Japan Diaries 4: Week 43

Week 43: August 22-26, 2022

Day 294: August 22, 2022

Monday- From Osaka with Love D4

This is the last day of our 4-day "From Osaka With Love" Road Trip with our Japanese family. However, since their flight is still at 7 PM today, we still have time to explore other places and create more memories with them.

Exploring Midorikaze Resort Kitayuzawa grounds


I woke up early so that I could walk around and explore Midorikaze Resort Kitayuzawa grounds. I went back just in time for breakfast.

Midorinokaze Resort Kitayuzawa

We checked out of Midorinokaze Resort Kitayuzawa after breakfast. Since the airport is in Chitose City (千歳市), our Japanese family decided to visit the scenic places nearby. So we drove to Lake Shikotsu as one of the highlights of today’s itinerary.

Team Nicerio visits Lake Shikotsu

Kayaking along the Chitose River


Glass bottom boat ride in Lake Shikotsu

It's like being inside a moving aquarium

We enjoyed our experience and so did our Japanese family too.

Inside the Lake Shikotsu Visitor Center

Checking out what food to buy at Hekisui

Lake Shikotsu is a very scenic lake and is a go-to place for many. There were also a lot of things to do here. Speaking of which, we tried the kayak and the glass bottom boat. We also tried the food sold at Hekisui. Aside from that, we also checked out what Lake Shikotsu Visitor Center has to offer.

Ecorin Village Welcome Center
Inside the souvenir shop of Ecorin Village Welcome Center

We left Lake Shikotsu at around 2:30 PM. From Chitose City, we drove to Eniwa City (恵庭市) to visit the Ecorin Village. Sadly, Ms. Sawa was stung by a bee and needed medical care. It was decided to cut our trip short as our Japanese family still needed to return their rental car and then check in for their flight.

Ecorin Village

When we parted ways, we felt emotional. However, it wasn’t like what we felt before during our last visits. It’s probably because we know that we’ll see them again soon. Hopefully, this coming winter break.

Urausu Roadside Station

We got the roadside station stamp from Urausu Roadside Station

After saying our goodbyes, my family and I drove back to Central Eniwa to gas up at ENEOS. From there, we drove back home. We did a quick toilet break at Urausu Roadside Station. However, I did not miss getting the roadside station stamp for my stamp rally collection.

Road back home

We got home around almost 8 PM officially wrapping up our 4-day “From Osaka with Love” road trip.

Day 295: August 23, 2022

Tuesday – Rumoi

I’m reporting back to Rumoi High School today after taking two nenkyu. It’s back to work for me.

Rumoi High School 8/23/2022

Here’s my workload for today:

1st period – Directions @1-36 of Motoyama-sensei

1st period – Directions @1-36 of Motoyama-sensei
4th period – Directions @1-45 of Motoyama-sensei
5th period – Directions @1-1 of Motoyama-sensei

After classes, I helped Mugi-chan with her script for the speech competition.


Day 296: August 24, 2022

Wednesday – Haboro

Good morning! It’s my 5th visit to Haboro High School for the school year 2022 – 2023. For this trip, I’m using my 2-day Moekko Free Ticket.

Haboro High School 8/24/2022

Here’s my workload today:

1st period – Y/N Questions @ 2nd year of Watanabe-sensei
3rd period – Summer Vacation @3rd year of Ken-sensei




After lunch, the faculty watched the Rugby Match between Haboro High School and Asahikawa Ryokoko. Sadly, Haboro’s team lost the match.

Look who's waiting for me back home

Rumoi Shinkin Bank

Grocery shopping in COOP

Wagyu yakiniku

Wagyu yakiniku night


When I arrived home, my wife and I promptly headed to Rumoi Shinkin Bank to withdraw some money for our grocery shopping at COOP. As luck would have it, we stumbled upon a fantastic deal on various cuts of meat, all available at a generous discount. Unable to resist such a bargain, we enthusiastically decided to transform our regular evening into a delightful yakiniku night, right after we finished our grocery shopping.


Day 297: August 25, 2022

Thursday – Embetsu

It’s a hot sunny morning. It’s my 13th visit to Embetsu Agricultural High School for the school year 2022-2023. For this trip, I used my 2-day Moekko Free Ticket.

Embetsu Agricultural High School 8/25/2022

Here’s my workload for today:

3rd period – Past Tense @ 2nd year A of Sasaki-sensei
5th period – Past Tense @ 2nd year B of Sasaki-sensei


Day 298: August 26, 2022

Friday – Tomamae

It’s another Friday. It only means one thing, I’m heading back to Tomamae Commercial High School. It’s my 14th visit here for the school year 2022-2023. For this trip, I used my 1-day Moekko Free Ticket.

Tomamae Commercial High School 8/26/2022

Here’s my workload for today:

2nd period – Crossword Puzzle @ 1st year of Hasegawa-sensei
3rd period – Criss Cross @ 3rd year of Hasegawa-sensei

Jon doing his jiko shokai

Today is the first time that I met the new Tomamae ALT – Jonathan Francisco. He’s an American ALT but he has Filipino ancestry. In a way still felt like I was talking to a “kababayan”.

Kimchi-making with my wife

Homemade kimchi


When I got home, I helped my wife do her homemade kimchi. 

Overall, this week was full of adventures. I was able to explore a different part of Chitose with my Japanese family. We also got to visit Urausu for the first time. As for my work, I went to visit schools in Rumoi, Haboro, Embetsu, and Tomamae. I'm happy that I was able to help my JTEs have a productive English class.

Location: Lake Shikotsu, Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan

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