On a certain weekday, during lunchtime, I had some time so I went to a restaurant located in the Hokkaido Youth Center in Kashiwaoka, Minami-ku. The parking lot seemed to have enough space for parking. The restaurant is on the first floor of the Youth Center and it is spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people. From the windows, you can see the cityscape of Sapporo and the fading autumn leaves, giving a nostalgic feeling. Background music softly plays Western music. On this day, the lunch menu offered six options, mostly Western-style dishes. After considering various factors, I decided to go with the safe choice of "Ankake Yakisoba (1100 yen)". Taking the first bite... Hmm, it's quite traditional. The noodles are medium-sized curly noodles with a slightly burnt texture. The seasoning is soy sauce-based, sweet, and flavorful. The ingredients include Chinese cabbage, finely cut carrots, squid, wood ear mushrooms, snow peas, bamboo shoots, finely chopped green onions, pork, scallops, and shrimp. I also tried changing the flavor with the included pickled ginger, mustard, and vinegar. I finished off with a bacon-infused Western-style soup. As a Hokkaido facility, the prices were a bit on the higher side, but the carefully prepared Ankake Yakisoba was worth it. I could feel the approaching winter through the window. Thank you for the meal.

I heard that a new bakery opened in this area, so I went up to Kashiwa Hill for the first time in over thirty years. I spent about twenty years of my life here, from birth until I got married and moved to another place. It feels nostalgic to be back in Makomanai! The building itself remains the same as before, but there are some new additions, including a restaurant called "Compass" on top of the hill. The restaurant has a large glass window facing the Sapporo city area, offering a splendid view of Moiwa Mountain and the JR Tower in the distance. I heard that it is open to the public, so I decided to go in and have a cup of coffee. The coffee from the machine was a bit too bitter for my taste, but it brought back memories of my childhood when I used to swim in the pool. The place was quite crowded with salarymen in suits, probably taking a break from a company training session. I would like to visit again for lunch next time. Thank you, Compass!

The Hokkaido Youth Center is a facility from the Sapporo Olympics. It has a pool, gym, hall, and accommodation. When I was in elementary school, I used to go swimming with friends here in the summer. The facility has faced closure rumors due to various changes in management companies, but it has managed to stay open. I visited the restaurant here after seeing on their website that they have freshly baked bread. They offer sesame rolls, croissants, rye bread, and other types of bread for under 100 yen each. The bread is simple but made with care. The restaurant is known for its pasta dishes, so I recommend trying the bread with your meal. The staff at the register were friendly, but unfortunately, they did not have plans to make sliced bread. The restaurant is located on a hill with a nature trail leading to Makomanai Park, which has beautiful cherry blossoms. I left behind some pine cones as a little artwork. The park was lovely, and I recommend taking photos as you can't take plants home.