Kunimare Sake Brewery （国稀酒造株式会社）| Mashike

"Kunimare Sake Brewery （国稀酒造株式会社）" is the northernmost sake brewery in Japan, founded in 1881.

Their facilities have been nicely preserved and

we can feel the 19th atmosphere!

Let's enter it!

Before the brewery tour, we enjoyed the souvenir corner inside.

They sell a wide variety items, of course, including sake, but

Look at the sake kasu (sake cake) ice cream! Yummy x 2!!

I've found another ice cream here!

 This sake bag is very cute!!!

Aprons and happi coats with the company logo look cool!

Do you know Kiyomi Mikuni （清三　三國）, a famous French chef? He is from Mashike, and they sell his products including curry soup.

Wow! They also sell sake ramen!

We have to buy some of their sake after tasting all of them at the end of the brewery tour!

The sake brewery tour started!
First, the history of this brewery was explained.

Taizo Honma, from Niigata, established a kimono boutique in 1874, and then expanded his business to a general store, the transportation industry, the herring fishery and a sake brewery.  At that time, this town was flourished because a lot of herring was caught around here. Although the demand of sake was very high, it had to be imported from Honsyu, the main island of Japan. Therefore the price of sake was very high. Taizo brewed sake himself so as to meet the demand of the fishermen working for him.

Look at the most delicious pyramid in the world! Hahaha! We use this special sake in auspicious occasions such as wedding ceremonies.

Then we learned how to make sake.
Rice, an ingredient of sake, is riced and steamed here

River-bed water from Syokanbetsu Dake （暑寒別岳） is used for sake in this brewery. This is super-soft water, which has little minerals, and perfect for sake-making. We tried it!

There are sake tanks.

This is a presser in use.

This is the original version, which was used in the 19th century.

We observed freshly-pressed sake!

Voila!
It's tasting time!!!! We can try all of them!!!

Wow! Wow! Wow! We were so excited to try each of them, and compare with each other!

I love daiginjyo （大吟醸）, the highest grade sake. Actually we drank a lot! Hahaha!

How wonderful the tour is!

Last, but not least, we took some pics with this drunken beer!

■Where is "Kunimare Sake Brewery （国稀酒造株式会社）"?

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■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!

Endo Suisan/ Minatomati Ichiba （遠藤水産 港町市場）| Fish Wholesaler/ Retailer | Mashike

"Endo Suisan/ Minatomati Ichiba （遠藤水産　港町市場）" is a 57-year old fish wholesaler and retailer in Mashike, selling fresh seafood caught off Mashike.

Just behind the retail space, some workers were packing fresh seafood.

Voila!
All of them are local fish!

How about dried fish?

Mashike reminds a lot of people of fresh seafood such as octopus and

northern shrimps! Of course, I bought some!! Hahaha!

They also sell processed seafood! Perfect♪

Here are the seasons for some of the local fish in Mashike.

Northern shrimp	Throughout the year except Feb.
Octopus	Throughout the year
Salmon	Sep. to Nov.
Cod	Dec. to Feb.
Squid	Jul. to Dec.
Sea urchin	Jul. to Aug.
Abalone	Oct. to Dec.
Scallop	Throughout the year

■Where is "Endo Suisan/ Minatomati Ichiba （遠藤水産　港町市場）"?

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■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!

Cafe Umizaruya （カフェ 海猿舎）| Mashike

After eating delicious seafood bowls and shrimp tempura at "Sushi Matsukura （寿司のまつくら）", we went to "Cafe Umizaruya （カフェ 海猿舎）" to relax and get local information.

This is a small, but very cozy cafe.

As I don't drink coffee, I was checking the dessert menu........... They serve different cakes depending on the season.

Those two look very delicious!

This freshly-made grapefruit smoothie is like sherbet! I love it♪

This chocolate pound cake with walnuts are made by "SKANPIN （スカンピン）", a popular bakery in Mashike. The ice cream with vanilla beans are very tasty, and goes well with this rich pound cake!

We've got several useful local information from the owner, and started the city tour! 

Let's go!

■Where is "Cafe Umizaruya （カフェ 海猿舎）"?

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■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!

Cherry Blossom Forecast 2012

The Japan Weather Association announced the sakura or cherry blossom forecast in 2012.

Below are the expected dates of sakura opening and estimated best periods to enjoy the blossoms.
Weather conditions such as rain, wind, and temperatures can have great influence on the process. Please use the forecasts when you plan to come to Japan, but check the real situations frequently!

Location	Opening	Estimated Best Viewing
Tokyo	March 30	April 5 to 14
Kyoto	March 31	April 7 to 16
Fukuoka	March 29	April 6 to 15
Hiroshima	March 31	April 7 to 15
Osaka	March 31	April 7 to 15
Nara	March 31	April 6 to 14
Yoshino	April 6	April 11 to 23
Nagoya	March 29	April 5 to 13
Yokohama	March 31	April 6 to 13
Hirosaki	April 23	April 28 to May 6
Hakodate	May 2	May 5 to 12
Sapporo	May 4	May 7 to 14

■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!

Sushi Matsukura （寿司のまつくら）| Sushi Bar | Mashike

Mashike （増毛） is a fishing town along the Sea of Japan, and very famous for its fresh and delicious seafood, especially northern shrimps!
Today I'll show you "Sushi Matsukura （寿司のまつくら）", one of the popular sushi bars in Mashike, serving surprisingly gorgeous seafood bowls!

Let's enter it!

Voila!
See??? They serve very gorgeous seafood bowls!!! If you eat up the jamb-version of seafood bowl  (below) alone, you can get a cash voucher, and win the right to try "super-jamb" seafood bowl! Hahaha!

First, we ordered northern shrimp tempura↓

Hot! Hot! Hot!
It is very tasty and sweet! Northern shrimps caught off Mashike are much sweeter than ones we can eat in Sapporo!

This is a northern shrimp bowl! We cannot see rice!!!! We've never seen such many shrimps on rice! Yummy x 2!

The shrimp miso soup comes with any seafood bowl!

It is not normal miso soup. I would say it is rather rich shrimp broth!

Voila!!!
This is a seafood bowl! Have you ever seen such a perfect seafood bowl? Unbelievably, it is only 2,520 yen!!! We checked all sashimi on the rice, while eating it!!
Are you ready??? Seafood show will start! I'll show you the fresh seafood on the rice!

Northern shrimps!
Mashike remainds us of fresh and delicious northern shrimps!!!

Sea urchin! Salmon roe!! flying fish roe!
This sea urchin was so fresh and sweet that we could not stop laughing!

The yellowtail sashimi was so thick that we were very surprised!!!

The scallop was very plump and yummy!!

Sakhalin surf clam is one of the typical shellfish caught off Hokkaido only, and very recommendable! Look at the salmon, herring row, crab meat .................

Squid!!!

And abalone!!! A whole abalone! We were in the seafood heaven! Hahaha!

I really recommend their seafood bowls!!

■Where is "Sushi Matsukura （寿司のまつくら）"?

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■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!