This week we introduce a place that is perfect for a day trip drive, not even one hour from Sapporo City, to the creative town of Naganuma.
First, we top by the road station “Maoi no Oka Kouen”, and are surprised to find such fresh produce at a cheap price, a popular spot for the locals to come to stock up their kitchen from all over Hokkaido.
There we find a map that introduces studios and galleries to visit around town, so we decide to explore!
At KEN’S WOOD WORKING, we find gorgeous furniture made while utilizing wood’s charming features for sale.
We also find a unique atmosphere created by the unique wood objects and displays at “Soufuusha”, a very imagine-filled space that is easy to get lost in.
At a gallery café called “Furari”, at a superb location high on the hills in the suburbs of the town, we enjoy a fantastic lunch. The at-home flavor of the meal truly comforts the soul.
At Farm Gen, we get a chance to eat tomatoes for free, but we have fun working a bit in exchange!
Finally, we eat a dish famous in Naganuma Town, Genghis Khan. It is a well-known local food in Hokkaido, but this week we enjoy a plan that allows us to eat and compare the taste of top three shops of Genghis Khan in town! The two MCs take on a blind tasting challenge for fun. Who will win? Stay tuned!

A continuation from last week, we are happy to introduce some of the best highlights of the Tsugaru Strait region, featuring southern Hokkaido and Aomori.
MC Isis visits the southern resort area of Nanae Town and Onuma Park.
She participates in one of the activities available, “Exploring Onuma Lake” with a talented guide.
After discovering precious plants and birds on the tour, we get to eat a fantastic BBQ for lunch! Digging into the local delicacies of “Onuma Beef” and “Osama Shiitake” translated into King Shiitake Mushroom, was a special treat.
Where is MC Li Qiang this whole time? Across the ocean, in Aomori! Announcer Sakamoto from Asahi Aomori Broadcasting helps as his guide.
After being moved by the “Field Art” of Inakadake Village, he gets the opportunity to participate in one of the biggest summer festivals in Japan, “Aomori Nebuta Matsuri”.
Thanks to newly learned information through the “How to Enjoy the Festival for Visitors” program, Li Qiang goes to rent a proper outfit to suit the big event.
Dressed and ready for a memory of a lifetime, Li Qiand follows Announcer Sakamoto and plunges into the heat of the festival. Don’t miss how to best enjoy this major event!

For the next two weeks, we will introduce Southern Hokkaido and Aomori in a Tsugaru Strait Special.
This week, MC Li Qiang travels the Tsugaru Strait by a ferry and visits the Shimokita Hanto area. He is lucky to tour the port of Oma, which is famous for large tuna, by a guide loved by the locals, nicknamed “Oma no Ebi Chan”.
Li Qiang is moved by the taste of the seafood bowl topped with tuna, sea urchin and abalone, leading to complete satisfaction!
Then he is captivated by scenic beauty at the “Buddha Ura”, with complex sights that look like artwork made by nature.
On the Hokkaido side, MC Isis visits Nanae Town beside Hakodate City.
At Shirotai Ranch, even with the weather pulling in clouds, we experience the mystical sight of a sea of clouds, as if we were in the heavens!
We enjoy a delicious picnic on the grass, with local delights of milk, roast beef, and a wonderful apple pie dessert.
Then we stop by Kubota Ranch, to try milk and cheese made fresh by the family, and we are moved by the taste! Be sure to write down where to go to eat while watching this episode! Enjoy!

This week MCs Li Qiang and Isis introduce Tobetsu Town and Shinshinotsu Village.
In Tobetsu we discover pretty flax flowers blooming. Although originally the flowers were made to produce fiber, it is now cultivated to create linseed oil. It has recently been attracting a lot of attention as a healthy cooking oil.
A closed elementary school was turned into a furniture workshop called "Tabi Suru Ki". The furniture is order made, but the most impressive is the commitment in using local linseed oil to paint the furniture, it gives it an incredible finish!
The next place we visit is a direct sales shop that produces delicious pork. We got a chance to try the different tastes of sausages made with great attention to variety of flavors. We were shocked that pork sausages could taste so rich and different according to their ingredients, it was very good!
In Shinshinotsu Village, we try the recent popular activity, Water Dash! The game is set as the two MCs decide to compete against each other! Who is able to walk on water this time?
Finally, we treat ourselves to a barbecue outside, with special local products to dig in to. We are impressed by the taste of our salad, topped with linseed oil dressing. What a treat!