Returning from a visit to Shizunai, I stopped by a fruit stand. The sight of watermelons lined up in rows is a summer tradition♪ They range in price from 800 to 1000, 1500 yen and up. These watermelons are called "Raiden" when they are sold at the market, but these ones are from before they received that name. Oh, I see! I can't eat that much, so I got the 1000 yen one. Are the small ones sweet too? I asked. They also sell boiled corn and freshly picked ones. The corn is so sweet! In the hot summer, I'm grateful for Hokkaido's fruits and vegetables. Thank you for the meal! ( ˘⌣˘ ) ===========

On the way from Niseko to Yoichi, I came across the "Sato Farm Produce Direct Sales Store" in Kyowa Town. They were selling freshly boiled corn that was flying off the shelves alongside watermelons and melons. In Hokkaido, corn is commonly referred to as "toukibi". The corn was harvested that morning, making it incredibly fresh and delicious. It was the sweetest corn I've ever tasted. I wanted to take some home, but since I was staying in Hokkaido until the next day, I had to give up on that idea. Thank you for the delicious meal.

- Visit on 7/10 - Today, I made a stop on my way to Iwanai. On the way back, I plan to cross the Tomaru Pass. (laughs) I was greeted by the son today. His friendly smile made me feel good. I bought a 2L size of Raiden watermelon. I won't be posting the same picture as last time. (laughs) - Visit on 7/27, 2015 - Today, I am conducting business activities in Hidaka and Iburi. Before visiting the Kyowa Town Hall, I stopped by Meizenji Temple. The temple has 20 types of hydrangeas in full bloom, a total of 500 plants, which you can freely admire. After being healed by the beautiful hydrangeas, I visited the Kyowa Town Hall. After leaving the town hall, I headed to Kutchan, but on the way, I stopped by "Sato Farm's Farm Produce Direct Sales Store" in Kunnei, Kyowa Town. They sell Raiden watermelon, Raiden melon, corn, pumpkin, tomatoes, and more. The mothers here are very kind. This time, I bought a 2L size Raiden watermelon, boiled corn, and tomato juice. I ate the boiled corn before reaching Kutchan (laughs). Also, I received high-concentration tomato juice. It is super rich and you can truly enjoy the taste of tomatoes. After drinking about a third of it, I topped it up with sweet potato shochu.

Hokkaido Wandering Trip Part 3: Kyocho Town Kamui Misaki was an incredibly beautiful scenic spot. Despite the strong winds, it's worth the one-hour walk. After seeing the herring palace, I tried to eat the Kamari Don at Heian-so, but there was a sign saying "Please refrain from general customers due to group reservations." On the way back to Yoichi, I saw a sign for "Morning-Picked Boiled Shrimp" and decided to stop by. The boiled shrimp for ¥250 was delicious with just the right amount of salt enhancing its sweetness. I heard on TV that sweet corn is best when picked in the morning, and they were also selling watermelon and melon. I want to buy some on my way back, but is it off-season in a month?

I visited around 2:00 PM on a weekday for some melon and corn. Unfortunately, the corn was sold out for the day. The melons ranged from 900 to 1200 yen depending on size. I paid in cash. The melon was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I recently read a book that mentioned how corn must be harvested in the morning of the same day. I thought to myself, "I want to try freshly picked corn..." and then I received some as a gift! Morning-picked corn has a superior ability for photosynthesis. When the sun rises, it starts photosynthesizing, using the energy stored inside itself, which is sugar. In other words, corn harvested during the day has a decreasing sugar content, so when harvested early in the morning and boiled right away, it becomes sweet. I see... This is it! Sweet, rich, and juicy! It was incredibly delicious. It seemed like they were selling freshly boiled corn, so I would love to try it if I have the chance.