Bona-fide Wonders of Culinary and Nature, Kitami, East Hokkaido

Starter, Bracing a Scent of Mint in Kitami Been there, done that. Enjoying great seafood and lamb in Sapporo, immerse yourself in powder snow and enjoy apres in Niseko, experience a stunning view, a.k.a. a “wow” moment from Mount Hakodate in Hakodate… Hokkaido has always been a magnet to travelers from all over the world, seeking for the best of everything – nature, food, and onsen. Adding to these elements, Japan’s prominent asset, hospitality, perfects the entire experience of Hokkaido. As a matter of the fact, most of Hokkaido experiences, currently known to people, are concentrated on the west side of the big island. The east side,also known as Okhotsk, is a home of Shiretoko Peninsula, the World Heritage Site. Other spots, Kushiro, Abashiri, and Akan, are a source of overwhelmingly great dining and nature experience.	Kitami City, the biggest city in Okhotsk Area, is a hub of East Hokkaido.To get the fascination of the east started,this is the place to be. Let’s start off with a hidden truth of Hokkaido – East Hokkaido is a land of herbs. Before the World War II, Kitami, the hub of Okhotsk, dominated the production of mint. Overwhelmingly 70% of the world’s production came from the city. Nowadays, a trace of this history can be witnessed in a form of garden. The City of Kitami is promoting the city as “A City of Scent and Beauty”, plantation of herb trees is treated as a guideline for the city’s urban development. Kaoryanse Park and Herb Garden at Kitami Mint Museum, located within walking distance from the city center, are the good examples. As a citizen act, the residents planted 7,000 peppermints during the fiscal year of 2011. Summer is the best season for the east herb exploration. Drive around the city and you will be greeted by an enormous garden of sun flower and lavenderalong the roadside.
Nature Drive Paradise Traveling while traveling – taking a public transportation, renting a bicycle, walking… they are all part of the fascination of traveling. When it comes to East Hokkaido, driving during summer is an exquisite experience that no one should miss. A view of horizon, surrounded with a virgin green forest, cuts through a stretch of congestion-free straight road. While on a journey, passengers are frequently greeted by wild animals – Ezo red fox, Ezo red squirrel, to name a few. Such extraordinary experience is in fact, ubiquitous in the east.
Edgy Hot Spring Experience Onsen, hot spring, is ubiquitous in Japan and Okhotsk is surely the case. But its location, the edge of eastern Japan with the World Heritage-backed nature, makes its onsen experience unprecedented and edgier. Iwaobetu Onsen is located within the heritage site, and the whole onsen is surrounded by a serene forest.	Seseki Onsen, also situated within the site, is located on a shore. Yes, seashore – the spring, source of onsen, is located under a rock reef. Interestingly, the onsen is only available during low tide – the whole onsen submerges under the sea during high tide. (Both onsen is closed during winter. Other onsen in the area is in operation all year around.)
The Best Herbal Tea Ever Pure Organic and Herbal Experience from Japan Ko-yu-seikatsu, a shop and farm complex specialized in herbal products, is located on a small forest, also known as Katsuragi District. The setup allows visitors to overlook the downtown Kitami, located 8km or 20 minutes drive away. Its herbal farm, which has been in its operation for more than three decades, has been strictly organic – chemical fertilizer and pesticide-free for the entire period. The farm has been specialized in herbs since 1991 and in 2001, as Japan’s fi rst organic products certifi cation system was established, Koyu-seikatsu obtained its certifi cate immediately. In 2003, the company was certifi ed as a certifi ed domestic herb producer.	The product range is diverse. It spans from herbal tea, hand cream, soap, and even a seasoning for cooking. All the products have an effect to relieve the user’s body both internally and externally. Koyu-Seikatsu of fers a selection of herbal products. http://www. koyu-seikatu .co.jp	Kitami Mint Memorial Museum The best place to understand and grasp history of herb production in Japan, which dates back to pre-World War II, is Kitami Mint Memorial Museum. The museum has a gift shop, offering products made from the best of harvests. The range includes mint oil and mint-made sweets. A mint candy is among one of the popular products in the shop. All you need to know about Kitami’s mint production history – Kitami Mint Memorial Museum. http://www. kitamihakka.jp/