Japan Diaries 4: Week 90

Week 90: July 17 – 21, 2023

Day 623: July 17, 2023

Monday – Father and Daughter Road Trip 5: Northeastern Hokkaido Trip Day 3

Rainy morning here at Lake Kutcharo in Hamatombetsu

We didn't pitch a tent here, though, but we had a great night's sleep in the car

Today is Marine Day (海の日). It means it’s a public holiday here in Japan. It’s also the third and last day of our Northeastern Hokkaido Trip. For this adventure, we started our day at Kutcharo Lakeside Campground in the town of Hamatombetsu (浜頓別町). Like at the weekend, the weather today is still rainy. Regardless, we modified our itinerary before we hit the road.

Quick stop at Hamatombetsu Roadside Station

Before leaving Hamatombetsu, we made a brief stop at Hamatombetsu Roadside Station so that we could freshen up and fix our stuff, as the cold wind at Kutcharo Lakeside Campground made it a challenge for us to get out of the car.

From the roadside station, we continued to our next destination, which was the town of Nakatombetsu (中頓別町). It’s our second time visiting the town. Last time, we were only able to visit the shrine and the roadside station,n so we visited the following places that we missed last time:

Kotobuki Park

Preserved SL 49648

💜 Kotobuki Park

The Nakatombetsu Bus Stop in Tenpoku Line Memorial Park

The preserved Kiha 22 208 in Tenpoku Line Memorial Park

💜 Tenpoku Line Memorial Park

Nakatombetsu Town Local History Museum

Inside Nakatombetsu Town Local History Museum

We met Junko-san, who is a very friendly volunteer at the museum

💜 Nakatombetsu Town Local History Museum

Roadside Rest Area “Pinneshiri”

Before leaving the town, we revisited the Roadside Rest Area “Pinneshiri” as Ella failed to acquire its roadside station stamp the last time we visited. From there, we continued to revisit the village of Otoineppu (音威子府村). These are the places that were visited in the village:

Otoineppu manhole cover

Otoineppu Roadside Station

🟠 Otoineppu Roadside Station

Otoineppu Station

Tenpoku Line Reference Room

🟠 Otoineppu Station

Eco Museum Osashima Center

Bikki Sunazawa

Inside the Eco Museum Osashima Center

🟠 Eco Museum Osashima Center

Entering Nakagawa

Nakagawa manhole cover

Our last but main destination for today’s itinerary is the town of Nakagawa (中川町). It’s our first time to visit this quiet town, and we missed it because it was out of the way during the 5th Day of our “Drive Up North Road Trip” last year. These are the places that we visited in Nakagawa:

Nakagawa Roadside Station

🦴 Nakagawa Roadside Station

Stamina Hormone Ramen

🍲 Stamina Hormone Ramen 750 yen

Stamina Baked Katsu Curry

🍲 Stamina Baked Katsu Curry 1100 yen

Homemade Haskap Soft Cream

🍲 Homemade Haskap Soft Cream 350 yen

Teshio-Nakagawa Station

🦴 Teshio-Nakagawa Station

Nakagawa Shrine's torii gate

Nakagawa Shrine

🦴 Nakagawa Shrine

Nakagawa Eco Museum Center

Inside Nakagawa Eco Museum Center

🦴  Nakagawa Eco Museum Center 200 yen adult / free student

Last stop for the day - Shosanbetsu

Shosanbetsu colored manhole cover

It was around 2:50 when we left Nakagawa. We originally planned to take a dip at either Asahi Onsen in the town of Embetsu or Shasanbetsu Onsen Hotel Misaki no Yu in the village of Shosanbetsu, but I didn’t want to drive at night on the Ororon Line, as I know how active the deer are in this area based on experience. Regardless, we still made a brief stop at Shosanbetsu village so that I could take a photo of the colored Shosanbetsu manhole cover.

We got home at around 4 PM. The first thing I did after unpacking our stuff was to do the laundry and do some cleaning. During my rest time, my daughter and I binge-watched the 6th season of the Japanese anime Slam Dunk before calling it a day.

Day 624: July 18, 2023

Tuesday – Rumoi

Rumoi High School 7.18.23

It’s mostly cloudy today, but there is a good chance that the sun will finally come out in the afternoon. As for my work, I’m reporting to Rumoi High School for my usual business trip every Tuesday.

Here’s my workload for today:

4th period – Welcome to Our Town @ 1-34 of Matsuda-sensei
5th period – Performance Task Making @ 1st year classes of Ito-sensei and Sengoku-sensei

Day 625: July 19, 2023

Wednesday – Rumoi

Rumoi High School 7.19.23

Finally, it’s a sunny day. Instead of going on my usual business trip, I’m reporting again to Rumoi High School. Before classes started, Sasaki-sensei from Embetsu Agricultural High School messaged me that there wouldn’t be any classes tomorrow due to a precautionary action to prevent the spread of the virus on the campus. This only means that my visit to Embetsu tomorrow would be canceled, and I would again be reporting for work in Rumoi High School.

Speaking of work, here’s my workload today:

Class with Sengoku-sensei

3rd period – Listening Test @ 1st year classes of Ito-sensei and Sengoku-sensei
4th period – Performance Task Making @ 1st year classes of Matsuda-sensei, Ito-sensei, and Sengoku-sensei

Saw these crabs. They are surprisingly cheap.

After work, my family and I went to COOP to buy groceries. 

Day 626: July 20, 2023

Thursday – Embetsu Rumoi

Rumoi High School 7.20.23

It’s a beautiful sunny Thursday. I was scheduled to visit Embetsu Agricultural High School today, but I got a call yesterday that it would be cancelled, so I’m back reporting at Rumoi High School.

Here’s my workload for today:

1st period – Performance Task making using Flip App @ 1-1 of Matsuda-sensei
3rd period – Food and Culture @ 1-56 of Matsuda-sensei
6th period – Performance Task Making @ 1st year classes of Matsuda-sensei, Ito-sensei, and Sengoku-sensei

Notice of Appointment

Before leaving work, Matsuda-sensei asked me to sign a very important paper, and that paper is none other than my Notice of Appointment. Something that I’m more than happy to sign.

Asbee

After that, I went home and then drove to Asbee to buy new shoes for our hiking trip this weekend.

Day 627: July 21, 2023

Friday - Tomamae

Tomamae Commercial High School 7.21.23

It’s a beautiful sunny morning. My trip to Tomamae Commercial High School is my only business trip this week. It’s my 10th visit for the School Year 2023 – 2024. For this trip, I used cash.

Here’s my workload for today:

2nd period – English Games @ 3rd year of Matsushita-sensei

Asahikawa Airport

With Kagalucky, Asahikawa Airport's mascot

After work, Ella and I drove to Asahikawa Airport in Higashikagura to pick up my siblings who would be flying in from Tokyo. They will stay with us until next Sunday.

Asahikawa Airport Park Green Port

We arrived at the airport at around 6 PM, and since their flight will arrive at 6:50 PM, Ella and I had plenty of time to spare, so we walked to the nearby Asahikawa Airport Park Green Port. The place has a great view of the runway, and we can easily see the planes come and go. Aside from that, it’s also one of the filming locations of the Netflix drama First Love.

Welcome to Hokkaido, Patrick and Aya!

Yoshinoya Toyooka Branch

Yoshinoya Toyooka

When my siblings arrived, we explored Asahikawa Airport a bit before returning to Rumoi City. Before leaving Asahikawa City, we first ate dinner at Yoshinoya Toyooka.

Horoshin Spa

Numata Firefly Village

Afterward, we also made a side trip to Horoshin Spa in the town of Numata to check out the Firefly Village. However, we arrived past 10 PM, and the fireflies were mostly resting already. We saw a few, but it wasn’t as magical as the ones shown on the webpage of the town.

We got back home at almost midnight. We didn’t stay up that long, as we have a trip early tomorrow. Overall, I only visited Rumoi High School and Tomamae Commercial High School this week. It’s also my last whole week of work because next week is the start of the Summer Vacation.

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 90
Japan Diaries 4: Day 623

Japan Diaries 4: Day 627
Moekko Free Ticket 15th Season

Lake Kutcharo
Kutcharo Lakeside Campground
Hamatombetsu Roadside Station
Kotobuki Park
Tenpoku Line Memorial Park
Nakatombetsu Town Local History Museum
Nakatombetsu Roadside Station

Otoineppu Roadside Station

Otoineppu Station

Eco Museum Osashima Center

Asahikawa Airport

Asahikawa Airport Park Green Port 

Horoshin Spa

Hokkaido's Manhole Covers

Japan's Awesome Manhole Covers
10 Things to Do in Hamatombetsu
10 Things to Do in Nakatombetsu
10 Things to Do in Otoineppu
10 Things to Do in Nakagawa
10 Things to Do in Shosanbetsu

10 Things to Do in Rumoi City

10 More Things to Do in Rumoi City

10 Things to Do in Asahikawa City

10 More Things to Do in Asahikawa City

10 Things to Do in Numata

Hokkaido 179

Japan Diaries 4: Summary

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