I was drawn to visit the store "Mochi Mochiya" by its name, located inside the "Michinoeki Minamifurano". At the entrance of the store, I saw a sign for matcha and hojicha granita, a drink made with ice and milk. I decided to try the hojicha granita for 600 yen. While waiting, I looked up what granita was and found out it is called the Italian version of shaved ice. It was made with hojicha from Kurodaen in Asamiya, Shiga Prefecture, giving it a rich flavor and aroma. The texture was like drinking melted frozen hojicha through a straw, similar to eating sherbet. It was refreshing and cooling, but I realized I forgot to buy mochi. I will have to remember to do so next time.

When I entered the restaurant, the seats in the back were all taken and the staff didn't say anything to me. There was no menu, just posted on the wall. I waited for a while but nobody came to take my order. When I finally said "excuse me", they told me to order at the counter. It would be helpful if they made it clear. I tried the wasabi-flavored mochi, which was slightly spicy and delicious! I also had the famous Hokkaido red bean porridge. It had mochi in it too, perfect for a light snack. Remember to ask for water, they won't bring it automatically.

This is a shop located in the new mont-bell food court inside the Michi-no-Eki in Minami-Furano. They serve hot and fluffy mochi with a nice aroma and a little extra something. The salty taste is a bit strong but adds to the charm. I was surprised that the mochi was not chewy but rather soft and gooey. It's rare to find a shop that serves mochi, so it's quite special. I became a fan of their creativity in adding Gyujyanin garlic soy sauce or Wasabi soy sauce to the mochi. The mochi is wrapped in seaweed, making it impossible to see in the photos. I forgot to take photos of the shop and menu, which is a personal regret.

I was planning to go to Nemuro, but due to heavy rain, the Doto Expressway, Nissho Pass, and Karikachi Pass are all closed. I can't move at all. So, to kill time, I went to the food court at the Michi-no-Eki "Minami Furano." A shop that was closed last time I visited is open now, so I decided to try something. After placing my order, I received a number tag and waited. After about 8 minutes, my number was called. I tried the "Grilled Skewered Dango with Mitarashi Sauce" (180 yen) and the "Isobe Yaki" (200 yen). Both were delicious. The dango was fluffy and the mitarashi sauce was just right. The Isobe Yaki was soft and chewy, with a generous amount of soy sauce and crispy seaweed. I also had the "Kawane Tea," a cold green tea from Shizuoka, which was refreshing and easy to drink. I look forward to trying the Isobe Yaki with pickled garlic next time. Thank you, Mochiya!

Stopped by this shop during a break on my touring trip. As a big fan of rice cakes, I was immediately drawn to this place. I ordered mitarashi (180 yen) and iced coffee (400 yen). The mitarashi is grilled after you order it. I received my number and was called in about 5 minutes. I enjoyed it on the outdoor terrace. The mitarashi was hot and chewy. It wasn't stretchy like mochi, but had a fluffy and slightly gooey texture when you bite into it. I finished one quickly, but I thought it was a bit pricey. I would have been happier if it was around 120-150 yen. As for the iced coffee, it was completely different from what you get at convenience stores, more like a certain Seattle-based coffee chain in terms of richness! As I leisurely drank it, the surroundings cooled down and I felt the autumn of Furano.

On this day, I headed towards Furano and the main destination was the newly opened mont-bell on 4/27. Although my companion complained that we didn't have enough time for the main destination. I had no interest in it, so I checked out the menu at Maple next to Montbell, wandered around the food court from the parking lot side, and checked out various restaurants like Omochi Cafe Mochi Mochiya, Cafe Yorimichi, Katsusai, Hoshizawaya, Bistro Sacchan, and Nikudokoro Akari. I decided to stop by Omochi Cafe Mochi Mochiya for a late lunch as we were planning to have barbecue later in the day. I ordered Mitarashi Mochi for 180 yen, and Hakuchou An Mochi for 200 yen. Since my companion needed a drink after eating, I also ordered two cups of hot coffee for 380 yen each. We paid first, then they warmed up the food on a plate after taking the order. Since there were no other customers, we received our order in about 3 minutes and enjoyed it at the terrace seat. The mochi, made with locally grown rice from Minamifurano Town, had a good chewy texture and a homemade feel to it. The sweet bean paste on the Hakuchou An Mochi was delicious. The coffee from Sugiya Coffee, a coffee shop run by a couple who commutes from Kanayama, seemed to cater to those who like bitter coffee. The couple mentioned that they are busy even on their days off due to preparation work. They kindly agreed to provide a lid for the coffee when requested. I am interested in trying the matcha or hojicha granita next time! Overall, it was a delightful experience.

Surrounded by beautiful scenery, there is a large roadside station. The first thing you see is a Montbell store. To the right, there are a row of shops, and the first one I visited was a mochi shop. I bought 'Kinako Mochi ¥180', 'Isobe-yaki ¥200', and 'Handmade Honey Lemon Soda ¥550'. The 'Kinako Mochi' has a strong aroma of kinako and a rich flavor. The mochi itself is delicious. The harmony between kinako and mochi is truly wonderful. The 'Isobe-yaki' is also delicious. The combination of nori and soy sauce is amazing, and the slightly sweet soy sauce is a nice touch. The 'Handmade Honey Lemon Soda' made with honey lemons from Furano and lemons from Mikanuma, Ehime is also delicious. The blend of lemon and honey is great, and the balance is just right. It's not too sweet, so the aftertaste is refreshing.

There are several shops at Naka-Furano Michi no Eki, including a mochi cafe where they cook the mochi after you order, so it's soft and fresh. They seem to be open on weekends and holidays. I wonder if they will also be open on weekdays around Golden Week?