Day 752: November 23, 2023
Thursday – Labor Thanksgiving Day x Ishikari
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| We woke up to see that we've won the Cooking Fever Tournament |
It was a chilly 9-degree morning here in Rumoi City (留萌市). Today, being Labor Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday in Japan, gave us another chance to take a short family road trip. Although tomorrow is still a workday, we wanted to make the most of the break, so we decided to visit a familiar place, Ishikari City (石狩市). My wife also asked if we could include grocery shopping in our itinerary, and I gladly said yes.
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| It's Labor Thanksgiving Day, and we're off to Ishikari City |
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| 2nd Street Ishikari |
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| Team Nicerio drives south to Ishikari City |
Our first stop was 2nd Street Ishikari, a secondhand shop we often enjoy visiting. The store had plenty of new seasonal items, but we ended up buying only a few mugs, simple but satisfying finds.
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| COSTCO Ishikari |
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| Grocery shopping |
From there, we headed to the highlight of the trip, COSTCO Ishikari. Grocery shopping might seem ordinary to some, but for my wife, it is an exciting “adventure.” For us, COSTCO trips are always fun, not only because of the wide selection of goods but also because of the pizza and the free samples that make the experience extra enjoyable.
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| Banya no Yu |
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| Yuki-chan the capybara |
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| Just finished our onsen dip |
Before heading home, we made one last stop at Banya no Yu, a seaside hot spring resort in Ishikari known for its “fossil seawater” onsen and its adorable capybara, Yukichan. Watching her relax in her own little onsen was heartwarming, a simple reminder of how peaceful moments can be found in the most unexpected places.
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| Time to drive back home. We had an amazing time at Ban'ya ni Yu |
We left Ishikari City around 6 PM in the rain. The drive back to Rumoi was long and wet, but thankfully, we arrived safely before 9 PM. We called it a night early since work and school await us tomorrow. Still, today felt fulfilling, a day well spent with family, laughter, and warmth.
As I write this, I can’t help but feel that this might be our last road trip of the year. The weather forecast says snow will soon blanket Hokkaido. Perhaps that is nature’s gentle way of telling us to slow down, to rest, and to cherish the memories we have made before the year comes to an end.
Read more:
Japan Diaries 4: Week 108
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 108
Japan Diaries 4: Day 749
Banya no Yu
10 Things to Do in Ishikari City
Hokkaido 179
Japan Diaries 4: Summary
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