Hanagokoro （花ごころ）-- Izakaya Restaurant | Former Otaru Branch of Yasuda Bank （旧安田銀行小樽支店） | Otaru

Would you like to learn the history of Otaru city, and eat lunch at the same time? Is so, how about "Hanagokoro （花ごころ）" near JR Otaru Station. It used to be a former Otaru branch of Yasuda Bank （旧安田銀行小樽支店）, and now it is used as an izakaya restaurant!

In the 20th century, this city was an economic hub in Hokkaido, and had a lot of branches of famous banks. This is one of them. The Grecian architectural style was very popular at that time, and massive columns were a primary feature!

It is designated as a historic landmark of Otary city.

We've learned its history first, and then entered this izakaya!

Wow! Wow! Wow! Cherry blossoms welcomed us!!!

Each room has a Japanese-style table and partitions like this, except a big table at the center.

This is an izakaya, but we can order lunch sets, too!

How about all-you-can-eat-style-sushi (2,520 yen/ 60 mins)? Sounds very Otaru!

We ordered a today's special.

■Grilled red fish
Hot, hot, hot!

■Tempura
Hot, hot, hot, again! Hahaha!

■Deep-fried rockfish

Otaru is famous for its fresh seafood, and we could enjoy it a lot!

■Simmered pork
Its seafood is wonderful, but don't forget meat!!! This is very tender!

We really enjoyed the lunch set in the historical building!

■Roll
Their dishes and dessert is not so special, but this atmosphere is very special, isn't it??

After lunch, we went upstairs, and enjoyed the 20th century building from the second floor!

The windows, doors, and corridors are Grecian architectural style, and we experienced "time slip" to the Showa era!

Do you have any idea what it is now? It used to be a money safe of the bank, but now it is used as a toilet!!!

We really enjoyed their lunch in the very unique atmosphere!

■Where is "Hanagokoro （花ごころ）", the Former Otaru Branch of Yasuda Bank （旧安田銀行小樽支店）?

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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!

FARM TOMITA （ファーム富田） in Early June | Lavender Farm | Naka-Furano

Farm Tomita is one of Hokkaido’s premier flower farms. Originally a simple lavender farm, today the farm has expanded to include a number of large fields of various flower types, including Poppies, French Marigolds, and many more.

The most famous image of the farm is that of the ‘rainbow field’ created by planting rows of different flowers along the gentle rolling hills. The image is unforgettable and each year visitors come to photograph the fields made famous by their use in a nation wide Japan Rail calendar.

Today I show you the flower field in early June!
This is a ‘rainbow field’ in early June, consisting of three colors of Viola tricolors (violets)↓

 Beautiful, aren't they?

Farm Tomita has a green house, which offers guests blossoming flowers including lavenders throughout the year.

They are in full bloom outside in July!

Look at the Iceland poppies! How cute they are!

How about Oriental poppies? I think they are No. 1 photogenic in this season.

Oxeye daisies are a kind of chrysanthemum! I didn't know that!

Ajyuga is a kind of herb! 

Chives look like leeks!

We cannot see lavenders outside, but we can enjoy snow-capped mountains and flowers at the same time in this season!

If you are interested in this flower field in other seasons, please refer to my other posts!

■Late May----→☆ (including lavender souvenir information)

■Mid July-----→☆ (including lavender oil, water, and ice cream information)

■Where is Farm Tomita?

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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!

Tamanoyu （玉乃湯）| Hot Spring Hotel | Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu is a hot spring paradise! If you want to stay a homey hot spring inn, how about "Tamanoyu （玉乃湯）?

Let's enter it!
This hot spring hotel is an annex of Takinoya （滝乃家）.

While Takinoya （滝乃家） is one of the high-end hotels in Noboribetsu, Tamanoyu （玉乃湯） is a very homely and cozy hot spring inn!
(If you are interested in Takinoya （滝乃家）, please refer to my other post→☆.)

This is my room↓ We can enjoy Japanese room with wonderful scenery!

I really recommend their hot spring! This inn is not so big that we can enjoy peaceful atmosphere in the outdoor hot spring area!

The water contains a lot of sulfur (more than 2mg sulfur/1kg water), which makes your skin more beautiful!

We don't have to prepare shampoo and conditioner by ourselves!

One of my favorites in the hotel is their delicious meal!!! This restaurant area has...........

Irori fireplaces like this! Looks very Japanese, doesn't it? We can enjoy Japanese BBQ on them!!

I'll show you our dinner course. Are you ready?
(The menu changes depending on the month)

■Appetizer: bracken tofu
It is served very beautifully!!

■Hors d'oeuvre: whelk, field mustard with mustard, deep-fried broad beana horsebeana fava (bean), sea bream with cherry blossom petals
We really enjoyed this sophisticated hors d'oeuvre! The beans are always picked the same day, and unfaded!!!

■Sashimi: Otanebi prown, scallop, and salmon
This scallop was caught off Noboribetsu, and very fresh and sweet!! I love it!!

Here come the Japanese BBQ time!
We can choose our favorite items!!

I chose everything! Hahaha!

I love landlocked masu salmon especially! Yummy x 2!!!

■Salmon stew
This stew reminds me of Hokkaido!!! It is called Ishikari nabe, very famous local dish!

■Chawanmushi with seasonable bamboo shoots
Cool! I love something seasonable available only in this season!

■ Vinegared mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus and Sphaerotrichia divaricate, types of edible seaweed)
We cannot stop drinking! Hahaha! Grated Chinese yam is on the top!

■Bamboo shoot rice

Super delicious!!! I love bamboo shoots!!

We enjoyed collagen soup and pickles other than the dishes I introduced to you on this post.
After the dinner, we enjoyed desserts!

■Apple, grape, and strawberry
Look at the grape! It looks like a small flower! How about the strawberry? It looks like a ladybird!!

■Homemade soft chocolate
Perfect! Yummy x 2! We are all full!!

We really enjoyed the dinner course!

Well, well, well, this is a breakfast set!

Each portion is small so that we can enjoy many kinds of local foods for breakbast!

This is hot spring egg; egg slow-boiled so that the yolk is hard but the white is still soft!

Homemade tofu was on the salad! Yummy x 2!!!

This yogurt is also homemade!!

Near this hotel, there is a cherry blossom view point.

We enjoyed double cherry blossoms from the heart! How lucky we are!!

■Where is Tamanoyu （玉乃湯別館　玉乃湯）?

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!