took me to visit Erimo Town for the first time!

The first stop was Lake Toyoniko. It is famous for being a heart-shaped lake. When I arrived at Lake Toyoniko, I was overwhelmed with the sound of nature, of trees, their leaves, wild birds, animals, and insects swaying in the wind. It is located in the middle of the Hidaka Mountain Range, an amazing place in the midst of nature where you can forget about your everyday noisy life. The water of the lake is so transparent, and the view of the Hidaka Mountain Range reflected on the lake could only be explained in a word, “beautiful”.

As I witnessed a such view of Lake Toyoniko, I could not help but to question myself, “Why and for what I am living my life in such a hurry?” The view of Toyoniko certainly relieved me from the stress and tightness of everyday life I was having. You can explore yourself, especially when you are so tired from all the noise in the urban city, Toyoniko will help you find the “real you”.

Today’s lunch was Chirashi-sushi at Isami Sushi in Erimo, where Mr. Nakagawa visits regularly. What a delicious bowl! Fish and other seafood are so fresh with wonderful consistency which proved the freshness, the deliciousness just exploded in my mouth. An even more amazing surprise was the sweet potato ice cream they offered as dessert! It was so good.

The last stop of the visit was Cape Erimo. Cape Erimo sticks out into the Pacific Ocean and it is the tip of the South point of the Hokkaido. I have known the name but had never been there, so I was very excited to stand on the Southern tip of Hokkaido.

Cape Erimo surely showed me the unspeakable and unexplainable largeness and beauty of Mother Nature.

Cape Erimo presented itself in a different appearance every hour, and it was astonishing. I truly get it now why people love visiting Cape Erimo.

 

I am grateful for the warmth of the people of Erimo, its history, culture, nature, food, and all the opportunities!

Written by Yuki Nagami

 

Urakawa Town has been making various projects to promote the creation of a relational population.
These include the Urakawa Life Experience Project, the Furusato Working Holiday Project, and the Telework Promotion Project.

Among those projects, we would like to introduce the columns of two people who toured four Tongari towns while working and staying. This project was held at the Urakawa Tourist Association for about two weeks under the Furusato Working Holiday program sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

In collaboration with Urakawa High School, the two participants were asked to assist the junior-year high school students in their integrated learning class (theme: Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs) and to interview restaurants in town. Here we share their reports on the Tongari Road area from non-residents’ perspectives.

*Furusato Working Holiday is a program for people from urban areas to stay in a rural area for a certain period of time, working and earning an income while experiencing the local lifestyle through interaction with local residents. Furusato generally means “hometown”. However, it is sometimes used as a rural area where the population is unbalanced because the young generation leaves for an urban area.

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Samani Column

~ My first experience visiting Samani, Hokkaido, coming from Tokyo! ~ (August 27, 2022)

Today, Mr. Nakagawa of the Urakawa Tourist Association took me to visit Samani Town for the first time!
The road we took from Urakawa to Samani was right by the sea line, and we came across large rocks called Oyako-iwa (Parents and a child rocks) on the way, which made the road trip very pleasant.

The first stop in Samani was the former JR Samani Station and Tourist Information Center. The station used to be the JR Samani Station, but with the abolition of the JR Hidaka Line, it retired its function as a train station. We were able to enter the part of the station that is still used as a station and were warmed by the message posters of appreciation for the Hidaka Line that were displayed there. The tourist information center sold many of the town’s specialties, including Hidaka kelp, all of which were attractive, one of the best local products.

When we visited the tourist information center, the staff of the center and a local elderly lady were friendly and helpful, telling us everything from how to use Hidaka kelp to some local stories. Their stories were very interesting and I was completely absorbed in. The locals would kindly talk to me at the places where I stopped by on a whim. That kind of warm proximity of people in the town of Samani was a new experience for me being from Tokyo.

The next stop was Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor’s Center. The visitor center, located near the trailhead of Mt. Apoi, has a wide range of exhibits, including those on the topography and geology that explains why the Mt. Apoi area is called a geopark, the ecosystem that lives on Mt. Apoi, and the history and culture of the town of Samani, which were easy to understand and interesting even for someone like me who is not familiar with geography and ecosystems. There was an exhibit about Mt. Apoi, where peridotite, which forms in the mantle and cannot normally be seen because it is located at the core of the Earth, appears above ground. The exhibit was particularly interesting to me and it is so magnificent that it evoked a sense of the origin of the earth. The exhibit made me want to climb Mt. Apoi on my own feet.

As the last stop for the day, we were taken to “Kuina”, a restaurant beloved by Samani locals. I had Aburasoba, noodles with oil, and it was excellent! It’s a very good dish! Even though it was supposed to be in oil-based broth, it wasn’t heavy, but satisfying at the same time! Even now, as I write this report, I am craving this noodle. Oh by the way, it seems that Mr. Yoki Tanaka, who has scaled all of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan by himself and is famous for his Great Traverse, also visited Kuina!

I am grateful for the warmth of the people of Samani, its history, culture, nature, food, and all the opportunities!

Written by Yuki Nagami

 

Urakawa Town has been making various projects to promote the creation of a relational population.
These include the Urakawa Life Experience Project, the Furusato Working Holiday Project, and the Telework Promotion Project.

Among those projects, we would like to introduce the columns of two people who toured four Tongari towns while working and staying. This project was held at the Urakawa Tourist Association for about two weeks under the Furusato Working Holiday program sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

In collaboration with Urakawa High School, the two participants were asked to assist the junior-year high school students in their integrated learning class (theme: Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs) and to interview restaurants in town. Here we share their reports on the Tongari Road area from non-residents’ perspectives.

*Furusato Working Holiday is a program for people from urban areas to stay in a rural area for a certain period of time, working and earning an income while experiencing the local lifestyle through interaction with local residents. Furusato generally means “hometown”. However, it is sometimes used as a rural area where the population is unbalanced because the young generation leaves for an urban area.

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(Written by Yuki Nagami, who stayed with his wife from August 21 to September 3, 2022)
No1. My Urakawa Column
~ My first experience living in Urakawa, Hokkaido, coming from Tokyo! ~

(August 21-September 3, 2022)

1 Very first visit in Hokkaido

I have just landed in Hokkaido for the first time in my life. I will be staying in Urakawa Town, Hokkaido for about two weeks as a part of the Furusato Working Holiday sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Looking at the scenery from the airplane and the scenery on the way to Urakawa Town, I was just taking in the excitement entirely, saying “I am really in Hokkaido!!” And yes, it is a much cooler temperature compared to Tokyo.

My journey in Urakawa Town began in a house by the sea. This temporary housing is made just for people who visit here with the thought of moving to Urakawa, so that they can experience what it is like to live there.

The house is conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from the ocean, and is fully furnished, making it a perfect place to experience the Urakawa lifestyle!

My hosts, Mr. Nakagawa of the Urakawa Tourist Association and Mr. Fukui of the Urakawa Town Hall, guided me around the town and arranged opportunities for me to interact with local residents. They also shared a lot of advice on daily life in Urakawa as well as Urakawa’s cuisine with us, and we were able to enjoy our first Urakawa living.

(The view of the sunset from our house)

2 Urakawa, the town of Thoroughbred

Urakawa is so well known as a horse-producing area that it is called a thoroughbred town. As we headed from the ocean side of Urakawa to the mountainous area, we could see many ranches where horses were being raised. Especially at the Urakawa Yushun Village A E R U, visitors can meet famous horses that have retired from the sport.

Urakawa also has other facilities for raising and training racehorses as well as horse riders, making it a sanctuary for horse racing enthusiasts. Although I am not familiar with horse racing, I was in love with the horses on the farm for their size and toughness. Even without being familiar with horse racing, seeing the horses and experiencing horseback riding was a new and enjoyable experience.

The environment of Urakawa town, where one can see a mountainous landscape with abundant nature just a short distance from the seaside, is truly an attractive place where one can enjoy the luxury of both the sea and mountains.

(Suzuka Phoenix)

(Tama, who took me for a horseback riding experience) 

3 The starry sky of Urakawa

One evening, I looked up at the sky and saw the most beautiful starry sky that I had never seen in Tokyo. Such a beautiful starry sky! I was so impressed that I could not help contacting Mr. Nakagawa of the Tourist Association to express my amazing experience. He came right away to take pictures of us even though it was late at night. As it turns out, Mr. Nakagawa sometimes comes alone to take pictures of the starry sky too, he says.

As I looked at the starry sky, I thought to myself, “There must be a lot of people who love and cherish the natural beauty that mother nature wants to present to us.” That evening, I felt that the nature of Urakawa and the people of Urakawa who embrace it are one of the charms of the town of Urakawa itself.

(This is our most favorite picture. Can you find a shooting star among all of the stars?)

4 Urakawa cuisine and local foods

During my time staying in Urakawa, I was blessed with many opportunities to eat at local restaurants. Beyond my imagination, there are numerous restaurants in the town of Urakawa, and I never had any trouble choosing a restaurant for my daily life!　Each restaurant has its own character, and they were all very delicious! I highly recommend that you make the Urakawa cuisine rounds when you visit Urakawa.

We also cooked for ourselves, of course, during our time living in Urakawa, and often used local farmers’ markets to buy our produce. It was very satisfying to be able to purchase fresh, tasty, locally-grown vegetables at reasonable prices! It was a good personal experience for me, as I had never had the experience of buying produce at a farmer’s market where vegetables are sold directly by the producer. There are also local butcher and fish markets. I found it valuable to have access to fresh local ingredients like this.
(A E R U, Tsubutama Ishiyaki Curry)
(Trattoria Eyam, pepperoncino)
(Safran Dor ・ Corn Soup with Grilled Chicken and Bacon)


(Ramen Masago・Hidaka kelp Japanese-style dipping ramen, special milk miso curry ramen)

(Pampaka Pan・Minestrone lunch set, Suzuakane Strawberry Smoothie)

(Sacchan House・Deluxe Soup Curry, Bacon Curry)

※ Suzuakane→Summer strawberries produced in Urakawa
※ Bacon Curries→Official name: Urakawa Town Mike Sausage’s Bacon Curries

(My cooking・Sukiyaki, potato salad, fresh tomatoes)

5 Guest House Masago

I spent the first week of my working holiday stay at the temporary experience housing and the remaining week at Guest House Masago.

At Guest House Masago, the owner, Mr. Okubo, was very warm and attentive to me. I wondered how he could be so kind to me, who had come here on a whim from Tokyo.

I believe I saw Mr. Okubo’s genuine personality there.

The Guest House Masago also attracts travelers from various backgrounds, regardless of nationality or origin. That is why Masago is a place where an amazing exchange of experiences takes place among the visitors who are miraculously brought together for that moment. I found an environment at Masago where I could expand my worldview and values of things around me. I highly recommend Guest House Masago to those who want to have such an experience!

6 Conclusion

The two weeks I spent in Urakawa were rich and irreplaceable. I feel that was not only by Urakawa’s abundant nature and delicious food, but, above all, by the culture of the local people who make their living there.

In writing this article, there are so many memories that I could not even make them into words. In fact, only a fraction of the memories are introduced here, there was so much more of what we experienced left unwritten.

Through these blessed Urakawa lifestyle experiences, I have come to love Urakawa, which is rich in nature, food, and people. I encourage you to enjoy the Urakawa lifestyle as well.

The theme of my working holiday was to create a “second home”.
And for me, Urakawa indeed became “my second hometown”!

I am grateful for the warmth of the people of Urakawa, its history, culture, nature, food, and all the opportunities!

Written by Yuki Nagami