Twentythree

Great reasons to add yukimiroten to your vocabulary and itinerary alike.

Before we talk about places to hop into a hot spring, let’s dip our toes in the waters of bathing-related Japanese linguistics. If you’re reading this article, there’s a decent chance that you’re already familiar with onsen, the Japanese word for “hot spring,” and you might also know furo and its more refined-sounding variant ofuro, both of which mean “bath.” Furo, with a little leading consonant change from F to B, also shows up in rotenburo, “open-air bath,” and today we’re looking at a special kind of rotenburo, the yukimiroten, or “snow-viewing outdoor bath.”

Since we’re already into the back half of winter, you might be thinking you’ve already missed the season’s window to admire snow-blanketed scenery while your body stays nice and warm inside an open-air hot spring. But the snow season is a long one in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, and there’s still time for a yukimiroten soak, with Japanese online travel portal Jalan having prepared a list of five breathtaking, warmth-imparting hot spring hotel recommendations.

● Hotel Hanakagura
Website

We start off in the town of Higashikagura, where Hanakagura is just 15 minutes by car from Asahikawa Airport, offering one of the quickest-after-arrival yukimiroten experiences you can find. It’s not just the convenience that makes this place great, though, as its hillside/meadow-adjacent orientation means that in winter a shimmering sheet of snow stretches out before you before the land starts rising again into the Daisetsuzan mountain range. You don’t even have to spend the night, as the baths are available for day-use as well, and if you love not just hot springs but animals too, Asahikawa’s famous zoo is less than half an hour away.

● Marukoma Onsen Ryokan
Website

You don’t stay in business for 110 years and counting without being someplace special, and this secluded ryokan (traditional inn) in the town of Chitose, inside a national park and on the shores of Lake Shikotsu, definitely qualifies. Multiple open-air baths, some right on the edge of the lake, offer their own unique viewpoints, and for early risers, the sight of the sun rising and giving a golden glow to the waves and snow mounds will give you a magical start to your day.

● Matsu no Yu
Website (Rakuten Travel)

You don’t even have to venture outside of the Sapporo city limits to find a great yukimiroten, thanks to Matsu no Yu. First opened in 1957, this ryokan’s open-air bath will always give you great wintertime snow views and the soothing sound of the Toyohira River that flows next to the inn, and if you’re extra lucky, you might spot a deer, Ezo risu (Hokkaido squirrel) or white-tailed eagle in or above the nearby forest too.

● Tabist Chikuba Shinyotei
Website

Though bamboo is often associated with Asian countries, Hokkaido’s climate is too chilly for the plant to be as prevalent as it is elsewhere in Japan. This ryokan in Hakodate, though, does have its own bamboo grove, and its own bamboo-view bath. Chikuba Shinyotei switches which of its two outdoor baths is for men and which is for women on a daily basis, though, so you’ll want to call ahead check the schedule if you’ve got your heart set on soaking in the bamboo-view one.

● Yuyado Daiichi
Website

And rounding out the list, for those venturing deep into Hokkaido and making it all the way to Nakashibetsu, near the island’s eastern tip, is Yuyado Daiichi. A unique aspect of bathing here is that you’ll likely be serenaded by birdsong as you soak, and some bathers even encounter shimafukuro, or Blakiston’s fish owls, the largest species of owl. Note, however, that it’s not just the remote location that makes this a yukimiroten for experienced travelers, but also the fact that the bath is a mixed men’s/women’s communal setup, though bathing suits are provided free of charge for those who wish for a little more modesty while in the hot spring.

It’s worth bearing in mind that while all of these places are amazing snow-view bath spots, their natural surroundings mean they’re still beautiful, just in a different way, at other times of year too. Still, for snow lovers, there’s definitely something special about visiting Hokkaido in winter, and these hot springs make great points to plan your itinerary around.

Source: PR Times
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: PR Times
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This special sweets buffet is easily accessible from Tokyo and is truly baking the world a better place.

We’ve been on a bit of a sweets kick since the start of the new year, having recently paid a long overdue visit to the all-you-can-eat dessert buffet Sweets Paradise. That trip went so well that we’ve been on the lookout for more sweet treats to try ever since–and finally found a place that looked like it would hit that sweet spot.

Cheese Garden is located within the Emi Terrace Tokorozawa shopping complex that’s a three-minute walk from Tokorozawa Station in Saitama Prefecture. Within the mall, the store is on the first floor in a large food and dining area.

Founded in 1984, Cheese Garden is based in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture. Many of its products can be found in local service areas or airport souvenir shops, making them a popular regional speciality.

This particular location in Tokorozawa has been offering a sweets buffet since it opened. While other store locations in Koshigaya, Saitama and Sano, Tochigi, previously offered a sweets buffet for a limited time, at the moment, only the location in Tokorozawa does. The buffet takes the form of an all-you-can-eat sweets and drink deal for 90 minutes and costs 2,800 yen (US$17.85) for adults and 1,800 yen for children. There’s also a separate food set deal for 120 minutes.

It’s important to note several rules that go along with the sweets and drink buffet before you dine. First, while your total eating time is 90 minutes, your last request for new orders must be made 20 minutes before the end of your time limit, so you’ll want to be strategic about ordering something new as soon as you finish a dish. Second, you can order a maximum of six items at once, and up to two of the same item at the same time. Third, the free drinks included in the deal are coffee (hot or iced), blended tea (hot or iced), orange juice, and apple juice.

We made our way to the counter to order the first round. It was only logical that we start with cheesecakes based on the name of the store, so we chose four kinds on the top row and two in the middle row of the display case to kick things off.

We also grabbed a hot coffee to go with it all. The slight bitterness of that drink should go well with the sweetness of the cakes.

The slices of cake weren’t much bigger than bite-sized, and we began eating with the mindset that we’d devour them in no time. However, we quickly realized how naive of a thought that was.

We started with the imperial villa cheesecake that’s said to be the most popular sweet in the store. At the time we ordered it, there was only one piece left in the display case, so the staff must have to constantly replenish it.

Each cake is baked in a specially crafted oven using a blend of cheeses, so it’s truly a labor of love. We were quickly spellbound by its taste, which was a lot richer and heavier than we anticipated, together with its moist texture. It was very satisfying all on its own.

Next up was the Basque cheesecake, which was somehow even richer and more substantial in texture than the previous one. The dough was also moister and clung to the inside of our mouths after a bite. It definitely had a sinfully delectable vibe about it.

At this point, our craving for cheesecake was fully satisfied, but we needed to carry on bravely for the sake of the four remaining pieces on our plate.

The remaining pieces of cake were (pictured below clockwise from upper-left) an imperial villa strawberry cheesecake (a seasonal variation of the original), unbaked cheesecake, chocolate cake, and nasu white (fromage blanc) cake. None of them matched the flavor impact of the first two we had tried. However, they all had their unique characteristics that are sure to appeal to different kinds of sweets lovers.

Our stomachs were definitely bulging at this point, but still, the sweets case beckoned…

For this second round we opted for three sweets plus an orange juice.

First up was chocolate and cassis cake. The top layer was cassis mousse while the bottom layer was chocolate sponge cake and cream. The delicate pairing of the sweet chocolate with the slightly acidic cassis was exquisite.

Meanwhile, the small Japanese-style pudding was the first item we tasted that proved to be not quite up to snuff. The whole thing lacked smoothness and consistency, which was perhaps a result of an individual difference in the manufacturing process.

Perhaps this one had been heated a little too much while being steamed…? In any case, we almost asked for a replacement, but ultimately decided against it.

The last bite was raspberry fromage, and thankfully, we were able to end on a strong note. That was also definitely the last sweet that we could eat without feeling ill.

Whether you’re looking for a place to chat over dessert with friends or to treat yourself at the end of the week, Cheese Garden is a slightly pricey but gourmet option to satisfy your sweet tooth. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something much cheaper and more convenient, you may instead want to check out the lineup of cat-themed sweets currently at Family Mart convenience stores leading up to Cat Day in Japan.

Store information
Cheese Garden Emi Terrace Tokorozawa / チーズガーデン エミテラス所沢店
Address: Saitama-ken, Tokorozawa-shi, Higashi-sumiyoshi 10, Emi Terrace Tokorozawa, 1st floor, Block 3
埼玉県所沢市東住吉 10 エミテラス所沢 1階C3区画
Open: 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (last order at 9 p.m.)
Website

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This could be the best idea in the world…or the worst.

Our reporters are always looking for new ways to spice up their lives, so when our McDonald’s-loving reporter P.K. Sanjun found himself browsing the usual menu items at the chain for the umpteenth time, a thought suddenly struck him like lightning: what if he stuffed an apple pie inside a Big Mac? 

▼ Always keen to put his ideas to the test, P.K. ordered one of each and then took them back to the office for a taste test.

Though it might sound like a wacky idea, there was some logic behind his thinking. Firstly, in recent years, burgers with fried, crunchy elements have been appearing at fast food joints in Japan, with French fries, croquettes and tempura being some of the most recent examples.

▼ McDonald’s even released a burger with a hash brown inside it, as part of its Dragon Quest collaboration.

Secondly, aren’t all things that combine sweetness with salt delicious? Japan’s traditional mitarashi dango sweet and Happy Turn snacks are just two such salty-sweet combos that instantly come to mind, and when you stop and think about it, there are many more examples too, like the sweet and salty McGriddle on the McDonald’s breakfast menu.

▼ Sweet, salty, and oh so delicious.

An apple pie contains both the sweetness of apples and a fantastic crunchy texture that should make it a good burger component, so P.K. felt confident that he was about to uncover a whole new realm of deliciousness with this ingenious Macca’s hack.

▼ All you have to do is remove the top bun from the Big Mac…

▼ …place the apple pie on top….

▼…and you’re done!

The prep time takes five seconds so this hack already wins points for ease and speed. Plus, it looks fantastic too, with the sweet apple filling oozing out of the pastry and over the patties like some type of sweet cheese.

▼ The big question though, was: How does it taste?

As we waited for the verdict with bated breath, we half expected P.K.’s eyes to open wide with delight as an exclamation of “Umaiiii” (“Yummmm”) escaped from his lips. However, the result was quite different, as he remained silent while staring intently at the concoction he’d just eaten.

▼ “Hmm….It’s not bad, in fact it’s delicious”, he eventually said. After a short pause, he went on to say, “But it’s not super delicious”.

P.K. is renowned for being one of our team’s most discerning food critics, so he has a high bar for taste. What might not be super delicious for him might be exactly that for someone else, so after questioning him further, he had this to say:

“Well, starting with the positives, the crunchy texture was on point, definitely as good as I’d hoped it would be, with the edges of the pie being especially nice. However, the thinner part of the pastry left a little to be desired, as the moisture made it seem as if it might’ve disappeared into the bun. I was hoping it would be crunchy all over.”

“The combination of the sweet apple and the saltiness of the Big Mac wasn’t bad either, but it just didn’t have enough of an impact to make it worthy of an “Umaiiii”! for me.”

Judging from those comments, the Apple Pie Big Mac hack wasn’t a total failure, so it’s worth trying to see how the combination sits with your palate. As for P.K., he now thinks it might be worth stuffing two apple pies in there for added crunch and sweetness, and perhaps even trying it with a saltier burger to get the best balance between flavours. After this protoype though, he’s now keen to fine-tune the hack with new burgers until he hits upon that perfect combination that makes him shout “Umaiiii”.

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Saizeriwhatnow?

For many years now, Saizeriya has been the undisputed king of unbelievably cheap and questionably Italian food. As long as you’re not picky about authenticity and appreciate good-tasting food at a really low price, it’s hard to be disappointed by them.

However, a new competitor has emerged with nearly the same low prices and dishes that will make you cry out all kinds of vaguely Italian-sounding exclamations like “Finduccio!” It’s called Olive Hill, and it’s actually been around for many years in the Kanto area, but recently has been exploding in popularity.

▼ Olive Hill seems to go by both its English name and Japanese name Olive No Oka.

However, things are still early in the eatery’s popularity, and it might still be hard to find a location near you. That’s a problem our writer Ahiruneko has been struggling with recently. He visited an Olive Hill a few months earlier, and ever since, he’s been yearning to go back. The only problem is that it’s far from where he lives, so going there requires planning.

Finally, after nights of waking up in a cold sweat and crying “Bladagio!” Ahiruneko could finally pay Olive Hill another visit. As he neared the Izumi-Taiikukan Station, where the Tachikawa branch was located, he began to salivate like Pavlolive’s dog.

Arriving at the restaurant, he felt the most excited he’s been all year, but it was lunchtime and quite crowded. Last time he was able to enjoy a whole table to himself, but this time he was asked to use a counter seat. It was a little disappointing, but at this point, he’d take whatever he could get.

Or so he thought until he actually saw his seat…

▼ “Vinguario berducci!”

It was majestic. About a year earlier, Ahiruneko had used a Saizeriya solo seat, and while he liked it, it was more of a cozy little hideaway. On the other hand, Olive Hill’s single seat was downright palatial in comparison.

▼ A counter seat at Saizeriya

Our writer could stretch out his elbows, and even though someone was sitting beside him, that person was so far away he could barely notice them.

And while Saizeriya had the luxury of private electrical outlets at each seat, Olive Hill topped them there too by also providing USB charging ports!

▼ “Fanta potuli!”

It was a completely stress-free environment, so Ahiruneko felt like cutting loose and opening with a Birra Moretti.

▼ “Placido Domingo!”

Last time he was here, he ordered the Marinated Choshi Sardines for just 319 yen (US$2), and it planted the seed of wanting to come back ever since. But this time, he wanted to try some new things and got the Salmon Carpaccio for 429 yen.

He also ordered Calamari Fritto for 429 yen, and despite the name, got a whole plate of them.

▼ “Frito Lay!”

Ahiruneko had calamari fritti at other not-so-Italian restaurants many times, but he felt these were hands-down better. Both the crispness of the batter and tenderness of the squid were superior in his opinion. They were about 100 yen more expensive here on average, but the improvement in taste was beyond the extra cost.

Next, he got a Margherita pizza for 429 yen.

▼ “Ah, panini!”

It was a thin-style pizza, and while the crust was very crispy, it wasn’t hard like a cracker. Rather it had a crispy outside with a soft and doughy inside, and felt like eating a crepe.

Ahiruneko suddenly thought it would go really well with some wine. And since no eyes were on him in his private counter seat, he decided to order a glass of red wine for 209 yen. It was about 100 yen more than Saizeriya’s wine, but it also came in a much nicer glass than he’s gotten at Saizeriya in the past.

After the pizza, our writer started perusing the menu for his next course and was shocked at what he saw.

▼ “Mama minci!”

It was a Lasagna Bolognese for 319 yen, and it looked almost identical to a dish you’d normally find at Saizeriya, their Milanese Doria in particular. Olive Hill were clearly going for the crown with this one.

It was a little smaller than Saizeriya’s similar-looking dish, but the thick layers of pasta and rich sauce were both very satisfying. This one also paired very well with red wine.

Another item that he really enjoyed was the Oven-Baked Bouillabaisse for 539 yen. It was a piping hot bowl of tomato soup packed with shrimp, squid, clams, and mussels.

There was also some soft bread at the bottom of the bowl, making the whole thing surprisingly filling. This one seemed to go well with white wine, so he ordered a glass of that too.

And, since he came all this way, Ahiruneko decided to end his Olive Hill meal with the Marinated Choshi Sardines and a glass of white wine.

▼ “Oh, bellilollio!”

Having tried an even wider range of foods served here, our reporter was even more convinced that Olive Hill is poised to become a serious force in the Japanese restaurant scene. Not only that, but the solo dining section was unrivaled anywhere else.

After paying the bill, he took a quick look at the real estate listings in the area. Olive Hill would probably expand to a location near him eventually, but he just wasn’t sure he could wait for it.

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