Curling | TOKORO Curling Hall （常呂カーリングホール）| Kitami

I experienced curling for the first time the other day in Tokoro. Do you know that almost all athletes in Japan Olympic team for curling are from this town?

This is "TOKORO Curling Hall"↓

Let's enter it!

Wow! Wow! Wow! A lot of trophies are displayed on the shelves, which made me reaffirm that Tokoro is a town of curling! We were so excited!

Me: "I really want to curl!! I cannot wait!"! Hahaha!

Curling fee is not more expensive than I thought. Actually, I came here on business and didn't have to pay the fee. How lucky I am!

First, buy a ticket,

rent the equipment such as a "curling broom" and

a "slider", which looks like a slipper, but it isn't! Hahaha! If you are right-handed, please wear it on the left foot.

This is a curling stone, which weighs about 20 kg . Do you know how much it is?
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A. It is about 100,000 yen!! How expensive it is!! The stones are made of granite found on Ailsa Craig, an island off the Ayrshire coast in Scotland! I didn't know that!

This is our instructor!
All: "Hello! Nice to meet you!!"

Look at the Olympic five interlocked rings! Japan finished fifth in Nagano Olympic Games! Great job♪

First, we learned the delivery with the bar.

And then practiced how to slide stones across a sheet of ice toward a target area called "house", and to sweep the ice surface.

It is difficult to slide the stone, but we were able to enjoy mini-games finally. I guess curling is like a chess on ice! We have to think how to slide or hit the stone each time. How interesting it is!

You know what?
While we were enjoying games, Olympic athletes were coming to the next sheet and began to practice curling!!!! We were so excited to encounter such celebrities!!

Super stars including Ms. Suzuki and Ms. Motohashi nicknamed Marilyn were in the same facility! We cannot believe it!

They are so cool!

We were impressed with their perfect delivery!!

How beautiful Ms. Motohashi is!! Actually she is much more beautiful and attractive than I had imagined!

I'm sure this was one of the unforgettable memories during this trip!

Just for reference,

look at the licence plates↓ 

The license plates in this town are designed to look like curling stones! I really want to move to this town to get this cute license plate!!!

■ More information on Lake Saroma area during the winter time <my other posts>

❄General Information→→click here! 

❄Snow Candle Making→→click here!

❄Snowshoeing→→click here!

❄Okhotsk no Rusk-yasan (Melva toast)→→click here!

■Where is "TOKORO Curling Hall （常呂カーリングホール）"?

View Larger Map


■Tour Guide Information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!

❄ Snowshoeing in Hokkaido ❄

Have you ever tried snowshoeing? It is very fun!
I really enjoyed it in Tokoro in Lake Saroma area this time♪

These are snowshoes↓

They have several strips and we can wear them like this↓ No spacial shoes are needed!

Me: "Are you ready?"
Everybody: "Ready!"
All: "Let's go!"

We can climb gentle hills without getting stuck! Looks fun, doesn't it?

Hiking in the snow world is wonderful!

We feel great especially when we walk on fresh powder!!! Without snowshoes, we cannot walk like this!!!

See!! We were having a very special time!!!

From the hill, Lake Saroma can be seen and we were excited!

Beautiful, isn't it?
I really love snowshoeing!

If you want to try snowshoeing in Sapporo, I recommend "Takino Snow World （滝野スノーワールド）". The admission and rental fee of snowshoes are FREE OF CHARGE during the winter time!

Need more information on "Takino Snow World" ? Please refer to my previsous post→click here!  We can also enjoy tube sleds in the park!

■ More information on Lake Saroma area during the winter time <my other posts>

❄General Information→→click here! 

❄Snow Candle Making→→click here!

❄Curling→→click here!

❄Okhotsk no Rusk-yasan (Melva toast)→→click here!

View Larger Map


■Tour Guide Information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!

Lake Saroma Area in the Winter Time ❄---Winter Activities & Sports---❄

The Lake Saroma area has a lot of attractions in the winter time.
First, we can enjoy fishing smelt on and around the lake↓
They make a hole through ice on the lake, fish smelt, deep-fry it, and enjoy eating it on the spot!!

How about this?
We can enjoy snowmobiles on and around the lake!

If we are lucky, we can see seals on the lake! So cute!!!

Look at Lake Saroma!

It's soooooooooo beautiful!

Tokoro, a town around the lake, reminds a lot of people of curling! Almost all curling Olympic athletes are from this town! If you make a reservation in advance, you can take a curling lesson with an instructor in "Tokoro Curling Hall".  

Actually, we enjoyed curling! It's very fun! I guess curling is like a chess game on the ice.

How about snowshoeing! If we wear these special shoes, we cannot get stuck on the snow!

The area is blessed with the nature, and you must love it!

Last but not least, please enjoy local fresh seafood including oysters and scallops!

We really enjoyed this area!!

Need more detailed information? Please refer to my other posts!

❄Snow Candle Making→→click here!

❄Snowshoeing→→click here!

❄Curling→→click here!

❄Okhotsk no Rusk-yasan (Melva toast)→→click here!

■Where is Lake Saroma?

View Larger Map

■Tour Guide Information■

Do you need a nationally-licensed English-speaking tour guide when you travel to Hokkaido?

I'll guide you! Plz click here!