I have been visiting the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) in Urusus (Tsurunuma) since it first opened, and I tried the soy milk soft serve after a long time. They make their own tofu here, so they use soy milk for it. When I tasted it again after a while, the first bite tastes like tofu. As for the richness, I think Hokkaido milk has more, but on the other hand, it is a delicious soft serve that can be appreciated by people who are not fond of milk.

I usually write ramen reviews, but sometimes I review Hokkaido's gourmet food. The 38th installment is about "mango" for some reason. Introducing Hokkaido-grown tropical fruit "mango". "Let's go buy some mangoes!" I was invited by a friend and headed to Urususu town, about 70km from Sapporo. It's actually quite close. Apparently, these Urususu-grown mangoes have become quietly popular. It sounded interesting, so I decided to go. The place selling Urususu mangoes is at "Michi no Eki Tsurunuma" on Route 275 towards Fukagawa. Address: 186-214 Kinausunai, Urususu Town, Kabato District. Inside this rest area is a direct sales store for "Kamiuchi Farm 21" that produces mangoes. They are open for a limited time from April to the end of September every year. The mango sales are even shorter, only from July to the end of August. Truly a "phantom mango". My friend bought several for gifts, but I bought one for home. It costs 1,800 yen. It's a 350g 2L size with a sugar content of 12 degrees or higher. But why mangoes in Hokkaido? It all started when Ryoichi Kamiuchi, the founder of the major consumer finance company "Promise", resigned as chairman of Promise in 1997 and invested his personal funds to establish the agricultural production company "Kamiuchi Farm 21" in Urususu town to contribute to agriculture and develop agricultural land in Hokkaido. The farm was completed in 1999. Using high technology, they aimed to establish modern agriculture, recreating an environment similar to the tropical climate over about 15 years. They succeeded in cultivating high-quality mangoes comparable to those in Miyazaki and Okinawa. After Kamiuchi passed away in 2017, the business was transferred to the president of Es Foods, known as "Kotechann", and the business was downsized, with the direct sales store now operating only in the summer. Mangoes need to ripen, so I brought it home and waited for it to ripen before eating. After 3-4 days, when a sweet smell started to emanate, it was time to eat. Following the instructions, my wife cut it in a flower-cut style. Now, let's try it again. When I took a bite of the orange flesh, it was sweet! A refreshing and elegant sweetness spread throughout my mouth. It has a rich and somewhat luxurious taste. You can also buy it online, but it was worth going all the way to Urususu to buy it. Hokkaido-grown mangoes are shipped around July to August, making them perfect for gifts like Ochugen. This rare Hokkaido tropical fruit was delicious. Thank you for the meal. (Visited on August 12, 2022) (Posted on January 22, 2023)

On the way back to Sapporo, I suddenly felt hungry and stopped by the Michi-no-Eki Tsurunuma. I bought the "Tornado Potato" (250 yen). This is quite unusual. They also sell fried sweet potatoes, but when it comes to sweet potatoes, I think of Nakayama Pass, so I chose this one. It was really good! Simple but delicious!

On my way to Sapporo, I stopped to try some soy milk soft serve ice cream during a restroom break! I ordered it in a cup without the cone. As a soy milk lover more than cow's milk, I was excited to try soy milk soft serve for the first time. It was delicious, but I wish it had more soy milk flavor. Overall, it was a tasty soft serve, bon appétit!

"I stopped by the Michi-no-Eki Tsurunuma today, taking the back roads which is rare for me. I realized that I've been spending too much money on this trip, so I need to economize a bit to avoid getting into serious trouble, although I'm already in a bit of trouble... At the 'Michi-no-Eki,' I tried to use the restroom, but surprisingly, there was no mention of it anywhere. Luckily, I found one place open to the public, which was a relief. As I looked around, I saw they were offering fried sweet potatoes, which I don't like. I do enjoy sweet potato mochi, but I wasn't in the mood for it today. So, I thought maybe the 'Zangi skewers' would be a good choice. When I asked the lady, she said it was 350 yen. Not exactly cheap, but maybe that's the Michi-no-Eki price? I had it for my evening drink later that day. I was suffering from a bad hangover, but I had to drink properly at night for the sake of Japan. The skewer was quite large for a Zangi, but small in terms of satisfaction. When you take it off the skewer and reheat it, it turns into a regular Zangi, so the satisfaction level drops significantly. The ratio of batter to meat is almost 50:50, so there's not much meaty texture. The meat, although tender, had a slightly unpleasant taste, and the flavor was mild, which was okay. After confirming the taste, I added some mayonnaise to enhance the flavor. The 350 yen felt a bit expensive. However, such food is meant to be enjoyed on the spot, so it's not something to be taken home and reviewed soberly as a snack for alcohol. I'll just leave it at complaining."

I tried carrot soft serve and grape soft serve. Honestly, the carrot was too sweet for my liking. It didn't have any carrot smell, so even people who don't like carrots could eat it. The grape soft serve was made from grapes harvested in Tsurunuma, and it was very aromatic, refreshing, and had a good aftertaste. Both the carrot and grape soft serves melted quickly, so you have to eat them quickly (lol). If I were to choose one to repeat, I would go for the grape.

Inside the store, there are tofu, fried tofu, and Kabato souvenirs lined up. I bought fried tofu and ate it on the spot. Soy sauce is also available at the register. I poured soy sauce on the still warm fried tofu and took a bite with the chopsticks! The taste of tofu is strong. I thought about buying another one, but more customers were coming in, so I will have it next time I visit again!

Today, I visited a client in Naei-cho early in the morning for a consultation. After leaving the client's place, I stopped by here to have breakfast. Even though it's before opening hours (lol), I asked the owner for some sweet potato mochi. The sweet potato mochi here is big and has a satisfying texture. I finish it in 5 or 6 bites, but the local regulars like the "Boss from Otaru" or the kind aunties I know probably finish it in just two bites (lol). After filling my stomach, I head to Hamamotsu Onsen for my daily hot spring bath. Oh no! There's a notice saying it's temporarily closed. (*_* ===========

I think they started offering soy milk soft serve back when there weren't many variations of soft serve. It's a great option for hot days with its icy texture.

On this day, on the way back from Otaru to Asahikawa, we unexpectedly stopped at the Mikasa Interchange. Detective K (the legendary man) was driving, and I wondered where we were heading, but we ended up at this roadside station! My partner seemed to want to introduce me to something I haven't tried yet in Hokkaido, so he came to get an intriguing item to take out. Sweet Potato Fritters (280 yen) In the movie "The Detective Is in the Bar 2: Susukino Crossing," there is a scene where Yumiko (played by Machiko Ono) and the detective (played by Hiroshi Oizumi) or his partner Takada (played by Ryuuhei Matsuda) are eating Hokkaido's specialty, sweet potato fritters, in Takada's car at Nakayama Pass. It is a soul food for Hokkaido locals (lol). In the movie, they only mention the sweet potato fritters at Nakayama Pass, so it is rumored that they were purchased at the Michi-no-Eki "Bouyou Nakayama." There was a bit of a line with many customers, so we got in line at the end and were able to purchase them in about 5 minutes. The fritters are made by wrapping a slightly large male sweet potato in a soft dough, steaming it, and then deep-frying it. The surface is crispy, and the inside is fluffy! It has a sweet custard-like aroma and is a bit substantial, almost like a light snack or more like a dessert (lol). Originally, they come with 2 pieces on a skewer, but for those of us with small stomachs, we shared one piece each, which was just right. We enjoyed it amicably (ﾟ∀ﾟ*)ﾉ It seems that the legendary man purchased the "Original Pass Sweet Potato Fritters" at the Michi-no-Eki "Bouyou Nakayama." This sweet potato fritter is a common snack in Hokkaido. Come to think of it, they were also selling them in Otaru. By the way, the casting call for extras for the movie "The Detective Is in the Bar 3" was held around February last year, and it seems that the legendary man applied! He was successfully chosen as an extra as a passerby, and he appeared in the very last scene of the end credits, looking tiny in the streets of Sapporo (lol).

Dorayaki with soy milk and sweet red bean paste filling.

I stopped by a roadside station on my way back from a business trip. It was my first time visiting this roadside station. The temperature was high today, and I felt like I might get heatstroke. So, instead of soft serve ice cream, I decided to go for this! I ordered "Strawberry Shaved Ice". It's been years since I last had shaved ice. It's nostalgic and delicious. It's so refreshing and perfect for a hot day!! Thank you for the meal٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶