I went back to my hometown and headed towards Esashi. I heard that the croquettes with fruit pork from Uenokuni on the ancient highway are delicious, so I decided to stop by. The interior of the shop looks like a house, and you have to take off your shoes to eat inside, but I opted for takeout and ordered just the croquettes. If it wasn't a hot day, I would have been tempted to try the curry as well. They told me it would take about 6 minutes to fry them. I ate them in the car right away. You can tell they are homemade by the thin coating! They are not greasy, which is great. The inside is packed with a lot of potato texture. I couldn't really tell if it was fruit pork, but it was delicious nonetheless. Thank you for the meal!

On May 30, 2019, I visited Wikipedia as a hobby, as I mentioned before. I happened to check the entry for Esashi, and I noticed that there was no mention of the "Ancient Road" there. This sparked my creative inspiration, especially since I was staying in Esashi for a while. I decided to make the most of this opportunity by spending the day taking photos of the Ancient Road and collecting information at the Esashi Town Hall. I walked along the Ancient Road from Nakaka Town to Tsukana Town, taking panoramic photos from a tourist's perspective and capturing key buildings with a compact camera. However, the distance from my home to Nakaka Town was quite far, so I needed some calories to keep me going. That's why I made a stop at Yoshida Saketen, known for their delicious croquettes. Upon entering the shop, I noticed that they had a doorbell in addition to the traditional woodpecker knocker, and they even had a handbell, which made a loud sound when I rang it. The shopkeeper appeared and I ordered the croquettes. They informed me that it would take some time as they were about to start frying them. I didn't mind the wait, as I had plenty of time. The croquettes were fried in a pot, without the use of a fryer, which I appreciated. After a while, the croquettes were ready, and I enjoyed them while they were still hot. The exterior was crispy and hot, while the inside was warm and flavorful. It was clear that they were freshly made, which added to my satisfaction. I also noticed a new item on the menu, "Nabe-yaki Curry Udon," which I would like to try on my next visit for a proper meal. In addition to serving delicious food, the shop also accepted telegrams, which is becoming rare nowadays. This makes the shop even more valuable in my eyes. I believe it's important to support such establishments that preserve these traditions.

Visited during Golden Week on May 3, 2017. Today, in the town of Esashi, the 25th annual "Spring Esashi Ancient Dream Street" event is taking place on a street known as the ancient street. The main event for today is a bridal procession for two couples who are getting married this year. I saw this advertisement in the local newspaper at my parents' house and thought it would be a great opportunity to take some photos, so I decided to go. The procession was scheduled to start at 11:30, but I arrived early and had some time to spare. On the way, I passed by this restaurant and decided to stop by to try their famous croquettes. I have known this place since I was a child, as it used to be a liquor store but was later renovated into a place serving light meals. I went inside, rang the doorbell (or rather, a woodpecker-shaped door knocker), called out to the staff, ordered the croquettes, and also got permission to take photos inside. While waiting for the croquettes, the restaurant's cat came out from the back, so I took a photo of the cat as well and played with it for a bit. Apparently, the cat usually doesn't come out from the back, so it was a pleasant surprise. The croquettes arrived, and I took some photos before enjoying them. The staff also served me some roasted green tea as a complimentary service. The croquettes were freshly fried, crispy on the outside, and made with quality ingredients, making them delicious. This place is definitely worth a visit just for the croquettes. Although I had plans to try other foods, I only ordered the croquettes this time, but I would also recommend trying their curry. I had their curry last year during the Ubagami Daigongen Shrine procession festival, and I remember it being a well-made curry with a spicy kick and the umami flavor of demiglace sauce. It was so good that I enjoyed it even after drinking alcohol. Esashi has many delicious foods to offer, and this restaurant is definitely one of them. I look forward to visiting again. I have also included some photos I took on the way to this restaurant.

I was at the Enbetsu Nabe Festival. Even though it's a liquor store, they seem to be selling croquettes and soft serve ice cream. The croquettes are called Yumekko Rocke and they use fruits pork from Uenokuni. On that day, they were selling mini croquettes for 100 yen, and even though there were plenty already fried, they gave us freshly fried ones. There is a mural by artist Terumon Hagasawa featuring characters from the Rekimachi Shopping Street at the shop on the ancient highway, so you can enjoy your food while looking at it. They recommend the Junmai Ginjo sake called Hyakuin Hyakushi as a souvenir from Enbetsu.