January 7th is a traditional festival day

Today is one of five seasonal festival day in Japan. We call today "Jinjitu no hi" (day for human). Following a tradition, I have prepared 7 herbs and cooked rice porridge to wish for wellbeing. This is "nana kusa gayu" (rice porridge with seven herbs)

Picking young herbs at the new year start means that we receive a new life force from the mother nature. We inherited from our ancestors the notion that our spirit is connected to the nature. Beside that traditional belief, it is also good to eat a simple porridge and to give a tummy a break after the New Year big feasts.

 

A Happy New Year

Fresh fish is here!

Noboribetsu is fortunately located along the rich fish source area. 
Fresh local fish is sold at a local fish market with a generous price. If you are a tourist and want to buy Hokkaido fresh fish, don't look elsewhere.

The photo is my favorite fish shop, "Kawashima Fish"san. The shop has been operated for a several decades and been loved by local customers. 


A friendly owner always offers the best of best. Scallops and calamari freshly out of the local sea are still alive and wiggle a bit. Crabs are picked in the morning and boiled to be a bright red. There are all sorts of local seafood which makes it hard to choose!


Kawashima san makes great sashimi on the spot too.
If you are very picky about what you eat, try some!
No chair, no table, but it is just fun to pick your fish and watch them slice it to make sashimi for you. Oh, but the best part is to eat them there!


If you want to sit down and eat some descent sushi and sashimi, please go check:  http://noboribetsu-onsen.blogspot.com/2009/10/where-can-you-eat-yummy-sushi-with-good.html


for more information, email to contact@noboribetsu.co.jp

Snowshoe walking in Noboribetsu

Winter is coming to Noboribetsu. This winter has been surprisingly warm, however, the clear blue sky tells us that it will catch up soon....Walking on highly piled up snow is something you don't want to miss when you visit Hokkaido in winter. Snowshoes give you extra pleasure to smoothly walk on snow without burying legs.

Come for the beautiful morning walk. It surely is the once-in-life experience! 

English brochure is now printing.

click to enlarge the image

email: contact@noboribetsu.co.jp

telephone: 0143-84-2200

Time travel to "Samurai" era

the door to Samurai era

Noboribetsu is not only for "Onsen" (hot spring). Noboribetsu Date Jidai Mura (English nickname is "Ninja House".) displays the life style at the Samurai period when our Samurai pioneer, Katakura Kojuro lived. I am back since I last visited 2 years ago today to meet my favorite Samurais.

At the entrance, a friendly Samurai, Jinbei-san, welcomes you with his great sense of humor, yet warns you what he is meant to do if you misbehave. he goes, "hey kid, if you misbehave, I will cut you off with my sharp sword, get it?" If it is not him, parents would freak out and call the police :)
But you cannot dislike Jinbei-san's unique way of welcoming visitors. Or he would really take out his sword?? hmmm....Joke aside, he is an adorable Samurai.

The whole place is 100% entertaining. All the stuff with kimono on speaks like the people from Samurai era and always aim to provide you a great time. Well-trained Ninja actors' shows are something you don't want to miss. There is no time to blink your eyes...

My favorite show was the outside Ninja action show (see the photo below). It was much better than watching a 3D action movie with a wide screen! Realistic sensation got me goose bumps with excitement!

This park is definately a must-see spot! Highly recommended!

Please note that foreign visitors are eligible for a discounted 2 parks ticket. (Please see my blog about the ticket -> http://noboribetsu-onsen.blogspot.com/2010/07/great-deal-for-fun-in-noboribetsu.html )

Ninja action close to your eyes 

"Oiran"(Yoshiwara's courtesan) on parade

Salmon's back to Noboribetsu rivers!

The season has come! Noboribetsu warm-welcome chum salmons home at the moment.
Chum salmons are amazing fish, growing in fresh water during the early stage, spend in salt water to mature, then come back to fresh water for reproduction. Approx. 3000 and 3500 eggs from each mother salmon, however, only 2 or 3 make it home in 3 to 6 years.

Salmon is considered expensive fish elsewhere. In Hokkaido it is just an everyday fish.
Salt and grill, BBQ in sweet miso paste, in hot pot....all sorts of way to prepare yummy meal.
Salted salmon roe is tourists' dream...uh huh, when it's fresh, it is like eating orange pearls..yum yum..

Today my friendly guests from Singapore and I went to check if they have arrived.
Here's the photo. They are just entering from the Pacific Ocean toward our local river which is their home river. Salmon never fail to return to the right one. Such a wonder how they can make it after a long long journey.

where sea meets river

Way to go,,Salmon! Swim up and survive!

Noboribetsu has been experiencing unusual hot weather this summer and that worn us out totally. However, our fellow chum salmons seem to still hold their energy and stay strong because their journey hasn't finished yet. The hardest part is after this. They have to swim up against the current to upstream to accomplish the life mission. 

Guide tour available @ Noboribetsu Gateway Center 

Tel: 014-84-2200 email: contact@noboribetsu.co.jp

Noborbetsu Natural Foot Bath Day & Night

Natural Foot Bath is one of the attractive visiting spots in Noboribetsu for a traveler with sore feet. Nice and warm hot spring heals your tiring legs and the smell of surfur relaxes your mind.

Once the sunlight drops and the darkness covers the area, it looks a different place.

Too dark to see anything but shooting stars in the dark sky. 

Whilst being amazed at how bright stars are, the eerie sound starts eating your ears...

Maximize your sensor and feel the untouched nature of Noboribetsu at night.

You can hear the breathe of the woods and local creatures.

Too scary to go alone?

Call us @ Noboribetsu Gateway Center!

Our brave guide will take you there.....

Phone: 0143-84-2200