After gawking at Hideo san's very cool garage for a while, the two of us hopped back in his van and drove just a few minutes away to an Onsen (hot spring). It was great having a shave and bathing in the steaming hot spring! After bathing in an Onsen, you feel fresh like nothing else can make you feel.
After the spa we came back home where Junko had prepared a BBQ. We BBQed on a SHICHIRIN. This is a small clay pot in which the charcoal gets extremely hot, extremely fast and stays that way for quite a long time. We enjoyed lamb, scallops, sausage, and mushrooms from the Shichirin while washing everything down with cold beer and Junko's homemade Hasukappu Brandy. Junko san makes her own berry jam. In fact it has become so popular that she sells it by word of mouth. Junko and her little sister are partners in this venture and their "company" is called Happy Berry. They make their mouth-watering jam from a native Hokkaido berry called HasuKappu. As a jam it looks very similar to Blueberry, but has a tartness to it that Blueberries lack. Most Japanese people outside Hokkaido have never heard of this fruit. The name Hasukappu is from the ancient Ainu language. Junko's Happy Berry Hasukappu Jam is out of this world, and I was lucky enough to be gifted my own bottle as a souvenir by Junko san. Thank you SO much Junko san. The brandy is also yummy, but pretty strong! You've gotta pace yourself.
The atmosphere, food, drink, and company were outstanding! What a FINALE to this Hokkaido adventure!!
After the spa we came back home where Junko had prepared a BBQ. We BBQed on a SHICHIRIN. This is a small clay pot in which the charcoal gets extremely hot, extremely fast and stays that way for quite a long time. We enjoyed lamb, scallops, sausage, and mushrooms from the Shichirin while washing everything down with cold beer and Junko's homemade Hasukappu Brandy. Junko san makes her own berry jam. In fact it has become so popular that she sells it by word of mouth. Junko and her little sister are partners in this venture and their "company" is called Happy Berry. They make their mouth-watering jam from a native Hokkaido berry called HasuKappu. As a jam it looks very similar to Blueberry, but has a tartness to it that Blueberries lack. Most Japanese people outside Hokkaido have never heard of this fruit. The name Hasukappu is from the ancient Ainu language. Junko's Happy Berry Hasukappu Jam is out of this world, and I was lucky enough to be gifted my own bottle as a souvenir by Junko san. Thank you SO much Junko san. The brandy is also yummy, but pretty strong! You've gotta pace yourself.
The atmosphere, food, drink, and company were outstanding! What a FINALE to this Hokkaido adventure!!
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