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Sampling local cuisine and experiencing traditional crafts

Tokuju Farm Restaurant KANTO

Now feeling a bit peckish, we headed to Kanto, a restaurant serving the area’s signature Shiraoi beef. Not being a meat-eater myself, I asked my friends for their opinions of the beef. The response: it was “really soft and delicious, with a great selection!” I didn’t go hungry, though. I was given a tasty salad and some vegetables to fry up. Apparently you can also get a tofu burger if you ask ahead of time. And the staff dress like cowboys too. Yee-hah!

The Koropokkuru Cultural Experience

Now all beefed up and salad-powered, it was time to do some work. We headed to Koropokkuru, a studio teaching a variety of traditional crafts, from necklace carving to Ainu embroidery. We were there to carve bear hair. On arrival, we were presented with a wooden sculpture of a bear catching a fish. Apparently these were once a common feature of every Japanese home.

After explaining how to carve the bear’s fur using a small carving knife, the guide let us loose. It didn’t take me long to nick myself (expert tip: always carve away from the fingers), but one plaster later, I was back in action. Minor cuts aside, it was a really relaxing, meditative experience. And you get to keep the finished bear!

The studio itself is also fascinating, with several interesting displays. The guide showed us some traditional Ainu hunting tools, including a rod for catching salmon and a pike for fending off bears. He demonstrated both and then let us have a go. Another nice touch are the boards hung on the eaves. These contain scrawled messages from visiting schoolchildren that were later engraved onto black plaques. The guys running the studio are really lovely too. It’s a highly-recommended experience.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Poroto

Then it was time to rest. Hoshino Resorts KAI Poroto offers some breathtaking views of Lake Poroto. It also has an onsen and some great dinner options. Here are some photos to give you a sense of the place.

Shiraoi actually has a number of restaurants where you can sample rich Hokkaido’s cuisine. Later, we ventured out to one of these – the family izakaya Kawasho. Though quite full, I still found room for a beer and a marvelous mushroom nabe (hotpot). So yeah, a night out in Shiraoi is recommended too.

Part1: Experiencing Ainu Culture at Upopoy
Part3: A guided walk through Shiraoi’s magnificent natural landscape