Hokkaido is a town next to Asahikawa, called Higashikawa. While nearby towns like Furano and Biei are famous, Higashikawa is still relatively unknown. Located at the foot of the Daisetsuzan Mountains, the town is known for its delicious water, which contributes to the tasty rice, sake, and even coffee. Higashikawa is actively promoting itself as a destination for remote workers, with newly built houses visible across the fields. As a result, the town has some charming cafes scattered around. One such cafe is located in the middle of a straight path through the rice fields. Despite initial doubts, the cafe offered three types of soft-serve ice cream in addition to coffee. The water drip iced coffee was surprisingly delicious, with a smooth flavor that showcased careful bean selection. The cafe owner, who also works in interior design, personally decorated the cafe. The espresso soft-serve ice cream, tinted gray with bamboo charcoal, was light and not too sweet. Such cafes add to the charm of a town, making it an ideal spot for remote work. Additionally, the display case featured appetizing muffins.

The suburbs extend from the center of the city in a grid-like pattern, with great shops scattered throughout. The description of what I chose was as follows: "A black drink made by blending espresso with bamboo charcoal and fresh soy milk from Hirata Tofu Shop." It was a taste with no compromises, or in other words, a drink for adults. Drinking something like this would probably make you healthier. It's hard to express, but it's a coffee beverage that's not black but not sweet. I think it's really good.

Stamp received at Michi-no-Eki Higashikawa Michi Kusakan! This Michi-no-Eki is packed with various shops from Higashikawa Town, with products lined up tightly. When I visited last year, there was something unfamiliar - okara muffins, so I bought them out of curiosity. "Tope-ni opened at the end of September 2021! Okara muffins, freshly roasted coffee, craft beer takeout specialty store! The second store of "Kaede Cafe," a coffee roasting and dining place near Asahiyama Zoo! Low-sugar muffins made with okara from Hirata Tofu in Higashikawa Town!" The lineup for the day included chocolate chip, matcha Oreo, blueberry, fig, caramel nut, and coffee. I chose the "Caramel Nut Muffin" (320 yen), which is moist with okara and has crunchy walnuts with caramel flavor. It's lightly sweet and low in sugar - simply the best! Next time, I want to visit the store and try their craft beer! Thank you, Tope-ni!

In the tranquil rural landscape of Higashikawa Town, there is a popular shop known for its muffins made with okara and house-roasted coffee. The muffins are made using okara from the nearby Hirata Tofu Shop in Higashikawa Town. On the day of the visit, there were a total of 8 muffin varieties available, including seasonal limited editions. Opted for takeout for the muffins as souvenirs. For the coffee, enjoyed it in the shop. The house-roasted coffee is priced at 500 yen each. The Soy Latte, made with Hirata Tofu Shop's soy milk, was a favorite choice. Ordered the "Soy Latte (Iced)" (500 yen) – a blend of espresso from the house-roasted Topene Blend and soy milk. The bitterness of the espresso combined with the gentle taste of soy milk created a perfect balance, making it a delicious drink. The muffins are all priced at 280 yen each, with an option to have them packed in a special box for an additional 100 yen. Purchased three muffins: "Mont Blanc" – a seasonal limited edition muffin with walnuts and Mont Blanc cream on top, and crushed walnuts and Mont Blanc cream inside. The dough also contains chestnut paste, giving it a delightful flavor, perfect for autumn. "Fig" – topped with sweet figs, and filled with cream cheese and walnuts. The moist muffin paired surprisingly well with the combination of figs and cream cheese. "Chocolate" – a bitter chocolate muffin with a hint of marmalade. The chocolate and marmalade combination was unexpectedly delicious! Although not tried on this visit, the shop also offers a unique beer called "Beer Coffee," which is infused with the aroma of house-roasted coffee and is also quite popular. It is something to consider trying next time!

"Topeni" First of all, Tokawa is stylish wherever you go. I was alone in Tokawa. I was with Yomesan until morning, but of course. Last night, I drank in Kitami and in the morning, I went to Tokawa, while Yomesan went to the river to do laundry. That's her job, but well, before Yomesan headed to the river, I left. On the way, I stopped at the Michi-no-Eki in Engaru to use the restroom and wash my hands. There was a dryer running here, and when I absentmindedly looked inside, I found trash placed in it. Did someone do it on purpose? Or was it a mistake? I don't know, but it made me feel really uncomfortable. Why do people throw trash in public facilities like this? If it was intentional, it's unacceptable, and even if it was a mistake, don't make mistakes like that. It doesn't look like a trash can, right? There are measures taken everywhere for COVID-19 prevention, and this place is running the dryer, so be grateful, idiots. It really made me feel sick. Not because of that, but the next stop is "Topeni." The note says muffins. Towards the end, it's getting a bit rural. The travel time has increased, and it becomes inefficient when it gets late, which makes me anxious. Oh, this place is located in a worrying spot too. Is it really here? I saw a woman in a skirt with a wide split eating ice cream in front of the store. Even if you get closer, the split doesn't close. Maybe it's a culotte skirt, but she has two children. If I were a child, I wouldn't want this kind of mother, but she's alone. She seems shy. I hesitated between muffins, soft serve, or coffee, but I'll go with coffee. I remembered I was going to drink coffee from the moment they grind the beans. They brew it carefully and seriously. I waited for over 10 minutes, right? It's lukewarm. They brewed it seriously, so this is what happens. You have to heat the water while doing it, but it's too strong. It's not over-extracted. It's not too deep. It's not over-extracted. It's delicious. There's no acidity. I like it. This coffee brings out the flavor of the beans properly. It was a delicious coffee.

I was worried because the shop doesn't appear unless you turn the corner and there are no signs. But once you turn, it's easy to find. (It may depend on the direction you're coming from) Unfortunately, it's only for takeout. The muffins are a good size and they have a variety of flavors, which is nice. They also serve coffee and beer.

I'm impressed by the variety of muffins available!

The place is cozy and nice. The muffins were delicious.