アリーちゃん
On October 23, 2021 (Sat), during my autumn trip to Hokkaido, I visited "THE BIRD WATCHING CAFE" located along Lake Shikotsu Avenue (Hokkaido Route 16) on the way from Chitose City to Lake Shikotsu. The distinctive triangular building had caught my attention as I passed by multiple times, so I decided to visit for the first time, especially for my family who loves birds. I made a reservation by phone for 3:00 PM, and it turned out to be a great decision! There were a couple of groups that came in after us, but they couldn't be seated at the main counter seats, so it's better to make a reservation. The cafe's owner is Tadashi Shimada, a world-renowned bird photographer who also produces the garden with feeding areas. Upon entering the cafe, there was a splendid photo gallery with beautiful pictures on display, which captivated me. Admission was free, which was quite surprising. The cafe space had a counter seat with a great view for bird watching up close, as well as table seats. Thanks to our reservation, we were seated in the middle of the counter, which was much appreciated. We first ordered from the cafe menu at the reception counter. It was around 3:00 PM, and I was a bit peckish, so I chose some popular items from the food menu. - Bacon Hot Sandwich: 1,250 yen - Hand Drip Coffee: 620 yen (Set Drink: 450 yen) - Cafe Latte: 620 yen - Long-tailed Tit Soft Serve: 650 yen The Bacon Hot Sandwich came with bacon, cheddar cheese, gherkin, and Aurora sauce on Tokachi wheat country bread, served with coleslaw and potatoes (or soup). The Cafe Latte had an adorable Long-tailed Tit latte art that was very soothing. After the meal, we enjoyed the cafe's specialty Long-tailed Tit soft serve ice cream. The cuteness of it almost made me hesitate to dig in with a spoon. Along with the delicious cafe menu, we could also enjoy bird watching through the window, which was a luxury experience not found in the city. Various birds came and went at the garden with feeding areas, entertaining us. What a wonderful space! In the back of the cafe area, there was a photo cafe area for professional photography, available by reservation only. It seemed to fill up quickly on weekends. Although we were allowed a brief tour by the staff, most customers there had high-end cameras with super telephoto lenses attached. The area had camouflage nets on the window frames to avoid alarming the birds, and people were focused on capturing the perfect moment. While we didn't get to see it during our visit, the main attraction here is the Long-tailed Tit. The "Shima" in its name doesn't refer to stripes but to the "island," as this subspecies of Long-tailed Tit is only found in Hokkaido. With a body length of 14cm and weighing around 8g, this small bird is known for its cute round face and chubby body, earning it the nickname of "winter fairy." Although chances to see it in the dead of winter are rare, I would love to witness the adorable Long-tailed Tit with my own eyes someday. Thank you for the wonderful experience.