Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 71

Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 71

Weekend 71: March 11 – 12, 2023

Day 495: March 11, 2023

Saturday – Rumoi x Chippubetsu

It’s another weekend here in Rumoi City. It’s still cold but once in a while, the sun peeks to share its warmth.

Kawakami Internal Medicine Clinic
Kawakami Internal Medicine Clinic

My family and I woke up early today as it is my COVID-19 vaccination schedule at Kawakami Internal Medicine Clinic in Rumoi City. I’ll be having my 3rd shot of Pfizer. However, in reality, this is my 5th COVID-19 vax as I had 2 Sinovac shots back in the Philippines. After my vaccination, we were thinking of resting at home in case there were side effects. However, since it was a beautiful morning and I felt well, I told my wife that we should go somewhere instead.

Hamanakaundo Park
Hamanakaundo Park

Hamanakaundo Park
Can you guess what we are doing?

Here's the view from the park
Here's the view from the park


We drove to Hamanakaundo Park on the southwestern side of Rumoi City. Sadly, a large part of the park was still closed to the public so we did some stretching in one of the open areas instead.

Fukagawa - Rumoi Expressway
Fukagawa - Rumoi Expressway

Next destination: Chippubetsu
Next destination: Chippubetsu

Chippubetsu manhole cover
Chippubetsu manhole cover

From there, we decided to drive somewhere else, while thinking about where to go, we first went home to get some food and drinks. We ultimately decided to revisit the town of Chippubetsu.

These are the places that we visited in Chippubetsu:

Chichibu Shrine's torii gate
Chichibu Shrine's torii gate

Chichibu Shrine
Chichibu Shrine

🔔 Chippu Shrine / Chichibu Shrine

Chippubetsu Bell Arch
Chippubetsu Bell Arch

🔔 Chippubetsu Bell Arch


Kid's Square Chikkuru
Kid's Square Chikkuru

Kid's Square Chikkuru

We had fun bonding at Kid's Square Chikkuru. I even felt like a kid at heart
We had fun bonding at Kid's Square Chikkuru. I even felt like a kid at heart

🔔 Kid's Square Chikkuru

Quick grocery shopping at COOP in Rumoi City
Quick grocery shopping at COOP in Rumoi City

We left Chippubetsu at around 4 PM. Before going home, we did a quick grocery shopping at COOP in Rumoi City. We got home a little after 6 PM. Before calling it a day, we watched the Netflix documentary "MH370 The Plane That Disappeared". We only managed to watch the first episode. I wanted to binge-watch it but was already sleepy after the first one.


Day 496: March 12, 2023

Sunday – Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri

Today is one of the days that I am looking forward to. It`s the annual Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri. It's also a big day for the people of Rumoi as the last time this event was last held was 4 years ago and was canceled due to several reasons, particularly the pandemic. This year, I am one of the members of the Rumoi High School Team "Chimidoro" who will compete in the Moekko Banba Race which is the highlight of the festival.

We arrived just in time of the opening of this year's Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri
We arrived just in time for the opening of this year's Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri

Ella with Kazumo-chan
Ella with Kazumo-chan

Senba Park
The main event will be held here, in Senba Park

We had a group huddle before the start of the Moekko Banba Race
We had a group huddle before the start of the Moekko Banba Race

For the event, my family and I drove to Rumoi Roadside Station. Once there, I went to bond with the 10-man Rumoi High School Team "Chimidoro" composed of my co-teachers and our school staff Sekiguchi-san. My wife covered the event while my daughter went around the festival grounds with her best friend from Midorigaoka Elementary School. 

Competition time!
Competition time!


The Moekko Banba Race was the highlight of the festival and it was held at Senba Park behind the roadside station. During the event
, we managed to win twice but were too tired to win our third match against the Firefighter team. Regardless, it was a very memorable event as it made us closer not only as a faculty of the same high school but as a team.

Here's the result. We failed to make it to the top 3 but technically we're 4th place
Here's the result. We failed to make it to the top 3 but technically we're in 4th place

We lost but we were super happy with our accomplishment
We lost but we were super happy with our accomplishment

Next year we will surely come back stronger and hopefully win the competition. Overall, winter is slowly ending. My family and I are now resuming our #Hokkaido179 road trips by revisiting nearby places. Hopefully, I get my driver`s license next month, which will allow us to drive farther to visit new destinations.

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Week 71
Japan Diaries 4: Day 495
Chichibu Shrine
Chippubetsu Folk Museum

Rumoi Roadside Station
Rumoi Moekko Haru Matsuri
Hokkaido 179

Japan Diaries 4: Summary

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Japan Diaries 4: Week 70
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 70

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Japan Diaries 4: Week 72
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 72


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