A day in Chitose: Horse riding, lunch, and a unique souvenir

A day in Chitose: Horse riding, lunch, and a unique souvenir

00

I enjoyed a bright spring day in Chitose, the city of New Chitose Airport.

On the outskirts of Chitose—10 minutes by car from the center of the city—is the “Spice Horse Riding Club”. The path to the parking lot is decorated with cute horse objets d’art.

The information office even has terrace seating.

Meeting the horse. After saying hello, we headed to the riding area.

The instructor taught me how to mount and control the horse. At first I was quite nervous. We practiced in a fenced area.

Once I got the hang of it, we trekked through the forest.

Kobushi flowers were blooming that day, and our path ran along the clear Chitose River.

You can ride around the forest enjoying the fresh breeze.

I had lunch at the nearby “MEON Garden Cafe.” The restaurant has a lovely courtyard garden and is run by a couple who cultivated the land with loving care.

I sat at the counter overlooking the beautiful garden.

I ordered a cocotte dish with stewed bacon and tomato from the farm. It also came with salad and bread. The large slice of bacon with melting cheese was deliciously rich.

This is a specialty called Flammkuchen, which is made with a thin dough, fresh cheese, and toppings, and baked in a stone oven heated to 300 degrees C. Strong flavors and a delightful crispy crust. It would go well with Yoichi’s Occi Gabi wine.

A view of the courtyard. Look at the elegant parasols. If you prefer, you can also relax outside. And there are many wild birds!

You can also enjoy a stroll along the canal.

Before you go home, make sure to drop by “Farm Nouveau”. The shop’s popular desserts are made with eggs from its own chicken farm.

The “Hiyoko (Chick) Pudding” is almost too cute to eat! It will make the perfect souvenir.

00