insights from frontier Japan

Spring is the season of hope and anticipation after the long winter months in Hokkaido, particularly for cyclists. Even for those who continued riding in the snow and ice, spring is a time when heavy weights seem to have been lifted from your wheels and legs, and the thrill of speed returns.

"Amaya" is a restaurant in the town of Shinhidaka in Central Hokkaido's Hidaka region. The Hidaka kelp infused soba noodles developed by this restaurant was selected for inclusion in "Cuisine Kingdom's Top 100, 2022", a contest in which a jury of first-class chefs in Japan select only the best dishes. Restaurant owner Amano Hiromi was overjoyed, "I'm so happy that a product made with local kelp was recognized by a specialist journal."

The end of January marked the conclusion of the test run of the sightseeing taxi "Hidaka Thoroughbred Taxi" service, in which a taxi driver showed participants around areas like the light horse ranch. Central Hokkaido Hidaka region's Urakawa Tourism Association and Nikko-Hire operated this trial service starting in November of last year. 41 groups, totally approximately 60 users, used the taxi, and positive reviews were received along the lines of, "I got to see places I cannot go on my own, and it was fun." However, the operators were also able to assess some issues with the project, like securing ranches where touring is available. Nikko-Hire aims to officially provide this service as a commercial enterprise starting this summer, and is currently constructing a service framework.

As winter arrives, enthusiasts are enjoying backcountry skiing near the Nissho Pass in the Hidaka Mountains, which become whiter by the day. The skiers are making the most of the slopes despite the snow only being about one meter deep.

A "Selection Sale" auction for one year old horses was held in Hokkaido Market in Central Hokkaido's Shinhidaka City on July 27. The overall sales as well as the per-horse average selling price and sale rate were all record breakers, displaying a clear energetic boost.

Starting in late March, Hokkaido Coca-Cola Bottling (Sapporo) began selling special Hokkaido-only bottles featuring an indigenous Ainu pattern in the design. The bottle design was crafted by Sekine Maki (53), an Ainu craft artist based in the town of Biratori in the Hidaka area.

The town of Urakawa in Central Hokkaido's Hidaka region stretching alongside the Pacific Ocean has recognized an increase in Indian national workers in the Urakawa light horse industry, and has issued a Hindi language version of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook.

Last year, Tokyo resident and translator Kotake Mariko (58) participated in programs such as temporary residence housing in the horse breeding town of Urakawa in the Central Hokkaido region, and experienced living in areas away from home. She recently started a "workation" in Urakawa, which allows her to continue working while enjoying tourist spots in the town on her days off.

As a tribute to the area's status as a major horse ranching area, central Hokkaido's Shizunai Eclipse Hotel (Shinhidaka-cho) changed its breakfast ticket to a design that looks like a horse race betting ticket. The design has met with popularity among hotel guests and has even become a popular topic on social media as well.