Now, let us introduce you to a route that allows you to make exciting new discoveries while staying safe and comfortable using the JR Hokkaido East & North Hokkaido Campaign Pass!
Ai Nishimura
Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.
After stocking up on Tokachi gourmet food at Obihiro Station, we hop on the express train to our next destination.
Enjoy the evening scenery and night city of Kushiro, a nostalgic place I visited last year, and depart for Abashiri in the morning! Heading for the Sea of Okhotsk on the much-admired Senmo Line.
The gourmet food available at Obihiro Station is incredible, making Obihiro known as the gourmet kingdom.
We didn't have much time, so it was time to leave Obihiro in a hurry. Before boarding the train to Kushiro, where we were staying that night, we bought some food at Obihiro Station. There was so much delicious food in Obihiro Station that we could get full just by being inside the station.
I bought some sweets from Rokkatei and a pork bowl, a specialty of Obihiro! I boarded the express train with these hot, freshly made bento boxes in hand.
We leave Obihiro and head to Kushiro Station. Koufuku Station is located inside Obihiro Station. A station within a station. (It looks like a tourist information center.)
The Rokkatei main store is also near the station, but to save time, I bought snacks at the station. Since the journey is long, I explore various ways to enjoy the place.
"Esta Obihiro West Building" at Obihiro Station. I bought a pork bowl that was made on the spot at the shop across the street. It can also be reserved according to train times. However, it was completed efficiently in about 5 minutes.
Now you're ready for your trip!
The Super Ozora express train bound for Kushiro was very comfortable.
I'll be back in a hurry to Obihiro.
The Satsunai River, which we cross on the Nemuro Main Line. Rivers in Hokkaido are not straight, but have many natural curves that are impressive.
The luxury of eating a hot, freshly made lunch on the train.
Special Pork Bowl. The pork is delicious, and the exquisite sauce enhances the meat's flavor even more. This is a bento that you should definitely try.
The beauty of this sunset is world class! Kushiro's sunset and whelk specialty store "Tsubuyaki Kadoya".
This time, I'm traveling using JR Hokkaido's free pass for eastern and northern Hokkaido. This ticket allows you to specify express trains and other trains, and it also allows you to ride all JR trains in Hokkaido.
Board the "Super Ozora Express" to Kushiro and begin your romantic train journey.
In Kushiro, we checked into the Kushiro Prince Hotel. We made it just in time to catch the sunset from our room. We took photos of the spectacular view from the port, and in the evening we enjoyed some Akkeshi whelks at the whelk specialty shop "Kadoya."
Arrived at Kushiro Station. I love the retro feel of this station building. I hope it stays like this forever.
Our accommodation for the night was the Kushiro Prince Hotel, located in a tourist area close to Nusamai Bridge and Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO.
A clean room. When you open the curtains...
A panoramic view of Kushiro at sunset!!!
I hurried to the port, but the sun had already set behind the horizon. However, from here on out, Kushiro was amazing.
Kushiro is one of the three cities with the best sunsets in the world, enveloped in a world of intense orange. The birds are a bit scary...
As darkness fell on the streets of Kushiro, we headed to Tsubuyaki Kadoya, a whelk specialty store.
Founded in 1966, this restaurant has been stubbornly dedicated to grilling whelks for 50 years. This famous restaurant has perfected the grilling technique and flavor of whelks, which are not caught in Kushiro.
Five servings per plate, any number of plates. My favorite shot with a bottle of beer.
Another menu item at this restaurant is ramen, so much so that some people visit just for this ramen.
The dark soup is lighter and gentler than it looks.
Rather than spending a long time there, it's nice to pick up some tsubu and finish off with some ramen and head home quickly. I'm glad I went to this restaurant. It was a valuable experience to immerse myself in a comfortable time in a restaurant that evokes the atmosphere of the past.
The long-awaited Senmo Line! I was able to see red-crowned cranes and Ezo deer, so I couldn't ask for more.
On the second day, we woke up early.
Even though we had stayed in a wonderful hotel, we only had time to sleep before leaving, and we left Kushiro with a feeling of having left something behind... We left with a heavy heart.
However, my next destination was Abashiri, a place I had never been to before! At around 6am, the Senmo Line train from Kushiro Station was crowded with sleepy-looking students on their way to school.
As soon as we left the city of Kushiro, the Kushiro Marshland spread out before our eyes. We could see many people on canoe tours and wild birds. As we continued on, we could see the vast fields and finally the Sea of Okhotsk. On the way, we were able to see Ezo deer and the red-crowned cranes that we had been hoping to see.
Then we arrive at Abashiri, the city of drift ice.
We discovered Abashiri Station's specialty ekiben, which is full of northern delicacies. After filling our stomachs, we took a bus tour around the city of Abashiri.
Morning in Kushiro. I hurried to the station. If I missed the train, I'd be there three hours later.
There are no express trains on the Senmo Line. Take a local train to Abashiri. It's a relaxing journey.
Kushiro Station. This is where a new train journey begins.
A two-car local train. This is a one-man train with many unmanned stations, so the driver is busy.
A sheet depicting wild birds of Hokkaido. Swans, owls, and tufted puffins.
When it was time to depart, Kushiro was suddenly enveloped in fog.
After a while, we arrived at the Kushiro Marsh. I would like to visit there properly someday.
A single track with almost no tunnels. Autumn leaves on both sides.
Ah, a Ezo deer...
As I was watching the scenery outside the window, time flew by. We arrived in Abashiri. The Senmo Line was fun!
Abashiri Station is smaller than I expected. The public telephone made of drift ice is quite unique.
I found this at Abashiri Station. Moriya Shoten's "Iso-en (crab and salmon roe)". It was so luxurious that I cried.
The shredded egg and salmon roe were colorful and the rice was infused with the gentle flavor of dashi soy sauce. This may be the most delicious ekiben I've ever had in my life.
Read the second part here
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
