Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 47

Weekend 47: September 24-25, 2022

Day 327: September 24, 2022

Saturday - 9.24-25 Family Road Trip D1

It's a rainy first day of adventure
It's a rainy first day of adventure


Today is the second day of our second long weekend excursion this month. However, due to inclement weather, we decided to cancel our plans yesterday. We were about to cancel the entire trip and just stay home the whole weekend, but thankfully, I was able to devise an alternate itinerary last night that my wife accepted.

Beautiful sunflower fields of Horokanai
We stopped to take photos of the beautiful sunflower fields of Horokanai

This would probably look better if it was sunny


We left our home in Rumoi around 8 AM. We drove eastward toward our first destination which was the town of Horokanai (幌加内町). The trip was about an hour and 10 minutes long. 

These are the places that we visited in Horokanai:





From there, we continued to the town of Bifuka (美深町). The town is known for its caviar and agricultural products like cabbages and pumpkins. 

These are the places that we visited in Bifuka:

Bifuka Roadside Station
Bifuka Roadside Station

These will make us tons of kimchi later
These will make us tons of kimchi later


Bifuka Sturgeon Museum
Bifuka Sturgeon Museum

It's our first time to see live sturgeon
It's our first time to see live sturgeon




Having explored Bifuka, we then traveled to Nayoro City (名寄市). The city is well-known for its rice and its manufactured goods. The daifuku and mochi made in the city are some of the best in Japan.

These are the places that we visited in Nayoro City:



Nayoro Park
Nayoro Park

Nayoro Park

Nayoro Kitaguni Museum
Nayoro Kitaguni Museum

Nayoro Kitaguni Museum



AEON Mall Nayoro
Aeon Mall Nayoro

AEON Mall Nayoro




AEON Mall Nayoro



Driving back to Horokanai
Driving back to Horokanai

We went back to Horokanai after visiting Roadside Station Mochigome no Sato Nayoro to set up our tent at Shumaranai Lake Camping Ground. The overnight camping cost was 3500 yen.

Shumaranai Lake
Shumaranai Lake

Looking for the perfect spot to pitch our tent
Looking for the perfect spot to pitch our tent

Shumaranaikohan Camping Ground has several camping areas to choose from. we decided to camp at Shumaranaiko Daiichi Camping Ground. Once we were all set, we cooked sukiyaki for dinner.

Cooking dinner at Shumaranai Lake Camping Ground
Cooking dinner

Itadakemasu!


We finished the day at about 10 PM It poured all night and into the next morning till 3 AM. Fortunately, the impromptu waterproofing of the aluminum mat and shower curtain worked. As a result, we slept peacefully the entire night, warm and dry.


Day 328: September 25, 2022

Sunday - 9.24-25 Family Road Trip D2

Good morning! We awoke to a gloomy, chilly morning after a rainy night, but the weather report indicated that there was a very minimal likelihood of rain today, giving us the confidence to continue traveling.

Lake Shumarinai

Since we weren't in a rush, we enjoyed breakfast at Shumaranaikohan Camping Ground in the town of Horokanai (幌加内町) before packing up our tent and equipment. Before leaving, we took a hot shower at the Lake Shumaranai Campsite Shower and Coin Laundry Building. It only costs 100 yen for a 5-minute shower.

Lake Shumaranai Observation Deck
Enjoying the view and the company

Lake Shumaranai Observation Deck
Lake Shumaranai Observation Deck

After freshening up, we drove to the nearby Lake Shumaranai Observation Deck. It has an Instagram-worthy view of the lake. Of course, we didn't miss the opportunity to take family pictures there. 

Next stop: Shibetsu City
Next stop: Shibetsu City

From there, we drove to Shibetsu City (士別市). The city is known for its sheep hence the nickname Sheep Town. 

We visited the following places in Shibetsu:



Sheep of the World Museum
Sheep of the World Museum

We got to interact with different sheep breeds
We got to interact with different sheep breeds






Off to the town of Kembuchi
Off to the town of Kembuchi

Our next destination is the town of Kembuchi (剣淵町). The town branded itself as Picture Book Town and they currently own thousands of picturebooks that can be seen in the Kembuchi Town Picture Book Museum.

We visited the following places in Kembuchi:



Kembuchi Town Picture Book Museum
Kembuchi Town Picture Book Museum

There were a thousand different picture books to read in the Kembuchi Town Picture Book Museum
There were a thousand different picture books to read in the Kembuchi Town Picture Book Museum



Viva Alpaca Farm
Viva Alpaca Farm

Viva Alpaca Farm
We enjoyed feeding the alpaca



Kembuchi Roadside Station / Roadside Station Ehon-no-Sato Kembuchi
Kembuchi Roadside Station / Roadside Station Ehon-no-Sato Kembuchi

We tried the soft cream
We tried the delicious soft cream before leaving



A quick stop at 7-Eleven; Wassamucho
A quick stop at 7-Eleven; Wassamucho to buy coffee

Last town for the day: Wassamu
Last town for the day: Wassamu

After exploring the town, we drove to the town of Wassamu (和寒町). This town is one of the main producers of cabbage and pumpkin in the region. It is also the last town on our itinerary.


We visited the following places in Wassamu:




Mikasayama Natural Park Children's World
Mikasayama Natural Park Children's World

Nijinotsuri Bridge
Nijinotsuri Bridge

Since it was almost closing time, we had the rides all for ourselves most of the time
Since it was almost closing time, we had the rides all for ourselves most of the time



Mikasayama Natural Park Children's World was a perfect destination to end our trip. The place was a mini-theme park on top of a hill. We, as a family, enjoyed the go-cart ride and as a matter of fact, tried it 3 times. Ella even got to experience driving the go-cart all by herself. 

Good bye for now Wassamu
Good bye for now Wassamu

Driving back to Rumoi City

From Wassamu, it took us an hour and 45 minutes to drive back home. We didn't immediately head home though, we decided to eat dinner at Sukiya Rumoi first so that we wouldn't worry about cooking dinner when we got home. 

Dinner at Sukiya Rumoi
Sukiya Rumoi

Overall, today was another memorable road trip for Team Nicerio. We visited 2 cities and 4 towns. I'm looking forward to where we'll be heading next weekend. 

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Location: Horokanai, Uryu District, Hokkaido, Japan

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