1-day journey to enjoy nature, gourmet and wildlife!

1-day journey to enjoy nature, gourmet and wildlife!

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I enjoyed 1-day drive to Shintoku, “the Center of Gravity of Hokkaido.”
Driving on the expressway takes me to the destination faster, but I love to drive on the local roads seeing the magnificent view of Hokkaido and stop by at place to place.

My first destination was “Kyodo-Gakusha”, people living there raise cattle and produce dairy products and vegetables. There is a forest once I saw in fairytales and a garden in my childhood.

To enjoy my lunch, I headed to the next destination, “Soba-no-yakata.” It was so delicious so that I forgot to take pictures what I ordered! The last and the most destination was “Sahoro bear mountain”, a bear sanctuary. Ainu people, the natives of Hokkaido associate brown bear with god. I was little nervous to get there. I got on the protected bus and enter the forest where preserved bears live.

Wow, I needed to pass 2 sturdy doors to enter their forest. A ranger followed our bus…I had never seen such a protected car through my life!

The bus driver drove winding road to watch bears. There is a bear enjoying bathing!

I  instinctively felt that I need to run away!

The way back, I drove on highway and visited “service area”, transport cafes. After arrived my house, I enjoyed telling story and eating raclette and Soba noodles had bought for dinner with my family.

How wonderful day it was!
I am dreaming next journey, to the east part of Hokkaido.

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