Japan Diaries 4: Day 383

Japan Diaries 4: Day 383

Day 383: November 19, 2022

Saturday – Tomamae Road Trip

We were finally blessed with beautiful weather after several rainy weekends spent at home. We would have been back on the road by now if it hadn't been for my wife's package, which was supposed to arrive today.

I saved some money with this haircut
I saved some money with this haircut

Vietnamese mangoes
Delivery: Vietnamese mangoes

We were able to get a lot of housework done while we waited for the package. Aside from that, my wife was able to cut my hair. The delivery arrived just as we were about to finish the haircut. It was a box of Vietnamese mangoes. It was a green light for us to get on the road. I told my wife that since I hadn't planned anything for the day, we'd just go to an onsen.

Driving along Route 239 also known as the Ororon Line
Driving along Route 239 also known as the Ororon Line

We intended to drive to Asahi Onsen in Embetsu. On our way to the onsen, I told my wife that I wanted to stop at Tomamae Roadside Station to get the roadside station stamp for the Hokkaido Roadside Station Stamp Rally.

Tomamae Roadside Station
The rest area inside the Tomamae Roadside Station

Onsen time
Onsen time

The newly renovated roadside station has an onsen, which surprised me. I immediately proposed that we bathe here instead of going to Asahi Onsen. She didn't mind.

You can buy and enjoy your soft cream here while watching the sunset

Ella and I got the caramel soft cream
Ella and I got the caramel soft cream

After the onsen dip, we tried the delicious caramel soft cream at the roadside station. It was good and was worth every yen. Since it was still early, my wife and I talked about other nearby places that we could visit. There were several places that I brought up like the Konpira Shrine in Shosanbetsu and the Sankebetsu Brown Bear Incident location in Tomamae.

Driving through Route 1049
Driving through Route 1049

Sankebetsu Brown Bear Incident Area is already closed for this season
Sankebetsu Brown Bear Incident Area is already closed for this season

Kotanbetsu Shrine's torii gate
Kotanbetsu Shrine's torii gate

Kotanbetsu Shrine
Kotanbetsu Shrine

We chose the latter since we didn’t need to drive further north. We left the Tomamae Roadside Station to visit the Sankebetsu Brown Bear Incident location. Sadly, the road to the location was closed for winter so we just drove back to town and visited the Kotanbetsu Shrine instead.

We made a brief stop at "rest stop" along the Ororon Line
We made a brief stop at a "rest stop" along the Ororon Line

Tomamae's Candle Rock
Tomamae's Candle Rock


Tomamae's Candle Rock

Before leaving Tomamae, we made a brief stop at a "pitstop" along the Ororon Line on the outskirts of Tomamae to take a picture of the scenic Candle Rock. Later on, I found out that there are similarly named islands in Yoichi and Muroran. 


Nishinbanya Restaurant
Nishinbanya Restaurant

Obira Roadside Station
Obira Roadside Station

From there, we drove to Obira to eat dinner at Rest House Rio (レストハウス理尾). However, the restaurant still opens at 5 PM. That means we have to wait about an hour outside the restaurant. To burn time, we made a stop at Herring Cultural Historical Park and then at the Obira Roadside Station.

Historical and Cultural Preservation Exhibition Hall
Historical and Cultural Preservation Exhibition Hall

Owner's Room
Owner's Room

We were amazed that the Obira Roadside Station has the Historical and Cultural Preservation Exhibition Hall on the second floor that served as a mini-museum. 
We actually missed this part when we visited last August 12, 2022Aside from that, there is also the Owner’s Room which is quite picturesque and would bring you back to the olden times of Japan

Kare Taisho
Kare Taisho

Katsu Curry
Katsu Curry

Itadakimasu!
Itadakimasu!

We left shortly after 5 p.m. When we arrived at the restaurant, however, we were disappointed to discover that it was closed for the day, so we drove home. We chose Kare Taisho in Rumoi City because we were all hungry. This is our second time dining here, and just like before the katsu curry that we ordered was amazing.

Grocery shopping at COOP
Grocery shopping at COOP

Whale meat for sale
Whale bacon is for sale today

KitKat Melted Caramel
KitKat Melted Caramel

KitKat Sachertorte
KitKat Sachertorte

Our last stop for the day was COOP to buy groceries. I was happy to see that there were two new flavors of KitKat on the shelves which are the KitKat Sachertorte and the KitKat Melting Caramel. It was a great discovery to end the day.

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Week 55
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 55
Japan Diaries 4: Day 384
Tomamae Roadside Station
Kotanbetsu Shrine




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