【Communication from the locals】Food and sake, of course hot springs (Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido)

This is the 11th installment of the "Communicating from the Local" series. This time, we will deliver a contribution from Mr. Nojima, who is involved in tourism in Noboribetsu City, the land of famous hot springs in Minami Hokkaido. When it comes to the land of famous hot springs, the quality of the springs and the tour of the hot springs are the first thing that comes up, but Mr. Nojima's recommendation is the local gourmet food that can be purchased at Seiko Mart. There was a delicious gourmet meal in Noboribetsu that enriched the time between walks around the city and the time after the bath. (Photo: Noboribetsu Jigokudani in Autumn Leaves)

Nice to meet you all. My name is Nojima from the Commerce, Industry and Labor Policy Group of the Noboribetsu City Tourism and Economic Department.
I've only been in Noboribetsu City for a little over a year. Until then, I had been working as an employee at the Fussa City Hall in Tokyo, where the U.S. military Yokota Air Base is located, but last spring I was dispatched to Noboribetsu City, a friendly city.

Even if you have never been to Noboribetsu City, there are many people who know its name. I was one of them. Yes, Noboribetsu City is one of Japan's leading hot spring towns. Some of you may know that the lyrics of The Drifters' famous song "It's a good hot spring" also sang, "♪ This is a hot spring in the north country, Noboribetsu."
That impression, of course, is not wrong. When you step into the Noboribetsu hot spring town, the scent of sulfur tickles your nostrils and the steam that rises. I have bathed more than 50 times in the past year.

But Noboribetsu isn't just about hot springs! So, this time, I would like to introduce the "delicious" charm of Noboribetsu City.

Features of Noboribetsu City

Many people know the name of Noboribetsu City, but do not know where it is located in Hokkaido. Located about one hour southwest of New Chitose Airport, the gateway to the north, and about one and a half hours from Sapporo City, it is a long east-west town surrounded by the majestic Pacific Ocean on the south side of the city and mountains that embrace Noboribetsu Hot Springs and Carlus Hot Springs on the north side.

In addition, a part of the city belongs to "Shikotsu-Toya National Park" and is an area blessed with tourist spots and nature. Perhaps because Noboribetsu City has a strong image of hot springs in the mountains, there are many people in Hokkaido who do not know that it faces the sea, but seafood is landed that is comparable to the famous fishing port towns in Hokkaido.

Seafood in Noboribetsu City

There are two fishing ports in Noboribetsu City, where you can enjoy fresh seafood.
Specialties include cod roe, hairy crabs, flounder, and sea shells. In addition to raw food, many processed products are also handled.
When I came to Noboribetsu, I was surprised to find that freshly caught seafood was lined up at low prices in the fresh produce section of a nearby supermarket. Of course, the taste was outstanding, and I remember thinking, "Noboribetsu, it's the best."

My personal recommendation is the cod cod kimchi "Noboribetsu Tarako Jigokuzuke", which uses cod roe caught in the city luxuriously. This is Noboribetsu City's recommended " Noboribetsu brand recommended products After all, it goes well with alcohol. It is a great pleasure to poke "Jigokuzuke" with spicy yangnyeom with the tip of chopsticks and sip a cold Japan sake.

By the way, in Noboribetsu City, Japan sake is not made, but local beer is brewed. I'll talk about this craft beer later. Here is a photo of me hooking a cup of Asahikawa's famous sake "Oyama" as a snack of "Jigokuzuke". It goes well with both sake and rice.

In addition, the sashimi and thick rolls ordered at restaurants in the city are really delicious. It's a blissful moment.

The blessings of the mountains of Noboribetsu City, which are enhanced by the rain of blessings

Noboribetsu City is also a thriving city for livestock farming and dairy farming. In addition to delicious beef and pork, there is also a wide variety of products made from fresh Ezo deer meat caught in the city and high-quality dairy products.
According to one theory, Noboribetsu City, which is close to the sea and has a lot of rainfall, grows well with pastures that contain plenty of seawater minerals, and is excellent for animal growth. By the way, the abundant amount of hot water in Noboribetsu Onsen is also due to the amount of rain. Rain, thanks.

By the way, the first thing I would like to recommend with meat is " Noboribetsu Ezo deer series. In Noboribetsu City, there is a primary treatment facility for Ezo deer, where you can dismantle Ezo deer captured by hunters in a fresh state. It is this product that traps that fresh flavor in canned food.

I once ate venison in Tokyo, but it had a strange smell and the meat was tough, and I was like, "I wonder if I'll be able to eat it next time." The opposite is true for the Ezo deer. It has no odor and is soft, and it has a taste that makes you want to eat it again. This canned food is packed with the flavor of elk deer.

 

Another delicious dish is Genghis Khan's "Noboribetsu Pork Gin," which uses Noboribetsu brand pork. As I mentioned earlier, Noboribetsu, where dairy farming is thriving, has delicious milk, and luxurious pigs raised on that milk-derived whey are the Noboribetsu pigs. Its tender flesh does not become tough even when cooked, partly due to the effect of sauce. If you quickly stir-fry it with vegetables in a frying pan, you can easily throw it into your mouth immediately.

Next up is a dairy product. First of all, it is "Noboribetsu Milk", which also bears the name of the city. It is a gem of "grass-fed milk" born from cows that have grown up on grass in Noboribetsu City, pasteurized so that the flavor does not fly, and although the mouth is refreshing, the mellow sweetness that spreads in the mouth is like fresh cream.

Elementary school students in the city drink Noboribetsu milk in school lunches, and their tongues are too fat and they are worried about the future.
There are many delicious processed products such as soft-serve ice cream and gelato using this milk, and it is a milk loved by Noboribetsu citizens.  

And this is another delicious cheese born from such delicious milk.
There are so many types that it's hard to know which one to see, but this time I would like to introduce "Noboribetsu Cheese New Bianca [Milky White Flower]".

It has a deep richness and does not smell like blue cheese, so it is recommended for those who do not like cheese. Whatever it is, it is a rare type of white mold cheese in Japan. Its deliciousness does not lie. I will eat it with cheap and delicious one-coin wine from Seicomart, a convenience store chain that is purveyed by Hokkaido residents.

What is the local gourmet of Noboribetsu City that bears the name Enma?

So far, we have introduced the charm of seafood and mountain food. Local gourmet food using ingredients from the suburbs of Noboribetsu City is " Noboribetsu Enma Yakisoba It is.
By the way, Noboribetsu is a tourist attraction Jigokudani and has a lot of things related to demons and demons. The Yuru character in the city is also a cute demon child.

In order to call yourself "Enma Yakisoba" in Noboribetsu City, you must meet three conditions called "Enma's Code". The first is that they use ingredients from the suburbs of Noboribetsu. The second is that it uses flat noodles made from 100% Hokkaido wheat. The third is that it uses a spicy sesame-flavored sauce called Enma the Great's designated sauce.

What is interesting is that if this "rule" is satisfied, it can be freely arranged for each store that provides it. Currently, it is offered at 24 stores in Noboribetsu City, and each store has devised not only the ingredients but also the style of serving, from the usual yakisoba style to yakisoba bread, spring rolls, hot spring buns, and donuts.

Recently, there was good news that a local high school student came up with an original Enma yakisoba based on the "Enma Code" and served it at school festivals and local festivals, and it became very popular.
By the way, this dish is a jar jar noodle style style using minced pork from Noboribetsu. I also received it at an event, but it was delicious without flattery, so I replaced it.

Noboribetsu City is famous for its beer

As I mentioned earlier, local beer is brewed in Noboribetsu City. And it's not just brewed, it's a delicious local beer that wins first place in national competitions.
The manufacturer, Wakasaimo Honpo, is a well-known confectionery manufacturer in Hokkaido. However, there is a beer factory in Noboribetsu, and you can see the beer plant from inside the store.

There are three types of demons on sale throughout the year in a series called "Oni Density", which is a refreshing Blue Oni pilsner, a fruity Red Oni Red Ale, and a hop-scented Golden Oni Pale Ale. All the demons are scary with the picture on the package, but the smoothness and throat are the best. In addition, hops are grown in Noboribetsu City with the cooperation of volunteers, and "Nupulpep Pale Ale" using Noboribetsu hops is a popular product that is brewed only every winter. It's rare, so if you see it, you're very lucky, don't hesitate to drink it.

Food and hot springs that enhance each other

Based on the concept of "Noboribetsu is not only a hot spring", we have conveyed the delicious charm of Noboribetsu City with many words and photos so far. But don't get me wrong. As someone who came to Noboribetsu City from Tokyo, there is no way that I am not addicted to Noboribetsu hot springs, the finest hot springs are waiting for you in Noboribetsu!
So, finally, I would like to introduce a little about Noboribetsu hot springs and conclude this article.
Once again, there are two main hot spring resorts in Noboribetsu City. One is Noboribetsu Onsen and the other is Karulus Onsen.

Noboribetsu Onsen is a rare hot spring resort in the world with nine hot spring qualities, and the so-called hot spring town is spreading around the Gokuraku-dori shopping street.
The local beer "Demon Legend" series is sold not only at liquor stores in the hot spring town, but also at Seven-Eleven, so be sure to have a cup after hot water!

Karulus Onsen, a hideaway in the mountains, has long been a popular hot spring resort as a hot spring resort. The quality of the spring is a simple spring, which can also be used for birth, and it does not get hot even if you take a long bath. It is a hot spring resort that is perfect for spending a quiet and relaxing time.
Please come and play in Noboribetsu, enjoy both hot springs to your heart's content, and also enjoy the deliciousness of Noboribetsu.